FYI -

I've written three articles today - or at least tried.  If you're like me all the nutty stuff going on here and around the word is very distracting to say the least.  Also, if you're like me you've got your own issues and problems that work really hard to distract you from your Christian duties.

Not wanting to buy into all the doom and gloom I decided to just encourage you and the best encouragement is His encouragement.  In my writing today I came across a passage that lifted my heart and moved me to prayer.  It is my simple hope that many of you will consider it and pray about  it.

It's not an easy thing but as Richard Baxter wrote concerning our Christian duties:

"Doing it as you can is the way to be able to do it better."

So with that said, consider:


Philippians 2:1-18 ESV
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, [2] complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 

[3] Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

[5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

[9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 [12] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

[14] Do all things without grumbling or questioning, [15] that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, [16] holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. [17] Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 

[18] Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Yours In Christ,
Michael (Sheepdog) Sanders

This and That: Keeping the heart.

This and That – Heart Problems

Gen 6:5  The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  ESV
Mat 15:19  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.  ESV

Jas 1:26  If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.  ESV

I’m working on a bigger piece about our hearts and how it is so very important that we “keep” or “guard” them.  We need to take on the responsibility of doing this much more than we do.

Pro 4:23  Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.  ESV

The word “keep” here means to guard or protect.  It carries the idea of protecting, preserving and maintaining something entrusted to us.  And indeed we have been entrusted with a great gift.

Eze 36:26  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  ESV

Though our heart is new it is still subject to our old ways – our flesh.  Having a new heart does not automatically erase all our old pleasures, desires, wants or weaknesses.  It is a new heart in an old bag of bones.

Ever bought a new shiny car?   I get a kick out or people and how protective they can be.  They take up two parking spaces, they don’t drive in the rain or snow, they try to not part under trees of power lines.  They do everything they can to keep the car as pristine as possible.  But I’ve also noticed that once they ge that first ding their commitment to keeping that car pristine waxes.  It’s like, “Oh well – never mind.”

We do that with our new hearts.  Certainly we keep our hearts away from the BIGGIES we indulged in but we don’t notice the little dings and dents.  This is not a good thing.

We make a great show of admiring purity but do we really?  A bride who has slept with her groom before the wedding (or slept with somebody) will typically still want to wear white.  We are consumed with looking the part – the pure part – but how concerned are we about actual purity?
coat will we tolerate before we take it to Goodwill?

We have “dress” clothes that we wear when we want to impress and we have grubbies we wear when we’re cleaning out the storage room.  We don’t want to blemish our dress clothes so we have others we don’t care if we blemish or not.

Remember when you were a kid and you got a new article of clothing and your Mom wouldn’t let you wear it except a certain times because whe didn’t want you to ruin it?  Remember how she freaked when you got something on it?

So, how’s the new heart?  There isn’t anything more preciouse in all of creation.  Got a few stains here and there?  Maybe they’re not visible but they’re there – right?

David prayed,
Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  ESV
That “clean” means pure.  It is a pure heart that we have been given – how well have we done in keeping it that way?

If you’re like me you know well that we don’t do a very good job.  Of course we also know that:
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  ESV

But do you realize that this verse is right between:
1Jn 1:8  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  ESV
And
1Jn 1:10  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  ESV

What will it take for us to see the keeping of our new hearts as the most fundamental of our Christian duties?  How can we come to the point where we make it our consuming passion to honor God by keeping/guarding this precious gift He has so graciously given us?  When will we be sensitive enough to be as repulsed by a small stain on our new hearts as we are about a small ding on our new car or a small stain on our new shirt?

When we make keeping/guarding our hearts a matter of paramount importance in our prayers, asking God to convict us that we might guard our hearts, begging Him for the sensitivity to perceive that attacks and threats – then we will have begun.  I believe that when we begin to take this matter to Him and seek His power and guidance He will provide it.  But as long as we remain comfortably complacent our hearts will suffer – and hence our walk will suffer – and in this, the glory and honor of God will suffer.

Peter's Pen 1s Peter 4:12-13 Oops out of order

Peter's Pen 1st Peter 4:12-13

I Peter 4: 12-13:  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.   ESV

I'd like to paraphrase this verse - just to give some flavor -- "Beloved, when  the flames of persecution lap about your knees (and they will), don't say nobody told you, don't even wonder why, expect it all the time!!!!"

Get the drift?  Don't act dumb or do a "poor little me" when the world, the flesh and/or the devil turns on the burners!!!  From Jesus' own mouth we have been well warned that persecution isn't a "maybe," it is a, "oh- yeah!"

It is not about you and me, it's is about Him and the fallen one's hatred for Him and all that is His.  No whining!  No shock!  Rather, an, "I was expecting that," would be most appropriate.

But let me wander from the "Big One," to the issue of being prepared for the, "Big One."

We are never NOT under attack - never - not ever - no way - no how!

TV shows, politics, commercials, movies, magazines - all of these are attacks upon our hearts which incite our affections and lead to a fight for our consciences and holiness.  Whatever the "world" or Satan throws at us - no matter how minor, no matter how subtle, no matter how apparently innocuous is an attack, anything that conjures the idea that Christ is not utterly sufficient and/or that God is not utterly providential, is an attack.

Subaru is my favorite example.  Do you know that if you buy a Subaru, you will have "love" in your life?  That's what their ads say.  Watch for the little "love" graphic on their ads.

What about Victoria's Secret?  Why do I (or you ladies for that matter) need to see half naked women in their underwear?  Will this underwear make you a better person?  They want you to think so. [Maybe not so much being better - - but definitely more desirable]

What about sporting events hype?  Does it really matter who gets the funny ball to the end of the cow pasture?  Is this an important event or is it just a way for sellers to present you with the proposition that if you buy their stuff you will be a good person?  Why are cheerleaders half-naked?  Does that make the team better?


We have to accept that what the world (and the devil through it) offers us is nothing but temptation to be dissatisfied with our state.  Whether it's a car, underwear, the latest digital gizmoe - they all want us to feel we NEED their product to be - well - at least normal.

The problem is we blow off these little trials, ignoring their cumulative effect on our hearts and minds.  I believe that the more sensitive we are and appropriately responsive we are to these things, the less we will be shock by the "Big One."  I mean really, how "real" are the oh so popular "reality shows?"  Is that what He says is "real" life?  It may be for the unredeemed but for us it is a lie right out of the very pit of hell.

If we have been paying attention, it is clear that little by little the culture, indeed even our political and judicial systems, are slowly eroding our freedom to live as His.  Whether they do it via proclaiming some sin is a right or a norm, or through chipping away at our freedom to express - even raise our kids according to - our faith; they want to destroy us.

If the "powers that be" forgot their differences in Christ's day and conspired to kill Him, what makes you think they're not doing the same thing about us today?  Are you that naive?  Our battle is not a cultural battle nor is it a political battle - it's not even a religious battle.  It is a battle for His glory and honor as displayed by our active and faithful service in this world.

If you think I've gone off the deep end into the weirdness of "conspiracies and cabals," you haven't read much of your Bible lately.  Who are our enemies?  Who is "out to get us"?  That would be - the world - the flesh and the devil.  Hello-----anybody there?

So many believers are going to be shocked out of their socks when the "Big One" begins.  They're going to proclaim how nice they were and how they can't believe what's happening and how they've not bothered or hurt anybody.  They are going to feel "betrayed" by the "world" who has always been cooperating with the devil and working on the flesh for their destruction.

I am growing more and more convinced that because of the -- ok this is a tough one - the whoring of the church - the pimping out of the Gospel - we have lost our focus, which is for each individual believer - with the help, encouragement and support of every other believer - to grow more conformed to His likeness every moment.  How does that work when you can't wait to get out of church to see "the game"?  How does that work when we are as engaged by the world's "entertainment" offerings as the non-believer is?  How does that work when we make the accumulation of material things just as much a priority for ourselves as the world does for itself?

Dearest ones, how have we gotten so immured, so numb to the little, pernicious and persistent evils?  How have we come to tolerate - in our homes and even in our churches - the pandering of (and to) the world's standards, goals and priorities?  How have we come to be insensitive to evil - for that's what it is – evil?  We have refused to say "No," to the world - unless it's what we see as a ''big sin."  We have learned to wink and nod at evil because if we didn't, we would be weird - strange creatures - subject to vilification and finger pointing and marginalization ---- Oh, wait, isn't that happening anyway?

But, we will ever, I fear, be willing to feed the beast that seeks to consume us.  We will feed it until there is nothing left for it to eat but - well - us.  When we run out of treats for the beast, we will express shock and dismay when its teeth sink into our throats.

OK - one example.  The big thing right now is buying precious metals - hedging our wealth against the potential financial crisis.  What makes us think that when it finally hits the fan, we'll be allowed to keep any of it?  All that has to be done is for us to be found to be even a quasi-criminal enterprise and they can come and take it.

What part of the following are you refusing to accept?
John 15:19:
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.   ESV

What part of that is a lie?

What about:
James 4:4:
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  ESV

Hello!!!!!!!!  Anyone home?

In the second verse of our passage, Peter admonishes us to rejoice when we suffer for Christ or suffer as Christ's.  Yeah, like that's gonna happen.  I fear that we're trying so hard to be "friends" with the world that we will resent any suffering imposed upon us.  Why?  Because we refuse - absolutely refuse - to "take up our crosses," and follow Him in the little everyday compromises offered us by a world that wants to destroy us.

Just let me ask,
What's on your TeVo or your DVR?  What "shows" are your shows?   What is it in your world that you just can't do without, just can't miss, gotta see, hear, have ............?

If we can't take up our crosses, we will not rejoice when trials and persecution are imposed upon us.  Not only that but, if we can't or won't recognize and accept that a lot of what we hold should rightfully be laid down, I don't know how much we'll rejoice when He returns.

John Flavel + Me - Keeping the Heart

Duties Included in Keeping the Heart

Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart. Kindle Edition.
Frequent observation of the frame of the heart.  The heart can never be kept until its case be examined and understood.

Proust wrote, “No man is a mystery, except to himself.”

How many times have you thought, “I can’t believe I did/said that!”  Well, there ya go.  We need to examine our hearts regularly.  But we need help to do it well.  We talk of being able to do all things through Christ who is our strength.  Well, here’s one of the “all things” we 
avoid.  

Means:  Make a list.
What makes you laugh?  What makes you cry?  What hurts you and provokes anger?  What brings you satisfaction?  What brings you security?  What do you ache for?  What do you fear?
Which of those things are in line with your profession – or not?
Why?

It includes deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders.
OK, “humiliation” is a tough word – but it is also a good intervention word.  Flavel is talking about what you may have just discovered in the above exercise.  These “evils” and “disorders” have to be robbed of their power in your heart and the best way for that to happen is to lay them out before God.

Consider the sacrifice Christ made for those things.  Consider how He did so to enable you to humiliate them – to see and acknowledge their shameful presence in your heart.  BUT – do so ONLY if you are firmly aware of the fact of God’s grace in your life.

This isn’t about beating yourself up.  It is about beating the bugs out of the rug – the evil and disorder out of your heart.  Denial is so easy and so seeing becomes hard.  Denial is so easy and so dealing with evils and disorders is so messy.  The longer the evil and disorder remains denied the longer it works against your growth, stability and comfort.

I knew a man who after a year of literally living on OTC indigestion medicine finally went to the doctor.  To his horror, he had stomach cancer and it was too late to really do anything curative about it.  So it is with the evils and disorders that live in our hearts – though we are alive “in” Christ these things make our hearts dead to Him.  They are like the veil in the Temple were it to be repaired.  We cannot fully know the comfort and security of being His because of these things.

Means:  From the list take the evils and disorders you find to the throne of grace.  
Confess them and confess their hurtfulness to your spiritual health.  
Ask God to help you to begin to remove (humiliate) them.  
Ask Him where to start.  
Perhaps even keep a list in your wallet or purse so that when you pray you can always have a reminder of your deep heart need

It includes earnest supplication and instant prayer for purifying and rectifying grace when sin has defiled and disordered the heart.  “Whatever thou deny me: give me a heart to fear thee, to love and delight in thee.”

This is praying “for.”  Above we took the load to Him.  Here we ask for what we need, “purifying and rectifying grace.”

Means:  Good ole regular and strong, “on your knees” prayer.
Make use of David’s prayers such as we find in Psalm 23 and following.
Make use of the recorded prayers of others as can be found in the book, Puritan Prayers.

Thou hast struck a heavy blow at my pride, at the false god of self, and I lie in pieces before Thee. But Thou hast given me another master and lord, Thy Son, Jesus, and now my heart is turned towards holiness, my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards complete obedience to Thee. Help me in all my doings to put down sin day. Grant me grace to bear Thy will without repining, and delight to be not only chiselled, squared, or fashioned, but separated from the old rock where I have been embedded so long, and lifted from the quarry to the upper air, where I may be built in Christ for ever.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 105-110).  . Kindle Edition.

Write out your prayers.

It includes the imposing of strong engagements upon ourselves to walk more carefully with God, and avoid the occasions whereby the heart may be induced to sin.

This is head work.  How do you avoid those things which encourage, sustain or implant evils and disorders in your mind?  It is not only a matter of what you decide to forego or abstain from, but a matter of what you will take up, engage in and practice.

What will you choose to replace that which you find to your detriment?  How will you fill the minutes, the hours?  What will serve you to your benefit and growth in godliness?
These are not “laws,” but choices.  These do not determine “if” you are His but rather “how” you are His and how you give His Spirit the means and opportunity to heal, restore and strengthen you.  It can be as simple as not watching a TV show to as complex of breaking off an relationship.

Where upon your path do you stumble?  What is it that you stumble over?  Who is it that is a stumbling block to you?  These are the things concerning which you need to make strong resolutions – choices.

Though God can use these things, He cannot bless them.  Their use is limited to His conviction of your heart.  The blessing comes from taking the medicine He prescribes.  Though the medicine taste bitter, even nasty, we know it is all and only for our good and His glory.

Means:  Make a list, pray about where to begin and then begin.  Do so being as gentle and gracious with yourself as is He.
Who
What
When
Where

Choices have two ends: the choice to “not,” and the choice "to.”  As we choose to not we must choose to do.  In that list, make a column of what will replace that which you have marked for elimination.  Prayer, study, fellowship with other believers, worship – all these are good and godly replacements.

Our modern age supplies us with countless opportunities for choosing good things (as it does for evil).  I know that when all else fails I listen to sermons by Alistair Begg or read books written by one of the Puritans.  These choices may not be for you, they are but two options.

It includes a constant and holy jealousy over our own hearts.  He that will keep his heart must eat and drink with fear, rejoice with fear, and pass the whole time of his sojourning here in fear. All this is little enough to keep the heart from sin.

This is a choice as well.  You must choose to save your heart for God and godly things and resent that which works against it.  

You who are fathers – would you have less concern for your heart as you would for the safety and purity of your children – your daughter?  You mothers, would you feed your newborn from a dirty bottle?  Young people, would you allow harm and evil to come to your dearest friends?  So, as you would wish yourself to be in regards to these who are so dear to you – be so to your own heart.

Pray to live knowing that it is not only your heart, but it is His as well.  Think of the price He has paid so you might walk after Him in security and confidence.  Would you cheat on one who was so dedicated to you, who had given so much for you?  Consider those times when someone you considered close shunned or betrayed you – what was that pain like?

Or think of something in which or of which you place great meaning.  Would you allow someone to damage or destroy it?  Are you cautious about who uses it – perhaps even who sees it?  What greater meaning can any “thing” have than the redemption of your heart and His promise of His provision?

It is not sin to be selfish with your heart which He has redeemed.  It is sin to allow it to be used and abused, tarnished or torn by sin and the agents of sin.  We may give our hearts to others through Him but for no other reason than His service.

Means:  Who or what would draw your heart from you – from Him?  They have no such right, no such authority.
Keep your heart from their influence and certainly from their grasp.

It includes the realizing of God’s presence with us, and setting the Lord always before us.

This well could have been the first on the list for it is certainly the most important.  The old quip that “character is what a man is when no one is watching,” is not off the mark.
God is always watching – and He knows our suffering and difficulties.  He knows our grief.  He knows our needs.  He knows our weakness.

He wants His highest good for our lives here as well as in heaven.  

It is hard to really understand, but true that God is our truest friend.  He will never forsake or abandon us.  He is always at work for our betterment in His grace and glory.
He is the one who can not only search our hearts, but heal them and strengthen them as well

Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises, called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence, worshipping Thee with godly fear, awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Thy love.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 121-122).  . Kindle Edition.

Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest untiI Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 125-128).  . Kindle Edition.

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:13-14

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.  (1Pe 2:13-14)

Gill writes:

“. . . . because civil government is of God; magistracy is of divine appointment; the powers that he{re} are ordained of God, though this or the other form is of man's prescription: it is the command of God that magistrates should be obeyed; and it makes for his glory, as well as for the good of men, when they are submitted to in things that do not contradict the revealed will of God; for otherwise, not man, but God, is to be obeyed:”

The kicker here is:  “when they are submitted to in things that do not contradict the revealed will of God; for otherwise, not man, but God, is to be obeyed:”

Politics is commonly called the "art of compromise."

Our faith – if we consider it a type of “art,” is the “art of commitment.”

Consider the following:

But there were also very serious objects in the way of people embracing the Christian faith. For Christians of Jewish background it meant breaking with their community of origin – which now regarded them as deserters and traitors. Gentile converts, especially those belonging to the upper classes, encountered similar difficulties: their faith did not allow them take part in a series of traditional pagan-religious practices involving worship of Rome and the emperor, yet these practices were part and parcel of a citizen’s everyday life and they were a conventional sign of loyalty to the empire. Hence the accusations often leveled against the Christians that they were ‘atheists.’ This was a reason why they were threatened with persecution and martyrdom – a threat which hung over them for centuries and meant that to become a Christian involved taking risks; and demanded a high degree of moral courage.

What caused the great confrontation between the pagan empire and Christianity? The Christian religion encouraged people to respect and obey lawful authority. ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’ (cf. Mt 22:15-21) was the principle given by Christ himself. The Apostles developed this teaching: ‘Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except God.’ (Rom 13:1), wrote St. Paul to the faithful at Rome; and St. Peter exhorted the disciples to ‘Fear God. Honor the emperor’ (1 Pet 2:17). The empire, for its part, was liberal in religious matters and easily tolerated new forms of worship and foreign divinities. The collision and the break occurred because Rome tried to get its Christian subjects to do something they could not do – render it the religious homage of adoration which may be given lawfully to God alone.  

http://www.earlychristians.org/expansion/expansion_3.html

The question for us, as for them, is: At what point do we decide that the civil government is demanding our “religious homage of adoration,” or preventing us from living out the Biblical lives we are called to?”

This is a knotty problem for us – but no less for them.  Our government spends our tax money on things which we, as believers, cannot support or condone.  Abortion is one such issue.  But did you know that in the Roman Empire a father, if he was not pleased with his new born child, would set the child outside the door or gate to die of exposure?  This action Roman law allowed.  So as the early disciples “rendered unto Caesar” they not only funded a regime that allowed infanticide but they actually funded the vehicle of their persecution.

Oh, minor point – After the gospel came to Rome, believers were known to go out and find these children and save them to be raised in believing homes.  Mmmmm – think about that.

Loyalty was a big issue.  Are you “loyal” to God or to government?  To the City of God or the City of Man?  Where is the line in patriotism?

The danger for us is when we consider the Constitution to be a semi-religious document.  Though some (not as many as we think) of our “founding fathers” were believers, many were, for the most part what would have been called “religious.” 

The First amendment reads:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I find it interesting that the amendment leads off with the religion issue.  But are these not all issues that relate to our religious liberty?  Does this not allow for not only the free exercise of our faith, but also, its verbal communication, printing, assemblage and redress?

As I said, this is a knotty verse.  But we must all pray carefully and long over where the line needs to be drawn and where it is being crossed.  Man-made government, even though God ordained, is unholy, impure and unrighteous – I would go so far as to say it is anti-holy, anti-pure and anti-righteous.  It is about power, not service.  It really is about Mammon and not men.

But – God has too much for us to do for us to be distracted by the evil works of evil men aimed at power and oppression.  We must obey and render where we can – determining where we can’t is an issue of the Word, the Spirit and our consciences.

But yes, speeding is a sin.