Good News

“..Behold I bring you good news of great joy.. For unto you is born this day a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11

 

 Each day brings us closer to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  

 

 The angel's declaration above described a new way for all of mankind to satisfy the eternity that God has set in the hearts of men, Ecclesiastes 3:11.  God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us, Acts 17:26.

 

 

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12 NIV

 

 

Coming to him believing, Romans 10:9-10, we find entrance into His Kingdom where He rules as King, Colossians 1:13.  It is a Kingdom, as he said, within us, Luke 17:21.   It is a Kingdom established in Righteousness that brings us into peace with God and consequently ourselves and others (as much as lies within us) and this results in joy unspeakable and full of glory.  Romans 14:17; 1 Peter 7:8.  There will never be peace and joy until righteousness is established within.  Jesus tells us our pursuit is to be this Kingdom and His righteousness, Matthew 6:33. 

 

As we live in this Kingdom, our expression is led and directed by the working of His Holy Spirit, who enables us to manifest Kingdom life (Galatians 5).

 

“And the Angel said to them, Fear not…”

 

As we celebrate this Christmas Season, we are to be mindful that we are not of this world.  We are not to be governed or held in bondage to any fear that the things of this world present, Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 4:18. 

 

 We are celebrating a King of glory, looking for His return, to establish in a tangible physical reality what is now within us.  

 

“Glory to God in the highest and on and on earth peace, goodwill to men.”  

 

This government rests upon you and I, members of His church who now rule through Him in righteousness, bringing this message of great joy to all!    Every spiritual blessing in Christ is to be remembered and celebrated through Advent and we call to mind not only God’s great gift but the culmination of all things with His return. 

 

While we wait, we proclaim.  

While we wait, we demonstrate.

While we wait, we celebrate.  

 

Looking for and hastening His return. 

 

 

 

A Very Present Help

It takes spiritual discipline to consider Jesus.  To be mindful of Him at all times is a practice of presence.  However, human nature finds us much like the psalmist expresses in Psalm 107,  'they cried to Him in their troubles (again and again.) He delivered them from their distresses because of His steadfast love.’ This passage reminds us that God’s deliverance comes because of HIS faithfulness and steadfast love.

We find the one who is a very present help in time of need.  I like the phrase, very present help, meaning help that is right here, right now.  The fact that we may not perceive it does not invalidate the truth of this declaration.

What we find throughout the Old Testament examples is its full and eternal work established in Christ Jesus. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father, ever living to make intercession on behalf of those who come to God.

Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 NIV

We have Jesus, our high priest, who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  We find grace to help in the time of our need at the Throne of Grace, Hebrews 4:16.   

Hebrews, chapter two declares some of the greatest truths about the redemptive work and deliverance He has provided us.

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might test death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by who all things exist in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering…. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help though who are being tempted.  Verses 9-10;18.

In our times of trouble,  we are encouraged to consider Jesus,  this Son of Man, touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Because He himself has suffered when tempted, he is not only able but willing, as we see from the other verses above.  His very purpose was to destroy the works of the devil and bring us back into this wonderful relationship with God as our Father.

The Bible tells us Jesus “learned obedience from the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8),  and as the source of eternal salvation, He faithfully completed God's plan of redemption.  We learn and grow as we consider and obey Jesus in the midst of trouble.  There is a what must I obey in this moment that leads me into life.   If Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered, there is something in our troubles that we are to learn.  I submit to you it is simply the discipline to do the things we know we are to do, i.e., consider it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds because you know….James 1:2-4 it is a growth opportunity that develops character as we learn obedience by the things we suffer.   

Jesus encouraged his disciples in John’s gospel ~ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Mindful that there is no temptation taken us that is not common to man, including Jesus ~ But God is Faithful who will, with the temptation, make a way of escape that we may bear it.  1 Cor. 10:13

He is our very present help in time of need.

True Grace

“I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!”

1 Peter 5:12 NASB 

 

 

The Apostle Peter writes his first epistle, perhaps from Rome, during a time of tremendous persecution for believers. His purpose was to strengthen them by reminding them of who they were and what they had been given, enabling them to stand firm.  The words he wrote are still filled with enabling power to the one who believes. 

 

I wrote last week that grace is defined as God’s enabling power at work in us, but I neglected to mention that it is also his undeserved favour.  

 

 

Peter writes to the dispersed believers building their communities throughout Northern Asia Minor. His epistle is meant to be read by both Jews and Gentiles, reinforcing the truth, ‘exhorting and testifying’ that the message that has brought them to this place is the same grace that enables them to stand in the face of all opposition, persecution, and suffering for the name of Christ.  

 

 Peter emphasizes grace, again and again, in his letter as a tangible reality of their day-to-day help.  Peter reminds them that this grace was prophesied ~ 

 

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.”

1 Peter 1:10-11 

 

Because this grace has been declared and given, we must choose to believe and receive it in order for it to help us. The Apostle Paul reminds us that whatever ‘momentary light afflictions’ we may experience, there is a far ‘greater weight of glory working, 2 Corinthians. 4:17.  We must, according to Peter, keep it all in proper perspective to receive the outcome of our faith, that is, the salvation of our souls, 

 

Exhorted to be sober-minded, they were encouraged to set their hope fully on the grace to be brought to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Peter wrote in his second epistle that grace and peace are multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 2 Peter 1:3, with the exhortation from 2 Peter 3:18, to  ‘grow in that grace and knowledge.’ 

 

In the midst of an adverse culture, holy conduct is necessary for the chosen generation.  As His own possession,  believers were and are called to show forth His praises by their holy conduct as an offering to the one who called them out of darkness. 

 

 

Peter wrote about the grace received, to ‘stand firm in it.’  Paul writes the same message in Romans 5:1-5 ~ 

 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us…..

 

              Thus, we come boldly to the throne of grace.

 

 

A last thought from 1 Peter 5:10-11,

 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

 

By the grace of God....

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 

Hebrews 2:9

A remarkable truth jumped out at me as I read this…… Jesus’ ability to suffer and taste death for everyone was accomplished through his access of the grace of God. “So that by the grace of God, he might taste death.” 

You might think this isn’t significant, but this says to me that the ability we have to do the will of God in the most difficult moments can only be achieved by accessing the grace God gives.  

Jesus, the Son of Man, has experienced every temptation we will ever be touched with so that he can be the perfect Help.  

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16. 

And, “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”  2 Timothy 2:1. reminding us,  ‘we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us’. Philippians 4:13. (I define grace as Gods enabling power at work in us.)

Our life was not given to live independently from a need for God.  

Jesus endured the cross, having worked through His own will with loud cries and supplications.  In an agony, He prayed more earnestly, so that through experience, he could become the author of salvation made perfect through that prayerfully endured suffering.  And Hebrew’s exhortation, we “have not yet resisted to the shedding of blood,” makes this a powerful reminder that where trouble abounds grace does much more abound. We have been given immeasurable riches of grace in Christ Jesus. We learn as the Apostle Paul discovered, God's grace is sufficient in these moments. 

When we examine our own lives, do we fall short of accessing this power that is to us, who believe?  This strengthening of might in our inner man by His Spirit, the Spirit of Grace, is unto love.  A love that compels.  A love that values.  A love that willingly denies self for the greater good.   Do we frustrate His workings, quench His endeavours simply by denying the grace that has made us? Grace given to enable us to do the very works ordained for us.  


Our days ahead will demand that we be Spirit-filled believers, not in name or theory but in vital practicalities. Jesus’ last instructions to his disciples were to stay in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from above. 

A ''be being filled', from Ephesians 5:18-20, shows us the very present working of our Father in the church today.  This place of worship and presence, along with the emphasis of feeding daily upon His word, is the very life that enables us to obey.

Once again, a reminder: Jesus had to access the grace to taste death, endure the cross, and bend His will tells us there are no shortcuts for us.  He has left us an example that we are to follow with the assurance that grace is always sufficient so we can endure momentary light afflictions for the greater weight of glory promised.  


Hearing and Doing

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine, and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against the house, and it fell and great was the fall of it. “

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teachings .....’

Matthew 7: 24-28

This week we find ourselves at the conclusion of Jesus’s sermon. We find in our portion of scripture today our need to not simply hear his word but to do what he has said. This is our assurance during times of rain, floods, and winds of adversity that will beat on our house. I don’t know if this is just one storm of life or various kinds of storms, but either way the provision for remaining firm through any and all is the hearing of his word and the obedience of walking it out.

Jesus has finished realigning hearts and priorities for the individual who will choose the way He has laid out. Having now heard the words of Jesus, the people will surely be given opportunity to obey them.

We would be remiss not to encourage you to read Luke’s rendering in chapter 6:46-49 where he begins with Jesus’ question ~

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

I heard a man preaching the other day who made the comment that the difficulty with most Church adults today was the fact that they were adults in every sense of the word, proud, self reliant, skeptical, and the majority of the time not like children at all. Yet Jesus said we must become like children to enter His Kingdom. This child is humble, trusting and obedient.

Let us never confuse the reality of what Lordship truly is. Jesus said you call me ‘teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, For so I am. John 13:13 Whether, he is our Lord and master can only be revealed in our obedience to him.

From Jesus, the parable of the soil, the sowing of the word, we learn the word sown on the hard ground is snatched immediately away by Satan. We understand that the soil conditions are representations of heart conditions. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 18 reminds us a darkened understanding brings separation from the life of God. Ignorance is simply due to the hardening of hearts. Hard hearts are the fruit of long term disobedience.

Hebrews 3:15 reminds us “today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts...”

Jesus concludes his sermon on the mount telling us. It is the foolish man who hears the word and does not obey. This man is destined for ruin. Obedience becomes the bedrock to our lives, foundational to all we build.

The Bible has so many words that reveal to us God the Father, Jesus the word made flesh and the Holy Spirit - everything poured out for our well-being and equipping.

It begins right here with a heart that desires to please him with a hearing ear and the willing yes.

... But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:31

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.....”

John 14:15

False Prophets

“Look out for false prophets, who come to you under the guise of sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.  You must recognize them by their fruits.  People do not pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, do they?  So any healthy tree bears good fruit and a sickly tree bears poor fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear poor fruit, and a sickly tree cannot bear good fruit.  Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and burned up.  So you must recognize them by their fruits.”

 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only those who practice doing the will of my Father in heaven.  Many will say to me on the day, ‘Lord, Lord, was it not in your name that we prophesied, and in your name that we drove out demons, and in your name that we did many wonder-works?’  And then I will say to them openly, ‘I never knew you at all.  Go away from me, you who practiced doing wrong.’ ”  Matthew 7:15-23

                                   Williams New Testament

 

 

Helps study note on the ‘false prophet’ from the Discovery bible:

  • 5578/pseudoprophētēs ("a false prophet") specializes in the art of misimpression to "validate" they are "commissioned" by the Lord.  In fact, they operate by self and for self.  

 

 

 

While the New Testament has much to say about false prophets, and all of it has increasing importance in the chaotic days we find ourselves drifting towards, none of it is more fundamental than Jesus’ own words from his passage.  

 

From his last statement above, we discover both his bottom line and a long-noticed ministry phenomenon. Namely, one can prophesy, exorcise demons, and work miracles and still not be right with God.  The acid test of having been touched by God is not the ability to dabble in the supernatural realm with spirits and miracles; it is to be free of practicing wrong.

 

I recently heard a teacher give a plausible explanation for how a minister can operate within the anointing while having sin or un-dealt with character issues in his life. This is a very real and dangerous place to be for the minister, as it seems to say to him God’s endorsement is on his life or miracles and ministry would not be bearing fruit, but this is not the kind of fruit Jesus is speaking of.  The Bible teacher made this point: in essence, God has chosen faith as man's main connection to Him. He went on to say that faith is always rewarded.  But a rewarded faith is not always the endorsement of our lives we think it is.

 

This is also a very dangerous place for those watching and receiving the minister.  It suggests, as the minister’s practices are observed that God is not who he says He is: namely, a Holy God.

 

Notice by using the word ‘practiced’ that Jesus is not saying the prophet has to be a perfect man.  There will always be places to stumble, but when we own them and confess He is righteous to forgive and cleanse us. “Practicing doing wrong,” however, is long past faults to be worked on and has become a lifestyle.   

 

This is the simple beauty of Jesus' point.  We are to know those who labour among us.  We must have some intimate knowledge of the planting before we can unguardedly eat its fruit.  If the plant has something growing on it that should not be there, such as thorns and thistles, you have reason to think the fruit is suffering from some unhealthy cross-pollination.   If the messenger's outward presence seems to cover a different person inwardly, you might conclude motives and agendas aren’t matched properly.  

 

In the picture Jesus painted for us, no one seems more surprised at the outcome than the false prophets who, supposing they could use their accomplishments to justify themselves, discovered that beyond their works, they had never found their way into an intimate relationship with the Lord.

 

“I never knew you at all,” accompanied with, ”Go away from me,” shows plainly there comes a day when it will be too late to find that intimacy.  We, ourselves, and those we allow to influence our walk must have more than ministry results as their badge.  We and they must bear the inner markings of knowing him.

 

My thanks to my husband David, for writing this week's Good Word.

 

Narrow Gates

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy1 that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 

1 Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy

Matthew 7:13-14

 

 

Following on last week's Good Word of doing good, we understand that the choice to do good is the narrow way, with the wide and easy way being self-cantered.  It is disturbing to note Jesus said there are many who choose the wide gate and easy path.  So, let's look at the choices we make at these gates.   I want you to remember the Lord's words about the measuring stick we use when it comes to the doing unto others as we would have them do unto us.  This choice becomes either a wide or narrow gate we enter through.   

 

From Matthew 7:2 and Luke 6:38, we find the principle of the what and why we give being our measuring cup for return.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians chapter nine that God isn’t looking for giving done in a grudging manner but rather willing and cheerful.  The amplified adds the ‘prompt to do it, giver.’    

 

We want others' giving to us to be willing, cheerful, and hopefully prompt, but is it the way we measure in our good deeds?   We can see how this choice becomes a very narrow entrance that leads to a hard path because it requires the denial of self and usually some type of personal sacrifice.   

 

 

 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. 

Galatians 6:8-10

 

We can liken this wide and easy path to the path our flesh longs to travel.  Interesting to note the beginning of verse seven is the warning toward deception. How easy it is to deny the still, small voice, the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit when we are faced with the opportunity to do good.  This is the sowing we do to the flesh, but Paul, in Galatians, goes on to encourage us not to grow weary and to remember sowing good; we are promised a harvest in due season.   

 

This willing and generous heart must be pursued as a quality of character we want to possess to be as He is in this world.  As we choose the narrow way, we know and understand the personal effects of weariness and thanklessness that are sure to come.

 

We must choose to remember every act of kindness is a service to the Lord. Every drink of water or meal offered, every visit, and every needy person clothed should remind us that when we do it to the least, we do it unto Him…..Matthew 25:40.  Our willingness to choose to walk through our narrow gate onto a hard path will always glorify our Father and reap eternal rewards. 

 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17 

Do Good

Matthew 7:12-14

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy1 that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 

 

1 Some manuscripts, For the way is wide and easy

 

 

It would be in good order to compare Luke's Gospel, chapter six, verses twenty-seven through thirty-six as we consider this scripture today.  Luke records the same portion of Jesus’ sermon, highlighting doing good in various ways. 

 

If we hold both Luke and Matthew as instructions, we see the dynamics of interpersonal relationship and the way they are to be exercised.  If we would do them, how much healthier we would be. Ultimately, His church would display the kind of knowledge that all men would know we are His disciples by the love we manifest.

 

Here, we have the main principle laid out for us from both the Old and New Testaments —doing good to all. We find this is the very nature of God, who makes His rain to shine on the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45).   

 

For the Lord is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made (Psalm 145.9). 

 

Doing good is manifested in what the bible calls ‘good works.’ 

 

Goodness is described in Greek as; that which, being “good” in its character or constitution, is beneficial in its effect and is a fruit displayed by the Holy Spirit at work in us.  Just as God is love, God is good.   It is through His exceeding great and precious promises that we are able to partake of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) enabling us to display various acts of goodness to all. 

 

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.  Titus 3:8 

 

 

The do unto others as you would have them do unto you is the narrow way.  Jesus tells us the easy way has broad borders, encouraging us to choose our own way. The consistent dynamic about the love of God is the selflessness it displays.  Its propensity is to suffer any and all hardships for the well-being of another.  This is the way of Christ. 

 

 

The wide and easy way is the choice to preserve oneself. If you consider the times and reasonings that take place on this path, you will find they usually revolve around self, which we are assured ends in destruction.  Our ability to enter into a narrow way is simply the process of denying ourselves in the moment and choosing Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life.  

 

 

 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,  thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.  1 Timothy 6:18-19

Ask. Seek. Knock

 

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

 

Matthew 7:7-8

 

Ellicott Commentary Notes ~ “The three words imply distinct degrees of intensity. There is the “asking” in the spoken words of prayer, the “seeking” in the efforts and labours which are acted prayers, the “knocking” at the gate with the urgent importunity which claims admission into our Father’s house.”

 

We are mindful of the persistence of the widow from Luke 18 which emphasizes that we are always to pray and not lose heart.  We are mindful of Jesus in the garden, who encourages us to know the Spirit is willing to help strengthen us.  We are to engage in prayer lest we fall into temptation.  We can’t stop the hour that comes to us, but we can be and are prepared through our times of prayer.  

 

As always, I want to remind you that prayer is not a formula where we are heard by our many words that hold no heart engagement. It is not a religious exercise, but a spiritual discipline. It is an intimate fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit from whom all blessings flow.  

 

Our invitation to come, to ask, to seek, and knock are met with the assurance that where and what we lack, He provides ~ 

    Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent.  Matthew 7: 9-10.

 

The epistle of James 1:5-8 and 1 John 5:14-15 are foundational  to our method and means of prayer. Ask in faith; nothing doubting.  Ask amiss, and we do not receive.  Alignment with the Father is seen in the asking.  “Father, not my will but yours” is always our starting point.  

 

The seeking and searching of the scripture to know and understand His will is our responsibility.  There is a leading and revelation that comes through the Holy Spirit that assures our heart this is right before Him. 

 if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.… Proverbs 2:3-5

 

The knocking becomes our expression of trust.  There is none other we turn to; our eyes are on you.  Always mindful of the heavenly door that stands open and the Spirit bids us “come up here” we rest ……

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11. 

 

Dogs and Pigs

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Matthew 7:6 NASB2020

The Cambridge Commentary notes that the connection between today’s verse and the previous ones is not entirely obvious.  “It (the distinction) seems to be this, although evil and censorious judgment is to be avoided, discrimination is needful.  The Christian must be judicious, not judicial.”

As I began to study and examine various commentaries on our verse, I found the metaphors Jesus used to be interesting. He notes not only that we have holy things entrusted to us but also describes the type of people we should NOT share them with.

From Ellicotts’ Commentary -

The “dogs” and the “swine,” in their turn, represent distinct forms of evil, the former being here, as in  Philippians 3:2, Revelation 22:15, the type of impurity, the latter (as in Psalm 80:13) of ferocity

From Discovery Bible Word Helps Study -

2965 kýōn –  literally, a dog, scavenging canine; (figuratively) a spiritual predator who feeds off others.

  1. "Dog" in NT days was a slang term for someone ceremonially unclean who therefore (supposedly) spread their "spiritual defilement" on contact.  Thus the use of "dog" for someone was far from affectionate and conjured up reproach (insult).

  2. In Phil 3:2, "dogs" refers to Judaizers.  They identified themselves as believers (Christians), but said Jesus was the Saviour of Israel (Jews) only. They also insisted Christ's kingdom could be entered only through the religious gate of Judaism (i.e. first becoming a Jew).

Being unclean animals, dogs were used to denote what was unholy or profane. So Mt 7:6; Rev 22:15.  The Israelites are forbidden in Deuteronomy to bring the price of a male prostitute (literally 'dog') into the house of God for any vow: Dt 23:18.  The Gentiles of the Christian era were denominated dogs by the Jews, see Mt 15:26.  ). "Compare Phil 3:2. This was the term of reproach with which the Judaizers stigmatized the Gentiles as impure. Paul here retorts upon them their own epithet."

Earlier in chapter six, we saw that everyone’s heart holds a treasure. From Jesus’ perspective, he is communicating to his listeners sacred and holy truths, ‘words of life,’ which are eternal treasures that we are encouraged to lay up for ourselves. We refer to the words in this book we call the Bible as ‘Holy’  Scripture.

These words are written according to 2 Tm 3:16-17 in the AMPC

“Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Our common concept of holy is something that is pure and clean as opposed to unclean.  Yet the Greek word for Holy means ‘different.’  Clean and pure are the result of being ‘different.’

From Helps Word Studies -

   40 hágios – properly, different ("unlike"), other("otherness"), holy; in relation to believers, 40 (hágios) refers to "likeness of nature with the Lord," i.e. they are also "different from the world."

The fundamental meaning of 40 (hágios) is "different" so a temple in the 1st century was called hagios ("holy") – because different from other buildings (Wm. Barclay).  In the NT, 40/hágios ("holy") has the "technical" meaning "different from the world" because "like the Lord."

[40 (hagios) implies something "set apart" and therefore "different(distinguished/distinct)" – i.e. "other," because special to the Lord.

When we recognize the word of God as the creative power and life emanating from God's mouth, we will hold it in reverential fear.

Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honour to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.”

Matthew 7:6 MSG

The truths Jesus imparted were holy and life-giving, i.e., ‘words of life.’ Treating the holy, the sacred, as common or unclean is sin.

Our great need is learning to work with the Holy Spirit and, like Jesus, only say what we hear the Father saying.   

The ability to distinguish our audience, if you will, the dogs and swine, and to remember that we hold pearls of great wisdom gives us the occasion to learn who and what God has given us to sow. While we are instructed to sow the word, we must be aware of who we are sowing into and, thus, hopefully, discern their receptivity.   

It’s interesting to note the story in Mark 7:25-30 of the Syrophoenician Woman receiving deliverance for her daughter.

Opportunity comes to all, but Jesus knew his audience. He knew crowds from disciples and gave truth out accordingly.   Jesus knew who he had been given, John 17:6 and gave them the words of life, John 17:8, and they received and believed.

Right people, right hearts, right words bring forth fruit that glorifies our Father.  May we faithfully hold and sow that which is holy and sacred in His eyes.

More Judging

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.  3. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4. Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.   

Matthew 7: 1-5

We learn from Jesus it is the log in our own eye which prevents us from seeing clearly.  Logs skew our perceptions.  Jesus also said in Matthew 13:14, “ever seeing never perceiving” was due to hardened hearts,  We are blinded by our own perceptions.  The danger of levelling judgment is that we can never know another’s heart.  The best we have is what we see, appearance, and appearances can be deceptive.

  • John 7:24  Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

  •         1 Samuel 16:7. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance…..For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

  •         Isaiah 11:3 highlights the servant of the Lord, whom we understand to be Jesus as the one walking in the fear of the Lord, “does not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.…”

Righteous judgment is required. While we may think our judgments are right and pure, they can only be found right IN GOD.  He alone is the one who is righteous and just in all His decrees.

John 8:15 ‘You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.’

ALL righteous judgment revolves around government and rule. While we understand all authority has been given to Jesus and we have been given the right to use His authority; we must know how far that takes us and to whom and what that authority governs.

Judgment works hand in hand with authority.  Where we have been given responsibility, we have been given authority.  Where we have been given authority we must recognize how far that authority extends in our government.  Again we rule under the headship of Jesus.  All authority has been given to Him.  We have nothing that has not been given to us.

Biblically, we find authority and responsibility given to husbands within the marriage covenant, Gen 3:16; parents over children Eph. 6:1; pastors over flocks; five fold ministry over His church Ephesians.4, Heb 13:17.  All these areas govern under His authority understanding they are accountable and responsible to Him for their rule and  judgments.  Each role has their own set of biblical instructions and boundaries to operate within, clearly established in scripture.

The Apostle Paul gave strong instruction to the church in Corinth as the one who was both responsible and accountable for governing the body he had birthed.  Exercising His authority, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ or under the authority of Christ or if Jesus was here this is what he would do and say, he writes -

For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 5:3-5 NLT

  

From 1 Corinthians 6:1-6, again Paul sets this standard. ~

Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbour, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?

In summation, we can understand from scripture that there is a time and place for righteous judgment, for oneself, in marriage, in family, and within the church.  There is always order in God.  Within the use of the authority we have been given, it must be flowing from the head, always given in the tension of knowing what we give out is measured back to us.

A PS ~ let’s not fail to remember James 2:13 as we navigate this topic.

Jesus on Judging

The complex topic of judging holds more than a few biblical contradictions when looked at as individual passages. We are going to take a fuller look at both sides of this “do not/ do” dichotomy over the next two weeks. 

As we hold the concept of judging let us remember that there is one righteous and just judge, the Lord God Almighty. Therefore judgment in and of itself can not be wrong, lest God himself be found guilty. Paul reminds us if we would judge ourselves we would not be in danger of being judged but,1Corinthians 11:32, when we are judged by the Lord we are disciplined so we may not be condemned along with the the world.

Let’s begin with Jesus’ words from Matthew 7:5 ~

Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.   

First of all, this is about our perspective and the judgment that we give and the way we give it being the judgment we would receive from the Lord.  Jesus says, don’t judge so you won’t be judged.  Jesus says there is a way we judge and a standard of measure we use to judge by.  It is both the way we judge and our standard of measure that becomes the measurement for judgment to us.  So our conclusion would be to not  engage in judgment unless we are prepared to be judged.

We must check our motivations.  Righteous instead of self righteous, proud and arrogant submitted to meek and humble, are the ways to proceed.  The standard of judgment becomes the “how much” we pour out, if you will.  Comparing Jesus sermon here from Luke’s recording in chapter six, we read verses 37-38:

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I’m sure none of us are looking for the good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over when it comes to receiving judgment.  

Jesus tells of the self righteous Pharisee in Luke18:11-14 highlighting the injustice in him. We can not overlook the emphasis Jesus places on the hypocrisy in the way that we judge.  STRONGS GREEK definition of hypocrite reads,“hupokrinomai; an actor under an assumed character, i.e. a dissembler.” I think we can safely add the word ‘pretender’ too.  A potential danger that lies within everyone, even as a believer, is self righteousness, arrogance and pride.  With those being our ways, the measure we pour forth would be spiteful and vindictive. We would be quick to heap out unrighteous judgment.

 As Romans 2:1-3 reminds us ~ 

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

 The above verses make me mindful of Jesus’ scenario with the woman caught in adultery, “he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone”. 

James 2:12 reminds us ~ 

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

To be continued…..

Cure for Anxiety

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life….”

Matthew 6:25

 

You might want to go back to the previous Good Words to consider the context for the ‘therefore’ found here.  Jesus laid a foundation for us to avoid anxiety in life in the previous verses of Matthew 6:19-24.  As he continues his sermon in verses 25-34, He gives the cure for anxiety.  

 

Oxford’s online dictionary translates anxiety as ~ a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.  This is the mental health crisis reflected in our society today. 

Oxford notes this from the PSYCHIATRY viewpoint ~ 

“ a mental condition characterized by excessive apprehensiveness about real or perceived threats, typically leading to avoidance behaviors and often to physical symptoms such as increased heart rate and muscle tension.  "We are seeing more calls related to anxiety and depression.”
 

When Jesus said ‘do not worry about your life’….. we find from the Greek word in Helps Word Study the following definition ~

3309merimnáō (from 3308/mérimna, "a part, as opposed to the whole") – properly, drawn in opposite directions; "divided into parts" (A. T. Robertson); (figuratively) "go to pieces" when pulled apart (in different directions), 

3809 (merimnaō ) is "an old verb for worry and anxiety – literally, to be divided, distracted" (WP, 2, 156).  It is more commonly used in this negative sense in the NT.

  1. 3309/merimnaō ("divided from anxiety") disunifies a person and robs them of God's peace (His gift of wholeness).  3309 (merimnaō) comes "from meris/merizō, meaning care or anxiety that distracts and divides" (WP at Mt 6:25), i.e. "to be distracted" (WP, 1, 376). 

 

Sometimes, we can be so overwhelmed with life's immediate needs that we forget that God is working to establish a purpose in everything. Whether it is the right thought or action, He has a way that leads us into the abundant life that He has prepared for us to walk in, ‘wholeness,’ if you will. 

 

This requires our ability to pause and consider. We need to reflect and ask before we take any further steps.  It’s not simply ‘don’t think about that.’  Jesus tells us what and who we are to think about.  You can’t serve two masters.  

 

Of course, sometimes, the practical does not allow that, and we operate from a purely instinctive response. Those moments do reveal what the heart carries.  

 

Jesus highlights anxiety being seen in our speech when he says,  “Therefore do not be anxious saying”….  Matthew 6: 31 and Matthew 12:34 Jesus says it is ‘out of the abundance of our hearts our mouth speaks.  From Mark’s gospel, he tells us it’s the ‘evil thoughts’ that have the power to defile us, Mark 6:20-21. 

 

The only way we can be sure of the proper responses would be by abiding.  If I abide in Him and He abides in me - well, things go better.  You know this word abide means to settle in and dwell.  It is a permanent state we live in, and within the abiding belongs the seeking.  

 

Jesus, in this portion of His sermon, tells us what we are to consider and why.  I have the wonderful gift of sitting at my desk and viewing the great outdoors. I see the birds, the trees, the majesty of the Pacific Ocean, the islands, and the mountains, and I am able to consider the greatness of my creator.  I am able to lift my head and consider all that Jesus exhorts in this chapter of Matthew.  OR,  I can totally overlook all this wonder and be consumed with my fears.  The choice is mine.  The choice is yours.  Obviously, the right choice is to consider Him and His word.  To lay aside every other consideration and hold my attention to the one I am to seek first. 

 

Jesus promises that if I will seek first His kingdom (the one that holds righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; if it lies outside of that, it’s not Kingdom), everything else will be added.  I don’t have to seek after the need.  I don’t have to solve the problem.  I have to seek first what is right and peaceable, and in obedience, I hold His joy.  

 

And then He assures us tomorrow will have its own issues, but for today, this was sufficient. 

Storing up

Sometimes we can be so familiar with the words of God that their power does not impact.  Jesus spoke to reveal the heart and mind of our Father, and Jesus came to give us abundant life.  Abundant life hinges on our willingness to believe and receive the bread of life.  As the word of Life, the attention we then give it provides our foundation for abundant life, so today, let’s approach his teaching from the sermon on the mount with a desire to hear what the Spirit says.  

 

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.  

Matthew 6:19-21

 

Helps Word Study notes the Greek on the word treasure: 2344 (thēsauros) is literally "a receptacle for valuables”).]A. T. Robertson, "In the ancient writers it meant ‘treasury’…. So a 'storehouse' as in Mt 13:52.  Then it means the things laid up in store, treasure in heaven (Mt 6:20), in Christ (Col 2:3). 

 

Do not Store up is a Negated Greek Present Imperative, and an NGP always means to Keep on refusing to do this! – and/or Stop doing this if it has already started!  The negated NT (Greek) present imperative conveys: Constantly avoid this … keep on resisting! – or Stop (if it is already happening)!  The context indicates which idea is meant or both senses simultaneously.  [This prohibition always relays ongoing action requiring (positively) continuing vigilance, enduring resistance, etc.]. THE DISCOVERY BIBLE

 

There are no other words in English that carry the same emphatic meaning as DO NOT. Jesus addressed prayer and fasting as a way to check our heart desires, and now, again, he is highlighting heart issues, giving us both the Do Not and the DO.

 

We identify the reality of our hearts by our words and deeds.  Without being lovers of truth, the Holy Spirit has a hard time overcoming our blindness to convince us of the evils that lurk within.  

 

Paul wrote to the Romans, warning that  hard and impenitent hearts store up wrath for the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment is revealed, Romans 2:5.

 

Luke's gospel records Jesus’ parable of the Rich Fool from chapter twelve, verses thirteen through twenty-one. In this parable Jesus highlights guarding against all covetousness. He concludes that the one who lays up for himself is a “fool” because he is not rich toward God.  

 

The following verses from James 5:1-6 bring stern cautions to believers. ~ 

 

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

 

I wrote last week, “Fasting is a tool we use to ensure that our relationship with our heavenly Father is the most essential thing in our lives.”  Fasting keeps all other appetites checked and in order.   The psalmist talks about his one desire being the presence of the Lord, Psalm 27:4.  As we curtail our natural appetites and feed our spiritual ones, we find the things of the world growing dim.  

 

Jesus’ parables explaining the kingdom of heaven from Matthew’s gospel tell of the man who finds the hidden treasure in a field and sells all he has to buy it (13:44).  Another, in search of one pearl of great value, finds it and sells all he has to buy it (13:45).  Jesus used these stories to illustrate the greater treasure we are to find in Him and His kingdom.  

 

Our admonition from Him is to keep our heart in heaven, and we do this by seeking the things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  We set our minds on things above and not on things that are on earth. For we have died to these elemental things, and our life is hidden with Christ in God, Colossians 3:1-3.

 

 

My next Good Word  ~  September 08, 2024. 

 

Another Secret Place

“And when you fast..”

MATTHEW 6:16

As believers, we participate in and practice a lifestyle of fasting, collectively within our churches and individually. My thoughts today address the specifics of personal and private fasting.  Just like prayer done in secret and before the Father, Jesus taught that fasting was to be the same.  We have a promise of reward, but we do not do this for the reward.

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  Matthew 6: 16-18

Fasting is a tool we use to ensure that our relationship with our heavenly Father is the most essential thing in our lives. When Jesus begins his next thought in verse 19 about the laying up of treasures in heaven, we learn that our prayers and our fasting are eternal treasures. Praying and fasting connect our hearts to all things spiritual and Godly.

Our natural man holds earthly appetites with eyes that are never satisfied.  The Apostle John warns us in the second chapter of his first epistle that the allure of all that is in the world, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life appeal to our natural man and rob our love for God.  ‘Temptation is the pull of man’s own evil thoughts and wishes’  is the Living Bible translation of James 1:14.  James warns us that sin enters through our appetites.

While living in this world, we must pay attention to the appetites we feed.  There was something about that ‘apple’ that drew Eve’s attention. She considered it long enough to determine it was good for food.  She found it pleasing to her eyes and desirable to make one wise.

Fasting checks our desires and provides us with the right alignment of spirit, soul, and body. Since the time and attention we give to anything has the power to influence our hearts, minds, and bodies, this fasted-checking recalibrates our appetites, ever edging them back to a hunger for the Lord.

The Apostle Paul also understood the pull of the flesh and wrote 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we have an imperishable one.  Therefore, I run in such a way as not without aim: I box in such a way as not beating the air, but I discipline my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul also warned against practicing only body exercises and leaving the disciplines of renewing the mind and spiritual growth to conform to Christ. While bodily exercise profits a little, godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of life that now is and that which is to come, 1 Timothy 4:8.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline.  Attentive to the Holy Spirit and desiring only to please our Father, we live by His Yes and No.  There is a time for everything in our lives.  Depending upon the needs we face, fasting might require some length of days, or we may choose to live a fasted lifestyle for the sake of spiritual discipline.

While we place no trust in the natural discipline of denying our flesh (for we are warned in Colossians of turning that into will worship, which strengthens our flesh), we fast for the purposes of strengthening our spirit man as we attend to His word.

We DO NOT fast and sit around all day feeding on social media or entertainment of any kind.  Fasting is to be a separation unto the Father and in secret.  That means you don’t ideally fast when you have obligations or activities that require your attention, i.e., job and family matters.  Some private and quiet space is needed for the best result.

Wherever we find a natural desire that tends to greed and indulgence, we note that these are the antithesis of doing all things in moderation (Phil 4:5).  Paul tells us everything God has created is good and is to be received with thanksgiving.

One of the benefits of fasting is returning to a place of appreciation and thankfulness for what we have just given up. After all, we are to be content with food and clothing.

The Secret Place

Matthew 6:5 ~ 

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

 

  • Helps Word Study on Hypocrites ~ 5273 hypokritḗs (a masculine noun derived from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 2919 /krínō, "judge") – properly, a judging under, like a performer acting under a mask (i.e. a theater-actor); (figuratively) a two-faced person; a "hypocrite," whose profession does not match their practice – i.e. someone who "says one thing but does another. (hypokritḗs) was commonly used of actors on the Greek stage. When applied in the NT, it refers to a hypocrite.

 

Matthew 6:6 ~ 

6 “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

 

 

Who does not know the instructions from Jesus on  ‘when you pray’?   We see from these verses this week that it wasn’t a matter of not praying but rather why they prayed.   We can never stray from the reality of heart matters before God.  God looks at the heart.  God examines hearts.  A right heart can be corrected and steered.  Jesus first addresses the hypocrite in his act of prayer.  They hold wrong motivations; their form looks good, but their hearts are far removed. They want to be seen by others. 

 

Jesus comes to set in order so the pray.er and his prayers can be both seen and heard and rewarded by the Father.  

 


Matthew 6:7 ~ 

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

 

They ‘think’ many words move God. Jesus said they heap up empty phrases. Prayer is not to be meaningless repetitions, words without heart attachment. It isn’t the many words but their emptiness that is fruitless.  

 

There is so much here that could be said about the multitude of words, but let us remind ourselves that 'in the multitude of words, sin is not lacking.’   The tongue unrestrained is trouble for you and me, but the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.  What is right before our Father produces rewards. 

 

Prayer is always to the Father, ‘our Father in Heaven’ and asked ‘in the name of Jesus.’ 

‘In the name of Jesus’ is not the signature on a blank check, but the words that are spoken just as if Jesus was speaking them.  As the apostle and high priest of our confession, the one who ever lives to make intercession should there not be proper alignment with the one who is always right in His prayer.  

 

… Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” ~ John 16:23-24

 

Divine alignment is always the first place of prayer.  Finding ourselves one with his heart and mind sets us in order and gives us the confidence that He hears us when we pray, and because he hears us, we know He will provide us with what we have asked for, 1 John 5:14-15. 

 

One more thought: just as Moses was called up to the mountain, instructed by God to go alone, ‘bring no man with you,’ bring the ‘stone tablets’ and ‘present yourself.’  Exodus 34:1, our secret place must be separate from others, the door shut from all distractions with hearts prepared to be written on as we present ourselves to Him.  

 

There is something about the secret place that holds the Father’s eye and ear with the promise of open rewards. 

 

 

Examining Commitment

Philippians 2:...

 

‘So then my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.'

 

 

  • “Work hard to show the results of your salvation - obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” NLT 

 

 

In an hour when much of the North American church is having its leadership purged, a purity within is arising that presses for God's holiness to be manifested in and through His body.  

 

We see from the Apostle Paul's writing to the church at Philippi the heart he carries in his personal commitment to the cause of Christ and one he desires for those He stewards to also hold. 

 

Paul does not have the luxury of living within the community of believers in Philippi, but this does not diminish his heart or his sense of oversight for them. He carries them in the place of prayer and through his writing, exhorts and instructs.  

 

We, in the North American church, have the privilege (right now, anyway) of gathering as a Christian community without restrictions.  Pastors are given oversight to herald and preach the word of God, to be instant in season and out of season whether it is convent or not.  Called to instruct, correct, admonish, and encourage, we are “to show people in what way their lives are wrong. And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.” The Amplified Bible (2 Ti 4:2).

 

We hold the same understanding and urgency we find from Paul’s warning as he continues in 2 Timothy 4: from the Amplified Bible…

 

3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 

4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. 5 As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry. While we might not all be graced to be evangelists, we are all called to make disciples. Are we faithful stewards over the things that have been entrusted to us?  Are we diligently working while it is light, knowing the night comes when no man can work?  

 

Paul writes that in the absence of his presence, he desires for this obedience (not to him but to the gospel He preaches) to be held to and worked out for the Philippians' ongoing salvation.  

 

The early church lived in a time of ongoing persecution and suffering to name the name of Jesus Christ.  Culturally, life would have been hard for those without position or power and community provided a source of strength and encouragement.  

 

Commitment works out character that is tried and tested in life.  It is in this place of community our character is tested and proven.  Our character is only revealed as it is pressed. 

 

It is in community that we find encouragement and accountability, that we are provoked to love and good works, and that we find communion around a common cause.  The Book of Hebrews exhorted the believers not to forsake the assembling of themselves together. the purposes of our Lord.  This community, these intimate relationships, served to strengthen and support the believers through a time of persecution. 

 

Who we would be individually if we lost the right of community?  In my years as a Christian, I've experienced two distinct revival seasons within the church. As I consider where and what the church is giving itself to now in the prayer and worship movement, I trust that it is truly igniting hearts that are able to remain steadfast and immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord.  Individuals who find their union with God extending into a deepening union with others.  
 

“For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him and then helping you do what he wants.”  Living Bible, Philippians 2:13

Who Do You Want People to See?

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.’

Matthew 6:1

Through these first verses of Matthew six, Jesus reflects on the righteous works of giving, prayer, and fasting, showing us how to do these things rightly, in His sight, i.e., righteously.

Jesus’ beginning word today, BEWARE, exhorts us to guard against the evil desire of wanting to be seen by others. Being seen by others will never fully satisfy the validation our hearts crave. Our personal motivations are huge. We must consider the reasons why ‘we do what we do.  Is our desire to be pleasing to Him through our obedience, or is it to just be seen?

Jesus’ submission to John’s baptism of water was to fulfill all righteousness (that which was right before God).  His submitted obedience rewarded him with the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the Father’s validation that he was a ‘beloved son in whom God was well pleased.’

We are called to be examples of believers, so our faith is inevitably seen by others. Whether we want to be seen for our own validation (idolatry) or to be seen through our obedience that points to the Lord (Icons, pointing past ourselves) can only be revealed through the searching of our hearts.   

Only God can know what lies in the heart of man. Man himself can be deceived from a lifestyle of practicing the right way of doing without personal and private fellowship with the Father.  This is how the bad connotation of religion is built.  A form of Godliness.  A white-washed tomb.  Something that looks right in appearance yet is filled with 'dead man bones.’

Jesus told his disciples to watch out for two things ~ the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.  These are practices held by others (religious and political leadership) that can appear right to the sight of man but, from God’s perspective, come from or lead to, unrighteousness.

Jesus' eight woes to the Pharisees in chapter 23 of Matthew highlight works done from an unrighteous desire to be seen. Note verses 25 through 28.

[25] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. [26] You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

[27] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. [28] So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Jesus sought no glory from man. His purpose was to reveal the Father. “He who has seen me has seen the Father”, John 14:9. Every word, every deed pointed to His Father.   

Our question today would be, “Who do we want people to see?”

But I say ~ Love Your Enemies

 

[43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [48] You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

 

 

There can only be one cure for the human bias and racism in the heart of man and that is the Love of God.  I write the love of God because no human love can endure long and never fail.   

 

It is only and always by the power of the Holy Spirit working His love within our hearts that enables us to love the good and the evil in personalities. 

 

 

Jesus gives us two very simple instructions here. 

  • Love our enemies 

  • Pray for our persecutors  

And then we come to this “even as” standard once again, where Jesus tells us this habitual response reveals we are the children of God.  

 

Jude reminds us to keep ourselves in the love of God praying in the Holy Spirit. There is no other way or resource that will enable us to remain steadfast in the face of evil and persecution except the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.  

 

I personally believe a lifestyle of prayer is foundational for a person to display the love of God and the fruit of the spirit. If prayer is, and it is, a position of fellowship with the father that is first and foremost a union with his heart and mind, how can we become anything less than Him in that union?  Again, Jude reminds us that it is our responsibility to keep ourselves in the love of God.  We must go to the throne of Grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. What greater need do we have than to remain in the love of God in the face of evil and persecution. 

 

As I write this, David highlights from this scripture, Hebrews 4:16, the literal Greek does not say we find Grace to help ‘ourselves’.   It could also mean that we find Grace that enables us to help someone else or Grace that will help someone else through our intercession on their behalf. Praying for another who has or is persecuting us, can become an open door for God to move into their life and change a heart.

 

Our issue is never loving the lovely, well, sometimes it is, but mostly it is carrying the heart and mind of God when it comes to those who represent evil and persecution.

 

From the beatitudes Jesus told us when we were persecuted we were to rejoice and be glad for our reward would be great in heaven. Our right response is vital to being perfect as our father is perfect.  

 

Let’s examine this Greek word for perfect - teleios:  meaning having reached its end,complete, by ext  perfect, (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full grown, of full age, (c) specially of the completeness of Christian character. 

 

Helps word studies:

Cognate: 5046 téleios (an adjective, derived from 5506 /télos, "consummated goal") – mature(consummated) from going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal, i.e. developed into a consummating completion by fulfilling the necessary process (spiritual journey).

[This root (tel-) means "reaching the end (aim)." It is well-illustrated with the old pirate's telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness.  

 

 

When the perfect comes the incomplete, the imperfect, the partial is done away with. Until that time we strive for the mark of the high calling found in Christ Jesus. From the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul wrote he was not and had not achieved perfection but he pressed on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed him.   This reminds us we have not attained that standard but we do press towards it. Desiring to be perfect and complete in all the will of God, we continue to  grow up into Him in all things. 

 

But I say to you... Give

“But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

Matthew 5:39-42

Helps Word Studies ~

Resist - [436 (anthístēmi) was a military term in classical Greek (used by Thucydides, etc.) meaning "to strongly resist an opponent" ("take a firm stand against").]

Evil - 4190 ponērós (an adjective which is also used substantively, derived from 4192 /pónos, "pain, laborious trouble") – properly, pain-ridden, emphasizing the inevitable agonies (misery) that always go with evil.

Go the extra mile.   

Our English idiom came directly from this verse.  In all of Jesus’ teachings, we must remember that He came to show us our Heavenly Father.  As we watch Jesus’ works and listen to his words, we learn the very heart and mind of our Father.

The Scriptures reveal to us the generous nature of God as a Father and yet, the word ‘generous’ is simply not large enough to express His giving nature.  Exceeding, lavish, rich, abounding, much more, above all, are just some of the words and phrases we find used to describe His giving nature.

Our Father makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust.  He loved us while we were yet sinners and manifested that love by giving his highest and his best to us ~ Jesus.

This Generous Spiritedness is the foundation for all of our relationships with humanity, especially with those intent on taking our dignity and right of determination from us. To survive this, we must be willing to accept that no matter what another does to us or takes from us, God is never out of the scene and stands right alongside us for help.  It’s in this spirit that he calls us to rise up in the face of oppression and hostility and pour our lives out in even greater ways.  In this passage, he reveals that pouring our lives out to the unthankful and the unworthy, giving of ourselves, is the right response to express his character.

Who sets our boundaries when it comes to giving?  The dichotomies in following Jesus require much, much realignment of the soul.  We only see how much when we examine what, where, and who sets the mindsets we hold within our relationships. The

question we must consider is what Jesus would have us do.  The church of the Lord Jesus Christ and his members individually must be found perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect.  That’s a high bar to reach, much less successfully hurdle.

  • Psalm 37:21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,

        but the righteous is generous and gives;

  • Proverbs 21:26 All day long he craves and craves,

        but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Luke’s gospel is the companion scripture to Matthews from chapter 6, verses 34-36 ~

  • [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. [35] But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. [36] Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

The easy part is knowing what we are supposed to do and how we are supposed to be—it’s actually in the doing that we see how much we need God's grace and mercy to manifest His name to others.