Minced Oaths

God's name is taken more times in vain in churches than anywhere else. The blasphemy in the sanctuary is worse than the blasphemy in the street! 

[John MacArthur]

Here are a few examples of minced oaths:
   Gosh -- God
   Gosh darned -- God damned
   Heck -- Hell
   Jeez -- Jesus
   Dang -- Damn
   Darn -- Damn
   Darnation -- Damnation
   Doggone -- God damn
   Gee whizz -- Jesus
   My goodness -- My God
   My gosh -- My God
   Tarnation -- Damnation
   Good grief -- Good God
   Goodness gracious -- Good God
   By golly -- By God
   By gosh -- By God
   Cripes -- Christ

Exodus 20:7 ... Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 

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Genuine Evidence

The genuine evidence of the Holy Spirit’s influence in a person’s life is not material prosperity, mindless emotionalism, or supposed miracles. Rather, it is sanctification: the believer’s growth in spiritual maturity, practical holiness, and Christlikeness through the power and leading of the Holy Spirit (as He applies biblical truth to the hearts of His saints). A true work of the Spirit convicts the heart of sin, combats worldly lusts, and cultivates spiritual fruit in the lives of God’s people. 

[John MacArthur]

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1 Corinthians 6:11 ... And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Titus 3:5 ...  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Galatians 5:22-23 ... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ❤

Iniquity is Embedded in Human Nature

The Bible is absolutely crystal clear that all children are sinners from conception, all children. The principle of iniquity is embedded in the human race. Children are born morally corrupt. They are born with an irresistible bent toward evil. And any notion that children are born morally neutral and free from a predisposition to sin is absolutely contrary to Scripture.

All humans are born in sin. If infants were not sinful, if they were not morally corrupt, then they wouldn't die. If they were born innocent or pure or morally neutral there would be no basis for their death. The very fact that they die indicates that the disease of sin is there in them because sin is the killer. It is in their inherited sin nature that the seeds of death are planted.

[John MacArthur]

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Genesis 6:5 … And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Psalm 14:2-3 … The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Psalm 51:5 … Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 58:3 … The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 …  For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Jeremiah 17:9 … The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Romans 3:12 … They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Ephesians 2:3 … Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.❤

Biblical Patience

Patient Christians endure negative circumstances, cope with difficult people, and accept God’s plan for everything. In our instant, microwave, drive-through, “I want it now” culture, patience is hard to come by. We get upset if we have to wait too long in the supermarket line or get stuck behind the guy driving ten miles per hour under the speed limit.

But today’s Scripture tells us that our lives need to be marked by patience. The Greek word translated “patience” literally means “long-tempered.” A patient person doesn’t have a short fuse or lose his temper.

There are three aspects to biblical patience. First, patience never gives in to negative circumstances, no matter how difficult. God told Abraham He would make him into a great nation and give Canaan to his descendants (Genesis 12:2, 7). When God made this promise, Abraham and Sarah had no children. They had to wait far past their childbearing years before God gave them a son. But Hebrews 6:15 says, “Having patiently waited, [Abraham] obtained the promise.” “He did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:20). He trusted God and patiently waited for Him to fulfill His promise.

A second aspect of patience is coping with difficult people. Paul tells us to “be patient with all men” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). This is applied gentleness, a spirit that refuses to retaliate. Our normal reaction is to be defensive when provoked. But a patient person bears insult, persecution, unfair treatment, slander, and hatred. You can’t start a fight with a patient person. He defends God, not himself, knowing that He will repay all wrongs at the right time.

Third, patience accepts God’s plan for everything. It doesn’t question God. A patient person says, “Lord, if this is what You have planned for me, that’s all right.” Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Since God is in control, we can be patient, waiting for Him to work out His will.

[John MacArthur]

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Ephesians 4:1-3 ... I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.❤

God is Always With Us

Understanding God’s omnipresence should encourage us in times of distress and keep us from sinning.  It is a great comfort as a Christian to know that God is always present in me both essentially and relationally. No matter what the trial, He is there. Sometimes He might seem far away, but He’s really no further away than He’s ever been.

God is always with us to support our service to Him. When God called Moses to proclaim His message and lead Israel out of slavery, Moses protested because of his lack of speaking abilities (Exodus 4:10). But God said, “I . . . will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say” (v. 12). If you doubt you have the power to witness, remember that you have the same resource as any evangelist the presence and power of God!

God’s continual presence is also a shield against sin. Nothing will ever tempt us without His giving us the strength to resist. The omnipresence of God should also motivate us to holiness. Most of us prefer to sin with no one else watching. But when we sin whether in thought, word, or action we sin in the presence of God.

Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want God to see, because He’ll see it anyway!

[John MacArthur]

Psalm 145:18 ... The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Matthew 28:19-20 ... Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ... There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Hebrews 13:5 ...  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Proverbs 15:3 ... The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Job 34:21-22 ... For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.  There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.❤

Duel Citizenship

Christians hold a dual citizenship. We are citizens of earth, but, more importantly, we are also citizens of Heaven.

It’s been said that some Christians are so heavenly minded, they’re no earthly good. But usually the opposite is true. Many Christians are so enamored with this present world that they no longer look forward to heaven. They have everything they want right here. The health, wealth, and prosperity doctrine has convinced them that Christians can have it all, and they pursue “the good life” with a vengeance.

Despite the prevalence of such thinking, the old Negro spiritual well says, “This world is not my home. I’m just a passin’ through.”

Even though we live in a sin-stained world and must constantly fight against its corrupting influences, God hasn’t left us stranded. He extends to us all the rights and privileges of our heavenly citizenship. Let that assurance encourage you today to live to His glory and rely on His heavenly provisions. Take care not to let impure aspirations or trivial pursuits distract you from your heavenly priorities.

[John MacArthur]

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Ephesians 1:3 ... Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Philippians 3:20 ... For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Colossians 3:1-2 ... If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.❤