Salt & Light Blog

Rejoice! Party! Dance in the Lord!

10/31/2017

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4 Jimmy Smith celebrating a touchdown

It is no joke, nor small thing to tell someone how much God loves them. He loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you so you could have eternal life (John 3:16). Does that make you want to jump up and down with joy? I hope so, I hope we are not so jaded by this fact that it does not overwhelm us with it staggering joy. How often do we consider the greatness of God’s love, the beauty of His grace, the gift of salvation, or the enormity of eternal life? Today’s devotional of Romans 5:1-11 will help us to consider these things and see why we can rejoice always in Jesus. Verses 1-2 read,
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
To be justified is to have been declared righteous or innocent from the accusations of sin against us and no longer facing the death sentence we deserve. Have you ever seen the face of a person who was on trial for a crime and facing the death penalty when the judge pronounces him not guilty? The relief and joy are unmistakable. His family and he celebrate with tears, hugs, and shouts of exultation. That is us. We have been declared not guilty, we no longer face being convicted to eternal death. That is reason enough to shout and dance with jubilation. But there’s more.
Not only are we vindicated, but we have peace with God. We are no longer in conflict or at war with the LORD; His wrath is not for us anymore. We are united with Him, we are His people and He is our God (Leviticus 26:12). All the good He wants for us and every good blessing is ours now (Matthew 7:11, James:1:17). Yet, still there is more!
Because of Jesus and the faith God gave us we have admittance, the way to enter into God’s grace. What is grace? The concept of grace is more significant than mere words can translate but the word “carij” is defined as a rewarding way of behaving or action, the divine influence on the heart and its reflection in the life, benefit, favor, gift, joy, liberality, pleasure, and worthy of thanks. God gives us reward and benefit, joy, freedom, pleasure with great generosity. He gives us all this which we do not deserve. That is grace. We can’t earn it, we cannot deserve it; it is lavishly given in kindness and love. Look at our posture in grace. We may enter in humility, ashamed and on our knees, face down but by God’s grace we can stand! We are no longer about to die for sin, we are justified, seen as righteous and so we have access to enter God’s presence confidently. We know He will not direct His wrath at us. We know He loves us and has told us to come to Him, get to know Him, ask anything, and worship Him. Hebrews 4:16 reads,
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 10:19-25 in The Message says it beautifully,
So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.
22-25 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Maybe we don’t have the time and opportunity to be perpetually overwhelmed with the bliss of knowing what salvation means for us right now, but one day, we will. One day that bliss will our endless mood and being in God’s presence will be able to worship Him forevermore (Revelation 19:1-9)! That is the hope and future glory! Shouldn’t some of that joy be evident in us now?
Not to sound like an infomercial but, wait, there’s more! Verses 3-5 read,
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
We have so much to be thankful for that we can even rejoice in suffering! The word kaucaomai which is translated as rejoice or glory gives the picture of a sort of victory dance, a flaunting or boasting celebratory dance, like the football players who celebrate their touchdowns with dances in the end zone. We can do that in our suffering! See, the enemy wants to break us with the troubles we face, but with the Holy Spirit all that suffering creates good stuff and we celebrate the victory it brings us. So, go ahead and dance like a winner, spike the ball, flaunt your victory in his face. The NFL might fine players for the victory dance, but God won’t. He encourages us to rejoice, revel, and celebrate in Him.
When you give a gift, are you more pleased by a small smile and a gentle thanks or a huge reaction of joy? We don’t post videos of “thanks, this is nice.” We post videos of celebrations, shouts, tears, and dances, real gratitude proclaimed with real happiness. The gifts that get those kinds of post-able reactions are the ones that the recipient could not get on her own, the kind that fulfilled a deep desire, will be long-lasting, and might feel undeserved. That is what the gift of salvation is for us. Romans 5:6-10 describe salvation and why it makes us rejoice like a Billy "White Shoes" Johnson.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
We didn’t do anything to deserve Jesus’ dying for us. We needed Him desperately, there was no way for us to be righteous, but Jesus died for us anyway, bringing us together with Him, saving us from eternal death and giving us eternal life! Believer, rejoice! Do your victory dance! Rejoice so hard that even bad news causes you to overflow with joy.

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If Faith is not the Absence of Doubt, What is It?

10/30/2017

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He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

We will continue in Romans 4 today with verses 9-25. I want us to ask what faith is. What does it really mean to have faith? I know that many of us who have been Christians for a while are answering the questions in our heads, like the student in the front row of the classroom, hand waving wildly for the teacher to notice, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Do we understand what that means? Or is this just head logic?
I had a conversation with a woman I met last night; we concluded that a person cannot know her capacity for faith or what her faith is if she has not experienced the difficult circumstances which cause her to rely on God and His Word. She told me that before she had gone through the terrible things she had gone through, her walk with God was casual, she said she trusted God but looking back, she could see she had relied on herself more than she realized. I could understand completely. Each time I have gone through hard times or dark periods I have come out the other side clinging harder to my Lord, knowing I must lean completely on Him and trusting that He is Almighty.
So, let’s read in Romans 4 today and see if we can learn something about faith and maybe not have to learn about faith in the school of hard knocks.
Yesterday, we read that salvation comes from faith alone, not law, not being moral, and not by doing good works. Like the Jews of Paul’s day, we can sometimes think that salvation is exclusionary, just for us, special people. But Paul answered them then and us now in Verses 9-12.
Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Circumcision was the sign that the Jews agreed with the Abrahamic Covenant, it became a sign that meant one was Jewish, God’s chosen and if a person was not willing to be circumcised, he was not included in the community, not counted by the Jews as righteous. But God did not justify Abraham after his circumcision but many years before his circumcision. And the promise of salvation by faith was not for Abraham alone, but for anyone who believed God. Sarah was also justified by her faith (Hebrews 11:11).
What outside signs do we look for today to decide if a person is saved or not? May people consider baptism the sign that a person is or is not saved. Some denominations baptize children as babies, to include them in the faith community and assure themselves the children are Christians and so saved. Baptism, like circumcision is a sign, a proclamation that we agree with God. Many churches require a person to be baptized or have proof of baptism to join the church.
Do I believe we ought to be baptized? Yes! It is a commandment (Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48, Acts 22:16, Ephesians 4:5). But do I think it has anything to do with our salvation? No! Baptism does not save, it is a symbolic decree of our salvation, that our old selves and our sin are dead by the Crucifixion, and our new selves are alive with Christ’s Resurrection. Our salvation has nothing to do with adhering to laws and rituals. But some laws and rituals can enhance our faith. For instance, obedience to the ritual of the Lord’s Supper helps us to reflect on Jesus’ death, baptism moves us to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and gathering in worship and fellowship with the Body of Christ edifies us.
If we say we have faith, but then try and earn salvation by observing the law, we are relying on ourselves and annulling faith; we are emptying Jesus’ death and Resurrection of meaning. Verses 13-15 say it this way,
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
Without the weight of the law hanging over our heads, we are not subject to God’s wrath any longer, we are dependent on His grace and mercy. Since Jesus fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17) and by His death and Resurrection, He conquered sin. In Christ, we are free from sin (Romans 6:18).
Romans 6:10-11 reads,
For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
So far, I have only re-iterated that salvation is not by works but by faith. We have not really looked at what faith is. But to understand what faith is, we need to understand what faith is not, it is not perfection, it is not having no doubt, no unbelief, or no questions. Abraham our great example of faith, had lots of doubts. He lied to kings. He had a child with his wife’s maid. He questioned God to His face about His plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Yet, he was still counted righteous, God still recognized his faith instead of his sin. And when Abraham questioned Him, God chose to engage in the conversation. Abraham had enough faith to know he could question God. Because of that faith, Lot and his daughters were saved from Sodom’s obliteration. Abraham’s imperfect faith gives us hope and teaches us that even our faith does not depend on us. Our little bit of faith is enough for God to say we are righteous and then He grows that little faith into bigger faith. Verses 16-25 say it like this,
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
My good friend Jim Barringer taught that if faith the size of a mustard seed could move a mountain, then even that great faith leaves plenty of room for doubt. Picture that mustard seed in the palm of your hand. How much space is left for unbelief? The little faith Abraham had in the face of his doubts meant that God could keep His promise regardless, prove Himself faithful and powerful, and allow Abraham’s faith to grow enough that years after Isaac was born, Abraham could trust God enough to sacrifice his son of promise. He was willing to sacrifice Isaac because his faith in God assured him that the LORD would never renege on a promise. If Isaac were dead, he would not have offspring like the stars and make him the father of nations.
I wonder if rather than wait decades for the promise of his son to be born, if Isaac had been born within a year, would Abraham’s faith grown enough to be the example of faith we know him to be. By the time Sarah gave birth to Isaac, it was a physical impossibility for her to have a child and greatly improbable for Abraham to father a child. It had to be God and not his own doing.
Faith is holding onto God, grasping at His Word when everything else says we cannot do it. Faith is believing despite our disbelief. It is born of God and developed by relying on God through everything, the hard stuff and the good stuff.
Which example of faith did not suffer? Even Jesus went to the wilderness and fasted and prayed for forty days to cultivate His faith and grow more reliant on the Father before He began His ministry. He suffered greatly but He turned always to the Father in His agony. Hebrews 5:7-10 tells us,
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Miracles, the manifestations of God’s promises to us are often not recognized unless they bring about an end to some trouble. Jesus healed lepers, gave sight to the blind, made the lame walk, and fed the hungry. I know Jesus has healed the nearsighted and given them 20/20 vision, but that miracle is not so widely proclaimed as the dying man healed of cancer. The bigger our discomfort, the more we recognize the power of God and for some of us, the more we rely on God.
As Hebrews 11:1 says, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” I can tell you, I have faith that God will restore my teeth to me. I will wake up one day with a mouth full of healthy, strong, and beautiful teeth. I cannot see it happening. It is impossible in the natural world and more impossible now since I have not a single tooth in my head. It is a crazy and silly dream. But nothing is impossible with God (Mark 10:27). When God restores my teeth in whatever way He will, His faithfulness will be once again proven, and my faith matured. He already gave me the miracle of dentures which I could not afford. He already healed me of a decades long health problem as I was on the brink of death. He brought me through deep depressions, and terrible persecutions. He has provided for me in every circumstance of my life.
Would I know the faith I know now if I had not gone through those things, if God had not done great things, good things, and little things for me? I doubt it. But, my doubt is okay, because faith is not the absence of doubt it is hope and assurance even through my doubt. Faith is knowing God is who He says He is, believing He is faithful and trusting He wants good for me.
Paul described how he could be faithful in His second letter to Timothy verses 8-13,
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful--
for he cannot deny himself.

Cherished, I pray that regardless of your circumstances, you will recognize the awesomeness of God and let your faith be like that mustard seed that begins as such a tiny seed and becomes a large tree.

A mustard seed in the palm of a hand next to a mustard tree. The tiny mustard seed grows into a huge, productive and shade giving tree.

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You Can’t Earn Salvation

10/29/2017

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For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8

Today we will continue our study of Romans, which we took a small break from as I obeyed God to explore some other places He wanted me to read and learn from.
Cherished, what is it that you rely on for your salvation? Are you justified because you are a good person? Are you saved because you’ve earned salvation doing good works or adhering to the law? Or are you saved by grace because of your faith?
I think many of us, I hope many of us will answer that we are saved through faith and that it is God’s grace and only His grace which saves us. But I think that even though we might say it, we may live our lives believing that we have to be good and do good to earn salvation. Salvation is a gift, it cannot be earned, only given and received. If you must work to earn something, it is not a gift, it is a wage, the remuneration for work done, a paycheck. What does Romans chapter 4:1-8 have to say about it?
Verses 1-5 read,
What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
If anyone could have been justified by his works, it was Abraham. He was not perfect, he made many judgement errors and his transgressions are recorded for us to learn from. Yet, he obeyed God and left his home, a place where his ancestors had worshipped God and taught him the same, to travel to places where idolatry was not only normal but expected, where people practiced religions, heathenism, and cultural ritual that often had dangerous consequences for the sojourner. Throughout that journey, Abraham remained faithful to God, obeying Him and in an ever-deepening relationship with Him. When God promised Abram that he would be the father of nations and that his descendants would be like the stars, Abram believed even though he had no children. Twenty-four years after God made that promise, it still had not come to fruition, but Abraham still remained faithful. It was not obedience to God’s commands that made Abraham righteous. It was not the Law, that had not yet been given to Abraham’s descendent Moses. It was Abraham’s faith. He believed God and it was his belief that was counted to him as righteousness.
Being counted as righteous didn’t make Abraham perfect. He made mistakes. He let desperation for a son move him to have a child with Sarah’s maid Hagar. He let fear for his life inspire lies. But when God looked at Abraham, He chose not to count his wrongdoings, disobediences, and lapses in judgement against him, because God had called him righteous.
Did Abraham’s faith make obedience to God easier? Yes. He knew God, he talked with God. He knew God’s wrath was real, but he also knew God’s love was real. He could obey because he understood God didn’t ask anything of him without a purpose and that the purpose would have effects for generations, even eons beyond himself.
Does faith make you perfect? Not yet, chances are you, like me sin frequently. Your belief that God is who He says He is, that Jesus is Christ means that God chooses to look at you and see the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ instead of the sins you commit regularly helps you walk with Jesus. You can’t earn salvation. Stop trying to earn it and rest. Sanctification is not a job and your redemption is not your paycheck. The only wage you can earn is death. God’s gift to you is faith and salvation which produces obedience, sanctification, and eternal life. All are gifts from God and have nothing to do with your efforts. Give yourself over to God by believing Him. Romans 6:19-23 puts it this way,
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The salvation and sanctification given to us, is given to all as the LORD see fit, not based on us but based on what we are capable of, the measure of our faith (Romans 12:3-6). You may have been saved for decades, work hard for the kingdom of God and have spoken and lived the Gospel for tens of thousands. Are you anymore saved than the guy who spent decades addicted to drugs, committing crimes, and hurting people but came to salvation last week because you shared the Word with him? Do you deserve a better eternal life than he does? No, you both deserve eternal death, Jesus gave you eternal life as a gift. Jesus told a parable to clarify this concept in Matthew 20:1-16. In The Message, the story is told like this,
1-2 “God’s kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work.
3-5 “Later, about nine o’clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went.
5-6 “He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o’clock. At five o’clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?’
7 “They said, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“He told them to go to work in his vineyard.
8 “When the day’s work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, ‘Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.’
9-12 “Those hired at five o’clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, ‘These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.’
13-15 “He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?’
16 “Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”
The guy that got saved an hour ago is just as saved as the guy who got saved fifty years ago. Hopefully, the man saved fifty years ago is mature, meaning he looks, acts, and thinks more like Jesus than someone new to Christ but when Jesus comes back both men will be transformed to perfection in a moment (1 Corinthians 15:52).
By no means does this mean, Christians should just sit back, eat bonbons and think they’re covered. There are some who do and many of them are genuinely saved, others are not. True faith results in people who desire grow in faith, serve God, and be more like Him. These are the people who want to take part in and build the kingdom of God not sit idly in the kingdom of God. Some who are idle are actually hurting the kingdom. 1 Corinthians 3:10-16 explains it this way,
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Does this make sense to you? You are not saved by works, you are not saved because you’ve earned it. You are saved because God chose to give you that gift. You are save by His grace through faith. This is a reason to rejoice! It is a reason to be happy. Romans 4 continues with verses 6-8 which read,
just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Cherished, you do not have to work to earn salvation, it is yours for the asking. It is given freely. Jesus paid the price, you don’t have to pay Him back, you cannot do that. If you are doing good works, it is not to earn your salvation, it is because as the Holy Spirit transforms you, you become more like Jesus and His love in you must be demonstrated. Like fruit from a tree, must naturally grow, the fruit shows the world what the tree is and that it is alive and purposeful. Jesus explained it in Matthew 7:16-20.
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

James, the brother of our Lord said it this way in James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

It is not your works or obedience to the law which saves you. It is faith alone, belief in Jesus Christ confessed which saves you Romans 10:8-13 says,
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Salvation is simple; it is an uncomplicated gift from God. You can’t earn it and you do not deserve it. Accept it.

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Citizen of Heaven, Who are You?

10/28/2017

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But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20

We have been studying the kingdom of God, today we will look at who we as believers are in the kingdom. We are not visitors or sojourners in the kingdom of Heaven, and it is not only in our future but our present. Philippians 3:20 tells us that our citizenship is in Heaven. What does that mean to us? When Paul told the church in Philippi that we are citizens of Heaven, he was exhorting them not to be like the world around them but instead to strive toward conformation to Christ and to imitate him and the other mature believers and teachers of the Word. Philippians 3:12-21 reads,
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
We strive toward the goal which is the perfection of Jesus Christ. The past is the past, we are not who we used to be, we are who God has created us to be. We are the righteousness of Christ now (2 Corinthians 5:21) and we look forward to being the perfectly conformed to His image in New Jerusalem. It is the future and the now together, already done and being done. Hebrews 10:12-18 says it like this,
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
    after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
    and write them on their minds,”
17 then he adds,
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Yesterday, we learned that Jesus calls us the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16). That by the Holy Spirit and in Jesus’ name we are to glorify God by the good and great works He will do through us and in us. Today, we will look at our identity in the kingdom. When Jesus prayed for us before He gave up His life for us, He said,
But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:13-19).
Paul echoed this idea when He wrote to the Philippians as we read above. We are citizens of Heaven. Heaven is very different from the world. People of the world cannot understand the things of Heaven (1 John 4:5). As we established, we have the Holy Spirit in us, God lives in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). Because He indwells us He helps us to discern the kingdom of God, the spiritual world around us. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 reads,
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
First, I want to establish that a kingdom is led by a king and that king is Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 17:14). John 18:36-37 says,
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
What is our place in the kingdom? What is our title? In John 15:15, Jesus called us His friends. John 15:12-20 encourages us and reveals some hard truths.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”
Look at our privileges as a friend of the king. We were chosen and appointed to bear fruit, whatever we ask in Jesus’ name He will give it. We’re in on the plans, the running of the kingdom. We are more than friends though. Read Romans 8:14-17.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Children of God! Heirs of God! Co-heirs with Christ! Have you heard that so many times that it loses meaning for you? Consider that for a minute. Consider you are a son or daughter of the LORD, God Almighty, the Creator of the Universe, The King of kings. Cherished, you are a king or queen. When Jesus is called the King of kings such as in Revelation 17:14,
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.
who are the kings He is King of? He is over the kings of the world, yes; but, in order to truly be King, His subjects must recognize Him as such. As citizens of Heaven, we are His subjects; we are the kings and queens. Take a moment and consider the privileges of being royalty. I could write for days on the subject, but I will limit it to a sentence. We represent the kingdom, our actions and decrees have authority and impact, and we are not common.
If we are co-heirs with Christ, then what is we inherit? Well, we share in His suffering, but we also share in His glory which is our sanctification or being made perfect (Acts 20:32). We inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17) When Jesus spoke about inheriting eternal life, he correlated it to salvation and called it entering the kingdom of God and said it was more difficult for a man of wealth to enter than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, which is unachievable. He said, those wanting eternal life had to give up everything for it (Just as we discussed two days ago). Peter asked who could be saved then? Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” But He also promised this, “Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:17-31).
That is awesome! As followers of Christ and citizens of Heaven we have eternal life. Life in Heaven is not like life on earth. We are perfect and transformed in Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:52). Revelation 21:1-4 gives us a glimpse of our eternal home and life.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
We discussed yesterday some of the power imbued to us with the Holy Spirit but as citizens of Heaven there is more. In Matthew 16:19 Jesus promised,
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
He reiterated it in Matthew 18:18-20 when He reminded us that we are not alone in the kingdom, we walk with brothers and sisters, our fellow heirs.
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Cherished, remember these things about yourself, you are a child of God, a king or queen, an heir of God and fellow heir with Christ and more. I will list a few aspects of your identity here. Pray on them, praise God for who you are in Him, and live up to who He has made you to be, Child of the Living God.
1 Peter 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.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Colossians 2:9-10
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
Colossians 3:1-3
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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The Kingdom of God Consists of Power Not Talk.

10/27/2017

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For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20

Today, we will continue to read about the kingdom of God to find out more what it is and who we are in it. Since we are supposed to seek it first, that is above all else, we should know what it is we pursue so doggedly. Yesterday, we learned that Salvation or justification is the first step into the kingdom and that our sanctification or conformation into the image of Christ is the kingdom and that it is a treasure to be sought, found, and prized. Is there more? Yes, although sanctification is precious and amazing, God in all His riches has more for us. In Romans 14:13-20 reads,
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.

We are not in the kingdom alone, there are others with us, serving God and pursuing sanctification alongside us. In other words, we do not seek the kingdom of God unaccompanied; our brothers and sisters seek it as well. Judging one another usurps God’s authority. If He has the power to work in your life, teach you, build you up, and guide you toward sanctification, don’t you think He can do the same with your fellow heirs?
Furthermore, Paul said, ‘don’t sweat the small stuff.’ If you know something not to be a sin, but your brother thinks it is, then rather than try and convince him it is not, just refrain from the practice and let God show him that when it’s time. Seriously, what’s the big deal for you to refrain from drinking some wine, if your sister thinks it is a sin? Your drinking could shake up her faith and cause her to stumble. Trust God to mature her and strengthen her. The kingdom isn’t about legalism vs grace; it isn’t about whether you allow drums and guitars in services or do the Lord’s Supper at the beginning of worship or the end. It is about righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. There should be peace and unity in the kingdom. We should be building one another up, not tearing each other down by trying t prove who is the most Christ-like.
Who are the people in the kingdom? What do they look like? Paul said that the fruit or evidence of the Holy Spirit in us is, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). And Jesus described how people in the kingdom think and behave in Matthew 5:2-12
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
I have done studies on the Beatitudes and so I won’t delve into them here, but I encourage you to look at each one, ask the Lord to measure you against them and pursue what you lack. Each of these attitudes is one which glorifies and exemplifies Christ in us and so brings others to know Him and love Him too. Who we are, how we allow the Holy Spirit to work inn us and through us has an impact on the world. We can be a light to the world or the reason the world hates Christians. In the next verses of this chapter Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16).
Everyone in the kingdom should be working. Jesus, the King of kings worked; He performed many great and good works to show people the love of the Father. We too are expected to do those works, not to earn salvation, that is a gift, but because it is a part of who we are as followers of Christ. He gave us His Spirit and He does not sit idly within us. He works. Yes, we could accept Christ and then show up to church, sit on the pew, and go home and listen to worship music and do nothing more and still be saved and still be a child of God, but that is not who we were intended to be. In building one another, building the kingdom, and sharing the Gospel of the kingdom we must step out and be the kingdom. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 says it this way,
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
James 2:14-18 says,
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

I know what some of you might be thinking. “I don’t have the gift of evangelism.” “I don’t know what to say.” “I’ll help in some other way.” I’m not telling you to go out on the street with a sign and a bullhorn. I’m saying that Jesus said your good works bring glory to the Father. You don’t need the gift of evangelism to glorify God. You don’t need eloquence to articulate the Gospel. You don’t need great knowledge to show someone how deeply God loves him. You only need the Holy Spirit. Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.
The kingdom of God entails power, Holy Spirit power. Cherished Believer, you have Him within you (1 Corinthians 3:16) and He is Almighty! Do you get how powerful He is? Ephesians 1:17-23 reminds us.
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Cherished, remember who you are and remember what Jesus said about you in John 14:12-17
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
That is colossal! In the kingdom, we have the Holy Spirit and the world cannot receive Him, just us. Whatever we ask in Jesus’ name will be given! In Jesus’ name means you are doing it as a representative of Jesus, that the Father will be glorified because Jesus only did the Father’s will (John 5:19). Walking in the kingdom, glorifying God is a privilege that comes with great power for good. You may not have memorized an evangelism spiel, but that is okay, the kingdom is not about talk, it is about power. You, Believer have that power, the power which raised Jesus from the dead and gives you the authority to do great works for God’s glory.
What can the Holy Spirit do? Well, nothing is impossible for Him (Matthew 19:26). Some partial lists of what He empowers us to do are found in Romans 12:4-8
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
and 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 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.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
These are not the extent of God’s power; the Bible lists many things He can and will do in and through you. I encourage you to search and find those things as you search to know God more and more.
Are you walking in the power of the kingdom of God? Are you seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? Not seeking the power, or the gifts, or the blessings, but the kingdom of God and His righteousness? Are you loving your brothers and sisters, building them up and submitting to them? Do your attitudes resemble the Beatitudes? Are you glorifying God by the power of the Holy Spirit in you?
Tomorrow, we will look at who you are in the kingdom.

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What is the Kingdom of God

10/26/2017

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

God is so great, in every sense of the word. He will often show me the number 633. I’ll check the time and it will be 6:33 or it will be on a passing license plate or any number of other ways. When I see this number I immediately think of Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
But, how often do I consider what it means to seek first and what is the kingdom of God? So today, I want to look into God’s word and find answers to those questions. Let’s first, put the verse back into context. That is always the first place we should look. The fact that Matthew 6:33 is one of my favorite verses means that Matthew 6:25-34 is one of my favorite passages. Jesus words are so filled with love, love which can convict without condemnation, edify without hindering, and encourage a person to move forward instead of give up. The passage reads,
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The passage from Jesus’ teaching suggests then that the stuff of daily life, such as what we will eat and wear are not the kingdom of God. That seeking those things worrying or focusing our energy on them and going after them, means we are not seeking His kingdom. Therefore, we can conclude that the kingdom of God is not about the natural life, the worries of day-to-day earthly life, it is something more. Let’s find out.
Looking at the verse, Jesus associated the kingdom of God with His righteousness. We are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We do not seek first the kingdom of God and then His righteousness, they go hand in hand. There are several things that are connected to Righteousness in the Bible. The first passage God brought to mind is Psalm 85:8-13
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
    but let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
    that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
    and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
    and make his footsteps a way.
In these verses, we see Righteousness is a path to follow, it brings God’s peace and is associated with God’s steadfast love which gives us faithfulness. We are also reminded in these verses that righteousness, like provision, love, faithfulness, and peace are gifts from God which each grow the other. Crops grow from the ground making us more aware of God’s love and increase our faithfulness, which increases our desire to be righteous like our Lord and since we are living in obedience we have peace. Peace is reconciliation with God, salvation which in turn brings the Righteousness of Christ and allows us to exercise the faith God gave us to believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and has risen from the dead. Is your mind spinning, I could keep going with the relationships between these traits, but I will stop and let God elucidate. God put it much better than I can. Isaiah 32:9-20
Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice;
    you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.
10 In little more than a year
    you will shudder, you complacent women;
for the grape harvest fails,
    the fruit harvest will not come.
11 Tremble, you women who are at ease,
    shudder, you complacent ones;
strip, and make yourselves bare,
    and tie sackcloth around your waist.
12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
    for the fruitful vine,
13 for the soil of my people
    growing up in thorns and briers,
yes, for all the joyous houses
    in the exultant city.
14 For the palace is forsaken,
    the populous city deserted;
the hill and the watchtower
    will become dens forever,
a joy of wild donkeys,
    a pasture of flocks;
15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
    and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
    and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
    and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
    and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
    in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
19 And it will hail when the forest falls down,
    and the city will be utterly laid low.
20 Happy are you who sow beside all waters,
    who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.

The women in these verses were told to rise up and beat their breasts, to pray for the Spirit to be poured out on the people, not just sit back and wait in complacency. When He was poured out then the wilderness, the desert would become fruitful (abundant provision), justice would bring righteousness, peace, trust, and security. Justice or justification is about salvation as well. Romans 3:20-26 explains it.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
So, the Kingdom of God is salvation and sanctification. That is receiving credit for Jesus’ righteousness and becoming Jesus’ righteousness. It is something we should pursue consistently. And it is much more than living the quiet life of the pew-sitter. Pursuit, seeking, and walking all depict ongoing action. Let’s look at seeking the kingdom of God more closely. Jesus spoke frequently about the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Heaven. His descriptions give us a clearer idea of what it means to seek first. After Jesus had explained the parables of the sower and the weeds, both about salvation, He moved on to parables about the kingdom of Heaven, meaning that the kingdom of God is more than salvation. Salvation is the first step toward sanctification (becoming more like Jesus). Matthew 13:44-52 includes four allegories to enlighten us about the Kingdom of God.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Look at the desperation to have the treasure in the first two parables. The men in these stories sold everything else in their lives for the treasure and the great pearl. And clearly giving up everything else in their lives didn’t matter because the worth of the treasure they sought was so much more than all they had. Though they gave up everything, they lost nothing; when they gained the treasure, they had everything they needed or wanted.
The next parable reminds us, that the kingdom of Heaven includes true and actual change. If righteousness cannot be seen in our lives, then we are likely not in the kingdom of God. It also reminds us that this is not an exclusive club. It is for all peoples, Jewish, gentile, man, woman, rich or poor. The fish were of every kind, not most kinds, not many kinds, but every kind.
The last parable in this group also suggests a change. The Master of the House, God who is Father, Son, and Spirit, brings out in us what is new and old. He uses who He created us to be, our unique person and His character to make us someone new. He doesn’t forget the Old Covenant, He builds on top of it.
Notice again, not once is the treasure, pearl, the fish, or the old and new earned, but given, found, and brought out. It is a gift given by God and sought for by us. There is more to teach about the Kingdom of God and I will continue this discussion tomorrow. For now, we will close with this thought. Where is your heart? Do you long for the kingdom of God? Do you desperately search for it and are you willing to give up everything in order to attain it? Does Psalm 42:1-2 describe your yen for God?
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.

Cherished, I pray it does. Because in Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus said,
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

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What Does it Mean to Be Still

10/25/2017

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Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

Psalm 46:10 reads,
Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!

What does it mean to be still? Are most of us still long enough to know that the LORD is God? I am going to explore that today. First, we will look at the word still. It is in Hebrew, raphah pronounced raw-faw and meaning, slacken, fail, cease, be slothful, faint, weaken, and be idle. It is used in various passages to mean, to sink down, drop, relax, abate or withdraw (Strong's, 2014). Many of those definitions and usages have negative connotations especially for Americans who are all about the go-getter attitude and would find it difficult to believe that God say, ‘be slothful,’ ‘be idle,’ or ‘be weak and know that I am God.’
Not only do I think many of us would have a difficult time accepting this commandment, we have a hard time achieving stillness. What does stillness help us accomplish? Well, looking at this verse, it allows us to know that the LORD is God and gives Him glory all over the earth. How is it that our stillness can glorify the Lord? Putting the verse back into context we can read the entire Psalm. Psalm 46 reads,
God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
I get a picture of a world in turmoil, storms ravage, earthquakes devastate, and wars rage yet we sit calmly within the walls of a fortress and nothing outside that refuge can hurt us. It is God who stops the wars, unrest, and tumult. Our stillness makes it so that people can “behold the works of the Lord.” They can’t give us credit, we were calm, weak, and still within His shelter. Let’s look at more passages which urge us to be still.
Psalm 37:5-9 reads,
Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
It takes trust and patience on our part to be still. Circumstances don’t always look like they are going to work out for our benefit or for God’s glory. Sometimes the bad guy gets away with his crimes for a little while. Sometimes it is hard to do the right thing, especially when doing the wrong thing might get you a profit. But the Lord urges us to be trust Him, be patient and be still before Him. He said not to get angry or worry about the evildoer’s prosperity. He will deal with them. Remember, the Day of Judgement is coming and no one will escape being judged and either facing God’s wrath or God’s grace (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Let me ask a question and I want you to be completely honest with yourself, do you really trust God? If you have a need, do you trust the Lord to meet it or do you worry about how your need will be met? If the rent is late and the eviction notice has been delivered and you have three days to come up with the money before you and your family are on the street, are you trusting God or freaking out? Are you in peace because you know God will take care of you, regardless or are you trying to find someone to loan you a couple of thousand dollars to save you and your family from homelessness? Faith is more than a feeling, it is demonstrated by our actions. Faith is proven and revealed by our actions and demeanor. Moses trusted God enough to let Him be God and be glorified.
As the Israelites were fleeing the Egyptians, they were terrified. They were certain they were about to die and cried out that they would prefer to go back to slavery than face the Egyptian army when caught up to them. But in Exodus 14:13-14 Moses said,
“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Then God told Moses to raise up his staff and divide the Red Sea. Stop a moment and think about that. An army was chasing him and the people he had promised to lead out of slavery and into freedom and God said, “Stop, lift up your staff, stretch out your arms and divide the Red Sea.” Does that make sense? Wouldn’t it have been more logical to stop and make weapons or run and hide? But Moses had faith and demonstrated it by obeying God. He lifted up his staff, stretched out his arms and God divided the sea. Every Israelite made it safely through the sea and didn’t even get wet. Every person in the Egyptian army drowned (Exodus 14:15-39).
God was with them. He went with them through the sea and He was with them in the morning as they watched the Egyptian army die. He stayed with them as they wandered through the wilderness for the next forty years. He fed them, He kept their clothes and shoes wearable. Believer, He is with you too. Cherished, He has promised that He will never leave you, nor forsake you(Deuteronomy 3:16). His is your God and you are His people (Leviticus 26:12). You are His temple and He indwells you (1 Corinthians 3:16). You are in His presence and commanded to be still. Habakkuk 2:20 reads,
But the Lord is in his holy temple;
    let all the earth keep silence before him.
Are you in trouble? Are you going through tribulations? In John 16:33, Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 107:28-32 says,
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
    and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
    and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
    and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Jesus lived that out for His disciples and for us in Mark 4:35-41
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Are we extolling Him in the congregation or are we extolling ourselves because perhaps, we chose not to cry out to Him in our distress and tried to fix the problem ourselves? Sometimes what we do fixes the problem, but How God does it, is so much better. Being still may feel like doing nothing, but it is not. It is crying out to God and having the faith to let Him be God, to let Him answer and be glorified.

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The Battlefield of the Mind: Fighting the War

10/23/2017

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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. Philippians 4:8

I’m taking a small detour from our current study of Romans to study where God has been leading me lately and to explore what He is saying to me. I know if He has something important to say to me, it could be significant for you as well, my cherished family. I believe, at least it is true for me that much of the battle I fight is in the mind. It is in my mind that I fight to stay on this path following Jesus and not my own flesh. It is in my mind that I fight to maintain my identity in Christ and not fall victim to the lies about who I’ve believed myself to be, was told I am, and who I used to be. So, let’s begin by reading Philippians 4:8-9
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. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
What are the thoughts you are meditating on? What is the mantra you repeat as you walk? What are the ideas vacillating in your head? Are you concerned with how to feed your family, how to pay the electricity bill, where the rent will come from? Are those thoughts consistent with what God says we ought to think about? Are they true? They may feel that way, but Cherished, they are not true. Jesus said, “Why do you worry about these things? Look at the birds and the flowers. They don’t lift a finger to meet their needs and God takes care of them. How much more does He love you and how much more will He take care of you? People who don’t know God worry about all that. Your Father knows what you need. You can trust Him to take care of you. All you need to do is seek His Kingdom and Righteousness first, all those other things will be given to you.” (Paraphrased Matthew 6:25-34).
What is it you are spending your time thinking about and focusing on? Give it the litmus test. Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it just? Is it pure, lovely, or commendable? Is there excellence in it? Is it worthy of praise? If yes, then think about it. If yes meditate on it but of not, then toss that thought out and choose something that is. What can your “go to” thought be about then? What or who answers a yes to every single question in the verse? The Lord. Jesus is true, in fact He is The Truth and the Way (John 14:6). Jesus is honorable as Revelation 4:11 says
Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.
He is just! Deuteronomy 32:4 says,
The Rock, his work is perfect,
    for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
    just and upright is he.
He is pure (1 John 3:3). And oh, Jesus is lovely! He is love (1 John 4:8), and that love is an attractive attribute calling people to recognize Him and come to Him 1 John 4:7-12 in The Message reads,
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.
11-12 My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
That is excellence! He is superior to all, anything, and everyone. Psalm 145:1-3 says it this way,
I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.
So, God, our Father, the Son, and His Holy Spirit is worthy of your thoughts and meditation. Think on these things. Also, what we know, we can, and should think about, what we are encouraged to think about that answers yes to our questions is the Word of God. The Word of God is Jesus and also God’s proclamations, scripture which like Jesus is God’s will manifested and demonstrated for us. He put His will on paper for us and it is alive and purposeful (Hebrews 4:12). Look back at Philippians 4:9. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” We learn and receive and hear by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). That word often comes through one another as we walk this path together. Colossians 3:16-17 reads,
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Yes, the battle often takes place in the mind and we are told to guard it, to not allow the fight to take place there. Proverbs 4:20-27 has this to say,
My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all thei] flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.
And going back to Philippians 4 the verses just prior to the where we began remind us, it is not we but He who does the guarding as we meditate or rejoice on the things of God, turning our worries to prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. Philippians 4:4-7 read,
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Be aware of your thought life, it can and will affect your actions, walk, and growth. In Luke 6:45, Jesus said,
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Are your thoughts not in alignment with Philippians 4:8? Pray. Praise God. Thank Him. Turn your mind to Him. Do not let your thoughts run away and put turmoil into your heart; take your thoughts captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Much of the battle takes place in the mind, and it is very real. But that is nothing for you to be afraid of, Cherished. Ephesians 6:17 give you a defensive and offensive weapon for the fight, “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Jesus does not leave you alone for the fight. Isaiah 59:16-17 describe Jesus living, interceding and fighting for you.
He saw that there was no man,
    and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
    and his righteousness upheld him.
17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
    and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
    and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
What does it look like for you to fight this battle? Meditating on God’s Word, pursuing God’s kingdom and Righteousness is not a busy thing. God said, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). He said that He would fight for us and we only have to be still. (Exodus 14:14). That doesn’t mean do nothing, it means remember He is God and He has us. It means meditate on Him, know Him, and hear and obey the Word and so be conformed to the image of Christ. James 1:22-25 reads,
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Being a doer of the Word does not mean running around doing works to earn God’s favor, it is obedience to His Word, submitting to who He says He is and you are. You already have His favor. He loves you. His gifts, blessings, and salvation are freely given. He does the fighting, the calling, the saving, and the sanctifying. Romans 8:29-39 says it this way,
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i]against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
My Cherished Brothers and Sisters, do not let your thought life go unchecked. Maybe for now, no one can see the devastating effects of your dark mind, but the results will spill out of your mouth and into your life. Take control of those thoughts and obey your Lord. “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” Let the God of peace be with you. Let Him exude from you. Let Him transform you. Let Him renew your mind (Romans 12:2).
I will close with this, The greatest commandment and what all the law and prophets depend on is this, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, Matthew 22:36-40). Therefore, to take control of your thought life and meditate on God, His Word, and the good things in Creation is to love God.

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Rejoice! Party! Dance in the Lord!

If Faith is not the Absence of Doubt, What is It?

You Can’t Earn Salvation

Citizen of Heaven, Who are You?

The Kingdom of God Consists of Power Not Talk.

What is the Kingdom of God

What Does it Mean to Be Still

The Battlefield of the Mind: Fighting the War

Donna Campbell

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