peirazō; Examine Yourselves 112012

I had a - well - vision?  Ok - maybe an illusion?  Or perhaps just a cool idea???

OK - I was in bed reading my evening devotional piece and the author was speaking a great deal about the battle we face with the world, the flesh and the devil.  In the midst of all this I had this - thing - pop into my head.

I saw (?) a person surrounded on three sides by their enemies.  In one of those very zealous "Yeah duhhh!!" moments I thought. "There is only one way to go!!"

Ok - please don't start the index finger, "one way" thing.

I know it sounds really simple and silly but with everything else I had been reading, for some reason, this really made an impact.

I (can I say "we?") do have only one way to go.  Or at least we need to decide that.  I could not help thinking of the idea of "back"-sliding or the admonition to not turn from the way - either to the left or the right.  

What is hard is to accept the fact that "in Christ" we finally have a choice.  Before we were made alive in Him we had no choice.  We were "by nature" objects of wrath, enemies of God, excluded from the promises.  We were SLAVES (we really don't understand that well enough) - to sin.  We were in bondage.  We were children of Satan.  Hence there was NO facility, ability or utility whereby we could make any real choice - and especially right or godly one.

Now, in Christ, we are free and we not only can but we must make choices - minute by minute by minute.  Do we go back?  Do we turn left?  Do we turn right?  Or do we go forward?

Remember the moving sidewalks in airports?  They were a little scary.  But, think about it - grace has provided us with a moving sidewalk (ok - poor analogy but it works with me).  We are in His "Way."  We move forward by His power.  If we turn back we hinder our progress (and that of those on the road sidewalk with us).  If we jump off - either to the left or the right we no longer have His forward moving power and our progress is hindered.

His "moving sidewalk" only goes one way to one goal.  We can, by combining our efforts with the power He has already provided, move more swiftly and efficiently or we can just take the ride - His power will get us where we are going.

But, 1. We have to stay on the sidewalk. And 2. If we just "take the ride" and do not engage what He has given us to do - I promise it will be a very boring ride. You will get off and on the sidewalk and you may well start walking backwards, fighting His forward movement of you.

OK - all analogies die a terrible death if stretched too far.  So let's drop that one.

Christ does not just call us to eternal life in the future but he calls us to actually live it here and now.  Too many of us are made alive in Him and we either hide in the tomb, refuse to unwrap the shroud, we keep ducking back into the tomb or some combination of the three (there may be more but I don't see 'em).  Live people do not belong in tombs or shrouds!  But tombs make good hiding places and shrouds make good camouflage.

Ok - theological narrow ledge here --- Jesus may have your soul - your "eternal" life(think the Greek "zoa")- but if you're not exercising the faith you've been given - then the world, the flesh and the devil are in control of your life (thing the Greek "bios").  

You are not amphibious.  You can not live in heaven and visit hell for brief vacations.  You have been regenerated for heaven - hell does not suit you--

UNLESS

Unless you never were regenerated to begin with.

We go to the doctor to examine our state of health. We examine our bank statements to determine our financial condition.  We take our car to the shop to determine its condition.  We examine our dwellings to determine its soundness.  But all too few of us ever intentionally examine our spiritual condition.

We just assume that because we once "went forward." "raised out hands," or "prayed a prayer," that we're good to go.  And unless God in His grace and mercy jerks a knot in our hearts or minds we just don't have the time nor the concern to examine them in relation to Him.

This is not faith, it's presumption.  

Peter writes that He has given us everything we need for life and godliness.  Do you have any idea what we have been "given" for that?  Yes, believers are given salvation but that is the end game not the journey.  

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.   (2Co 13:5-6)

What part of that does not apply to you?  The word translatred "recognize" in some versions and 'realize" in others is the word "epiginosko," which carries the meaning:

1) to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly

1a) to know accurately, know well

2) to know

2a) to recognise

2a1) by sight, hearing, of certain signs, to perceive who a person is

2b) to know, i.e. to perceive

2c) to know, i.e. to find out, ascertain

2d) to know, i.e. to understand

How we could claim to have that knowledge based simply on a one time response we made is beyond me.

Just take a simple test:

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."  (Luk 16:13)

Note:  "money" is the Greek word "mammon" which means treasure.  Extending it we can apply it to worldly concerns, worldly focus, indeed we can apply it to self - self dependency, self-serving, self-protection.  It is a treasure opposed to God.  In short, idolatry.

Well?  How are we doing?  Let me ask you this - and I do not ask in a vacuum because I'm living just at the poverty line.  In these tough times what concerns you more; God or Mammon?  His glory of your needs and wants?  What you do not have or what He has given you?    

I will continue the devotionals of Peter but I am beginning another series concerning how we can live with bold assurance.  That bold assurance comes not by flashes of light, not by visions, not by miracles but bu the faithful exercise of our faith in the performance of our duties and obligations as citizens of His Kingdom - subjects of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I am writing this series much more for myself than for you.  I almost have a panic attack at every loss of opportunity to earn a living and especially as I look ahead and see very real needs for which I have no means.  So please do not think I'm talking out of my hat.

Two passages from scripture engage me in this - two passages that re-direct my mind and heart when I feel myself tempted to jump the moving sidewalk of walk in the opposite direction.

First is Job's statement:

Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. (Job 13:15)

The second is from Jesus:

"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."   (Luk 22:42)

I pray that God will comfort and strengthen us all as we examine ourselves.

Of course, my "ace in the hole" is:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.   (Pro 3:5-7)

This and That 090512 Ignorance?

There is a five-fold ignorance from which our fear arises.

First, we are ignorant of God.

Second, we are ignorant of others.

Third, we are ignorant of ourselves.

Fourth, we are ignorant of our circumstances.

Fifth, we are ignorant of the covenant of grace.

Flavel, John (2011-12-27). Triumphing Over Sinful Fear (Puritan Treasures for Today) Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

This is just an excerpt from Flavel’s book.  This five-fold ignorance is seen by him as the cause of our sinful fear.

This ignorance is not the same as stupid.  He’s not castigating his readers.  Rather he wants you and me to understand that we can and need to relieve this ignorance.

In 1 Peter 1:14 we find the word “ignorance.”  It is the Greek word: ἄγνοια  agnoia.  There is nothing demeaning about the term.  It simply refers to: 

1) lack of knowledge, ignorance

1a) especially of divine things

1b) of moral blindness

Though we have had our “sight” restored that doesn’t mean we “know,” what we need to know.  It does mean that we can know what we need to know.

Read John 9.  This is my favorite story and, if we really think about it, we can see some mighty parallels to our gaining our sight.

Here are some of my thoughts:

·         He was born blind so how distracted was he after he gained his sight?  Sensory overload?  Oh yeah!

·         He didn’t know blue or red or purple.

·         He didn’t know what he looked like.

·         He didn’t know what his parents looked like.

·         He didn’t know how to coordinate his clothes (ok – maybe that’s not really one).

·         He didn’t know what light was.

·         He didn’t know what beauty or ugly was.

·         He didn’t know didn’t what anything looked like.

Get the picture?

He was – well – ignorant.  He didn’t know what can only be known by sight.

That’s us when we come into the Kingdom, when we gain our sight.  We’re ignorant.  Everything is the same but our ability to correctly perceive it and identify it is radically altered.  So, ignorant fits.

But we need not and should not remain ignorant.  Did you know that in the early church it was not uncommon for a new believer to undergo years of catechetical training before they were admitted to a functional place in the body?  No one doubted they were saved but the early church leaders understood that ignorance was a grave danger to the new believer – as well as the body.

They understood and appreciated (that is both the leadership and the new believers) that there was much to learn (as well as unlearn) in order that the new believer would not be a danger to themselves or others.  They took seriously (the leadership) their obligation to teach – from milk to meat – the new believer.  The new believer understood that they were blessedly ignorant and submitted themselves to sometime arduous and lengthy instruction.

How about you?  I know, even though I’m a seminary graduate and an ordained minister, that I have places where I am ignorant.  There are places where I missed the milk truck and places where I still need someone to cut my meat for me.  Ignorance is a condition not a sin ----

Unless ------

Unless that ignorance is intentional, arrogant or prideful.  Intentional ignorance is quite honestly, a sin.  It is a refusal to submit to the instruction of the Word and the ministry of the Spirit.  It is also a refusal to accept the commission to demonstrate God’s glory.

I knew a woman whose faith was, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  It was clear that she really did believe this and that Christ was her savior.  But she refused to grow any further than that.  Because, I believe, of her refusal to grow in knowledge and wisdom she had a very fearful life. 

I remember her confessing to me with tears streaming down her face and her body shaking that she had slept with her second husband before they were married.  I asked her if she believed that Christ paid for that sin.  She acknowledged she did.  I then asked her if she believed he died for ALL her sin.  She was shocked.  She had never learned about the breadth of His atonement.   Her ignorance had made her hold that sin to and against her heart for years being tormented by fear.

It’s the same with trials, suffering, blessings, opportunities, ad infinitum ----- Unless we relieve our ignorance, unless we set ourselves to know, understand, appreciate and apply the truth He has revealed we will always suffer and fear more than we need to.

Jesus made it clear:

 Mat 11:28-30  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  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.  (30)  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

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).