'SHIP 003

'SHIP  003

Obedience is our duty.  We have both a commission to fulfill and an obligation to grow.

Are you?  Obedience?

It takes work - hard work.

It takes sacrifice - tough sacrifice.

It take your commitment - which of course is meaningless without the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Peter tells us that we have been given everything we need for life and godliness.  Now that's not some certificate or diploma.  It's the means we have everything needed to begin and continue in the fulfillment of our obligtion and the fulfilling of our commission.

So, how're we doing?  Are we "lukewarm" like our brothers and sisters in Laodicia?  

Revelation 3:15-22 ESV
"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. [17] For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. [19] Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. [21] The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

What's "lukewarmness?"

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 

Ouch!  Also, note verse 20!  Contrary to how we have heard this verse used, Jesus is talking to the Church (collectively and individually).  Hellooooo!  Anybody home?

How can Christ be "outside" the Church knocking on the door to come in?  I have no idea but obviously it's possible.

No look closely at verse 20b.  "If anyone," "in to him," "eat with him," "grant him."

Him (and of course Her as well - duhh) - singular.  That means we do not wait on everybody else!  We don't need to!  Indeed, we can not afford to!

You are a sheep - part of a flock -BUT whether the flock follows the Shepherd (or not), you can, you must.  What does "following" the shepherd look like?  Simple, trusting obedience to the one trusted.

But, when sheep get fat they tend to get sassy.  They're full, they have no sense of danger so they just do their own thing.  They don't sense the NEED anything.

Oh, wait, could this be something?  Do we tend to forget our need?  Not our need for food, for material provision but our NEED for Him.  Let me ask two questions.  First, "When was the last time you were convicted of sin?"  Second, "When was the last time you sinned?"  Any disconnect there?   Any loss of sensitivity?  Any (and oh this is scary) absense of sensitivity?

Uhhhhhhh --- 1 John 1:8-10 ESV
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Oh, we'll cop to sins - when they're in our faces.  But do we live insensitive to them?  Do we minimize, ignore, prevaricate?  Are we able to dodge conviction?  Are we shown our sin and then comparing it to what we call BIGGIES do we just walk past it?  The eating of a piece of fruit threw the whole of creation into the corruption and devastation of sin.  So how serious is any sin?

Do you hate sin as sin or do you just hate the consequences?  

Consider:
"...the choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin...Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you. Your being dead with Christ virtually, your being quickened with him, will not excuse you from this work."                                From Mortification of Sin, by John Owen.

Disobedience is sin.  Right" Or have I missed something?

Examine yourself - Contentment 002

Examine yourself - Contentment 002

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

(Psalms 81:11 ESV)

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

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

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

In James we read:

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

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

God says:

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

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

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

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

This is clear:

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

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

Note:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More next time . . . . .

This and That - Occasional faith-faithfulness?

And it is an argument of very mean attainments, of a low and weak degree in this frame of heart, or in our being spiritually minded, when our thoughts of spiritual things do rise or fall according unto renewed occasional convictions. If when we are under rebukes from God in our persons or relations, in fears of death and the like, and withal have some renewed convictions of sin in commission, for omission of duties, and thereon do endeavor to be more spiritually minded in the constant exercise of our thoughts on spiritual things, which we fail in, and these thoughts decay as our convictions in the causes of them do wear off or are removed, we have attained a very low degree in this grace, if we have any interest in it at all.

Owen, John (2011-09-27). Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded [Illustrated] (Kindle Locations 468-473).  . Kindle Edition.

Does your attention to the duties and disciplines of our faith wax and wane according to the nature of your circumstances?  Mine did – and I pray won’t any longer.

It is a commonly accepted thing that we are never more active in our faith than when it becomes obnoxiously obvious that we are not in control.  When things hit the oscillating blades we are very quick to hit our knees – but where were we before?

Faith may have medicinal benefits but it’s like many medicinal remedies – you have to stick to the regimen for the medicine to be effective.  Or consider physical exercise – if it’s not regularly engaged in then its value and effect is irregular – even useless.

Faith must be exercised or it will atrophy.  Prayer, study, fellowship, worship and good works are all part and parcel of our faith.  At its most basic it is a matter of obedience.  If we believe that Jesus is Lord of lords and that He is our Lord then we have to believe that obeying Him is the only course we may take.

This has been written of and debated to the point of silliness.  A King is a King is a King.  A subject is a subject is a subject.  A subject OWES the King their allegiance, their obedience.  When they withhold it, it is treason, rebellion.  When this happens it is in the King’s authority to have the rebel executed, banished from the Kingdom or at the very least denied the benefits of being a subject of the King.

When our obedience, “do rise or fall according unto renewed occasional convictions,” we are not faithful subjects – we are rebels and justly deserve to be seen and treated as such. 

To deflect the just and rightful response from the King we are prone to engage in hyper-loyal activities and attitudes.  But, when the King restores us we are prone to lay aside the duties and obligations we own our King.

Owen rightly states that, “these [spiritual, obedient, submissive] thoughts decay as our convictions in the causes of them do wear off or are removed, we have attained a very low degree in this grace, if we have any interest in it at all.”

For me it was a painful cycle of hitting a wall – getting all Christianly energized, calling out to my sovereign Lord to intervene and then when I felt I was over the wall I told Him, “Thank you, I’ve got it from here.”  To which I’m sure He must have snickered and thought, “Yeah, right, will you never learn?”

It’s a failure on our part to really work to see, “What God has done for us lately.”  We look for the goodies we want from Him the kudos even worldly kudos and when we don’t see them, we don’t think He’s done anything for us lately.  OK – at least I did.

But, for me, this last wall has been different.  Not worse than any previous wall but different.  The big difference is that I have recognized that since I hit that wall I have not had a single day when He did not provide everything – and I mean everything I needed for that day.

Oh, I have needs I see out ahead of me but He’s there, I’m not, so it must be His problem.  If He shows me what I can do today to prepare of next Thursday then I will do it.  But today at 11:30 am I am simply preparing for 11:31 am.  I might not be alive at 11:31 am but I’m preparing for it.  I am asking Him for all I need for (ok time moves) 11:32 am because I don’t know I will be alive at 11:33 am.

In my work as a consultant and counselor I cringe when people tell me they are really good under pressure.  That usually means they work to keep themselves under pressure so they can be “good.” 

When we get in the rut of doing it on our own and not exercising our faith obediently, regularly and diligently and we get used to falling to our knees in desperation we are in deep trouble.  I’ve had folks say things like, “Every time I outrun God He rescues me,”  “Every time I get in trouble I go to God and He helps me.”  Ultimately I have to ask – “Why don’t you go to Him all the time – regularly and work to live obediently.”  They don’t like that – so I’m a legalist.

Yes, things come our way that are tough but we don’t need to be unprepared.  God does not have to be the last resort when He’s the everyday resort.  We don’t have to run to the throne if we live at the foot of it.  We don’t have to run around seeking God it we keep ourselves continually in His presence.

I used to brag that God had to hit me in the head to get my attention.  A brother who loves me said, “That’s pretty stupid Michael – why do you make Him do that?”  Ouch!  But my brother was absolutely right.  If I pay constant attention to Him, He always has my attention.  If I am dutiful in my duties them I am always ready. 

In his huge but wonderful book The Christian in Complete Armour, William Gurnall makes the point that we are told to put on the whole armor of God but we are never told to take it off.  His point being that we must put it on and keep it on – 24/7/365-.

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:15

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.   (1Pe 2:15)

Doing good

silences

the ignorance

of foolish people

this is the will of God

I didn’t include this with verses 13-14 on purpose, though it certainly can be applied there.  However, I think that it is important that we consider this verse apart from or rather in a broader application than just the civil government.

This, “doing good,” is specific to those in whom He lives.  For me, that makes it a good of eternal significance.  It’s not “just” good, it is very good.

But we have to ensure that the good we do is distinctly His good.  Not only do I mean that it is a good thing we are called to in the Word, but that it is a good thing in the Spirit as well.

I can do a lot of good things with unbelievers and that is a good thing.  But I am convicted that when I do these good things, He must be glorified – not obscured as my motive.  I have a problem with “stealth” good works.  Not good works where “I” am anonymous, but works in and for Him where He is anonymous.

I’ve been told that this obvious expression of motive can be offensive to those who are not believers – but – well – uhhhh.  What’s the point if He is not glorified - ?

Our good doings need to be seen as coming from Him – not us – Him.  Are we to put the light under a basket so people won’t have to squint at the light?

No – I’m not saying you obnoxiously push Him in their faces, but you do need to let it be known, somehow, that you are there because you are His.  We are to be known as His and our doings are to be known as His.

On the lite side:

I’m considering a lapel pin or hat that has “4X,” on it – “For Christ.”  I know some folks object to the “X” being used for Christ but it is a valid historical idea.  “X” is the first letter in the Greek Xristos (Christ).  I just think it would be a subtle question raiser.

Remember, it is our good behavior (doing and talking) that will silence those who do not know Him.  

Michael Sanders, Chaplain

ms@tc2v1.com

www.tc2v1.com

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