As I urged you when I went into Macedonia--remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. 1 Tim 1:3-7 (NKJV)
It seems as if Paul was continually battling against false teachers and the new winds of doctrine that had a habit of invading the church. (A fight--I might add--that is still being fought today) While writing to Timothy, Paul gave us an inside look at the motivation of the false teachers involved. Why would someone teach false doctrine? What would motivate a teacher to stray from the obvious truth? There is a word that explains it all. "Ego." The ego wants to be stroked, adored, revered, exalted and ultimately worshiped. When the engine of pride is fully engaged, the false teacher believes their own press and as the ego grows they are dazzled by their own accomplishments and ultimately deceived.
The need for Godly humility should never be underestimated. The greater success that a teacher achieves--the more followers that they influence--the more accolades...the greater the temptation to fall into pride. Why does the false teacher engage in controversy, purposely teaching that which causes disputes and polarizes Believers into different camps of theological thought? They want people to exclusively follow and listen to them. They want to be the Big Cheese, the Big Kahuna, the Guru, the Teacher, possibly the first Prophet of a new cult.
Contrast this attitude with that of the humble teacher. The faith of a humble teacher is sincere; meaning, it is all about pointing people to God and not about rounding up followers that exclusively follow them. The humble teacher has a pure heart with no hidden agenda or dark motivation. The humble teacher has a good conscience; meaning, they are not self-deceived, believing their own press. Too often the Church has been plagued by the incredible pride of false teachers rather than being feed by humble servants. Believers must always be alert to the dangers that lurk in the shadows of pride--be leery of the doctrines that tickle our ears--and never put our faith in anything or anyone other than the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ.
Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I know that You know my heart better than I do myself. I am relying upon You to reveal the truth about myself, to myself. I know that you resist the proud and that pride goes before the fall... I don't want to be swept away by my own selfish ambitions or to be overtaken by my foolish pride. Lord, help me to understand true Godly humility and then may I walk in a manner that is worthy of my calling. To You, and You alone belongs all the Glory, Honor and Power! Amen"
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? Onegeneration passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. Eccl 1:1-4 (NKJV)
I need to be perfectly frank with you--I am not a big fan of Solomon. Solomon only served to demonstrate the following truth: "Man's wisdom is as foolishness compared to God's wisdom." The Bible tells us that Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived--that God had given him insight and understanding of the human condition and the nature of the world. In spite of this great advantage--the wisest man who ever lived became a fool. He doled out his wisdom and advice to others--wrote them down as Proverbs that still guide us today; but, he did not follow his own advice nor live according to his wisdom.
Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon continually refers to vanity. Essentially, he categorizes all of an individual's effort in life as a package of vanity. Was he right? Is life nothing more than vanity? Are the works of our hand--the effort to better ourselves--the workouts--the education--the job--the family--the accomplishments...is it all vanity? Every time I see the Oscars (You know the big annual party that Hollywood throws for itself) I am convinced that maybe Solomon was right; seems to be a bit of vanity coming out of Hollywood!
Contrast worldly vanity with this verse: "The steps of a good man are ordered of God." Sounds to me that it is possible to live a life that is more than vanity. A life, in fact, that has been designed by God Himself. A life of purpose--a life with meaning--a life that has direction--a life that makes a difference--a life that ultimately builds the Kingdom of God and brings God glory! "What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?" Please humor me as I answer Solomon's rhetorical question with an unexpected answer: Life, apart from God is an exercise in vanity, but life with God is far more than that. Living for God is participating in an eternal Kingdom and leaving a spiritual wake that is blessed by God.
Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, You have given me an abundant life, full of meaning and opportunities to serve Your purposes. I have found great joy in the fruit of my labor, because, the works of Your Kingdom do not equate to vanity. Oh, I have certainly had plenty of vanities' fruit in my life, but I have also found the riches of serving according to Your will. Please do not let me slip into patterns of self-service, but may I accomplish all the works that You have already prepared for me to do. Amen"
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
Every time I pray the words, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in earth as it is in heaven," I consider what is happening in heaven. According to the testimonies of both Isaiah the Prophet and John the Revelator, heaven is a place that is filled to the brim with the worship of God. So, when I pray for God's Kingdom to arrive on earth, I am praying for an invasion of heaven inspired worship--at least in part. Here is the question that I am pondering: "How can I participate in this heaven sent invasion?"
I can participate by becoming a worshiper. Not someone who sings a few hymns a week and calls it good, "NO," the worship of God must be a 24/7 experience. (24 hours a day--7 days a week) Let me make my point clearer by quoting the Apostle Paul, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor 10:31) This means that my actions--all my actions--need to be of the sort that bring glory to God. I think that this must have been what Paul was considering when he instructed us to "present our bodies as living sacrifices," which frankly does not sound like much fun.
There are two basic approaches that I can use to fulfill this call--this urge--this desire to be a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God. I can gut it out religiously and try really hard; or, I can love God with all my heart and let a lifestyle of worship flow out of that love. Just a thought--but, I'm convinced that we would not need to worry about being conformed to the pattern of this world, IF, God remained our first and greatest love. If you can grasp this truth and live a lifestyle of worship you are going to enjoy an abundant life...whether you are eating, drinking or whatever you happen to be doing!
Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, may I never grow weary of proclaiming Your greatness! You are surely worthy of my praise and adoration. Help me to remember that fact as I walk through life and experience the mundane challenges of life. I desire to be a follower of Christ--who actually follows Christ. I want it to be evident that I belong to You. May it be seen in my actions of my life and in the words of my mouth. 24/7! Amen"
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 (NKJV)
We live in a Post-Modern world, that has Post-Modern problems. People are more transient and less likely to put down roots, people are more disconnected from reality and relationships, people are more lonely and isolated, people have fewer real friends and very few life-long covenant friendships, people are starving socially--with a need to be known and to be loved by others. If there was ever a time when true Christian Fellowship should be effective and offer real-life solutions to this problem--that time would be now!
My working definition of Biblical Fellowship is: "The relational connections between Believers that have been and are being established by God." This is like the Church having a super powerful secret weapon, because, these relational connections are based on Agape, God's love. According to 1 Corinthians 13:8, "Love never fails." I would suggest that this puts Biblical Fellowship at the center of the most secure relationships possible.
The Apostle Paul called us to a very high standard when it comes to our relationships. We are to strive for unity and humility as we relate to others in our spiritual family. Both of these Godly virtues cut against the grain of the natural human condition, but are both necessary in the building of authentic fellowship. We must learn to lay aside our petty differences and embrace the person of Christ who polarizes us into unity. We must also find value in serving one another--putting the real needs of others before our need to look out for number one...maybe, just maybe we need a new number one.
Prayer: (The Lord's Prayer) "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matt 6:9-13 (NKJV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfareare not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Cor 10:3-6 (NKJV)
There is a misnomer that is widely circulated among Christians. (That Satan is viewed as roughly the equal opposite of God) Kind of a yin-yang view of the struggle between the forces of good and evil. This is simply not the truth! Satan is not in the same class as God, and should be viewed as a vastly inferior being. Since this is true--why is it that in many of the battles that we fight as Believers we find ourselves stooping to the use of carnal weapons? You know--why do we fight fire with fire? Why do we insist on fighting with vastly inferior weapons?
As Believers in Christ there are many Biblical values that are being challenged by the civil powers that rule over us. These are issues that greatly matter to us. They bother us enough that we cannot let them go unchallenged. So, we picket, politic and protest in response. By using carnal weapons we also polarize the opposition and give them enough rope to hang us in the courts of public opinion. At the very least, such tactics are not being very effective. The question is this: "How can we be more effective in fighting evil?"
Make no mistake--we must fight. Edmond Burke is correct: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." We cannot sit back and simply hope that things get better. God does have a strategy for us to try--it starts when the people of God (both collectively and as individuals) pick up the mighty spiritual weapons that God has made available. We cannot hope to legislate morality; however we can take hope, because moral legislation occurs naturally in the wake of spiritual revival. Our first wave of spiritual weapons should include: Prayer and Intercession--Repentance of God's People--An Attitude of Humility -Speaking the Truth in Love--Practicing the Fruit of the Spirit. These are mighty weapons...time to fight!
Prayer: "Dear Father, it seems so strange to fight a battle with weapons that are pro-active rather than destructive. It is so contrary to our basic nature. I want to tell people off and let them know how badly they are mistaken or corrupt in their thinking. I guess that I need to humble myself and learn how to speak the truth in love--Your love. Help me to pray and to gravitate to the spiritual weapons that will make me more effective. I also pray that You would help me to look at those trapped in sin with more compassion. Amen"
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:9-11 (NKJV)
With the arrival of a new child or grandchild (as is the case for me) I find myself once again evaluating the meaning of life. At least as it applies to me and those that I deeply care about. What do I care about in life? What legacy do I want to pass down to my children and grandchildren? What can I do to assist this new grandchild in facing the challenges of life?
Several years ago I was listening to Dr. James Dobson talk about his God-given responsibility as a parent. Here is the gist of what he said. "When I became a parent my number one priority in life was to do everything within my power to pass my faith and Christian heritage to that child." I feel the weight of that conviction! Someone outside the Christian faith might ask,"Why is that so important to you?" My answer: "Because I want my children and grandchildren to experience the abundant life that is available in Christ Jesus."
At this point in life I am focused on my grandchildren. How can I not be concerned given the nature of the world and the general state of man? I am also faced with my own shortcomings and the fact that I do not have the power to insure the physical and spiritual safety of those that I love; However, I do know of One who has the power to watch over my children and grandchildren, even after I have bid this world adieu. He is the Good Shepherd, which means that He takes GOOD care of all the sheep that are in His care. So, I am going to do all that I can to introduce Charli to Jesus and I am entrusting her life to the Good Shepard who is promising her an abundant life.
Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, I have indeed tasted that the Lord is good! That is my life experience. There is no doubt as to why I want my children and grandchildren to experience a deep relationship with You; For You are the rock--the only rock worth building a life upon. Considering the short time we all have in this present life, all of mankind is wishing for more and You have delivered. In You we have life--more abundantly, more victoriously, forevermore! Amen"
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:1-5 (NKJV)
This portion of scripture starts off by giving us a list of things that we should not be doing. It seems fairly negative--at least that is what the critics of Christianity would have you believe. How dare God call us away from the antics of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and having conversations that hurt and injure other people! Such restrictions cramp our style. (Sarcasm) What the critics miss is the following qualification: "Laying aside all malice, etc...IF indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious."
The Apostle Peter is suggesting that my "good" behavior is predicated on the Lord's graciousness. In other words, God unilaterally treated me with graciousness, causing me to lay aside a lot of egocentric nonsense that I no longer need. Think about our lives in Christ: He graciously rescued us from sin and remains an ardent supporter, so much so that He is at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us!
What can I say? I want to live right. I want to do good. I want to lay aside sin and avoid the consequences thereof! Laying aside vices--walking in spiritual virtue--setting a high standard of personal conduct--all happen to be "things" that I want to do! I want to please God, because He has been miraculously good to me. I am always surprised by Christians who complain about the list of "thou shalt nots" that they somehow "feel" that they are missing out on. There is nothing on that list that I want to do, because, without a doubt, I have indeed tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Prayer: "Dear Father in heaven, blessed be Your name! You are the kindest entity in the universe that You created. You are gracious in times when mankind deserves Your wrath. Thank you for not giving me what I deserve, rather You are my rock, my shield and mighty fortress. You strengthen and encourage me with Your favor. Lord, at times I have been a Prodigal and yet You are always waiting for me to come back home so that You can lavish Your love on me once again. No wonder I want to live for You...You are simply amazing! Amen"
"The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." Num 6:24-26 (NKJV)
My family is anticipating the imminent arrival of a new member. (For Jody and me--the first grand daughter) As I contemplate the advent of "Charli" (sounds like a good name for a hurricane) I already know that this baby's destiny is tied to one factor. Will Charli embrace all that God wants to be in her life? With God as her foundation, she will live a life marked by blessing in the midst of life's storms. Without God...I don't even want to go there.
My hope and prayer for this new arrival is the same as the blessing that Moses gave to Israel. That the Lord would bless and keep her--that He would be her first love--that His grace would cover her and be her shield--that the Lord would look out for her and give her a life that is marked with peace. Even in a difficult world there is the distinct possibility of a great life if she is connected to God. Let me make a stronger, more pro-active statement:"Charli will be able to do all things through Christ who gives her strength!" She will be free from sin and free to serve in God's Kingdom with integrity and power.
My hope and prayer for all of my friends and family is the same. I have now lived long enough to observe and appreciate the difference God makes in people's lives. Those who are "closer" to God seem to reap the benefit of God's blessing--those who are far away from God...life is more complicated and challenging. The blessing of God should not be underestimated. It is real and makes a HUGE difference in life. Those who put their trust in God will not be forsaken. They will journey through life surrounded by an ocean of God's grace, peace, joy, mercy, encouragement, strength and love.
Prayer: "Dear Father, I know that You are with me and that You hear my petitions and prayers. I have a simple prayer for Charli: May she come to know you and to feel Your presence in her life from a very early age. May You be her dearest friend and the lifter of her head. May her life bring You glory and may she walk the straight and narrow path all the days of her life. Give her parents and grand-parents all the necessary wisdom to raise her in a way that is pleasing to You. We entrust her to Your care. Amen"
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. 1 Peter 5:10-11 (NKJV)
I feel confident that every parent that has ever taken a child on a long trip or journey has been asked the following question, "When are we going to get there?" A good parent will patiently explain the amount of time necessary to reach the destination, but as the hours and the miles pass, the child grows weary of the process and again they ask, "When are we going to get there?" It probably does not matter how well you explain the process of miles and time--as long as you continue the journey the question will continue to be asked. Children simply do not have enough understanding to grasp the concept.
Are we like that with God? We bombard Him with questions (prayer requests) and He answers us patiently, and we act as if He did not answer us, at least not according to what we wanted to hear, so, we pose the question (I mean prayer request) once again. Often the problem in our communication with God does not lie in either the question or the answer, rather in our inability to grasp the concept or a lack of correct perspective. Here is the straight scoop: Wherever you find yourself on God's journey--whether in the middle of great blessing or fiery trials--you have not yet arrived at the final destination.
Ultimately, Believers in Christ have been called to participate in "His eternal glory by Christ Jesus." Our destination is to rule with Christ who will have both "glory and dominion forever and ever." In the meantime...we are sojourners in this life. There is a bit of discomfort, but God is actively doing a work whereby we are being perfected--established--strengthened and finally, settled. It is a good trip...it is a great trip...may as well relax and enjoy the ride!
Prayer: "Dear Father, blessed by You name! I do look forward to the day when my journey is over; However, I do not have a death wish, so help me to run the race with endurance while rejoicing in the joy of life. I realize that not every life experience is pleasant, but I am confident that You are perfecting Your work in me. Thank you for loving me enough to patiently shape me into a better version of myself. May I ultimately be a useful tool in Your Kingdom. Amen"
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NKJV)
I know that people go through difficult times. Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people, so much so that at times it hardly seems fair. Welcome to the real world--a world that is literally under a curse that we call sin. Did you really expect such a world to be fair? This happens to be a world where we all scramble and scratch to survive, and it seems as if the problems are happening on multiple fronts, all at the same time. Family problems, friend problems, national problems, international problems all coming at us at the speed of light.
I do not know anyone who goes through the experience of life on planet earth that has remained untouched by difficulties. I have recently observed some of the painful life experiences that some of my dear friends are enduring. Everything from suffering through the last days of terminal cancer, to an out-of-control youth that has had to be institutionalized, to a child born with several complications, to a fine worker struggling to find work, to a marriage that is breaking apart. These are my friends--they are good people. I guess that being a Believer in Christ does not exempt us from some of the negative trials associated with life.
The Apostle Peter told us that fiery trials should be no surprise to us. What was his point? He was simply letting us know that sometimes bad things happen to good people. It is the nature of the planet on which we live. It sounds so sad--so disappointing--so hopeless--so discouraging, until you realize two factors that are weighted in the favor of those who have put their trust in God. Firstly, whatever you are going through--even David's "Valley of the Shadow of Death," God will be with you. Secondly, the Word of God declares, "This world is not our home." Our future home sounds encouraging. No pain, no tears, no regrets and King Jesus rules! That is our future hope and the cause for joy in the here and now!
Prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, today I pray for my friends who are in the midst of some very difficult and challenging times. I pray that You would make a way for them out of this valley of pain and confusion and lead them beside some fresh water and green fields. May this season pass and may they enter into a time of joy and peace. In the meantime, please let them know that You are there and that You will be the strength that they need. Above all else--blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Prov 16:18-20 (NKJV)
I recently suggested to a study group that if you pray for humility you will probably experience situations that cause you to be humiliated. I did not wait many days when this turned out to be a true word in my own life. I was approached by a brother who challenged something that I had done. My reaction to his observation and reasonable request was to immediately get defensive. Beyond defensive I got angry. I rarely get angry and pride myself on my ability to remain calm when under fire... "Did I really just say that I PRIDE MYSELF on my ability to remain calm when under fire?" I crashed...I burned...and I proved that pride goes before the disaster.
After the initial wave of anger had passed. (It took a few minutes) I was thoroughly humiliated and found it difficult to find the adequate words to express how sorry I was for my bad behavior. Now here is the "thing" that bothers me as I ponder the events: "Was I truly sorry for my anger? or was I simply embarrassed? or was I trying to cover my humiliation by acting repentant so that my brother would think better of me?" In other words, was I still acting in pride? That is how tricky pride can be as it creeps through our emotions and tests our character.
This is what I know: I have an anger problem. I have a pride problem. I have a sin problem. Romans 3:23 indicates that everyone has a sin problem, which leads me to two conclusions: 1) I have not arrived spiritually and will need the Holy Spirit to continue His transforming work as long as I am alive. 2) I need to treat people with greater forbearance, seeing myself as I really am and seeing them with the love of God.
Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, I know that You know me better than I know myself. The picture that I have of myself is more exalted than it should be. You have an accurate understanding of who I am and what I need to be transformed. As difficult as it is to entrust myself to be clay in Your hands...may I be clay in Your hands. Lord, have Your way with me. Amen"
Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. Prov 31:10-12 (NKJV)
I had been married to my wife for about two years when my mother and father pulled me aside and said, "If you ever do anything to hurt your wife, if you are unfaithful to your wife, or if you decide to leave your wife, please know that she will remain our daughter and you will be disowned." I guess that is what happens to you when you marry a virtuous woman--your friends and even your family decide that they like her more than they do you. In my case I cannot argue with their sentiment, my wife has the same character as that of Proverb's virtuous woman and is without doubt, the nicest person I have ever known.
It could be argued that the wisest decision I ever made in life was asking Jody to be my wife. Life is good when you are married to a person of virtue. It is little wonder that the Apostle Paul gave Believers the following words of wisdom: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Cor 6:14) What was Paul trying to say? That fellowship and communion is very difficult to achieve with a person who has different ideas concerning God, morality, values and virtue.
So, what is life like living with a virtuous help-mate? Difficult situations are less difficult. Good times are better. Impossible times are met with prayer. Challenges are faced with faith. Tribulation is tackled with hope. Shortages are met with hard work. Decisions are made with prudence. Sorrow is tempered with peace. (Imagine a world, a small corner of the world that is "ruled" with the Fruit of the Spirit) That is why a virtuous wife or husband is worth more than all the riches of the world!
Prayer: "Dear Father in heaven, I just want to thank You for Your many gifts in this life. I thank you for my family, my wife and children. You have blessed me through their lives more than I deserve and more than I can comprehend. I pray that You will continue to keep Your hand of blessing and protection on my family. May each family member keep You as their first love all the days of their lives. Amen"
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil 2:1-4 (NKJV)
Years ago I was in a Board Meeting. The Board of Directors consisted of 14 individuals. (12 men and two women) The issue was up for a vote. 13 voted "yes" and 1 voted "no." The motion before us was not very important. The motion suggested that the church spend a small amount of money for the purpose of hiring some much needed secretarial help, and we had the money in hand. Now let me tell you what mattered. The vote was 13 to 1. The one individual wasn't voting against the motion, because it violated their conscience, a Biblical principle, or for any real just cause. They voted against everyone else as a shot across our bow that declared that they would not be walking in unity with the rest of the group, nor submit to the leadership of the chairman.
Make no mistake about it--there are times when a Believer needs to stand up and be counted. It is possible that the vote is 13 to 1 and the one vote was the right vote. It reminds me of the 12 spies that were send out by Moses to check out the Promised Land. Out of the 12 reports that were returned to Moses, only two of the reports were positive and filled with faith. It is possible to be the voice of opposition and be on the right side of the issue; however, most 13 to 1 votes are indicative of a contrarian. Someone who doesn't get along or play well with others.
"Being of one accord" is not an easy thing to achieve. Attaining and maintaining unity in the church requires submission. True submission only begins at the point of disagreement. When one of the parties involved will be required to bend their will in order to walk in unity. Giving in to someone--especially, when you are convinced that you have a better idea--is not a normal human response. Submission starts with an attitude of humility, "considering the interests of others" as more important than your own. Next time you find yourself on the wrong end of a 13 to 1 vote--see if you can put on the garment of submission and promote unity.
Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, I think that my ego needs some taming. It is hard enough to listen to the ideas of others much less consider their ideas as more important than my own. My exalted view of myself is laughable, but will be tragic if allowed to go unchallenged. Lord, help me to humble myself and to be a peace-maker rather than a contrarian. I would rather be one who walks in unity than one who causes division. Make it so...Lord, make it so! Amen"
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV)
The first two of the ten commandments both deal with the problem of idolatry. Most of us who are Believers do not worry about these commandments, because we are convinced that we do not have an idolatry problem. While it is true that most of us do not bow down before or worship idols, that alone does not mean that we are free from the problem of idolatry. Rather than thinking of idolatry as a graven image carved from wood or chiseled out of stone; think of idolatry as "anything" that happens to get between you and God. Anytime, we allow anything, other than God, to be our first love, we are on dangerous ground.
What could possibly come between me and God? The list is rather long, ranging from the love of money, to other relationships, to worldly philosophies and ideas, to different addictions, to the pursuit of pleasure... Simply put--anything on planet earth that interacts with our five senses has the potential to become idolatry. It is the reason that John passionately implores us, "do not love the world or the things in the world." John is not actually calling us to hate the planet that we live on; however, everything in and about this world should pale when compared to our love of God!
It comes down to a basic question of desire. Do I want more of God beyond all else that beckons me, or am I pursuing those "other things?" As a child, there was a popular song circulating through the church called, "I'd Rather Have Jesus."
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold, I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
Than to be the king of a vast domain and be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
Prayer: "Dear Father, I relate to many of the desperate prayers that King David prayed, because of my own duplicitous heart. I say that I love You and yet I feel a powerful pull on my affections from the world. I know that there is no future in anything other than You. So, in those moments when I allow other things to interfere with my relationship with You, make me aware of what is happening and don't let me fall away from You! Amen"
I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:21-24 (NKJV)
I still remember standing in chapel at Northwest University singing "This is the Day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it and be glad in it..." I wasn't really "feeling it!" It was at the end of the quarter and I had a Friday final right after chapel. (With only four more the following week) I was actually annoyed, singing an "air-headed" song like, "This is the Day." Obviously, I was missing the point of the song. The song is not a "cream or wheat" platitude like Mr. Rogers' "It's a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood." We were singing a song that originated in the Psalms and it is referring to the day of Christ's atoning work.
The 118th Psalm would have to be considered prophetic in nature, because, the Psalmist was looking forward to the point in time when Jesus, "The stone which the builders rejected" became "the chief cornerstone." The day when Jesus was crucified was both horrific and glorious. What Jesus endured in order to become our salvation was heartbreaking, and yet, it was a glorious day of hope. The Psalmist referred to Christ's work as "marvelous in our eyes!"
It has been a very long time since Jesus died on the cross, so what does that historic event mean to me in the here and now? It means that I live each day covered by the righteousness of Christ. It means that I enjoy an ongoing and deepening communion with the Father. It means that the Holy Spirit is living in me. It means that my life is full of joy, hope and faith. It means that I am a beloved son of God. I could go on and on... This one thing I do know...if I ever have the chance to sing the chorus that I found so annoying...I will sing it with a lot more passion! "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!"
Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, once again, thank you for sending Your Son to rescue me. I do rejoice in the grace that I have received! Help me to live with a more grateful attitude never forgetting the love and favor that You have demonstrated to me. Father, You are great and greatly to be praised. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen"
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
The level of joy and peace that you experience in life is directly tied to what you believe life is holding for you in the future. As you gaze into the the future, what do you see? Is it a future filled with doom and gloom, or is it a future full of promise and possibilities? Your view of the future is shaped by an underestimated virtue called "hope." How crucial is hope? Without hope we can sabotage and poison the future.
What is the internal drive that compels us to move forward and meet the basic challenges of life? Somehow, God has given us a measure of hope, and hope gives us the courage to move forward believing in the possibility of a positive result. The feeling of futility is not a compelling reason to roll out of bed and it certainly does not "charge" our batteries to embrace life. Hope can make the difference. Hope is more than an overly optimistic view of life, because our hope is based in our relationship with Christ.
In the midst of imprisonment (a situation that would have the potential to shake a person's hope) the Apostle Paul wrote the following words: "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." 2 Tim 1:12 (NKJV) I don't know why Paul's optimistic view of life is so surprising, after all, this is the man that was arrested, beaten, thrown into a jail cell and chained...and started to sing songs of praise with his partner in crime. (Who would do that under the circumstances?) Only a person full of hope.
Prayer: (Let's pray the Word today) "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. And may you be filled with a supernatural courage knowing that God is with you--that God goes before you--that God is for you--that God will never leave nor forsake you--and that God loves you more than you love yourself. Amen"
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and ifthere is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. Phil 4:8 (NKJV)
It would virtually be impossible to pick up a newspaper in any metro area and keep the scope of your thinking within the boundaries suggested by the Apostle Paul. (Thinking on things that are praiseworthy!) There is bad, negative, impure and downright slimy news on every page. In order to keep any semblance of following Paul's instruction, one would probably have to "drop out" and avoid the flood of bad news and impure imagery that invades our homes through the secular media. This is not a suggestion of new legalism; but it it is a realistic call to fix our minds on things that assist and encourage spiritual growth in our lives.
Lets see if I can provoke your thinking. Pick your top 5 movies of all time. Once you have selected them ask yourself the following questions as you evaluate each movie: "Is there a theme of redemption in the movie?" "Is there anything in this movie that does not measure up to the Phil 4:8 standard?" "Would I feel comfortable watching this movie in church on Sunday morning with all the rest of the saints?" (Wow--this already makes me a bit uncomfortable)
Our brains really do act like giant sponges. They absorb anything and everything that is given access. Pictures, sounds, music, lyrics, information, opinions, reports, dialog, commentary...it is all processed. Here is the question that really needs to have an honest answer: "Does the input have an effect on the output?" In other words, are you being shaped and influenced by what you are watching, reading and listening to? The answer is "yes!" What are you going to do about protecting your mind? Each Believer needs to take the words of Paul to heart and perhaps set some new self-imposed boundaries.
Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, the Word states that You have no shadow of turning--that You are pure light with no darkness. I think that I'm more of a mix--a shade of gray and maybe more lukewarm than I would like to admit. I am sure that my mind has been exposed to ideas that are not of You. Cleanse my mind and my heart and give me the wisdom to remove the influences that are unnecessary and harmful. Amen"
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:4-7 (NKJV)
In the midst of a passage that deals with prayer, Paul interjects this thought: "Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand." I think that the word "gentleness" is somewhat misleading and does not effectively communicate the Author's point. In the RJV Bible (Ronald Joseph Version) which does not exist, it would read more like this:"May you have a great reputation, because of your even-tempered appropriate decision-making ability." "Ok, I know...it doesn't flow every well, but at least you get the point." Believers need to be known for their sound judgment. As if the Lord is at hand making said judgments!
How much would I change in my decision-making process if God had a greater voice...no, make that, if God had the final say in all my decisions? How many problems would that solve? How many prayer requests would never have needed to exist in the first place? How much heart-burn and how many head-aches would have been avoided. Maybe it would be prudent to make my decisions as if "the Lord is at hand."
I have observed that many of our prayer requests are a direct result of poor decisions. The Bible instructs us to stay out of debt. To avoid yoking ourselves unequally with sinners. To make an effort to pass down our faith to our children. To pay our taxes and submit to authorities. The list of wisdom to make appropriate decisions pours out of pages of the Bible. Why not obey the dictates of scripture? It will help us make wise decisions. It will help us avoid many a pit-fall. It will remove much of the worry and stress associated with life. Ultimately, you will be recognized as an even-tempered individual who makes great decisions.
Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, I know that my wisdom is as foolishness compared to Yours. Therefore, I would rather walk in Your wisdom rather than my own. Help me to follow the clear directives of scripture, and help my decisions to become more Spirit led than led by the impulses of my flesh. May You be glorified and honored by the choices that I make--and may people know that You are always at hand. Amen"
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8 (NKJV)
The first instance of sin that is recorded in the Bible was the sin of pride. The Angel Lucifer looked at God and decided that he should fill that position. Talk about self-deception; that is the problem with pride, it makes an accurate assessment of ourselves impossible. Pride blinds people to reality and causes them to act in ways that can best be described as foolish. It was a ton of foolishness--a clear lack of wisdom--a huge dose of self-deception--and an out-of-control ego that sent Lucifer into a tail-spin of pride. Please remember this: Pride always makes us act in ways that are foolish.
When it comes to positions of spiritual authority and the exercise of spiritual gifts, we need to have an accurate assessment of who we are. What is the "measure of faith" that God has given us? What has God called and gifted us to do? In order to minister in the center of God's will and to our maximum potential we need to walk in a God-given actualization. (This is seeing ourselves accurately as God sees us)
We need God's accurate view of our gifts and calling so that we can avoid one of two extremes. That we avoid walking in pride; striving for a position of spiritual authority or a ministry that is outside of God's calling and grace. That we avoid walking in false humility; allowing the feelings of inadequacy to keep us from taking up the spiritual mantel that God has given us the grace to fulfill. How can we possibly strike the right balance between these extremes? The answer is going to sound familiar: Spend time with God. Submit to Him and then spend more time with God...
Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, You gave Jesus a name above every name, because He humbled Himself and submitted Himself to You. I know that it is the example that I should follow, but, there is a lot of my ego that gets in the way. I do not want to be crushed into submission, but, I don't want to walk in self-deception either. Help me to see myself as I am and to walk in obedience to Your calling. Give me the fortitude to humble myself, before You have to intervene. Amen"
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV)
I enjoy putting puzzles together. The more pieces involved, the greater the challenge, and greater my joy when it is completed. I must say that if a piece of puzzle--just one piece is missing--the picture remains incomplete and the level of my joy suffers. Every piece is necessary for the picture to be whole. Many people are like that. They are walking around, living life, trying to do their best; however, the one thing that would make them whole is missing.
The Apostle Peter tells us that through the divine power of Jesus our Lord we have been given "all things that pertain to life and godliness." Think about that for a moment. The significance of Peter's statement is worthy of a poetic pause... A Believer in Christ has been given the missing pieces to the puzzle of life. Every answer as it pertains to life is found in Christ. Every answer as it pertains to knowing and living for God is found in Christ. Christ Jesus is the key to wholeness.
What makes a Believer in Christ different from anyone else? Through Christ we become "partakers of the divine nature." This means that "we" do not have to go with the flow--do what everyone else is doing--adopt the values of this world--live in the darkness--developing an appetite for the sin that poisons the soul. God has a much better plan in mind for humanity! I love the story of the Prodigal Son who finally came to his senses realizing that his Father had a better life planned for him than eating out of the pig trough. The bottom-line is this: God really does have a better plan for our lives.
You + God = Wholeness
Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes I still feel like such a child, because of my childish and foolish behavior. I still feel the pull of the world, beckoning me with the promises of a more exciting life... Lord, help me see through the deception of the Enemy and look to You. You have given me all that I need that pertains to life and godliness. May I keep my eyes on You and keep my feet on the path that You have prepared for me! Amen"
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:23-25 (NKJV)Are we living in the last days? Is the "Day" approaching? It must have been like this for Noah and his family. They spent an enormous amount of time and effort to build a great ark waiting for the first drop of rain to fall. According to the Biblical account, after the ark was finally built, Noah was given a seven day notice. Seven days to gather the animals--seven days to pack--seven days to load the supplies--seven days until the rains would fall and the floods would swallow the earth. After seven days had passed, Noah and his family boarded the ark and just as God said, the rains began to fall.The Apostle Peter said that in the last days scoffers would come making fun of the prophecies concerning the "Day" when Christ will return. Just like the people of Noah's time, who made fun of Noah for building an ark, they will poke fun of our expectation and hope for Christ's return. Peter gave the scoffers a reason as to why God is taking His time to send Jesus back. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) Christ will return--the Day is approaching--and just as the rain began to fall, the trumpet of the Lord will sound.So, what should we be doing as we see the Day approaching? Hold fast to what we believe. Gather together for the purpose of encouragement and ministry with greater intensity! We cannot afford to become apathetic, lukewarm or to nurture a duplicitous heart; instead, we need to live each day as if the Day is approaching. What would you change or do if you knew that we only had seven more days?Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, there is no possible way for me to predict the future with any accuracy. However, I know that the Day of the Lord will happen at some point in time in time and it will catch many people by surprise. Lord, my request is simple: 'Do not let me become complacent, weary or apathetic. May I work hard in the harvest until either I pass away or hear the trumpet of the Lord. Amen"
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb 10:19-22 (NKJV)
The Sunday morning service had ended and I was scurrying around the auditorium getting ready to lock the building and catch up with my family for dinner. A man I had never met before came up and introduced himself and then asked me an unexpected question:"What am I feeling?" He asked. "As soon as I entered this building this morning I had goose bumps and I want to know what's going on." I paused a moment, looked him in the eye and said, "It is probable that you are having a physical reaction to being in the presence of God." He was at church the next week, and the week after that, and the week after that... He became a Believer.
It is true that Christ died for our sins, but that was not the end to His work. When He ascended into heaven to be with the Father, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the lives of those who are followers of Christ. The veil that separated us from God has been removed and now we have access to the Father through the work of His Spirit. The ability to commune with God, an ability that was lost when Adam and Eve fell into sin, has been restored.
Can people really feel the presence of God? The old Pentecostal claim was that when it came to explaining the presence of God, "It was a matter that was better felt than telt." One would think that if the Holy Spirit is living with you and is living in you that it would be an experience that was felt. Knowing that when a person is filled with the Spirit, they are filled with power--sounds like something that would be felt. (Now let's deal with the elephant that is in the room) "RJ, have you ever experienced 'spiritual' goose bumps?" I know that my answer will annoy skeptics, but I would be lying if said anything other than "Yes!"
Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, You are the Creator of all that is, You are the Mighty God, the only God. You are also my loving Father and a dear friend. I love to be in Your presence, because it is a place of peace, of joy, of comfort, of encouragement, of strength, of all things good and the source of all that I need. Thank you for ordering the steps of my life. Thank you for Your patience and forgiveness. Thank you for being with me! Amen"
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. Psalms 34:1-4 (NKJV)
"I will bless the Lord at all times?" If I'm going to be honest--that hasn't always been the case. Being a self-centered being there have been those times when life wasn't smiling at me and I wasn't in the mood to bless the Lord. Too often that has been the problem as I experience life myopically. In the here and now my vision is limited and I cannot see the bigger picture of God's plan. Perhaps this is where a strong dose of trust is necessary. If God loves me, and He does, maybe...just maybe He will make it all come together for good, just as He promised.
As I look at life's journey behind me, I see the working of God's hand with clarity. He has always brought life together, not always according to my plans, but in surprising ways that have proven to be for my good and for the good of my wife and children. If the past is indicative of what I can expect in the future, I should bless the Lord at all times!
Think with me for a moment: What if life was more difficult and I experienced a bit of "Job's lot;" would I still have reason to bless the Lord? Would I have the courage to bless the Lord? Would I have the heart to bless the Lord? I suppose that our worship of God should be tied to our affection and love for God rather than the circumstances of life. Our love for God should be a constant in life, whereas the experiences of life is like a road filled with unexpected turns, detours and potholes. In order to "bless the Lord at all times," we will need to cling to our faith and put our trust in the One who has all things under control.
Prayer: (The Lord's Prayer) "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matt 6:9-13 (NKJV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Prov 3:5-6 (NKJV)
I do not believe that I have ever heard anyone talk about "trust at first sight." "You know, I saw this beautiful girl...her name is Jody...she is really cool...I don't know, it might be trust at first sight." The very idea is crazy; and yet I have found that the surest way for me to avoid buying something that I never thought that I needed before is to make sure that the salesman never gets across the threshold at the front door. (If you know my wife, Jody--ask her about the cookware that we bought while attending Northwest University) Sometimes I surprise myself with how gullible I am, because there have been times when I acted as if it was trust at first sight.
I have lived life long enough to come to a couple of conclusions. Firstly, I do not always make good decisions; therefore, when I make important decisions I try to listen and submit to the wise council of people that I trust. (Group decisions tend to be more prudent) Secondly, I do not automatically trust people. Trust is a commodity that has to be earned. My natural instinct is to trust people; however, it is wiser to trust the people who have earned the right.
There is One that has earned my complete trust and that is the Lord. In my life, God has proven Himself to be everything that He claims to be. He has consistently treated me with grace, with goodness, with kindness, with mercy, with patience, with guidance, with wisdom, with knowledge, with friendship, with peace, with encouragement, with blessings, with confidence, and with His love. I believe...hear me...I absolutely believe in the promise of Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Trusting in the Lord is perhaps the wisest move I have ever made!
Prayer: "Dear Father, I do pray that Your will would be done in my life as it is in heaven. I relinquish control and ask You to direct my steps. So often--too often, I have made my own decisions without Your input only to find that I made the wrong choice. I know that I need to stop trying to lead and allow You to be in control. Please hear the cry of my heart...I surrender! Amen"
