Psa. 119:116-117

Psalm 119:116-117 ESV
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! [117] Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!

"Uphold,"  "Hold me up."  

The Psalmist seeks support to stand, stability to not waiver, comfort in distress - and who among us does not?  Of course, we all do.

BUT - one scheme of our enemies (w,f,d = the world the flesh and the devil) like to use is to get us to be at ease.  To get us to trust more in ourselves and others than we do in Him.  

I have a very close friend who shares about God answering prayer and his saying, "Ok God, I've got it from here."  He relates that, as he looks back, God seems to have said to him, "Oh, you do? Well, I'll just step over here and let you do it."  Then he goes on to share how he learned that there is never a time when he can not be utterly dependent upon God.

This passage reminded me of that and of the foolishness of my self-conceit - my prideful self-confidence.  

The only answer to the danger of "ease" or "prosperity" is to discipline ourselves to continually (vs. 117) attend to God and His Word.  It's a battle not uncommon to believers and though we do not want to fall into the trap of "works" we do need to be about the duties and blessings of the faith (which are one in the same).

As we are so very prone to cry out to God in times of need so we should be in times of less or little need.  Our need for the essentials for life, He has promised.  Their quality and quantity He has not promised.  When have or sense a lack of what we think we "need" we must be very careful to examine our sensation.  Where does this sense of need come from, why is it distressing me?

Certainly we have very real needs and when we can't see how they will be met it is chilling.  But when the chill passes we can grow lukewarm and lazy and complacent until we sense another need.

I am learning that as I am sure many of you are as well.  When we find that this has been a redundant state we (I) need to repent.  But, more than that I need to seek to have my need for that state/condition/habit/SIN to be put far from me.  The lesson isn't so much about what I need to do but what I need for Him to do in me.  First In need for Him to grow greater in my heart and mind - to be more Him. 

Second I need Him to keep this lesson in my mind and heart.  I need Him to change my mind and heart so that this lesson is learned and learned well.

Third I need Him to move me and to help me examine my heart and for Him to "keep" it as I do.

Fourth I need His grace to remember that it is more about He than me.  

Fifth, I need to look at the product(s) and possessions of my selfness and be grateful that though I wandered and He loves me enough to catch me and draw me back.  I also need to accept His forgiveness and not grovel or snivel but rather come to Him humbly - as a child found and restored.

Overall, I need Him to grow me in the likeness of His Son and accept that is the most important thing I can ask for.

A Deeper View

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Mat 6:24)

"Money"  mammōnas:  Wealth personified; avarice

Ouch!

Most definitions of avarice say it's "extreme" - excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain : greediness.

But is that what Jesus is actually saying?  I don't think so.  I believe He's making a clear comparison between who/what we look to for our providence.  In the context of this, even the slightest "avarice" is extreme.

You don't have to be a greedy-wealth driven person to fit into what Jesus is talking about.  If I am looking to "money" as the answer to my problems and not to God, then I am double-mastered - actually I am serving Mammon.  

Paul writes:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.  (1Ti 6:10)

The author of Hebrews writes:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  (Heb 13:5)

I have to say I am learning what Paul means by, "pierced themselves with many pangs (sorrows)."  I'm getting pang pierced quite regularly.  

I am especially sorry for all the waste of His provision.  Oh boy - let's leave it at that.  But being "sorry" isn't the point.  Repentance is the point.  I have to turn away from that oh so common money thing to Him.  I have to embrace Him and His promise and accept His will for me.

There was an old saying in my pre-disciple days that we "hippies" used - I will leave that to your imagination but - in this case I'll say, "God will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no God."

Jesus presents us with a choice - and for some it's a big and deep choice.  We have to really examine ourselves (a good thing anytime) for what pieces of avarice/mammon are tucked away in our heads and hearts.  

I suggest - from experience (current experience) that we look for envy, dis-satisfaction, grumbling, fear, anger, etc and see it they are connected to mammon.  

Are we dis-satisfied with God's current provision?  Are we fearful of our future known and unknown needs?  Are we, like Israel in the OT when threatened by invasion, looking to make unwise alliances?  Are we, like they, seeking some thing other than God in our need?

It's common to us but it isn't best.  We all know that.  We all know that God is the loving and gracious Shepherd.  We all know that He gave His best to make us His and that this is the greatest provision we could ask for.  We all know these things - but sometimes He loves us enough to take us to a place where we see our sinful seeking in other places.  He does that to halt us in our tracks and bring us back to His way - the only true way.

Sometimes it feels like He is teaching me to be a little child.  I cried in Patti's arms the other night and prayed to Him for to comfort and strengthen us in His Way.  I felt like a weenie - but I realized I was learning to come to Him as a little child who is utterly dependent upon Him for EVERYTHING.

Just goes to show that we can know something - and yet have to KNOW it better - deeper - more childishly.

Let's examine ourselves and ask His Spirit to both guide us and comfort us as we look for those thin, weak places in our walk.  It's OK, He intendeds to fatten them up and build some muscle.  He is never done with us - which really is good news!

You, those of you who can identify and those of you who don't yet - are in our prayers and  we are vaguely but faithfully lifting you up.  Remember it's "OUR Father ------"

EXTRA For we who fear, pray and work to fear rightly!

Sinful fear -- not uncommon - not good.

In his work, Triumphing Over Sinful Fear, John flavel writes some things that I have found convicting and heart breaking in my life.  Perhaps you will be blessed by his words as I was.  I highly recommend the book as a companion to scripture in these difficult times.  He writes of 3 kinds of fear, natural, sinful and holy --- well worth reading and following his guidance.

"Some fear more than they ought, some fear before they ought and others when they ought not at all.  The strong Christian fears God, not man.  The weak Christian fears man too much and God too little."

Based upon what we find in Hosea Flavel writes:
"But their eyes do not look to Me for protection and deliverance.  They expect more from Egypt than from heaven, more from a broken reed than from the Rock of Ages.  Do not fear their fear!  It drives them from Me to the creature.  It first distracts them, and then ensnares them.  In marked contrast, see that you and all the faithful in the land sanctify Me in your hearts, and make Me your fear and dread.  Rely upon Me by faith in this day of trouble.  See that you give Me the glory of My wisdom, power, and faithfulness by relying entirely upon My attributes that are engaged for you in so many tested promises.  Do not give yourself to sinful and vain dealings, as those who have no interest in Me nor experience of Me."

"Sinful fear will cause the best people to attempt to help themselves through sinful compromises."

Isa. 30:15-17a
"In a word, one act of faith will do them more good than Pharaoh and all his forces.  But they refuse to trust God."

"The sinfulness of fear lies in its exess and immoderacy when we fear more than we ought. . . . . Our fear exceeds the value and merit of its cause.  It is a great sin to love or fear any creature above its worth, as if it were master of all our temporal and eternal comforts."

"To trust in any creature as if it had God's power to help us, or to fear any creature as if it had God's power to hurt us, is exceedingly sinful."

Isa. 31:1
"It is a sinful and dangerous mistake to give to a creature that trust and dependence that belongs to God alone."

"Be careful not to fear any man, as if the power of making or marring you were in his hands - as if it were his will and pleasure to save or ruin you.  Do not fear those who can only touch your body, as if they could damn your soul; do not attribute to any creature God's sovereign and incommunicable power."

"The sinfulness of fear consists in its power to dispose and incline people to use sinful means to escape danger.  This casts them into the hands of temptation."

You are in our prayers.

SHIP 005

SHIP 005

Duties
Prayer

Jesus said, "When you pray . . . ," not "If you pray. .  . " so it's a pretty good bet He expects us to be praying people.  And why would we not be.  Having access to the Throne of Grace is a great blessing and wonderful opportunity.  But, prayer can be tricky.

Huh????

Well, what is prayer?  Monologue?  Dialogue?  Petition?  Supplication? Praise?  Adoration?

Yep - that's it.

But for many folks it's a strange thing.  They struggle with the whole thing wanting to be sure they are heard and answered so they struggle to "get it right."

OK - a few basics.  Remember "who" you are talking to.  Remember you have every right to go to Him?  Remember that all prayers are heard and answered?  Graciously, there is no such thing as a "bad" prayer.

Jesus gave us a model to follow:  Matthew 6:7-13.  It's a very simple model.
Note the :  OUR Father part!  You are never praying alone!
Hallowing His name - thank You - thank You - You are the only God
Calling for His will to be done here - submission of all - especially "me"
Our daily needs - characterized by "bread"
Protection - from ourselves and "them" ;-}
Forgiveness- to receive and to give

We can even go to Paul for some direction:
Philippians 4:6 ESV
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

"prayer" - think worship
"supplication" think seeking, asking, entreating
"thanksgiving" - think acknowledging the source of ever blessing with gratitude
"let your requests be made known to God" - think - needs, desires, wants, questions, comments, etc.

In Matthew the model is "sandwiched" between two very important things:
Matthew 6:5-6 ESV
"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

and

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, [15] but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Vss. 5 and 6:  Simply, prayer is between you and Him.  We may indeed take part in public prayers but Jesus wants us to understand that we need to talk with God when we talk with God.  We don't want to entertain or impress - we want to talk with the one who love's us best, knows us best and wants what is best for us.  We need private prayer - !!!!

Vss.  14-15:   Ouch - but if we go to Him with a lack of both the desire and willingness to be forgiving than we are usurping His perogative and putting ourselves in His place.  We do not come to Him as equals but as adopted children, blessed beyond measure.  Harboring a refusal to forgive poisons our hearts and hence our thoughts and then our prayers.

Now, about the, "do not be anxious about anything" part in the Philippians passage.  it certainy enjoins us to not be sinfully anxious but anxiety is common for fallen - even redeemed fallen men and women.  I refer you to, Triumphing Over Sinful Fear, by John Flavel if you reallly want to gain a better understanding.

But, to continue, there is an aspect of the term used here that refers to, seeking to promote one's interests.  It may be that Paul is using this term in a broad sense to include both sinful fear and self-promoting prayer.  

Here's my struggle, maybe it's yours as well.  Consider that I have a need - perhaps a big need and it troubes my heart.  Now, God has promised that He will provide for my common needs - the basics.  But this need, though not fundamental, seems to me to be overwhelming.  I run the danger of this "need" distracting me to the point that i only see it.  This affects my praying.  I begin well but find myself "hung up" on this one thing becasue "to me" it seems more important than any other need and more important than what I've been promised.  So my praying is distracted and uneasy.  

I've also been brought to a point where I have to confess that I am wanting to live by sight much more than faith.  I really want to ask for an immediate answer and find myself praying more about how I desire God to solve the issue than submitting to His will in it.  I even find myself telling Him how He can meet the need - oh presumption yu are a curse.

"It's hard to be focused when you think your hair is on fire!"  Or - "It's hard to remember that the original intent was to drain the swamp when you're up to your elbows in alligators."  

Anxiety is common.  ANXIETY is not healthy either physically or spiritually.  But how many of us are able to just say, "God's in control," and move on?  Not many of us.  This is because our faith s weaker than we thought.  Not to worry - think mustard seed.  But god desires to grow our faith and how can He do that unless we find ourselves in a position where we have only Him?  

Faith is either true or false.  Weak and strong are measures of faith that is true - faith that is.  If you didn't have faith you couldn't have weak or baby faith.  So please do not make this "anxious" thing some self-condenmnatory hammer.  You believe and you are lerning to believe better, broader and bigger.  That is a good thing.

I have several clients who struggle with praying.  They are in situations and circumstances where there are lots of inner and outer distractions.  They begin their prayer well and then find themselves circling around one or to issues.  Here's what I suggested for them.
1.  Make a list - stick to the list.
2.  Read the Psalms as prayers.
3.  Find an mp3 or something where the Psalms are sung and sing them.
4.  When the big anxiety issue pops in your head - pray then - asking God to calm your heart and help you wait His pleasure.  This is my favorite.
5.  Ask Him to help you see why this "thing" is such a biggie for you - this is a very intersting thing to do and leads to some real insights into our deeper needs.
6.  KEEP A JOURNAL DAILY OF HOW HE HAS BLESSED YOU AND THOSE YOU KNOW- NOTHING IS TOO SMALL!
7.  I had a mentor who when he was ovewhelmed with things would simpy go out into the woods, sit on a log and pray, "God, it's Travis," and then just sit and enjoy his surroundings.

May God bless you in your prayers and from your prayers and keep you from sinful fear.

010313

Journal 001

Oh Lord, what more do I need to learn before You deliver me from these shadows?
I know that You discipline Yur chidren out of love.
I know that we are those through who you manifest Your glory.
But Lord, it's is so hard when we don't see the why and how of either.

You teach us to trust You by our being in need of trusting You.
Sometimes that means hard and cold places.
But they are indeed hard and cold and frightening.

We are so prone to seek ways to placate You.
But that is our error, our flesh.
You are not a God like othere gods.
Who can be bought or bribed.

You are not a God like other gods who demand their pound of flesh.

Indeed, You have cancelled our debt.
Your Son has aid the price for our redemption.
We owe You nothing but love, thanks and duty.

Yet we are week and the flesh cries out to be heard.
The flesh, so steeped in the world, so intwined with covetousness,
cries out, "Lie, a lie, you have been a fool."

But Lord, our hearts know better though our flesh denies.
What help Oh Lord can You send as we stand in the shadows?
What is the Comforters comfort.
Is there no loner provision - Oh but there is.

Lord, we cry out to You for deliverance
from our troubes.
And yet we desire gretly to wait uon You
wonderous works.

When there is no comfort here,
we so long to be with You.
and yet even in that You command.
But our hearts weaken and we cry out.

We ask Your deliverance from our troubles,
provision to just be reieved of our anxiousness.
We beg Your mercy and blessing
yet we fear our duplicity in them.

Oh Lord - help us to see and feel
the comfort we know You have given
the comfort You are giving.

We have grow blind and insensitive.
We have grown weiry and weak.
Oh Lord, though our travail
may indeed be trivial
Yet is is travail and it is ours
and it hurts.

Comfort us
lead us out of these shadows
let us sit and labor in peace and strength.

Examine yourself - Contentment 002

Examine yourself - Contentment 002

"But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 

(Psalms 81:11 ESV)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."   (Hebrews 13:5 ESV)

I use these two passages as our starting point because the Hebrew passage has an imperative and a promise - something to submit to and something to cling to.

We must fight "love of money."  To be more precise, we must fight covetousness.

In James we read:

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. (James 4:2 ESV)

This word "covet" is really neat.  The root of the idea is "heat," which we would say, "to have the hots for."  I know that's kind of crude but it so clearly expresses the idea that I felt compelled to use it.

God says:

"'And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'   (Deuteronomy 5:21 ESV)

Both "covet," and "desire," as used here mean to "lust for."  Now please remember that "lust" isn't ONLY about sex.  To "lust" simply means to "set one's heart on."  That can be OK or very NOT OK.  I can "lust," set my heart on my wife but I am not to "lust," (set my heart) on your wife.  

Also - please keep in mind that my heart should be "set" on God and His glory/honor over and above anything else.

But covetousness, for believers has a broader and deeper sense.  God should be the primary and fundamental focus of the "set" of my heart.  Any and every other "lust" must be subservient to that "lust."   

This is clear:

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

I find it interesting that Jesus does not say to seek God first and THEN seek the other stuff.  

Note:

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.   (Matthew 6:31-32 ESV)

OK - remember Psa. 81:11?  Two issues:  Not listening and not submitting.

Did you realize that "submission" does not just relate to commands?  Oh no - submission applies to all that God has spoken - especially His promises.  

OK - I think I see a problem.  We hear all this "stuff" about claiming God's promises - right?  Well, think about "submitting" to them - that is simply accepting them as the truth that you need to live your life.

God says He will provide food, drink and clothes.  Period.  It may be oatmeal, water and a poncho - but He promises it.  Is that OK with you?

I know a couple who have nice stuff.  They are in the same place a whole lot of us are.  They live from pay-check to pay-check.  Now they know that a good part of their circumstances are due to their covetousness and foolishness - their sin.  They have repented and are working on being better stewards.  But they are in tough times and they get anxious - the anxiety fuels every frustration and Satan makes food use of it.

They have expressed a willingness to part with all the "stuff," but they realize that part of that is a seeking to get God to "rescue" them.  They're trying to cut a deal with God.  Satan really uses this to accuse then and depress them.  It is a terribly viscous cycle. 

Now here's the problem.  They are relating to God as is He was a cruel parent who demands that His love and provision be earned.  They are also fighting the public embarrassment that will attend their financial collapse.  All this certainly comes from their flesh - but they has help in developing this mind-set through the sinfulness of others.

So they struggle.  They put on a brave face.  They state that God is good and will provide what's best.  But there is a seed in their hearts that weakness their trust and confidence hence their contentment wavers.

Sound familiar?  Though this is not "normal" (normal being the state God created us in) it is "common" (for fallen creatures - even redeemed fallen creatures).

They "hear" God but they struggle to "listen."  The Words resound in their ears but by the time the Words get to their heart they are bent and twisted.  They submit with a quiet conditional "but."  

These are mature and knowledgeable believers in whom this particular fleshiness is still strong and active.  They have the great lie engraved in their minds, "I will love you if......"  Or "You are good and will get good if you meet my criteria."

This is not what God says not what He promises.  BUT ...........

How about you?  Do you struggle with the same of similar fleshiness?  Are you. Like this couple, still caught in the pagan-ness of our culture that says you have to appease God before He will help you?

Is there a solution to this?  Sure - listen to and submit to God.  They know they will never break this fleshiness in their own strength - trust me, I know they've tried.  So they just quit trying.  But they haven't stopped resisting, even opposing.

They have determined to engage the duties and practices of the faith regardless of the assaults of the flesh.  They pray regularly, they study the Word, they attend worship and they even give what they can.  They "just do it."

Why?  Because God says that this is how we grow in our walk with Him.  They have determined that in dependence upon the Holy Spirit they will, "seek first the Kingdom."  That is their first priority so they "practice" their faith.

Yes, they are suspicious of their motives - duhhhhh.  That old "do this so God will do that," is there but it is growing weaker.  Slowly - but weaker.  

Are they still anxious about poverty - you bet they are.  They've never been "poor" so it's a new place in which they will have to learn to trust God - much like if they moved to a foreign country.

But - they have begun by doing what they know they can do and what pleases God and strengthens their spirits.  They obey (not perfectly but intentionally).

See, they have learned that if they say - we won't be anxious, we won't covet, we won;t be shamed - they will default to their old thinking and behaviors.  So they draw near to God instead of focusing on drawing away from their flesh.  They are not walking backwards - but fixing their hearts on Christ they walk towards Him.

More next time . . . . .

This and That 110912

"Preserve my understanding from subtilty of error, my affections from love of idols, my character from stain of vice, my profession from every form of evil. May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore Thy blessing, and in which I cannot invite Thy inspection. Prosper me in all lawful undertakings, or prepare me for disappointments.  give me neither poverty not riches. Feed me food convenient for me lest I be full and deny Thee and say, Who is my Lord? or be poor, and steal. and take Thy name in vain." Puritan Prayers

My heart aches to carve this prayer upon it.  Oh, how I desire to make it mine and to slowly and deliberately let it, with the help of the Spirit, so alter my mind that I care for nothing but Him and His.

How far have I come that such a prayer seems alien to me?  How far have I to go until such thoughts come to my mind and such words to my lips.  My failure in this overwhelms me and troubles my soul.  I may pray it or the like - but words are words - it is the Spirit in and of this prayer I crave.

Michael "sheepdog" Sanders
ms@tc2v1.com

This and That: Pour it all out to God!

Pour out to God in prayer those fears which the devil and your own unbelief pour in upon you in times of danger. Prayer is the best outlet to fear: where is the Christian that cannot set his seal to this direction?   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 669-670).

Psa 118:5 
Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.  ESV

In times of danger – no matter its magnitude – fear is natural.  Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the acting upon it.  What greater thing could we do than to go to our Father with all our fears.

Isn’t Christ, our intercessor and Great High Priest, seated with the Father speaking of us and for us?  Does not Christ appreciate and understand our weaknesses and vulnerabilities’?

If, as we see in the quote above, Satan knows and exploits our fears, does not our Father know more and better?  In all things fearful is it not enough that nothing can separate us from the love of God?  Surely upon that assurance we can stand.

But we are weak as babes in our walk with Christ – as we should be. Though we lived in the wiles of the Devil and the fantasies of the flesh, we do not know living in the security and power of our Lord.  So we tremble and quake as Satan and our budding/immature faith both work to our distress.

Trusting God is not something that just comes.  It is gained by experience, informed by His Word and enhanced by His Spirit.  I have trusted God in many situations and yet every new situation raises the hair on the back of my neck.

I wonder, “God was faithful there and then but this is here and now.”  Even though I know that when it was then and there for me, He was already readying here and now for me.  But I still fear.

I’ve noticed something, though, about that fear.  It is characterized by the question, “What am I (or we) going to do”?  Perhaps that’s where we get tripped up.  We face a circumstance and supposing we must or can do something, we start with ourselves.  Seeing no help for or in ourselves, we fear.  Because we are already afraid we think we don’t have faith.  Because we think we don’t have faith we doubt God will help us.

Perhaps we’re starting at the wrong place.  Perhaps we need to take the circumstance (and our fear) to Him immediately and ask Him what we need to do (if anything).  Perhaps we need to slow down, examine the circumstance and take our thoughts and concerns to Him and have a talk. 

I wonder if at times I irritate Him (LOL).  I try to take circumstances to Him and leave them with Him but it doesn’t work very well.  I’ve found that I need to stay before Him and take the time to pour out my ideas and thoughts concerning the circumstance.  If I don’t, I find myself fretting and distracted.  So I try to go to Him and just babble out my ideas, my tangential concerns, my solutions, my fears.  It seems that this process has a quieting effect on my soul.

But just recently, I’ve discovered that I rise from prayer too swiftly.  I’ll pray and then get into bed and I’ll just go on trying to fix the problem in my head.  I think that, at those times, I need to get back on my knees and continue the conversation – obviously, I wasn’t done (or maybe He wasn’t). 

Ok – for those of you who are thinking, “Do I have to be on my knees,”  I’ll just tell you that I do.  As I’ve intentionally worked on my prayer life, I’ve discovered that it just feels more like prayer when I’m kneeling.  Do I have to?  I don’t think I have to for Him – but I do for me.  That’s just me – and we all know I’m just not right. 
Prayer is worship – but it is conversational worship.  I speak, He listens.  How He responds is unclear to me – I haven’t heard voices yet.  But I trust Him to respond because He always has.  Either through the Word, a change of circumstance, another believer, a random sermon I hear, a random book I read, or even a random thought, He answers.  Oh, I know none of those things are really “random.”  They are intentional and purposeful – so maybe utterly unexpected is a better term.  But the point is, He answers.

Concerning the verse I used above.  Notice that the writer says that God set him free.  The term distress has the sense of “tightness,” like when your chest gets tight when you are anxious.  Now the writer doesn’t say what his freedom looked like.  Was the circumstance changed or was his anxiety relieved?  But would we complain of either?  I hope not.

Don’t let yourself think that you should only do this for the “big stuff.”  Make it a habit to do it with everything.  “Pour,” it all out to God.  What seems trivial today may loom large tomorrow, so you may as well get a head start on it. 

Me 2 U - 081312b

Me 081312 b

Where will I be tomorrow and tomorrow . . . .

I can remember being asked, “Where do you want to be 5 years, 10 years from now.”  My answer was, “Right where God wants me.”  I was such a smart-aleck.  I didn’t know then what I know now – that wanting that would be a real rodeo.

I always thought I’d be pastoring a church, tending a flock.  But things didn’t turn out that way – not by a long shot. 

It’s easy to look back and see all the arrogant and wrong choices I made.  They tower over most everything else.  It’s also easy to allow them to make me question God’s sovereignty.  Along with that, it casts doubts on all the good things that took place because I was where I was.

Do you struggle with that too?  Do you find yourself overwhelmed by bad choices?  It’s tough not to let them shame you and tear you apart.  It’s that little voice whispering, “If only you had ……”  and then the accusation that somehow you thwarted God’s will for you.  Somehow you failed Him and now there’s nothing for you to do.

I struggle with what the world and the flesh would call a wasted life.  I didn’t play by their rules, I didn’t seek their goals and instead of that being an encouragement it becomes a condemnation.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m well aware that there was sinfulness in a lot of the choices – particularly pride.  But what I’m discovering is that I would not be here and equipped for today if I hadn’t been there.  I couldn’t do what I do today if I not had the schooling of yesterday.

I’m not justifying the foolish or prideful (and sinful) choices I made.  I guess I’m struggling to see that God carried me through them to where He wanted me.  No, I’m nowhere near a David, or a Jonah – maybe close in temperament to a Peter.  Maybe I had to go this way so I could learn what Peter learned – to focus on Him.  I’m trying – trustfully – I really am.

Sometimes I feel like that guy who jumps off the concert stage and nobody catches him.  Note I said I “feel” like that – stupid.  And ya know in a way I am.  Perhaps I put too much faith in others instead of putting my faith in Him to work through others.

When I work with a client who’s suffering a “poor little me” moment I encourage them to accept and honor what creates that feeling.  It didn't come from nowhere – there’s a reason for it – but I also try to help them recognize and appreciate that it’s over.  There may be scars and there may be limits that weren't there before but what created them was very real as are the reminders.

We all have to battle the “if only(s).”  And that is neither pleasant or easy.  We are distracted from “if only(s)” past, present and future.  But we are not back there and we are not up forward, we are here and most of the time we have what we need.

We are tempted to pray for “do-overs.”  You know, a chance to begin again and get it right.  I know I am.  But then I wonder if God isn’t asking me, “What did I do wrong?  I never left you.  I was always there.”  That’s a kick in the seat of the pants – and a good one. 

I think of Peter being told he’d deny the Lord.  I wonder what happened in Peter’s head when those words were spoken.  I think of his past conversation with the Lord when again his limitations were made plain.  And yet we see him in the book of Acts at the vanguard of the beginning of the church.  We see him in Acts 15 standing up for the grace of God.  And we see him later when Paul has to kick him in the pants.  Then we read Peter’s letters and we see a mature shepherd calling the sheep to faithfulness, admitting his limits and still trusting God.

Peter had no idea he’d be a long time under the tutelage of the Spirit – none of us know when we will be ripe on the vine either.  But we know that the Master vineyard keeper keeps watch over us – He protects us – even from ourselves.  He nourishes and prunes so we might be the fruit He needs for the vintage He desires.  That may come early – it may come late – but come it must.

We may not know what He has planned for us but we must know He has one.  The history of the body of Christ give evidence of that.  His Word makes that promise.  His Word provided evidence of that promised kept.

We will worry.  The flesh will do all it can to turn back from the way, from Him.  But as Paul proclaimed, I pray that pray you and I may proclaim by the powerof His Spirit:

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Php 3:14)

Between where He has us not and where He is bringing us there is much to learn and understand and do.  Every new day is a call from Him to you and I to be available to be His tools in His work.  I cling to something my Aunt wrote me;

“The inexhaustible supplies of God are available 

to the man/woman who is available 

to the inexhaustible supplies of God.”

You see we are to do His work not as paupers scrambling for resources.  Rather He must provide everything – EVERYTHING – we need to fulfill what He calls us to – that is simply the only way we can.  It’s His work, His way, by His power, grace and providence and praise Him, He elects to use us. 

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  (Php 4:19)

“Need” = χρεία; chreía; gen. chreías, fem. noun from chréos (n.f.), debt.  / Use, usage, employment, act of using. In the NT metonymically, that in which one is employed, an employment, affair, business (Act_6:3).  Need, necessity, want.

Fear 01 (A re-tread)

Fear 01

Fear is NOT “bad!”  Fear is not a “sin.”  Fear, like pain is a gift.

Certainly fear (being afraid – not awe) is a result of the Fall and in that way it’s not “good,” but it is a condition we have to deal with (like pain – which is not a “sin” either).

My very first sermon was on the text of 2Tim. 1:7 

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

This was the start of my interest in fear as something that had to be dealt with in the life of the believer.  So, I’ll start here.

The word translated “fear” in this verse is the Greek word: δειλία  deilia:  1) timidity, fearfulness, cowardice. 

“Fear” isn’t such a good translation because of how we use fear in our everyday conversation.  Timidity is perhaps much better.  “Faithless” is also implied by the word.  Synonyms of the term are “small souled,” or “fainthearted.”  The idea of “dread,” is also part of the meaning.

CONTEXT !

Paul is addressing a specific circumstance in his letter to Timothy.  Timothy is a preacher, a believer of Jewish descent and one of the few whom Paul consented to have circumcised.  Timothy may well have been a magnet for criticism, especially from those seeking the Judaize the Church. 

Paul precedes his proclamation concerning fear with:

2Tim. 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

Had the “flame” begun to die?  Was it perhaps being smothered by opposition?  It appears that Timothy was growing timid in his use of the “gift of God.” 

It does appear that there were two issues which would have pressured Timothy.  The first is perhaps criticism of Paul since Paul follows these verses with a defense of his ministry.  Paul, being a lightning rod for Jewish antagonism and persecution would have been a natural part of any argument put up by the Judaizes. 

Just look at this Paul, pursued, punished, on the run.  How could he be a man of God with all the bad things that happen to him?  How could he be speaking the truth when all men oppose him?  He makes trouble everywhere he goes!

Paul follows verse 8 with almost an apologetic concerning his ministry.  In short he tells Timothy that it is not about him (Paul), it is about the Gospel.

The second issue facing Timothy are false teachers who seek (in whatever direction) to twist the gospel to their own lusts and affections.  It appears Timothy is working a new group of believers, a group yet without structure or leadership and in the midst of this it is under attack internally and externally.

Paul is admonishing Timothy to no longer hold back in his preaching and pastoring.  He is there under Paul’s commission to serve the Christ and not man.  He is not to allow the circumstances to quench the flame!

Fear, in this case is probably a timidity concerning the way, the truth and the life.  A natural tendency to soft-peddle things when there is resistance or opposition.  The temptation to schmooze, cajole and even compromise.

The opposite of this “fear” is boldness based on God’s faithfulness.  It is not an obnoxious, insensitive, blind or deaf boldness but rather a tender loving boldness that understands and appreciates the pain of conviction and confession as well as the joy of repentance.  It is a boldness that is not drawn from one’s self but rather from the giver of all ministry gifts.

It is the boldness of Jesus cleansing the temple and the tenderness of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well.  It is the boldness of Jesus’s rebuke of Peter and the tenderness of His restoration of Peter.  It is indeed a boldness that asks,  “What can man do to me?” and accepts the answer knowing all the time, “the Lord is my helper.”  (Heb. 13:6)

It is not the boldness of the warrior but of the shepherd who knows what the dangers are and where they may be and yet leads his sheep into the pasture.  It is not the boldness of an attack but the boldness to take a stand and not be moved.

It is not a boldness to criticize and vilify but boldness that compassionately reaches out no matter how many times the hand is slapped away.  It is a boldness that welcomes rejection as an opportunity to try again, perhaps in a different way.

Fear in this passage is subtle and can gain control for a whole host of nice reasons.  It is the fear that brings the toleration of sin, slothfulness, compromise and ultimately capitulation.  This fear is like a slow drip on the flame.  Seemingly having no effect until suddenly the fire is out and we’re left in the cold and the dark.

This “timidity” is normal, especially in the early days of our walk.  But Paul makes it plain that it is not from God and if it is not from God the only other sources are the world, the flesh and the devil.  Which one is it from?  The answer is, “YES.”  It is fed by all three – but God’s answer is His power, His love and His mind.  The power of the Gospel, the love of God and the mind of Christ (just to kind of give you an idea). 

Walk with Patti and me 02

Walk with Patti and me….02

This weekend was a real learning experience.  For several hours all our worry and concern just faded away.  It was as though everything was AOK.

How did this happen?  Well, Saturday we spent several hours collaborating on some of the blogs.  It was a wonderful time of questions and challenges and laughter (ok if you’ve read any of the pieces Patti didn’t get to edit you understand the laughter).

The thing is that we were so focused on the work of improving the blogs that we were absorbed by it.  This wasn’t busy work; it was a mutual concentrated focus on serving Him through the blogs.  What was so wonderful was that we both had such openness and freedom in the exchange.  It wasn’t about us and our circumstances it was about Him and you.

The second experience of relief was, as you might suspect, at worship.  Again, our problems were kept from imposing themselves on us.  We were not giddy but at peace and a little joyous.  Again, for that period of time it wasn’t about us and we were safe from the distraction.

What’s the point?  I think it was the experience of fellowship – real fellowship with each other and the body of Christ.  We weren’t “distracted” (that’s what TV is for ;-}).  We were focused off ourselves and on a greater priority.

In the lesson at church Pastor David mentioned perspective.  Well maybe it was being engaged with Him that altered our perspective.  Even when I shared our circumstances with the fellowship the impact seemed smaller.  Maybe we were repairing our nets but it was a wonderful gift from Him to be working and worshipping together.

A thought -

In Sibbes’ book, The Souls Conflict With Itself, he devotes an entire section to the imagination.  It is tied, of course, to our vanity and our difficulty in being un-autonomous. 

I was especially convicted when he wrote about how we imagine things to be worse or potentially worse than the reality. 

It’s real easy for Patti and I to “imagine,” how things will go and it is typically a terrible imagining.  What Sibbes helped me see is that there is very little of the rational in our common imaginings.

Just yesterday my Pastor taught about the need to know and the need to be biblically rational.  As the Puritans would say, the mind needs to direct the affections (feelings) and no doubt that needs to be true of our imaginings as well. 

Here’s the great thing (thank you David) about starting with what we know.  Of course I use know in the “know God” (John 17:3).

When we begin with what we know (and it must be biblically sound) our imaginings start with the final truth and its assurance.  So we know, regardless of our imaginings, that it all ends well – in Him.  Now it’s the time between this moment and that one that we have to deal with.

But the lovely truth is that God has provided us with examples of a lot of in between stuff.  Some of it is tough to accept, some of it we hope for – but all of it has happy endings for those who are His.

Now, imagining can be a useful powerful tool when done in submission to and dependence upon the Holy Spirit and the Word.  The Word gives us boundaries, the Holy Spirit works with our consciences to warn or encourage us. 

What we’re working on:

There ought to be in man a conformity to the truth and goodness of things, or else, 1, we shall wrong our own souls with false apprehensions; and 2, the creature, by putting a fashion upon it otherwise than God hath made; and 3, we shall wrong God himself, the author of good-ness, who cannot have his true glory but from a right apprehension of things as they are.

Sibbes, Richard (2012-04-24). The Soul's Conflict With Itself: And Victory Over Itself By Faith. (p. 153). A Puritan At Heart Press. Kindle Edition.

Keep praying with and for us!!

THANK YOU!

Michael & Patti Sanders

2205 New Garden Rd # 2807

Greensboro, NC 27410

Sometimes - that's all there is-------

Listening to Rich Mullins "My Deliverer Is Coming."

Right now

Today

That's all there is

That's all that's keeping it in the road

But

Really

That's all the ever kept it in the road

That all that will ever keep it in the road

I'm OK with that

How about you?

Last Words – almost Part 5

Last Words – almost  Part 5  

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 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.   (2Pe 1:5-14)  ESV

If there is any clear description of the weak or struggling believer, this is it.  That they are a believer is not in dispute.  That they are weak in their faith because their inability to clearly live their redemption and the graciousness of God is the point.

There are several things that can result in this condition and I’ll run through a few of them here.

1.    A lack of appreciation of sin and its consequences. 

2.    This viewpoint will focus on the material consequences apart from or in lieu of the eternal consequences.  Many times I have heard the Gospel presented as an escape from sin and especially its material consequences.  Come to Jesus and you won’t need drugs and you won’t get busted.  Come to Jesus and you won’t be sexually promiscuous so you won’t face an unwanted pregnancy and perhaps an abortion. 

3.    There are two problems with this concept: 

First, coming to Jesus holds no assurance that we won’t do sinful things and hence face the consequences; and

Second, it is an example of the “good news to me,” as opposed to the Good News of Christ.” It is a completely self-serving approach which has nothing to do with God’s call to righteousness and His provision for our answering it.

4.    A response to the offer of happiness and fulfillment.

Again, this view is all about me, what I want and NOT, in God’s view, what I need.  Typically it is offered wholly disconnected from the righteous God of the Bible who is sovereign.  It’s an offer of a “Santa” not sanctification.

5.    A response out of calamity with a sole focus on the calamity.    

6.    The respondent finds themselves in a very tough circumstance and is offered “Jeeeeesus,” as an answer to that calamity.  It’s Jesus the Lifeguard, not Jesus the savior that is in view here

7.    A lack of understanding grace and forgiveness in light of our battle against the flesh.

8.    Perhaps the individual has committed some sin and has suffered bearing that knowledge to the point that it has infected their whole life.

This sin looms larger than even the grace of God.

They don’t “feel” forgiven.

This sin has been such an integral part of their lives that underneath it all they are afraid to live without the guilt and shame.

9.    A resentment or anger.

They have been violated, injured, abused and this has defined their lives to the point where it consumes their thoughts and feelings.

They are so used to being the “victim” that the idea of being victorious makes no sense or, in some cases, is terrifying.

These are just some of the issues that fill our lives with smoke and make it hard to clearly see the Gospel in all its glory.  And if we can't see it clearly, we can’t live it well.

These folks cannot follow the admonition from Hebrews below:

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,   (Heb 6:1) ESV

Why?  Because they have never had the elementary doctrine of Christ clearly and correctly presented.  When the Spirit touched them they came and, though the Spirit lives in them, so do the lies of the world, the flesh and the devil.  These lies cloud, obscure and even hide the truth from these believers and so they struggle in uncertainty and a sense of hopelessness.

Saved they are – but they are miserable in that salvation.

Our faith is a relational faith.  God chooses us, Christ calls us and the Spirit seals us and dwells within us.  You cannot get more relational than that.  BUT, if I cannot get to the point where understanding my utter unworthiness to be saved I surrender to the gracious fact I am saved, I will be the most miserable of believers.

TRUTH

Eph_2:3  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Eph_2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Col_1:21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

Col_3:7  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Tit_3:3  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

What do you read here?  Let me show you the important part - - -

Eph_2:3  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Eph_2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Col_1:21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

Col_3:7  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Tit_3:3  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Get the point???

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

BUT

now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Eph 2:12-14)ESV

As we move forward let me say that there are many who struggle because the gospel they heard was “another gospel,” and not the Gospel of the Christ.  It may have had truth(s) in it – but – it was not the truth – it was and is a lie.

But the Spirit of God, more wise and able than the spirit of deceit uses all truth in God’s service.  These believers responded to the truth in what they heard but it was perhaps the last truth they heard.  They were and are little children still in need of the pure milk of the Word but offered a poor even poisonous alternative.