Yet again in the line of the patriarchs we are met with a barren wife, this time Rebekah, upon Isaac’s intercession she conceives (Gen. 25:21). In her womb were two sons who were unhappy womb-mates. This causes her to enquire the reason for this from God, which is given as there being two nations in her womb and two kinds of people would come forth from her. One would be stronger than the other, and the elder would serve the younger. There was a fighting and struggle against each other almost from their conception.
This casts somewhat of an interesting light on human character and how early it is formed. Infants are each born with a different personality and character traits and while subsequent events may develop it further apart from God’s grace people tend to be like themselves only more so as they progress through life. Esau was born first and was hairy at birth betokening his being a man’s man, rugged hunter and outdoorsman. Jacob reached out his hand and grabbed his brothers heel at this time foreshadowing his conniving nature, trying to get ahead by pulling another back or even tripping them up.
God chose Jacob the younger of the two to be the heir of the promise. At the time the reasons may not have been apparent, Esau and Jacob both had flawed characters, but God’s wisdom is always justified by its children. Jacob for all his problems wanted the birthright. Esau, in spite of what God had spoken, still had it by reason of birth order. However, Esau placed absolutely no value on it, being willing to sell it for a bowl of soup and then later showing no care in his choice of marriage. He serves as a solemn warning to believers not to be profane or fornicators like him (Heb. 12:15).
Esau was clearly not fit for the birthright, and he could blame no one but himself for selling it. Yet at this point Isaac was still going to give him the blessing. What follows in the life of Jacob is a very sad story for all concerned. God alone can judge who was the most wrong in all this mess. Isaac was ignoring what God had clearly spoke to his wife Rebekah concerning the sons and was being partial to Esau in spite of his bad marriage choices merely because he liked eating the wild game Esau would bring home. This was sowing to the flesh. The fruit of the spirit is sowed in the spirit and is produced by the spirit, but if we sow in the flesh in our relationships we will reap fleshly behavior in return. If we speak in human anger to someone we might produce anger in return, or bitterness or many other things, but we will not produce the fruit of the spirit. In this case Rebekah and Jacob thought the only way they could get the blessing was to deceive Isaac.
Rebekah and Jacob were right in that by every way of reckoning the blessing should have belonged to Jacob, but in the way they went about obtaining it they sowed seeds of sorrow for the rest of their lives. What they wanted was right, and had been promised by God, but they lacked sufficient faith to believe that what God promises He is also able to bring about without our own efforts, especially dishonest or unholy ones. The actual deceit is narrated in Gen. 27. Jacob broke many of what would later be given as the Ten Commandments that day. Even though given formally later some were already known at that time. He dishonored his father, he bore false witness, he stole (in the sense of taking something in an unlawful manner), he took God’s name in vain, and I would also say that there was an element of covetousness in these proceedings. However he obtained the blessing. God gave Jacob the blessing, despite his dishonest means of seeking it, but now He was going to work in him to make him worthy of receiving it. The life of Jacob shows the lengths to which God will go to work in the lives of his children so that they can be conformed into His image.
Jacob’s action unsurprisingly provoked anger and a desire for revenge on Esau’s part. This necessitated his leaving for Padan Aram where Rebekah was originally from. Quite possibly this was the last time he saw his mother alive. He slept at Bethel and there received a vision and promise from God confirming the blessing and covenant with him (Gen. 28). Jacob then makes a vow to God that if God will keep, protect and provide for him, then He will be his God and he would tithe to Him. This whole transaction shows something of the graciousness of God. God seeks out Jacob, not Jacob God. He seeks the erring one who yet does desire something of God’s promises. He reveals something of Himself and accepts an honest, yet somewhat selfish, vow on the part of Jacob and then proceeds to keep His end of the bargain. Indeed if it were not for God’s ability to accept any however faltering step towards Himself by mortal man, no one would ever be saved.
God then ensures that Jacob meets Rachel and Laban, his uncle. God often uses special tools to do a work in the lives of His people. Laban was a very special tool. An ordinary dishonest man with an avaricious streak in his nature could have done some work in Jacob who had these same qualities, but Laban had these qualities in abundance. It takes a more than ordinarily avaricious man to cheat his own sister’s son for his own gain. Furthermore he not only cheated him, but he apparently had no concern for how this double-dealing for his own gain would have on the happiness of his two daughters who he was now giving to his nephew. Even after Jacob became his son in law he had no concern that by changing his wages he was effectively robbing his own daughters and grandchildren. Laban was a very special tool God was using to deal with Jacob’s own deception. He was learning how much it hurts to be cheated and seeing the gravity of what he had done to Esau and Isaac. Though God used Laban to correct Jacob, yet He made sure that Jacob prospered in spite of all the wage changing that was going on. God was also using this circumstance to help Jacob go back and face his brother again. When all is in place for the next stage God speaks to Jacob to go back to the land of Canaan (Gen. 31:13).
The rest of the story shows God’s hand in a wonderful way. God intervenes to prevent Laban who was hopping mad from harming him. After an uneasy yet peaceful parting with Laban, Jacob is encouraged by seeing angels (Gen.32:1). He sends messengers ahead with gifts for Esau and learns that he is coming with 400 men to meet him. Clearly with that number the intent seems sinister. Jacob sends everyone and everything he has ahead of him across the brook and there when he is alone he wrestles with God. There his name is changed to Israel after he acknowledges who he really is. Forever after he limped, because of his hip. After this God turned Esau’s heart to welcome Jacob, Esau’s wrath praised God, but the remainder of it was restrained.
Jacob continued to suffer for his past deception, most notably through being deceived by his own children concerning Joseph. Yet, he had learned how to prevail with God. Jacob’s life shows one essential quality for having Christ fully formed in us, persevering and being willing to accept the fruit of our wrong choices and wrestling with God to receive a change in us.
At the very end of his life God showed him a little glimpse of how it could have been better. As he crossed his hands to bless the younger son of Joseph, Ephraim, instead of Manasseh, he saw that under the influence of the Spirit of Prophecy, Isaac would have given him what God had promised even without the deception. Much of Jacob’s life was filled with sorrow which was brought about by his trying to take matters into his own hands, we can learn from this. In the end though, he was called by a third name, Jeshurun, the upright one and polar opposite of his original name, Thank God He is the God of Jacob! Amen.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Bringing Forth Christ – Part 3 – Isaac
Isaac was the child of promise. He was the long awaited child of Abraham and Sarah who was born only after God’s miraculous enabling of a 100 year old man and 90 year old woman to have a child (Gen. 17:17). Ishmael was the product of the flesh, but Isaac was a product of the power of God. In the same way if we are born again we are children of the Spirit, not children of the flesh. Those who receive Christ and believe in Him receive power to become sons of God. It is impossible for the natural man to produce truly Christ-like behavior. Perhaps the natural man can mimic a few small features, but he produces only a caricatured Christ, not the Christ found in the Gospels and throughout the Bible. However through becoming a partaker of the divine nature, a believer can begin to grow in that nature and manifest the true character of Christ.
Besides his birth Isaac also shows us something in his meekness. In Genesis 26:18-25, Isaac moved away rather than fight over wells which his men had dug. In this he showed a small portion of the nature of the One who would leave the splendors of heaven for the sorrows of earth. He was rewarded for his twice leaving by obtaining at last a well that was not fought over and room on every side. Like Christ he did not fight but committed his cause to the Just Judge of All. The significance of these actions can be seen in that it was shortly after them that the Lord appeared to him and confirmed the covenant of Abraham with him (v.24-25). Meekness is an essential quality for us to have if we want to bring forth the character of Christ in our lives. May God grant that we all obtain it. Amen.
Besides his birth Isaac also shows us something in his meekness. In Genesis 26:18-25, Isaac moved away rather than fight over wells which his men had dug. In this he showed a small portion of the nature of the One who would leave the splendors of heaven for the sorrows of earth. He was rewarded for his twice leaving by obtaining at last a well that was not fought over and room on every side. Like Christ he did not fight but committed his cause to the Just Judge of All. The significance of these actions can be seen in that it was shortly after them that the Lord appeared to him and confirmed the covenant of Abraham with him (v.24-25). Meekness is an essential quality for us to have if we want to bring forth the character of Christ in our lives. May God grant that we all obtain it. Amen.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Bringing Forth Christ – Part 2 – Abraham
In Matthew’s genealogy the first one listed is Abraham. For Christ to come forth, He had to come from the line of Abraham to fulfill prophecy. Abraham is the father of the faithful, who have a like faith as he had (Rom. 4:11-12).
Abraham’s great trait was his faith. It was his faith and response to God’s voice that set him apart from his forbearers and further narrowed the promise made to the descendants of Shem to be to his descendants. He believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness. This is the inescapable beginning of bringing forth Christ in a person, being born again by faith. It is having His righteousness imputed to us, not because of what we have done, but in spite of what we have done, because we believe on Him who justifies the ungodly.
In Abraham this faith grew. He was like the good ground in the parable of the sower. He heard the Word and rejoiced, and let it sink in. He endured whatever persecution must have arisen from his leaving Ur. He began to obey, imperfectly at first, but becoming more and more obedient. He left his father’s house and did not allow the riches he had to choke the Word. He and Sarah looked for a city whose builder and maker is God. Seeing that city he spent his whole life in tents in a land God promised him, but he owned no part of it except the tomb which he bought. He was willing to even lay Isaac on the altar, and received him back from God and God provided Himself a lamb. Abraham was both full of faith and faithful, and because of this in him all nations are blessed.
He had only a small idea of all God was actually doing in his life. Though he had a promise of many descendants, and Christ said that he rejoiced to see Christ’s day, yet he hardly could have seen everything that he was accomplishing. He didn’t know that from him would come men who would write the very Words of God. He didn’t know that he was becoming a father of not only a physical seed but also a spiritual one. He could have had no idea of how his life as recorded in Scripture would inspire those who would come later. Indeed we are part of his reward, and his life is not complete without those who come later (Heb. 11:39-40).
All of this goes to show how little we can see of all God has for us if we will whole-heartedly surrender to him in a life of faith. Amen.
Abraham’s great trait was his faith. It was his faith and response to God’s voice that set him apart from his forbearers and further narrowed the promise made to the descendants of Shem to be to his descendants. He believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness. This is the inescapable beginning of bringing forth Christ in a person, being born again by faith. It is having His righteousness imputed to us, not because of what we have done, but in spite of what we have done, because we believe on Him who justifies the ungodly.
In Abraham this faith grew. He was like the good ground in the parable of the sower. He heard the Word and rejoiced, and let it sink in. He endured whatever persecution must have arisen from his leaving Ur. He began to obey, imperfectly at first, but becoming more and more obedient. He left his father’s house and did not allow the riches he had to choke the Word. He and Sarah looked for a city whose builder and maker is God. Seeing that city he spent his whole life in tents in a land God promised him, but he owned no part of it except the tomb which he bought. He was willing to even lay Isaac on the altar, and received him back from God and God provided Himself a lamb. Abraham was both full of faith and faithful, and because of this in him all nations are blessed.
He had only a small idea of all God was actually doing in his life. Though he had a promise of many descendants, and Christ said that he rejoiced to see Christ’s day, yet he hardly could have seen everything that he was accomplishing. He didn’t know that from him would come men who would write the very Words of God. He didn’t know that he was becoming a father of not only a physical seed but also a spiritual one. He could have had no idea of how his life as recorded in Scripture would inspire those who would come later. Indeed we are part of his reward, and his life is not complete without those who come later (Heb. 11:39-40).
All of this goes to show how little we can see of all God has for us if we will whole-heartedly surrender to him in a life of faith. Amen.
Bringing Forth Christ – Part 1 – Introduction
For a few months now, I have had a thought going through my mind that I wanted to write about. The thought is concerning the genealogy of Christ and the ones who were chosen by God to be in the line of the promises. I would like to look briefly at the lives of some of these men and women and see if there are things we can learn from them, which will help us bring forth Christ in us, since it is God’s desire that Christ be brought forth in us and exhibited in us for the world to see (Gal. 4:19, Eph. 4:11-13).
I will not be looking at each of the people in the genealogy, but I will be looking at some of the obscure ones as well if I think there is something to be learned from what we are told of them in Scripture.
I believe this study to be important because when Christ comes again it is only to be glorified by His saints, but in His saints, and not only to be admired by His saints, but in His saints. 2 Thess. 1:10 says, “When He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that Day.” Christ desires to be glorified in us and for all to admire Christ in us when they see Him manifest in us. When men see our good works which we do as the light of the world they will glorify our Father.
So let us see if there are key traits we can learn to help us bring forth Christ in us.
I will not be looking at each of the people in the genealogy, but I will be looking at some of the obscure ones as well if I think there is something to be learned from what we are told of them in Scripture.
I believe this study to be important because when Christ comes again it is only to be glorified by His saints, but in His saints, and not only to be admired by His saints, but in His saints. 2 Thess. 1:10 says, “When He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that Day.” Christ desires to be glorified in us and for all to admire Christ in us when they see Him manifest in us. When men see our good works which we do as the light of the world they will glorify our Father.
So let us see if there are key traits we can learn to help us bring forth Christ in us.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
What Is The State of a Backslider?
If a person has been a Christian for any length of time, he has probably known someone who has walked away from Christ. What is that person's state? I would like to examine 4 points of view briefly, showing why I believe some them to be untenable. Our criteria for judging these things should be Scripture, not only New Testament Scripture but also Old Testament Scripture. This method can be seen to be sound if you consider that Jude, to quote only one example, uses Cain, Balaam and Korah as examples in warning concerning apostates, and these can only be understood if their Old Testament background is understood.
The first view is what I would call the antinomian view. This view is that in essence no matter what a person does, or even if they later deny the faith they will still go to heaven if they have confessed Christ and only their rewards would be lost. This view is out and out heresy. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The key is in confessing and also as Proverbs 28:13 shows in forsaking them. There is no hint anywhere in Scripture that one merely announcing their sin to God with an unrepentant attitude will receive anything from God. If they receive His notice it would not be to their benefit.
I do wonder how someone from this camp would view the case of King Saul. Is it reasonable that one to whom God would not speak, not by dreams, nor Urim, nor prophet would gather him unto Himself to have fellowship after death, especially after he compounded his sin by enquiring from the devil? Would one who repeatedly disobeyed the Lord and expressed no regret except that the people might know of it be taken into heaven unrepentant? If so would the Lord’s prayer of “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” have any meaning at all? Indeed more could be said on behalf of Judas, the son of perdition, than Saul. He had the greatest of crimes, yet he cast the very silver he had accrued back to try to atone for his guilt. When the guilt still pressed hard on him, he tried the only method of escape he could think of, doubtless thinking that he could not bear the guilt of his sin anymore in his mortal life. However he could not escape, anymore than any of us can. In eternity we will either see in its true light the enormity of our crimes against God to see them also washed away by the blood of Christ and be unable to do anything but praise Him for His great mercy, or we will see the enormity of our crimes against Him without hope of amendment and have unspeakable grief and anguish as well as external torment as we see what we have done finally hearing the voice of conscience which we strove so long to silence forever and ever.
The second view is the view of most Calvinists and some non-Calvinists. It holds that men like King Saul, Balaam and Judas were never truly saved. The problem with this view is that it requires one to turn a blind eye to the evidence. In the case of Balaam, why would God specifically warn a man who as some would say, was only a soothsayer and nothing more (Num. 28:8-12)? While there is a common grace and there are good gifts that God bestows upon all, whether His children or not, the privilege of asking His will and receiving a definite reply is not one of those. Indeed why would God be especially angry that one who was a stranger to Him and a child of wrath anyway should disobey Him and go in spite of the warnings? Clearly Balaam was a believer in some capacity and as such is used as a warning to believers in the New Testament.
In the case of Saul, what was the different heart that God gave him if not a moral work. To interpret it to mean merely fitting him for leadership is a bad case of reading your own conceptions into the text. If leadership of the people of God requires anything it requires a moral work in the heart, anything less is utterly useless for the work at hand (2 Sam. 23:3). Indeed if the work of giving him another heart is interpreted as merely fitting him to rule in order that God’s honor is not impugned, it fails on that count in that other than a few short deeds done in the beginning of his reign, Saul was clearly see to be unfit as a ruler. We will cover a little more on King Saul later.
Judas preached worked miracles and even drove out evil spirits with the rest of the twelve, which makes one ask how is it possible for one who has always been under the devil’s dominion and who has had no true work of grace in his heart to have the anointing of God upon him and to even cast out devils? Giving as much allowance as possible for human nature’s ability to deceive itself and deceive others, yet how far can unregenerate man ape the regeneration of God and how far can natural man pretend and even deceive himself as to the supernatural?
This is a problem that all honest Calvinists must face. A. B. Bruce faces this question in his book The Training of the Twelve without giving an answer other than a sort of plea to mystery. Here is an excerpt dealing with John 15:
The conception of a dead branch, applied to individuals as distinct from churches or the religious world viewed collectively, is not without difficulty. A dead branch on a tree was not always dead: it was produced by the vital force of the tree, and had some of the tree’s life in it. Does the analogy between natural and spiritual branches hold at this point? Not in any sense, as we believe, that would compromise the doctrine of perseverance in grace, nowhere taught more clearly than in the words of our Lord. At the same time, it cannot be denied that there is such a thing as abortive religious experience. There are blossoms on the tree of life which are blasted by spring frosts, green fruits which fall off ere they ripen, branches which become sickly and die. Jonathan Edwards, a high Calvinist, but also a candid, shrewd observer of facts, remarks: “I cannot say that the greater part of supposed converts give reason by their conversation to suppose that they are true converts. The proportion may perhaps be more truly represented by the proportion of the blossoms on a tree which abide and come to mature fruit, to the whole number of blossoms in spring.” The permanency of many spiritual blossoms is here denied, but the very denial implies an admission that they were blossoms.
That some branches should become unfruitful, and even die, while others flourish and bring forth fruit, is a great mystery, whose explanation lies deeper than theologians of the Arminian school are willing to admit. Yet, while this is true, the responsibility of man for his own spiritual character cannot be too earnestly insisted on. Though the Father, as the husbandman, wields the pruning-knife, the process of purging cannot be carried on without our consent and cooperation. For that process means practically the removal of moral hindrances to life and growth-the cares of life, the insidious influence of wealth, the lusts of the flesh, and the passions of the soul-evils which cannot be overcome unless our will and all our moral powers be brought to bear against them. Hence Jesus lays it upon His disciples as a duty to abide in Him, and have Him abiding in them, and resolves the whole matter at last, in plain terms, into keeping His commandments. If they diligently and faithfully do their part, the divine Husbandman, He assures them, will not fail to give them liberally all things needful for the most abundant fruitfulness. “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
So if we admit that there must be something to backsliders religious life beyond mere human pretension, we are lead to the third point of view. This view is one which holds both to some sort of reality in these experiences and also to unconditional election. Augustine acknowledged and wondered why some received grace and yet did not receive the gift of perseverance. Calvin himself taught an evanescent grace, a grace which appeared genuine for all intents and purposes except it was only transitory (evanescent means vanishing). God’s purpose in giving this evanescent grace which appears identical in the beginning with true grace is to increase the condemnation of those who receive it. What they received did them no good, and could do them no good but it could do them harm.
This view acknowledges that the lives lived by these backsliders did manifest something supernatural that showed something of the grace of God. Thus it is very close to the fourth view, differing from it not in effect, since Scripture shows that backsliders do receive greater condemnation (2 Peter 2:21 as one example). The difference is what is God’s intent. In this lies the difference, between Calvinist and Arminian understanding of the atonement. We both acknowledge it to be limited in application but is it limited in intent? Does God give grace to backsliders only to increase their punishment, or is that the side effect of their rejecting it? Or does He give His grace for their good, but the misuse of it results in their punishment? When God said to Cain, “If you do well would you not be accepted?” was He mocking him, or was He willing to give His grace by which Cain could do well. The biggest problem I have with unconditional election is that where Moses heard the revealed will of God to destroy Israel he heard the secret will of God and saw a greater glory for Him in showing mercy (Num. 14:11-21), they see a greater glory for God in damning men in spite of God’s declaration of good will towards them in Jesus Christ.
The fourth view to which I would ascribe sees election as being based in foreknowledge (1 Peter 1:2; Rom. 8:29). The elect are those who were chosen in Him (in other words chosen with reference to the being in Christ) and predestinated to being conformed to His image. The predestination refers to God laying out an ordered plan for the life of the believer which will fully form Christ in them if obeyed. In His foreknowledge God knows who will be in Christ, and who will remain in Christ. There are many warnings in Scripture that plainly state that we must remain in Christ and have His Word remain in us. “Therefore what you heard from the beginning, let it abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will abide in both the Son and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). Hebrews 2:3 warns us against neglect of our great salvation. Our salvation is great, and much of its greatness will only be appropriated as we press on. To neglect it is to risk losing it. Saul did not begin by openly rejecting God’s Word. He neglected it first partially and then continued in that way until he was rejected by God. God forseeing that he would be the sort of man he was gave him only 2 of 3 loaves in the opening sign he received with his call (1 Sam. 10:3). God knew that Saul would never receive the fullness of what God could do for him, because he would neglect it. Indeed God had already promised Israel such a king and though perhaps He could have chosen others who would have been more like David in His displeasure He gave them Saul, not forcing him to be something he was not, but in knowing him to be that thing.
Saul consistently showed little desire for the things of God even when he was used of God. Yet, his being used of God shows that there was more to him than a mere unregenerate sinner, hence his greater culpability. He was a backslider to the end, who could find no Israelite who had so little fear of God as to do his bidding in killing the priests, so he had to have a pagan Edomite do it.
David who had a horrible fall into sins almost as heinous as Saul’s came back to God. He was concerned with God’s honor and was willing to endure shame to be put right with God. When his sin was exposed he could only hang his head in shame, until he found Him who was his glory and the lifter of his head. God not only restored David, but before he died, he made it be known that David was not the same man he was before his fall. This is quite likely one reason why 1 Kings 1:1-4 is introduced into the sacred record. It shows us a different wiser David, a changed David, a David ready to meet his God when he dies.
If you are convicted as a backslider, who is neglecting the things of God, or you know someone who is walking away from God. Please consider this. The state of a backslider is not good, they are not saved. They can be restored though. Cry out to God, He can lift those who have fallen up, and restore them. God is a God who delights in mercy! Amen.
The first view is what I would call the antinomian view. This view is that in essence no matter what a person does, or even if they later deny the faith they will still go to heaven if they have confessed Christ and only their rewards would be lost. This view is out and out heresy. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The key is in confessing and also as Proverbs 28:13 shows in forsaking them. There is no hint anywhere in Scripture that one merely announcing their sin to God with an unrepentant attitude will receive anything from God. If they receive His notice it would not be to their benefit.
I do wonder how someone from this camp would view the case of King Saul. Is it reasonable that one to whom God would not speak, not by dreams, nor Urim, nor prophet would gather him unto Himself to have fellowship after death, especially after he compounded his sin by enquiring from the devil? Would one who repeatedly disobeyed the Lord and expressed no regret except that the people might know of it be taken into heaven unrepentant? If so would the Lord’s prayer of “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” have any meaning at all? Indeed more could be said on behalf of Judas, the son of perdition, than Saul. He had the greatest of crimes, yet he cast the very silver he had accrued back to try to atone for his guilt. When the guilt still pressed hard on him, he tried the only method of escape he could think of, doubtless thinking that he could not bear the guilt of his sin anymore in his mortal life. However he could not escape, anymore than any of us can. In eternity we will either see in its true light the enormity of our crimes against God to see them also washed away by the blood of Christ and be unable to do anything but praise Him for His great mercy, or we will see the enormity of our crimes against Him without hope of amendment and have unspeakable grief and anguish as well as external torment as we see what we have done finally hearing the voice of conscience which we strove so long to silence forever and ever.
The second view is the view of most Calvinists and some non-Calvinists. It holds that men like King Saul, Balaam and Judas were never truly saved. The problem with this view is that it requires one to turn a blind eye to the evidence. In the case of Balaam, why would God specifically warn a man who as some would say, was only a soothsayer and nothing more (Num. 28:8-12)? While there is a common grace and there are good gifts that God bestows upon all, whether His children or not, the privilege of asking His will and receiving a definite reply is not one of those. Indeed why would God be especially angry that one who was a stranger to Him and a child of wrath anyway should disobey Him and go in spite of the warnings? Clearly Balaam was a believer in some capacity and as such is used as a warning to believers in the New Testament.
In the case of Saul, what was the different heart that God gave him if not a moral work. To interpret it to mean merely fitting him for leadership is a bad case of reading your own conceptions into the text. If leadership of the people of God requires anything it requires a moral work in the heart, anything less is utterly useless for the work at hand (2 Sam. 23:3). Indeed if the work of giving him another heart is interpreted as merely fitting him to rule in order that God’s honor is not impugned, it fails on that count in that other than a few short deeds done in the beginning of his reign, Saul was clearly see to be unfit as a ruler. We will cover a little more on King Saul later.
Judas preached worked miracles and even drove out evil spirits with the rest of the twelve, which makes one ask how is it possible for one who has always been under the devil’s dominion and who has had no true work of grace in his heart to have the anointing of God upon him and to even cast out devils? Giving as much allowance as possible for human nature’s ability to deceive itself and deceive others, yet how far can unregenerate man ape the regeneration of God and how far can natural man pretend and even deceive himself as to the supernatural?
This is a problem that all honest Calvinists must face. A. B. Bruce faces this question in his book The Training of the Twelve without giving an answer other than a sort of plea to mystery. Here is an excerpt dealing with John 15:
The conception of a dead branch, applied to individuals as distinct from churches or the religious world viewed collectively, is not without difficulty. A dead branch on a tree was not always dead: it was produced by the vital force of the tree, and had some of the tree’s life in it. Does the analogy between natural and spiritual branches hold at this point? Not in any sense, as we believe, that would compromise the doctrine of perseverance in grace, nowhere taught more clearly than in the words of our Lord. At the same time, it cannot be denied that there is such a thing as abortive religious experience. There are blossoms on the tree of life which are blasted by spring frosts, green fruits which fall off ere they ripen, branches which become sickly and die. Jonathan Edwards, a high Calvinist, but also a candid, shrewd observer of facts, remarks: “I cannot say that the greater part of supposed converts give reason by their conversation to suppose that they are true converts. The proportion may perhaps be more truly represented by the proportion of the blossoms on a tree which abide and come to mature fruit, to the whole number of blossoms in spring.” The permanency of many spiritual blossoms is here denied, but the very denial implies an admission that they were blossoms.
That some branches should become unfruitful, and even die, while others flourish and bring forth fruit, is a great mystery, whose explanation lies deeper than theologians of the Arminian school are willing to admit. Yet, while this is true, the responsibility of man for his own spiritual character cannot be too earnestly insisted on. Though the Father, as the husbandman, wields the pruning-knife, the process of purging cannot be carried on without our consent and cooperation. For that process means practically the removal of moral hindrances to life and growth-the cares of life, the insidious influence of wealth, the lusts of the flesh, and the passions of the soul-evils which cannot be overcome unless our will and all our moral powers be brought to bear against them. Hence Jesus lays it upon His disciples as a duty to abide in Him, and have Him abiding in them, and resolves the whole matter at last, in plain terms, into keeping His commandments. If they diligently and faithfully do their part, the divine Husbandman, He assures them, will not fail to give them liberally all things needful for the most abundant fruitfulness. “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
So if we admit that there must be something to backsliders religious life beyond mere human pretension, we are lead to the third point of view. This view is one which holds both to some sort of reality in these experiences and also to unconditional election. Augustine acknowledged and wondered why some received grace and yet did not receive the gift of perseverance. Calvin himself taught an evanescent grace, a grace which appeared genuine for all intents and purposes except it was only transitory (evanescent means vanishing). God’s purpose in giving this evanescent grace which appears identical in the beginning with true grace is to increase the condemnation of those who receive it. What they received did them no good, and could do them no good but it could do them harm.
This view acknowledges that the lives lived by these backsliders did manifest something supernatural that showed something of the grace of God. Thus it is very close to the fourth view, differing from it not in effect, since Scripture shows that backsliders do receive greater condemnation (2 Peter 2:21 as one example). The difference is what is God’s intent. In this lies the difference, between Calvinist and Arminian understanding of the atonement. We both acknowledge it to be limited in application but is it limited in intent? Does God give grace to backsliders only to increase their punishment, or is that the side effect of their rejecting it? Or does He give His grace for their good, but the misuse of it results in their punishment? When God said to Cain, “If you do well would you not be accepted?” was He mocking him, or was He willing to give His grace by which Cain could do well. The biggest problem I have with unconditional election is that where Moses heard the revealed will of God to destroy Israel he heard the secret will of God and saw a greater glory for Him in showing mercy (Num. 14:11-21), they see a greater glory for God in damning men in spite of God’s declaration of good will towards them in Jesus Christ.
The fourth view to which I would ascribe sees election as being based in foreknowledge (1 Peter 1:2; Rom. 8:29). The elect are those who were chosen in Him (in other words chosen with reference to the being in Christ) and predestinated to being conformed to His image. The predestination refers to God laying out an ordered plan for the life of the believer which will fully form Christ in them if obeyed. In His foreknowledge God knows who will be in Christ, and who will remain in Christ. There are many warnings in Scripture that plainly state that we must remain in Christ and have His Word remain in us. “Therefore what you heard from the beginning, let it abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will abide in both the Son and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). Hebrews 2:3 warns us against neglect of our great salvation. Our salvation is great, and much of its greatness will only be appropriated as we press on. To neglect it is to risk losing it. Saul did not begin by openly rejecting God’s Word. He neglected it first partially and then continued in that way until he was rejected by God. God forseeing that he would be the sort of man he was gave him only 2 of 3 loaves in the opening sign he received with his call (1 Sam. 10:3). God knew that Saul would never receive the fullness of what God could do for him, because he would neglect it. Indeed God had already promised Israel such a king and though perhaps He could have chosen others who would have been more like David in His displeasure He gave them Saul, not forcing him to be something he was not, but in knowing him to be that thing.
Saul consistently showed little desire for the things of God even when he was used of God. Yet, his being used of God shows that there was more to him than a mere unregenerate sinner, hence his greater culpability. He was a backslider to the end, who could find no Israelite who had so little fear of God as to do his bidding in killing the priests, so he had to have a pagan Edomite do it.
David who had a horrible fall into sins almost as heinous as Saul’s came back to God. He was concerned with God’s honor and was willing to endure shame to be put right with God. When his sin was exposed he could only hang his head in shame, until he found Him who was his glory and the lifter of his head. God not only restored David, but before he died, he made it be known that David was not the same man he was before his fall. This is quite likely one reason why 1 Kings 1:1-4 is introduced into the sacred record. It shows us a different wiser David, a changed David, a David ready to meet his God when he dies.
If you are convicted as a backslider, who is neglecting the things of God, or you know someone who is walking away from God. Please consider this. The state of a backslider is not good, they are not saved. They can be restored though. Cry out to God, He can lift those who have fallen up, and restore them. God is a God who delights in mercy! Amen.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
The Importance of Loving the Truth
Truth is a very precious commodity, but often little valued. Christ, who was both absolutely truthful and the very embodiment of truth, said to Pilate, "To this end I was born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." It was Christ's refusal to prevaricate in deference to religious tradition or hide His relationship with the Father that cost Him His life. Pilate replied by saying, "What is truth?" Valuing only utility he and many who have followed him have sneered and ever do sneer at truth.
Paul warned that in the last days those who love unrighteousness not truth will be deluded and perish (2 Thess. 2:9-12). He also wrote that in the last times seducers would become worse and worse both in deceiving and being deceived (2 Tim. 3:13). The very act of deceiving others and believing you are smarter than they are and can get away with it opens you up to being deceived yourself. Josef Stalin trusted no one with one notable exception, he had found a man very much like himself in Hitler, and somehow trusted him implicitly. So much so that he refused to believe that the Nazis were going to invade Russia, even though he had several good reports from his spies.
A few years ago I heard through soem missionaries I knew of how they had met President Mugabe of Zimbabwe. They said that while they were in his presence, he carried such a strong deception with him that it was hard to believe that he really was doing all that they knew from having lived there several years he was doing.
I had a similar experience once when there was a certain situation was going on in a church i was affiliated with. There were certain facts I knew, but yet one night I had dream and in this dream someone was defending the other side which I knew to be wrong. It was so convincing that when I woke up I could almost have believed against what I knew by eyesight and evidence and concurrent testimony of others was true. After some prayer the confusion past, but it did bear home to my heart how easy man can be deceived apart from God's enabling power.
The key is found in loving and obeying the truth. Another time I was at a crossraods in my life and had to make a very hard choice. It firstly required that I should know the truth about a certain situation. It was going to be a hard choice no matter what and initially I honestly did not at first want to know the truth. When I saw that in my heart, it scared me into asking God to show me the truth and also to help me to follow it (the most important part of the prayer). After that the choice became simple and most of the adverse consequences I feared came to nothing anyway.
From this experience and my own near deception because I almost didn't care about the truth. I came to a very frightful conclusion... That there will be believers who will see false prophets, and false teachers and even the antichrist himself and will follow them, not because they are deceived in one sense, but because even knowing that they are false they won't care.
The comfort in all of this is that while Christ warned of deception in Matthew 24:23-24, He also implied that the elect will not be deceived. Those who continue to hear His voice and let His Word sink deeply into their hearts will not fall away, though many believers may. Christ will keep us if we are willing to love and obey the truth. Amen.
Paul warned that in the last days those who love unrighteousness not truth will be deluded and perish (2 Thess. 2:9-12). He also wrote that in the last times seducers would become worse and worse both in deceiving and being deceived (2 Tim. 3:13). The very act of deceiving others and believing you are smarter than they are and can get away with it opens you up to being deceived yourself. Josef Stalin trusted no one with one notable exception, he had found a man very much like himself in Hitler, and somehow trusted him implicitly. So much so that he refused to believe that the Nazis were going to invade Russia, even though he had several good reports from his spies.
A few years ago I heard through soem missionaries I knew of how they had met President Mugabe of Zimbabwe. They said that while they were in his presence, he carried such a strong deception with him that it was hard to believe that he really was doing all that they knew from having lived there several years he was doing.
I had a similar experience once when there was a certain situation was going on in a church i was affiliated with. There were certain facts I knew, but yet one night I had dream and in this dream someone was defending the other side which I knew to be wrong. It was so convincing that when I woke up I could almost have believed against what I knew by eyesight and evidence and concurrent testimony of others was true. After some prayer the confusion past, but it did bear home to my heart how easy man can be deceived apart from God's enabling power.
The key is found in loving and obeying the truth. Another time I was at a crossraods in my life and had to make a very hard choice. It firstly required that I should know the truth about a certain situation. It was going to be a hard choice no matter what and initially I honestly did not at first want to know the truth. When I saw that in my heart, it scared me into asking God to show me the truth and also to help me to follow it (the most important part of the prayer). After that the choice became simple and most of the adverse consequences I feared came to nothing anyway.
From this experience and my own near deception because I almost didn't care about the truth. I came to a very frightful conclusion... That there will be believers who will see false prophets, and false teachers and even the antichrist himself and will follow them, not because they are deceived in one sense, but because even knowing that they are false they won't care.
The comfort in all of this is that while Christ warned of deception in Matthew 24:23-24, He also implied that the elect will not be deceived. Those who continue to hear His voice and let His Word sink deeply into their hearts will not fall away, though many believers may. Christ will keep us if we are willing to love and obey the truth. Amen.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Antidote for Sectarianism
Most people have some doctrinal issue that can be a hobby horse. It is wise to avoid spending too much time on this issue since you can ride it to death. My personal one is sectarianism. For this reason I rarely post on it, however I would like to write a little bit about it now as it is an evil that is hard to avoid as it is not as easily spotted as other evils. It is also a serious evil in that it can cost us much of the reward we would receive for our good deeds.
It is not bad to believe that the organization we are with is the one that we should be with, to think otherwise would be a good sign to pray and consider moving on. Sectarianism is more than that. As Christians we are called to be members of a local body, that local body will likely also be joined to a denomination or fellowship of some sort. The joining will be based on having a likeness in doctrinal issues (yes, even in so called emerging churches this is there, in this case they are joined by a desire for a lack of doctrine) and a similar focus and goal. If we are where God wants us to be, we should be in-line with these things, and should flow with the leadership of the church we are in. The priority and order of all Christian service is found in 2 Cor. 8:5, “…first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.” The order here is important, we give ourselves to the Lord first and out of that flows our giving of ourselves to the local, denominational and even extra-denominational body. The evil of sectarianism lies in the reversal of these two priorities, or sometimes a confounding them.
I would now like to give a few symptoms of what I see as sectarianism and then give a few scriptures that will help us avoid it. It is a motive issue and that is why it can be so insidious, but God’s Word is able to judge our thoughts and motives and bring cleansing where needed.
Symptom Number One
Are you more angry that someone has violated the standard and teaching of your organization than that they have gone against the Lord? That is sectarian.
I remember talking once with someone concerning a certain pastor who had done something. The person I was talking to spoke more about what their organization had done for the person and how he had disappointed them than they did about what the person had done in the light of God’s Word and what that meant.
This is like a judge in courtroom of a man charged with murder saying, “How dare you break the law of our land?” If a man is willing to overcome the law of nature which God has placed in His heart in order to do something like that and justify himself in doing it, what is any human law to him? We rob God of the honor which is His due and then act affronted when someone crosses our way of doing things. Even if we are right, are we angry because God’s law was violated or we were despised?
“But,” it may be said, “Our organization did much for this person.” Did not God do more? God created him and gave him breath and life, and even used you to supply somewhat, yet all was of God. If he has betrayed the organization then let the organization work its wrath upon him, but if God what is the wrath of any man or men compared to that? If men will not listen to God and their own conscience, who do we think we are that they should hear us? If we are angry because of what was given, then why did we give it? If it was for Christ’s sake will He not still reward us. If it was to control, then we are well requited in losing control.
Symptom Number Two
When are considering a course of action and discuss it with someone do you talk more about why it is right or wrong in and of itself, or do you make more mention of how others in your organization would view it?
The approval of others will never justify bad conduct, nor will the scowl of others condemn what God has required. The bad thing about this attitude is that even if we do the right thing we receive no eternal reward for it. If we follow so and so, because they are so and so and we want to please so and so, then our reward is that person’s approval and when we approach the Throne of Christ for our reward He will tell us that we have already been rewarded for that. However if we choose to please Christ, and seek to know His will in these things, at least we will have pleased Him even if no one else, and quite likely we will also have the approval of those over us. Even better our reward will still await us. The reward of seeking men’s approval is men’s approval (Mat. 6:1-6), but the reward of seeking God’s approval is His approval both now and in eternity and at times also the approval of good men (who wants the approval of any other kind?).
Symptom Number Three
In doctrinal disputes and discussions do you often quote a man as the final word in whatever is said? We all quote men of God at sometime or other, but if this is a constant occurrence, we do the one we quote a disservice. Every minister will one day stand before the Lord and give an account for his ministry. No godly man would be flattered to be told by someone on that day, “I wouldn’t listen to God’s Word or anyone else on this matter, but when I heard that this is what you taught I believed it because of you!”
We are friends of the Bridegroom, He is the One that has the bride. If they will not hear Him, may they not hear us! If a man teaches what I teach may it only be because he has studied and seen that it is in the Scriptures. Who is Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas? A vicar is one who rules on behalf of another who is absent, an ambassador is one who speaks on behalf of one who may be either absent or present. Christ has called us to be ambassadors, we have no authority in and of ourselves. The Roman Catholics can have a vicar because Christ is absent from them, but we who have Christ have no such need. The apostle Paul was pleased with Bereans because they took nothing on his authority, but searched the Scriptures to see if these things were so (Acts 17:10-11). This is the hallmark of true ministry. The hallmark of false ministry is to desire to have men follow them and their own authority (Acts 20:30).
Symptom Number Four
This last one is tied in with some of the others and perhaps could be regarded as a half symptom, but it relates to respect of persons. Do you receive only from other Christians who are in your approved circle or are you able to receive encouragement and even rebuke from those outside?
We must discern the body of the Lord. Yes, some people are better conduits for the voice of God than others, but God holds us accountable for whether or not we hear Him, not who He used. Josiah was held accountable because he did not listen to God when He spoke through a pagan (2 Chr. 35:20-24), and we delude ourselves if we think that no harm will accrue to us if we ignore Him when He speaks through a brother who belongs to a Church we disapprove of or holds a false doctrine. By all means ignore the man when he tries to convince you of something that is clearly false, but if he speaks something in the Name of the Lord, weigh it to see if it is so. We receive not the person but the Word of God. On the other hand, no matter how trusted the person, we should not take what they say out of hand, but should weigh that to see if they spoke of themselves or spoke on behalf of God. The unnamed prophet of 1 Kings 13, died because he listened to another man who was a prophet but was not speaking for God at that time. God allows these things to test our hearts as to whether we are really following Him or are following man.
Our faith is not in the member that Christ uses, but in Christ who uses every member in his body to supply each other. Not every one who claims to be a Christian is a member of Christ, but every true member of Christ has a function and can minister to us. If we receive from them we are receiving of Christ through them, if we reject or ignore we are really ignoring Him.
I will now climb off my soap box, lest my poor coordination cause me to slip off. May God grant that each of us whatever other name we bear may truly be worthy of the best one – Christian, one who is like Christ. Amen.
It is not bad to believe that the organization we are with is the one that we should be with, to think otherwise would be a good sign to pray and consider moving on. Sectarianism is more than that. As Christians we are called to be members of a local body, that local body will likely also be joined to a denomination or fellowship of some sort. The joining will be based on having a likeness in doctrinal issues (yes, even in so called emerging churches this is there, in this case they are joined by a desire for a lack of doctrine) and a similar focus and goal. If we are where God wants us to be, we should be in-line with these things, and should flow with the leadership of the church we are in. The priority and order of all Christian service is found in 2 Cor. 8:5, “…first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.” The order here is important, we give ourselves to the Lord first and out of that flows our giving of ourselves to the local, denominational and even extra-denominational body. The evil of sectarianism lies in the reversal of these two priorities, or sometimes a confounding them.
I would now like to give a few symptoms of what I see as sectarianism and then give a few scriptures that will help us avoid it. It is a motive issue and that is why it can be so insidious, but God’s Word is able to judge our thoughts and motives and bring cleansing where needed.
Symptom Number One
Are you more angry that someone has violated the standard and teaching of your organization than that they have gone against the Lord? That is sectarian.
I remember talking once with someone concerning a certain pastor who had done something. The person I was talking to spoke more about what their organization had done for the person and how he had disappointed them than they did about what the person had done in the light of God’s Word and what that meant.
This is like a judge in courtroom of a man charged with murder saying, “How dare you break the law of our land?” If a man is willing to overcome the law of nature which God has placed in His heart in order to do something like that and justify himself in doing it, what is any human law to him? We rob God of the honor which is His due and then act affronted when someone crosses our way of doing things. Even if we are right, are we angry because God’s law was violated or we were despised?
“But,” it may be said, “Our organization did much for this person.” Did not God do more? God created him and gave him breath and life, and even used you to supply somewhat, yet all was of God. If he has betrayed the organization then let the organization work its wrath upon him, but if God what is the wrath of any man or men compared to that? If men will not listen to God and their own conscience, who do we think we are that they should hear us? If we are angry because of what was given, then why did we give it? If it was for Christ’s sake will He not still reward us. If it was to control, then we are well requited in losing control.
Symptom Number Two
When are considering a course of action and discuss it with someone do you talk more about why it is right or wrong in and of itself, or do you make more mention of how others in your organization would view it?
The approval of others will never justify bad conduct, nor will the scowl of others condemn what God has required. The bad thing about this attitude is that even if we do the right thing we receive no eternal reward for it. If we follow so and so, because they are so and so and we want to please so and so, then our reward is that person’s approval and when we approach the Throne of Christ for our reward He will tell us that we have already been rewarded for that. However if we choose to please Christ, and seek to know His will in these things, at least we will have pleased Him even if no one else, and quite likely we will also have the approval of those over us. Even better our reward will still await us. The reward of seeking men’s approval is men’s approval (Mat. 6:1-6), but the reward of seeking God’s approval is His approval both now and in eternity and at times also the approval of good men (who wants the approval of any other kind?).
Symptom Number Three
In doctrinal disputes and discussions do you often quote a man as the final word in whatever is said? We all quote men of God at sometime or other, but if this is a constant occurrence, we do the one we quote a disservice. Every minister will one day stand before the Lord and give an account for his ministry. No godly man would be flattered to be told by someone on that day, “I wouldn’t listen to God’s Word or anyone else on this matter, but when I heard that this is what you taught I believed it because of you!”
We are friends of the Bridegroom, He is the One that has the bride. If they will not hear Him, may they not hear us! If a man teaches what I teach may it only be because he has studied and seen that it is in the Scriptures. Who is Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas? A vicar is one who rules on behalf of another who is absent, an ambassador is one who speaks on behalf of one who may be either absent or present. Christ has called us to be ambassadors, we have no authority in and of ourselves. The Roman Catholics can have a vicar because Christ is absent from them, but we who have Christ have no such need. The apostle Paul was pleased with Bereans because they took nothing on his authority, but searched the Scriptures to see if these things were so (Acts 17:10-11). This is the hallmark of true ministry. The hallmark of false ministry is to desire to have men follow them and their own authority (Acts 20:30).
Symptom Number Four
This last one is tied in with some of the others and perhaps could be regarded as a half symptom, but it relates to respect of persons. Do you receive only from other Christians who are in your approved circle or are you able to receive encouragement and even rebuke from those outside?
We must discern the body of the Lord. Yes, some people are better conduits for the voice of God than others, but God holds us accountable for whether or not we hear Him, not who He used. Josiah was held accountable because he did not listen to God when He spoke through a pagan (2 Chr. 35:20-24), and we delude ourselves if we think that no harm will accrue to us if we ignore Him when He speaks through a brother who belongs to a Church we disapprove of or holds a false doctrine. By all means ignore the man when he tries to convince you of something that is clearly false, but if he speaks something in the Name of the Lord, weigh it to see if it is so. We receive not the person but the Word of God. On the other hand, no matter how trusted the person, we should not take what they say out of hand, but should weigh that to see if they spoke of themselves or spoke on behalf of God. The unnamed prophet of 1 Kings 13, died because he listened to another man who was a prophet but was not speaking for God at that time. God allows these things to test our hearts as to whether we are really following Him or are following man.
Our faith is not in the member that Christ uses, but in Christ who uses every member in his body to supply each other. Not every one who claims to be a Christian is a member of Christ, but every true member of Christ has a function and can minister to us. If we receive from them we are receiving of Christ through them, if we reject or ignore we are really ignoring Him.
I will now climb off my soap box, lest my poor coordination cause me to slip off. May God grant that each of us whatever other name we bear may truly be worthy of the best one – Christian, one who is like Christ. Amen.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
John 14 As A Betrothal
A few weeks ago as I was reading in John, I read again through some of the best passages of Scripture. John chapters 13-17 are really a life times worth of study to extract even a little of what is said.
One things that struck me as I read John 14 again is how it almost seems to bear certain aspects of betrothal in it. I may be a little off on this, but I lay it out for the consideration of those who read this.
1. In Jewish custom of the day shortly after the betrothal and before the wedding the groom-to-be would go to his area and prepare the house for the bride, then return for her when it was ready. The wedding was then celebrated. The fact that the journey could be longer or shorter made it necessary for the wedding party who carried lamps to be ready whenever he arrived, as seen in the parable of the ten virgins. After the wedding feast the groom would take the bride to their home where they would live together and make their new life together. Compare that with John 14:2-3.
Joh 14:2-3 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also."
2. Another aspect of betrothal in the Jewish custom of the time was the intermutuality of property. From the time of betrothal the woman was seen to be under the authority of her husband to be and to have surrendered all property to him. On the other hand she also at the same time obtained a right to all that was his. I think this might have some bearing on verses 13 and 14.
"And whatever you may ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
3. The responsibilities of the relationship are spelled out. These are very simple yet also very comprehensive. If you love Me keep My commandments.
4. For a betrothal to be valid it had to be done in a clearly provable way. Either with a written document declaring that intention or in the presence of witnesses. Also it invariably was done with the presentation of a gift or token of the intention, much like our engagement ring is used today.
I think Christ's gift which is a token of His betrothal is found in verse 27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
His peace is thus a token that we belong to Him and we should always be found wearing it. we should let the peace of God keep our hearts and minds.
To God be the glory! Amen.
One things that struck me as I read John 14 again is how it almost seems to bear certain aspects of betrothal in it. I may be a little off on this, but I lay it out for the consideration of those who read this.
1. In Jewish custom of the day shortly after the betrothal and before the wedding the groom-to-be would go to his area and prepare the house for the bride, then return for her when it was ready. The wedding was then celebrated. The fact that the journey could be longer or shorter made it necessary for the wedding party who carried lamps to be ready whenever he arrived, as seen in the parable of the ten virgins. After the wedding feast the groom would take the bride to their home where they would live together and make their new life together. Compare that with John 14:2-3.
Joh 14:2-3 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also."
2. Another aspect of betrothal in the Jewish custom of the time was the intermutuality of property. From the time of betrothal the woman was seen to be under the authority of her husband to be and to have surrendered all property to him. On the other hand she also at the same time obtained a right to all that was his. I think this might have some bearing on verses 13 and 14.
"And whatever you may ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
3. The responsibilities of the relationship are spelled out. These are very simple yet also very comprehensive. If you love Me keep My commandments.
4. For a betrothal to be valid it had to be done in a clearly provable way. Either with a written document declaring that intention or in the presence of witnesses. Also it invariably was done with the presentation of a gift or token of the intention, much like our engagement ring is used today.
I think Christ's gift which is a token of His betrothal is found in verse 27, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
His peace is thus a token that we belong to Him and we should always be found wearing it. we should let the peace of God keep our hearts and minds.
To God be the glory! Amen.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Subjected in Hope
Last night my dog died. He was old and it wasn't totally unexpected. The last few months his health had been deteriorating. It was still hard to see it happen though.
When I checked on him for the last time last night, he was struggling to breath, but still alive though he seemed unable to control any of his limbs or do anything more than just breath waiting for the inevitable. My other younger dog mostly kept her distance, except for letting out a few barks at the great unseen enemy that came for its due.
All this caused me to consider Romans 8:20, and how God subjected creation to corruption, not willingly but in hope. One day there will be a new earth, with no more death in the animal kingdom, no more pain and suffering. He allowed man to fall and as a result all creation was subject to these things, but it was not done purely punitively but in hope of the better world to come. Sometimes we can't see clearly now, but one day we will see that every suffering here that this creation must undergo will be more than made up for with joy in the new and perfect creation that God will make. May God grant that we all see it!
When I checked on him for the last time last night, he was struggling to breath, but still alive though he seemed unable to control any of his limbs or do anything more than just breath waiting for the inevitable. My other younger dog mostly kept her distance, except for letting out a few barks at the great unseen enemy that came for its due.
All this caused me to consider Romans 8:20, and how God subjected creation to corruption, not willingly but in hope. One day there will be a new earth, with no more death in the animal kingdom, no more pain and suffering. He allowed man to fall and as a result all creation was subject to these things, but it was not done purely punitively but in hope of the better world to come. Sometimes we can't see clearly now, but one day we will see that every suffering here that this creation must undergo will be more than made up for with joy in the new and perfect creation that God will make. May God grant that we all see it!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Contrast of Words
This morning I was reading in Proverbs and I came upon this verse. Proverbs 18:8, “The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.”
Some translations go on a Jewish tradition and translate “dainty morsels” as wounds, but the actual text is dainty morsels. Wounds are received against the will, but delicacies are only too readily swallowed down. Gossip is often received without any hesitation as to its truth or falsehood, and yet it goes down into the mind and heart and changes human relationships forever. This is the negative power of words.
The words of the wise however are like goads and fastened nails (Ecc. 12:11). They encourage us and prod us along when we become complacent and provide stability and structure just like a well placed nail does in a frame. The source of these wise words is the One Shepherd – God, who gives wisdom to the wise.
Our words are important, do we speak from our own spirit or repeat what others have said, or do we speak what God gives us to say? Christ judged righteously and not by the hearing of His ear or the sight of His eye, and we should do the same.
Some translations go on a Jewish tradition and translate “dainty morsels” as wounds, but the actual text is dainty morsels. Wounds are received against the will, but delicacies are only too readily swallowed down. Gossip is often received without any hesitation as to its truth or falsehood, and yet it goes down into the mind and heart and changes human relationships forever. This is the negative power of words.
The words of the wise however are like goads and fastened nails (Ecc. 12:11). They encourage us and prod us along when we become complacent and provide stability and structure just like a well placed nail does in a frame. The source of these wise words is the One Shepherd – God, who gives wisdom to the wise.
Our words are important, do we speak from our own spirit or repeat what others have said, or do we speak what God gives us to say? Christ judged righteously and not by the hearing of His ear or the sight of His eye, and we should do the same.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Wisdom of God
The Wisdom of God is necessarily as unbounded as His existence and intellect, so this post is more just a brief look at a few points than a study that really does justice to the subject.
Having the wisdom of God is essential as believers because we are called to manifest this manifold wisdom not only to the world, but to all the spiritual rulers in the heavenly places. Eph 3:8-11, “This grace is given to me (who am less than the least of all saints) to preach the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations, and to bring to light what is the fellowship of the mystery which from eternity has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; so that now to the rulers and powers in the heavenlies might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord…”
Not only is the church to manifest wisdom, but it is to manifest manifold wisdom, or wisdom in every facet and area of interaction between itself as a body and the outside world. Of all the wonderful plans which Christ has for His Church this is probably the one of which His Church most often falls short.
Since it is God’s desire that we should walk in His wisdom, I would like to look at a few things that could be called hallmarks of His Wisdom, things that we can look at to see if we are making wise choices.
Zophar tells us in Job 11:6 that sound wisdom is manifold, or double. One of the key elements of God’s wisdom is that it works not only for a short term solution, but for an eternal goal. Earthly wisdom is often very shortsighted and involves a buy now pay later mentality.
James gives us several practical attributes to test our “wise” ideas against in James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first truly pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
Firstly it is pure, anything that seems like a good idea, but is tainted by any impurity of any kind will eventually be tarnished, whatever temporary good may result will be destroyed by the impurity.
Secondly it is peaceable, much that happens in churches is manifestly not of the wisdom of God, because of its combatative nature. God is angry with the wicked and yet can still draw near to them with an offer of peace should they be willing to submit, and we should learn from Him.
It is gentle. Telling someone the truth is necessary, but gentleness can make the difference between the person receiving or rejecting the truth. Wisdom is not only what we say but how we say it. People may reject the Word of God anyway, but we don’t want to give them an excuse to do so by our rough manner. Wisdom gives people what they need to hear in the way that is most likely to make them able to receive it.
It is easy to be entreated. It is genuinely interested in the best for people and when asked puts forth the real and lasting solutions to their problems without a condescension.
It is full of mercy and good fruits. One of the most amazing aspects of God’s wisdom is His ability to restore men like David and Peter and use them to such a degree that not only is mercy vindicated, but also His wisdom in restoring them. It is far wiser to be able to restore someone who has been a recipient of care, ministry, and training then to totally cast them aside.
It is without partiality. Whenever people use prejudices to determine their choices they inevitably not only wrong the ones they overlook, but they also wrong themselves. God responds to people as they respond to Him, not based on their ethnic group, age, gender or any other outward appearance that we choose.
It is without hypocrisy. God’s wisdom is what it is. There is no guile in God, no trickiness. He may not reveal everything, because we cannot fathom it, but He does not manipulate or deceive.
God’s wisdom works. It is always justified by the good fruit it produces. It not only achieves results in a situation, but it lays down the character of God into the life of the one who follows it. His Wisdom declared that He would send apostles and prophets to be martyrs (Luke 11:49-51). This would work several things at once. It would provide a witness to the unbelieving, who would become more culpable in God’s sight. It would provide an opportunity for His followers to lay down their lives that others might know of salvation even as He had given His life for the salvation of mankind. Lastly it would cause men like Saul to be touched and turn from a persecutor to a preacher and spread the message farther and faster than men like Stephen could ever have taken it had he not laid his life down. Truly the foolishness of God is wiser than men!
Having the wisdom of God is essential as believers because we are called to manifest this manifold wisdom not only to the world, but to all the spiritual rulers in the heavenly places. Eph 3:8-11, “This grace is given to me (who am less than the least of all saints) to preach the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations, and to bring to light what is the fellowship of the mystery which from eternity has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; so that now to the rulers and powers in the heavenlies might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord…”
Not only is the church to manifest wisdom, but it is to manifest manifold wisdom, or wisdom in every facet and area of interaction between itself as a body and the outside world. Of all the wonderful plans which Christ has for His Church this is probably the one of which His Church most often falls short.
Since it is God’s desire that we should walk in His wisdom, I would like to look at a few things that could be called hallmarks of His Wisdom, things that we can look at to see if we are making wise choices.
Zophar tells us in Job 11:6 that sound wisdom is manifold, or double. One of the key elements of God’s wisdom is that it works not only for a short term solution, but for an eternal goal. Earthly wisdom is often very shortsighted and involves a buy now pay later mentality.
James gives us several practical attributes to test our “wise” ideas against in James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first truly pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
Firstly it is pure, anything that seems like a good idea, but is tainted by any impurity of any kind will eventually be tarnished, whatever temporary good may result will be destroyed by the impurity.
Secondly it is peaceable, much that happens in churches is manifestly not of the wisdom of God, because of its combatative nature. God is angry with the wicked and yet can still draw near to them with an offer of peace should they be willing to submit, and we should learn from Him.
It is gentle. Telling someone the truth is necessary, but gentleness can make the difference between the person receiving or rejecting the truth. Wisdom is not only what we say but how we say it. People may reject the Word of God anyway, but we don’t want to give them an excuse to do so by our rough manner. Wisdom gives people what they need to hear in the way that is most likely to make them able to receive it.
It is easy to be entreated. It is genuinely interested in the best for people and when asked puts forth the real and lasting solutions to their problems without a condescension.
It is full of mercy and good fruits. One of the most amazing aspects of God’s wisdom is His ability to restore men like David and Peter and use them to such a degree that not only is mercy vindicated, but also His wisdom in restoring them. It is far wiser to be able to restore someone who has been a recipient of care, ministry, and training then to totally cast them aside.
It is without partiality. Whenever people use prejudices to determine their choices they inevitably not only wrong the ones they overlook, but they also wrong themselves. God responds to people as they respond to Him, not based on their ethnic group, age, gender or any other outward appearance that we choose.
It is without hypocrisy. God’s wisdom is what it is. There is no guile in God, no trickiness. He may not reveal everything, because we cannot fathom it, but He does not manipulate or deceive.
God’s wisdom works. It is always justified by the good fruit it produces. It not only achieves results in a situation, but it lays down the character of God into the life of the one who follows it. His Wisdom declared that He would send apostles and prophets to be martyrs (Luke 11:49-51). This would work several things at once. It would provide a witness to the unbelieving, who would become more culpable in God’s sight. It would provide an opportunity for His followers to lay down their lives that others might know of salvation even as He had given His life for the salvation of mankind. Lastly it would cause men like Saul to be touched and turn from a persecutor to a preacher and spread the message farther and faster than men like Stephen could ever have taken it had he not laid his life down. Truly the foolishness of God is wiser than men!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Back in Malawi
I arrived back in Malawi on Saturday. My first recollection as I disembarked from the plane was how hot it is here. Sure South Africa was a lot hotter than Erie was, because the seasons are polar opposites, but neither compared to the raw heat coming off of the pavement as I walked towards the immigration building. When it starts raining it should cool off a little, but until then a fan helps a lot (actually as I write this it has started raining and gotten much cooler) . Sunday my parents were in Dedza ministering at a church there, I was holding down the fort here. While I was doing that I got the wifi network setup, which should make things easier for us here. After a little niggle I managed to get the internet connection shared too. This all simplifies backing up files without using a flashdisk to move stuff around.
Conditions in Malawi are around normal, we have electric outages every other night. We also are having a diesel shortage, dad got the pickup filled up the day before I arrived back, but he spent 8 hours finding a station that had it and waiting in line to get it. Our new pickup is running well. The old one is awaiting replacement of its springs (4th time this year) and brakes. Dad was going to drive down to Luchenza (1 ½ hours SE) to deliver some tin for a church, but the trip has had to be postponed.
Mom has finished ironing a lot of the clothes we buy in bales and then distribute for Christmas. Yesterday I spent most of the morning dividing 50 kg bags of beans into 1kg packets for distribution (this will be a reccuring task for the next few months especially in the lead up to Christmas). Today I partially sorted out a printer problem (a little bit of tape was on the copper circuit preventing the printer from recognizing its presence), only to run into a second one (the cartridge ran out of ink halfway through the 3rd page anyway).
This Sunday I will be ministering in one church in Luchenza, while dad ministers in another one in the area. That’s a pretty brief summary of this last week and what is coming up this week.
Conditions in Malawi are around normal, we have electric outages every other night. We also are having a diesel shortage, dad got the pickup filled up the day before I arrived back, but he spent 8 hours finding a station that had it and waiting in line to get it. Our new pickup is running well. The old one is awaiting replacement of its springs (4th time this year) and brakes. Dad was going to drive down to Luchenza (1 ½ hours SE) to deliver some tin for a church, but the trip has had to be postponed.
Mom has finished ironing a lot of the clothes we buy in bales and then distribute for Christmas. Yesterday I spent most of the morning dividing 50 kg bags of beans into 1kg packets for distribution (this will be a reccuring task for the next few months especially in the lead up to Christmas). Today I partially sorted out a printer problem (a little bit of tape was on the copper circuit preventing the printer from recognizing its presence), only to run into a second one (the cartridge ran out of ink halfway through the 3rd page anyway).
This Sunday I will be ministering in one church in Luchenza, while dad ministers in another one in the area. That’s a pretty brief summary of this last week and what is coming up this week.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
My Blog from JFK
I should be in Malawi by now, but here I am. How did this happen?
I left Buffalo on Jetblue at around 5:50, and arrived at JFK minus one luggage item. It had apparently been searched by TSA, probably because it had several cans of food in it. I went to the baggage claim section and talked to them, the missing bag came in on the next flight and I had it in my hands at 9:35am and headed to the South African Airways Terminal. I thought I would just make it since the flight only left at 11:35 and I was there by 9:45 (actually sine Jet blue had given me a $30 voucher I felt pretty good about the whole thing at this point). However SAA shuts their check in at 9:30, and the lady (wo)manning the check-in had apparently come close to perfecting Nietzsche’s virtue of courage in turning away from the face of human misery. Neither my letter from Jetblue, nor the fact that missing this flight would make me miss my Malawi connection and have to wait until the next flight on Saturday, nor even my best “Lightning McQueen” Kachow-Kachow smile and charm could get me on the plane.
During the second attempt to try to get Jetblue to help me somehow, following the refusal of SAA. By the time I tried a few things SAA had closed their ticket booth, which is only open 7-10:35, so I had to wait until the next morning to sort out the tickets.
About the only good thing I feel about saying about Jetblue right now is that they have free wifi in their terminal which is how this gets out.
I tried to phone some of my siblings so they could contact the people in South Africa and my parents in Malawi concerning what had happened.
I kept on getting answering machines and voice mail, each of which cost me a dollar in change and sometimes didn’t take the message. I bought a five dollar phone card and contacted one of my sister-in-laws who was able to email people. I then found out that Jetblue has free wifi all throughout their terminal and used it to email people myself.
Spent the rest of the day (remember I got here at 7:15am) wandering around, found a set of shops and food court at Terminal 4, spent the night there. I got a decent amount of sleep but felt pretty stiff because I was using my laptop case as a pillow.
This morning I got my ticket changed, but since Tuesday is the one day SAA does not fly out of JFK I will be here until Thursday morning. I am currently sipping coffee and recharging my laptop, if I were stuck with other people I would probably rent a baggage locker and go see some of New York, but sightseeing alone isn’t a lot of fun. On the plus side I am reading a Church history book a friend of mine loaned me and I am making good progress on it
I am looking forward to leaving, but not to another night sleeping on the benches here.
I left Buffalo on Jetblue at around 5:50, and arrived at JFK minus one luggage item. It had apparently been searched by TSA, probably because it had several cans of food in it. I went to the baggage claim section and talked to them, the missing bag came in on the next flight and I had it in my hands at 9:35am and headed to the South African Airways Terminal. I thought I would just make it since the flight only left at 11:35 and I was there by 9:45 (actually sine Jet blue had given me a $30 voucher I felt pretty good about the whole thing at this point). However SAA shuts their check in at 9:30, and the lady (wo)manning the check-in had apparently come close to perfecting Nietzsche’s virtue of courage in turning away from the face of human misery. Neither my letter from Jetblue, nor the fact that missing this flight would make me miss my Malawi connection and have to wait until the next flight on Saturday, nor even my best “Lightning McQueen” Kachow-Kachow smile and charm could get me on the plane.
During the second attempt to try to get Jetblue to help me somehow, following the refusal of SAA. By the time I tried a few things SAA had closed their ticket booth, which is only open 7-10:35, so I had to wait until the next morning to sort out the tickets.
About the only good thing I feel about saying about Jetblue right now is that they have free wifi in their terminal which is how this gets out.
I tried to phone some of my siblings so they could contact the people in South Africa and my parents in Malawi concerning what had happened.
I kept on getting answering machines and voice mail, each of which cost me a dollar in change and sometimes didn’t take the message. I bought a five dollar phone card and contacted one of my sister-in-laws who was able to email people. I then found out that Jetblue has free wifi all throughout their terminal and used it to email people myself.
Spent the rest of the day (remember I got here at 7:15am) wandering around, found a set of shops and food court at Terminal 4, spent the night there. I got a decent amount of sleep but felt pretty stiff because I was using my laptop case as a pillow.
This morning I got my ticket changed, but since Tuesday is the one day SAA does not fly out of JFK I will be here until Thursday morning. I am currently sipping coffee and recharging my laptop, if I were stuck with other people I would probably rent a baggage locker and go see some of New York, but sightseeing alone isn’t a lot of fun. On the plus side I am reading a Church history book a friend of mine loaned me and I am making good progress on it
I am looking forward to leaving, but not to another night sleeping on the benches here.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Reconciliation
One of my biggest and reccuring faults is irritability with people. So one of the things I find most amazing about God is that inspite of His knowing and seeing far more than we do, He is still able to be longsuffering and patient. A little while ago as I was irritated and trying to get over it, I thought of this Scripture.
2 Cor. 5:18-19 But all things are of God, who has made us at peace with himself through Christ, and has given to us the work of making peace; That is, that God was in Christ making peace between the world and himself, not putting their sins to their account, and having given to us the preaching of this news of peace.
It struck me how offended God had to be with our sin and how He actually had to overlook it even to do for us. He was justifiably angry yet, He chose to overlook it that He might take the cost of reconciliation upon Himself. Had He not been willing to overlook it, He would never have been able to take the sin upon Himself and we would have been stuck in our condition forever. This is a reminder to me to let things go and even be willing not only to overlook wrongs but to be willing to bear the blame in relationships so that I can be like Christ.
2 Cor. 5:18-19 But all things are of God, who has made us at peace with himself through Christ, and has given to us the work of making peace; That is, that God was in Christ making peace between the world and himself, not putting their sins to their account, and having given to us the preaching of this news of peace.
It struck me how offended God had to be with our sin and how He actually had to overlook it even to do for us. He was justifiably angry yet, He chose to overlook it that He might take the cost of reconciliation upon Himself. Had He not been willing to overlook it, He would never have been able to take the sin upon Himself and we would have been stuck in our condition forever. This is a reminder to me to let things go and even be willing not only to overlook wrongs but to be willing to bear the blame in relationships so that I can be like Christ.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Chaff and Wheat
One of my favorite portions of Scripture is found in Jeremiah 23:28-29, “The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream. And he who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? says Jehovah. Is not My Word like a fire? says Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”
This was spoken against the false prophets who all had words that were false and confirmed people in the wrong way. God, however speaking through Jeremiah, compares the words which are not His counsel with chaff, and His Word to wheat. In threshing and winnowing the chaff is carried away by the wind but the wheat remains. God’s word is abiding, it will stand every wind of change and every gale of trouble to come, but the chaff of man’s word, man’s ideas and ways will not abide.
Chaff is an often used symbol in the Bible for transience. The wicked are compared to chaff, because their works are not eternal. In the vision Daniel had in Daniel chapter 2 the image was broken and became as chaff that passed away showing that all the kingdoms and ways of this world will not abide in the end.
Wheat has several different meanings in the Word of God, but they all spring from the fact that it is desirable, edible and enduring in the winnowing process. Wheat has substance and weight to it which causes it to endure in the time of the blowing wind.
Last night I began to think about wheat and chaff, and had a realization. In these verses we just read God’s word is compared to wheat. God’s Word is enduring, because it is not only a word, but it is also an eternal Person. Christ the Word made flesh. Also in Matthew 3 and Luke 3 John the Baptist points to Christ as one who will winnow and gather the wheat of His people into barns and burn the chaff of the wicked. Wheat is therefore not only symbolic of God’s Word, but also of God’s people. Then I was struck by a thought, are God’s people not like wheat because they receive the wheat of the Word? Why do the people of God remain in the winnowing? Because they have the eternal substance which is found in the eternal gospel, they are partakers of the divine nature. This is the importance of receiving with meekness (submissive obedience) the engrafted Word. The Word of God imparts something of the eternality and stability of God to us as we obey it. The Word weighs us down so we are not driven to and fro by the winds of changing circumstances and peer pressure. It gives us a stability that the world does not and can never have.
Jesus brings the permanence produced by hearing and obeying His Word in another analogy in Mat 7:24-27 “ Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock. And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it did not fall, for it was founded on a rock. And everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them shall be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat on that house. And it fell, and great was its fall.”
In the times that are coming we need more than ever to have His enduring nature within us and this is imparted through obedience to His Word. The winds and floods will come in different ways to each of us, but if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us we will stand strong. Praise God!
This was spoken against the false prophets who all had words that were false and confirmed people in the wrong way. God, however speaking through Jeremiah, compares the words which are not His counsel with chaff, and His Word to wheat. In threshing and winnowing the chaff is carried away by the wind but the wheat remains. God’s word is abiding, it will stand every wind of change and every gale of trouble to come, but the chaff of man’s word, man’s ideas and ways will not abide.
Chaff is an often used symbol in the Bible for transience. The wicked are compared to chaff, because their works are not eternal. In the vision Daniel had in Daniel chapter 2 the image was broken and became as chaff that passed away showing that all the kingdoms and ways of this world will not abide in the end.
Wheat has several different meanings in the Word of God, but they all spring from the fact that it is desirable, edible and enduring in the winnowing process. Wheat has substance and weight to it which causes it to endure in the time of the blowing wind.
Last night I began to think about wheat and chaff, and had a realization. In these verses we just read God’s word is compared to wheat. God’s Word is enduring, because it is not only a word, but it is also an eternal Person. Christ the Word made flesh. Also in Matthew 3 and Luke 3 John the Baptist points to Christ as one who will winnow and gather the wheat of His people into barns and burn the chaff of the wicked. Wheat is therefore not only symbolic of God’s Word, but also of God’s people. Then I was struck by a thought, are God’s people not like wheat because they receive the wheat of the Word? Why do the people of God remain in the winnowing? Because they have the eternal substance which is found in the eternal gospel, they are partakers of the divine nature. This is the importance of receiving with meekness (submissive obedience) the engrafted Word. The Word of God imparts something of the eternality and stability of God to us as we obey it. The Word weighs us down so we are not driven to and fro by the winds of changing circumstances and peer pressure. It gives us a stability that the world does not and can never have.
Jesus brings the permanence produced by hearing and obeying His Word in another analogy in Mat 7:24-27 “ Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock. And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it did not fall, for it was founded on a rock. And everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them shall be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat on that house. And it fell, and great was its fall.”
In the times that are coming we need more than ever to have His enduring nature within us and this is imparted through obedience to His Word. The winds and floods will come in different ways to each of us, but if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us we will stand strong. Praise God!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Your Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven
The last day or two I have been reading in Zechariah and thinking a little bit about the visions of the four horses (Zech 6:1-8). I am still praying for light on the whole thing as I feel that maybe God wants to show me something on it, but having looked at a few commentaries and having read over the passage some I still don't know.
However, we are all given a pattern on how to pray by Christ, and in that prayer we are told to pray that His will would be done in the same way on earth as it is in heaven. This much I can see in Zech. 6, so I will start at looking at how Scripture shows us God's will is done in heaven so we can see what we are to be praying for.
God's will is done willingly and promptly. In Ezekiel 1, the four living creatures did not turn when they went, but moved straight ahead in immediate obedience to the promptings of the Lord. They also return to be instantly ready to serve again.
As we see in Zech. 6, God's will is accomplished with a desire to bring joy to Him and to remove anything which offends or disturbs Him. I do not know what specifically the chariots were sent to do, but clearly there was something in the north country that had disturbed God and they were sent and put it right (Zech. 6:8). We also should be zealous for the Lord's quiet and pleasure in all that we do.
Lastly God's will is fully accomplished in heaven, and so may it ever be in our lives. Amen.
However, we are all given a pattern on how to pray by Christ, and in that prayer we are told to pray that His will would be done in the same way on earth as it is in heaven. This much I can see in Zech. 6, so I will start at looking at how Scripture shows us God's will is done in heaven so we can see what we are to be praying for.
God's will is done willingly and promptly. In Ezekiel 1, the four living creatures did not turn when they went, but moved straight ahead in immediate obedience to the promptings of the Lord. They also return to be instantly ready to serve again.
As we see in Zech. 6, God's will is accomplished with a desire to bring joy to Him and to remove anything which offends or disturbs Him. I do not know what specifically the chariots were sent to do, but clearly there was something in the north country that had disturbed God and they were sent and put it right (Zech. 6:8). We also should be zealous for the Lord's quiet and pleasure in all that we do.
Lastly God's will is fully accomplished in heaven, and so may it ever be in our lives. Amen.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thoughts on Psalm 83:11-12
Psa 83:11-12 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, "Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God."
Asaph in remembering the past victories which God gave to Israel, specifically in the book of Judges, is crying out to God for a similar work against the current enemies of the Lord.
These four men had made themselves notable examples of both oppression of Israel in the days of Gideon and by their defeat also notable examples of divine retribution. Their desire in oppression was a possession of God’s land, specifically His pastures, houses or sheepfolds (the word has those three significations), all of which point to churches. These four men are types of spirits which attempt not just to destroy individual believers, but attempt to actually mar God’s inheritance by taking over churches.
Their names are significant, starting from the last to the first we see a causation of decline in churches.
Zalmunna means protection is denied. It is impossible for God’s enemies to gain even temporary possession of God’s houses unless He has removed His hand of protection from them. As the love of God’s people towards Him cools and they no longer serve Him with joy and gladness His protection is withdrawn (Rev. 2:4, Deut. 28:47).
After a while of continuing in this condition God actively gives over His church to His enemies, this is the meaning of Zebah – sacrifice or victim. These are the princes, or chief causes of the desolation which follows, the withdrawal of protection and active giving over. The nobles are the actual enemies which now wreak havoc within the churches given over.
Zeeb – the wolf, is a type of false teachers and heretics. False teachers are ordained by God (Jude 1:4). I picture this in this way, God looks through His church and sees the hearts of all men, He then gives a call, “I need teachers of error to test my peoples love for the truth. Which of you would like to have popularity and money more than you would like the truth? You will have everything you desire, but no relationship with Me, and only eternal judgment on the other side.” The hearts of the teachers of error all put up their hands and say, “Pick me, pick me.” Admittedly the choice is not often that blatantly stated, but even if it were they would make the same choice.
What state are we in when it is possible for a church to have one of its members commit murder and then suicide and claim that he is still in heaven, but he lost all his rewards?!? http://www.heavensfamily.org/ss/e_teachings/as-a-father
Lastly there is Oreb – the raven. An unclean, carrion bird known throughout antiquity for its eerie ability to detect sickly and dying animals by smell and to call to the other ravens, hence the sound of a raven became an omen of death. It also was known for attacking the eyes of its victims first (Prov. 30:17). It is truly a type of those unclean spirits which detecting weaknesses in men take them captive in all uncleanness, and using the eye as the main means of entry through lust, have deprived men of both spiritual and natural sight as in the case of Samson.
These enemies must be defeated, not only Oreb and Zeeb, but the ones who enabled their ravages - Zebah and Zalmunnah. The victories will be notable even as the Rock of Oreb was noteworthy as where he was slain and the winepress of Zeeb was known for his demise. There will be clearly distinguishable points where these battles were fought and overcome. Then God’s mature leaders, not youths, must earnestly seek for and deal with Zebah and Zalmunnah, and restore God’s protection to His people, and lead them to turn their hearts back to Him (Judges 8).
Asaph in remembering the past victories which God gave to Israel, specifically in the book of Judges, is crying out to God for a similar work against the current enemies of the Lord.
These four men had made themselves notable examples of both oppression of Israel in the days of Gideon and by their defeat also notable examples of divine retribution. Their desire in oppression was a possession of God’s land, specifically His pastures, houses or sheepfolds (the word has those three significations), all of which point to churches. These four men are types of spirits which attempt not just to destroy individual believers, but attempt to actually mar God’s inheritance by taking over churches.
Their names are significant, starting from the last to the first we see a causation of decline in churches.
Zalmunna means protection is denied. It is impossible for God’s enemies to gain even temporary possession of God’s houses unless He has removed His hand of protection from them. As the love of God’s people towards Him cools and they no longer serve Him with joy and gladness His protection is withdrawn (Rev. 2:4, Deut. 28:47).
After a while of continuing in this condition God actively gives over His church to His enemies, this is the meaning of Zebah – sacrifice or victim. These are the princes, or chief causes of the desolation which follows, the withdrawal of protection and active giving over. The nobles are the actual enemies which now wreak havoc within the churches given over.
Zeeb – the wolf, is a type of false teachers and heretics. False teachers are ordained by God (Jude 1:4). I picture this in this way, God looks through His church and sees the hearts of all men, He then gives a call, “I need teachers of error to test my peoples love for the truth. Which of you would like to have popularity and money more than you would like the truth? You will have everything you desire, but no relationship with Me, and only eternal judgment on the other side.” The hearts of the teachers of error all put up their hands and say, “Pick me, pick me.” Admittedly the choice is not often that blatantly stated, but even if it were they would make the same choice.
What state are we in when it is possible for a church to have one of its members commit murder and then suicide and claim that he is still in heaven, but he lost all his rewards?!? http://www.heavensfamily.org/ss/e_teachings/as-a-father
Lastly there is Oreb – the raven. An unclean, carrion bird known throughout antiquity for its eerie ability to detect sickly and dying animals by smell and to call to the other ravens, hence the sound of a raven became an omen of death. It also was known for attacking the eyes of its victims first (Prov. 30:17). It is truly a type of those unclean spirits which detecting weaknesses in men take them captive in all uncleanness, and using the eye as the main means of entry through lust, have deprived men of both spiritual and natural sight as in the case of Samson.
These enemies must be defeated, not only Oreb and Zeeb, but the ones who enabled their ravages - Zebah and Zalmunnah. The victories will be notable even as the Rock of Oreb was noteworthy as where he was slain and the winepress of Zeeb was known for his demise. There will be clearly distinguishable points where these battles were fought and overcome. Then God’s mature leaders, not youths, must earnestly seek for and deal with Zebah and Zalmunnah, and restore God’s protection to His people, and lead them to turn their hearts back to Him (Judges 8).
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Upward Call
Philippians 3:13-14 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, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Recently I have been thinking about the phrase the upward call, or as it is sometimes translated the high call, or upward invitation. This is the prize for which Paul was constantly running towards. What is this upward call?
First, it is a drawing of our desires toward the one who calls. As Song of Solomon says, “Draw me and we will run after you.” An invitation when it is received draws out a response from the one who receives it, whether favorable or not (ignoring an invitation is as sure a refusal as an emphatic “no”). The upward call is a continuous outpouring of the heart of God calling us higher and higher so that we can be closer and closer to Him. It can be to a higher level of ministry and revelation as it was with John in Rev. 4:1, where he is called up from one level of vision and prophecy unto a higher one. It can also be a call onward to know Christ in a new and deeper way through entering into His sufferings and joys.
Second, and very importantly, the upward call creates ability to fulfill it. When Christ walked on water, Peter seeing Him, said, “Lord, if it is You, tell me to come.” After the Lord’s call to come, he was able to do the impossible as long as his focus remained on the Lord. Christ’s upward call not only calls us onward, but it gives us the power to move. It is this upward call that enables us to change and be conformed to the image of Christ.
Our part is to respond to the upward call, to hear it and obey it. Like men walking in the dark being lead by a guide, hearing His voice and following. His call always leads to Himself! This is what Paul was constantly running in response to, what he was reaching for! The light of Christ shed abroad at that moment followed by obedience and awaiting further light. Those who follow hard in this life are privileged to do the same forever (Rev. 14:4). Praise God!
Recently I have been thinking about the phrase the upward call, or as it is sometimes translated the high call, or upward invitation. This is the prize for which Paul was constantly running towards. What is this upward call?
First, it is a drawing of our desires toward the one who calls. As Song of Solomon says, “Draw me and we will run after you.” An invitation when it is received draws out a response from the one who receives it, whether favorable or not (ignoring an invitation is as sure a refusal as an emphatic “no”). The upward call is a continuous outpouring of the heart of God calling us higher and higher so that we can be closer and closer to Him. It can be to a higher level of ministry and revelation as it was with John in Rev. 4:1, where he is called up from one level of vision and prophecy unto a higher one. It can also be a call onward to know Christ in a new and deeper way through entering into His sufferings and joys.
Second, and very importantly, the upward call creates ability to fulfill it. When Christ walked on water, Peter seeing Him, said, “Lord, if it is You, tell me to come.” After the Lord’s call to come, he was able to do the impossible as long as his focus remained on the Lord. Christ’s upward call not only calls us onward, but it gives us the power to move. It is this upward call that enables us to change and be conformed to the image of Christ.
Our part is to respond to the upward call, to hear it and obey it. Like men walking in the dark being lead by a guide, hearing His voice and following. His call always leads to Himself! This is what Paul was constantly running in response to, what he was reaching for! The light of Christ shed abroad at that moment followed by obedience and awaiting further light. Those who follow hard in this life are privileged to do the same forever (Rev. 14:4). Praise God!
Monday, September 07, 2009
Spare Your People O Lord
The ELCA has officially decided now to allow homosexual clergy in their churches. It is good that the signers of the Augsburg confession are in heaven where there is no sorrow, otherwise doubtless their hearts would be broken. They were willing to risk earthly honors, political quiet, and even war for the sake of the Gospel and their descendants in America are not willing to bear with the disapproval of the world and its agenda.
That on its own is sad enough, but as this morning as I have been contemplating the state of the Church in general, I have had the realization that this will likely not be the last denomination to do this. Those of us who are not Lutherans look and say, “whew, I am glad I am not Lutheran.” Yet, I must wonder how much lower must the Church come before It awakes. We are like the Germans in Nazi Germany, who looked the other way when the Nazis persecuted the Jews, because they were not Jewish, then ignored what they did when they came for the Catholics, because they were not Catholic. At last there was no one left to turn to.
Let us awake and cry out to God.
Joel 2:27 - Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"
It is a reproach to Christ when any church that has preached the Gospel in any measure is given over to rule by any open sinners of any variety. The people of God are His heritage, those that have His Name upon them. It is an exceedingly grievous thing when any of His sheep are under such leadership. Yet again Christ comes to His own and His own receive Him not. This is an often repeated scenario, repeated by nations, churches and individuals. We would crucify Christ again if it were possible, the cry goes out, “not this man, but Barabbas!” We would rather have a murderer or other notorious sinner in our midst than the very Son of God!
This is not the first time such a thing has happened. During the Arian controversy many, many churches were under men who denied the Deity of Christ in any real sense, and some who did not deny it themselves compromised for the sake of imperial favor. Many centuries later, during the heyday of the Puritans, men like Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, George Fox and many others had a hard time in their youth finding ministers who were sober in the pulpit, let alone able to lead others in the way of salvation. The Church has weathered both of these and other storms and this one shall also pass. However we must pray that God would spare His people, that He would not let the heathen rule over them. Perhaps if we turn to Him with our whole heart He will relent and not allow the Church to be plunged into further darkness.
Let us not be like Ephraim or Samson who sunk so low as to not realize their own decrepitude before it was too late to avoid a serious captivity (Hosea 7:9; Judges 16:20).
Spare Your people O Lord! Turn our hearts again toward You!
That on its own is sad enough, but as this morning as I have been contemplating the state of the Church in general, I have had the realization that this will likely not be the last denomination to do this. Those of us who are not Lutherans look and say, “whew, I am glad I am not Lutheran.” Yet, I must wonder how much lower must the Church come before It awakes. We are like the Germans in Nazi Germany, who looked the other way when the Nazis persecuted the Jews, because they were not Jewish, then ignored what they did when they came for the Catholics, because they were not Catholic. At last there was no one left to turn to.
Let us awake and cry out to God.
Joel 2:27 - Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"
It is a reproach to Christ when any church that has preached the Gospel in any measure is given over to rule by any open sinners of any variety. The people of God are His heritage, those that have His Name upon them. It is an exceedingly grievous thing when any of His sheep are under such leadership. Yet again Christ comes to His own and His own receive Him not. This is an often repeated scenario, repeated by nations, churches and individuals. We would crucify Christ again if it were possible, the cry goes out, “not this man, but Barabbas!” We would rather have a murderer or other notorious sinner in our midst than the very Son of God!
This is not the first time such a thing has happened. During the Arian controversy many, many churches were under men who denied the Deity of Christ in any real sense, and some who did not deny it themselves compromised for the sake of imperial favor. Many centuries later, during the heyday of the Puritans, men like Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, George Fox and many others had a hard time in their youth finding ministers who were sober in the pulpit, let alone able to lead others in the way of salvation. The Church has weathered both of these and other storms and this one shall also pass. However we must pray that God would spare His people, that He would not let the heathen rule over them. Perhaps if we turn to Him with our whole heart He will relent and not allow the Church to be plunged into further darkness.
Let us not be like Ephraim or Samson who sunk so low as to not realize their own decrepitude before it was too late to avoid a serious captivity (Hosea 7:9; Judges 16:20).
Spare Your people O Lord! Turn our hearts again toward You!
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Practical Application Of Daniel 2:31-35
Dan 2:31-35 "You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
We know from the verses which follow that this refers to the kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and revived Rome, but I would like to look at this from a different and personal perspective. Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). So how can we apply this personally?
First is the head of gold, our own bright ideas and plans for our lives. Our own creativity and mental capabilities. We all want to control our own destiny, but it is not in man to direct his way (he can choose a path, but the path takes him where it goes). God wants to destroy our plans and establish His far better ones in their place. Our thoughts are not His thoughts, and He desires us to surrender our thoughts to Him.
Second is the breast of silver, which compares to our affections (after all, the heart is there). Are our affections on the things of this world? If we love this world the Love of the Father is not in us. Our affections should be set on those things above, where Christ is.
Third is the middle and thighs of bronze, this speaks of motives (Hebrews viewed the kidneys as the source of motive, see Psalm 7:9). What are our motives for what we do? Even good deeds are evil if they proceed from corrupt motives. We should not seek the praise of man but of God. God desires to revolutionize our motives for the deeds we do.
The legs of iron could refer to our own stubborn way of doing things - an inflexibility and insistence on our own methods and traditions. God wants us to be willing to yield to His leading even when it contradicts our cherished traditions (but not His Word).
The feet of iron mixed with clay - these are our inconsistencies and good but short lived intentions. We try to serve God in our own strength and we fail. When God's Kingdom comes it destroys all confidence in our own ability and leaves us wholly dependent on Him (Phil. 3:3).
Christ personally comes to each of us and as we allow Him to work like the stone in the vision, He will demolish these Kingdoms in our life and establish His own in us. These things are blown away like chaff, because they have no real substance. His Kingdom will endure forever. It has substance, and when it fills us and replaces these other Kingdoms we too will have an enduring substance. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.(Psalm 125:1). Praise God!
We know from the verses which follow that this refers to the kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and revived Rome, but I would like to look at this from a different and personal perspective. Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). So how can we apply this personally?
First is the head of gold, our own bright ideas and plans for our lives. Our own creativity and mental capabilities. We all want to control our own destiny, but it is not in man to direct his way (he can choose a path, but the path takes him where it goes). God wants to destroy our plans and establish His far better ones in their place. Our thoughts are not His thoughts, and He desires us to surrender our thoughts to Him.
Second is the breast of silver, which compares to our affections (after all, the heart is there). Are our affections on the things of this world? If we love this world the Love of the Father is not in us. Our affections should be set on those things above, where Christ is.
Third is the middle and thighs of bronze, this speaks of motives (Hebrews viewed the kidneys as the source of motive, see Psalm 7:9). What are our motives for what we do? Even good deeds are evil if they proceed from corrupt motives. We should not seek the praise of man but of God. God desires to revolutionize our motives for the deeds we do.
The legs of iron could refer to our own stubborn way of doing things - an inflexibility and insistence on our own methods and traditions. God wants us to be willing to yield to His leading even when it contradicts our cherished traditions (but not His Word).
The feet of iron mixed with clay - these are our inconsistencies and good but short lived intentions. We try to serve God in our own strength and we fail. When God's Kingdom comes it destroys all confidence in our own ability and leaves us wholly dependent on Him (Phil. 3:3).
Christ personally comes to each of us and as we allow Him to work like the stone in the vision, He will demolish these Kingdoms in our life and establish His own in us. These things are blown away like chaff, because they have no real substance. His Kingdom will endure forever. It has substance, and when it fills us and replaces these other Kingdoms we too will have an enduring substance. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.(Psalm 125:1). Praise God!
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