A Melancholy Faith 001

A Melacholy Faith 001

This series is intended for all of my brothers and sisters whose faith is a melancholy faith.  In plain English - it's for those, who like me, suffer from depression.
Our affliction is nothing new and certainly nothing exceptional.  It just is.  And becasue it "is" we need to understand what it means in the context of our faith and how we can have a strong and vibrant (if not a "yeeeee-haaaaa) faith.
It is my prayer that you will be encouraged, comforted and blessed as we walk in this together.  No, not necessarily happy, giddy or relieved - but if that happens that's well and good.  But as nothing can seperate us from the love of God, nothing can seperate us from the providence of God - nor can anything (except our refusal) keep us from being good and useful servants.
Please feel free to write or comment as we go along.  I don't have ll the answers but I know who does.  Also - if you are close to someone who has to deal with melacholy - please don't hesitate to share this with them.
sheepdog.ms@gmail.com

Depression?  Melacholy?  Huh?  

I've chosen to use the word melacholy instead of depression for a could of reasons.  the first is that when we talk about depression, too many people think they know what we're talking about.  Most don't.  For most depression is either just a bad case of the "blues," to be "gotten over," or it is some horrible, dar, deep flaw in one's mind.  It is neither!

The second reason I use the word melacholy is because it is a word we don't use very often and hence most folks have little problem asking for an explanation.

The third reason is that the Puritans of the 17th century "got it."  They knew, understood and appreciated "depression" which they called melacholy.  No, they didn't understand the neuro-chemical aspect of the affliction but they were not too far off.  However - they we very insistant on two things.  Being melacholy did not demonstrate any defect in the believer's faith and that sin made it worse.  They also made it clear that those who suffered melacholy should be understood and their affliction respected kindly and gently.

Now remember I am a Biblical Counselor and not a psychiatrist - so although I work closely with some psych's I in no way have their knowledge and understanding.  I say that because in the course of my own treatment for melacholy I have learned that it can manifest itself in a lot of different shades of blue.  It can be of short duration or long.  It can be cyclical with big dips below the line.  It can be exacerbated and or triggered by people, places, event, occassions and even nothing.

So my approach to melacholy is informed by my work with psych's (I use the abbreviation respectfully) to whom I owe a great deal of thanks.  But my approach is biblical - or threological, or doctrinal - take your pick.  I am concerned with your heart and soul.  I am concerned with your confidence in Christ and your comfortable assurance of your redemption.  I am also concerned with your service to God which, although it may be limited by our affliction, is no less valuable and necessary.

As we journey forward I hope we will keep in mind the words of Paul:

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 ESV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. [5] For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. [6] If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. [7] Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

"Comfort"
Comfort is only necessary in affliction.  Ten times Paul uses some form of the term.  It can be "warm fuzzies" but it is actually more solid that that.  Where Paul wrote "who comforts us in all our afflictions," in verse four he uses the form of the word that means, "to call near."  What Paul wants us to see is that in affliction and suffering, God calls us to come near to Him.  

"Comfort"
"so that we may be able to comfort those..."  Same word - same idea.  We are to "call them near" in order to comfort them.

"Comfort" ????
This comfort is grounded upon our salvation not our circumstances.  But it is sooooo
common for our salvation to fade when we are afflicted and/or suffering.  When I drop a heavy weight on my foot, I hardly ever think of heaven.  When afflicted and/or suffering our attention is captive to our affliction and/or suffering.

Here's the tough part.  Is the promise of salvation (which is secure) enough to keep us going even in the midst of affliction and/or suffering?  This is why this word "comfort" also carries the idea of the comforter exhorting and encourageing the one in need of comfort.  If indeed "heaven" is our greatest desire, the secure promise of it should have a comforting value for us.  But, as I said, it is common in affliction/suffering for us to not see and certainly not "feel" it.

"Comfort"
Comfort is not relief but comes with the hope of promised relief.  For us that "relief" may well not come until we are with Him.  Our comfort is our trust in that hope, the assurance we have in Christ.  In is not uncommon for it to be a real battle to be comforted - but that's where comforters and THE Comforter come in.  Those who have grasped the comfort given by the Comforter are obliged to call those in need of comfort to come alongside them and walk together in exhortation and encouragement.

And so - I call you to come alongside me - to call others in need of comfort to come as well - that we might exhort and encourage one another in our afflcition/suffering.

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????

Just a question. A follow-up to the previous post.

John 19:2  And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.

I may really catch some flack for this but - well - it's on my mind and heart.

What's the difference between what the soldiers did and arraying Him in the red, white an blue?

Is this not just as mocking?

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews.

What part of that do we find distasteful?  What part of that do we refuse to understand?

Guns sales and ammunition sales are UP.  Who are we going to shoot and why?

Under one of the cruelest and most oppressive governments ever known to man - indeed the very government that would kill Him and countless other believers Paul wrote:

Romans 13
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

I must be "subject" to the governing authorities - it is instituted by God.  To resist is to resist God.  Noooooooooo we can not, we must not deny our Lord for any reason - but short of that---?

We are to "do" good.  Where in this do we see rebellion and vilification?

Our government has and will continue to allow that which we believers may not do.  It is only when the government demands we violate our faith that we can and may not submit.  This is a matter of knowledge, wisdom and conscience.

There is only one government "of" God and we must obey it first and always.  Hear me clearly - there never has been and there never will be a human government that is "christian."

I could go on and on about the Christian "myths" about our country but - well - just read Romans 13 again and thin of the War of Independence - seems to be a problem here....

We may benefit from His mercy and common grace but we may not claim any special place in His world -

Please, please, please don't wrap my Lord in any robe or flag - He has His own Kingdom -

Michael "sheepdog" Sanders
ms@tc2v1.com

Mind - Set

It is the trouble of troubles to have two inhabitants so near in one soul, and these to strive one against another, in every action, and at all times in every part and power in us: the one carrying us upward, higher and higher still, till we come to God; the other pulling us lower and lower, further from him.   Sibbes, Richard (2012-04-24). The Soul's Conflict With Itself: And Victory Over Itself By Faith. (p. 293). A Puritan At Heart Press. Kindle Edition.

What a great trouble that needs great attention!  The flesh and the Spirit battle it out.  But there is comfort and remedy for the distress this brings.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.   Rom 8:6-7 

We’ve covered this before.  I don’t know about you, but for me it’s a place I run to more often than ever before. 

I am growing more and more convinced that there is comfort and remedy in what Paul says here.

but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace

Ah, to set my mind.  Huh?  Well, the Greek word carries the idea of our: frame of thought, will, aspirations.

If you want to be picky the literal translation would be, “but the mind of the Spirit.” 

No, this isn’t the “Spirit’s” mind rather it is our mind in or on the Spirit.  So????

I’ve been reading Richard Sibbes’ book: The Soul’s Conflict With Itself: And Victory Over Itself By Faith.  It was written in 1635 and the language is “chewy” at best but well worth the work.  I do recommend it for there is much in it that will bless and strengthen you.

But my point is that keeping my nose in it (as well as the Word and other good books) goes a long way in keeping my mind “set.”  Even when I have to read a passage a couple of times to get past the old style of speaking it is a blessing.  Filled with solid biblical insights it keeps my mind set, it stimulates questions, it beings conviction, it brings relief, comfort and peace.

Reading the Word as well as good trustworthy books by very real believers is a consolation and encouragement.  You don’t have to be a “great” reader just a reader.  If reading is not your thing then there are Mp3’s and other tools to help you set your mind.  I’m biased because he’s a Scott but the sermons of Alistair Begg (Truth For Life) are excellent and very useful (and they are free!!!).  Buying a cheap Mp3 player or expanding your use of your smart-phone can be a powerful means of setting your mind.

Feed your mind with healthy food and the Spirit’s voice will grow louder, clearer and more comforting.

Peter's Pen 1st Peter 1:8&9

1Pe 1:8-9  Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,  (9)  obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

I once had someone tell me that the gospel was unbelievable.  I agreed.  For the “world,” it does seem unbelievable.  When you and I were dead in our sins, blind to the things of God, the Gospel seemed unbelievable.

But – God didn’t let that remain the case for you and me.  He made us alive, restored our sight and we believed.  Now we are His forever.

In this passage Peter is acknowledging the unbelievableness of the Gospel.  We have never seen Jesus and yet we love Him.  We don’t see Him now yet we believe in Him.  We aren’t in heaven yet – but we rejoice at the firm promise of it.

Oh yeah – we’re nuts.  Folks even thought Paul was nuts:

Act 26:24  And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind."

Paul even writes:

1Co 1:27-29  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;  (28)  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are,  (29)  so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Do you ever feel alien?  Do you ever have a sense that you aren’t meant for here?  That is very appropriate.  Even more so to feel a little godly "foolishness."

But this passage does not stand alone.  We haven’t “seen” Him yet we love Him.  We don’t “see” Him yet we rejoice in His promises and faithfulness.

But Peter goes on in the next section -

Me 081312 - What a blessed day!

Me – 081312  what a blessed day!

Today has been unusual.  God is – well – really really neat ;-}.

I had the privilege today of having two incredible conversations with two believers I had never met.  They were complete strangers and for one reason or another (long story) they came over and asked if they could talk to me. 

One was a young lady with a heart for missions who was interviewing at Bou.  The other was a gentleman who had just seen me in Caribou several times.

The conversations began simply but quite soon focused on the faith and serving God and how people were hungry for that today.  Actually, hungry for it to be simple – vanilla – not complicated – with no agenda other than Him.  The richness of what they shared was a very great blessing to me.  We are a little distant from one another in some ways but regardless we all have a hunger for the church to just be the church and for believes (that would be ourselves first) to grow in Him.

Now I ask – why did God make this happen?  Certainly it was a diversion from my worries and anxiety but it became so much more.  It was like we had not “just” met but rather like we had “known” one another prior to.  There was a commonality between us that seemed to be the “heart” part of the faith.

Not the mushy, gooey, loosy-goosy kind of heart stuff but real “heart for God” stuff.  I was just amazed by them both and blessed.  Their desire to serve Him was very clear and it was also clear he was working in their lives, leading them closer and closer to finding the how of it.

The question remains, “Why was I so blessed.”  The answer I like is, “Cause He wanted to bless you – you needed it.”  Obvious huh? 

But God never does anything that He does doesn’t have a lesson attached to.  I have learned that I have brothers and sisters out there who are yearning to grow in Him.  I learned that some of my desires and hopes are shared by complete strangers.  I’ve learned that there is a need in the really big body for encouragement and open dialogue.  For sharing a little more intimately than we would with someone we know. 

These weren’t what I would call theological or doctrinal discussion but just a conversation between believing people who want and have a need to serve Him and know Him better.  It was all about Him and our hearts and the hopes and dreams He puts in them. 

In both conversations there was sharing of God dealing with us and us dealing with others “right where they are” instead of where we think or even know they should be.  We talked of the mission field in the world and the mission field in the church. 

It was a blessing to talk with like hearted folks – and I am grateful to Him and them (and to David J. – long story).

Walk with P & me 12

Walk with P & me  12

Another weekend of net mending and To Do’s.  But what’s new is prayer. 

We had been remiss in our prayers together and had been talking about fixing that and we did.

Patti is a silent prayer and I, being used to offering public prayer, am not – but I can be.  So we hit the middle ground.  We discuss what we have on our hearts and then we kneel together and pray silently yet simultaneously.  It’s a meaningful time for us and it’s without struggle.  We are blessed.

I have just finished reading Let Us Pray which is a book of articles from various sources like R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur and John Piper.  It has been a real blessing is getting my focus back on prayer and back in prayer. 

The one thing that really stands out is that all the authors touch on the model prayer.  Now I know this isn’t news to most of you and it wasn’t “new’ to me but reading through this work crystalized a very important point.  It is the context set in that model that needs to be in our minds as we pray.

It begins with “Our Father in heaven.”  That’s the “to.”  He’s the one to whom we take our prayers.  I know – duhhhh.  But I had never thought of praying about that short phrase and it meaning and import.  So I began to take time in prayer to actually pray about my Father in heaven. 

It is interesting to me how all the “needs” on the list want to get out in front of doing that.  It takes work – at least for me – to focus on Him and tell my “needs” to hang on.  But it has been a great help in calming my head and heart and focusing on all the blessings I have.  Doing this even brings one to the point where in light of all the blessings I’ve enjoyed and in some cases abused I am a little abashed when I get to my “needs.”

Next I pray about, “Thy Kingdom come.”  That’s kind of a two pointed prayer.  It brings to mind His Kingship in and over me as well as the promise of being in His eternal Kingdom for real one day.  This too brings thanksgiving and conviction.  Thanksgiving for the eternal security I have in Him and conviction concerning my struggle to live as a good citizen of His Kingdom.

Finally I pray, “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Here I am amazed at the conundrum of His will being done.  Greatly thankful for His sovereign will,  I struggle against my flesh wanting my will to be done or at least His will to be done my way in my time. 

Through this I find I am able to get myself out of the way and then pray without pretext.  I am able to yield (?) – yeah, yield my petitions to Him knowing He know and will do what is best.  Don’t get me wrong, I still make suggestions but He and I don’t pretend they are right –  they are just my ideas – or struggles.

I am growing more convinced that we can never pray too much and we tend towards doing way too much.  I used to read of the old saints and the time they spent in prayer and thought they were – well, kind of weird, kind of monkish.  But I am growing more and more jealousy of time to pray – to sit and shut out everything and take the cares on my heart for His people and His work to Him and have a talk.

Well, that’s where we are in net mending – pray we will grow more and more jealous of time to pray and that we will indeed stay in Him as we do so.

Here’s a prayer that I find very helpful when I have too much on my mind to pray well.

From:  Puritan Prayers

Holy Lord, I have sinned times without number, and been guilty of pride and unbelief, of failure to find Thy mind in Thy Word, of neglect to seek Thee in my daily life. My transgressions and short-comings present me with a list of accusations, but I bless Thee that they will not stand against me, for all have been laid on Christ.  Go on to subdue my corruptions, and grant me grace to live above them. Let not the passions of the flesh nor lustings of the mind bring my spirit into subjection, but do Thou rule over me in liberty and power.

I thank Thee that many of my prayers have been refused. I have asked amiss and do not have, I have prayed from lusts and been rejected, I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness. Go on with Thy patient work, answering 'no' to my wrongful prayers, and fitting me to accept it. Purge me from every false desire, every base aspiration, everything contrary to Thy rule. I thank Thee for Thy wisdom and Thy love, for all the acts of discipline to which I am subject, for sometimes putting me into the furnace to refine my gold and remove my dross.

No trial is so hard to bear as a sense of sin. If Thou shouldst give me choice to live in pleasure and keep my sins, or to have them burnt away with trial, give me sanctified affliction.  Deliver me from every evil habit, every accretion of former sins, everything that dims the brightness of Thy grace in me, everything that prevents me taking delight in Thee. Then I shall bless Thee, God of jeshurun, for helping me to be upright.

Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 5-15).  . Kindle Edition.

Walk with P and me 11

Walk with P & me  11

It’s Saturday and we’re at the Bou.  My “Mary” and “Martha” (Patti and Gloria) and I were going over the Us in Him plans and just encouraging one another.

What’s is interesting is though we all know the task is daunting, when we’re together and trusting Him, is seems less daunting.  There was a serious joyfulness as we discussed the “stuff” we needed to and the personal sharing that flowed through the conversation was a real blessing.

We realized that when we were focused on Him and honoring Him and serving Him a great deal of the tension and anxiety about our circumstances seemed to melt away.  Some might call it simply a distraction but in my experience distractions are not so, well, comforting.

I realized how blessed I am to have brothers and sisters who are supportive and willing to express their views honestly and lovingly.  Patti, Glo, Sinclair, Jim and Bruce are just a few of those He has brought alongside to help craft the work He has for us to do.  Many others, in various ways, also provide griss for the mill even though I don’t think they are aware of it.  It is a real blessing and comfort to not be alone or even “in charge” of this.

One of the things that came to mind from our talk was that we need to leave time and space for God to work among us.  Sure, you need order and some kind of form but sometimes that can hinder or inhibit attention to Him.  I don’t want there to be a need for Him to “intrude” if you will – rather I want there to be ample opportunity for Him to do whatever He wants to do.

I am learning my limits and interestingly enough I am learning that although I am capable and skilled in doing this or that – He has this or that for others to do – not me.  Even when it comes to the “vision” for the group I am learning to shut up and listen and wait.  That used to frustrate me because I was the “man with the plan.”  Now, I am just “a man in the plan” and it is nothing short of wonderful.

I got some good feedback from one of the “come alongside to help” people that made me aware of being too definitive and too narrow about some things.  Not doctrinal essentials but other peripheral stuff.  Re-reading what I sent him to review I saw his point.  It wasn’t that what I had written was not right – rather it was not written well.  It built a fence that didn’t need to be there.

I am drawn to think about what the Lord said:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."   (Mat 11:29-30)

There is a certain legalism that can creep into any work – even for Him.  It’s that hellish demand that one get everything right, that one be successful.  It’s that carnal legalism that imposes the criteria of the culture upon the work of the Kingdom.  That’s the ungainly and oppressing “burden” that keeps wantng to climb on your back. 

Just before verse 29 in Matt. 11 the Lord says:

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.   (Mat 11:27)

What I have to keep in mind is that when the Lord says, “all things,” He means all things.  Not just cosmic things, not just theological things, not just high and lofty things – but “all things” like Us in Him – and every detail in and of it.

I don’t have a sense of “letting let go,” which is nice.  I do have a sense of, “let someone else.”  I wonder if in this type of effort what we come to see as “my problem,” isn’t simply that we are doing what He has prepared someone else to do.  It’s only a problem because we’re trying to do it and keeping His guy or gal from their work.

That moves my mind to Paul’s teaching:

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?   (1Co 12:11-19)

Pray that this lesson will not be lost on any of us.  Pray that we will celebrate, be grateful for and make use of all the body parts He provides.  Pray especially that we each remember and comfort each other with, “If all were a single member, where would the body be?”

Patti and Michael Sanders

ms@tc2v1.com

pattiami@gmail.com

Walk with P & me 09

Walk with P & me  09

Note:  Blog numbers show the order they are written NOT published.  Some may not make it to the post – don’t want to TMI you.

Prayer – is dangerous

I have a previous blog on prayer I may or may not publish but this one I can.

Patti and I prayed together last night. Usually we just pray individually – but last night it just seemed necessary and good.  We each prayed silently and just being on our knees close to one another was a blessing.

As I began to pray my mind started to race with fear and schemes and all that junk.  So I began to pray the model prayer.  I got through “our Father” and then got stuck at “Hallowed be thy name.”  I stayed there the whole time.

I got caught between two ideas.  The first was that we are to bring glory and honor to the “name” of God.  The second was:

For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."  (Rom 2:24)

Now remember – this is my prayer time so if any of this sticks on you – I talking about me.

I accepted that in way I know and ways I have not seen, God’s name is blasphemed by the “Gentiles” (unbelievers) by me.  When I fail to walk the walk or talk the talk – bam!  When I sit and grouse about the culture and launch out on political rants – bam.  When I suggest that non-believers be bound by the same yoke I am – bam!  We I fail to be gracious and loving and faithful to the Way (Acts 24:14) – bam!

Yes, I am very very aware that unbelievers have little if any true understanding of the Way and that their expectations of believes are, to say the least, skewed but that should not hinder me in walking it.

I, like a lot of believers can be distracted by the sins of the culture and the sins in politics but you know – that isn’t my problem.  My problem is the battle between my flesh and the spirit.  It is all too easy to look at the world and demand the world (or our country) live according to my faith and the waste energy and resources trying to make them.

The church needs to separate from the state – the culture.  We are to be light in it not contenders in it.  Our fight – ok, my fight is for my being conformed to His likeness and to encourage the same in other believers. 

I realized – confessed and repented of my propensity to get real interested in that speck in the eye of another – especially culturally and politically – and to ignore the giant Red-wood in my own.  I even realized – confessed and repented of my propensity to get hung up on the mess the “church” has become.  That is a prayer problem – I am my problem.

The day is coming when all creation will know the truth.  Some will say “Amen,” others will say, “Uh oh!” 

The separation of church and state (even church and culture) has become a comfortable institutional thing; an us and them thing.  Well Toto – welcome to Kansas.  It is first and fundamentally a ME and IT thing.

God says, “Michael,”

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.  (1Jn 2:15-17)

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.   (Heb 11:13)

Less than 90 days till the election.  Do we really think we can change God’s timetable by a vote?  Or are we vainly hoping that we will dampen the hate the world has for us by a vote?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  (Eph 6:12)

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2Co 4:4)

Whomever we elect, they will not “hallow” God’s name.  They won’t bring the Kingdom of God.  they won't slow the persecution, trial or tribulation of believers.  By slow attrition I have consistently lost some of my brightness because I have been distracted from individually and consistently “Hallowing His name.”  The result is that the blasphemy He suffers increases.

I am at a point where I want to declare that I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God, a member of His household and own no allegiance, have not duty and recognize no authority save His.  I live in the USA but I am an alien – a stranger – loyal to a different “country” and a different “King.”

I know I mixed up a lot of I’s and we’s in here and I apologize – that’s the teacher in me.  But this is about me and His work in me.  What those in rebellion towards God do or don’t do is only my concern in as much as it is His.  But I have to question if I can continue to play their game on their court by their rules.  I’m afraid I can’t – I mean really afraid I can’t – but I trust in Him for He is sovereign – nothing in the work of man can hinder His will.  Of course having said that I have to accept the truth:

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.   (Joh 15:19)

Certainly what follows is Paul’s experience but should we expect any less for/of ourselves?

·      For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  

     But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 

     We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 

    For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2Co 4:6-11)

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

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?