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"
