Walk with P & Me -03 More about me than us

Husbands, love your wives,

as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

so that he might present the church to himself in splendor,

without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,

that she might be holy and without blemish.

(Eph 5:25-27)

Pretty much an old “Yeah duhhh,” verse – right?  Well somehow it grew teeth for me.

As Patti and I walk together through our “next steps” I thought of this verse and several things bit me.

The first was, “and gave himself up for her.”  Boy that was a punch in the gut.  We, husbands, tend to feel we “give up” a lot for our families – and we do.  But here we see that we are to give up our self for our wives.  OK maybe Sunday night football or a round of golf – but myself?  Ouch.

It’s interesting how that got twisted over time.  We talk about a wife’s sacrifice for her husband – her making a home, raising the kids.  Yeah, I know, that’s biblical.  But just like that’s gotten all out of whack in our culture so has the sacrifice we husbands are to make.

It’s a specific sacrifice – it is “for her.”  Not security, not things but for her.  Which makes me wonder what Patti needs for me to sacrifice about me; and how do I give up me?

Reading or shooting is one thing – me is another.

This has made it to my “Huh?” prayer list.  That’s the list of things I need to pray about that I don’t quite “get” what I need to pray about.  I know that if I asked her she’d say, “Nothing,” with that sweet Irish smile but also that raised Jewish eyebrow. 

This is, at least to me, a bit beyond, “Honey what can I do to help.”  It’s also beyond, “What’s one thing about me you’d like me to change?”  This my fellow husbands looks and feels like, well, the Word and the Spirit stuff.

No, not some airy-fairy, incense and weirdness thing but a search my soul thing.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that this looks and feels like something bigger than either of us could discern – especially in our flesh.  This is – ginormous!

So – do you have a “Huh?” prayer list?  You might want to start one and put this down first.  So far my mind wants to go to all the worldly happy things that I could do for or provide for her.  But I think that would miss the mark.  I want Patti to enjoy the full assurance of her redemption and the full joy of serving Him.

Read the verse paying particular attention to what follows:

Loves….her

that he might….her

so that he might….her

that she might….

Oh, that we might that our wives might.  We can, but only in His might.

I am grateful in a new way for His forgiveness and for His instruction.

No, I don’t know how to give up me for her – I’ve got some ideas but I don’t want to let my flesh feed my function – soooo  it’s prayer time.

Walk with Patti and me . . .01

but they who wait for the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

(Isa 40:31)

This is a tired old verse – isn’t it?  It’s been used and abused since I can remember. 

As I read it today, though, I was struck by the conditional part of the verse:

they who wait for the LORD

That word “wait” is interesting.  Zodhiates in the, Complete Words Study Dictionary writes:

The root meaning is that of twisting or winding a strand of cord or rope,

but it is uncertain how that root meaning relates to the idea of hope.

Curious root.  Of course, the word “is used to signify depending on and ordering activities around a future event.”  However, for you and me it is ordering activities around Him, not an event.

Is the root meaning telling us that there is work to be done even while we wait?  I think so.  In our current – well – predicament – Patti and I are caught between furious and meaningless activity and – well – just waiting.  Neither has much appeal or a positive outcome.

I wonder, if indeed He is leading us to a new thing (or trying to teach us an old thing), whether there are things directly related to us and Him that we would could be doing and not just tapping our feet or drumming our fingers.  Not to ignore the common things one needs to do in this type of situation, but do along with those things.  We certainly have more time together.

Ok – you know me and how I love metaphors, analogies, even hyperbole and I have to be careful that I don’t get carried away.  But that “root” keeps picking at my mind.

It makes me think of an unraveled rope that needs to be repaired.  Or a fishing net with tears in it that need to be fixed.  It makes me think that regardless of the end of the circumstances, we need to be about repairing something – something regarding her – me – us and Him.

It’s natural to sit and imagine, “If God just did this or that everything would be OK.”  Tempts one to go buy a lottery ticket.  But God is never not working for His children.  He doesn’t nap or go on vacation.  However, that is, much to my dismay, what I do (when I’m not “keeping busy” at nothing.)

In times like this, one is tempted to sit very still and be very quiet and think good thoughts;or to take up some work that He will like and hence come through for you.  Neither of these (having been there) make a lot of sense to me.

What does make sense is repairing that which binds us to Him.  Not the stuff He does but the stuff He calls us to do.  I mean the personal intimate stuff of being His children.  Maybe that’s what the rope or net signify. 

I am thinking of Job right now.  My favorite thing is when he proclaims:

Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

yet I will argue my ways to his face.   (Job 13:15)

Job isn’t going to just sit there and stew.  Now exactly what he means by, “I will argue my ways to His face,” is a little troubling but we’ll get to that another time.

Job was going to take action that would bring him into direct and intimate contact with God.  That, my friends, is always life changing!  Sitting there without anyone to “cheer” him on, he goes to the source.  He may do it via the conversations he has with his buddies.  But he is really talking to God.

In “twisting the rope,” there is one thing Patti and I want to remain aware of and that is the very real threat of the world, the flesh and the devil.  This unholy triad is opposed to our goal of trusting in Him and growing in this time.

The flesh accuses us of all kind of sin and unfaithfulness.  Like scurvy, it opens old wounds.  It not only blames but shames us and pours the accusation of unworthiness down out throats.  It seeks to poison every moment of joy and kindness.  It seeks to breed undue sensitivity and suspicion between us.

The world – well the world just has to be the world.  It too accuses and shames and it distances itself across a line calling to us to compromise with it and accept its philosophies and ways.  It also works mightily on the desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes and pride in possessions (1Jn 2:16).  With its definition of success and good, it shames and woos at the same time.

 OK – I may get smacked here but I have found upon occasion that the standards the world has set for “normal” productive people is alive and well in the body of Christ.  Where the world has been accepted into the church, the same shame and seduction is offered by the church (I speak in generalities).  But, let me ask you to consider what your congregation’s response is it to those upon whom calamity falls.  Or, as I’ve seen a few times, is it just not appropriate to ask for help?

Then, the devil.  Well, somewhere along the way I must have missed the class on how he does what he does.  I know he has power but I know that power is limited by the hand of God.  I know he has helpers but I know they are limited as well.  So what do we do about this part of the threat?  There is, as far as I can see, but one strategy:

Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jas 4:6-8a)

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

No, I’m not missing the context of these verses – they are indeed part and parcel of sustaining our hope and growing through this.  But these words are, I think, inclusive of the rest.  We submit to Him, resist the other and then – and what a wonderful thing it is – draw near to God.

Submission to God is a no brainer but not a simple thing.  Submission to God indicates duties toward God.  Duty is a work we don’t hear much in the church.  It smacks too much of legalism but it also makes obedience unavoidable.  But, in the King’s service there is our duty.

Keeping it simple, we have a duty to pray, study, fellowship and give.  Yes, I know there’s more to it, but why complicate things.  As a soldier has his daily duties, so do we.  These four are not occasional things but regular things, common things.  So daily, Patti and I will be about these things.  How?  What method?  Well, we’ll have to discover that by trial and error not out of a sense of finding our “comfort zone,” but rather finding our “consistency zone.”

Of course in our circumstances, “giving,” will be a toughie.  Not “giving” per se, but giving as the flesh play its games.  But, just the other day a young man I see regularly at my “office ;-}” who has CP came in on his electric chair.  His name is Michael so we hit if off even though communication can be difficult.  Anyway, he whispered and asked if I would do him a favor. He did not have the bucks to get his regular drink.  Without thinking I turned to the Barista and told them I’d cover Michael’s order, and I did.

OK, this isn’t "pat me on the back "time.  But the realization that I didn’t think twice about helping this sweet guy out was a real blessing.  I was so happy that even in our tight straights, I hadn’t gotten tight fisted.  We need money but that need, as I see it, is more a catalyst for mending our nets than being solvent.

Just an aside.  We are admonished to not love money.  Is the other end of the stick to not fear it either?   We’re are told that we either worship God or Mammon (god of gain).  So the elements or affections that apply to worshipping God must be looked for in our dealing with money – yes?  Awe, desire, fear, love – all these are part of worship; so, Patti and I will be  very careful to remember that money is ONLY a means – never a solution.

I’m almost at my self-imposed length limit so I’ll try to close.  Patti and I are “waiting” on the Lord.  We have a little more time and flexibility but more importantly, we have the desire to fix the frayed rope of our yoked service to Him and each other.  As I have been, writing she and I have talked about certain points in the article.  She’s always been my editor (the one’s she edits are the ones w/o typos) but now she’s also my collaborator and that is just wonderful.

Pray for us – we will be grateful.  First pray we will be dutiful in our net mending; second that we will be faithful in our care for others; and third – pray we are able to pay our bills – that Patti finds a lovely job, that I get more work and that we move forward in our ministry plans - following , not out running Him.

Last Words – almost part 16 

We’ve taken a whirlwind tour of this passage in 2 Peter and I pray you have been provoked by it.  The reason for the series is my love for those who follow the Great Shepherd. 

Much is being written about the church and her ills and errors – and I have to agree that they are mighty and plenty.  The history of the Body of Christ is filled with examples of how easy it is to stray from the way (Acts 24:14) He called us to walk in.

I have prayed and thought and read much about this and have come to the conclusion that if we are to lay responsibility anywhere, it has to be at the feet of those He has called to lead His flock.  Huh?

OK – let me put it this way.  If you are attending a church where the priority of the leadership is not the following – you have a problem!

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.   (Eph 4:11-24)   ESV

You see, it is not about programs, worship style, missions or ministries.  It is not about your preferences and proclivities.  It is not about numbers in the pews or in the bank.  It is not about buildings or furnishings.  It is about not being conformed to the world (i.e., being “seeker sensitive”); it is about being conformed to the likeness of the Christ.  And that’s pretty much all it’s about.

Read Acts 2:42-47 – read it again!!!!!

Do you “get it?”  Do you see the simple sanctified Body of Christ?

Yeah, I guess I am being hard on those who in the name of Christ have built great structures to their own flesh.  Those who have erroneously decided, “if you build it, do it, say it, etc., they will come.”  Oh, come they do – but who are they?  They are rarely the called – the elect.  But they are those who having a form of godliness – well, Paul says it best….

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power (authority & ability). Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (2Ti 3:1-7)

It is not the truth that each individual believer is solely responsible for their growth.  How could it be when God has provided “ministers” or “officers” or “designates,” to equip believers to live as believers?  Yes, it is the responsibility of the individual to seek out sound biblical teachers and to learn and to grow beyond them if possible.  But as Bonheoffer wrote in Nazi Germany, we prefer cheap grace – which is a grace without the cross – a grace without a Christ.

Of those who come to the Body simply to have their ears scratched Paul goes on:

But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra--which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.   (2Ti 3:9-17)  ESV

We are engaged in a great conflict.  No, it is not a conflict over culture or national interests, or morality or even competing belief systems.  None of that is OUR fight.  Our fight is against the (actually OUR) flesh.  Oh but it is soooooo much easier to take on the ACLU or the President or whatever – than it is to take on, “Be holy as I am holy.  It is soooo much more fun to do neat marketing projects to get people in the door than it is to live the life that shines in the darkness.  It is sooooo much easier to lift up self-esteem, prosperity, even Israel’s safety than it is to lift up a crucified Messiah.  It is soooo much easier to say, “god loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” than is it to cry “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

The church has become a place where gimmicks, gadgets and graffiti have replaced the gospel.  The unredeemed are enticed to come and to worship the God who their every breath offends.  They come and sing praises to the God whose wrath is looming over their heads.  They come – and if they stay long enough, contribute enough and shine enough they can even become elders.

There was writing over the gate to the temple which warned Gentiles that to pass beneath the arch into the Temple would mean their death.  There is an important point here.  To intentionally create an environment where the unredeemed are comfortable in the presence and worship of the God they do not acknowledge – the God they rejected and replaced - makes it possible for them to come to believe that they are in good stead with Him.  That, my brothers and sisters, is, at least to me, a cruelty beyond bearing.

Faith is NOT a virus; one does not “catch” it.  “Doing,” does not make believers.  God does.

Remember where we started?

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (2Pe 1:13-15)  ESV

Peter gives us his motivation for this letter.  It’s what he believes is his last shot.  Will we heed it or not?

Last words - almost Part 15

Last words – almost Part 15

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.   (2Pe 1:5-7)  ESV

Love:  ἀγάπη;  agápē; gen. agápēs, fem. noun from agapáō to, love.

Pre-Biblical Usage:

·                     Here is a love that makes distinctions, choosing its objects freely. Hence it is especially the love of a higher for a lower. It is active, not self-seeking love. Yet in the Greek writers the word is colorless.  KTDNT

Rabbinic Judaism.

• Here love is still primarily volitional and religious. It pinpoints the relation between God and humanity, especially Israel. God loves his people with fidelity and mercy. The gift of the law proves this. God's love imposes the obligation of reciprocal love and the related obedience and loyalty. Suffering in particular manifests the mutual love of God and his people. In it God is loved for his own sake. The main stress, however, falls on God's own love. Concealed during suffering, in which it is truly as strong as death, it will finally be gloriously manifest. No one can pluck Israel away from it.  KTDNT

Paul

• He makes three main points: (1) God sent his Son even to the cross in love; (2) God calls his elect in love; (3) God sheds his love abroad in their hearts. God's eternal love is indistinguishable from Christ's love ( Rom.  5:8 ; 8:37 ), in which it becomes a world-changing event. This love implies election, which includes both pretemporal ordination and temporal calling. The elect community is in fellowship with God, and he endows it with the active and compelling power of love ( Rom.  5:5 ) in fulfilment of his own primary purpose of love.  KTDNT

•  A new humanity (I'd say "redeemed")is the goal of God's loving action, and he uses acts of human love to attain this end. God is the source of these acts (cf. 1  Cor.  8:3 ). He awakens the faith which comes into action in love ( Gal.  5:6 ). He pours forth the Spirit who frees us for loving activity ( Gal.  5:22 ). For Paul this new love is supremely brotherly and sisterly love ( Gal.  6:10 ) in a fellowship that is based on Christ's mercy and Christ's death. Love builds up ( 1  Cor.  8:1 ); it builds the work of the future. In it the power of the new age breaks into the present form of the world. This is why it is always central when linked with faith and hope (cf. 1  Th.  1:3 ; Col.  1:4 - 5 ). Love is the greatest of the three because it alone stretches into the future aeon ( 1  Cor.  13:14 ).  KTDNT

Early Church

• In a world perishing through érōs, and vainly trying to transcend itself by sublimations of érōs, the church, being itself totally dependent on the merciful love of God, practices a love that does not desire but gives. [E. STAUFFER, I, 35-55]

Here is truly the bulls-eye for the believer.  Notice, although many scholars do not see Peter’s listing of qualities as being in any specific order, I would wonder how love is possible without the infusion and attention to the preceding.  It is all this “adding” that makes love possible.

Remember – Legos??  We mentioned them earlier.  Think of each quality as a different color Lego with which you – in dependence upon Him – are building the mosaic that is your life in Him.  The object, unlike Rubic’s Cube, is to build well, applying Legos when and where needed.  The object is not to get all the same color squares on the same side.

So, while adding knowledge you may find a “love” issue to attend to.  While struggling (perseverance) you may find a moral excellence issue to address.

I am reminded of the old pinball games.  I have to say that looking back over my walk I certainly have felt like a pinball at times.  Even though pinball may seem random, it can’t be.  God is sovereign.  He has His hand on the flicker and His hand on the ball.  We are guided by His power (the flicker) and His grace (hand on the ball) to the different qualities (the scoring posts) in order to acquire what we need.  It is only when the ball (ourselves) decides to direct itself (yeah right) or to not move (oh boy) that there is a problem.  Of course, if the machine isn’t “plugged in,” it really doesn’t matter.

We are all familiar with 1 Corinthians 13.  It’s unfortunate that it has been reduced to just a platitude to be read meaninglessly at weddings (my pet peeve).  It is critical that we understand what Paul is saying.  Nothing matters without love.  But it is NOT the poor excuse for love we see in the world and blethered about in the church.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2Co 13:14)

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.   (2Th 3:5)

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.   (2Th 3:5)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1Jn 3:1)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.   (Rom 5:1-6)

Do not love (AGAPE) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves (AGAPE) the world, the love (AGAPE) of the Father is not in him. (1Jn 2:15)

This love, given by God cannot exist in the life of a human being outside the grace of God.  Those who are NOT His can NOT know or understand or appreciate this love.  Actually, because it is a love from and of God the world hates it – utterly.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide (live) in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide (live) in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide (live) in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (Joh 15:9-12)

Love is a goal, a power and a motive.  However, it is first and foremost a gift.  It is not a gift, however, that we can simply put on a shelf and admire.  We are to use it, to exercise it at every opportunity.

Last words - almost part 14

Last words – almost Part 14

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.   (2Pe 1:5-7)  ESV

brotherly kindness;  φιλαδελφιαν

In the strictly Christian sense of loving as brothers. Philádelphoi (pl.) sums up the bearing of Christians to each other, and the adj. which follow describe what their behavior should be.

And here the rubber really meets the road!  There’s an old saying I think attributed to Mark Twain:  “I love mankind, it’s particular individuals I have trouble with.”

Up until now our activity and focus has been on ourselves.  With godliness we begin to externalize our faith and here we get very specific – brotherly love/kindness.  There is a distinction between this and what comes next so I want to share an illustration from scripture that we used earlier.

This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.  (Joh 21:14-17)

In this passage the word love (in bold) is the Greek word αγαπας (agapas).  The word love (italics and underlined) is the Greek word φιλω a contracted form of philéō.

αγαπας (agapas):  To esteem, love, indicating a direction of the will and finding one's joy in something or someone.  Simply stated, to love (agapáō) fellow humans means to see or discern what their need is and to meet that need, not according to the object's concept of need, but that of the one who loves.  Zodhiates

φιλω a contracted form of philéō:  Indicating feelings, warm affection, the kind of love expressed by a kiss.  Believers are never told to love their enemies with the word philéō because that would mean to have the same interests as they have.  Zodhiates

Since we as believers can never share the interests of unbelievers, this admonition to brotherly love is focused on our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

What does that look like?

But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.   (Eph 4:20-32)

Notice that as Paul describes our lives in relationship to one another there is a little phrase that is very often misused: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

The context would indicate that when we fail to love one another as reflected in our actions, we grieve the Holy Spirit.  To grieve is to offend – it is offensive to the Spirit of God for us to not love one another.  It is to sadden, to make sorrowful.  Note it is not making Him regret or regretful.

If it pleases God that His people live together in peace, then it displeases Him when they don’t.  God – Holy Spirit – the same but different ;-}.  What grieves them is the failure of what they seek to do in the life of the believer.  We are to be one Body – knit together by God – made alive in Christ and held together by the Spirit – so when we interfere or rebel we cause grief and we give offense.

Of course, this does not mean that just because my brother likes and has an interest in baseball that I have to.  But it does mean that we are to have common interests – serving Him who redeemed us.  But even there we aren’t all called or motivated by the same things.  Some may be in love with theology or ecclesiology, while others are drawn to feed the hungry, to be hands on with the needy.  Though we all need to have an interest in and about all things concerning The Way (Acts 24:14), the energy and depth of our interest will vary – but we should be 100% committed to one another in fulfilling those interests.

This, of course, takes intent and practice.  One “takes an interest” in the interests of others.  It is an active thing.  We need to be invested enough to encourage, support, admonish, warn, cheer, ect.

Last words – almost Part 13

Last words – almost Part 13

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.   (2Pe 1:5-7)  ESV

Godliness

εὐσέβεια;  eusébeia: The word eusébeia literally means well-directed reverence, but does not imply an inward, inherent holiness. It is actually an externalized piety.  eusébeia, the demonstration of a good and worshipful attitude toward God when spoken of the Christian, is the proper attitude of reverence toward God akin to hagiótēs, holiness, sanctity. Zodhiates

A good, well-directed and worshipful attitude toward God.  I like it.  It is the external demonstration of the internal work of the Holy Spirit as it applies to our reverence toward and for God.

As I read this I am thinking (for some reason) about the battle between the spirit and the flesh.  I am also strongly reminded of the Master’s statement:

Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

(Joh 4:21-24)

Two things jump out at me.  Spirit and Truth.  Now, only those who have the Spirit can truly worship God – but do they worship Him in truth.  Now, that’s the chewy part!  Which brings me back to the battle between the flesh and the spirit. 

Reverence toward God is not a feeling.  OK we talk about “feeling” reverent but it is really an attitude of the mind that informs the heart and from there behaviors flow.  It is not a feeling that becomes truth and then we act. 

Spirit – makes you alive – you know the truth.

Truth – informs the mind – spirit guides.

Mind informs the heart (affections) and we act depending upon the Spirit.

I tried to do a cute graphic but since it was making me more nutz I gave up – any ideas would be appreciated.  I kept coming up with Celtic knots ;-}.

What I want you to see is that the Spirit is utterly critical in all of this.  To project/live godly lives the Spirit has to be present.  But the Word has to be present and our minds and hearts have to be engaged by them both.

OK – I don’t want pick a fight but there are some really ignorant believers out there and in their ignorance they are very immature.  But, there are some brilliant believers out there but in their failure to allow their minds (knowledge/Word) to engage/inform their affections they are differently yet equally immature.

Maybe a stone arch is a good picture.  The key stone, the very center stone is absolutely essential for the arch’s strength – you cannot do without it.  This is the Spirit.  But, all the other stones need to be cut correctly and placed correctly (think used correctly) or the arch, even with the key-stone will be all cadiwhompus. 

OK- silly joke – How can a believer walk in The Way if he or she has a falling arch? ;-}}}}}

Godliness is a practice – a studied, learned practice- enlivened, empowered, guided and sustained by the Holy Spirit and informed or even formed by the Word (truth).  Godliness here is the product of disciple making – of teaching and training – which of course most folks resist.

But the need for disciple making is not only a command it’s plainly obvious from nature.  You are in a car wreck – you are in a coma for months.  Once you come out you must relearn a lot of stuff.  You were dead – He made you alive – but you don’t need to be taught or trained??  Really???  Really???

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!

Last Words - almost Part 12

Last words – almost Part 12

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.   (2Pe 1:5-7)  ESV

ὑπομονή, hupomonē  Thayer Definition:

1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance

1a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings

1b) patiently, and steadfastly

2) a patient, steadfast waiting for

3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance

That quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.  Zodhiates

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

(2Th 3:5) ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (Jas 1:2-4)  ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  (Heb 12:1)  ESV

Again – this is never autonomous!  Ever!!!!! 

This is not a “stiff upper lip,” or a “hang in there baby.”  This is a despondence upon and trust in Him!  I can’t, He can, together we will!  Tattoo that on your eye lids!

My favorite reminder of this is Job.

Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

yet I will argue my ways to his face. (Job 13:15) ESV

Paul got it too:

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Rom 8:25) ESV

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (Gal 5:5)  ESV

What do we know so far?

1.    We ARE redeemed.

2.    We are called to be redeemed and “do” redeemed and grow in it.

3.    We are called to grow in our knowledge.

4.    We are called to submit to His discipline.

5.    We are called to trust in His faithfulness.

6.    And ALL of this is done UN-autonomously or even ANTI-autonomously. We have  - well what have we read already???

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2Pe 1:3-4)  ESV

Oh------yeah!

Again – this is not a test!  This is not our proving to God or anyone else that we are redeemed.  This is accepting, humbly and in submission, the grace of God and the “graces” of and in that calling.  Assurance – confidence is like a muscle – use it or lose it. 

Certainly we trust God and grow in assurance in the rocky places – but it is sooooo much more joyous to grow in the smooth places.  Somebody needs to write a thing about, Trusting God When Everything Seems AOK.  The rocky spots are beneficial because they keep us from getting complacent and flabby – but why do we get complacent and flabby – Uhhhhhhh.

We tend to think of perseverance as something that we need when we’re under pressure – but that’s not right.  We need to persevere when we’re bored out of our skulls as well.

I work with a lot of folks who take medication for neurochemical deficiencies (I R 1 2).  They take the medication and the feel – well – normal.  So they quit taking the medication and spiral down.  Uhhhhh – get it?  There is a good analogy here.  OK – some weak believers have strange views of “psychiatric” stuff so let me put it this way.  Should an insulin dependent diabetic person just take their insulin when they’re feeling rocky?  Should someone with hypertension only take their meds when they are about to explode?  I don’t think so.

Well folks – isn’t that the way we tend to treat our relationship with God.  We holler when we need Him – thinking there are times when we don’t.  Have you ever sung, I Need Thee Every Hour? 

Think this through –

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.   (Pro 30:7-9)  ESV

There’s some subtle power in that prayer – think about it – really strain those little grey cells some.  This is NOT just about stuff or food or things.  This is about ALL the needs we have – good times and bad.

God is not the designated hitter or runner – He is everything and all we need every nano-second.  Right?  Persevere in all times – persevere in glorifying Him by living out His Lordship – our utter dependence upon Him.

To my fellow sheepdogs -----

Helpless?  Yeah – to do the wrong job – of course we’re helpless.

“Ministry is messy!”

I learned this long ago.  I also came to believe that if one’s ministry is not messy, it’s not ministry.  Sin alone is the proof.  But add to that the moment by moment battle we have with the flesh and, well, you have mess.

It’s a mess just to battle one’s own flesh but when one accepts the call to be the shepherd of others one takes on their mess as well.

Add to this the unreasonable and unbiblical expectation that as a shepherd one should have all the answers –especially the answers people prefer and it gets even messier.

We, those called to the care of souls, must accept that we are little more than under-shepherds.  Indeed, I prefer the title “sheepdogs.”  We know what to do in some situations but we are, in the final analysis, simply servants of the Great Shepherd whose commands we await and obey.

The struggle we all have in not being able to be the Great Shepherd is uniquely human.  A sheepdog does not tend the sheep.  He or she simply follows the directives of the Shepherd.  Only in a very few circumstances is the sheepdog able to function without the presence and direction of the Shepherd.

We have to live with the fact that we “CAN’T” provide a lot of what is needed.  Unfortunately many who are indeed called end up moving from living sacrificially to living suicidally  as they go beyond the Shepherds provision or more subtly accept the demands of the sheep as always legitimate.

We look at the misery around us and we ache to relieve it.  Hunger, poverty, cruelty – all these and more we seek to relieve.  Of course there are the more common “miseries” of health issues, relationship issues, debt, etc. that are brought to us for resolution.

I have a new favorite word.  It’s UN-autonomous.  I am UN-autonomous.  I am nothing and can do nothing apart from Him.  Even in those wonderful moments when I do have an answer or a solution I know it is only because of Him that it will be of any benefit.

But another issue is bad aim.  Yes we desire to solve or resolve the issues His sheep bring to us but somehow we forget the fundamental facts.

He did not die, was not resurrected, did not ascend, did not offer sacrifice, “once for all,” and does not interceded continually so His people could have a happy satisfied life here on earth.  He did/does all of this so that we might be redeemed from sin and forgiven.  He did/does all this so we can be His and ultimately be with Him.  The writer of Hebrew seeks to give the aim or perspective of faith.

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Heb 11:10-16)  ESV

The question we must all (sheepdogs) ask either directly or indirectly is, “What are they (the sheep) looking for?”

Are they looking for the promise fulfilled or are they looking for heaven here and now?

I always go back to:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."   (Joh 16:33)  ESV

This is what characterizes our lives here.

Θλίψις;  thlípsis; gen. thlípseōs, fem. noun from thlíbō , to crush, press, compress, squeeze, which is from thláō (n.f.), to break. Tribulation, trouble, affliction.  Zodhiates

Though our tribulation is utterly attached to persecution which we suffer for proclaiming and living the faith it is also a result of living in a fallen world and redeemed creatures that are being transformed.

Below Paul gives us the true utility of the sheepdog.  It is in this “tribulation” that we are to ministry.  Yeas, we feed, clothe and house, etc. as we are able (Note-also as the Body of Christ individually and collectively is willing to sacrifice to provide for those in any trouble.)  But here is the bottom line – actually the front line of the battle. 

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

(Rom 7:15-25)  ESV

You, called and commissioned as a sheepdog, must focus on what your God given purpose is:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Eph 4:11-14)  ESV

This is the “buck,” and the buck ends with you and I.

It is through this, “work of ministry,” that the physical needs of the flock are met and this is to be the work for which we equip the flock.  I don’t provide (apart from how He prospers me) – the “saints” are to provide – what they can, when they can – with His sacrifice as the example and motivation.

Look here:

      So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

      And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

      And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

      And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

      And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.

      And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.  (Act 2:41-47)  ESV

This is the Body of Christ.  This IS the Church.  What happened to her – where did she go?

When did all this become the job of one person? 

No, the sheepdog (whether they are called: apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers) are to equip the saints to follow the example we see in Acts.  He takes care of His own – we take care of His own – first.

Bottom line:

The problem is, well, sin.  We sheepdogs have failed miserable in helping the saints understand, appreciate and engage in the only spiritual war they have a part in.  The battle against the flesh.  Satan – we simply resist – we stand in the armor.  The world we simply say no to – we do not conform. But the flesh – that’s our foe – here we are to engage and do battle.  But we have to keep in mind that the allies of the flesh are the world and the devil and they will work with and through the flesh to make us miserable – unfaithful, hopeless and unfruitful.  They don’t have to win us over – actually they can’t – all they want is for us to be so focused on ourselves that we forget that we are part of His Body and that within that Body is the help (note I say help and not fixes) for our needs.

But is we are looking for “heaven” here; if we are looking for a “good life,” a “comfortable life,” here – maybe we need to really consider whether we are His or not.

Too many who claim (and may be) to be His are really looking to return to Egypt and have everything be good – not gonna happen – at least not by His hand.  We live in a world working hard to create a Hell on earth.  Huh??  Well, what else do you call a place where God is rejected and denied?  As men move forward in building their Hell we have to accept that as long as we’re here it’s gonna be hot and we’re gonna have the stink of sulfur.  AND it’s gonna just get worse.

For you, my fellow sheepdogs, who feel the burdens of each and every sheep – bless you.  For you, my fellow sheepdogs, who feel you, have to relieve the burdens of each and every sheep – repent. 

Remember, your job = “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”  That’s it – that’s all – wow.

Now – you have to look at what “works of ministry” God has presented the flock and you have to determine what “equipping” them look like.  And for god’s sake don’t go buy a book about it!  You have the only book you need – and an inexhaustible source of power.

I hope this helps -- We are all in my prayers – bark at the sheep/bite the wolves!!!!