Sound bites from God ;-}

I've been reading Psalm 119 a lot recently and it suddenly came to my mind that I was reading them more like a long list of proverbs that one continuous Psalm.  No, I'm not coming up with some new theory on Psalm 119 but I find it interesting how some verses really speak to where I am and others, well, don't.  

I't kind of like "sound-bites" only inspired.  

Take  Psalm 119:49-50 ESV
Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. [50] This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

I really love that passage and I find it gets my head and heart back on track when I am distracted or distressed.  But it is followed by:


Psalm 119:51 ESV
The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.

Which does not, as far as I can tell, speak to my circumstances.  So there is kind of a "disconnect" in the flow of my reading.

Then the Psalmist writes:


Psalm 119:52 ESV
When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.

Which gets my closer to sensing a flow.

Now, we can't be picking and choosing our verses willy-nilly.  We need the whole counsel of God.  However, sometimes it's not the "flow" of our reading that the Spirit desires to lay on our hearts but just a smidgen (small piece) of it.  

Having said that I would suggest, as came to mind, that the "insolent" who "utterly deride me" are always identifiable as the world the flesh and the devil.  So the "disconnect" is "spliced" back together.

All this is to merely suggest that when we are going to the Word we should not go looking for what we want as much as looking for what He/His Spirit knows we need.  Once our spirits are affected by a verse or two it will do us well to consider why that might be and how, even if it strains our brains, the verse before and after play a part in that.

We should be reading the Word in a studious manner but we may read it as a love letter as well.  Studying His word is work and we should all be about that as we are able.  But, I think that His Word should also be a "scavenger hunt" as well.

We should always feel free - even compelled - to go to His work to find His provision for our need.  Sometimes we may well be preparing some strong theological lesson - but other times we just need a - well - hug from His Word.  That's what I've learned from my reading of Psalm 119.  

I love the emphasis Alistair Begg makes of the "main and plain" things of scripture.  I have no problem believing that God is not playing hide and seek with us in His Word.  What He has for us, what He desires for us, what He desires from and of us is plain.  It may be in right in the middle of one of Paul's mighty theological statements but it is that one verse (not abusive of the context) that God desires us to have.

I got to this as I was looking through scripture concerning the promises of God.  That's how I stumbled upon Psalm 119:49&50.  and that;s how I started reading the whole Psalm.  But I still am encouraged and humbled and joyful when I read (actually remember) -


Psalm 119:49-50 ESV
Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. [50] This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

This is my "sound-bite" that expands into comfort and encouragement as I struggle wait upon Him.  

Soooooo, don't go willy-nilly to the Word but go trusting Him to lead you to the main and plain Word that you need.

Grey day - hopeful heart - a prayer

031113

It's a cold and foggy day, just made for a fire and a good book.  But, maybe for some it's just a grey day.  You know, one of those days where you can only see so far, your a little stressed by the fogginess not sure what's ahead.

Well, as I think about that I realize that even without the fog our ability to see what's ahead is still limited.  It's the shrinking of that ability that makes is seem worse.  So I went to the Word to find some encouragement.  I didn't want to go for all the common, be joyful or don't worry, or fear not verse.  I wanted something fresh - and I think I found it.

We read the scriptures and if we're honest, there are parts that we are so familiar with that we fly right past them.  There are also parts that we may read but we don't expect to gain any great insight from.  The introductions and and endings of the epistles are one example.

But today I found a real gem - at  least for me.


2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 ESV
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, [17] comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Read it    s l o w l y.

I realized that it is so easy to get so fixed on the issues Patti and I face and that those we're close to face that I forget - well - you guys.  Of course not knowing your circumstances or needs it's a bit difficult to pray knowingly.  But here in these verses I found a prayer I can pray for us all - all the time - with GREAT confidence.

It would only require a little change to be utterly inclusive.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 ESV

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, [17] comfort your  (OUR)   hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

I plan to memorize this benediction - not to be used as some vain repetition but rather as a whole hearted supplication for us all.  I find that for me, it's short, sweet and right on point.

Over the past few days I have been kind of hooked (ok, obsessed) with the whole idea of comfort.  In my initial study I am beginning to see that "comfort" is what we need in distress and not in good times.  So far in the Word I find comfort more mentioned more often in regards to trials than as a blessing that stands alone.   I hope to continue to understand comfort and our need for it and hope to share what I find with you.

But - to close - Please know that there is a scruffy old sheepdog our here going to the throne of grace beseeching our Lord for your comfort and that it enables you to continue in every good work and word.

M(S)S

2013 - I See a Bad Moon Rising

Ok - this isn't a very happy blog - but it is what it is.  I hope you will be convicted to draw closer to Him, dive deeper into His Word and pray like you've never prayed before.

I keep hearing, "Bad Moon Rising" playing in my head (yeah, I'm that old).


2013

I'd love to give you some sage advice and encouraging words but I just can't find any.  Things are bad for many of us and there is no confidence that (baring His coming)they will do anything but get worse.

We see the evil of men, especially men (not to leave out women) in power and we see their godless intentions being worked out.  Oh, we tried to beat them at their own game but, well, it was always their game so winning was not an option we had.  We've expended countless effort and rediculous amounts of wealth trying to beat a rigged house.  And now we will have to experience the consequences of it.

While we have been saying to the unbelieves, "No, you can't do that," and trying to halt the doward spiral of a world which we have been told has no way to go but down, we have forsaken our imperative and compromised our indicative (thanks David).  We have not been what we were called to be and hence we have been doing what we were never called to do.

What part of, "Christ the Redeemer," do we not get?  We redeem nothing and yet we have wasted so very much of His provision trying to.  We are called to be His and to do His will.  But, no, we have our own ideas and instead of simply and faithfully obeying Him we poured ourselves into - well - playing in their gym on their court by their rules.

Now we will reap what we have sown.

I am concerned that those who follow Christ will now, similar to the days of Rome, have to submit to a godless authority or pay grievious consequences.  While we have spent decades saying, "You can't....."  we have lost the voice to say, "We won't....."  And now we will have to say "We won't...." and they, like Rome will exact their pound of flesh - actually, several pounds (how much do you weigh?)

We have been so wrapped up in the myth of a Christian America (sorry folks, our revolution was a direct violation of scripture) that we have not given the needed attention to being individual Christians.  We have picked a fight with flesh and blood when we are clearly taught that that is not the true fight.

Not only have we picked a fight that was not ours but at the same time we have groveled pleading, "Please like us --- we're not so bad --- see all the cool stuff we do that you like."  We have YouTubed the gospel to the point that it's meaningless.  We have so focused on "fighting" to keep sinners from sinning that we have ignored our own sins.

Folks, it's time to flee to Pella.  Here's an interesting thing.  In the battle with Rome in 70 a.d. most believers thought it was the biggy and they booked it out of Jerusalem to Pella.  Well, they caught a lot of flack for that so in 132 a.d. when Simon bar Kokhba led his revolt against Rome we hung in there and fought.  All was hunky dory until the High Priest declared Kokhba the Messiah.  Well, then we dropped our weapons and said, "No!"  But it was just a little too late.  Our "No!" didn't matter.  We had sold out to culture and nationalism - patriotism and ended up having served "another evil."

Well, we didn't seem to learn from that one.  And now, our "No!" is meaningless.

Now I'm reading about folks buying lots of guns and ammo.  What do you plan to do follower of the Prince of Peace?  Kill someone in Jesus's name?  Are we going to do another "Peasant's Revolt?"  Another "Revolution?"  I'm not.

Oh, don't get me wrong I will, for prayerfully considered reasons, defend myself and my family but I'm not getting into an unholy war in His name.  If I am told I must offer sacrifices to Caesar (or the modern equvilant) I will not.  But I've got to have a lot of His help determining if and when I'm being told I have to do that.  The tough part is being sure that what I'm being forced or coerced to do is indeed a denial of Christ.

The issue is, "Who do I have to accept as sovereign?"  Christ or the ruling forces?  At what point can I say in good conscience, "No, it goes against my faith and would be tantamount to a denial of my Lord."

Now, however I get there and make that decision it will have to be my prayfuly considered decision.  I will have to examine everything prayerfully and scripturally and then stand to the consequences.  What I can not do is form some weird "movement," some crusade into which we pour and waste more lives, effort and money.

You know, regardless of our corporate calls for being united in refusing to deny our Lord it will always come down to you and me.  We will each have to stand before Caesar's alter and the bowl of incense and make our own decision.  When we say, "No!" we will say it individualy - only He will be with us.

Yes, God is sovereign but tell that to all those before us who were slaughtered, burned, starved, exiled, imprisonned ---etc.  Oh, they know it much better than we do - but we will be learning.  It will not be fun it will not be easy but He will be in charge of every moment of it.

I worry that those for whom serving Christ has been a comfortable thing will soon find it almost unbearable.  I fear those who have poured out only a little life for Him will stumble when all of it is demanded.

It may not be "lambs to the slaughter" time but the fleecing has begun.

Maranatha - Oh my sweet Lord!!!

Examine yourself - Contentment 004

Examine yourself -  Contentment 004

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (Philippians 4:11 ESV)

LEARNED

Just a little backing up.  If you want to begin to study the Word, I have a few simple suggestions.  First, get a good translation of the Word and get one that has cross-references.  The Thompson-Chain Reference is a good option and it comes in several translations.  Second, get a good Bible Atlas.  I like the ESV Bible Atlas.  An Atlas will really help you understand the context of the scriptures you are reading.  Finally - and this is a biggy for me - get a copy of William Ames' book, The Marrow of Theology.  This is a very simple and clear outline of theology - not full of arguments, etc.  

These resources will be a big help as you begin your studies.  Stay away from "issue specific" books - especially those which tell you "how to," or get all wrapped up in areas of speculation, i.e. Revelation, millennial issues, demons, even money.  You don't want to get so hung up on one tree that you miss the forest!

OK - LEARNED

Let's talk Holy Spirit.  We can get into all kinds of long and tedious discussions about the Holy Spirit and the fruits and gifts but - let's not!

The Holy Spirit is both Comforter and Reminder.  He is given in sufficient and necessary measure to every believer.  There is no necessity for any more-than-ordinary signs of Him being given.  He is given - and that is that.

So???????

How He works is not a concern of mine.  That He works in us is.  He is sent to comfort us and to remind us.  Yes, I know He is the "seal" of our salvation, but He is also active in us.  

OK, He is active in us and if we pay attention with intention, we will see His working.  No thunder or lightening but some very curious moments of comfort and remembering.  I know - I seem to be getting a little weird.   But a couple of things I've experienced make me lean towards being weird.

Every once in a while I will have someone relate something they heard me say in a lesson and I am clueless about having said it.  It's not in my notes and it is unfamiliar to my recollection.  Thankfully, it is something true and sound but it is not something "I" thought up.  Now you can get as skeptical as you want, but I KNOW I didn't come up with it and so I "blame" ;-) the Spirit for a timely word for me to speak that - well - I didn't know I spoke.  I'm not trying to get all mystical or even miraculous here - it just has happened and I cannot lay claim to it.

I've also been reading the Word – something I’ve read time and time again and "Bam," I realize something I never saw before.  Of course I run to some good resources to check myself.  But I believe it's just (just????) the Spirit doing what He does in the hearts and minds of believers.

On the flip side, I have found myself convicted out of the blue and embarrassed (ok, more chagrined) that I had never seen that issue as an issue - if I saw it at all.  It's wonderfully humbling and assuring when that happens - It's not fun but it does get the job done.

My point, I guess, is this.  You don't need all the bells and whistles that are commonly attributed to the Spirit for Him to be working in your life.  He works in many, many ways, but we've somehow gotten diverted by all the yeeehaaaw things that are seen to be His.  I believe that He is more often the "still small voice," as opposed to the attention grabbing event.  

He can and has provided much for believers in the way of knowledge and insight when there was little to work with in the first place.  But folks, I believe that the more of the Word we get in our minds and hearts, the more He has to work with.  I believe the more we exercise our faith in the simple and mundane things like prayer, study and worship, the more regularly He works in us.

Hey, I'm more than willing to be absolutely wrong here.  But what I know to be true has served to undergird and confirm what I have experienced which is what I build my belief and trust on.  

It's not sitting around waiting for Him to do or say or impart something.  It's slowly, deliberately, regularly and earnestly engaging in the "disciplines," of our faith that makes us more sensitive and available to His working.  Now, that's my carefully determined view - it does not have to be yours.

But we all need to desire His working in our lives.  He is the only means of our growth - it is by His power working on and in us that we must rely upon for any kind of progress along the Way.  You can quote the Bible from cover to cover but without Him and His work - that's all you can do.

I don't believe you have to pray for Him to "come," or "be present."  I just think you have to be faithfully obedient and available and PAYING ATTENTION to see how He is in you and works in you.  You are "filled" by Him - everywhere you go and in everything you do He is present - think on that one.  Every poke of conscience and every inspiration to serve comes from Him.  Most of all, the power to keep going is all of Him and none of us.

I had a coach whose rule was - "You don't come to practice, you don’t get in the game."  He knew that unless we practiced individually and as a team, victory was dubious at best.  Practicing our faith, engaging in the "exercises" of our faith makes us fit and hail to be put into the game.  Trust me, God calling someone out of the bleachers to play is the exception, never the rule.

Examine yourself - Contentment 003

Examine yourself -  Contentment 003

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (Philippians 4:11 ESV)

LEARNED

So, as a Pharisee, Paul had a very huge head start on us when it came to knowing God.  But you must keep in mind that a lot of what he believed as a Jewish religious leader before his conversion was - well - wrong.

And when he (Paul) had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 

(Acts 9:26 ESV)

Paul, a Pharisee of Pharisees, hence very well versed not only in the Word of God but the traditions, added by men PLUS the Holy Spirit equals one mighty servant of the Gospel.

We, on the other hand, come to Christ without a whole lot for the Holy Spirit to work with.  And - commonly - we start our walks by reading either books about the Word and the Faith or just the "good parts" of the scriptures.  The first can severely pervert our growth and the second retards it.  There have been many, many godly men and women but God only made one Paul.

But - that is no reason for us to shirk our responsibility to study the Word so that we might know Him and serve Him well.  Paul himself makes it plain:

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.  (2 Timothy 3:14-17 ESV)

OK - maybe few of us have the advantage of a godly home like Timothy, but that is still no excuse to not make the Word our primary (if not only) source of reading.

Over the years I've come to think of the Word as straw.  Huh????  Yeah - I came to Christ with a brain and some education - that's mud.  Now God wants to build me into a structure for His glory - that would be bricks.  Well, we all know that making bricks without straw is very difficult and frustrating (See Exodus).  So I add the Word (straw) to my current knowledge and understanding (mud) and the Holy Spirit makes good solid bricks. 

OK - all analogies break down if carried too far - so don't take mine further.  But I do not come to Christ stupid - He has provided for me to gain the knowledge and understanding I come with.  But He also knows that that knowledge and understanding is in no way sufficient - not even a little - to be of use to Him.  Actually, it would very probably be, on its own, very counter productive.

When Jesus says :

"It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"   (Matthew 4:4 ESV)

He wasn't just being cute - He actually knew that to be absolutely true.  That's not some snide shot at the Devil - that is a mighty shield to deflect the arrows of the Devil.  Note by the way, that even though the Devil "quotes" Words of God, he does so illegitimately.  It is the whole Word - the “every Word” that brings life - not just the good parts.

"But I don't have time."  "But I don't know Greek and Hebrew."  "But I'm not a pastor."  "Na nana na nana na -------."  What part of "live" in Matt. 4:4 did you miss?  Where Rome offered "bread and circuses" God offers "bread and Word."  The first was a means of political manipulation and control.  The second is the means of life.

When men began to work to translate the scriptures into their own languages, their vision was that everyone would be able to read the Word of God.  Well, by their blood they accomplished their task.  For a while men died to get the translated Word spread throughout the world.  And here we are today - the Bible is the best-selling-least-read book in history.  Ouch.

Examine yourself 112212

Examine yourselves ----

Are you "on board" with examining yourself?  It is quite clearly commanded in the Word and hence not some optional undertaking.

What would keep us from engaging in this command?

Do we fear we will find our faith to be false?  Then run to Christ in open and honest confession and need.

Do we fear we will find our faith ill-informed and or un-biblical?  Then run the the Word for clear and godly instruction.

Do we fear we will find our faith weak?  Then run to the duties and obligations of the faith which will strengthen it mightily.

Do we fear we will be overcome by our littleness in our faith?  Then run to the Spirit who is God's power in us for serving Him.

Do you not see that what ever the condition or quality of your faith it is none-the-less faith?  

Do you not know that be it but a mustard seed in comparison to others, it is enough to begin?

Do you not know that He knows well the condition of our faith and that His great desire is to strengthen, inform and use it?

Do you not know that nothing - not even a small and wavering faith which needs instruction, perhaps correction is enough to separate you from His love?

Have you not realized that Christ is not a cookie maker?  He does not spread the dough and simply stamp out identical cookies?  No!  As He knit you uniquely in your mother's womb so He would shape you and mold you as that unique creation the only same-ness being that we all be conformed to His likeness.

Has no one told you that you, weak faith, twisted faith, struggling faith - have a unique place and role in His will?  Has no-one told you that regardless and even perhaps because of your limitations, struggles, condition or circumstance you are no less His child even His servant in working out His will?

Have you not seen, in the very Word of God, that He takes all kinds and all conditions and makes then magnificent when they serve His purposes?  Do you not get the lesson that is there for you?

What have you to lose by self-examination except pride and sin and the distraction of baseless and fruitless worry?

Indeed, we have nothing to lose in self-examination except that which has hindered our confidence and comfort until now.  And could that be a bad thing?

Oh but you say, "I am a weak child of God!"  "I am a lazy child of God!"  I am an ignorant child of God!"  I am a blind, lame, depressed, bi-polar even schizophrenic child of God!" "I am an unworthy child of God!"

Let me ask you, "What part of child of God isn't good enough?"

There is the "faithful" child of God and the "unfaithful" child of God.  The only difference is dependent focus.  The faithful child of God dependently focuses on God and what pleases Him.  The "unfaithful" child of God focuses on themselves and others.  But - both are children of God.  Once His child - the choice is yours.  He paid the price for you to be made His child - don't let the small cost of living as His child cripple or hinder you.

Do not let your doubts about your salvation worry you overmuch.  If you do they will paralize you and keep you from making use of His great provision for your confidence and comfort.  Feelings are not facts - they are our responce/reaction to things.  What "so called" fact has wounded your confidence and stolen your comfort?  It is either God calling you to your next adventure in Him or it is Satan up to his old distractions and traps.

The "proof" of our faith is indeed in the pudding.  It is in the practice of the dutied and obligations of the faith that our faith and hence our confidence and comfort grows.  As we grow - it all grows.  But to grow we must be fed (by the Word) exercised (by the duties and obligations) and guided (by the Spirit).  which of these is missing in your life?  Reclaim is and use it!!

Examine yourselves!!

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)

Examine:  peirázō = to ascertain the character of some hing, someone 

In the faith:  a true believer

Test:  dokimásō = to prove a thing worthy

Fail the test:  adókimos = prove to be spurious; unapproved

As I pray and study the Word and read the works of our Puritan fore-fathers I grow more and more convinced that somewhere along the way we have so cheapened and minimized the "Way" (Acts 19:9) that the designation "christian" is for all intents and purposes, meaningless.  

The term "christian" was originally used as a pejorative term intended to vilify followers of the Christ.  Today it most aptly commonly describes those whom can only be called false believers or hypocrites.  When someone asks you if you are a "christian" ask them what they mean by "christian."  My experience has been that what they describe bears little resemblance to the "Way" as it is taught by the Word of God.

What passes for common christianity today is but a sorrowful caricature of the true faith.  

Through what I see as the cultural compromise of the faith we have fallen into the condition of Israel at the end of the book of Judges.

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.  (Jdg 21:25)

Though it is still proclaimed as true, in almost every practical sense Christ is not held as King and everyone does what it right in their own eyes.  We have moved further into a faith that has no crosses in it.  We have moved deeper into a cheapening of grace and a rejection of God's sovereignty.

What passes for the "Way" is not the "Way" we find in the Word.  Indeed in our making Jesus our own, we have made a Jesus of our own.  In even supposing and implying that we "make Him Lord and/or Savior" we have, at the very first, denied God's sovereignty in the redemption.

To "accept" Jesus as Lord and/or Savior has come to mean that we "allow" Him to save us.  We do Him a kindness by accepting His death so He'll feel good about Himself.  It no longer means that we fall to His feet in utter recognition of our sin and our need for His salvation and His absolute right to condemn us.  No, we do Him a good turn by joining His team - by telling Him He, "did really good," so we'll let Him save us.

Let me put it plain and main - If you do not recognize the utter hopelessness of your sinful state before God and your deserving or His righteous condemnation - then regardless of what you "say" about Jesus, you are none of His.  Unless your heart has been broken by your sin and His taking it upon Himself on the cross, you are none of His.  Unless you have acknowledged that He has every sovereign right over all of your life - that he is indeed King of Kings and Lord of Lords - and you kneel before Him in surrender of your self to His authority, you are none of His.  Unless, by His gracious providence, the Holy Spirit has convicted you of the worthlessness of your every effort in redemption and sanctification apart from the provision of God and His power - you are none of His.

Unless, in relation to Him, you hate everything and everyone, you are none of a His.  Unless you live in Him, by Him, under Him and for Him - you are none of His.

Do you pray much, study the word much, examine yourself much, give much?  Then you may well be none of His.  Are you raising your children in the Lord?  if not you may be none of His.

Is your walk with God the absolute priority in your life?  If not you may be none of His.

I will say this - and I do so because have been convicted and I am convinced by the Word of God, that unless you are humbly, depending upon His promises and power, seeking to obey Him in all the duties and obligations appropriate to a citizen of His Kingdom you may well be none of His.

If you are not healthily obsessed with His glory and honor, you may well be none of His.

His Word and His Spirit must be working in His to enable them to serve Him with all their minds, hearts and strength - and we must know that our minds, heart and strength, apart from His providence and power, are never enough.  

Where is the zeal for Him and His Kingdom?  Where is the single focused commitment to be conformed to His likeness?  Where is the crushing conviction of our sinfulness and His graciousness?  

Where is that cry, "Not I but Christ!"

I do not have any pleasure is writing this for it is indeed as much about me as it is anyone else.  But it is about all of us who would claim He is our Lord - utterly.  It is not about your goodness but His.  It is not about our righteousness but His.  It is not about us but Him.

Are you a tare of a stalk of wheat?  Are you a sheep or a goat?  Are you His or are you still your own?

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)

Hate One Love the Other

I've been reading a lot in the old Puritans about dealing with sin.  Last night we rather sleepless because I couldn't get it out of my mind.  No, I wasn't obsessing but I was struggling with the issue.

We are to hate sin and to mortify (kill) is - battle it throughout our lives here.  It is a battle that will not end until we are with Him were He is.  So we need to be about that works so we can honor and glorify Him - right?  It's all part of conforming us to His likeness - Rom. 12.

But I was struck with a concern over focusing on sin as opposed to focusing on Him.  Would it not be true that if I learn to love Him and work on loving Him more I will indeed still mortify sin?  Do I have to operate from a position of animosity and hatred toward sin or may I not operate from a desire to love Him.

OK - maybe it's not and either/or but as I consider hating sin I find that I am more prone to operate in my own strength - trying to please Him by "not" sinning - more of a "work" orientation.  When I consider loving Him more in thought and deed I have a greater comfort and enthusiasm - a greater strength other than my own.

No, I don't for a moment suggest we ignore sin but rather that we replace it with that which is done, thought, considered, etc. for the purpose of living out a love for Him.

I guess I'm trying to get my head and heart around the difference between addressing sin our of hate for sin and addressing sin out of love for Him.  We are told that we should draw near to Him and flee temptation/sin.  It's a no brainer that we should flee from temptation and sin in His direction.

We must battle sin but we must battle it in and with His provision.  to do this well we need to get obnoxiously close to Him.  Loving Him has to remove tolerating sin - right?  Drawing closer to Him in our knowledge, understanding and  practice would have to decrease our weakness and vulnerability - right?

I would suggest that we (I) begin by making use of three disciplines of the faith.  the first is prayer.  to be constant (consistent) in prayer is critical for our well being and our intimacy with Him.  In prayer we are actually conversing with Him, relating to Him and acknowledging His sovereignty.  That's something we can't really do too much.

The second discipline is to be in His Word.  In the Word he exposes - reveals all we need to know about Him and His plan for us.  The Word is the source of both our understanding and appreciation of His sovereignty and love - not to mention all His other attributes.  We need to be careful however that we read with intention and purpose.  that being that we grow in our knowledge and understanding which will have a powerful effect on our trust in and faithfulness to Him.

The third disciple is giving.  OK - we need to give $ to support His work that demands $ but not all His work demands $.  So, give the $s you can.  But giving is sooooo much broader.  Giving for us is always about using His provision to us for His purposes.  he provides for us so our needs can be met - but He also gives to us so we might be meeting the needs of others as well.  This is bigger than $s.  This is time, patience, compassion, admonition, correction, comfort, encouragement, etc.

Money is "coined life."  it represents a period of our time and effort for which we are compensated.  So - giving of our time and effort is just as acceptable as giving our money.  Money is just time and effort in coin or paper.  We need to be giving what $ we can but even more so (to me) we need to be giving of our lives (time and effort) to Him.  Not an either/or but a both/and.

Why these three?  Well they are fundamentals - basics - a good starting point upon which all other duties depend.  They are the fundamental acknowledgment of the grace and mercy He has for us.  Each of them in their own way shapes and molds our minds and affections (feelings) toward Him.

As we grow in our regularity in these disciplines we will find two things.  First I believe we will find a greater discontent in sin and a greater sensitivity to temptations.  What we "do" will become more precious than serving our own desires.  Secondly, we will find a new sense of His use of us - a greater sense of our ministry - a greater confidence in doing what He puts in our hands to do.

Yes, we are to hate sin - but not to the detriment of loving God.  I believe that the more we love Him intentionally and actively the more the light of His countenance will obscure the deceitful appeal of temptation.  I believe that loving Him more and more - actively - will naturally result in a a "hating" of sin in the Spirit instead of the flesh.

Think about it -

Michael "sheepdog" Sanders
ms@tc2v1.com

This and That Fancies 101512

Beg of God a mortified fancy.   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Location 816).  . Kindle Edition.

If imaginations be not first cast down, it is impossible that every thought of the heart should be brought into obedience to Christ. The fancy is naturally the wildest and most untameable power of the soul.   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 819-820).  . Kindle Edition.

“fancy”:
to believe mistakenly or without evidence
to believe without being certain

“fanciful”:
marked by fancy or unrestrained imagination rather than by reason and experience
existing in fancy only <a fanciful notion
marked by or as if by fancy or whim <gave their children fanciful names.

The fancy is naturally the wildest and most untameable power of the soul.
We dream.  We imagine how it might be.  In desperation or ignorance we grasp at straws.  We build castles in the air – out of air.  We live in an “if only,” world.

If only this and if only that and our lives would be good.

We harbor fears, terrifying fears.

This is “fancy,” the imagination running amuck, the imagination not captive to the Word and the Spirit.

If imaginations be not first cast down, it is impossible that every thought of the heart should be brought into obedience to Christ.   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 819-820).  . Kindle Edition.

Godly hope is perverted by fancy.  Fancy looks to the flesh for solutions.  Fancy is an idolater.  Fancy robs us of our ability to comprehend the Word, yield to the Spirit and submit to God.  We run here and there looking for something or someone to provide for our needs and bring us contentment, and we find it not.

Jer 2:12-13  Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,  (13)  for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

This is the power of fancy, of ungodly imaginations.

The object can be a person, a group, a gadget, luck, or even a misunderstanding of the Word or the leading of the Spirit.  When the imagination is not fenced in by the truth, by the sovereignty, providence and truth of God, it is deadly.

There is little in our world as deadly to our fancy/imaginations as is the entertainment we select for ourselves.  TV, movies, books, etc. are, for the most part, fiction.  Even the “reality” shows we watch are hardly “real.”  Oh, maybe they’re not scripted but “real”?  I don’t think so.

We watch, read or listen to the offerings of the world so we might relax and be entertained and, yet, how often do we really reflect on what we are watching in the light of God’s truth?  The old quip, “If Jesus came to your home would you watch, read, or listen to what you now engage in while He was there”? is not without merit.

Patti and I used to watch a show called The Gilmore Girls.  It was cute and relatively clean but over time we realized how dysfunctional almost every character on the show was.  As we looked at the show in light of the truth, I actually got to where I was nauseous whenever it came on.  We realized that we were being entertained by one of the clearest demonstrations of man’s hopelessness we had ever seen – and we had found it – “entertaining.”  It was poison – plain and simple.

Then there are the Real Housewives of . . . . . shows.  Really?  These are housewives?

There is no God in their world – only self and yet we watch these shows as though they were entertaining.  If we must watch. it should be to identify men and women who are willing to expose their godless and hopeless lives to the whole world – so we can pray for them – by name and need.    [WHY MUST WE WATCH???]

**Patti's comments:
"I still don't see a need to expose our minds and hearts to these shows as opposed to any other type of programs- promoting-glamorizing-endorsing ungodli-unrighteus behavior.  they are not exactly documentaries of some aberrant society or sect.  these shows bring fame to the people and draw many into unhealthy fantasies about that lifestyle.  Yes, the actual desperation and hopelessness can be seen-but reality is only seen by those who already know it is there - not to those who are still aspiring to obtain that status.  Certainly, a steady diet of these shows is not necessary to determine the need and lostness of the people in them, any more than it is needed to determine the depravity portrayed in "fictional" shows.  So much for my soap-box!"

Oh, let’s not forget the “rehab” shows where we get to see how well a godless person can overcome an addiction.  Yeah, Dr. Drew is a sweet and caring guy – but why do so many of his patients show up again and again and again?

All of this manure gets in our minds.  It contradicts the truth and seduces us into some vague middle ground where the truth is not.  Just like arsenic, it is cumulative and over time it will poison our godliy thinking to death.  It weaves itself into our thought patterns whether we realize it or not.  Ultimately, it will win – unless we cut it off, repent and turn to that fountain of living water.

Soli Deo Gloria: Means essentially that everything that is done is for God's glory to the exclusion of humankind's self-glorification and pride. Christians are to be motivated and inspired by God's glory and not their own.

We have to ask if our fancies and imaginings are for the glory of God.  But without the tools and effort, how can we tell?  Ignorance and apathy are boon companions.

How ignorant are you of how to glorify God?  How apathetic are you concerning your Christian disciplines and duties?  One will always feed the other.

We are far from where He would have us and though He has promised to see us through to the end, the quality of the journey has a good deal to do with our exercise of the graces, duties and disciplines He has laid out for our benefit.

Though the context is not parallel to this discussion, the statement is nonetheless applicable when Paul proclaims:
1Co 2:2  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

I think we are safe in taking this proclamation as our motto, our battle cry in the world – everyday – in our labor and in our leisure.  I see no danger in praying that in our labor and our leisure we be enabled and convicted to know nothing except Christ, and Him crucified.

Such a fence around our fancies and imaginings will serve us well in mortifying (killing) them so that they cease to poison our minds, hearts and actions.