This and That 090612 Can’t means can’t.

It is well you have a heart to discharge every duty; yet if God disable you by providence, it is no discredit to your profession that you do not that which you cannot do, so long as it is your desire and endeavor to do what you can and ought to do; and in this case God’s will is, that lenity and forbearance be toward you. 

Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart

(Kindle Locations 777-779).  . Kindle Edition.

If you cannot, it ceases to be your duty, and God accepts the drawing out of your soul to the hungry in compassion and desire to help them, though you cannot draw forth a full purse to relieve and supply them. 

Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart

(Kindle Locations 780-782).  . Kindle Edition.

Ever noticed of heard of a need that just touched your heart?  Ever been tempted to rush to assist?  Ever wanted to perform some work of ministry but not been able to?  Ever been prevented from performing some spiritual duty by want or circumstance?

Contrary to the stereo-type the Puritans understood that sometimes the desire of our heart outstrips our ability and/or availability.  “Want to,” and “can’t” brings you no fault before God.  At times He even works His providence so that we “can’t” follow or fulfill the honorable stirrings of our hearts.  He is please when we ache to do good and yet wisely know we are not able.

“If only,” is not always a work/thought that comes from our flesh.  Often God prompts our hearts and hinders our ability to root the desire and compassion in our hearts.  Often He does this to make us more sensitive or show us our former lack of sensitivity.  Often he does this to show us what we might have done had we been better stewards of previous blessings.

Now that last one I know – up close and personal.  It has taught me, better than anything else that what He provides to me isn’t always for me.  Whether it’s blessings of buffetings I have learned that they must be held close in the heart and lifted up in prayer so we might wisely make use of them.  Formalism, even in giving and meeting needs may indicate a narrow heart and a need for spiritual insight.

When we are moved to act but find we “can’t,” God may be telling us “No,” or “Not yet.”  But we need to rejoice in the fact that He has acted in our lives to enliven our compassions and commitment.  A “can’t” may just be a “can,” delayed.

A friend once shared his method of stewardship with me.  His view was that everything God gave him was his (my friend’s).  It was a gift.  But not everything God gave him was for him.  So he felt his obligations was to use only what he needed for his care and all the rest was for him to use for God’s work.  He also believed that he needed to not be miserly but to operate with a prayerful frugality when it came to meeting the needs of his family.

The blessing of this wasn’t really his ability to provide for God’s work.  The blessing was that every penny provoked prayer.  Every purchase was examined prayerfully.  Another blessing of this was that his (and his family’s) “giving” was exciting and encouraging to them, not to mention how it increased their prayer lives.

“Can’t” isn’t a dirty word, it’s just a fact.  “Should,” when it results in mere formality in any aspect of our walk is a dirty work.  Formalism is the result of a narrow mind and a narrow heart.  (Sorry for the bunny trail here).

Pray about this:

“yet if God disable you by providence, it is no discredit to your profession that you do not that which you cannot do, so long as it is your desire and endeavor to do what you can and ought to do;”  Flavel

We love to quote:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Php 4:13

First, please go and read the CONTEXT of that statement.

Second, do not be so presumptuous as to assume He desires you to do “all things.”

Yet,

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”   Col 3:17 

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:12

1Pe 2:12  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

And let’s add:

Col 4:5-6  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.  (6)  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

And

Psa 18:49  "For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name.

Gentiles, outsiders, nations." – uhhh, non-believers?  Right!

I remember an old saying, “You are the only Gospel some people will ever see/hear.” 

It is not an easy thing to make our faith plain in our work, play and other situations.   We are strongly encouraged not to.  Indeed in some situations we can get into trouble – big trouble – for expressing our faith in non-church settings.

However, those with whom I have worked  who have experienced difficulties were either very obnoxious about it or they were simply under attack for being a believer.  It’s the obnoxious part we want to pray about.  We really need to understand that there is more to our “evangelism” than the Roman Road or the Acts Tracks.

In the passage(s) above, we are given very sound direction concerning how we are to “be” and “do” among the outsiders.  Look at the example of the early believers in Act 2:42-47.  The believers simply led lives that glorified God and found themselves, “having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

No revivals, no programs, no outreach, just living together as Christ called them to.  Not that revivals, programs or outreach are wrong – but they aren’t the early example. 

It really comes down to you and me, the individual believer.  We never want to deny our faith but we can be wise in where, how and why we express it.  We’ll cover it later, but Peter writes in chapter 3:

1Pe 3:15-16  but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,  (16)  having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

I want to point out that is it not our doctrine, denomination, creed or other “credentials” about which we will be asked.  It is our “hope,” about which we are to prepare a defense (answer or plea).  Hope, and upon or in what (actually who) it resides. 

Our conduct and speech needs to testify to our submission and dependence upon God.  Not only that, but our lives need to demonstrate the hope we have in His promises. 

What would that look like in your life?  No, not in the life of a believer, but in the life of you the believer.  You may be one among many believers but there are times when you are the only one present.  What can your life look like by His power and providence?

A dear friend of mine sent out an email the other day decrying the abundance of sex and alcohol themed advertisements on the many sports channels.  It was a clear rational and impassioned plea for Christian discretion.  Of course, it was all I could do not to write him back and ask, “Why are you watching that?”

Let me play with an analogy here.  If you go to a friend’s house and they offer you cake and you refuse it because you are diabetic, is that bad?  If they offer you fresh baked bread and you refuse it because you can’t process gluton, is that bad?  If you go to their house and they offer you a milkshake and you refuse because you are lactose intolerant, is that bad?

As a believer, we are sin intolerant.  Whoa now – what I mean is that sin (in any guise) is BAD for us.  It is toxic for us – especially if we know it’s bad for us – then it’s really bad for us.  2 Cor 1:12 - - 2 Cor 4:2 - - Rom 2:15

Am I telling you that you can’t go to that special football party?  No, but I am telling you I can’t.  Am I telling you that you can’t joke and poke fun around the water cooler?  No, but I’m telling you I can’t.

Patti and I have been really examining this aspect of our lives.  How do we appear to outsiders?  Do they see hope and holiness or confusion and compromise?  Can outsiders see a difference in our lives?  Is the demonstration of our faith, in word and deed, gentle and respectful?

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:11

1Pe 2:11  Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

In this verse, Peter begins to guide us in the living out of the proclamation of His excellencies.  It all starts with Him but we are next.

But be warned !!!!!  You can only do this as you - - well as you draw close to and depend upon Him.  I have to struggle to keep in mind that my need for Him is the complete opposite of His need for me.  Perhaps memorizing the following verse will benefit us all:

Joh 15:3-5  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  (4)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  (5)  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

God isn’t silly.  He does not expect us to go out and show Him what we can do.  He knows us much better than we do.  He knows what we don’t know – about us.  He has commissioned us to be His in this world, to proclaim His excellencies in a world that hates Him and His.

He does not send us on our own.  We may charge out without taking Him with us – but even as we crash and burn He is with us.  God does not need us to prove He made the right choice!

But, like a loving Father and a masterful tutor, He provides us with guidance in His Word and through His Spirit so we may be prepared for Him to work in and through us.  Here in verse 11 we have the start of our tutelage – our discipleship.

First, we must accept that here we are: sojourners and exiles.  We are aliens in a foreign land, separated (somewhat) from our King and country.  As such, we need to:

Abstain:  To hold back oneself from.

Friends, it is just NOT our party!  We’re here, but we are only passing through.  While we’re here we just can’t party with everyone else.  Even though everyone seems to be having a great time, we know better.  Read Daniel – wow – what an example of this truth!!!!!!!!

But, Peter gets specific when he refers to our lusts – fleshly (as opposed to spiritual) lusts.  Lust is a strong desire, a longing.  Lust can be directed by and towards something good (righteousness) or something bad (the flesh) – I can “lust” over God’s pleasure or my own selfish pleasure.  It isn’t the “lust” that’s the problem, it’s the what or who – the object of the lust!!!

We are to hold ourselves off from OUR fleshly lusts.  Come on guys, we all want to be liked, we all want to be popular, we all want to be considered a success – nothing wrong there until we step our of His sheep-pen and wander our own way.

God knows we have lusts (desires) but He wants us to trust Him for meeting those desires.  So, we need to look for His provision.  We are clearly told:

Psa 37:3-5  Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.  (4)  Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  (5)  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

Like Daniel and the gleesome threesome, we are exiles in a foreign land under a corrupt, unbelieving “system.”  But we must abstain, hold off from all the answers to our desires that this corrupt system offers us. 

We cannot forget that the prince of this age is the Serpent – and he’s no slouch.  Like the Inland Taipan snake which: “has the most toxic venom of any land snake in the world. The maximum yield recorded for one bite is 110mg, enough to kill about 100 humans,”  Satan’s bite is deadly.  Even the smallest amount is death.  It is nothing to play with!

But let us not forget that it is the passions/desires/lust of OUR flesh that we must hold back from.  Again, OUR flesh! (SEE Romans 7&8 PLEASE!!)

We need to examine what we seek and who we seek meet our needs and provide our pleasures .  We live in a world with a frightening number of offerings to meet our needs and pleasures.  So let me ask, What makes you feel secure? What makes you happy?  What makes you afraid?  What makes you laugh?

For me it had a great deal to do with what makes me laugh.  I discovered that what was making me laugh was not spiritually beneficial – and it soon became unfunny.  I also discovered what I feared and that taught me a lot about why I sought out certain things and struggled so in prayer and other duties to my Master.

I’ve found that the following verse helps me discern what to hold back from.  I pray this often.

Php 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

This and That 090512 Ignorance?

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

First, we are ignorant of God.

Second, we are ignorant of others.

Third, we are ignorant of ourselves.

Fourth, we are ignorant of our circumstances.

Fifth, we are ignorant of the covenant of grace.

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

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

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

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

1) lack of knowledge, ignorance

1a) especially of divine things

1b) of moral blindness

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

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

Here are some of my thoughts:

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

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

·         He didn’t know what he looked like.

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

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

·         He didn’t know what light was.

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

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

Get the picture?

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

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

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

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

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

Unless ------

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

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

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

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

Jesus made it clear:

 Mat 11:28-30  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  (30)  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:9-10

1Pe 2:9-10  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (10)  Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

We are:

·         a chosen race  [family, lineage, stock]

·         a royal priesthood [a priesthood as a fraternity, a body of priests]

·         a holy nation  [the sense of nation, people, as distinct from all others]

·         a people for His own possession [a people acquired or purchased to Himself in a peculiar or unique manner]

In order that:

·         you may proclaim the excellencies of him

o   who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

We are a specific “called” and “commissioned” people.

Please note that we are NOT just called that we might be saved – we are called and saved that we might serve Him and “proclaim” [make widely known] His excellencies.

Now, that proclaiming might be verbal, written or it may be in feeding or clothing.  It may be just listening – but it is for the purpose of proclaiming the truth about Him and we need to consider making that clear.  Something on the order of, “I do this in service to the God who has redeemed me and made me His own.”  Or perhaps just “4 Jesus.”

My point is this.  We are not to serve Him by “stealth.”  Proclaiming His excellencies shouldn’t be a “hidden” agenda.  When proclaiming His excellencies is an “ulterior” motive, it is no motive at all.

A friend of mine has posed the question “Can we use deception in order to be able to proclaim His excellencies”?  In other words, if the government of a country bans Christian missionaries – do we present ourselves as just well diggers or food providers?  If a country bans the Bible, do we violate its laws by smuggling Bibles into the country?

NO – you’re not going to get a definitive answer here.  This is a great matter of discussion and one about which we all must spend time in prayer and examining our consciences.

But – we are to proclaim His excellencies – to make them widely known - which is getting to be a little dangerous even in our nation. 

Where do we get the “oomph,” the moxy to do this?  Of course – from Him.  But, we can go to Him confidently because:

Once you were not a people,

but now

you are God's people;

once you had not received mercy,

but

now you have received mercy.

Please notice that once we were “not a people.”  We were all a part of different families, ethnic groups, cultures.  We were all what men call “different races,” (thank you Darwin ;-{ ).  We were “not a people.”

But God didn’t just call us together and tell us, “You are now a people.”  What He did do is call us and tell us, “You are MY people.”  That is a point we need to really get in our heads.  WE are HIS people.  AND we are His people who have HIS mercy (of course His grace as well).

I think that this is cause for joy – which I describe as a sanctified humility and thankful pride.  A pride in Him.  Pride?

Pride:  καυχάομαι, kaucháomai:  To boast, glory, exult, both in a good or bad sense.

Indeed, we should boast, glory and exult in Him, for Him and about Him.  That is our commission. 

Rom 8:3-4  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,  (4)  in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Today we struggle with, “Who are His people”?  All the denominations, sects, septs and other groupings of believers cause us to be cautious, which is not a bad thing.  But the bottom line is determining who “we,” is:

1Co 12:3  Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.

Yes, I know, anyone can “say” that but when the rubber meets the road or we listen to what else they say, we can, by the power of the Spirit, discern if they are SAYING that or just mouthing the words.

Let’s pray hard that we will learn to and be bold to proclaim His excellencies – and remember it is all about Him!

This and That 090412 Comforted??

Men may look shy upon you, and alter their respects as your condition is altered; when Providence has blasted your estate, your summer-friends may grow strange, fearing you may be troublesome to them; but will God do so? No, no: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” says he.   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 402-404).  . Kindle Edition.

Flavel doesn’t hold much back.  His aim is true and his shot is straight.

When we face adversity, we have to remember that God is sovereign and that nothing comes but by way of His providence.  We also need to remember that it is only those whom He loves that he disciplines.  Though a comfort it does not make the adversity any more pleasant – as a matter of fact, God Himself tells us that no discipline seems pleasant when we are undergoing it.  So our being “not” pleased as we are disciplined (or as I prefer disciple) He is not offended that we struggle.

We can have confidence in God but other people, not so much.  Whether it comes from our inward parts of their outward distancing from us there is an arrow of shame that pierces our hearts when we are in adversity.  We, as well as others, look for a negative cause of the adversity.  We want to blame someone or something.  The assumption, which can be correct at times, is that we have somehow brought this on ourselves and are being punished.  And shame hitches a ride.

But if He does discipline those He loves and His discipline is for our betterment we need to address the shame we feel and perhaps if possible ,the shame that is inflicted upon us. 

The only way I know to do this is to surrender to the discipline as a sign of His love and His care.  We need to accept it and praise Him that, although we may be clueless as to His immediate purpose, we know He has our good in His hear

I like the KJV for the following verse:

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Now the word humble sounds nice but perhaps we miss the idea here.  The Greek word means to abase or humiliate.  For us those are very negative words.  But in reference to God whose grace we enjoy isn’t that just – well - appropriate?  The picture here is of a vassal kneeling before his or her liege lord in utter submission.

But our liege lord doesn’t revel in our humiliation he. “lifts us up.”  He reaches down and raises us to our feet, acknowledging and accepting our submission and promising His care and protection.  Yeah, it’s hard for us to “get” that but it is a beautiful picture of His grace and mercy.

Other people?  Well, let me just say this.  When God disciplines one of His it scares the willies out of those who witness it.  I’m sure Job had lots of friends but think about it, only three came to his assistance and they weren’t much help. 

When God disciplines on of His, all His other folks tend to act like the one being disciplined has leprosy.  Now, leprosy is interesting.  Note this:

Leprosy is contagious, but is not easily transmitted. It requires the transfer of body fluids to cause infection in another person. Generally, it is not infectious in all forms, and people undergoing long term treatment are not infectious. Most people who are in contact with leprosy fight off the bacteria and do not develop leprosy. Symptoms do not develop for at least a year after infection.   http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_leprosy_contagious#ixzz25WivIzYWL

So is God’s discipline catching?  No, but the cause may be.  Of course the cause is sin.  Is sin contagious?  Well, you tell me;

Gal 6:1  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

However the one under discipline (for whatever reason) must be restored by his brothers and sisters – his mature brothers and sisters. 

Ahhh – note the verses that follow this admonition:

Gal 6:2-3  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (3)  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

When we are undergoing God’s discipline, for whatever reason, we should expect the comfort and assistance of our brothers and sisters.  We need their care not their rejection or avoidance.  Indeed, the last verse gives us some insight into the hearts of those who withdraw from the one being disciplined.  They think, perhaps, in comparison to the disciplined disciple, that they are something.  It may be that part of the reason for the discipline is to convict and move the others to examine themselves as well as fulfill their obligation to care for and restore the brother or sister in distress.  Paul always viewed his struggles as being for the benefit of the body – Mmmmmmm……

Let me ask you this.  When you have undergone God’s discipline has anyone come alongside you and asked to help you discover what God is trying to teach you?  Has anyone come alongside and prayed with you and looked into God’s Word with you?  Or have they just patted your back, said they’d pray for you and then disappeared?

The hardest part of God’s pruning and refining us is being alone.  Sure, we kind of want to be alone but that’s not His plan.  Do a study on the admonitions concerning “one another.”  How do we do that if we aren’t with one another; if we aren’t informed about one another’s needs; if we don’t get down where they are and help? 

When God blesses we have a party.  When God disciplines we scatter.  Not right!!

For me it is sad to say that in adversity God and only God is with us.  Yes, He is absolutely sufficient – but is that really His desire, His plan, His order?  I don’t think so, do you?

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.

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:4-8

1Pe 2:4-8  As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,  (5)  you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  (6)  For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."  (7)  So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"  (8)  and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

First, a little about “rocks.”

Mat 16:18 

·         And I tell you, you are Peter > Greek word petros – a piece of a rock – a “throwable” rock.

·         and on this rock  > Greek word petra – a mass of rock from which a “petros” is broken off

                I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.               

1 Peter 1:4

·         “a living stone”  Greek = lithos = the size of stone the Temple was built of.  Note:  The smallest stones weighed between 2 to 5 tons and the largest stone of them all – possibly the largest building stone in antiquity – is 13.6 meters long, 4.6 meters thick and 3.3 meters high, and is estimated to weigh 570 tons.

1 Peter 2:5

·         “you yourselves like living stones”  Greek = lithos

In all of this passage the “stone” is “lithos.”  A big monster of a stone.  Even today archeologist wonder at how the stones of the Temple were cut, moved and fitted with such incredible precision.  These are are Ginormous stones!  

Christ is the stone.   As believers in Christ, Peter says of us that:

1Pe 2:5  you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

“WE,” individually and collectively, are being built into a “spiritual house.”  Huh?  Well, we all know what a house is but the word here carries the idea of “family home.”  The “family” part is very important!

The “spiritual” aspect of this “house,” may cause some consternation; it may seem vague or unreal.  But it simply means, “dominated by the Holy Spirit.”  It is not physical although there is a physical aspect to it (we have “bodies”).  Rather, the controlling influence, the head of the household if you will, is the Holy Spirit.  Most times when we read the word “spiritual” in the Word, this is what we’re being told. 

We are intended to be a, “holy priesthood.”  This, too, can be chewy.  We are not that familiar with priesthoods today.  But praise God, we have the example in the Old Testament which gives us great detail about the role and responsibilities of the priesthood.

Now Christ is our High Priest so if we are priests at all, it is in subordination to Him.  We “serve” Him and we “serve” His people (of course it’s weird that we all are priests so we all serve one another.)

We are “holy.”  Oh yes, in Christ we are; His blood has made us so.  We are “set apart” by Him for Him.  We are separated, consecrated and devoted to the service of God, sharing in His purity and abstaining from earth's defilement, all by the blood of the Redeemer and High Priest.

Our “role” as priests is to, “offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  Again, keep in mind that “spiritual” means dominated, controlled, directed and protected by the Holy Spirit.  What we do of our own volition and under our own feeble strength is “carnal” or fleshly.  So we see that attention to the role and influence of the Spirit in our lives is very necessary – actually, essential.

What of these “sacrifices”?  Well, the idea behind the word is exactly what you would think – sacrifices.  There is no way to get around the element of death when we read sacrifice.  The two are one.   But we need not get all creepy about this connection.  Death or “mortification” is part and parcel of our walk.

Rom 6:3-8  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  (4)  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  (6)  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  (7)  For one who has died has been set free from sin.  (8)  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Rom 8:5-6  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  (6)  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Col 3:3-5  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  (4)  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  (5)  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Gal 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The Col. 3 passage is perhaps the best picture of these sacrifices.  We are to be putting to death all that is “of the flesh.”  It used to be called, “the mortification of sin.”  We, by the grace of God and through the power of the Spirit “sacrifice” all our fleshly (self) assurance and desires to Him and for Him. 

Tough job – right?  Yes, it certainly is.  When I consider the day-to-day sacrifices in the Temple, the rivers of blood that flowed, the burning, the constant activity, I appreciate the massiveness of the work we have been given to sacrifice.  Praise God we are only called to sacrifice or kill our flesh/sin.  He made the ultimate sacrifice so we may make all these others.  But He does not expect us to do it by our own power – indeed He would be a cruel Master if He did.  Rather, He places us in that state and provides us with all we need to work with Him as He works in and through us.

Us in Him - starts 9/9/12

Sunday, Sept. 9th we start the Us in Him Bible study.
We will start meeting at Caribou Coffee at Friendly Center in Greensboro.
6:00p.m.
We'll be going through the Gospel of Mark.
This is a study for anyone.  The wondrous, the wondering, the wandering and the wounded.

Contact:  ms@tc2v1.com

Michael @ 336-549-2081

Gloria @ 336-430-6743

If you would like to follow along with us via the web - just sent me an email.  If my Luddite mind can figure it our I'll be posting the notes on the tc2v1 website - or I can email them to you.

This and That 090212 Trusting more?

There was a discussion this morning during sharing time about learning to trust God more.  Of course, being left-handed I was provoked by this idea.

What came to mind was that maybe it’s not so much a matter of trusting God more but of trusting other things less. 

There is nothing greater for which we can trust God than our redemption.  Everything after that should be a cake walk.  But it isn’t, is it?  Isn’t that, well, weird?

We have enough faith/trust to be saved and yet we struggle trusting God for the minutia (minutia compared to eternity). 

I know that I am learning that I put trust in a lot of things other than God.  It’s not fun to learn this – at times it’s nauseating but it’s important learning.   I find it awkward that it feels so bad to quit trusting things other than God.  It feels, well, kind of scary. 

How many times have we said or heard, “Put your trust in……” or “I’m trust ……..?”  Even more powerful is,  “I have faith in……….”  or “Have a little faith………”

I was very convicted when I was doing a study of traditional Jewish prayers.  I discovered one that is giving praise and thanks to God for the various “orifices” He has put in the human body, “which if any one of them is closed off, we cannot live.”

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Imagine, praising God and thanking Him for our “orifices.”    I know that must seem strange BUT it does show how intensely the writers of that prayer recognized their dependence upon – need to trust in God.

Now, this isn’t a, “go beat-up on yourself,” thing.  But it is a compassionately and gently examine what you trust kind of thing.  It is something we all need to do, not as an exception but as a norm. 

I know I’ve discovered a lot of “little idols,” in my life that I never realized I had. 

People, things, places, opportunities, even wishes and dreams have drawn away trust that would have been better invested in Him.  It is a “deal” but let’s not make it a soul crushing “BIG deal.”  Just withdraw your trust from “it” or “them” and give it Him. 

Yes, trusting something or someone other than Him is a sin – but it’s a forgiven one – right?  Accept His forgiveness and ask for the strength and insight to withdraw from and keep those “little idols” out of your life. 

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:1-3

1Pe 2:1-3  So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  (2)  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-(3)  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Peter has repeatedly affirmed our assurance in Christ and is now moving us into some practical and surprising areas of living out our faith.  He has already called us to love one another earnestly based upon our union with the Lord.  Now he moves on.

“put away”

No, this is not “work” but it is part of our growth in Christ.  We are never called to do what we cannot – but we cannot without His power. 

When we read a command or an admonishment, we are often tempted to put it on “the” list and dig into the “doing.”  Though the high motivation is a good thing springing from a pure heart, the rushing into the “doing” might not be so wise.

Commands or directives are not challenges thrown out for us to “prove” our love for Him.  Rather, they are intended to draw us closer to Him first seeking His direction and power to obey.  If commands and directives are intended to “prove” anything, it is to prove that we need Him and that He is faithful to provide what we need from Him to follow.

In Romans 1:5 Paul writes about, “obedience of faith.”  Many a late night has been spent where the meaning of this is debated and analyzed.  But if we can just accept the simple fact that faith (trust) changes our actions, we will be a lot closer to understanding what Paul is saying.

Jesus calls us to “trust” His faithfulness and His power and His love for us.  He calls us to “do” so we might be in a better position to see His trustworthiness.  The more we act, trusting Him, the broader and deeper our trust grows.  I have trusted Him (not always well) for over 30 years and He has never failed me.  Where the bumps in the road come for me is in not paying attention and acknowledging that in every circumstance and situation He has been the source of any and every ability to obey.  

Just this morning I was mulling over our present circumstances and wondering whether we had provision for the future.  I had to laugh at myself because we have much more provision for today than we could ever need.  All our needs are met in Him today – I can rest in Him – today.  But friends, today is all we ever have.  Tomorrow is just impending today – when it gets here, it will be today.

I’d love to write about our souls longing for eternity – an eternal “today.”  But I’ll save that thought.

Peter calls us to, “put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”  Now we might – possibly – be able to put away these things on occasion, but Peter nails all of us when he says we are to put them ALL away.  That ALL is the clincher – the crusher. 

I don’t even see these things all the time – I engage in them and then later remember.  If I don’t notice them ALL, it’s not likely I’ll put them all away.  Here comes faith/trust!  He can enable me to notice and stop.  He can make me sensitive to their potential in every situation.  He can shut my mouth and ears. 

Peter tells us how to embark on this “putting away.”

V 2:  Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation-

“Like” new born infants!!!!!!!  How dependent is a new born?  That’s how dependent we are to be upon Him.  But, what’s  great is that what we need is provided – we need to desire it!  It is, “the pure spiritual milk,” that we grow by.  Milk – “Got Milk?”   What in the world is Peter talking about?

1Co 3:2  I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,

Heb 5:12-14  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,  (13)  for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.  (14)  But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Ahh – perhaps this is why Peter ends this reference to milk with, “that by it you may grow up into salvation.”

Jesus is a gentle teacher and a loving friend.  He knows we are weak and frightful.  He knows everything about us – and He provides us with what we specifically need when we specifically need it.  In this instance, we need “milk” to grow us as we “put away” these sinful things. 

Remember, the picture here is of infants not big strong strapping adults.  Remember, too, that this is not just about our bodies but about our hearts and minds as well.  It’s called humility and it’s a tough thing.  We have to learn that we can’t – He can.  We need to pray that we will humble our hearts and accept our infantile needs in Him and allow Him to feed us that “milk” which we must have to grow.

Milk first and fundamental - as He shows you what and how and enables you to do so.

I suspect that the toughest part of this whole passage is:

“Like newborn infants”

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 1:22-25

1Pe 1:22-25  Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,  (23)  since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;  (24)  for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,  (25)  but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Peter continues with an application for all he has written prior to this:

“love one another earnestly from a pure heart”

But notice, this is placed right in the middle of “how” we are even able to hope to do it.

It is not some feeling or affection we take on or put on, but rather something that can only be done because of what He has done.  It is smack dab in the middle of “purified your souls,” and “born again.”  There is no place else we can ever hope to follow Peter’s admonition.  It is only “in Him” that we can have a sincere love for one another.

This love, this sincere love is a love without pretense.  It is unfeigned, not an act, soundly based, real.  It is based upon His love for His redeemed. 

1Jn 4:10  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

This is the foundation and power of our loving.  If God so loved our brothers and sisters, can we ever be satisfied with loving them less?

Joh 17:20-21  "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,  (21)  that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

This love we are called to is His; He has poured it out into our hearts and we are to recognize it in and give it to one another.  Oh, our flesh makes it so hard at times.  We are all struggling with our “me-ness.”  But this love can and will over-ride that [“selfness”], if we will diligently seek His grace and mercy for that to happen.  This love is absolutely impossible if it is not sought and received from the throne of grace, from the scarred hand of the Savior.

Pray, pray and pray again that He will take from you anything that prohibits you from loving your brothers and sisters in the same way and with the same love as He always loves you .

This and That 090112 Fear (2)

Second, we must not expect a perfect cure for our fear in this life. While there are dangers and enemies, some fear will work in the best hearts. If our faith could be perfected, our fear would be perfectly cured. But while there is much weakness in our faith, there will be much strength in our fear. For those who are naturally timid, who have more of this passion in their constitution, and for those in whom melancholy is a rooted and chronic disease, it will be difficult to remove fear and dejection. But they will be greatly relieved from this tyranny and enabled to possess their souls in much more comfort and tranquility by using the helps and means that follow.   Flavel, John (2011-12-27). Triumphing Over Sinful Fear (Puritan Treasures for Today) (Kindle Locations 798-802). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

I wrote yesterday concerning fear and I do so again today.  Fear, it’s sinfulness ofrblessedness, depends upon the object of that fear.  To fear God is good in the life of anyone for it brings him or her closer to God who is the only source of all things but principally redemption.  To fear man or circumstances, need and what or even death is natural but turns sinful only when it drives us to doubt God. 

Where Paul writes, “Be angry but don’t sin.” I would write, “Be fearful but don’t sin!”

For me, it is an insult to truth when we pretend courage of heart we do not have.  For indeed we do not have it.  It was not and is not the work of the flesh when believers face torment and torture for their faith and yet remain faithful.  It is not in our power or abilities.  It is not a stiff lip that empowers them but the Spirit if God within them.  To pretend to courage is a lie to the world and a lie to us.

Yes I know, the Word is full of, “fear nots.”  But dear friend do you not see that those “fear nots” are in Jesus and not in the flesh.  We may come to Him trembling in terror and there have our fears relieved, not by magic but by truth.  Face you fears – yes – but do so with Him in your heart and you on your knees.

Fear comes and our faith is challenged.  But faith is a gift.  Do you think God only gave you a dab or a trickle?  But you say you have never experienced this circumstance and you have no faith.  Oh, but you do.  Have you not learned from that anything new challenges those skills and abilities we possess?  Of course your faith seems weak in a new trial – for here you have not trusted God and so you will learn to.  I have learned to trust God in a country where I am, at least now, free to live and express my faith openly without fear.  But, put me in a country where to live and proclaim Christ means imprisonment, torture and death and my faith will be greatly challenged.

I am asked, “How do I trust God in this difficult circumstance?”  My reply is, “Much better than you did when things were going well.”  I say that not to be cruel but as a lesson I have had to learn (more than once).  It is this; those who trust God and attend to Him little when His providence floods their lives with good thing will find their faith has shrunk from inattention and lack of use.

We who are in a trial now surely attend to God better than we did before the trial.  And what is that attention?  Unfortunately it is a doubtful and often accusatory attention.  We cry out, “Why?”  when we know that nothing He does or allows is without purpose.  The purpose may not be for you but for God’s glory to be demonstrated to someone yet living in darkness.

Paul writes:

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn--fighting without and fear within.  2Co 7:5 

Did you SEE that?  “but we were afflicted at every turn--fighting without and fear within.”

I know many of us are afraid.  But there is a natural fear which God has endowed us with that we should appreciate, even rejoice in.  This is Paul’s “fear,” and it is not sin.  We, like Paul, need to rely upon God to meet that which creates that fear in us. 

In Paul’s case the answer came thusly:

2Co 7:6-7  But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;  (7)  and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.

I draw your attention to the word “depressed!”  It’s not a character or spiritual flaw.

Paul writes:

2Co 1:3-5  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.  (5)  For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Note here that God, “comforts us IN all our affliction,” not out of it.  I try to look for comfort instead of solutions.  Oh, yes, we are doing all we can to be frugal and to look for opportunities to improve our condition BUT while we do so we NEED comfort. 

We believe wrongly that fear is only overcome when the cause is removed.  That is not God’s way – at least from my reading.  Fear is overcome as our attention to how God has worked and is working providentially grows.  As we see Him more, we grow more assured.  As we grow more assured our fear – sinful fear – returns to that natural fear against which there is not admonition or law. 

Do not, like so many, withdraw into your circumstance.  Rather re-read 2 Cor. 7 above.  It was through the fellowship and one fellow that Paul was comforted.  Also, pray for an understanding and appreciation of 2 Cor. 1:5.  That’s just the truth – a hard truth – even a fearful truth, but the truth.