Encouragement, counsel and accountability - NEEDED

As you examine yourself ----- Encouragement

From experience I know that it is often hard to see the encouragements that God sends.  We tend to look for what we think are encouragements and miss His. Some of His encouragements are what I call "left-handed."  They are encouragements disguised in opportunities and challenges.  Sometimes they are wrapped in seeming afflictions.  Of course, sometimes they are obnoxiously wonderful.

But, although God's encouragements are the best encouragements it is also the obliation of our brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage us.  This, it appears, is either rare or injuriously shallow and brief.

Although one may share a godly goal or undertaking for sinful reasons (pride, status, etc.) one may also do so because there is a need and desire for encouragement, counsel and even accountability.  It is adequate and good to know that what we are about is honoring to God but it is also a blessing to have the encouragement, counsel and accountability that a brother and sister can provide.

How may times have you felt a call or even an inclination to do something in of for the Kingdom only to have a less than enthusiastic response?  Now I don't mean a quesitoning - which is a good thing - but an almost skeptical, even suspicious response.  How may times have you shared the same and had an offer of encouragement, counsel or accoiuntability offered?  I imagine the former is a lot more frequent than the latter

I wonder what wonderful things have not happened becasue of a lack of ecnuragement  I wonder how many wonderful things have gone awry becasue of a lack off counsel.  and how may things now gather dust or just take up disc space for lack of accountability?  OK - I don't wonder - at least not that much.

One danger face by those who are called or inspired (I use the terms commonly) is that they want some for of approval by others.  Now that's not bad when we are in the early stages as long as the approval we seek is a confirmation of our sense and not applause.

It's the danger of "specialness" of which we need to be wary.  We have a thought or an insight and that grows into an opportunity for some sort of service.  we decide (all too often without counsel) that we are going to do it.  We tell someone.  They are impressed and that begins the downward flow of our efforts.  We were recognized as being "special," abouot to undertake a "special" think and so our flesh being satisfied we faulter in our progress.

Or we do move forward but the "un" or "ill" considered cost of the work quickly overwhelms us - and the next thing we know we're caught up in something else that's new and fresh and, well, easier.  That's not good but it is quite common - trust me, I know.

Or we begin our work and we bein to have doubts about it's value.  It is really meaningful?  Who am I to undertake this?  I have no credibility in this!  there's plenty our there that addresses this (or there are lots of people doing it).  Why reinvent the wheel?  Someone else can do it better!

All these press us down and slow - then stop - our progress.

To have a couple of brothers and sisters who will commit to encourage, counsel and hold you acountable is - well - incomfortable but I've discovered it is very valuable.  Not having listened to encouragement, counsel and being accountable concerning some undertakingI had on my heart has cost me years (literally).  I can only pray that the Lord will allow me time and opportunity to fulfill the call.

This and That: Keeping the heart.

This and That – Heart Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Flavel + Me - Keeping the Heart

Duties Included in Keeping the Heart

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Write out your prayers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This and That: Coveting 092312

I consider covetousness as the most generally prevailing and ensnaring sin, by which professors of the gospel, in our materialistic society, are hindered in their spiritual progress. A disposition deeply rooted in our fallen nature, strengthened by the custom of all around us, the power of habit, and the fascinating charm of wealth-is not easily counteracted.  

The language of faith, when in exercise, will not be, "What is most conducive to my temporal ease and prosperity?" But "What will give me the best opportunity of glorifying him, who has bought me with his blood, and called me out of darkness into his marvelous light?

John Newton July 1725 1807

Luk 12:15 And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Rom 7:8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

Eph 5:3  But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

Col 3:5-6  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  (6)  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

Covetousness:  pleonexía; from pleíōn, more, and échō to;  to want more.

Yesterday Patti and I went looking at computers.  Hers, being about 6 years old is on its last legs and we are selling stuff to get her a new one.  Between editing my blogs and working on her photography it’s about time she had a new machine.  Being able to do this is a blessing.

But – the looking, for me, was crushing.  I did not realize the covetousness that yet lingered in my heart until we started the search.  Trying to get an answer to, “what is the bare minimum she needs?” from a salesman was like pulling teeth.  Of course he recommended the “on sale” super machine with all the bells and whistles she doesn’t need.

However that wasn’t the problem.  The problem was that as we looked I found myself growing dissatisfied with my computer.  Now my computer meets all the needs of which I can think.  Needing little more than a machine on which I can do my writing and the occasional Power Point presentation I actually probably have more than I need.  That’s just the fact.

Yet as I looked I lusted and as I lusted I could literally feel myself slipping into turmoil over not being able to have the latest and greatest, coolest and neatest.  Why?  Well, at the root is my fallenness.  Next is my lack of examining me heart for this covetousness.  Finally it is the good old:  1Jn 2:16 “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions.”

I did not have a need, I knew I did not have a need and yet somehow I felt irritated that I could not get what I did not need.  I felt insufficient, less than, hindered, hampered even cheated.  Now, is that nuts or what?  Well, it’s nuts but it is also sin.

How can we (ok, I) begin to root out this, as Newton calls it, “most generally prevailing and ensnaring sin?”

Newton writes, “The principle of this evil is so strong in us, and so powerfully nourished by almost everything around us, that it is seldom suppressed, but by a course of sharp discipline.”

Newton writes well when he writes: 

I am where he has placed me; and the calling in which his mercy found me, (if it be a lawful one,) is that in which, for the present, I am to abide, as the best for me. When it ceases to be so, I may depend upon him to appoint me another. But, until then, I desire to be contented with such things as I have, and to be thankful for them. He knows my frame, my feelings, my needs, and my trials; he permits, yes, invites me to cast all my cares upon him. He assures me that he cares for me, and therefore I only wish to do or to suffer according to his will today, and to leave the concerns of tomorrow in his hands. While I live-may I live for him! And when I die-may I go to him! May his grace be sufficient for me-and all shall be well."

The key in the above quote, at least for me is his comment, “I desire to be contented with such things as I have, and to be thankful for them.” 

Since James tells us that, Jas 4:1  “. . . .Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”  I must conclude that it is my “passions,” that is “pleasures” that are the, or at least a, source of my stumbling.  So I have to ask, what brings me pleasure?  Is it staying in vogue?  Keeping up with the Joneses?  Having the latest and greatest? 

I have to confess it must be.  And I must repent.  But repentance comes hard for it, in this case, must be continuous and consistent.  I must fix my heart and mind on engaging this failing and examine as minutely as possible what I allow to bring me pleasure.  What makes me feel OK, safe, secure, valuable, meaningful and good enough?

Here again, Newton provides a key: 

“He knows my frame, my feelings, my needs, and my trials; he permits, yes, invites me to cast all my cares upon him. He assures me that he cares for me, and therefore I only wish to do or to suffer according to his will today, and to leave the concerns of tomorrow in his hands.”

I would only add one thing to this; that I remember and be grateful that He provides me with not only everything I need as I need it but, what I want if I need it.  So as well as wishing to do or to suffer according to His will, I also wish to have or not have what He wills.  Everything outside of that can hardly be counted a blessing.

A favorite, and until now obviously meaningless prayer of mine has been.  “Dear God please do not allow me to want that which You do not want me to want.”  I have to take that prayer more seriously, trusting Him to work in my mind and heart to make it so.

Jesus asks us: Mar 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  From this I must learn to ask, when I sense covetousness stirring, “Of what benefit would this be to my soul?”

If our Redeemer and Sustainer can be counted on to provide a way out of temptation how much more will He provide what we need, be it computers, cars, cash or cookies, for us to effectively do the work He has given us to do?

So, if like me you struggle against covetousness.  If it surpasses you by sniping or ambush press your attack in the strength of the Lord.  Say, “No, no, a million times no!”  And trust that your desire to overcome, to be free of this, “most generally prevailing and ensnaring sin,” is His as well.

Walk with P and me 11

Walk with P & me  11

It’s Saturday and we’re at the Bou.  My “Mary” and “Martha” (Patti and Gloria) and I were going over the Us in Him plans and just encouraging one another.

What’s is interesting is though we all know the task is daunting, when we’re together and trusting Him, is seems less daunting.  There was a serious joyfulness as we discussed the “stuff” we needed to and the personal sharing that flowed through the conversation was a real blessing.

We realized that when we were focused on Him and honoring Him and serving Him a great deal of the tension and anxiety about our circumstances seemed to melt away.  Some might call it simply a distraction but in my experience distractions are not so, well, comforting.

I realized how blessed I am to have brothers and sisters who are supportive and willing to express their views honestly and lovingly.  Patti, Glo, Sinclair, Jim and Bruce are just a few of those He has brought alongside to help craft the work He has for us to do.  Many others, in various ways, also provide griss for the mill even though I don’t think they are aware of it.  It is a real blessing and comfort to not be alone or even “in charge” of this.

One of the things that came to mind from our talk was that we need to leave time and space for God to work among us.  Sure, you need order and some kind of form but sometimes that can hinder or inhibit attention to Him.  I don’t want there to be a need for Him to “intrude” if you will – rather I want there to be ample opportunity for Him to do whatever He wants to do.

I am learning my limits and interestingly enough I am learning that although I am capable and skilled in doing this or that – He has this or that for others to do – not me.  Even when it comes to the “vision” for the group I am learning to shut up and listen and wait.  That used to frustrate me because I was the “man with the plan.”  Now, I am just “a man in the plan” and it is nothing short of wonderful.

I got some good feedback from one of the “come alongside to help” people that made me aware of being too definitive and too narrow about some things.  Not doctrinal essentials but other peripheral stuff.  Re-reading what I sent him to review I saw his point.  It wasn’t that what I had written was not right – rather it was not written well.  It built a fence that didn’t need to be there.

I am drawn to think about what the Lord said:

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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."   (Mat 11:29-30)

There is a certain legalism that can creep into any work – even for Him.  It’s that hellish demand that one get everything right, that one be successful.  It’s that carnal legalism that imposes the criteria of the culture upon the work of the Kingdom.  That’s the ungainly and oppressing “burden” that keeps wantng to climb on your back. 

Just before verse 29 in Matt. 11 the Lord says:

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.   (Mat 11:27)

What I have to keep in mind is that when the Lord says, “all things,” He means all things.  Not just cosmic things, not just theological things, not just high and lofty things – but “all things” like Us in Him – and every detail in and of it.

I don’t have a sense of “letting let go,” which is nice.  I do have a sense of, “let someone else.”  I wonder if in this type of effort what we come to see as “my problem,” isn’t simply that we are doing what He has prepared someone else to do.  It’s only a problem because we’re trying to do it and keeping His guy or gal from their work.

That moves my mind to Paul’s teaching:

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?   (1Co 12:11-19)

Pray that this lesson will not be lost on any of us.  Pray that we will celebrate, be grateful for and make use of all the body parts He provides.  Pray especially that we each remember and comfort each other with, “If all were a single member, where would the body be?”

Patti and Michael Sanders

ms@tc2v1.com

pattiami@gmail.com