THE OUTPOURING OF GOD'S LOVE INTO THE HEARTS OF MEN (Part 1)By Robert Wurtz IITherefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:1-5)Our passage begins with our justification, a foundational truth that makes the rest of the passage possible. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Where once we were lost and without hope and God in this world, doomed to everlasting destruction and perdition, now we have been justified by faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a love that when perfected in us casts out all fear. Many people struggle with unnatural fears, but as we will learn God's unnatural love with cast our ALL fear. In times of trouble we need prespective. And that begins when we realize that no crisis can rival the condition we were in before we were saved. Nothing is remotely as fearful and troubling as to know that we were once without Christ and at enmity with God. Paul, in dealing with several issues at once is giving us a right perspective for our trials, temptations, and tribulations. He wants us to keep in mind the terrible condition God has brought us from. Not just that we were wrecking our lives, but that we were dead in trespasses and sins. He then points to the person and means by which we survive every trial. He writes, By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. The ‘whom’ is Jesus Christ and the ‘what’ is grace. We can define grace as God looking favorably towards us and helping us in a time of need (Hebrews 4:17). It is similar to the Hebrew term Shalom. We do not deserve God’s favor; it is an expression of His nature without regard to our worth. We are ‘standing’ in that grace. The phrase “this grace wherein we stand” is the means by which we have our patience (lit. perseverance). We stand firmly and safely during trials and temptations because we are upheld by the power of God; as Ephesians 6 tells us “having done all stand”. We stand as soldiers that keep their ground, not worn down by the power of the enemy. It is this recognition of God’s keeping power during trials and temptations; abilities that we know we do not possess in ourselves, that ultimately leads to the ‘hope’ that does not disappoint (KJV ‘maketh not ashamed’). God is working in us and we begin to 'see' it.
The 'Unnatural' Love ("The Betrayal of the Ages" Continued)
In The World Ye shall Have Tribulations (Part 2)In James 1:12 we read, Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Notice that a direct connection is made between enduring temptation and loving God. The passage indicates that temptations are ultimately a ‘test’ of our love for God. This directly relates to our original passage in Romans 5. Paul writes, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience (perseverance); And patience (perseverance), experience (character); and experience (character), hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Notice that the progression is tribulation, perseverance, character (proof), and then hope. This is a process similar to refining silver. Fire is applied and the silver is refined and if ‘approved’ (dokimos) is given the stamp of approval. Here our word for 'approval' has been translated as ‘experience’; but it means the “state of mind that has passed the test.” What test? To pass the test is evidence that we truly love God. But is the love referred to here just 'any' type of love or is it a special kind of love? We will answer that question later. Notice again James 1:12, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. This seems to be the point that Paul is driving at in our text. The evidence that the 'love of God' has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost is that we can withstand the 'test' of our love for God when it comes. Jesus told us, In the world ye shall have tribulations. Tests of your and my love for God are going to come and come often. Will you remain loyal? Often folk want to know if they are ‘really’ saved; and the answer to that is known to a great degree by whether or not you and I are passing the ‘tests’ of our love for God when they come. Are we remaining loyal to God? Are we ‘enduring’ (abiding or persevering) in His love?
THE PROVING OF OUR LOVE (Part 3)If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deut 13:1-4)To summarize what we have learned so far; it is evident that various trials are going to come to prove or 'test' our love for God. Perhaps we can take this a step farther and say that temptations come and by their coming reveal to us whether the love of God has been truly shed abroad in our hearts or not. Job is a prime example of a man who remained faithful to the Lord in spite of the firey trial which was to try him. The great accusation against the Saints from our enemy towards God is the same as Job, "Doth Job serve God for nothing?" You must bear this in mind in any trial you go through. The enemy says that we only love God because He will do us good. We serve Him for what we can gain from the relationship. His argument is that if God were to withdraw the blessings- man will withdraw His love. If you look closely at the Hebrew words for 'curse God' (as the enemy told God Job would curse Him to His face) there is an underlying meaning that Job would 'dismiss' God from His heart. Imagine the implications of such a statement, "Yea, skin for skin, touch his body and He will dismiss you from the throne of his affections." That, indeed, is a powerfully painful accusation. The enemy argued that there was a point in which Job would stop loving God with all his heart. He believed a scenerio could be created that would cause Job's love for God to collapse. Yet, this writer believes that there was something more to this relationship with God that nor the enemy or even his wife understood. Job had tasted of the love of God and that love endures all things. Since the 'love of God' (agapE) is not the same as we would generally understand love (phileo, stergos, eros) we will take a moment to define it. Vines Greek NT dictionary states that, "(agapE) Love or "the love of God" can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son (I John 4:9,10). But obviously this is not the love of complacency (self-gratification), or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects (Romans 5:8). It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself.” (Vines) This is God’s love and it flows from His nature independent of any good thing in us. God loves because it is his nature to love. The old timers often use the term benevolence as a way of describing this love. I Corinthians 13 describes it in detail. It is the highest form of love. This agapE love is what is poured into our hearts when the Holy Spirit comes in. We as born again believers have a nature to love and keep on loving in spite of the many challenges to that love because the Holy Spirit resides in us.
THE EXPRESSION OF AGAPE LOVE (Part 4)AgapE love or ‘Christian love’ has God for its primary object. We express agapE love first of all by obedience to Christ’s commandments (John 14:15,21,23; 15:10; I John 2:5; 5:3; II John 6). A predominant attitude of ‘self-will’, that is, ‘self-pleasing’, is evidence that God’s love (agapE) is not present. God’s love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings (as would be phileo, eros). AgapE love does not always run with the natural inclinations and affections (stergos), nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom you may have a relationship. AgapE love (God’s love) seeks the welfare of all (Romans 15:2), and works no ill to anyone (I Corinthians13:8,9,10). AgapE love seeks opportunity to do good to all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith (Galatians 6:10). This is a love expressed by God causing it to rain on the just and the unjust. We get a picture of this love expressed in Matthew 5; But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Notice what this passage says, That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. The word for 'perfect' here is Teleios. It carries the idea of completeness. Our love should be expressed even as God expresses it. This is the thing that distinguishes true Christians from non-Christians. The appropriation of benevolence by unbelievers is hit and miss and thoroughly 'incomplete' in its distribution. If we distribute benevolence like everyone else we are no different than them. However, with the love of God (AgapE) poured out in our hearts we are enabled to distribute good-will to all as if we were 'blindfolded' to our relationship to them; good, bad, or non-existent. God's Love desires the best for everyone and does not delight in the ills of others.
THE CONSTRAINING INFLUENCE OF THE LOVE OF GOD (Part 5)In II Corinthians 3:5 we gain insight into the constraining influence of the love of God as it has been poured out in our hearts. Paul writes, We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. (NASU) This is a powerful statement! The Greek word for ‘control’ gives us a picture like unto a narrow road walled in on both sides like a tunnel or a channel. The love of Christ would not allow Paul to turn to the right hand or the left. It was this love, poured out in His heart, that kept him 'on track' and doing what God wanted him to do. Paul is also stating that what he does is not for ‘appearance’ but is done out of the love (agapE) that’s in his heart. He did not do things to be seen. He did not do it for the praise of men. He did it because it was his new found born again nature to do it and he could not help but do it. The love of Christ was the inward motivating factor in his ministry. It was not something he had to 'force' any more than we would be motivated by love in the natural. Moreover, there was an additional truth that kept Paul thankful, even cultivating the desire to be filled and filled, over and over with God's love through the Spirit. Paul had come to the sobering conclusion that if one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all. Now we are back to our survey of the wondrous cross. John said it similarly, Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (I John 4:11)So what were these men saying? Men that had experienced the fullness of the love of God shed abroad in their hearts? They were looking through the eyes of love and were constrained to love, in spite of the circumstances. And in that fullness they were fully equipped to fulfill the two great commandments upon which hang all of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:40).
From my favorite Psalm below that applies to these posts. God is GOOD and His mercies endureth forever and so does His Word."Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"LORD Bless you Robert.
AGAPE THE "UN-NATURAL" LOVE (Part 6)You will recall that we stated in an earlier section that Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; the end of that passages states, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10). The word ‘ill’ in this passage is generally translated as ‘evil’ and should be understood to mean the outworking of that selfish, murderous, destructive and hateful spirit of Satan himself. It is the opposite of agapE love and flows from the Sinful nature.Simply stated, ‘love works no injury to his neighbor.’ This is the supreme summary of the Law of Moses. The Jews had eventually codified that law into 248 "Do's" and 365 "Don'ts" (one for each day of the year), a total of 613 Commandments. But the fact is, you cannot legislate AgapE love. Reason being is that man must have the intent and spirit of the Law front and center as his objective in obeying it; and that objective is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. When that objective is lost a host of means can be employed to carve up the Law till it is of none effect. Simply put, the Law just as well as told the people you don't really love God or your neighbor in of yourselves. You have a nature of hate and are of your father the devil. This is the reality that makes John 3:3 make sense.AgapE love will put down the emotions and constrain a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit. The Law could not do that in it was weak through the flesh. The nature of humanity is contrary to the spirit of the Law. And the Law does a wonderful job pointing that out. As we look into the perfect law of liberty, the Law that shows us a God of perfect love, who causes it to rain on the evil and the good, and we see ourselves, we see what manor of men and women we are. And apart from Christ; apart from the love of God poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit we are destined to sin, because sin is cultivated in the absence of AgapE love. Before you were born again you would defend your family to the death for the same crimes you had put your enemies to death for; why? Because your love was not perfect. You would prefer your friends and make provisions for them regardless of whether they were right or wrong. Why? Because you phileos them. You would sacrifice and sacrifice for Sin and this world to the destruction of your own life and soul, but would not as much as walk across the street for free salvation. Why? Because you sacrifice for that which you love, and you loved Sin more than your own best interest. But when you were born again you found a new love. This love was demonstrated by our Lord as He was being taken to the cross and crucified. Here we read, But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (NAS) I have chosen the NAS version because it accurately translates the Greek verb as ‘was saying’. This means that He not only said it once, but was ‘saying’ it over and over again. Had man seen such a perfect expression of love? It is certain that this had never once happened before in the history of humanity. That a man wrongfully condemned would pray forgiveness for those who were putting Him to death and mocking Him? Not after there was time for the wounds to heal and after reflection and much thought and feelings of mercy may begin to flow. Oh No! The love of Christ was in the "while we were yet..." tense (if you will). This is completely UNNATURAL LOVE. It was an expression of God’s love in the midst of tremendous trial and temptation. It was a demonstration of that same love which has been shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit.
THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND (Part 7)And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)In a previous study we looked at Romans 12:1 where Paul calls our attention to the previous 11 chapters with the term, ‘therefore’. Romans is the closest thing we have in the New Testament to a systematic theology on the subject of salvation from Sin and sins (R.B). In verse 1 of chapter 12 he draws attention to the great ‘survey’ of the cross that he had afore explained to the readers. Paul expounded upon the length and width and breadth and height of God’s plan of redemption and the tremendous sacrifice and love that God demonstrated to us while yet sinners. With chapters 1-11 as his backdrop he opens chapter 12 verse 1 with “I beseech you therefore brethren…” He closes the verse by saying, that our presentation of our bodies is our 'reasonable' service. This word in the Greek is logicos and is where we get the English word logic. He was saying, essentially, that anything ‘other’ than our full presentation of ourselves to God, in light of all He has done for us, simply would not make sense; it would defy reason. We then have the conjunction ‘and’ that couples the thoughts of verse 1 with 2. This means that the passage in verse 2 also is part of the ‘therefore’ of verse 1. He is beseeching us of two seperate things that are coupled together. The one is dependant on the other. We are 'urged' to 'present our bodies' and we are 'urged' to renew our minds. If we understand this rightly it would be as if Paul also said, “I beseech ye therefore brethren by the mercies of God… to be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
THIS WORLD: AT ENMITY WITH GOD (Part 8)We must begin this section by affirming God’s total enmity with this World. In I John 2:15-16 we read, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”There are only a relative 'handful' of occasions in which the word ‘agapE’ is not used in relationship to Christian Love (the Love of God). Our passage is one of them. Its use in I John 2 is similar to other passages where we are told that things such as, men agapE (love) darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). We read in II Timothy 4:10, For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…. other ways it is used include 'love' as in one that ‘loved’ the nation of Israel (Luke 7:5) and the Pharisee’s that ‘loved’ the chief seats (Luke 11:43). Even sinners are said to ‘love’ (agapE) those who ‘love’ (agapE) them (Luke 6:32). In every case we have an incomplete 'version' of the perfect agapE love of God as described in our previous study. In the afore mentioned examples the word is used to denote a love willing to sacrifice. Truly the love of God also is one of sacrifice, but the difference is in the perfection of God’s love. The agapE of God is ‘self-less’, the ‘agapE expressed by the unsaved is ‘selfish’. We are told to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. Then we are faced with an ‘if’ leading into John’s second thought… If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. You cannot have the love of God shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5) and love the world at the same time. It is impossible. It is an axiom of this passage that if you love the world you do not have the love of the Father. This is a ‘one or the other’ question; it cannot have an answer of 'both'. The ‘World’ is this temporal age headed by the spirit of disobedience- bent on selfish rebellion against God. It is the domain of Satan where the expression of his nature is increasing with each passing day. The ‘things’ that are in the world are, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These are the only three ‘tools’ in the devil’s kit (Reidhead). With these three things he has damned the race of men. They answer to the Old Testament gods that Israel stmbled over when they came into the promised land of Baal, Asteroth, and Molech. Baal represents the procurement of ‘things’. Asteroth represents ‘forbidden and illicit experience’. Molech ‘ascendancy over ones fellows’ (See Danger of third Generation Religion; P. Reidhead).
CONFORMITY TO THIS WORLD (Part 9)Be not ‘conformed’ is an interesting phrase. Paul is telling the people that there is a danger that after all God has done the effects of His work would be made void by neglecting this truth. What travesty! What an injustice? That God would take a sinner from a sinful world, forgive their sins, give him/her a new nature, pour His love in their hearts by His Spirit, put them back into the world for the purpose of their being a ‘peculiar people’ (in the midst of a perverse and crooked generation), and that person pattern their life after the world that God sent His Son to save them from. A sober mind sees this as utter madness. Be not conformed..., that is, do not 'pattern yourself' after. The word ‘conformed’ has the Greek root, sun (soon) and it means to 'walk together in union as companions.' James said it this way; Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Those members of the church that have befriended the world are figuratively regarded as unfaithful spouses to God. Why? Because their affections have turned away from Him and have turned to this World, His enemy. This is the pure definition of whoredoms; to take the love that belongs to the one and give it to another. The enemy is always wanting to steal away our affection for God for himself. What’s the solution? But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
bump
THE SPIRIT OF THE MIND (Part 10)
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (Ephesians 4:22, 23)
The first step in renewing the mind is to [u]believe[i]bent
In a previous lesson we discussed how God had given man a new heart and a new spirit, but not a new ‘mind’. God, through the finished work of the cross transforms the spirit of their mind, but does not delete the whole of the [i]memory[i]wrong reasoning[i]bent
This renewal goes hand in hand with the Word of God that has the [i]effect[i]all[u]perpetually
In a former study we also examined how God through the Apostle made his case for our [i]commitment[i]completely convinced
The old adage comes to mind, “where there is a will- there is a way.” Perhaps this is why Paul used such strong terms in Romans 12:1. The UBS Handbook states that, “There are a number of ways in which the phrase “I beseech you” may be rendered; "I strongly urge you," or "I beg of you earnestly." Once the people have a revelation of this they are more likely to take it seriously and act on it. Truly, it is life and death. Where there is a ‘will’ there is a ‘way’.
Our shortage is not the [u]means[u]our resolve
People take on the traits of those they befriend. This is where the concept of an ‘affected’ personality comes from. People want approval from their friends and often resort to mimicking them. Friendship with the world is no different and is expressed in [i]conformity to it
Once the realization of the ramifications of befriending the world are realized and an express determination to prevent this is made, the renewal of the mind has already begun.
THE OTHER 'BESEECH THEE' OF ROMANS 12:1 (Part 11)
[u]And
In a previous study we looked at Romans 12:1 where Paul calls our attention to the previous 11 chapters with the term, ‘therefore’. Romans is the closest thing we have in the New Testament to a systematic theology on the subject of salvation from Sin and sins (R.B., soteriology). In verse 1 of chapter 12 he draws attention to the great ‘survey’ of the cross that he had afore explained to the readers. Paul expounded upon the length and width and breadth and height of God’s plan of redemption and the tremendous sacrifice and love that God demonstrated to us while yet sinners.
With chapters 1-11 as his [i]backdrop[i]“I beseech you therefore brethren…”[i]logicos[u]not[i]defy reason
We then have the conjunction ‘and’ that couples the thoughts of verse 1 with 2. This means that the passage in verse 2 also is part of the ‘therefore’ of verse 1. If we understand this rightly it would be as if Paul said, [i]“I beseech ye therefore brethren by the mercies of God… to be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
GOD'S GREAT ENEMY (PART 12)
We must begin this section by affirming God’s total enmity with this World. In I John 2:15-16 we read;
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
There are only a handful of occasions in which the word ‘agapE’ is [i]not[i]men agapE (love) darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil [i]For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…
We have to make a distinction between agapE in this sense and the love of God as described in our previous study. In the afore mentioned examples the word is used to denote a love willing to [i]sacrifice
It would seem appropriate to say, the agapE of God is ‘self-less’, the ‘agapE expressed by the unsaved is ‘selfish’. In either case, we are not to love the world whatsoever. We are not to befriend the world either. We are not just told to love [u]not[u]neither[i]If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
You cannot have the love of God shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5) and love the world at the same time. It is impossible. It is an axiom of this passage that if you love the world you do not have the love of the Father. This is a ‘one or the other’ question; it cannot have an answer of both.
The ‘World’ is this temporal age headed by the spirit of disobedience, bent on selfish rebellion against God. It is the domain of Satan where the expression of his nature is increasing with each passing day. The ‘things’ that are in the world are, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Paris Reidhead in his sermon "The Danger of Third Generation Religion" remarks that 'these' are the only three ‘tools’ in the devil’s kit. With these three things he has damned the race of men. By way of illustration, they answer to the Old Testament gods of Baal, Asteroth, and Molech. Baal represents the procurement of ‘things’, Asteroth represents ‘forbidden and illicit knowledge or experience’, Molech ‘ascendancy over ones fellows’. These are the three main characteristics of a secular world view. This is the nature of Satan manifest in society.
CONFORMITY TO THIS WORLD (Part 13)
Returning to our passage in Romans 12:2, [i]be not ‘conformed’
A [i]sober[i]They are drunk but not with wine, they stagger but not with strong drink[i]Be not conformed
The word ‘conformed’ has the Greek root, [i]sun[i]Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.[i]whoredoms[i]But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
ONE THING THOU LACKEST (Part 14)
When you were born again you became a new creature. This was a creative miracle on the part of God in which you died to the old man (by the cross) and were raised to life as the new man (in the power of the Holy Spirit). This was a miracle every much as real as our Lord calling Lazarus from the grave or healing a blinded eye. You were emancipated from Sin (Romans 6:18-22), freed from the Law (Romans 7:1-6) and were crucified to this world and the world to you (Galatians 6:14). Your flesh has been crucified also (Galatians 5:24).
Now, as the born again, you are no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Holy Spirit dwells in you (Romans 8:3-9). You have received a new heart and Spirit in place of the old stony heart and the spirit of disobedience (Ezekiel 36:27, 27; Ephesians 2:2, etc.). The life that you now life is no longer you, but Christ that liveth in you (Galatians 2:20). But though you received a new heart and a new Spirit (the Holy Spirit), you did not receive a new brain. The spirit of your mind has changed, but there are many many beliefs and reasonings that God will need to 'renew' and change in order to change you into His image from Glory to Glory. People come to God with some strange and even outrageous beliefs. God takes us where we are and begins working on our minds.
THE RENOVATION OF THE MIND (Part 15)
We must always bear in mind that though we received a new heart at salvation, we did not get a new memory. We have a new affection, but we also have a memory bank ‘loaded’ with trash (as it were) from the previous owner.
I recall once that I looked at a house for purchase that was two stories and huge on the inside. The seller was asking little for the house compared to what it looked to be worth from the exterior. When I went inside the home I had never been as overwhelmed with trash and junk in all my life. I didn’t know that folk could survive under such conditions. The trash was to my knees and I was literally wading through it from room to room. The house was ‘loaded’ with the remnants of the life the former owner had lived. It seemed that when they unpackaged something, they left the packing where it fell. The smell was awful to put it mildly.
Though we have a new nature and are free from the flesh, Sin, and this world, we are loaded with memories of the past experiences we have lived out. Bad habits. Wrong reasonings. Life patterns. Memories that have an awesome and almost 'automatic' effect. Like dialing a phone by placing your hands over the numbers and not being able to recall it till your hand touched the pad- then the hand dialed it. Many such things.
Our mind is powerful. It can recall vivid color, majestic sound, distinctive scents, magnificent flavor, emotions distilled from a multitude of circumstances, and other unknown factors that we are not keen enough to realize. Many of these thoughts were the products of being drawn away by our lusts or godless emotions and were birthed with the hallmarks of our sinful condition. Put this all together and you have a 'mind's eye' that can [i]take you there
FALSE RENEWAL (Part 16)
In 1993 I had been born again about 2 years and desired greatly to please the Lord. I knew that my mind needed to be renewed daily. I recall hearing a TV minister state that he was going to start a series on “Renewing The Mind” and I looked forward each day to the coming start of that series. When it started a study guide (book) was offered, so I ordered it. When it arrived it was little more than a bizarre combination of [i]prosperity
I understood then that there was no abundance of believers that truly understood what it meant to ‘renew their minds.’ What disillusionment I felt when I had looked for a resource to assist me in renewing my mind to the image of Christ, and found the exact opposite in a book that would set my mind on the temporal things of this world. The book that promised to renew the mind- actually sought to conform it to this world.
In the 80’s and 90’s prosperity and positive thinking techniques gained a foothold in American Evangelicalism and laid the foundation for the apostasy and gross departure from scripture that those who think Biblically are vexed by today- from day to day. These were promoted by many televangelists that [u]influenced
As TV preaching has gone, so has gone much of the church. This is evidenced by a sharp turn away from the scriptures and towards [i]psychology[i]motivational
Fads have come and gone and each has left their own distinctive ‘mark’. Many worldly concepts birthed in the minds of ungodly men fabricated ideas that would challenge the word of God, by using the word of God as its proof text. Ron Bailey tells of a pulpit he once saw that had a plate that none could see save the man preaching. The enscribed words were, "[b]We would see Jesus
RAT POISON IS 90% GOOD CORN (Part 17)
The devil loves to teach Christians his subtle ways. Paul writes in Colossians 2:8, [i]Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Though obviously well intended, it was flesh at best and demonic at worst. Popular Christian authors are increasingly promoting many of these types of teachings. “If it is bad it is bad, regardless of its origin. Christians should judge a book for its dedication to truth, not by the popularity of its author.” (A.W. Tozer) God does not respect persons as men do (Galatians 2:6). It is a sin to do so (James 2:1). We must be good Bereans and test all things from the word (Acts 17).
‘Positive thinking' as it is commonly known is one of these doctrines. Positive thinking is not the same thing as [i]faith[u]not
CELEBRITY PREACHERS (Part 18)
Celebrities wield tremendous power over people. If a person has appeared on TV, they have an influence unlike anyone else. Folk reason that if they are on TV, and have a following in the thousands or millions then they must be doing something right? But is that necessarily so? No! That’s the worlds reasoning corrupting minds as further evidence of need for renewal. Christian's who have somehow became popular and are now essentially 'celebrities' have the same type of influence over people. The larger the ministry- the more their teachings are implemented.
The ‘positive thinking’ type doctrines equate discernment with being [i]critical[i]fault finding[i]reason
The NAS version of Colossians 2:8 translates a little differently; [i]See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
We cannot do God’s work the world’s way. We have to do God’s work- God’s way. It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. The Church in the 21st century has to reckon with one major question; either the word of God is [i]absolute[i]obsolete
WHAT THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND IS [u]NOT
The Spirit of your mind is not a ‘feeling’. It has nothing to do with feeling up or down, feeling good or bad, or feeling positive or negative. [i]Scientology
The 'spirit of our mind' has nothing to do with 'positive'- it has to do with [i]our response to God[i]disposition
Scripture teaches that the unbeliever has a mind that is [u]hostile
YE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST (Part 20)
Another key aspect of our renewed minds deals with our ability to understand and ‘judge’ spiritual things. We are able to separate from holy and profane, truth and lies, sin and righteousness. In I Corinthians 2:15, 16 Paul writes, [i]But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
There is a great lesson for Christians who know by personal experience the things of the Spirit of God. Men of intellectual gifts who are ignorant of the things of Christ talk learnedly and patronizingly about things of which they are grossly ignorant. The spiritual man is superior to all this false knowledge. (Robertson's) The spiritual do not drink down deception. They do not follow a multitude to do evil, they judge [u]all
THE 'SPIRIT' OF THE AGE (Part 21)
It is almost amazing the lengths to which the Spirit of Antichrist can work in evil seducers to deceive and be deceived (II Timothy 3:13). These people can stand a passage of scripture on its ear and make Christians like it and even ‘amen’ it. In I Timothy 6:5-8 we read, [i]Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Can you imagine whole ministries built on prosperity and others that have an undercurrent of that teaching? The word here for ‘supposing’ is the Greek [i]nomizo[u]think?[i]expression
They were men of [i]corrupt[u]they once held the Truth
PAUL's ADMONISHION (Part 22)
How could a corrupt mind, bereft of truth, assist someone else in renewing their mind? Maybe a better question would be, [u]why would they get an opportunity?[b]warnings[i]Be not many (of you) teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
But are they alone to blame? In no wise. Paul has already [u]begged[i]their own minds[i]For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (license), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
How do you protect yourself from ideas and thoughts that would injure (as it were) the spirit of your mind? Concepts and philosophies that could spoil you after the rudiments of this world? What are we to do when those who did teach truth have laid it aside and have suffered decay in their own minds? Paul gave a simple answer; [i]from such withdraw thyself[i]But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
SECTION II
BRINGING MANY sons UNTO GLORY
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (II Corinthians 3:18)
The great objective of God in creating man was that He might bring many sons unto glory (Hebrews 2:10). He desired that man would be a living manifestation of the nature and character of God. This does [u]not
God exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Man was created as Spirit, Soul, and Body. Man was created ‘upright’ and in the image of God, but Sin has marred that image. Because Sin has entered (Romans 5:12), man has sought out many ‘inventions’ (Ecclesiastes 7:29) Sin came [u]into
Beginning with Adam God desired to bring many sons unto glory. Ron Bailey has rightly pointed out that God needed nothing before He created man, but He desired to bless a people with His glory and presence (John 17). Before we were born again we were alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in us and because of the blindness of our hearts (Ephesians 4:15-24). Simply put, we were not [i]compatible[u]dead[i]Christ did not simply come to make bad men good, He came to make dead men live[i]dead
SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY (Man as a Tripartite Being)
The [i]spirit[i]body[i]soul
In this model the soul is the 'center' of the person where the mind, will, and emotions exist. At the center of the soul is the seat of the affections commonly called the [i]heart
Proverbs 4:23 informs us that it is out of the heart that are ‘the issues of life.’ The word ‘issues’ is literally ‘goings out’. Jesus took this up in Matthew 12:35; A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. There was only one good man and that was Jesus Christ. All others were evil men with evil hearts (Romans 3:12).
This is the condition of man unsaved. His body is cursed with the creation, filled with infirmity. The soul at its heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) The human spirit is dead to the life of God (Ephesians 2:1). [i]Unregenerate
So why does Paul say in I Thess. 5:23, [i]Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
Man has to be regenerated or as we commonly say, [i]born again[i]palengenesis
PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE
There is only one Father, one eternally uniquely Begotten Son, and one Holy Spirit. There is only and will ever only be one God. As God says in Isaiah 45:18, [i]For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.[i]Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
The object of all God's promises and dispensations was to bring fallen man back to the image of God, which he had lost. This, indeed, is the sum and substance of the religion of Christ. We have partaken of an earthly, sensual, and devilish nature; the design of God by Christ is to [u]remove[i]epithumia
God so designed that man would not only be a demonstration of His personality and character in the earth, but a truly compatible being with which to have fellowship. Remember that our section is to the effect of bringing many sons unto glory. Though we stress this often, we must understand that when Sin entered the human race the image of God in man was marred and a total restoration to that image had to be accomplished before God could restore man to fellowship. Spiritual 'death' is man seperated from the life of God. Man needed 'life', that is, eternal life. [i]And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.[i]over
AN ILLUSTRATION FROM THE WILDERNESS TABERNACLE
We know that God desires to make man His tabernacle (dwelling place). This was the basic point of Steven's message. God desires to reside in man (John 14:17). For the unsaved, this is impossible without regeneration. To complicates matters further, unregenerate man has no real desire for God.
The Wilderness Tabernacle was basically tripartite, with the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. By way of analogy, the Outer Court is like unto the body, the Holy Place the soul, and the Holy of Holies our human spirit. As with the Tabernacle, so with us, the temple had to cleansed with blood. In our case it was the Blood of Christ, as we had been defiled by Sin.
The next step is that Christ must restore His rightful place in our Holy of Holies (as it were). In the Wilderness Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant represented the very Throne of God with the Cherubim as we find in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4. This Throne was shielded by a huge curtain 4 inches thick and woven of one seam. It was total darkness behind that vail. You had not been able to see your hand in front of your face. The Lord's glory was only there at special times. This is a picture of man utterly dead in trespasses and sins. This is man alienated from the life of God. This is Ichabod over the doorposts of man's human spirit.
With God gone man was left to himself and Sin to rule and reign. The body served as the only real expression of the life of the Soul; hence, man gave himself over to sensual and glandular experience. The mind was darkened and any real fulfillment in life came through the exercise of his glands. Solomon took this reality to a whole new level. And after giving himself to everything any unregenerate man or woman would ever dream to have and more; he found that none of those things could meet the need of a man. (Paris Reidhead) Man was simply incomplete with a dead human spirit, dead to God. The bodily satisfactions could not [u]fulfill
Yet, tragically, the Vail remained. Hebrews makes interesting parallels also of the Tabernacle and the True Temple in Heaven. I find it wonderful and mysterious that God desired to both rule and reign [u]in[i]... which way he did initiate for us -- new and living, through the vail, that is, his flesh.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (II Corinthians 5:21)
This is a wonderful truth that answers why we can be dead to Sin and alive unto God. Jesus said in Luke 12:50; [i]But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished![i]from the dominion of Sin[u]in[i]Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Ron Bailey points out that there is a wonderful connection to all this that summarizes what our Lord means by ‘regeneration’. We read in Matthew 19:28, [i]And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, [u]in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory,
THAT WE MIGHT COME 'UP' INTO GOD
We have a great picture of salvation from Sin, the flesh, the world, and the devil in God’s great deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Hebrews 3). We were slaves to our cruel taskmaster Sin and the Devil, but God called us out, through the hand of Christ as He did with Moses that we may go and sacrifice to our God (Exodus 5:8, Romans 12:1-2).
What does this mean? Did God just desire to save us from Sin? Did Jesus die to save us from Hell? What does the scriptures say? [i]And this is life eternal, [u]that they might know thee
And this is the difference between those who fell in the wilderness and those we will take the 'Promised Land'. When Israel was free from their taskmasters they were happy, for a while, until trials came for the word of the Lord’s sake. Then, they murmured against God as would fair-weather believers, and their hearts turned back to Egypt.
God led them out by a mighty deliverance. He called out a people to [u]sanctify totally
God sanctified a Mountain and forbid any from coming up to Him save those whom He would allow. What a picture! What a fearful sight. This is the place where God would test the hearts of the people. This was the Mount that was not to be touched. This was the Mount that burned with fire. It is here where Moses trembled and quaked. It is here we learn a tremendous lesson.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. (Psalm 24:3, 4)
God knew the rebellious hearts of the people (Jeremiah 17:10). He knew the thoughts and intents of their hearts (Hebrews 4:12). If they had presumed to come before God in that rebellion He had broken upon the people with tremendous judgment (Exodus 19:23). It is here on the mountain that we learn the terrible awesomeness of God's pure holiness. It is here that we are made to appreciate the priveledge of ever coming back into the presence of God once we were sinners. It is here that we stand in awe and wonder at the marvel of a salvation that could reconcile a thrice holy God, with a thrice sinful sinner. Man, who was shot thoroughly through with Sin, was about to reckon with the reality of His maker.
A READINESS TO OBEY
If there is a word that is completely out of vogue it is [i]obedience[i]subjection
And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people.
This is a bad mixture, God who [i]demands[u]totally incompatible
When we say ‘glory’ we are not referring to God’s sovereignty, worship, and praise. We are not saying God was about ready to share His throne. God says in Isaiah 42:8 that He will not give His glory to another or His praise to graven images. God was saying that there is a glory due to Him, and to Him alone.
What we are referring to is what Jesus spoke of in his prayer to the Father in John 17:22-23;
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
This is the glory of God’s person, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The prayer is for all those who should believe on Him through the Apostles word (John 17:20). As Christ, according to his human nature, is termed the Son of God, He may be understood as saying: "I have communicated to all those who believe, or shall believe in me, the glorious privilege of becoming sons of God; that, being all adopted children of the same Father, they may abide in peace, love, and unity." For this reason it is said in Hebrews 2:11, Christ is not ashamed to call them brethren. (Clarke) Why? Because they have the nature and mind of Christ and are no longer incompatible with Him. This is not Deity, it is the fruit of the Spirit; the evidence that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
THE MAKING OF MANY 'sons'
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure (I John 3:1-3).
We are the children of God by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. We have been born of God through an incorruptible seed, which is the word of God (I Peter 1:23). Out temples (body+soul+spirit) has been set in order and cleansed, endued with the living presence of God. Formerly our spirit was dead towards God, but now it has been quickened. The Holy Spirit is in contact with our spirit. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Ababa, Father. The Spirit itself beater witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:15, 16). As the children of Israel followed the fire and cloud in the wilderness, so also;
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (8:14).
As our Lord had said, "My sheep hear my voice and another they will not follow." This implies [i]personal relationship
IN THE GARDEN
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
[u]Chorus
And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing
[i]chorus
And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling
[i]chorus
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
FROM GLORY UNTO GLORY
We have a wonderful picture of what it means to be changed into His image from glory to glory again with Moses in the wilderness. In Exodus 24:1-4 God called Moses up unto Himself to give to him a covenant that according to Paul in II Corinthians 3:13 had a [i]fading glory
Moses [u]alone
Moses came near to God in as much as his face began to shine with the glory of God. It was when Moses was near that God gave Moses the Law on the tables of stone. In this I see a picture of the hearts of the people; [i]hearts of stone
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
If we read this passage in reverse we find that the deceitfulness of Sin was the 'means' by which the hearts of the people were hardened. It would appear that the deceitfulness of Sin had supplanted their faith in God and His Word. They listened to the enemies lies instead of listening to God. They would 'hear' the lies and 'hearden' their hearts against God. What has happened when something hardens? The water has gone out. It has been 'quenched'.
I have used the illustration of what it means to 'quench' the Spirit by referring to the sound that a hot poker makes when it touches a wet cloth. SHHHHHHHH. And if I might make the connection, it is no different when man quenches the Spirit. They have essentially put their index finger to their lips and told Him, "SHHHHH, I don't want to hear what you have to say!, I'm asserting MY will, not YOURS!" This, I think, is how we sear our conscience and harden our hearts. We tell the Holy Spirit His orders are not welcome. Charles Finney writes;
[i]What is it to harden the heart? It is to commit the will or mind against the claims of God and of humanity. To harden the heart is to commit the soul in a spirit of disobedience, and self-will, and stubbornness, against God and his government. It is always a voluntary act to harden the heart, and a voluntary state when the hardness of heart is continued.
The mind always assigns to itself some reason for taking this position of self-will, and for maintaining this position of stubbornness against God. It is a matter of consciousness that the will has indirectly a great control of the feelings. If the mind commits itself by an act of will to any position, the feelings are brought to adjust themselves to the will's position; not always directly and instantly, but the feelings will soon come to sympathize with the attitude taken by the will.
The reason is very obvious, the feelings are influenced by the thoughts, and the thoughts are directed by the will. When the will, then, is committed to a dishonest position, it will always use the intellect dishonestly; and by a dishonest use of the intellect will foster such thoughts as to prevent the feelings.
This is common experience, as every one knows who has paid any particular attention to his own state of mind. A voluntary stubbornness always locks up the sensibility, and closes it against that class of emotions that would naturally result from a different attitude of the will. If the mind takes a position against God, it will use the intellect to justify its position, or to excuse it; consequently it will indulge only in thoughts, and arguments, and reflections, that justify its position, and therefore that poison and pervert the feelings and bring them into sympathy with the will.
Men harden their hearts, then, by an uncandid and selfish use of the intellect, assigning to themselves such reasons for their conduct as to justify their taking this position. if you harden your heart and continue to do so, it will surely be fatal to you. There is no power in the universe that can save you, if you will persist in hardening your heart against God.
Can God write His laws into a heart that has made the Holy Spirit unwelcomed? Will man behave like Christ with his/her heart hardened as a stone? No. This is why man needed his stoney heart removed and a heart of flesh installed in its place. This is a heart with a readiness to 'hear', 'trust' and 'obey'. I love this connection in Paul's writings:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (II Corinthians 3:3).
Is Paul saying that because we are changed into His image from glory to glory that our faces will glow with a radiance? We are used to thinking of glory as a 'glowing' or 'light'.
What are we talking about? We are talking about real 'evidence'. Evidence that we have been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). When we keep our hearts tender and right towards God He can put His laws in them until they are woven into the very fabric of our personality. Our behavior will illuminate. Our actions will manifest the person of Christ. It is ‘His image’ that we are changed into from glory to glory.
THE DIVIDING OF SOUL AND SPIRIT
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12)
One of the first lessons we find in scripture is that of Cain and Abel. This lesson is among the first of many that comprise a body of revelation from God to man that we call the Scriptures (the Bible from [i]biblion[i]definite
Consider that billions of people's stories could have been recorded over the course of human history in the pages of scripture; but God revealed these specific events and story lines of the people of God and specifically Israel for our instruction and learning (I Corinthians 10:11). The backdrop of the New Testament is the Old Testament. Therefore, there are NO insignificant details in God word; not even the ‘begats’. Every entry has a purpose or it would not be recorded. The Bible is not a history book in the sense that it exhaustively records the details of peoples and nations existence; it is a specific selection of history meant to reveal God and His dealing with man. (R.B) This [u]is
In order to gain a right perspective of God's dealing with man we have to look at the dividing asunder of [i]soul[i]spirit[i]dividing asunder of soul and spirit
We can make some safe assumptions here while first looking at why Cain should have known fruits and vegatables are not an accptable offering to the Lord. First, may it be known, that God judges man based upon the light that he/she is given. If you know the right way or [i]should[u]no
So why would Cain want to kick against the pricks? He knew that God had given a right way to approach Him. He knew what that path was. God only expected Cain to walk in the revelation he had available. He did not ask him to be Melchezidek.
Cain rejected revelation. He rejected knowledge. We could read some things into this behavior, but suffice it to say that Cain was in rebellion. Cain divised his [i]own method
Unregenerate man is in no position to offer God 'gifts' as he/she is eternally and immeasurably indebted to God in the first place. That would be like bringing a birthday gift to your banker while in default on a trillion dollar loan. There is only one posture to present yourself when in that condition and that is for total obedience and utter humility and denial of self. The right response? "Your wish is my command." But this was NOT Cain's attitude. He expected God to [i]accept[i]Cain's
What about Abel? He did that which was accepted. Why? Because he responded [u]rightly
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Hebrews 11)
This is the nature of the ‘spiritual.’ Cain brought to God what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6). This is the nature of man operating from the soul or ‘soulishly’. Abel walking in the light that he was given. That is all God asks. We have to [i]believe[i]alone
SOUL AND SPIRIT
Our passage states that the word of God is able to distinguish between the [i]soul[i]spirit
This human spirit is [u]dead[u]alive[i]heart
Remember our text, [i]For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.[u]not
SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
There is a great difference between ‘figuring something out’ with your own reasoning skills and [i]discerning
Man has a mind with the ability to take into account known facts and make judgments based upon the information available. This is man using his/her ability to decide [u]apart[i]understanding.
We have a early 'glimpse' of what it means to walk in the Spirit from Proverbs 3:5, 6;
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
The word ‘lean’ in Hebrew means to ‘rest upon’ or [u]‘rely’[u]not[i]looks[i]sensible[u]NOT[u]shall
THINGS YOU [u]DON'T
If God has already spoken on a topic and the answer is clear from the word of God, there is no further need to pray for a [i]different
Prayer does [u]not[u]un[i]apart
If God puts the desire in your heart that is one thing, but when prayer and direction from God is sought in such a way as to bring man’s will to pass, God is [i]not
What if God had FULL control of a person's life? What if they were utterly dead to their own will? What if God's will was done in our lives as it is done in Heaven?
GAINING DIRECTION FROM GOD
Most bad decisions are made by Christians because they did not truly seek God’s will in prayer. This is often rooted in an absence of a personal relationship with God. Not having a real 'revelation' of who God is, they want God to sign off on their plans, rather than their signing off on His.
A right understanding or apprehension of God will have a profound effect on our behavior. I often say that what we often need is a fresh revelation of God. God began revealing Himself to Israel through Moses as He desired to lead them from Egypt. They were given instructions on how to wait on the Lord (as it were) as they had not yet had a revelation of Him that would enable them to rightly relate to Him. This was about to change during the first Passover.
Our lifestyle should be such that we are ‘standing’ as Israel when they were consuming the Passover in Egypt. This was a taught behavior for them, but should be our very nature as the regenerate who have had a personal experience with God.
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's Passover (Exodus 12:11).
This is a people awaiting 'marching orders' from God. This should be the [i]posture
You will notice that they had “done all” and were standing (Ephesians 6). We need to have ourselves ready to abandon all and do God's will. No obstructions, weights or sins. No incumberances, but an “instant in season and out of season readiness”. This means a readiness to manifest the person of Jesus Christ in every situation. This is constant denial of ‘self’.
When ‘self’ shows up in the situation SIN is lying at the door (Genesis 4:7). Satan, as we have mentioned in previous studies is always faithful to suggest that we ‘pity’ ourselves; but Jesus said we must [u]utterly
How did Peter 'disown' the Lord? In so much that he went out and wept bitterly. He realized that he had denied the Lord in the way he was commanded the Lord to deny HIMSELF. What a picture! This is no mere coincidence. You will find that the only place that this specific Greek word is used is for denial of 'self' and Peter's denial of Christ. We are left to reckon with what it means to 'utterly' deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.
PRESUMPTION OR GOD'S WILL?
We must make a distinction here and observe what soulishness really is. This is 'that' which originates in the soul of man, rather than the Heart of God. Ideas, plans, and schemes are often the result of man’s strategies, rather than God direction. Anything we do for the Lord, must have the Lord as its source. It has to begin in the heart of God or we are no different than Cain.
This does NOT mean that we sit idle and wait for instructions; we already have 'marching orders'. As Ron Bailey has said, "God should never have to speak more than once. If He speaks the second time it is definitely grace that allowed it." We are taught in Proverbs the means of rearing a child properly. God is not like many parents who talk and talk and threaten and threaten their kids; God will use the rod of correction without hesitation if it is in order. Anything else would [i]spoil
So what are we to do? Are we not to wait for the ‘call’? Every Christian is called; but few [i]Trust in the LORD with all their heart; and lean not unto their own understanding. In all their ways acknowledge him, and He directs their paths.[i]no need
Some of the most spiritual things you will ever do as a Christian is that which you were not specifically ‘called’ to do. (G.W. North). God needs a people with their loins girded, prayed up, packed up, willing and ready to step into the path He is directing them into. This is a conscious readiness to walk in the path God sets before them. The trouble people get into is that they have [u]not[u]all[u]leaned not[i]anything
We have to learn to follow Christ. We have to let Him lead, but this is more like 'merging' into the flow of God's will than looking for a 'green light'. As we are walking He directs our steps. It is more complicated than this, but it is not, really. This is the foundation of our walk with Him.
EVERY THING TO GOD IN PRAYER
Can man alone build Christ’s Church? What does the scripture say? [i]And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it
The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church that Christ builds, but surely it will prevail the ‘church’ man builds. Imagine going about to build a building without a [i]total disposition[u]your[i]His direction
Where does this process begin? Proverbs 3:5, 6;
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
This is [u]not[u]everything
This principal is as old as the Old Testament and is a timeless as any principal in scripture. This didn't go out of date with the New Covenant. When we sincerely trust God in faith that He is going to direct our path, we have to be ready to [i]disregard[u]nonsense
We have to be ready to follow the Lamb whethersoever He goeth. We have to be ready to trust God with our whole lives. The Bible is loaded with such accounts of God leading people according to Proverb’s 3:5, 6. It is when man began to look to their own sensibility that God’s displeasure fell on the people. When David numbered Israel or the children of Israel looked on the outward appearance. We don't know the facts or even the multitude of variables involved. More than that, we don't know the will of God unless we seek His face and walk in the revelation He has given.
WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE THE LORD
We walk by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7). Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. When God says we [u]can[u]can[u]must
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:36, 37).
Literally the Greek states, no word from God is [i]void[u]“Come!”
The question is, will we believe God or our lying eyes? Truth is not what is perceived by the natural senses- it is what God says. Peter did not lean upon his own understanding, he disregarded the ‘logical’ for the [i]revelation
But there is something to be said to returning to a conscious dependency on God to provide for all our need. Many believers have so fortified themselves against any real need for faith in God that God has to orchestrate situations where they have to trust Him by faith. We have become so self-sufficient that we don’t even need to pray before service or anything else for that matter. We have the talent and ability to pull it off- with or without direction from God. So we think.
THE BABY IN THE BASKET
This particular entry finds me at an odd time in my life. A troubling time. It seems I have spent my entire youth raising my kids in the fear and admonishion of the Lord. Yet those days are approaching that I must begin to loose them from my care. It is time to put up or shut up (as they say in our parts). It's time to either trust God or pack up and go home (wherever that would be).
It's easy to talk [i]faith
Whether you believe it or not there is an enemy that is out to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to destroy you, your friends, and your family. He is not joking and is not flip about it. He is DEAD serious, bent on wickedness hurt, pain, and destruction. He don't want to merely take their lives and life, he wants to lead them into the paths of eternal damnation. Like Pharoah, he sees the people of God multiplying in the earth and puts a contract out on the little ones. Newborn babes in Christ and our little ones that are vulnerable. As parents and pastors we guard them like a Bangee. But there comes a point when we know the battle is bigger than we could ever be and we must step aside and trust in the Lord with all of our might, having forsaken all that our eyes and ears are saying.
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. (Exodus 2)
Here is a mother who loved her child and did everything she could do in her own ability to preserve the life of this baby. She didn't want him to be lost. She loved him as a godly mother would. [i]And when she could not longer hide him,..
Maybe she could hear the footsteps? Perhaps the enemy had taken to going from door to door after the children? Maybe she was shaken by the shouting and screaming of mothers who had their babies ripped from their arms?
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. (Hebrews 11:23)
There is a desperation that comes in the heart of a Saint in which faith will arise. Perhaps God quickened some revelation to her heart and in absolute confidence and faith she took hold of some necessary items and prepared an ark for the saving of her house. Moses great great great... grand father Noah did the same thing when He had heard from God as the enemy was closing in on his family.
Maybe you are reading this and you feel the enemy closing in on you to take your family with some 'thing' or weapon with which he would snatch them from your arms? Maybe you hear the footsteps and the screams of parents who have watched as their kids backslid into the clutches of a merciless devil. Maybe it is not so serious, maybe you are just riddled with uncertainty about your family, friends, or even your own life. [i]And when [u]she could no longer hide him
NO WORD FROM GOD IS 'VOID' OF POWER
We walk by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7). Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. This is God revealing something about His person to us in such a way that we 'see' it. We 'see' something about Him that brings faith. Faith 'cometh' by hearing. Maybe it was reading the word or maybe it was listening to a sermon, but in some real way God has spoken to you and it is your responsibility to respond to that revelation. To do so is [i]faith
When God says we [u]can[u]can[u]must
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:36, 37).
I'm being redundant here, but literally the Greek states, [i]no word from God is without or 'void' power.[u]“Come!”
The question is, will we believe God or our lying eyes? Truth is not what is perceived it is what God says. Peter did not lean upon his own understanding, he disregarded the ‘logical’ for the revelation. He had placed his life into the hands of the Lord. He saw fit to step out of the situation he was in and into the arms of the Lord. This has an echo of the Leper's in the Old Testament who reasoned, "Why should we just sit here and die?"
Yet, in the West, many believers have so fortified themselves against any real need for faith in God that God has to orchestrate situations where they have to trust Him by faith. We have become so self-sufficient that we don’t even need to pray before ministering or anything else for that matter. We have the talent and ability to pull it off- with or without direction from God. So we think.
What do we have to give the people [i]from
'DIVIDING' THE WORSHIP
Worldly [i]ambition[i]direction[i]cannot improve
We often think God needs our talents and abilities and the [i]opposite[u]trusting
There are many talented people whose talents have been a [u]snare
Ambition, the enemy of God's will. This is the message behind Ten Shekels and A Shirt (among other things). That God would be a [u]means[u]end
I was recently asked, [u]"What IS ministry?"[i]truth[u]everything
Christ is the only source of spiritual food and we are the mediators of that 'nourishment'. We are to bring to the needy something we have received from God for their edification. If it does not originate in [i]eternity
Ministry is handing the people what God has handed us. We acquire ministry, not in talent or ability, but in our personal time with Him. Often our talents and abilities [i]get in God's way[i]concoct
Like the manna in the wilderness, we need a fresh word for those who will hear; but first for ourselves. If we have not been with Him we have nothing to give; no 'food' to feed a starving and malnourished people. We must have that radiance of His glory. We must have that costly fragrance of having been with Jesus. We must walk in the anointing that flows from His beard down upon us.
I'm getting long winded here, but Watchman Nee told of how there was a woman that seemed not to do much for the Lord and it seemed reasonable that she should be somewhere in a big city and a big church that could USE her. You need to be 'USED' of God he would say. But, in time, when he was older he realized that she was being used of God and did not need to be in a ministry per se, she was mentoring young men in her little town and showing them how to love the Lord and walk with Him.
Like the alabaster box, Judas (the world) and the Disciples (the Church) saw what the woman did as a WASTE. But there is no waste, when we wait upon Him. That is our FIRST job. We serve HIM first and from there we have somewhat to serve others with. This is not laziness, it is a conscious understanding that our first priority is [u]not
God wants vessels meet for the Master’s use. This is a vessel empty of self and soulish ambition. This is a person whose whole desire is to please the Lord. And these are the only people qualified to be Christ’s disciples; those willing to utterly deny themselves.
UNWAVERING OBEDIENCE
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by [u]every word
Our text finds our Lord on a fast of some 40 days in the wilderness. You will recall from the Exodus that Israel had entered the desert hundreds of years before on a quest to become a Kingdom of Priests (Exodus 19). Some years before on the backside of the desert, Moses who had suffered 40 years in exile, met with a history altering encounter. When I reduce the solemn and awesome event to its simplest form, its almost as if the LORD appeared to Moses and said, "Let me introduce Myself, Moses, [i]turn NOT aside after me, and remove the shoes from thy feet
When I was a child my dad had a chair in the living room that was 'his' chair. No one was supposed to sit in 'Dad's chair'. That chair, in a matter of speaking, was [i]sanctified[i]set apart[i]Kingdom of Priests[i]Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exodus 19:5)
When it all boils down, the thing that seperates a Christian from a pagan is that they [u]obey God[i][u]if
EARLY LESSONS AND A SIMPLE DEFINITION OF SIN
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)
Sin is disobedience to the revealed will of God. Our text says, "To him that [u]knoweth[i]sin
And that servant, which [u]knew his lord's will
I used to have a friend that had a habit of saying that "ignorance is bliss." A.W. Tozer once pointed out the folly of this saying by reminding us that if you were ill and did something that endangered your life unknowingly you could die because of your ignorance. Ignorance is not bliss, it is [i]dangerous
For this they [u]willingly are ignorant
Some translations say, 'willingly forget' or 'put out of their minds'. The proliferation of the printed word of God leaves everyone with access to the word of God with a far greater accountability before God than those who never had access to His will. In some industrial business' there is what is known as 'mandatory safety meetings' in which issues are discussed that the people are required to [i]know[i]wilfull ignorance[i]chose
ISRAEL was put to the test a few times early on to see if they were willing to be God's peculiar people. God would give a general question or commandment and see if they responded rightly to it. One of those first 'tests' had to do with the daily collection of Manna for food. The people cried out to God and murmered for food. When God gave a commandment on how to handle the food, they transgressed. They knew their Lord's will and did it not and to them it was sin.
I AM That I AM
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).
The word for ‘beginning’ here in the Hebrew means 'the first'; in place, time, order or rank. It is the ‘chief’ of knowledge to fear the Lord. Not only is it the [i]starting point
Without this fear of the Lord perspective, one will never [i]rightly
It is important to stop and state also that It is not 'one' or 'the other' (love or holiness), it is [u]both
It is sufficient for us to know that God is what He is. This name makes folly of any comparison between the God of the Israel and the gods of the Egyptians and other nations. It furnished Moses and his people with a foundational truth that God would build upon as He further reveals Himself in scripture. God cannot be cast into a mold based upon what we want Him to be or even our last revelation of what He once revealed to us. He is the 'living God' and living means 'river'. What is the shape of water? It is what it is and to try to form or mold it is impossible in its natural liquid form. So also, we cannot cast God into a mold of what we want Him to be or even bend Him a particular way for the sake of emphasizing a certain attribute of His. He IS what He IS.
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Every intelligent creature owes his/her Creator due reverence. Lest we should somehow misunderstand how we ought to view God, Jesus gives a most solemn warning;
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).
The word ‘fear’ here is [i]phobeo[i]he fell at His feet as dead.
When I was a child, like many people, I went to church on a church bus that picked my brother and I up for church and especially, Sunday School. My Sunday School teacher was old timey holiness. This woman single handedly convinced me of the meaning of the 'fear of the Lord'. She presented God as loving, but a God not to be trifled with either. I recall once in class making the mistake of using the slang term 'gosh' and it came off as I had near to take God's name in vain. With the snap of her head pointing her warning look with me in the crosshairs she stated, "WHAT did you say?" Um, uh, um, I said 'gosh', I replied. "That's DANGEROUS" she stated. And from that day to this I cannot recall ever once using God's name in vain 'cursingly' as it is so often used. That look and her solumn and hollow voice went clear to my bones and into my heart. Trifling with God was a "NO NO."
I don't believe that it can be overstated that this all too often missing element in modern Christian education has caused untold damage and deception. The love of God is presented without a healthy [i]balance
Modern Sunday School philosophy is to FIRST teach children that God loves them. I look at the massive exodus of youth that backslide after they acquire a car, boyfriend/girlfriend, and a job and wonder if that philosophy is right. Where is the fear of the Lord in their life? What has caused them to think that turning away from God is even an option? something, no doubt, is missing from the foundation of their knowledge of God.
THE VOICE OF WICKEDNESS
In this entry, I wish to glean some wisdom on the subject from the Psalmist. It is nothing new for those who seek the Lord to look around and try to [i]diagnose[i]carelessness
The psalmist gives an inspired prognosis in Psalm 36:1;
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
From their contempt of God and their want of a due regard to Him: "The transgression of the wicked [i]speaks[i]no fear of God before his eyes[i]restraintless
It used to be said (pre 20th century) when indictments by our law were brought against a criminal, that “such a person, [i]not having the fear of God before his eyes[i]evidence
It is an axiom of scripture that transgressors transgress because they do not fear the Lord. This missing element in a human being is evidence that they are unsaved and in need of the Born Again experience (Romans 3:18).
GOD'S BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
Scripture tells us that Lot was [i]vexed from day to day
It happened also in Israel’s time also. There is always a remnant who sigh and cry for the sins of the people. You will recall in Ezekiel the angel that came forth with the inkhorn and set a sign upon the forehead of all those who were weeping or groaning- vexed by the filthy behavior of the wicked. This 'torment' can be either a sense of [i]tremendous loss[i]tremendous jealousy
When we reach the book of Malachi we are watching God's dealings with Israel wind down. II Chronicles 38 tells us that God had sent prophet after prophet and the people despised them and their words, so God sent His wrath upon them until there was [u]no remedy
Malachi is winding up the Old Testament revelation. As the hands on the clock near allign themselves for the stroke of midnight. When I was a child I used to tremble around 2:00 AM, when having fallen asleep while watching some late night program, was awakened by the almost deafening tone of a station signed off, or the black and white 'snow' that revealed the total absense of any human being. I'll never forget how alone I felt at that moment. How worthless and even fearful was that wooden box when there was no signal.
Most bibles have a single white page that seperates the Old and the New Testament. Did you know that that page represents 400 years of no prophetic voice in the land? No word from God worthy of being recorded in God's Holy Word. Just a chapter and a half before GOD 'signed off' He left the people and for our admonishion (I Cor. 10) these words:
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not (Malachi 3:16-18).
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the root of all religion; they reverenced God as “his Majesty” (King). They submitted to His authority. They had a dread of His wrath in all they thought and said. They humbly complied with God and never spoke any strong words against Him. In every age there has been a remnant that feared the Lord, though sometimes but a little remnant. (M.H) God remembered those who feared Him and He wrote down the conversations they had one to another as a memorial. Like the tears in the bottle we read of in the psalms, God kept a record. I sometimes wonder if my name is in that book? I sometimes wonder what, if anything, God may have written about me. Have I groaned for our times? Am I vexed from day to day? Am I jealous for His name?
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS!
A man was recently 3000 feet into the air flying his small plane when a 4 _ foot black snake peeked its head through the instrument panel. When asked what he did the 62 year old pilot referred back to something his instructor told him some 25 years before; “No matter what happens, [u]FLY the plane!
And such as it is in our lives. No matter what happens, [u]“Fear the Lord!”
Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and waiting on the Father. Not only did he not murmur, but He faced off with the Devil who was desperate to get our Lord’s mind onto the same types of things he succeeded in getting Israel’s on. It's that same old proposition, "PITY THYSELF."
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
This is astonishing! It was as if our Lord told all of us, “Never mind that I have not eaten for 40 days, you worry about being totally and swiftly obedient to God!” As He told Peter in the closing hours of His sojourne on the earth, [i]"If I would that he should tarry till I come, what is that to thee? [u]Follow thou me
This is the lesson Israel did not learn in the wilderness. They were used to the ebb and flow of Egypt. They longed for the predictability they once knew. They were not quite willing to trust God at the level He was asking them. In Egypt they could use their skills to make buildings and earn a slaves wages; but in the desert its just them and God.
When things don't go as planned what will we do? When God takes us a different route than we imagined, what then? What did Israel do? What... did Job do? And such as it is in our lives. No matter what happens, [u]“Fear the Lord!”
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28, 29)
THE SHEPHERD OF THE LAMBS
Sometimes it is good to 're-focus' our attention on the things that God has revealed as important to Him. Not that all things are not important, but sometimes some of the most precious things or 'people' are allowed to slip through the cracks for one reason or another. The enemy understands what these things are or in the case of this entry, [i]who
James is an interesting epistle. So much does it deal with 'works' that Luther felt the book to be non-canonical. Perhaps he felt the book in opposition to [i]faith
Before we look at our text in James, I want to point something out. Pharoah, who is symbolic of Satan himself, ordered that male children, when born, were to be killed by the midwives. The closing verse of Exodus chapter 1 contains these words, [i]Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live."[i]infanticide
What is it about children that Satan has devised so many means with which to destroy them? What has allowed God's people to not fully appreciate the little ones? You will recall that even in the time of Christ the disciples would 'shew away' the kids that tried to come to Jesus. What was our Lord's reaction?
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they [u]rebuked
This was the attitude of our Lord and it seems reasonable for James to write from a unique perspective of having lived with our Lord, perhaps, more than any of the others disciples, maybe even ALL of the others combined. And from that perspective he gives, what is to me, one of the most radical statements ever inspired by the Spirit to the heart of a ready writer:
Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)
There is an echo from the Gospels, [i] I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' [i]threskeia[i]threskos
What are the implications of this? If we draw a strait line through the facts we come up with a New Testament definition of the FEAR OF GOD and it is [i]to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
(Exodus 22:22-24)
You may be wondering how this could be? "How is it possible that 'pure' fear of the Lord could be comprised of visiting the fatherless and widows?" I can understand how "keeping unspotted of the world" would fit. Why can't pure fear of the Lord be comprised of fasting and prayer? Maybe its because folk do as the Priest who passed by the battered and bruised robbery victim on the way to the Temple for what he believed was more inportant religious exercise? Maybe its because fasting and prayer are measures to build our relationship with God, that when that relationship begins to have its effect, and the heart of God and the heart of the seeker begin to beat in sync (as it were), the seeker will walk out of the prayer closet and into the FEAR OF THE LORD.
Where are they? Where are the fatherless and widows? How is the Church doing in terms of fearing the Lord? It is interesting to note the extreme number of children born out of wedlocke, whose fathers have little or nothing to do with the children. The inner cities of America are literal Mission Fields of children who have never heard the name of Jesus. The voice of our Lord beacons, "Suffer them to come... suffer them to come unto me..." visit them... Visit them... VISIT them! The nursing homes and centers are filled with widows. Many of them are former Sunday School teachers, Pastor's wives, song leaders, having served God for 50-70+years, and now...
Yet, there is almost a silent rebuke as folk often view kids as too much trouble. There are tremendous ministries to kids in cities. Sidewalk Sunday School, Church bus programs, etc. But who has not passed through a neighborhood and saw a little child playing in the yard on a Sunday. What about that Grandmother that is in a Nursing Home with one foot in the grave wondering if the Lord has forsaken her?
No, theres not a lot of glory in pure religion. Perhaps that's why its pure? Not many people write books about ministering on inner city streets to children. Not a lot of books on the subject of going into homes and getting little kids dressed for Sunday School while mom and dad are passed out in bed from a night of partying. But these folk don't need publicity, their a SHEPHERD OF THE LAMBS.
NONE OF SELF- ALL OF THEE
C.T. Studd, the African missionary, believed that Christians ought to live as such a threat to the Devil that in Hell he will throw a thanksgiving celebration for the Church having been called from the field of battle. What could the Devil fear more in the Church than believers so full of the Holy Ghost that they lived by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God? No sooner the command reach our ears and we are swift and unhesitant in obeying Him.
Yes, C.T. Studd was a radical Christian. In many ways he gave a new meaning to the idea of desiring God’s perfect will above all else. He is said to have “prayed in” everything he received and lived on while in ministry, without making his needs known to men. He totally relied on God to supply His need and God never failed him.
Ron B. in the devotional "Abraham My Friend" [i]The Making of a Praying man
This is the heart of a person willing to compromise what they want to do for God's perfect will that we must guard ourselves against. Those words, "surely we've got to survive" must have rang in his ears as the Devil telling the Lord, [i]“If thou be the Son of God turn these stones into bread.”
For our Lord it was the temptation in the wilderness and later with Peter that gives us a pattern of the enemies strategy. Was it a sin to eat? No. But our Lord had witnessed Israel for 40 years wondering in the Wilderness unable to come to the understanding that, "Men shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." The thief on the cross must have been Satan's last line of defense; his last 'Pity Thyself' messenger.
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, [u]save thyself