Just sharing.

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“All the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.”

Ezekiel 3:7

Are there no exceptions? No, not one. Even the favoured race are thus described. Are the best so bad?—then what must the worst be? Come, my heart, consider how far thou hast a share in this universal accusation, and while considering, be ready to take shame unto thyself wherein thou mayst have been guilty. The first charge is impudence, or hardness of forehead, a want of holy shame, an unhallowed boldness in evil.

Before my conversion, I could sin and feel no compunction, hear of my guilt and yet remain unhumbled, and even confess my iniquity and manifest no inward humiliation on account of it. For a sinner to go to God's house and pretend to pray to him and praise him argues a brazen-facedness of the worst kind! Alas! since the day of my new birth I have doubted my Lord to his face, murmured unblushingly in his presence, worshipped before him in a slovenly manner, and sinned without bewailing myself concerning it. If my forehead were not as an adamant, harder than flint, I should have far more holy fear, and a far deeper contrition of spirit. Woe is me, I am one of the impudent house of Israel.

The second charge is hardheartedness, and I must not venture to plead innocent here. Once I had nothing but a heart of stone, and although through grace I now have a new and fleshy heart, much of my former obduracy remains. I am not affected by the death of Jesus as I ought to be; neither am I moved by the ruin of my fellow men, the wickedness of the times, the chastisement of my heavenly Father, and my own failures, as I should be. O that my heart would melt at the recital of my Saviour's sufferings and death. Would to God I were rid of this nether millstone within me, this hateful body of death. Blessed be the name of the Lord, the disease is not incurable, the Saviour's precious blood is the universal solvent, and me, even me, it will effectually soften, till my heart melts as wax before the fire.

 

[beensetfree]

Whatever Happened To Humility?



Does it seem that humility is disappearing from society today and is being replaced with pride?
Opposed to the Proud
The antonym to pride is humility or humbleness, and this makes sense of James statement that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (4:6). Grace is like water…it always seeks the lowest areas. It is those who are abased that will be exalted, but those who exalt themselves will be abased someday (Matt 23:12), however “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life” (Prov 22:4). Clearly, “humility comes before honor” (Prov 18:12). The order therefore is humility first…exaltation later…probably much later, like in the Kingdom, so James tells us, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10). God tested ancient Israel by bringing them into and through the wilderness.

The Word of God says that the Lord “has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not” (Deut 8:2). David wrote, “You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down” (2 Sam 22:28). Time and time again, the people and kings of Israel and Judah humbled themselves, and scripture records the fact that “the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction” (2 Chron 2:12). Repentance takes humility, which is why God is opposed to the proud.

Persecution
It is better to humble ourselves voluntarily because if God does it for us, it’s a lot more painful. If we willingly humble ourselves, we’ll better endure the persecution or humiliation that comes from sharing Christ. It is unavoidable that people will be offended, but for some, it will be the sweet savor of eternal life, but others will be offended by it (2 Cor 2:15-17). People that are willing to suffer shame for the cause of Christ typically “have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Pet 3:8). Humble people generally “Live in harmony with one another” and are not “haughty, but associate with the lowly” (Rom 12:16a).

A humble person won’t respond in kind or revile back when reviled, but rather, they are always “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet 3:15). I would like to emphasize the part where it says “with gentleness and respect,” so whether a person is saved or not, we should always respond with “humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Eph 4:2). It is by our love that others can identify who Jesus’ disciples are (John 13:34-35), and humility is a byproduct of love.

Esteeming Others
A person that is truly humble will “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Phil 2:3). What that looks like is a humble person doesn’t interrupt others when they’re talking, they don’t always have to have the last word, and they don’t belittle others they disagree with. A humble person might disagree over something but they won’t be disagreeable with those they disagree with. The Apostle Peter urged the younger people to “be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet 5:5).

With the coming of the Lord, it is said that God “has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate” (Luke 1:52). Think about this: The God of the Universe, Who “being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). This is all the more reason we ought to have “a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart” (1 Pet 1:22). Humble people will find it easy to “Love one another with brotherly affection [and] Outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom 12:10).

Conclusion
If you have not yet trusted in Christ, Zephaniah the Prophet speaks to you to “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord” (Zeph 2:3). Just as God told the Jews who were being held in captivity, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer 29:13), God can be found if you truly seek Him with your whole heart. Let today be your day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2). What the Lord said “to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live” (Amos 5:4), He says to you; “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28), and “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul” (Matt 11:29). It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, Jesus says,“whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37b). Come to the Savior today because tomorrow may be too late (Heb 9:27; Rev 1:7). This is all the more reason Christians “must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble” (1 Pet 3:8).

 

[beensetfree]

Salvation This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:9,10 NIV __________________ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:3-7 KJV __________________ But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“The Lord taketh pleasure in his people.”

Psalm 149:4

How comprehensive is the love of Jesus! There is no part of his people's interests which he does not consider, and there is nothing which concerns their welfare which is not important to him. Not merely does he think of you, believer, as an immortal being, but as a mortal being too. Do not deny it or doubt it: “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”

It were a sad thing for us if this mantle of love did not cover all our concerns, for what mischief might be wrought to us in that part of our business which did not come under our gracious Lord's inspection! Believer, rest assured that the heart of Jesus cares about your meaner affairs. The breadth of his tender love is such that you may resort to him in all matters; for in all your afflictions he is afflicted, and like as a father pitieth his children, so doth he pity you. The meanest interests of all his saints are all borne upon the broad bosom of the Son of God. Oh, what a heart is his, that doth not merely comprehend the persons of his people, but comprehends also the diverse and innumerable concerns of all those persons!

Dost thou think, O Christian, that thou canst measure the love of Christ? Think of what his love has brought thee—justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal life! The riches of his goodness are unsearchable; thou shalt never be able to tell them out or even conceive them. Oh, the breadth of the love of Christ! Shall such a love as this have half our hearts? Shall it have a cold love in return? Shall Jesus’ marvelous lovingkindness and tender care meet with but faint response and tardy acknowledgment? O my soul, tune thy harp to a glad song of thanksgiving! Go to thy rest rejoicing, for thou art no desolate wanderer, but a beloved child, watched over, cared for, supplied, and defended by thy Lord.

 

[beensetfree]

Whatever Happened To Sympathy?



How can believers remain patient when everything around them is going wrong, when people are treating you unfairly, and when you’re about to run out of patience?
Patience
The dictionary defines patience as the ability or capacity to remain patient, the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, persevering in the face delay or provocation without acting upon it. Someone who is patient remains steadfast even when they are being treated unfairly, including being insulted for the cause of Christ. Jesus said, “Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matt 5:39). Contrary to what people think, this is does not mean that we shouldn’t defend ourselves, lock our doors at night or become someone’s punching bag. We are to turn the other cheek in the sense of not retaliating when we are insulted for Jesus’ sake. That is the context of verses 38-48. We have read the world’s definition of patience, but what is the biblical definition of patience? Is it far different from the way the world defines it, so how can we be more patient when we’re faced with trying circumstances?

Vengeance
We make a poor judge and jury when we try to avenge ourselves for being persecuted for Christ. In the 12th chapter of Romans, Paul says, “never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Rom12:19). If we try to get revenge for being wronged, then we are placing ourselves in the judgment seat of God, and by the way, it’s a one-seater! By trying to seek revenge, we show God that we don’t trust Him to judge everything righteously. If anything, we can only make things worse by trying to get even. God says “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly” (Psalm 75:2), so if we repay evil for evil, we are not leaving judgment up to God. We’re told to “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). You don’t overcome evil with more evil, so “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all” (Rom 12:17). Remember it is God Who “will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life” (Rom 2:6-7).

Biblical Patience
Patience is a powerful thing in this often-chaotic world. It is “With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone” (Prov 25:15). The problem is that we’re not very patient, even though Scripture tells us to “encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all” (1 Thess 5:14). The Apostle Paul’s desire was that “the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Rom 5:5-7). Be part of the solution to an impatient world by your patience in well doing (Rom 2:7).

Patience of the Saints
One thing about love is that love gives people the benefit of the doubt. It believes the best in people, and doesn’t always assume the worst. Paul writes that “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor 13:7). When he says that love “believes all things,” I believe that he is saying that love doesn’t jump to conclusions, and usually the worst ones. I don’t know how many times I’ve assumed that someone did something wrong or was intentionally late, only to find out later that this was not the case, hence the need to “be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:8-11). Those characters are great studies in patience; Job and Paul having PhD in it.

Fruit of the Spirit
Patience is not a gift of the Sprit but a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Gal 5:22). We have these fruits in us if we’ve trusted in Christ, but exercising those gifts is another story. A person that is patient will exhibit more of the fruits of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). A patient person will live in peace with others, they will display goodness to those in the world and in the church, they will be faithful in their walk with Christ, they will live in a gentle way among all men and women, and they will display self-control. Jesus said that “every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt 7:17-20), and the fruit of patience is easily recognizable in this world!

Conclusion
Are you finding yourself running a little short of patience? Welcome to the club because we all run short of patience from time to time, but if you’re impatient with a non-believer, remember, they cannot produce the fruit of patience because they don’t have access to the Holy Spirit. Don’t expect a diseased tree to produce good fruit because it’s impossible. We must have patience with all people and remember that in former times, we too were just like the world. Paul wants us to reflect on our own past, writing that “such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11). Pray that those who are not justified might repent and come to saving faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, and be patient. Trust the Holy Spirit’s timing. In the meantime, be patient with them as the Lord was patient with us…and still is!

 

[beensetfree]

Jealousy? Coveting? Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7 NIV __________________ Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's. Deuteronomy 5:21 RSV __________________ Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright. Proverbs 3:31,32 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God.”

Psalm 139:17

Divine omniscience affords no comfort to the ungodly mind, but to the child of God it overflows with consolation. God is always thinking upon us, never turns aside his mind from us, has us always before his eyes; and this is precisely as we would have it, for it would be dreadful to exist for a moment beyond the observation of our heavenly Father. His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, prudent, far-reaching, and they bring to us countless benefits: hence it is a choice delight to remember them. The Lord always did think upon his people: hence their election and the covenant of grace by which their salvation is secured; he always will think upon them: hence their final perseverance by which they shall be brought safely to their final rest.

In all our wanderings the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is evermore fixed upon us—we never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye. In our sorrows he observes us incessantly, and not a pang escapes him; in our toils he marks all our weariness, and writes in his book all the struggles of his faithful ones. These thoughts of the Lord encompass us in all our paths, and penetrate the innermost region of our being. Not a nerve or tissue, valve or vessel, of our bodily organization is uncared for; all the littles of our little world are thought upon by the great God.

Dear reader, is this precious to you? then hold to it. Never be led astray by those philosophic fools who preach up an impersonal God, and talk of self-existent, self-governing matter. The Lord liveth and thinketh upon us, this is a truth far too precious for us to be lightly robbed of it. The notice of a nobleman is valued so highly that he who has it counts his fortune made; but what is it to be thought of by the King of kings! If the Lord thinketh upon us, all is well, and we may rejoice evermore.

 

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Let’s Stop Pointing to David’s Half-Naked Dancing to Justify Pop Worship




Two weeks ago, I wrote a post in which I suggested much of contemporary megachurch-style pop worship could be called “masturbatory.” Then last week, I gave a rather extreme example from Bethel Church of what this kind of gathering would look like.

Let’s just say that now a lot of people are unhappy with me. Again.
The account found in 2 Samuel 6 of David dancing nearly naked before the Ark of the Covenant has long been used by pop worship apologists as carte blanche approval for wild and unruly behavior in corporate worship. And they continue to do so in response to my post. Over and over and over.
“Surely King David would also not meet your approval . . . King David expressed his determination to become even more undignified in worship.” – Wade B.
“I wonder what y’all’s thoughts and comments would have been on David’s dancing. Likely, the same as his wife.” – Rachel B.

“Ya God would never use a leader who got carried away in worship!
Especially one who would dance around like a crazy person! Especially one that would strip down to being almost naked!
And He would never curse someone to fruitlessness who was criticizing such a leader as that!” – Curtis A.

“We SHOULD have an emotional response to God’s presence! David responded so emotionally to God’s presence arriving, that he danced fervently in his undies!” – Chris B.
“When I am in the presence of God, I cry, laugh, dance, run, shout, shake and sometimes just sit quietly in His presence. No one has the right to tell anyone else how they are ” supposed” to worship. Davids wife criticized him for dancing before the lord and God punished her. I would be very careful.” – Randy H.
“ Would you also call David dancing before the Lord half naked an act of masturbation?” – Eric R.
“I find it fascinating that the author uses accusatory sexual innuendo in describing contemporary worship and worshipers he finds objectionable, in much the same manner Michal accused King David when she was displeased with his worship. I think I’ll roll with David.” – tds

All of these responses can”But David danced before the Lord all wild and free, so who are you to judge what Bethel or anyone else does?” I don’t for a second doubt the sincerity of these good folks, but this is no justification for “worship” that has all the ethos of a Maroon 5 concert.
David’s jig is a response of pure joy, but it is anything but spontaneous or neutral. From the New Interpreter’s Bible commentary:
“David’s dancing before the ark as it is transferred to Jerusalem, the city of David, points to a pivotal transfer of political power and a transforming possibility for new theological understandings of God’s power in relation to public power. David’s intense personal involvement is either a genuine recognition and honoring of true power in the Lord (represented by the ark) or a manipulation of religious symbols for the sake of his own enhanced power. This account invites us to reflect on how thin the line is between these two possibilities.”

The dancing might have been a legitimate outburst of joy in God’s presence. Or it might have been politically motivated. My guess is that it’s somewhere in between, which is a tenuous place for us to be, to say the least. What is clear is that the joy David feels is hard-wrought; it is also fleeting, as we will find out if we read further.

And what about Michal? Well, the temptation to liken Michal to the Pharisees in Jesus’ day is certainly tempting. Who is she to question how someone else behaves in God’s (symbolic) presence?!? And her barrenness is an easy example for us to warn people (like yours truly) who would dare ask questions of those swept away in pop worship trappings.

It’s actually too easy. Don’t forget who Michal is. She’s Saul’s daughter, and as for her relationship with her husband, well, there’s lots of water – not to mention lots of other wives – under the bridge. She’s not merely mocking David for dancing around with no clothes on (which seems a reasonable reaction, to be honest…), her resentment toward her husband has boiled over. Her barrenness isn’t so much a supernatural curse as it is a reflection of David’s unwillingness to have anything to do with her. Saul’s house is a thing of the past, and good ol’ Dave is going to make sure of it.
Either way, this is not simply not a normative, stand-alone example of free-for-all worship, nor is it an example of what might happen to those who can’t help but be skeptical of it.
Let me be clear. I am in no way suggesting that liturgy should be lifeless. Joy, mirth, laughter, along with the entire spectrum of human emotion can and should be expected to show up. Can movement, exuberance, even dancing, be a part of that? I can’t see why not.

But corporate worship is a serious endeavor, and must be marked by a genuine clarity and sobriety. We must take a good look in the mirror to see the extent to which our cultural contempt for ceremony and respect has a detrimental, desacramentalizing effect on the church’s worship. As in every other aspect of life, our emotions must be continually subjected to our mind and will if liturgy is to fulfill its intended function.

Even more important is the need to understand that emotions, no matter how strong and seemingly supernatural, no matter the ratio of goosebumps to congregants, can be assumed to be the tangible presence of God among God’s people. God is there with us, regardless of emotion. God is present in word and sacrament. Really, truly present. If we really believed that, I’m convinced it would make all the difference. We wouldn’t need music, ambiance, or anything else to phony up a tangible sense of God’s presence.
If the swaying, pulsating, writhing, dancing, and shouting looked more like historic liturgical song and dance and less like a crowd at a rock concert…
If it wasn’t basically scripted to occur during musical high points…

If it wasn’t completely devoid of the decorum and fear with which we should greet the Almighty…
If it didn’t seem to be an expected side effect of pop worship music…
If it wasn’t out of line with the biblical and historical function of worship…
And if it wasn’t such an obvious substitute for God’s presence in word and sacrament…
…it wouldn’t represent such a theological compromise.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Rock show worship is self-gratifying pseudo-liturgy. It is narcissistic, masturbatory, and vacuous.
I’m terrified, but not because I’m worried I’ll be cursed like Michal.
I’m terrified for souls who are so superficial that they can be drawn in by the spectacle.
I’m terrified for a church that is sacramentally parched.
I’m not worried that this is all some sort of conspiracy of church leadership. Like I said, I’m not questioning anyone’s motives. But motives don’t mean jack in the whole scheme of things.
My suspicion is actually much worse, much more terrifying than that.
I’m terrified that most of the church doesn’t even recognize what the hell we’ve done.

Forgive us, we pray.

 

[beensetfree]

Work Hard! Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12 NIV __________________ The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor Proverbs 12:24 NKJV __________________ I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest," Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man. Proverbs 24:30-34 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“I am the rose of Sharon.”

Song of Solomon 2:1

Whatever there may be of beauty in the material world, Jesus Christ possesses all that in the spiritual world in a tenfold degree. Amongst flowers the rose is deemed the sweetest, but Jesus is infinitely more beautiful in the garden of the soul than the rose can be in the gardens of earth. He takes the first place as the fairest among ten thousand. He is the sun, and all others are the stars; the heavens and the day are dark in comparison with him, for the King in his beauty transcends all.

“I am the rose of Sharon.” This was the best and rarest of roses. Jesus is not “the rose” alone, he is “the rose of Sharon,” just as he calls his righteousness “gold,” and then adds, “the gold of Ophir”—the best of the best. He is positively lovely, and superlatively the loveliest. There is variety in his charms. The rose is delightful to the eye, and its scent is pleasant and refreshing; so each of the senses of the soul, whether it be the taste or feeling, the hearing, the sight, or the spiritual smell, finds appropriate gratification in Jesus.

Even the recollection of his love is sweet. Take the rose of Sharon, and pull it leaf from leaf, and lay by the leaves in the jar of memory, and you shall find each leaf fragrant long afterwards, filling the house with perfume. Christ satisfies the highest taste of the most educated spirit to the very full. The greatest amateur in perfumes is quite satisfied with the rose: and when the soul has arrived at her highest pitch of true taste, she shall still be content with Christ, nay, she shall be the better able to appreciate him. Heaven itself possesses nothing which excels the rose of Sharon. What emblem can fully set forth his beauty? Human speech and earth-born things fail to tell of him. Earth's choicest charms commingled, feebly picture his abounding preciousness. Blessed rose, bloom in my heart for ever!

 

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The Apostle Paul’s Last Will And Testament



The Apostle Paul knew he was about to die, so he left Timothy, and all of us, his last will and testament.
Paul’s Purpose
With the Apostle Paul’s departure, he knew that soon enough, wolves in sheep’s clothing would subtly move in and try and fill the vacuum, but instead of focusing on Christ and repentance and faith, they would “devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith” (1 Tim 1:4), as he warned in his first letter to Timothy. For decades, Paul had given stability to the churches in Asia and the Roman Empire, but with his departure, the old proverb rings true: “When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue” (Prov 28:2), so with Paul’s soon departure, the church would need to be prepared for an “enemy within,” and that’s what 2 Timothy is all about.

Endless Debates
The best way to discover money is counterfeit is to know what the original looks like so well that you can spot a fake in an instant. When we are regularly studying our Bible, we’re more armed with the Word of Truth to see error when we encounter it. If there’s something that appears to be contrary to Scripture, we would do well to look closer at the Word of God. The Word is the standard for all teaching and preaching, so Paul commands Timothy to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). Apparently there were some, and there have always been some, who wrangle over words, so Paul tells Timothy to stay out of “quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers” (2 Tim 2:14). He also wants Timothy to “void irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness” (2 Tim 2:16). Christians often get into debates (some are arguments!) about the tribulation, the rapture, the millennium, tongues, and…the list goes on. Even in Paul’s day, some had “swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some” (2 Tim 2:18), so Paul is reminding Timothy to stay out of these things, because they only lead to “more ungodliness.”

Last Days
Paul gives a host of things that the world will look like in the days leading up to Christ’s return, although Paul and many in the church expected Jesus to return that century, but Paul warned that “there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim2:3:1b-4).

They might not look like Satan’s ministers on TV or the Internet, but Paul warned that in the last days, many would have “the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people” (2 Tim 3:5). These are the kind of “religious” people that “creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 3:6-7). The number of ministers that have fallen by sexual immorality is innumerable, but only God knows whether these are only professing faith in Christ without actually knowing Christ. It’s not so much as them knowing Jesus that is vital, but rather, does He know them (Matt 7:21-23)! Apparently, many will be shocked that Jesus doesn’t even know them!

Preach the Word
Paul tells Timothy to stick to Scripture, saying that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16), so he must stick to preaching out of the Word, so “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17). Paul told Timothy that “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness” (2 Tim 3:10), so “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:14-15).

Before God and others, Paul says, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim 4:1-2). Paul knew it wouldn’t be long “when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Tim 4:3-4).

Last Words
The Apostle Paul is now concluding his letter to Timothy, knowing that these would be his last words recorded on earth before he saw the Lord. He writes, “I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:6-7). Was Paul discouraged by this? Absolutely not! He said, “there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Tim 4:8). Paul did feel a little like Christ at Calvary, writing, “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them” (2 Tim 4:16)!

Conclusion
When all others had abandoned Paul, he said only “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth” (2 Tim 4:17). Paul says with confidence and boldness that “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Tim 4:18). Yes and amen…to Him be all the glory, and “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness” (Psalm 115:1).

 

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Trusting in riches? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5 NIV __________________ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. Proverbs 17:5 KJV __________________ He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf. Proverbs 11:28 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“These all died in faith.”

Hebrews 11:13

Behold the epitaph of all those blessed saints who fell asleep before the coming of our Lord! It matters nothing how else they died, whether of old age, or by violent means; this one point, in which they all agree, is the most worthy of record, “they all died in faith.”

In faith they lived—it was their comfort, their guide, their motive and their support; and in the same spiritual grace they died, ending their life-song in the sweet strain in which they had so long continued. They did not die resting in the flesh or upon their own attainments; they made no advance from their first way of acceptance with God, but held to the way of faith to the end. Faith is as precious to die by as to live by.

Dying in faith has distinct reference to the past. They believed the promises which had gone before, and were assured that their sins were blotted out through the mercy of God. Dying in faith has to do with the present. These saints were confident of their acceptance with God, they enjoyed the beams of his love, and rested in his faithfulness. Dying in faith looks into the future. They fell asleep, affirming that the Messiah would surely come, and that when he would in the last days appear upon the earth, they would rise from their graves to behold him.

To them the pains of death were but the birth-pangs of a better state. Take courage, my soul, as thou readest this epitaph. Thy course, through grace, is one of faith, and sight seldom cheers thee; this has also been the pathway of the brightest and the best. Faith was the orbit in which these stars of the first magnitude moved all the time of their shining here; and happy art thou that it is thine. Look anew to-night to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith, and thank him for giving thee like precious faith with souls now in glory.

 

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Flee youthful lusts. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Titus 3:3-6 KJV __________________ They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 18-21 NIV __________________ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Galatians 5:16,17 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“A very present help.”

Psalm 46:1

Covenant blessings are not meant to be looked at only, but to be appropriated. Even our Lord Jesus is given to us for our present use. Believer, thou dost not make use of Christ as thou oughtest to do. When thou art in trouble, why dost thou not tell him all thy grief? Has he not a sympathizing heart, and can he not comfort and relieve thee? No, thou art going about to all thy friends, save thy best Friend, and telling thy tale everywhere except into the bosom of thy Lord.

Art thou burdened with this day's sins? Here is a fountain filled with blood: use it, saint, use it. Has a sense of guilt returned upon thee? The pardoning grace of Jesus may be proved again and again. Come to him at once for cleansing. Dost thou deplore thy weakness? He is thy strength: why not lean upon him? Dost thou feel naked? Come hither, soul; put on the robe of Jesus’ righteousness. Stand not looking at it, but wear it. Strip off thine own righteousness, and thine own fears too: put on the fair white linen, for it was meant to wear.

Dost thou feel thyself sick? Pull the night-bell of prayer, and call up the Beloved Physician! He will give the cordial that will revive thee. Thou art poor, but then thou hast “a kinsman, a mighty man of wealth.” What! wilt thou not go to him, and ask him to give thee of his abundance, when he has given thee this promise, that thou shalt be joint heir with him, and has made over all that he is and all that he has to be thine? There is nothing Christ dislikes more than for his people to make a show-thing of him, and not to use him. He loves to be employed by us. The more burdens we put on his shoulders, the more precious will he be to us.

“Let us be simple with him, then,
Not backward, stiff, or cold,
As though our Bethlehem could be
What Sinai was of old.”

 

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Why The Fear Of God Is The Beginning Of Wisdom



There is a misconception about the fear of God, but that’s where true wisdom begins.
Fearing God
Fear is not always bad. It keeps us alive, it keeps us from hurting ourselves, it keeps us from hurting others, fear makes us take our children or ourselves to the doctor, and it can even keep us from getting food poisoning if something doesn’t smell right. Fear keeps former alcoholics away from social gatherings where alcohol may be served, so fear has kept people alive and out of trouble, but it can also become debilitating if it’s an irrational fear, however the fear of God is not this kind of fear. It’s not the fear of being struck dead or cast into hell because God gives us a choice. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).

If you reject Christ as your one and only hope, then you have every reason to fear. Jesus said we should “not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). For believers, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18). Believers fear God, but it’s not the fear of judgment. Their sins were placed upon Christ. This fear is a deep, holy, reverential fear and respect for God and His Word. Fearing God means we obey God and His Word. That is the fear of the Lord, and that is where wisdom begins.

The fear of the Lord is having a deep, holy, reverential fear and respect for God and His Word.

Seeking Wisdom
To have wisdom is to the ability to think and act using past knowledge and life’s experiences, and then understanding how these two relate. Wisdom is having a common sense and insight that only time, experience, and education can bring. Based upon this, we can act with confidence in making choices or decisions, and knowing when it is best to avoid certain situations. Most people gain wisdom the hard way…by making mistakes, but these are often the best teachers. If you’re faced with an important decision, then pray to God and ask Him for godly wisdom. James tells us that “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). Scripture is full of wisdom. Moses wrote that we are to “Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples” (Deut 4:6a).

Wisdom
In dozens of places, Scripture tells us that ”The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov 1:7a), so “the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov 2:6). You will not find such wisdom in the world. In fact, “the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness” (1 Cor 1:26). Knowing that true wisdom begins with the fear of God, and then praying for and seeking after wisdom, we can say, “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding” (Prov 3:13). Wisdom doesn’t come with Ph.D.’s but “with the humble is wisdom” (Prov 11:2). If you are seeking godly wisdom, you can do a case study in the wisdom literature. For example, the Book of Proverb and the Book of James is full of godly wisdom.
Holy, Holy, Holy
When Isaiah the Prophet had a vision, he “saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1), and “Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew” (Isaiah 6:2). Each of these seraphim called to one another, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3b). It was after this that “the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:4-5)!

What was Isaiah’s reaction? Remember that Isaiah was one of the godliest men on the planet and perhaps Israel’s greatest prophet (save for Christ), and yet he regarded himself as a “man of unclean lips.” If Isaiah, a holy man of God and a prophet of God could not stand before a holy God, how do we expect to!? Isaiah knew what it was like to fear God, but when he had his encounter with the Living God, he declared, “I’m done,” or basically, “I’m toast.” Who can stand before God….none but those who have repented and trusted in Christ (2 Cor 5:21). It was only after one of the seraphim’s came and took a coal from the altar and touched Isaiah’s lips that Isaiah’s guilt was taken away and his sin was atoned for. This is a foretaste of our salvation, as it requires a sovereign act of God (Eph 2:1-7).

Conclusion
Unless we receive the very righteousness of Christ, we cannot stand before God. The Day of Judgment will come for all. For those of us who have trusted in Christ, “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess 5:9), Who Himself “died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thess 5:10). If you have heard the gospel of repentance and faith (Mark 1:14-15) and rejected it time and again, I am sad to say that it is “because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Rom2:5), so I pray that you trust in Christ today…while it is still called “today,” and while He can still hear your voice (Prov 27:1; 2 Cor 6:2; Heb 3:15; James 4:13).

 

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Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

1 John 3:21-23 NIV

__________________

Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:9,10 NASB

__________________

For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:19-21 RSV

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible.”

1 Peter 1:23

Peter most earnestly exhorted the scattered saints to love each other “with a pure heart fervently” and he wisely fetched his argument, not from the law, from nature, or from philosophy, but from that high and divine nature which God hath implanted in his people. Just as some judicious tutor of princes might labour to beget and foster in them a kingly spirit and dignified behaviour, finding arguments in their position and descent, so, looking upon God's people as heirs of glory, princes of the blood royal, descendants of the King of kings, earth's truest and oldest aristocracy, Peter saith to them, “See that ye love one another, because of your noble birth, being born of incorruptible seed; because of your pedigree, being descended from God, the Creator of all things; and because of your immortal destiny, for you shall never pass away, though the glory of the flesh shall fade, and even its existence shall cease.” It would be well if, in the spirit of humility, we recognized the true dignity of our regenerated nature, and lived up to it.

What is a Christian? If you compare him with a king, he adds priestly sanctity to royal dignity. The king's royalty often lieth only in his crown, but with a Christian it is infused into his inmost nature. He is as much above his fellows through his new birth, as a man is above the beast that perisheth. Surely he ought to carry himself, in all his dealings, as one who is not of the multitude, but chosen out of the world, distinguished by sovereign grace, written among “the peculiar people” and who therefore cannot grovel in the dust as others, nor live after the manner of the world's citizens. Let the dignity of your nature, and the brightness of your prospects, O believers in Christ, constrain you to cleave unto holiness, and to avoid the very appearance of evil.

 

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Seek Him! But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey him. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. Deuteronomy 4:29-31 NIV __________________ Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12 KJV __________________ The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble; And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His deeds. Psalm 9:9-11 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.”

Proverbs 16:20

Wisdom is man's true strength; and, under its guidance, he best accomplishes the ends of his being. Wisely handling the matter of life gives to man the richest enjoyment, and presents the noblest occupation for his powers; hence by it he finds good in the fullest sense. Without wisdom, man is as the wild ass's colt, running hither and thither, wasting strength which might be profitably employed. Wisdom is the compass by which man is to steer across the trackless waste of life; without it he is a derelict vessel, the sport of winds and waves.

A man must be prudent in such a world as this, or he will find no good, but be betrayed into unnumbered ills. The pilgrim will sorely wound his feet among the briers of the wood of life if he do not pick his steps with the utmost caution. He who is in a wilderness infested with robber bands must handle matters wisely if he would journey safely. If, trained by the Great Teacher, we follow where he leads, we shall find good, even while in this dark abode; there are celestial fruits to be gathered this side of Eden's bowers, and songs of paradise to be sung amid the groves of earth.

But where shall this wisdom be found? Many have dreamed of it, but have not possessed it. Where shall we learn it? Let us listen to the voice of the Lord, for he hath declared the secret; he hath revealed to the sons of men wherein true wisdom lieth, and we have it in the text, “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” The true way to handle a matter wisely is to trust in the Lord. This is the sure clue to the most intricate labyrinths of life, follow it and find eternal bliss. He who trusts in the Lord has a diploma for wisdom granted by inspiration: happy is he now, and happier shall he be above. Lord, in this sweet eventide walk with me in the garden, and teach me the wisdom of faith.