Pre 2013 almost new years thoughts ---

I just don't know --

Well, I've written my "new year's" blog and I'm actually reviewing it.  I don't know if I'll actually publish it or not.  As I read it I felt kind of foolish.  The old, "Who do you think you are?" kept popping up.

So - in case I decide that I've lost it and gone off on a tangent and don't publish it I ask you to just consider a few things as we moved into a new year.

1.   We are commonly more persecuted in this country that ever before.  It will grow
      more common.
2.   The constitution has been confused with a biblical document.
3.   Politics and "faithfuness" don't mix.
4.   Faith has no political affiliation.
5.   The "right to bear arms" is not a God-given right.
6.   A revolution against "Caesar" is as much a sin as Caesar's oppression,      
      persecution and abuse of power.
7.   The lesser of two evils is no less evil.
8.   Genesis 6:5 is still true.
9.   John 3:19 is still true.
10.  Luke 21:17 is still true.
11.  Rev. 21 is still true.

Get the idea????

Evangelistic Insight ???

Psa 36:11  Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,

nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

The message at worship today had a plethora (cool word) of really great points and insights.  It was a wonderful morning.

Not only was I personally blessed but I had a lot put in my “hopper” to consider and pray over.  One thing in particular ended up on the top.  It was the opposition to the Gospel.

While I was reading this afternoon I came across Psalm 36 which I used in the P & Me blog today.  As I read the rest of the Psalm, verse 11 jumped off the screen.

Here is a good description of the problems we might have while we seek to share the Gospel.  The first problem is us.  If we do not remember from whence He has bought and brought us we will run the danger of an arrogant spirit.  We will fall into the “us” and “them” trap.  We will come, not in the humility of Christ but the arrogance of the flesh.

Ok, maybe – maybe we can see ourselves as better off than the unredeemed sinner but there is nothing we can claim that will ever make us “better.”  If Romans 7 doesn’t convince us of that, nothing will. 

Yes, there is bad news before the good news but the good news is about Him not about us.  Actually the only power in the Gospel is Him.  Our, “How I came to Jesus,” story may be powerful but that’s not the Gospel.  He is the Gospel.

The world thinks we think we are “good” people because we are believers.  The world thinks that because “we’ve” somehow (arrogance??) conveyed that idea.  I am called (don’t want to impose my view on you) not to oppose evil in the world – but rather to proclaim the coming of the Savior.  I am not the overcomer of sin – not even in my own life.  Rather I am the proclaimer of good tidings of great joy.  Maybe if we presented the Gospel with more “I was” than “you are” in it we would avoid any appearance of arrogance.

The second part of this verse is tough.  To be honest, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve held my tongue or stated something “safely,”  I’d be rolling in $.  My sin – my problem – that He can overcome.

But we all know the feeling of discomfort when we are talking about our faith.  Do I say this, do I say that?  We don’t want to offend but folks we have to accept that the cross in all its meaning is, well, offensive.

There is insight in the words of Paul:

1Co 1:21-24  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.  (22)  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,  (23)  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  (24)  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

AND

2Co 4:8-10  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;  (9)  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;  (10)  always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Consider Psalm 36:11, as you pray for the opportunity,  wisdom and call to share the Gospel with others.  These are two biggies that can hinder His work through us as we go about His work,  at least they are for me.

Walk with P & me 07

Walk with P & me  07

Note:  No, you haven’t missed anything.  The blogs are numbered as they are written and published as they are done.

When does a positive (kauchēsis; kow'-khay-sis), boasting , become (ἀλαζονεία; alazoneia,) a sinful boasting/self-confidence.

In 1 Cor. 7:4 Paul speaks his boasting of the of his “pride” in the Corinthian believers.  This is a good “pride.”

I am acting with great boldness toward you;

I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort.

In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

(2Co 7:4)

In I John 2:16 the apostle warns against “pride” – alazoneia.

For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh

and the desires of the eyes a

and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.

(I John 2:16)

Pride biblically is neutral.  Whether it is good or bad depends upon what it is rests upon.  Pride is confidence.  It’s what one’s confidence is in that makes pride either an asset or a sin.  To place our confidence in anything other than the providence of God is an arrogant pride.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

(Pro 11:2)

This verse speaks to pride misplaced or mis-sourced.  This “pride” is arrogance and presumption.

Yesterday I was listening to Alistair Begg via Truth for Life and he was talking about Paul’s admonition to believers to support their teachers:

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."   (1Ti 5:17-18)

I was curiously convicted by this.

I was convicted of having become prideful, presumptive and even arrogant.

For years I have been a “tent-maker.”  That simply means that I have worked to support myself and rarely accepted any kind of “support” from those I ministered to.  Now, that’s not a bad thing – that is until you begin to think it makes you special.

The reason I wanted to be a tent-maker was because it was being “like Paul.”  That is not a bad thing except that being “like Paul” can puff you up – and it does.

Not only that but doing well in the “tent-making” can make one think more of themselves than they ought.

But the real problem is that I began to see the tent-making as “mine” and the ministry as “His.”  Can you catch the subtleness of the sin there?  Simply put I was proud I was a tent-maker.  Actually, as I prayed and thought about it I discovered I had become arrogant about it.  I began so really think I was “self-supporting.”  Somehow I had slipped into that sin of pride.

Not only was there sinful pride involved but there was a failure to let others be a part of the work by helping Patti and support ourselves as we went about the work.  There was also a failure to allow myself to depend upon God working through others for the work to continue.

Well, let’s heap it on – There was also a sinful failure to be in a position to be accountable to those who were blessed by and supported the work.  Perhaps this is the root of it all.  I have been un-autonomous.  I have not honestly depended upon God or His people, which makes me wonder if my ministry has been somewhat of a sham.

So I am confessing to you and to Him that I know more of my heart than I did before.  It is not pretty.  I am humbled and if it takes out right humiliation to tattoo this on my mind and heart then I will accept that. 

Right now we have five people interested in the Us In Him, Sunday @ 6 fellowship.  The support of the work will be in His and their hands.  We will simply put it out there and allow Him to work.  I will continue to make tents but I know now that that is and always has been His.

One thing I would ask of those of you whom I have been allowed to serve.  Let me hear from you – I don’t want to assume anything about the work I have done and pray to do.  Your feedback, council, correction, encouragement would be a real blessing.  Write me at:  ms@tc2v1.com 

Pray my repentance holds and that I grow from and in it.

God bless you!

Michael

Patti and Michael Sanders

2205 New Garden Rd.

# 2807

Greensboro, NC 27410