Anxious? To be or not!

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 

(Mat 6:27) KJV

How "powerful" am I really?  Sometimes i find myself thinking I'm pretty powerful.  That is a mistake!  Not that i have no talents, skills of abilities but I forget who they come from and who makes them effective.  

It's hard to keep in mind, when we are doing good stuff, that it is all totally dependent upon Him - totally - utterly - of Him.

I was once advised to; "Pray as though it all depended upon God and to work as though it all depended upon me."  Not good advise!  I now "Pray because it all depends upon God and I work (or try to) in utter dependence upon Him."

I can't help but think of Saul (later to be known as Paul).  He was "the man" (or at least one of them) in the Jewish religious institutions.  He knew god, the Law, the traditions and by his own statement he was "the man."  All that talent and training and effort--etc. and he still went the wrong way.

I think, that among other issues, Saul depended upon Saul a lot.  I think it was something he dealt with through out his life and ministry.  This is common to most of us and yet we need to pray for a sensitivity to it or accept the thorn that reminds us of it.

As i consider this passage from Matthew and the issue of anxiety I am mindful of what James wrote:

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.   (Jas 4:1-3)

Now if our lusts can cause such distress among us surely they will cause the same within us.  I can't help but consider that this is a great source of anxiety within the individual believers life.  

What if, in affliction I struggle with praying for God will to be done and/or my relief/comfort/rescue/etc.   I struggle with the fact that God is glorified in my weakness - even in my affliction and yet I want it to be over.  This conflict just adds to the anxiety i experience.

It's the, "not my will but thine," conundrum.  I get anxious concerning His will and my will being - well - different.  It's not easy!  Certainly I do not face the same cup Christ faced but our "cups" are always BIG to us.  

But, there is one thing I find comfort in even in the cunnundrum!

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 
(Luk 22:42-43)

Two things here.  First, Jesus did not hesitate to take His concern to His Father.  He quite clearly asks for this "cup" to be removed.  So I take that to mean I may do the same.  It also means I need to be willing to pray the whole prayer with one addition --- that we may have missed.

I will also pray for God's strengthening whether by the appearance of an angel, the presence of an angel, direct from God or through the Word and the Spirit (not to leave out the Body).  

Father,
You know my anxiety and fretfulness in the current circumstances.  You know I want You to make them go away.  You know my weakness - my fleshiness - my self-centeredness.  You know much more of my struggle than even I do.

I want to run from the circumstance but I fear that I would be running from You as well.  That I do not want to do.  I have been there and done that and I know it is not good.

I would ask for Your strengthening and Your comfort.  I would also ask You to show me You in all this.  The enemies assail my heart and torment my head and I need to hear You more clearly.

I am sadly afraid - but I take comfort in my Savior's prayer and His surrender to You will for us.  I want very much to do the same but my feet feel frozen and I grow anxious - very anxious.  I want to ask You to "help my unbelief," for I can't pretend there is no unblief in my mind and heart.  I believe - help my unbelief!!!

Peter's Pen 1 Peter 5:6

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  ESV

Redundant?  Perhaps but don't we all need t be reminded - often and loudly?

It is God's hand under which we humble ourselves.  It is a mighty hand.  Because it is a mighty hand it will provide all we need.

We can and should cast all our anxieties on Him.  This word anxieties carries the important idea of "distractions."  That is the cares that distract us from serving Him.  That is a big and long list.  

This also points us to what should be our main focus, "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." (WCF)  It is enough (as we will see) for Satan to distract us from our duties and obligations, from our service to Him and one another.  That's all Satan needs to do - that is to get our attention focused on our lack, our need, even our desires and off of Him, His grace, His promises, His power and His provision.

"Keep your eye on the ball," is not a bad admonition (I prefer it to keep your eye on the prize).  If our desire is to "put it our of the park," for Him then all Satan had to do is distract us from the pitch and we'll swing and miss.  

It is not just tough times that Satan uses and it is not just good times either.  There are those middle of the road times when we are neither in great need nor great prosperity.  For many of us, these are the times we grow slack and perhaps a little cocky.  We tend to prefer to have things on cruise control.  That way we can attend to other things.  They may be Ok things, they may be good things- but if they are not focus on Him they are just distractions.  And oh the multiplicity of distractions the world, the flesh and the Devil proved.

It is important that we keep our hearts under His scrutiny.  John Flavel in his book, Keeping the Heart, goes into great detail concerning the difficulty and imperative of this duty.  Our heart are easily distracted even mis-directed.  Though they are His they are prone to wander towards things necessary.  The bright and shiny things are as distracting as the dark and gloomy ones.

That is where remembering our moral littleness needs to be tattooed on our hearts.  This is a constant duty, keeping the heart.  We need to keep it for Him and from sin.  the idea of "keeping" is related to the old "keeps" that castles had.  The "keep" was the last bastion of safety when the castle was attacked.  Once the walls or gates were breached everyone fled to the keep.

Typically the keep was a rounded tower several stories high.  It was entered via a stairway made of wood.  Once everyone was inside the stairs were burned or otherwise dismantled denying access to the attackers.  The "keep" was well supplied with food and water and often had some secret passage for those inside to use for escape.

Such is the keeping of the heart.  It assumes the walls and gates are or will be breached and provides us with protection.  We live in hostile territory.  We are, whether we admit and accept it or not, surrounded by barbarians who are bent on conquering us.  Though we know they can never separate us from the love of God they are content to separate us from a sense of the love of God.  They are content with tipping the scales in favor of fearing them and away from trusting God.  They desire to destroy our effectiveness by distraction and distress.  hence, we must work to keep our hearts safe and protected in Him.

Now a "keep" is a small and confining place.  But it is a safe place.  Such is our life in Him.  It is small and confined.  There are many places we can not go and many things we can not do because we are in His "keep." But outside the "keep" our enemies wait.  Though were ever we go He is with us and we are in His care we also know that there are places of great danger and things to do that carry great hazard.  Why dear brothers and sisters would we desire to venture beyond the "keep?"

Humility - casting all our cares on Him - keeps us in His "keep."  Pride makes us think we can venture forth into the enemies camp and not be harmed.  Foolish, foolish pride convinces us that we have reached a point where our need for Him is somehow diminished, that we can handle somethings on our own.  Foolish, foolish pride.

Yes, we might be thrown into a lion's den.  We might be thrown into a fiery furnace.  But we are never told to go looking for a den to invade or a furnace to fling ourselves into.  

Only foolish, vain pride could ever move us to that.  There is a story of a believer who during English Civil War cried out, "Forward. God is on our side!"  He mounted the barricades behind which he had been safe.  After only a few paces he was cut down by a cannon ball.  

Pride, even in a believer, is still pride.

Peter's Pen 1 Peter 5:5

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”   ESV

There's the kicker, "be subject to the elders."

How?

"Clothe yourselves, ALL OF YOU (elders and young ones) with humility toward one another."

"Humility" = In this case I prefer the definition: a deep sense of one's moral littleness.

Remember, we are saved graciously so that no man may boast.  We are kept graciously as well and hence no man may boast any moral superiority over another.  In Christ we are all in the same state.  Our gifts and callings may and do vary, our responsibilities and authority will and does vary.  Our knowledge, understanding and maturity varies.  In Christ we are all utterly powerless and utterly dependent upon Him - all the time.

We are all utterly morally dependent.  There is no good in any of us save that which He provides.  Humility should not be hard - but it is.  Which is probably why Peter finished that admonition with the warning that God opposes the proud.

The proud man or woman does not acknowledge all their inability and neediness.  The proud man or women does not yield to or depend upon God.

Note that God "opposes" the proud.  The sense here is that God engages the proud in battle.  it is not some passive disapproval but rather the active providence of God to humble the proud under His hand.  It is needful that we consistently examine our heart for traces of pride.  I have been His for over 40 years and yet I can not say I have won that battle.  Paul's pride was of such great potential that God gave him a constant reminder it the "thorn."  If God will do such for Paul will He do less for us if needed?

I like the phrase, "gives grace."  It's kind of redundant because grace implies a gift.  Perhaps God gives and gives to the humble because they know their need and battle pretentious pride.  We can not - we will not receive (accept) what we don't believe we need.  So it may be that pride keeps us from opening our hands in admission of our neediness and hence we do not take what it offered - that is just silly - unfortunately it is also too common.

Note however - we do not submit to "man" in submitting to the elder/shepherds.  Our submission is to God who has called these men to serve us in a ministry of care and oversight.  We are trusting God to work through His elders/shepherds.  They may and will at times fail us - but He will never do so.  And, if they are indeed his humble servants they will accept His rebuke and take the appropriate action to correct their error and restore the relationship.

But we must all accept our moral littleness - we must all allow Him to make us and keep us humble - before Him and toward one another.

This and That 091012b Oh, be careful but proud

When men have had enlargements in their expressions, and especially when they apprehend that others are satisfied or affected therewith, they are apt to have a secret self-pleasing in what they have done; which, before they are aware, turns into pride and a noxious elation of mind. 

Owen, John (2011-09-27). Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded [Illustrated] (Kindle Locations 747-749).  . Kindle Edition.

From praise to pride is a very short journey.

From kudos to conceit is a just a step.

From glorifying Him to glorifying ourselves doesn’t take much of a nudge.

Doing works of ministry should certainly make us feel good.  But it is the good of the instrument not the good of the player.  I have heard the most beautiful music come from a simple Penny Whistle as well as a costly clarinet.  It was not the instrument but the musician.

Paul writes:  “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.” Rom 15:17

See, there is a humble and godly pride.  It is a pride of the instrument – the one through whom God makes His music.  It is, “in Christ!”

But it is also a danger.  The danger is when we allow ourselves to be carried away from the source – the means – the power of our performance. 

We all have skills and talents and they may or may not be our “spiritual gifts.”  But they are all gifts.  I work hard to differentiate between my skills and my “gifts.”  Though I thank God for them both they are not all given for the same use.  Yes, they are given for the purpose of glorifying God but they are not all useful in the works of ministry He has called us to.

Because of my upbringing and experience I have a lot of things I can do and do well.  The danger comes when I decide which are for His glory and which are just there.

I know this sounds strange but what talents etc., I use in my work and how I use them is not the same as when I am about His work.  Yes I know He is in it all but I discern a difference as I use them.  It is hard to explain but just because I can “X” does not mean He wants “X” to be of any importance in my work for Him. 

Pride comes in when I assume that I should use a talent or skill just because I can and in doing that I keep someone else from being able to use their gifts in His service.  Even when I think I might do it better, or especially when I think I might do it better, pride is there and I must sit still.

OK this is OOC (out of context) but the principle has helped me:

1Co 10:23-24  "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.  (24)  Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Let me give you an extreme example.  I was given my first gun and taught to shoot when I was still in diapers.  I am a certified Revolver Master Marksman.  Now, pray tell, how do I use that for His glory?  I know I can think of lots of ways that skill might be used but there is no direct connection for me.

On the other hand, I was forced to take part in musicals and plays when I was very young.  Now understand I am a terminal introvert – so, at times I was whipped because I didn’t want to participate.  But, I learned to “do” extroverted things.  So, I use those skills in my work and my ministry.  Yeah, it’s hard to correlate being forced to do something with it being a “gift,” but it was – and is.

I have been told that I can be intimidating.  Now, when I was in law enforcement, that was a good thing – but “in Him,” not so much.

There are, what I call, seed gifts (no that’s not biblical) that have produced skills, talents and abilities that have are “gifts.”  The “acorn” isn’t the gift but the “oak” is.

I want you to know something I “think.”  I think that if you look back at both the blessings and trials that He has provided you will see the “acorns.”  Then, look for the “oaks.”  I have worked with a lot of brothers and sister who, at some point in their lives, experienced horrible things.  I have noticed that they are so focused on the trauma that they miss the “oak” in the yard. 

That of which many are ashamed can be used by Him to His glory in His work.

2Co 1:3-4  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.

That’s just one way he uses our “acorns” to grow “oaks.”  But remember, we are not to take pride in our having been comforted rather we are to take pride in the comforter.

2Ti 2:20-21  Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.  (21)  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

With Paul, let us:  :  “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.” Rom 15:17

Walk with P & me 07

Walk with P & me  07

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

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

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

I am acting with great boldness toward you;

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

In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

(2Co 7:4)

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

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

and the desires of the eyes a

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

(I John 2:16)

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

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

(Pro 11:2)

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

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

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

I was curiously convicted by this.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God bless you!

Michael

Patti and Michael Sanders

2205 New Garden Rd.

# 2807

Greensboro, NC 27410