Cultivating Gratitude- Part 7

 We now come to our last verse on Gratitude in the Book of Colossians. Colossians 4:2 states "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."  A Thankful heart enriches and stimulates our prayer life.

Paul starts winding down this letter with some final admonitions. He states here the necessity of prayer. Possibly one of the hardest disciplines in the Christian life is cultivating a consistent, meaningful prayer life. Satan will seek to provide plenty of disruptions. 

Paul states continue in prayer. The idea behind this admonition is to be devoted to prayer, refuse to neglect it, persevere with earnestness in prayer for a strong prayer life is vital to spiritual maturity. 

Paul then adds and watch in the same. To watch originally meant to refrain from sleep, but then came to also include being attentive, mental alertness, and spiritual vigilance. So, what does being watchful in prayer mean? I believe that there are several ideas. 

1) We are to guard against formality, unbelief, and carelessness/frivolity in prayer.

2) We are to guard against spiritual laziness, drowsiness, and from a worldly focus.

3) We are to be aware of the needs around us: needs of our family, our church, our own needs, and the like.

4) We are to be alert to the spiritual dangers around us that threaten ourselves, our homes, our churches. 

5) Dr. Constable adds "to give it constant attention and priority." 

Now, notice once again how Paul ends this important verse- with thanksgiving. Again, we should ask "why add the idea of gratitude?" Listen, a grateful heart keeps us in a right attitude for prayer and fellowship with our heavenly Father. A grateful heart keeps us focused on our dependence on God. We are to be grateful for all that God has done for us in our salvation and how He takes care of us! Remembering God's mercies should motivate us to spend quality time with God in prayer. 

So, as we have observed in the Book of Colossians the apostle Paul highlights for us the vital importance of gratitude- giving thanks to God! This virtue truly is essential for our spiritual maturity. In fact, it is a sign of spiritual maturity that can reveal to all around us how much we love and appreciate our God! Let us cultivate hearts of thanksgiving for it pleases the Lord, glorifies Him, and points people to His goodness. How are you doing in this area of giving thanks? 

Psalm 106:1 Praise ye the LORD, O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever."  

Cultivating Gratitude- Part 6

 We now come to Colossians 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." 

For the Christian, there is no such thing as secular or sacred activities. All of life is to be lived in union with Jesus Christ and as His ambassadors (2Corinthians 5:20). 

Notice in our verse the comprehensiveness of all that you do or say. Everything should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus. This means under the authority and approval of Christ- being mindful of what would please or disappoint Him. The idea is of being in tune with Christ! In your daily activities are you thinking of what would please Christ? What would honor Him? 

Now, with all of this said, notice the addition of giving thanks to God... Giving thanks is in the present tense meaning that this is to be continuously done, not occasionally. We are to be thankful for all of God's mercies to us, for delivering us from the realm of darkness, for adopting us as His sons and daughters, etc. These things should motivate all of our actions, attitudes, and words. 

An attitude of thanksgiving causes us to keep a conscious reliance on Christ which should lead to right actions and words. We need to cultivate a life where we are always mindful of Christ! If you notice in our verse, this giving thanks to God is by/through him- through an intimate relationship with Jesus.

My friends, let gratitude to God drive your lives and mark your testimony. This world needs to see true gratitude- needs to see why life in Christ is a superior life! F.F. Bruce wrote "In connection with any and every word and deed the believer should ask himself, 'Am I able to thank God the Father for having given me the opportunity to say or do this?'" 

Cultivating Gratitude- Part 5

 As we continue our study of gratitude through the book of Colossians, we come to a verse not often talked about when we think of the topic of "giving thanks." In Colossians 3:16 we find that a thankful heart can enhance the edification of other believers in our corporate worship. Let me explain. 

Colossians 3:16 states "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." 

Verse 16 describes a ministry of teaching and admonishing through music. We are to edify one another as we corporately worship together. Understand, that in Paul's day, the people did not have their own copies of the Scriptures. So, their public worship included preaching and the singing of biblically rich music to drive home God's truth. People taught and edified one another by singing together. The music of the past was focused on biblical accuracy in order to teach doctrine- truths about God, Christ, our salvation, etc. 

Now, where do we find "thanksgiving?" Notice the phrase singing with grace... What is grace? The word has several ideas. Unmerited favor; enablement for service and daily living; acts of benevolence; that which affords joy, delight; but the word also includes gratitude, thanks. Kenneth Wuest writes, "the word 'grace,' χάρις, also means 'thanksgiving,' which element should be included in our singing." 

As we sing with thanksgiving in our hearts for God's goodness and attributes, we can teach, admonish, and edify those around us. Notice the phrase in your hearts to the Lord. Thankful hearts sing with power, vigor, and "life." Things that can certainly encourage others. Refocus one's attention! Lift the mood from discouragement to hope. This is singing with commitment to the Lord and with understanding of God's grace. So, we are to sing heartedly with purpose, with thankful hearts in order to teach and edify one another! 

Since this blog's title is "Exhortations," let me exhort you to sing with these things in mind! Sing with gratefulness. It can be infectious and edifying to others!! 

Cultivating Gratitude- Part 4

 We have been tracing out the topic of gratitude throughout the Book of Colossians. We now come to our fourth mention of gratitude in Colossians 3:15 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." 

This whole section starting in v.11 deals with how to live in peace. In v.15 Paul states that the peace of God was to rule in their hearts or as John Eadie puts it "exercise supreme command." Peace is to govern our hearts, influence our behavior and thoughts. 

Our verse says that we have been called to one body, therefore we need peace in order to enjoy a spiritual oneness in Christ. This is not peace at any cost, but the desire to strive for peace. Romans 4:19 says "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." Peace with God should lead to peace with others. 

So now, how does "gratitude/thanksgiving" fit into all of this? Well, let us first state the opposite: grumbling, complaining, nit-picking, etc. often promote agitation, disorder, anger, discontentment, and negativity, all things that fail to promote peace. But an attitude of thanksgiving keeps us focused on the goodness of the Lord, on His word, His will, and what He has done for us. Gratitude makes for peace and good public relations. A right focus encourages and uplifts. Warms the "temperature in the room," so to speak. Promotes a better mood. All of which allows us to focus on what is truly important as a Christian. 

A person who understands all that God has done for them including His patience with their imperfections, should be able to set aside petty things, become more patient with others, and cultivate spiritual concern for others, all of which will lead to a more peaceful atmosphere.

One more thing from our verse. The grammar of "be ye thankful" is "keep becoming more thankful." It is a process that takes time and maturity. But understand, it is also an obligation! 

Let us learn to be thankful that God can bring people together with all of their differences and imperfections. Let us be thankful for other believers and what God is doing in each of their lives. We can learn to work with others through Christ. 

Let us all mature in being thankful because gratitude promotes peace and allows us to accomplish God's work! 

Cultivating Gratitude- Part 3

 As we move on through the Book of Colossians, we are confronted with our third mention of "Giving Thanks" in chapter 2:6-7. A thankful heart is a mark of Christian maturity!  

The Apostle Paul points out in v.6 that since they received Jesus Christ as their Savior, now they must walk in Him- to live out a life of faith and practice in accord with who Jesus is and in accord with His teaching. Our word for "walk" (περιπατέω) is in the present tense and is an imperative. This means that this is a command from Paul to continuously walk in relation to Christ. Day after day cultivating this walk. How do we do this?

Paul gives four participles in v.7 describing a worthy walk in Christ- how to enjoy a vital union with Christ. 

1) Rooted (ῥιζόω) In Christ: Figuratively here, it means to be firmly fixed, planted in Christ. One is rooted in Christ at the moment one places their faith and trust in the finished cross work of Christ. So now one can begin to grow. We need to remember that we are rooted in Christ. The "tree" can now move upward in physical maturity, and for us spiritual maturity. Sometimes it feels like we struggle to mature in the faith. And that can be very frustrating. But remember, that if you have placed your faith and trust in Christ alone for your salvation, you can mature- the roots are there for the sap to flow and the plant mature (John 15). 

2) Built up (ἐποικοδομέω) in Christ: Paul changes metaphors a bit to a building. The foundation has been laid (strong root system), now the building can be erected. Now again, the grammar is continuous action, therefore this is a process of building. When Christ has free reign over our lives we grow up into a beautiful building- we mature in the faith and gain victories over sin allowing us the shine brightly for Christ's glory! 

3) Established (βεβαιόω) in the Faith: the idea is to make firm, sure, strong and stable. If we are continually maturing in the faith, we become more fixed and stable in our beliefs and usability to God. Observe Paul's words in Ephesians 4:13-15 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  (14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  (15)  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

Notice now in our verse the phrase as ye have been taught. The Colossians matured in their faith through the teaching of Epaphras, possibly other teachers, and through Paul by this letter.  We need to be teachable and learn from solid biblical teaching and preaching. So, as we spiritually mature, we walk in and present to the world a more superior way of life!

4) Abounding in Thanksgiving: Now we come to the "giving of thanks." Of all the things that Paul could present as a worthy walk, notice that he only presents four and the fourth is a life of gratitude! As we are observing through this book, a heart of giving thanks is important to God! It recognizes His greatness, wisdom, power, love, etc. It keeps us focused on Him and not distractions to lead us away from Him. Satan knows that if he can distract us away from the Lord, we will stumble and fall. 

Notice also that Paul adds abounding (περισσεύω) therein- to be in abundance, excess, a picture of a river overflowing its banks. Often in the New Testament the idea is having more than enough. We are to be constantly (present tense- continuous action) overflowing with thanksgiving for all of the many blessings showered on us from God. Read Ephesians 1-2 to observe many of these blessings! A thankful heart glorifies the Lord before all those around us. And many of those around you need to see how awesome your God really is. A life of gratitude is a great and needed testimony before a world of unbelievers under the judgment of God. 

So, gratitude is a mark of spiritual maturity. Are you "growing up" in the Lord? Do you express gratitude before your family, co-workers, in public, everywhere you go? If not, why not? It will keep you focused on the Lord and glorify Him! You can't go wrong with this!! 

Cultivating Gratitude- Part 2

 We are tracing the theme of "Giving Thanks" through the Book of Colossians. The last post observed that we must cultivate a thankful heart because a thankful heart can draw us closer to other believers. 

Today we will observe our second occurrence of "giving thanks" in Colossians 1:10-14. We must cultivate a thankful heart because a thankful heart pleases and glorifies the Lord.

In this text, "giving thanks" is a fourth present participle in a series of participles describing a worthy, pleasing walk before the Lord (vv.10-12). A worthy walk includes being fruitful in every good work (v.10b), increasing in the knowledge of God (v.10c), strengthened with all might... (v.11), and then fourthly giving thanks... (v.12). A thankful heart pleases the Lord because it recognizes the Lord's salvation work on our behalf- recognizes the benefits of that work (vv.12-13). The grammar of v.12a emphasizes our continuous duty before God! 

Now, in vv.12-13 we have three verbal actions, and in v.14 a fourth explanation of why we should be thankful to the Father:

1) He qualified us for a share in the inheritance of the Saints (v.12b): The KJV word "meet" means to render competent or worthy, to make sufficient or fit, to qualify. Through salvation in Christ, we received a standing in God's favor qualifying us for an inheritance far surpassing any inheritance in this life. We can look forward to reigning with Christ in the future Messianic Kingdom and enjoyment of many more kingdom treasures, not the least, living forever with Christ! 

2) He rescued us from the power, authority, and ruling force of darkness (Satan's domain) (V.13a): We were rescued from the hopelessness and misery of our sinful, wretched condition. In Acts 26:18 Paul explains to King Agrippa his mission from God: "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." 

3) He relocated us into the kingdom of His dear Son (v.13b): So, the Father relocated us from the jurisdiction of darkness and Satanic forces and resettles us under Christ's domain. We are now under Christ's rule over our hearts and lives. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God." But we also have a great future to look forward to as kingdom heirs who will "rule and reign' with Christ.

4) His Son Redeemed us (v.14): Jesus delivered us from the slave market of sin resulting in the forgiveness of our sins. He purchased us by His own blood! 

As you see, we have every reason to be thankful!! Remember, the "giving thanks" of v.12 is describing a life in Christ that pleases God! 

Think with me for a moment. Paul gave four participles, only four here, describing a life that pleases God. That one of those participles is "giving thanks" emphasizes for us the great importance of this virtue before God. Are you cultivating a heart of gratitude? Is your life pleasing to God? It can be with His help! 

Cultivating Gratitude

 When one studies the Book of Colossians, a theme of "Giving Thanks" emerges from every chapter. It is a minor theme, but an important one. In the next several posts we are going to observe the importance of gratitude- giving thanks. As we explore this theme, take careful note of where this exhortation shows up and be challenged to cultivate a thankful heart. 

The very first occurrence is found in Colossians 1:3. As Paul opens the letter, he quickly recognizes something positive in the believers at Colossae- their maturing faith and love for each other. Understand, Paul did not start the church at Colossae and did not know most of the people. But he heard these positive things, and he was thankful for these qualities in their lives. 

In fact, Paul was thankful to God for maturing these believers through their difficulties (which are revealed throughout the Book). This joy and gratitude led him to pray often for them. Are you thankful for what God is doing in the lives of your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you even pay attention to the spiritual condition of those around you?

Our gracious Lord can take each one of us with all of our rough edges and mold us into the image of Christ. This ought to excite us and lead us to gratitude towards God for changing lives for His glory! 

Relationships can be hard to develop. Our sin nature often gets in the way. We all struggle with self-centeredness, from one degree to another. So, let us strive to cultivate hearts of thanksgiving for each other! let us pray often for each other! These practices will strengthen relationships and bring unity to our churches. 

Also observe: Romans 1:8; 1Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3; 1Thessalonians 1:2; 2Thessalonians 1:3; 2Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4. 

So, our first point is that a heart of gratitude can draw us closer to our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Forgetting Christ?

It is our practice at Faith Baptist Church to worship the Lord on the first Sunday evening of every month through participating in the Lord's Table, or as some call the communion service. Tonight we will miss participating because of the Covid 19 stay at home orders. This grieves me because it is an important part of our corporate worship to our Lord! We participate, in part, to remember all that Christ has done for us.

This morning I came across a message by Charles Haddon Surgeon entitled "The Remembrance of Christ." He preached from 1Corinthians 11:24. The message was given on a Sunday evening in January of 1855. In this message Spurgeon remarked that the "text implies the possibility of forgetfulness." He went on to say that "Christians may forget Christ." He then again wrote, "Nor is this a bare supposition: it is, alas, too well confirmed in our experience, not as a possibility, but as a lamentable fact."

At first, these statements startled me. I thought to myself "how can a believer forget Christ?" But then it hit me, Spurgeon was right, it wasn't really that hard after all. We allow our minds to be so preoccupied by so many things, and we have an enemy in Satan who loves to distract us from proper meditation on the Lord and His Word!

Consider with me for a moment the phrase "this do in remembrance of me" found in 1Corinthians 11:24, 25. For context, observe the text below.

1Corinthians 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  (24)  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  (25)  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  (26)  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

The remembrance statement is a command, and the word for remembrance means to remind, to recall, a memorial so one does not forget. Alexander MacLaren comments, "The real meaning of the words is, ‘Do this in case you forget’; do this in order that you may recall to memory what the slippery memory is so apt to lose-the impression of even the sweetest sweetness, of the most loving love, and the most self-abnegating sacrifice, which He offered for us." 

There are ways in which mankind is very forgetful. The Israelites of the Old Testament struggled with forgetfulness. They quickly forgot the mighty acts that God performed on their behalf! Moses had to continually challenge the people to not forget. Notice in two texts from the Book of Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 4:7-9  For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?  (8)  And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?  (9)  Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
Deuteronomy 6:12  Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Friends, we are not much different from the Israelites of old. And this is why Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit reminded the Corinthians of Jesus' words "do this in remembrance of me."  

How might we forget Christ? Well, every time we commit a sin- we forget about Christ! Every time we tell a lie, respond in anger, take out our frustrations on others, complain about things, act selfishly, etc. You get the point! There are other ways which are more subtle such as mindlessly worshipping on Sunday mornings. Singing great hymns about Christ while thinking about other things. Texting or serfing the web durring the worship service. Or maybe even serving the Lord at church in order to be seen or praised for what you are doing. Or what about Teaching a bible class, then later in the service be gossipping or complaining about someone. See, there is any number of ways in which we can fail to "remember" Chirst. 

Let us guard our hearts and purpose to keep Christ at the forefront of our minds and lives. Let us follow the mindset of Paul in Philipians 3:8 "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"  Notice that Paul wanted "win Christ." What does Paul mean? I believe that he is saying that he wants to know Christ better by experience. To enjoy Christ in every aspect of life. It is Christ that fills his life, not the things he lost and gave up. The loss of other things were really no loss at all because Christ fully replaced any percieved or seeming loss. William Hendrickson, commenting on winning/gaining Christ, suggested that in meant "to make Christ more and more fully his own."  Christ was everything to Paul! So, he shared Jesus' words back in 1Corinthians 11:24 that believers are to continuously celebrate the Lord's Table in order to remember all that Christ did for mankind on the Cross. 

So, how forgetful are you? I hope not to forgetfull. Keep Christ as your supreme possession! Look to Him daily! Study His Word daily! Consistantly promote His glory! And we all look forward to when we can once again participate in the Lord's Table in our local congregations with our brothers and sisters in Christ! 

Trusting in the Power of God

Are you struggling with any fears or worries today? If so, we have a Mighty God who is up to the task of strengthening us! Martin Luther wrote in his wonderful hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, "A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing; Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing." We have an all powerful God who deeply loves us and desires to strengthen us! I have been greatly challenged by Psalm 86 and find great comfort in David's reminders to us of the power of God to help in our time of need. Take not of verses 7-10:

Psalm 86:7-10 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.  (8)  Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.  (9)  All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.  (10)  For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

Notice David's determination to pray in v.7. When trouble came to David he knew enough to bow in prayer. Back in v.1 David asked God to hear (answer) him because he had a great need. David seems to be asking for God's presence to comfort him, but the implication seems to be that he does not "feel" God's presence. So again, here in v.7 David calls upon the Lord. Notice that David is determined to call upon his great God even when he does not "feel" God's presence because he knows the theological truth that God is there for Him. We cannot depend on feelings, but we must depend on God's truth! So David calls upon God through his troubles and trusts that God will answer (v.7).

Notice in v.8 that David understood that the false gods of the nations around him were impotent; no ability to act for they are the figment of man's imagination. What have the false god's ever created or destroyed? Elijah, on Mount Carmel, challenged the worshippers of Baal to call upon their gods to send down fire to burn up their sacrifice (1Kings 18:22ff.). So they cried and cried unto their gods, but nothing happened! Notice 1Ki 18:26-27-

And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.  (27)  And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

But when Elijah called upon Yahweh, the fire came down and consumed his sacrifice (1Kings 18:31-40).  "Gods" of man's imagination can do nothing! So why do so many today, including Christians, look for help and comfort through idols? Yes, idols. When we look to anything other than our God, we are looking to idols. Idols of philosophy. Idols of psychology. Idols of friends thoughts. Idols of our own thinking. We may even turn to the idols of shopping, sports, eating, etc. We may be tempted to turn to anything to find relief from our problems and frustrations. But listen friend, only God can guide, comfort, and help us!

In v.9 David also found comfort that eventually all nations will be brought under the rule of God in the Millennial Kingdom! He had confidence in the Lord's universal sovereignty and saving plan for the Nations. David sees God's mercy extended beyond Israel. The Abrahamic Covenant promised salvation even unto the Gentiles (Genesis 12:3; 22:18; 28:14). As a gentile, I am especially glad that God's care, mercy, and love extends beyond the Jews.

David then again focuses on God's power in v.10. As seen with many of David's Psalms, he drew hope and strength from rehearsing God's wonderful acts. David says that God does "wondrous things." The Hebrew word means to do something extraordinary, or difficult, especially His acts of deliverance and judgment. These are supernatural acts that defy our understanding, amaze us, and cause us to praise Him. Acts like the crossing of the Red Sea, providing manna/food from heaven, providing water from a rock, feeding Elijah by the ravens, and Joshua's crossing the Jordan River at flood stage. Friends, God is all powerful and can help you through any problem that you have today! Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Being good, God is ready to forgive; being great, He works wonders." 

Listen! Things in your life may be discouraging you and may even seem hopeless, but God can fix them or see you through them. Only God can truly help you! There is no where else to turn. Focus on God's mercy, love, and power! Don't turn to "idols." God is able and delights to help His children. There is nothing in your life to great for Him! Deal with your sins (1John 1:9), humble yourself, and turn to God in full trust and watch Him work on your behalf!

The Vital Importance of Prayer

For the Believer in Christ, prayer is of the upmost importance! Unfortunately, I fear that too many of us fail to grasp hold of just how important that it really is for our spiritual maturity. In Psalm 86 we find David in a time of distress. He seems to fail to feel the presence of the Lord in his time of need. But what I love about David is that even though that he does not "feel" the presence of the Lord, he knows that God is still with him as we often witness in his Psalms.  Take note of the first three verses of Psalm 86:

A Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.  (2)  Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.  (3)  Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

Notice how David pleads with the Lord to hear and answer him. But, even more importantly, notice how David comes to the Lord. He recognizes his spiritual neediness; "poor and needy." We must recognize this same thing. We NEED God daily because as mere humans, we are weak and constantly in need of the Lord for strength! Also recognize in v.3 above that David comes to God in prayer "daily."  David had many physical and spiritual needs that he could not solve himself, so he wisely turned to the Lord. We must follow his example and daily depend on the Lord by cultivating a stronger prayer life.

We find in the New Testament Scriptures a great illustration of the importance of prayer with our Lord's final hours with His disciples in Mark 14:26-51. Turn to and read the passage before you continue reading here.

Notice in verses 26 and following that they left the upper room and headed to the Mount of Olives where Jesus will spend some time with the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. As they are walking, Jesus informs them that they will stumble and turn against Him- Mark 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.  Peter quickly answers that he will never deny the Lord. The others answered likewise. Peter, along with the other disciples failed to recognize their spiritual weakness and constant need for spiritual strength. See, they failed to remember David's Psalms.

Jesus and the disciples finally make it to the garden (Mark 14:32ff.). Jesus instructs eight of the disciples to wait by the gate, possibly just inside of it, while He takes Peter, James, and John further into the Garden to pray. In vv.33-34 Jesus became very distressed and grieved under the pressure of the coming cross experience. I don't believe that we will ever understand what Jesus was going through, but He desired that these three disciples experience some of His grief with Him and to pray with Him. Notice Mark 14:34: "And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch." Jesus instructed them to "watch," to be vigilant and alert. Why? Because their was spiritual danger. Jesus prophesied in v.27 that they would stumble and scatter. Satan was waiting to "devour" them: 1Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: We must all be on alert because there is spiritual warfare around us. Satan wants to trip you up- devour you! Prayer is a vital ingredient to our maturing spiritually and being able to "resist the Devil" (James 4:7).

Jesus goes a little beyond them and drops to the ground to pray to His Father in Heaven. Remember, that Jesus came to His disciples twice and found them sleeping. He gently scolds them and reminds them of the great importance of "watching and praying lest they enter temptation" (v.38). Then Jesus makes this remark in the same verse: "The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." The spirit is eager- Peter truly believed what he said in verses 29 and 31 that he would not deny or leave the Lord. But what he failed to understand was that the "flesh is weak."

Jesus knew what He was talking about. He knew the weaknesses of mankind. He knew the power of Satan's temptations. Remember Satan tempting Jesus in the desert (Luke 4:1-13). Jesus experienced the full force of Satan's temptations and resisted every one of them. He knows Satan's tricks. You and I end up failing at some point. This is why Jesus challenged His disciples and the Holy Spirit challenges us to "watch and pray."

One last point I want you to meditate on! We have Jesus here praying to His Father. We have Jesus agonizing in the Garden. If Jesus needed to consult His Father, how much do you and I need to pray? We are not Jesus! We do not have His power and strength! We are always needy, even if in different degrees.

So let us learn from David the importance of Prayer. And let us also learn from Jesus' instruction and by His example the vital necessity of prayer. How often do you bring your problems, sins, and concerns to the Lord? How dependent are you upon the Lord! Let me challenge you today to Pray! Pray! Pray!

Walking By Faith

I was greatly challenged this morning as I read the account of Abraham's Faith being tested by God in Genesis 22. In many ways, our faith is being tested now by living during this Covid 19 Pandemic. Fear and anxiety fill the hearts of many, including some Christians. Fear is simply a tool of Satan to drive us away from truly trusting God. So, what does this have to do with Abraham? Well, Abraham's faith was tested through an unusual command of God. Genesis 22:2 "And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." What would Abraham do? How would he handle a situation that was hard to understand? How could God form a nation and keep His promise if Isaac is dead? Isaac was the promised seed through which God would eventually form the Nation of Israel (Genesis 12:1-3; 17:15-19). Observe and learn from the great faith of Abraham in God's Promises.

We saw above that Abraham was commanded to sacrifice His son. How could God command this? Human sacrifice was forbidden and was a heathen practice performed by the wicked nations around him. How could one understand this request? But notice that Abraham never questioned God- He simply obeyed. Genesis 22:3 "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him." We find no questioning or arguing from Abraham. Even though he probably did not at all understand what God was doing, he followed God's order with unfailing trust in God's wisdom.

It took days to get to the mountain as we observe in Genesis 22:4 "Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off." With that amount of time there is a temptation to start to question what you are doing. The mind can start to imagine all kinds of things- twisted things if we don't guard it. But Abraham's obedience here to God's command and word never waivered. Contrasted to Abraham's trust, we find Gideon's hesitancy and little faith in Judges 6. When the Lord visited Gideon and declared to him that he would save Israel from the Midianites, Gideon questioned, gave excuses, and pleaded for signs. Notice these examples:

Judges 6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.  Judges 6:17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
Judges 6:36-37  And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,  Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor...

Gideon failed to immediately trust in the Lord's plans and instructions, even though he would go on to do as the Lord asked of him. Abraham did not ask for signs, did not question God, or give excuses, he simply trusted and obeyed. In Genesis 22:9-10 Abraham reaches their destination, builds an altar, ties up Isaac, places him onto the altar, and is about to kill him until the Lord stops him. Notice what God says in Genesis 22:12 "And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."  Observe what God did for Abraham and Isaac: Genesis 22:13 "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."

There is one more thing that I want you to observe in Genesis 22. Isaac himself never argued with his father or with God. He too, willingly allowed his father to place him on the altar. Isaac was not a little boy here. Notice the v.5- "And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." The words for "young men" and "lad" are the same Hebrew word. Isaac could have stopped his aged father from tying him up, but he did not! Isaac too, was trusting God!  Abraham passed down his faith and trust to his son Isaac.

So, how should all of this challenge us today in our endurring the challenging time in which we live? We, like Abraham and Isaac must trust in God's Word and promises. None of us know exactly why all of this is happening to us today. It is hard to be confined to our houses and isolated from other people. It is hard to be away from others that we love. It is challenging to do our grocery shopping. It imay be hard to explain to our children. Some are going "stir crazy." As, Christians though, we know that God is still Sovereiegn over it all. God has a purpose for it all. God deeply cares for us as we observe in His Word. Let us walk like Abraham today!! Trust that God knows what He is doing and will see us through what we don't understand. Unwaveringly, follow His will! Completely trust in His care! Immediately obey His Word! and for the parents out there, teach your children to trust the Lord and to find comfort in Him! "Trust and Obey" as the hymn goes.

A Proper Response

Because of the Covi19 Pandemic many people are living in fear. This disease is serious, but many others have come before and mankind has survived. We must not panic and lose all sense of rationality. We must not allow fear to drive our lives. For those who are in Christ, our God is still sovereign and in full control over life's events. Nothing catches God off guard. The Psalmist proclaims in Psalm 121:2-4  "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."  So, don't fear! What should we do then? What is an appropriate response? Let us observe James 4:1-10.

Here in James 4, James is dealing with selfish, worldly believers and the conflicts that naturally arise from such behavior. In verses 6-10 James provides us with the remedy for the problem in verses 1-4, which also provides a good response for us in the face of our present situation. 

1) Ask for Grace: James 4:6 states, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." God desires to dispense grace to us. God will give grace in our time of need if we humble ourselves, walk in step with the Holy Spirit (v.5), and ask the Lord for it. With our wonderful God, we have all that we need to walk in peace through any storm that comes our way. 

2) Submit to God: James 4:7a states, "Submit yourselves therefore to God."  We must bring our lives under the total control of the Lord by recognizing His absolute sovereignty over us! Stop trying to live life your way. You do not know what is best- He does! Even if that means that you must go through difficult circumstances. He cares for you- He will see you through. He has a reason for everything we go through.  Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." The Lord molds and shapes us by every circumstance that He brings into our lives. He has your best interest in mind! 

3) Resist the Devil: James 4:7b commands us to "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Don't let the devil, the deciever fill your mind with fears and lies. Claim God's promises from His Word! Immerse yourself in God's Word. Know God's truth and ignore the Devil's deceptions. He would love for you to listen to everything you hear on the news and lose sight of God's love and care for you. He wants you to fear! He wants to fill you with anxiety and confusion. Resist Him and James says that "he will flee from you." 

4) Draw nigh to God: James 4:8a challenges us to "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." The beauty of Christianity is that we have a personal God who desires an intimate relationship and has provided a way to have it through the atoning work of His Son. Observe  Hebrews 4:14-16  "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  (15)  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  (16)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." We can come boldly before God through the blood of Christ. God wants us to come! James says that "he will draw nigh to you." Take time to read His Word and to talk to Him. He is listening and ready to comfort you! 

5) Deal with your sins: One of my favorite professors was Dr. Robert Delnay who use to always tell us "to keep short accounts with God." What great advice. Listen to Jamess 4:8b "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." Sin, including a weak faith, will hinder our drawing nigh to God for strength and peace!  Cleansing your hands involves keeping your conduct pure, and purifying your hearts involves the purity of your thoughts and motives. Deal with sin quickly and keep your "pathway to God" clear in order to enjoy comfort. peace, and guidance.

6) Know when to be serious:  James 4:9 instructs us: "Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness." To boil the verse down, James tells us to take sin seriously. Know what sin is and despise it! Have a true sorrow for sin in yourself and in others. In the context of James 4, James is challenging his readers to get serious about worldliness and the constant pursuit of personal, selfish desires that led to conflict with others and with God. Know what sin is and when you commit it- confess it and repent of it. 1John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." When we truly repent of sin and learn to despise it, then we can enjoy the goodness of the Lord.  We have serious pursuits to follow. There is a time to laugh and be more light hearted, but we must also know how to be serious with God and with His Work. God has a job for us to do- Go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). 

7) Humble Yourselves: James 4:10 states, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."  We come full circle and return to humility- bowing down before God’s greatness and sovereignty. Putting God before ourselves! He must be our priority! Then, He will lift you up- exalt you now and in the future. This may come in different forms now. He can raise up your spirit, strengthen you, give you joy, peace, dignity and honor before others if these things fit His plan for you. The point is that humility before the Lord will be rewarded.  

By following James prescriptions (in reality the Holy Spirit's prescriptions) we can come rightly before God and enjoy His presence, direction, and peace in the midst of troubling times! God is with His children! Draw comfort and direction from Him!! 

"The Far Look"

There are many distractions in our lives that can draw us away from God's truth and promises. Distractions that can rob us of our peace. Simply turning on the news can cause great discouragement and anxiety. Different circumstances that come into our lives can cause us to think wrongly and rob us of our peace. Certain trials may cause us to think that God no longer cares for us. There can be any number of things that may trigger alarm in our lives, but it is imperative, especially as Christians, that we learn to think rightly about all things that come into our lives.

I have recently attended a conference where one of the speakers challenged us to take a long view of things- to see the big picture rather than focusing on the immediate circumstances. I have thought much about that message, and wouldn't you know it, today when I opened up Oswald chambers book "Conformed To His Image," The very portion I read challenged the reader to take a far look. Basically Mr. Chambers said the same thing as the conference speaker did. Coincidence? I don't think so. God was reminding me of the same thing I want to challenge you with today; don't get bogged down and discouraged over your immediate circumstances, but learn to look at the "big picture."

In Numbers 13 we have the account of Moses sending out the twelve spies to observe the Land of Canaan. This was the "Promise Land," the land promised to the Israelites. God promised the Land to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:8 "And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites." God also promised the Land to Israel in Numbers 13:2 "Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them." Therefore, the promise has been given. The Children of Israel were to possess the Land.

Once the spies returned from their mission, it was time for them to give their report. They confirmed everything God said about the Land. In verse 27 the spies stated "and surely it floweth with milk and honey..." But, they also reported that there were walled cities, giants in the land, and the people be strong (v.28).  Unfortunately, ten spies declared that Israel could not take the land for the people "are stronger than we (v.31)." They were looking at the immediate circumstances, but they failed to believe God's promise.

Thankfully two of the spies were thinking properly. They had the "long view," or "far look." Caleb and Joshua trusted in God's promise! They considered the big picture! They trusted in God's promises and Sovereignty! They believed God would give them the Land! Caleb declared in v.30 "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it."  That is the right perspective friends. The obstacles did not phase Caleb or Joshua because they trusted in the big picture of God's work.

At times the circumstances of our lives are going to look daunting. We may not understand how things will work out, but these are times we must lean on God, His loving care, and his promises. Go back and read Hebrews chapter eleven. We have a list of people who all walked by faith. they were not perfect people, as a study of their lives would reveal, But they learned to look ahead- to have "the far look." Notice especially Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." We must learn to look at the "Big Picture" of God's working out of His will for this world and for our lives.

God is working out His plan for this fallen world. Things may look chaotic, but God is still on His throne. Psalm 47:8 "God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness." Revelation 21:5-6 "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  (6)  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." You are on the winning side dear Christian. Whatever trials or difficulties you are facing today, don't allow them to rob you of hope and peace. God is with you. Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 

Turn your troubles over to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him for strength and a proper vision- the "far look." Don't become distracted by the circumstances of life. The Lord has a plan for you. Wants to use you. Wants you to become more like His Son. We are victorious in Christ. Look at the big picture of God's Word! Take some time and meditate on Psalm 1.

A Living Sacrifice- The Only Way To A fulfilling & Purposeful Life:

The Book of Romans is a wonderful book to study and meditate on when it comes to the doctrine of our salvation. In the first eleven chapters of the book, the apostle Paul describes and explains the glories of God's redemptive plan for mankind. Then, when we come to chapter twelve, Paul begins the application part of his letter. He goes on to apply the doctrine of salvation as taught in chapters one through eleven. It is here in chapter twelve that Paul presents a foundation in the first two verses for which we may enjoy the blessings and benefits of our salvation. Paul will call for a sacrifice, no, not of animals, but of the self. Not a blood sacrifice for the blood has already been shed by our great Savior, but a living sacrifice where we wholly give of ourselves to God for His use and glory!

Take notice of our text. Romans 12:1-2  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

I want you to first notice with me THE PRESENTATION OF SELF TO GOD, V1:

Notice that in verse one Paul urges or exhorts the Roman believers to present themselves to God instead of using an imperative for a command. This word "beseech" is a strong urging here but a bit more gentler than a command. Paul desires to encourage them, to plead with them to make a willing surrender.

Observe next that Paul offers a strong motivation for his urging- a motivation based on God's mercies! These mercies are found in the first eleven chapters of Romans. God took pity on rebellious sinners. And yes, that includes you! In Romans 3:10-12 Paul quotes from the Book of Psalms (14 & 53) to reveal that no man sought God and that "none doeth good." Then in Romans 3:23 Paul clearly taught that all have sinned! No one deserves God's free gift of salvation and yet our merciful and loving Heavenly Father sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross to pay for the sins of those who place their faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation! What grace and mercy? God shows favor on the undeserving, pardons our sins, justifies us freely by faith, adopts us as His children, provides us with the world's greatest benefit package, and sends us the great gift of the Holy Spirit to equip, assist, and sanctify us. What mercy! and what a great motivation to lead us to surrender ourselves to the Lord!

Notice now the call to present ourselves to God. Paul calls upon all believers to present themselves a living sacrifice to God. Paul uses the language of an offering/sacrifice picturing the Old Testament burnt offering. There were two major blood offerings in the Old Testament: sin and burnt offerings. Excluding the hide of the animal, the rest of the animal used in a burnt offering was completely consumed by fire on the altar as a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. This was a voluntary offering as an act of consecration to God. Here in our text Paul calls for us to completely surrender ourselves to God and His will. A complete resignation! We are to offer our bodies- our complete self- to the Lord. Even though it seems that Paul uses the term body for the entire self, the body is the vehicle for righteous or sinful acts.  Observe some comments by Alexander MacLaren:

"...that all our activities done by means of brain and eye and tongue and hand and foot shall be consciously devoted to Him, and laid as a sacrifice upon His altar. That pervasive, universally diffused reference to God, in all the details of daily life, is the thing that Christian men and women need most of all to try to cultivate."

Paul is calling for a deliberate choice of deep commitment  to God because of God's mercies. Our actions, reactions, decisions, activities all matter to God. We are His ambassadors (2Corinthians 5:17-20) and we are to live like it! We must guard everything we do and consider how it all reflects back on our God.

Paul goes on to explain some characteristic of an appropriate sacrifice. It is to be first a living sacrifice. Alive in Christ and energized by the Holy spirit, we are to walk in newness of life (6:4, 13) offering ourselves to God until He takes us unto Himself. Next, it is to be a holy sacrifice. a life set apart unto God and renouncing and battling sin. We are to be maturing in Christ and in obedience to God's Word! Thirdly, it is to be an acceptable sacrifice. The Greek word would probably be better translated "pleasing". It is a compound word meaning well-pleasing. This is a kind of sacrifice that God wills and recognizes as acceptable. It is pleasing to the Lord when we give Him our whole self (body, mind, and heart) for His use and glory. We are to give God pleasure by the way in which we live. Lastly, this sacrifice is reasonable service. Some other translations will use "reasonable" or even "spiritual." The word does have the idea of thoughtful, rational, pertaining to reason or agreeable to reason. The word is rare in the New Testament, but is found used by ancient philosophers since the time of Aristotle. The philosophers often used the word in the sense of "carefully thought through", or "thoughtful."  The word for "service" is a word for "worship." So putting the two words together, it is only reasonable and logical to fully surrender to the Lord because of all that He has done for us. He deserves our intelligent and deliberate worship including our life and activities. As a Christian, all of life is to be worship to God!

Secondly, I want you to notice THE PROCESS OF PRESENTATION, V.2:

Paul next explains to us the process of presentation to God in verse two by giving two commands: a negative and a positive one. First, the negative command: "And be not conformed to this world." We are not to adapt to or be squeezed into the world's mold in habit, manner, or lifestyle. The "world" is an anti God system led by Satan, the "prince and power of this world." The Greek construction is "stop being fashioned to this age." We are to resist all of the world's pressure tactics. We are not to give in to the world's ideals, consumerism, ideals of success, pleasures, etc. William Hendrickson explains well in the Baker New Testament Commentary:

"He is warning the membership then and now against yielding to the various manifestations of worldliness by which they are being constantly surrounded; such as the use of dirty or offensive language, the singing of scurrilous songs, the reading of filthy books, the wearing of tempting attire, engaging in questionable pastimes, associating, on intimate terms, with worldly companions, etc. There is hardly any end to the list."

Just think with me for a moment on the foolishness of following this world's ways.  1John 2:17 tells us that this world will be "pass away." And Galatians 1:4 tells us that Christ gave of Himself to deliver us from this "present evil world." This present age/world is antithetical to growth in true holiness. But also, believers will never be able to reach the lost by acting like the world. Therefore we must live according to God's world and guard against the influence of the world!

Notice secondly, the positive command in verse two: "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." This transformation is a radical and thorough change of our life, desires, and habits. But here especially, our minds need transformed because our thinking and understanding will drive our actions. Our word transformed here is a present, passive, imperative. As a present, it emphasizes continuous action; keep on being transformed. We are in a process of change. as a passive, something else is performing the action. Therefore, it is God that must change us and He does this through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. But, even though it is God that does the changing, we are not passive in the process for our word is also an imperative- a command. We must voluntarily place ourselves at God's disposal. We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's working by dealing with sin, spending time studying and meditating on God's Word, praying, and fellowshipping with brothers and sisters in Christ.

How are we to be transformed? "By the renewing of your mind." We need a re-programming of the mind! We have been corrupted by sin. Satan continually battles us- he is "a roaring Lion looking to who he may devour." Our minds are under constant attack. Many public schools and universities brainwash our young people with anti-god ideals. Humanism, evolutionary thought, environmentalism, etc. are all being pressed upon them. Media, entertainers, sports stars and the like constantly espouse ideals and behaviors contrary to God's truth. Unfortunately, even many Christians have accepted worldly ideals corrupting their testimony and effectiveness for Christ. So how are our minds renewed? By the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and transforms our thinking. Therefore, we must spend quality time in God's Word. We need a daily intake to inform and mature us. We need a Biblical Worldview! And that only comes by spending much time in God's Word in personal study, by spending time under the teaching and preaching of God's Word, and by fellowshipping with fellow believers. The mind is where spiritual maturity occurs for our thinking truly affects our actions.

Finally, I want you to notice THE RESULT OF PRESENTATION/TRANSFORMATION, V.2C:

When, and only when we truly present our selves to the Lord as a living sacrifice and allow our minds to be renewed, can we discern God's will and know how to live a purposeful life for the Lord! Do not expect to know God's will/direction for your life, if you ignore or take lightly His Word! God will direct us in life as we spend time with Him. He informs our thinking and gives us the ability to make good decisions based on Biblical principles.

Notice that God's will is always good, acceptable, and perfect. As good, it is always best for us. We could never improve it. He knows what is best. He sees what we don't see. He knows what we don't know. He is God, He cannot make a mistake, so trust Him! As we saw above, the word acceptable is a word for well-pleasing. When you accept God's will and live in light of it and His wonderful truths, you bring great joy to the Lord- you please Him! And finally, God's will is perfect. It is complete in every way with nothing lacking. It will perfect or mature us. Therefore God's will found in His word provides all of the instruction that you will need to fulfill the purpose for which He created you!

People are looking for purpose! Happiness! Completeness! Contentment! Well, these things can only be found as we completely give of ourselves, unreservedly to God so that He can do with us whatever He desires to. If you try to live life your own way, you will fail to be ultimately satisfied and to fulfill the reason for why God created you! God's way is always best and leads to blessing and contentment. Don't take my word on it, Take God at His Word and trust Him! Life cannot truly work without these foundational verses here in Romans 12.

Responding To Christ

What is your relationship like with Christ? How do you truly view your Savior? It is one thing to say that you love the Lord Jesus, but how do you truly respond to Him? We live amongst an anemic Christianity. Worldliness abounds with many Christians! The world's allurements take precedence over church attendance and Christian fellowship. Many Christians think and live like the world; a system that is antagonistic to God's Word. Why are our churches and so many Christians so weak and ineffective for Christ? It all comes down to how we truly view our savior. 

Let us notice several responses to Christ from the Scriptures. We will notice several Old Testament responses to a preincarnate Christ, and then a few examples from the New Testament. I want you to pay particular attention to how these people responded to their encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Encounters With The Preincarnate Christ:

Joshua 5:13-15

Joshua, while on a reconnaissance mission before the Battle of Jericho, was confronted with a man holding a sword in his hand.  Joshua asks if the man is for them or for their adversaries. And the mysterious man answers that he is none other than the "Captain of the host of the Lord." Joshua comes to realize that he is confronted with Deity. Notice carefully the two responses of Joshua. 1) he fell on his face! 2) He asks at the end of verse 14, "What saith my lord unto his servant?"  Joshua humbles himself and surrenders to the Lord's will. Joshua came to see that the preincarnate Lord would lead them to victory!

Isaiah 6

Isaiah had a vision where he saw the Lord high & lifted up in the Temple.  He saw a veiled yet glorious appearing of the preincarnate Jesus Christ. We know from John 12:37-43 that Isaiah saw Jesus. Notice that the hem or border of his royal garment filled the Temple (v.1). In v.4 "the house was filled with smoke." This smoke was the shekinah glory of God. We see this same image in heaven in Revelation 15:8, "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the Temple, till the seven plaques of the seven angels were fulfilled." Isaiah was overwhelmed by his vision.  Isaiah was reminded of who was the true King and Judge of Israel for King Uzziah has just died. And how did Isaiah respond to all of this? 

V.5, "Woe is me! for I am undone (ruined); because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." 

Do you think Isaiah just thought to himself; "How nice, wow!, What a vision," and just went on like nothing really happened? Of course not! This vision changed and challenged him. We are then told in v.8 that he answered God's call by exclaiming, "Here am I, send me." He was called to a difficult mission for God, but he was equipped by God and energized by his greater understanding of who was leading him!

Ezekiel 1:26-28

At Ezekiel's calling, he saw a vision of the glorious Christ in all His brightness and glory. He was a captive in Babylon. And as he was by the river Chebar God gave him a great vision. He heard a voice from the heavenly throne and saw an amazing sight. The description of the preincarnate Christ here reminds us of John's vision of Christ in Revelation chapter one. What an amazing sight!  And how did Ezekiel respond in v.28? "And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake."  Again we see, when confronted by the glory of Christ, Ezekiel humbles himself and surrenders to the Lord's will! 

New Testament Encounters With Christ:

Luke 5:1-9

Early in Christ’s ministry he returns to Galilee after His "time of temptation" in the wilderness and he extends a call to Peter, James, and John. Jesus was teaching at the sea of Galilee and a large crowd gathered to hear Him speak causing him to enter into Peter’s boat. There, He could better speak to the crowd. When he was done with His teaching, he instructed Peter to launch out further into the lake and to drop their nets. Peter tells Jesus that they fished all night with no success. They were experienced fisherman! Jesus was not an experienced fisherman by trade, Yet, Peter obeyed and dropped the nets. You remember the rest of the story. They caught an unbelievable amount of fish. So much so that the weight of the great catch almost caused to fishing boats to sink. How did Peter respond? Luke 5:8  "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus' knees and said, "Leave me, Lord! I am a sinful man!"

John 1:19-30

John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. His ministry was to prepare the way for Israel to accept Jesus as the Messiah. John the Baptist was a great man. This fact was proclaimed by Christ Himself. Yet, John understood his position under the greatness of Christ! Notice a few of his statements. V.27- "He it is (referring to Christ), who is coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." V.29- "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."  John the Baptist clearly understood and regognized the greatness of Christ and responded appropriately!

Revelation 1:9-20

By this time, John is the only remaining Apostle. He is banished to the small Island of Patmos, a small barren Island found in the Aegean Sea. In v.10 Christ summons the aged Apostle with a great voice as of a trumpet! In v.12 John turns to see who is talking to him and what a sight he sees! He sees the Lord Jesus Christ walking in the midst of the churches. But he also sees the Lord Jesus in a most spectacular way! Remember that John is the man who was apart of Jesus' "inner circle" along with James and Peter. John was also the one to relax in the lap of Jesus. John knew Jesus well, but he never saw Jesus like this in all His Glory! Read the passage to see this glorious sight. And how did John respond? V.17- He fell at Jesus' feet as dead! 

Do you notice a pattern yet? When confronted with the greatness of Christ, these men all fell on their faces with great humility! The only exception above is John the Baptist, but it is clear that he too responded with great humility! 

Friends, we cannot take Christ lightly! You and I can now understand the glory and greatness of Christ through  a completed Bible, a privilege that our above characters did not have! The responses of these men is quite instructive. Are you willing to learn from them?

We must see our majestic Lord as He really is! In all His Beauty, Majesty, Holiness, Power, Authority, and Sovereignty!  How could we ever take Him lightly? Or ignore His Instructions, or some how think that we know more than Him or think that we can run our lives better than He can!  We must remember who has full authority and right to our lives, and to remember that we will stand before Him in that future day to give an account, and that we all need to keep looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith in order to keep us in the perfect will of God so that we will truly glorify Him in all that we do!    

May we have the heart of John the Baptist when he stated that "He (Christ) must increase and I must decrease." How do you view Christ? Are you revering Him? Surrendering to Him and His will? Obeying His Word? The greatest medicine for the soul is Jesus Christ!

"Peace of Mind"

Many things can distract our focus, comfort, and peace. These things might consist of health problems, financial problems, job problems, family problems, etc. What is bothering you? What is robbing you of your peace? Let me encourage you that God knows all about it and truly cares. If you know Christ as your personal Savior, then you can be assured that God cares about what is bothering you and can help you to again find peace of mind!

Let us consider today three verses from 1Peter 5. 1Peter 5:5-7 " Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Let us examine these verses together in order to find peace of mind.

How Can We Receive This Peace?  

Background Information



We are told in 1Peter 1:1 that Peter is writing "...to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia." All of these cities belong to the northern Roman province of Asia Minor, known today as western Turkey. This letter was written to dispersed Jewish Christians. They were "strangers." They were living outside of Palestine. Persecution scattered them. They felt like a people without a home. In their minds they should be living in Palestine- the promised Land. As Christians, we are only passing through this world as pilgrims, until we attain our final residence with our wonderful Lord! Many times we can feel like strangers because the "World" does not understand us or our walk with complete submission to God and is ways! Peter's audience knew what persecution and misunderstanding was all about. They needed comforted and reminded of God's Word- just like us at times!

Humble Submission

 

Our first step in receiving peace of mind is humble submission. In v.5 Peter is telling the young to submit to the elders, but then adds that in a sense everyone ought to submit to each other. Peter is talking about a humility that considers others over self (Like Jesus modeled for us in Philippians 2:1-11). Peter goes on to state that God "gives grace to the humble." When we stop thinking about and exalting ourselves and submit to God's loving care and Sovereignty, then we are in a place for God to mature and truly care for us!

 

In v.6 Peter gives the command to humble ourselves. This means to submit to God's sovereign rule. In context, this means turn your problems and concerns over to God. Put your confidence in Him. He either allowed or brought these things into your life. God is in control! He can use these things to teach us, change us, strengthen us, and to mature us in our Christian life and experience. God has a purpose for all things and everything happens for a reason. Romans 8:28 " And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 

 

Also notice in v.6 that Peter says to humble ourselves "under the mighty hand of God." The "hand of God" can represent deliverance and discipline. Sometimes God will use trials and difficulties for a disciplinary measure- to get our attention that we are not walking rightly with Him. Now remember, this does not mean that all trials, sicknesses, and difficulties are meant as a disciplinary measure, but at times God will use these things that way. So it is always good to evaluate your life when trials and difficulties come your way! But we must also remember that God's "hand" is a "hand" that can deliver or see us through the difficulties of life. His "hand" is strong- nothing can hinder God from working on our behalf.

 

There is one more thing to notice in v.6. Humble yourselves by trusting and resting in God's strength, love, and care because in "due time" God "will exalt you." We must learn to be patient and wait on God's perfect timing. The "due time" is the appropriate or appointed time. God's timing is always perfect and He always knows what He is doing in our lives! In His timing, God will help us, free us, and strengthen us as He sees fit. Remember though, that God never promises to free us from all trials or sickness in this life, but He will help you through it and at times He does free and deliver us from our difficulties. This we do know as God's children; when He takes us unto Himself we will finally be free from those things! Full and complete freedom is coming! Be encouraged! Remember, Peters main emphasis here is that we must humble ourselves. Put your trust and confidence in God and turn everything over to Him!

 



Casting Your Cares On God

 

 

Secondly, in v.7a, we receive peace of mind by casting our concerns/problems upon the Lord. To cast something means to "through upon," to "get rid of" something, and then to leave it where you placed it. The word care means things that cause you anxiety, things that disrupt your mind or the peace of your mind. These "cares" draw you in different directions. you are robbed of stability and peace. These are the cares of this life that rob you of peace and rest. What is bothering you? What is causing you distress? Give it all over to the Lord! Go to God in prayer and tell God about it. Let Him do something about it.  You might say, "How do I do that?" You can only do it by understanding the truth about your God, His love for you, and His ability to do something about it.  You will only learn to do this well by spending much time with God cultivating your relationship to Him through Bible reading, praying, and sitting under the consistent teaching of His Word!  

 

Consider two Old Testament verses. Psalm 37:5 " Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it

to pass."  Submit all your problems to the Lord to deal with. The word commit means "to roll a heavy burden from yourself to another." We can't bear the thing, but some one else can- namely our all powerful and wonderful God! Trust Him- trust that God cares and is able to do something. And He shall bring it to pass- Albert Barnes says it well, "He will take care of your interests." God will do whatever is needed to secure the result that He wants for us. And God knows what is best for us!  Also consider, Psalm 55:22 " Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Notice God will sustain thee- the word means "to hold," to sustain," and also has the idea "to measure." God will measure out to us the perfect amount of strength and grace to endure and learn through our trials, difficulties, and concerns. You must believe it!! God does not lie!! We must learn to give to God our problems and concerns because He is the only one who can work all of these things out for our good. You are not strong enough to deal with the concerns of life on your own. Learn to give them to God- to leave them with Him- and you will start to experience real peace!

 

 

Understand God's Concern For You

 

 

Thirdly, to experience peace of mind, we must understand and believe the end of v.7- "...for He careth for you."

You could translate this "because you matter to Him." The word careth means "to be concerned," and has the idea of "watchful care." This verse tells us that we are the objects of God's watchful care. We DO Matter to God! God truly regards our needs and concerns.  Consider these verses: 

Psalm 27:10

"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." The idea is that even if everyone forsakes you, including your closest of relatives, the Lord is there for us. He loves us!  also consider, Psalm 40:17 " But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."  Why do we worry so? Why do we let things get to us so badly? If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you have a God who deeply cares about you!!

 

Friend, You can have peace of mind. Even through all the difficulties of this life! But we must learn to humble ourselves- place our trust and confidence fully in our wonderful, powerful God. We must learn to completely give our problems over to God, who is the only one that can do something about them in a way that is best for us! And we must learn to understand that God truly cares about us! Rest in this great truth. You can experience peace today! Will you?