These dangerous people are like they are because of what they are. They are out of control because they refuse to submit to the Holy Spirit. The solution for this problem is found in Gal. 5:23 where we are told that one of the nine graces that makes up the fruit of the Spirit is “temperance“. You could say that if we are not under the control of the Holy Spirit we are out of control, and that leads to numerous problems. It was for that reason that Paul said, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16).–HDS

Now we could talk for hours about a great many other questions from God, but until we deal with this one it would be futile. Where are you? I’m not talking about your geographical location. I’m talking about your spiritual position, your relationship with God. This is something you can’t afford to be wrong about. Your eternal destiny is at stake. Since this is so serious we must not ignore it, guess at it, or rely upon others for the answer. You need the truth. It alone can set you free. Can you say beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Is there evidence that you have done so? Many profess Christ without possessing Him. Claiming to be a Christian doesn’t make you one. As Jesus said, “ Ye must be born again” ( John 3:7). That is the only way you can “enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). So, where are you? Have you received Christ? If not, why? —HDS

“Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.”–John 12:30–33

Dr. Paul Chappell said,”I read a wonderful story about a missionary to Zimbabwe who was trying diligently to witness to a man who had no interest in the gospel. When the man continued to refuse to listen to the message, the missionary offered to give him a New Testament. The uninterested man replied that he would just use the pages to roll his cigarettes and smoke them. The missionary said, “Well at least promise to read the pages before you smoke them!” The man agreed.

Fifteen years passed before the two men met again, and this time it was at a preaching conference. The once lost man who had declared his intention to smoke the pages of the Bible was now an effective evangelist. In his message, he gave his testimony and told the story of being given a New Testament. “I smoked Matthew and I smoked Mark and I smoked Luke. But when I got to John 3:16, I couldn’t smoke anymore. My life was changed from that moment.”

The power of the message God has given us to take to the world is not found in our ability, our personality, or our charisma. It is found in the story of the crucifixion, for the cross is the measure of God’s amazing love for the world. When we substitute that message with anything else, we are weakening the power of our witness to the lost. Paul reminded the Corinthians of his ministry in their city this way: “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Far to often we act as though everything depends on our ability or personality, the manner in which we deliver God’s Word. The truth is that it is the Word itself that does the work. The gospel is the “power of God unto salvation“. We would do well to remember that what the Bible says is more important than what we say about it!–HDS

Have you ever taken a new car for a test drive, or perhaps borrowed a friend’s car? You are behind the wheel, on the open road, and in complete control. The only problem is, it doesn’t belong to you and it has to be returned. The owner dictates the terms. We have no right to use another person’s property as we please. As Christians, that’s something we need to remember! Having been redeemed, we belong to Jesus and He alone has the right to dictate how we live, what we do with our life. I believe it was James Smith who wrote the following on this subject: