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“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” --Exodus 20:7 Today’s verse isn’t just talking about using the name of God and Jesus Christ in a profane or blasphemous way. It’s also referring to breaking your promises. Because as Christ-followers, everything you and I say… every oath we take or promise we make… is under God. So when we break a promise, we break that promise in the Lord’s name. That means we’re taking the Lord’s name in vain when we break a promise! That’s why Jesus said to let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No.” Think about your marriage. When you stood at the altar and shared your wedding vows, you promised before God in a company of witnesses to love, honor, and cherish your mate… that you would live together until death separated you. So let me ask you today, how are you doing on your wedding vows? Have you been faithful? Are you consistently loving, honoring, and cherishing your mate? Think about your children. A lot of people dedicate their children to God, to raise them in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. Let me ask you, are you keeping that promise? Are you being intentional about introducing your boys and girls to faith in Christ? Now think about your own relationship with Christ and his body, the church. If you’ve been baptized, you’ve made a public declaration that your life has been changed by the power of Christ and you’ve said that you will live by his grace and be a part of the church. So let me ask you this: How are you keeping this promise to be a part of the church body? People make many promises to God, many oaths in his name that they don’t keep. That’s why today, it’s my prayer that when it comes to your marriage, your children, and your relationship to Christ and his body, the church, you really will let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No.” WHEN YOU BREAK A PROMISE, YOU TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN. Friday, July 12, 2019 The Purpose of the Holy Spirit by Dr. Paul Chappell “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-15 There is so much confusion and false teaching today about the purpose and role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. But Jesus clearly laid out His purpose—to guide our lives in such a way that we will glorify Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not sent to indwell us so that we bring attention to ourselves, but so that we focus our attention on Jesus Christ. No self-promoting display of what is sometimes passed off as the power of the Holy Spirit is genuine. If He is working, Jesus will be lifted up instead of us. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and walking in Him and being led by Him, what happens? Being filled with the Spirit does not mean that we are immune from struggles with the devil. In fact His power may place us in direct conflict with Satan. Indeed, this is exactly what happened in the life of Christ: “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Luke 4:1). It was not through avoiding Satan but through defeating him that the Spirit-filled Jesus was exalted. When we overcome temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are declaring the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Today's Growth Principle:  The more we are controlled by the Holy Spirit, the more we will glorify Jesus.