Author: NBibens

Why Will You Die?

Imagine a hospital patient suffering from a fatal disease. In agony, they cry out to those around them that they don’t want to die. What a heartbreaking scene. But imagine that next to them stood a doctor who offered a cure. Their life could be spared! They don’t have to die! But they refuse the available treatment. 

That happens every day in the spiritual realm. In Ezekiel 33:11, God says, “…I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” Why will you die? What a question! God doesn’t want you to be lost. He doesn’t want your spiritual death; thus, He offers life! God has provided the cure for your sin-sick soul. There is no excuse for being lost. Why would you choose spiritual death when God offers eternal life?  

Let Nothing Hinder?

In Numbers 22, the Moabite king, Balak sent dignitaries to ask Balaam, the prophet, to come and curse Israel. The prophet informed the enjoys that God would not allow him to return with them and do such a thing. Balak sent another group with the message, “Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, for I will surely do you great honor…” 

The world still offers Balak’s advice. It encourages us to throw off our restraints and exercise our freedom. Reject inhibition and live life to the fullest—that’s the path to pleasure, honor, and fulfillment. Why hold back?

But there is a hindrance to such a view. Balak might say, “Let nothing hinder,” but what is such advice compared with God’s command? Balak could give gold, but God could provide so much more. The world may tempt you to live as you see fit—but don’t be persuaded by such empty talk. Modern promises are as empty as Balak’s was long ago. If you want meaning and fulfillment, find it by serving God.  

He Who Has

He Who Has

In Mark 4:25, Jesus says something a little challenging. He teaches, “For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” That doesn’t quite sound right. Taking what little the poor have and giving to the rich seems atrocious. But that isn’t what Jesus is talking about. A verse earlier He says, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.” So, Jesus is teaching something similar to reaping what you sow. Let’s think in terms other than money. 

Consider faith. The person with faith will find opportunities to grow their faith. The person who serves will continue to find ways to serve. So, Jesus isn’t teaching unfairness—He’s offering a promise of growth and warning against stagnation and faithlessness. 

A Trustworthy Saying

We are engulfed in noise and information, much of which is misguided and false. In the deluge of uncertainty, we need truth we can trust in. In this sermon, evangelist Nate Bibens walks us through Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus and a handful of claims the inspired apostle declares to be “trustworthy sayings.” These sayings prove to be profound and powerful truths that can guide our hearts and lives so that we can be trustworthy and faithful servants of the Lord!

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Grief, Trials, and Tests

How much do you enjoy grief? Do you relish being tested and tried by hardship and adversity? Such things aren’t fun and certainly don’t sound enjoyable. And yet, suffering, trials, and tests can lead to joy! In 1 Peter 1:6-7 we read, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The “in this” Peter speaks of is the truth that, by God’s mercy, Christians are born again and possess a hope of salvation, resurrection, and eternal life. But before we inherit eternity, we must live this life with its various griefs, trials, and tests. But if we hold fast to Jesus through these trials, how much sweeter and more joyous heaven will surely be!

Not a One or Two-Day Job

Not a One or Two Day Job

When Ezra returned to Jerusalem, one of the major problems that confronted him was the intermarriage of God’s people with foreigners. As Ezra began working with the people to determine a solution, they said, “…the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.”[1] Credit should be given to the people for acknowledging and confessing their error. They also teach us an important lesson—mistakes can take time to correct. 

We want problems resolved immediately. But problems that are big or years in the making are not solved overnight. When it comes to sin, we’re usually dealing with big or long-standing problems. So as we repent, we must be ready for the long steady work of fixing errors and bearing fruits of repentance. And as we help others, we must be patient and gracious. Repentance is a life-long commitment, not a one or two-day task. 

[1] Ezra 10:13

Until There Was No Remedy

Until There Was No Remedy

Preventative health care is essential. The more we can do to prevent sickness, the better. Sometimes, however, we still get diseases. When that happens, we want to get help as soon as possible. We want to catch cancer at an early stage. We want to detect heart problems before a heart attack. But if we ignore symptoms or delay care, a disease can progress to the point that there is no remedy. That’s frightening. Even scarier is the same can happen spiritually. 

Israel had a long history of breaking God’s laws, so God sent prophets to warn the people to return to Him. But 2 Chronicles 36:16 says the people despised God’s words “…until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people until there was no remedy.” 

God wanted to heal His people, but they rebelled until a remedy was impossible. Don’t make that same mistake. God wants to heal you of your sin—don’t persist in the disease of sin until the only remedy is God’s wrath and judgment. 

Turning the World Upside Down

Turning the World Upside Down

How radical is the gospel? Truthfully, the gospel of Jesus doesn’t seem or feel all that radical or earth-shaking in our current culture. Too often, we practice and preach a watered-down message that neither challenges nor convicts. Perhaps we’re misguided in an attempt to be overly kind and spare feelings. Or maybe we’re ashamed of the gospel. Or, could it be that we’ve bought into a watered-down gospel ourselves, and we don’t know any better?

When Paul preached in Thessalonica, many were converted, but others grew angry. They dragged some Christians before the city authorities and said, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also…saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 

What gospel are we preaching? A gospel that requires little, or one that turns the usual order on its head? A message where Jesus is a comforting buddy or a proclamation that Jesus is Lord and King? Has our world been upturned by King Jesus? And what are we doing to proclaim Jesus to the world?

Don’t Be Cheated

Don’t Be Cheated

No one likes to be cheated. Few things are as upsetting and enraging as being lied to, stolen from, or cheated by fraudulent transactions. When dealing with purchases or financial transactions, most of us try to be cautious because there are always people trying to cheat us in one way or another. We should be even more careful to ensure we are not cheated spiritually. 

In Colossians 2:8, the Bible says, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”[1] There are many ideas available to you about how to live life. There are deeply philosophical approaches. There are base and carnal methods. There are various traditions you could choose from. But in the end, if we follow any way other than the way of Jesus, we will find ourselves swindled and cheated in the worst possible way. Only Jesus offers eternal life. Don’t be cheated by anything less. 

[1] NKJV