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Holiness as Responsible Sanctification

Only a sober mind can stay alert to God’s will

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” (Peter 1:13 NIV)

There has been a full week of Octoberfest while I was writing this blog. In my town of Kitchener, Ontario, this is a big deal. So the idea of sobriety rings loud for me (for the legalists, no I didn’t go).

Will I be ready when the Lord comes the second time? Scripture tells us that the dead in Christ will be raised in the resurrection first and those who remain will be lifted as in a sci-fi movie — though in reality — lifted up and rescued to meet him in the air as he approaches the earth. (see 1 Thessalonians 4)

As I read Peter chapter one, I was struck with a command to be Holy! Yup, Holy. Because Christians have been given new birth into a new life, we must change the way we think and live to reflect the character of our divine Father.

The old way of life is useless (1: 18), and our new life was purchased with the precious blood of Jesus (1: 19). Because what people believe about the future maps out how they live in the present. Peter taught his readers to set their minds on the grace that is yet to come (1: 13), to live holy lives (1: 15), and to love one another deeply (1: 22) as they rid themselves of the attitudes and behaviors that destroy the bonds of community (2: 1– 3).

Christianity is Father-Centric Don’t forget the fact written clearly for us in the Word — that we have a Father-God whom Jesus glorified and pointed us to as He aimed to reconcile men and women to His Father. If you have had a rough go with your old man, maybe he was cool and distant — messing up your mind’s capacity for “father stuff”  which just doesn’t resonate — allow God to speak to you in your quietest moments. It is important to remember that we have a Father-God who lovingly watches over us, and has our best interest in mind. In 1 Peter, verses 1: 13– 21 we find that we are called to be children of the Father. There is an old saying: “Like father, like son.” Because Christians have been born again of God the Father and adopted into His family — the Church — Peter asks us to be obedient children who bear a family resemblance to our Father God. Further verse 1: 13 adds with minds that are alert. (the Greek is “gird the loins of your mind.”)

Christians have the gifted ability and overcoming “power” of the Holy Spirit at their disposal — if they accept Him as God and then ask for the indwelling presence of God to come into their hearts. We must learn to think differently than in the past when we did not know Christ.

Peter continues the theme of the new birth by referring to those who have been given new birth as children of God the Father (cf. Matt 6: 9). According to the New Testament, while all people are God’s creatures, only those who come to faith in Christ are considered his children. (see 1: 15–16)

Be holy…because I am holy (verses 1: 13— 2: 3) This is a way of saying that children of God should bear a family likeness to the character of their heavenly Father (Lev 11: 44– 45; 19: 2; 20: 7). God’s character was revealed in the OT as the basis of human morality and ethics (Exod 20: 1– 17; Deut 5: 1– 22). But the fullest and final revelation of God’s character is seen in Jesus Christ (John 1: 18; Col 1: 15; Heb 1: 3). Jesus said to Phillip: “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” If father-interest is just too far out emotionally (yeah, you may even hate or loathe your father), look to Jesus, and see His love resonate as a true, fair and loving Father at a father’s best.

Being called to be holy seems over the top, but we need to get this into perspective to understand the meaning. Christians are not expected to be like God in his deity but are to strive for human righteousness as demonstrated by Jesus. Christians must set themselves apart from the customs and wayward values of this corrupt and unbelieving society to abide in the character and teachings of Jesus, not allowing the world’s unbelief to define them.

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There is Life in the Gospel message

I write this on Thanksgiving weekend, with much gratefulness in my heart. My daughter Lisa entered a rock slide on a British Columbia mountain highway when rock, larger than a football went through her window. It grazed her head and ear. Her friend was able to take over the car to bring it to a safe stop. I have shared a couple of photos from her Facebook to give you a perspective of my thankfulness.

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The rock cut her ear horizontally as it entered the cab, stunning her to the degree that she could not drive.

I praised God greatly this weekend, knowing she was aware without any deficits excepting the need for a plastic surgeon to repair her cut ear. This all happened Friday evening and she returned home Saturday with her attentive friends and family supporting her all the way. I am so grateful for her life being saved by our Sovereign Lord and His angels.

As I praise God for her life, I will point out sixteen major clusters of references to “life” in John’s gospel, spanning from the introduction (John 1:4) to the predominant statement of purpose (20:31).

“Eternal life” is the subject of conversation in Jesus’ interchange with Nicodemus in John 3 and with the Samaritan woman in chapter 3 of the same Gospel. All told, “life” is the subject in virtually every chapter in the first half of John’s gospel. Also “life” features significantly in Jesus’ pronouncements in 14:6 and 17:2–3.

Here is a  list of major references to “life” in John’s gospel and letters presents as follows.

John’s Gospel references:

  1. John 1:4: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all people.”
  2. John 3:15–16, 36: “’Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.… Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
  3. John 4:10, 14: “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water … the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
  4. John 4:36: “Even now those who reap draw their wages, even now they harvest the crop for eternal life.”
  5. John 5:21, 24–26, 28–29: “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.… Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself … a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live.”
  6. John 6:27, 33, 35, 40, 47, 48, 51, 53, 54, 57–58: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.… For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.… I am the bread of life.… For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.… Very truly I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.… This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.… Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.… Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.… Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
  7. John 6:63, 68: “ ‘The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.’ … ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ ”
  8. John 7:38: “Whoever believes in me.… rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
  9. John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
  10. John 10:10, 28: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.… I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”
  11. John 11:25–26: “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”
  12. John 12:25: “Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
  13. John 12:50: “I know that his command leads to eternal life.”
  14. John 14:6, 19: “I am the way and the truth and the life.… Because I live, you also will live.”
  15. John 17:2–3: “For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
  16. John 20:31: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

“Life” is also a major theme in John’s first letter. It opens with a reference to the apostolic message regarding the “Word of life” and its incarnation (1 John 1:1–2). The letter also speaks of passing from death to life similar to the gospel (3:14; cf. John 5:24) and connects the possession of life to love (1 John 3:14–15). The purpose statement at the end of 1 John mentions “life” five times in the short span of three verses, striking a note of reassurance. All in all, this letter features thirteen instances of “life” (zōē) and one occurrence of the verb “to live” (zaō; 4:9). There are also six such clusters referring to “life “in 1 John.

John’s Letter References:

  1. 1 John 1:1–2: “… this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life.”
  2. 1 John 2:25: “And this is what he promised us—eternal life.”
  3. 1 John 3:14–15: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other.… Anyone who hates a fellow believer is a murderer, and you know that no murderers have eternal life in them.”
  4. 1 John 5:11–13: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
  5. 1 John 5:16: “If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.”
  6. 1 John 5:20: “And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

I am thankful that Lisa prays with her father frequently for protection. I give all the Glory to the Lord for her safety and her life through this harrowing experience.

Worship, Praise and Music, Your Identity in Christ

Why should God be glorified?

“In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6 NASB)

These few words of Apostle Paul bring clarity in a Christian’s heart. Firstly, God loves humanity to such an extent, that we are accounted as adopted children – adopted into the family of God. His love is qualified by the kind intention of His will. It is proven by God the Father by sending His son, Jesus, to redeem us from the world of sin. He freely bestowed love through the gospel act of Christ dying on the cross for you and me: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1: 13 NASB)

Lately, I have a deep inner need to praise God as his child. He adopted you and me — those who accept Christ — into His family — via or in the Beloved. Paul makes this clear: this adoption inculcates the praise of the glory of His grace. Moreover, God has revealed His love via the gospel – revealed as His grace — again the kind intention of His will is emphasised: “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him” (v 9)

Why do we give praise to His glory? Children look up to a kind father, ideally, trusted as a glorious being full of power working for our benefit and happiness. In this sense, they are loved — wooed into the glory a harmonious unity in a respectful, loving relationship within a family. We can acknowledge that the glory of God is seen in the majestic goodness of a God who adopted us into His kingdom by the kind intention of His will.

And what is the glory of God? As infinite as God’s glory itself, the question the answer is beyond our understanding. As we grow in our relationship with God – as we study the Word – in the old testament we begin to see God’s reputation gaining weight as He reveals Himself as Creator, Provider, Judge, and Redeemer — ultimately a God of Mercy, Love, and Grace. When we see God the Father in the New Testament, we see the kind intention of His will more fully in the character of Jesus. In Jesus, God’s glory elicits praise: “if you have seen me you have seen the father” Jesus told Philip.

We are also made aware that Christ was very active in the creation of the world and the human race. We must understand that Jesus was the great “I am” who selected Moses to lead His people out of Egypt – the God who later revealed Himself to Moses as “Yahweh.” “Before Abraham, I am,” Jesus said. Many do not realise that Jesus is one with God, and fully God the Creator and the Redeemer of all time. Paul referred to Jesus as the Rock that followed them in the wilderness. In Colossians 1:15-18, Paul makes it clear that Jesus created everything (see also John 1:3. Hebrews 1:2):

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

We begin to see the collaborative unity of intent of Jesus working with the Father to redeem humanity, as his very own children – to bring them back from a state of rebellion. The message of grace contains another reason why we glorify God: “God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery” and this glory is one that places our hope in the gospel mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Our “hearts may be encouraged…in love…that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself” (ch 2, v 2).

As Creator God our above quote indicates that Jesus created the world as a place where he would be known, served, praised, and worshipped — a place where His glory would be both manifest and enjoyed. What God set out to accomplish at the beginning, he will bring to pass at the end of all things (see Rev 21: 15—22: 5).

This world, God designed as a family home wherein an image of himself representing love in human beings, would radiate His glory. Words of Christ such as “allow the little children to come unto me” make sense when He is seen as Creator God.

The human body is an engineered masterpiece; childbirth is miraculous; the mercy and justice that humans can understand and display as they relate to one another are multifaceted. Akin to our Father, we can express love to others, reach out for relational engagement, utilise our reasoning powers for creative development. In short, we were created to reflect the very glory of the One whose image we bear.

God endowed us as his image-bearers with the capacity to use all our powers in elevating worship of the One who made us, sustains us, and created us for himself as His representatives — and in the kind intention of His will, He has brought mankind back to Himself in His Son Jesus Christ, the hope of this glory.

This is the reason why we should glorify both God the Father and His Son, with our whole heart!

Grace

By grace alone you have been saved

“For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)

Grace is God’s unmerited favor on those who have broken his law and sinned against him. God’s grace offers and secures salvation. Believing in Jesus Christ is an act of choosing to receive His gift of eternal life — to choose allegiance to Him and His Word, as we turn away from a life of disobedience and lawlessness.

Woman taken in dultery

Jesus stands up for the woman caught in adultery.

This radical change, though seemingly chosen of our free will, occurs by the acting divine principle of mercy enabling us to see God’s love in Christ demonstrated — “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19) and we reach to Him — to entirely deliver us from God’s wrath at the final judgment (see Rom. 5: 9). The tense of “have been saved” indicates that a Christian’s salvation is fully secured. And it is secured through our simple childlike faith — through faith.

I want to emphasize that “this…is the gift of God,” the pronoun this referring to the entire process of salvation achieved by grace through faith — it is all a gift of God. God initiated your salvation, by calling you into His presence by wooing you by His Holy Spirit, and we are promised that He will resurrect us unto eternal life on Judgement Day. Jesus made this clear: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”(John 6:44).

Such a magnificent salvation is not by works. If it were, then those who are saved would get the glory. Our entire salvation is God’s new creation as He transforms us from sinner to saint . . . for, not because of good works. Grace, amazing grace — your salvation is “not a result of our works.” Our call from the state of spiritual death to the point when we believe, is achieved by the same almighty power of God that resurrected Jesus from the grave (see Ephesians 1:19-20).

Let’s give God alone all the glory. Salvation is not based on our initial efforts or works — any good works that Christians do, are the result of God’s new creation work in them from beginning to end.

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If you worry, go to the Lord in prayer.

“And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 2:17)

Have you ever felt that you are too worried about people or things outside of your immediate control – that perhaps you don’t trust God the way that the Word informs you that you should? Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow. When I worry it is usually NOW, not tomorrow or about the future.

Looking at our focal text, we can see an immediate worry of Gehazi, Elisha’s assistant who began to fear for his life. The King of Aram (present day Syria) sent an army to capture Elisha the prophet because he knew that he was pre-warning Israel about his looming military tactics, which were always known in advance, spoiling Aram’s military strategies. Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes would be opened so that he could spiritually discern God’s protection surrounding them.

Can this apply to me as a father, aware that my daughter is driving in the BC Rockies when I spot a freak snow storm in her path? These are the kind of worries I have had, as a father. It doesn’t help that I am a weather nut with three apps on all my devices. I check BC weather daily, in two cities where my son (my eldest of 4 children) and my youngest of three daughters live. Having lost a brother in a car accident due to a drunk driver, I can worry about my family’s safety often.

The apostle Paul wrote an oft-quoted Bible verse which comforts many people in trials: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

The thought may come to my mind, “Yeah, but Paul was single and did not have children to be concerned about!” Then the Holy Spirit brings to my mind that Paul endured an intense hurricane for a time and suffered shipwreck, yet Paul took to calling on the Lord in prayer. He was assured of his safety because he discerned from the Lord whom He prayed to, that no one would come to harm on the ship if they stayed aboard, including the non-Christian crew.

The gospel record records that Jesus also comforted His disciples who were frightened during a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus questioned their faith, yet commanded the sea to become still and brought the boat to safety. The disciples were amazed and claimed that Jesus had sovereign powers over creation: “even the winds and the seas obey Him” (see Mathew 8:27; Mark 4:41; Luke 8:22-25; also John 1:3, Colossians 1:16).

In situations where I worry, I’ve realised that all I can do is make the phone calls of warning as best I can, and help to assist as far as possible. The most important thing I can do is go to my Bible on my knees, and lay out God’s promises and pray over my favourite verses such as “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9 ESV) More importantly, I am reminded that Jesus is Sovereign and one in power with the Father: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17 ESV).

I realise that I must seek the Lord, admit my need for godliness – for His indwelling Spirit, submit to Him in obedience — and further submit my worries to Him, making my requests to him to protect my children, secondly to mitigate my terrifying spiritual weakness. I can trust my Lord because “in him all things hold together”.

Like the apostles in the storm, I rely on His Sovereign powers of control when I admit that I am powerless. I have come to realise that this is one of the ways that God builds my faith and develops my relationship with Him, through my anxious suffering.

My eldest daughter said kindly over lunch after church recently, “Dad, it’s out of your control. Counsel can help alleviate your stress.” Hmm, I agree. I’ve always told Christin that she is wise with her deliberations, that wisdom is one of her gifts.

I’ve utilised Christian psychological counsel often over the years, seeking to find a mean calibration of spiritual concern, which admittedly can shift to extreme take-charge now when I occasionally might get shaken up like Elisha’s servant during “unseen” risk deliberations. Psychological balance while trusting Christ helps me reason better — I’m not perfect yet — and hopefully pray more objectively while staying calm, understanding that God is the first father of my children. Jesus really understands behavioural worry. He said: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34 NLT) I can’t agree more.

 

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Christ working in us for God’s glory

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“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14: 12-14)

The first great need of any man who has a troubled heart or his Christian life isn’t lived to its full potential is to believe, to get back to the place of believing. This sounds too simple. Yet it is what Christ told His disciples before His death, resurrection and ascension. If you believe in Me, essentially He told them “you will do the works I have been doing.” Belief also opens up the door to faith and the effects of faith in our life.

The disciples who walked with Jesus witnessed that He had rebuked a demon which had caused a sickness in a boy who was then healed instantly. Conversely, having trouble achieving similar results in their ministry, they asked Him: “Why could we not cast it out?” to which He responded, “Because of your little faith” (Matthew 17: 18-20 ESV)

After His resurrection, our focal scripture indicated that Jesus promised His disciples that they would be able to do what they cannot do now, and what He used to do for them. By His resurrection and ascension, He works in them by the power of the Spirit – to effectively bring the power of the Spirit into their action, after He has departed.

Our Lord’s departure from the world is not the conclusion of His activity in the world amidst personal, political and ideological problems that humanity faces today. He is present in our ministries to our beloved Christian friends, and to those who likewise believe and those faltering in their belief. He is continuing together with us in His redemptive work to reach out to find those struggling with a profound understanding and a lack of objective effectiveness in their particular mode of faith – whatever the culture.

He is not absent in our lives individually nor from the ministration of common grace to the countless millions of men and women worldwide who have, who will and yes to those who may come to believe on His name for salvation.

He still is an ever-present power, and though He has passed through death on our behalf, and been removed from our physical sense perception, He still operates upon the things around us and moves events to coincide with His providences according to His will in our lives. Christ is all-powerful and ever-presently working in our lives! The continuous influence of His life continues. It is a present power in all ages.

Belief in Christ as our Redeemer and faith in His active life in us via His Spirit is necessary for a vibrant and joyous Christian experience. If you are lonely, He brings companionship to the solitary. He offers calmness in calamity, gives peace while weighing the complications of our faith and our weaknesses. We must grasp that the living Christ is working in us for His Father’s glory and outreaching to each of us, forth-putting His powers of influence and ministerial energy in His church today.

Before His ascension Jesus said: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15 NIV) In Mark’s narrative, we read that “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God” (vs. 19) As He worked with the disciples, He will work with us as we minister His word to others sharing the Gospel. “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it” (vs. 20) At the end of our Lord’s life on earth, there were one hundred and twenty disciples in Jerusalem and five hundred in Galilee. He told the disciples greater things you will do – the greater meaning the expansion of His kingdom on earth through the promulgation of the Gospel.

Now that we understand the need for believing on His name, and on having faith to do His works of expanding His kingdom, we need also a life of prayer which confess our complete dependence on Him. I go back to our main verse: “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

In my name, means, not a rote prayer as we often may do, finalizing it with repeated words ‘in Jesus name, Amen.’ Rather it means in His character, in His same faith in His Father and our total dependent connection to Him. This unity with our Lord is exactly what we need to sense His power working in our lives with all whom we connect. Jesus prayed for His disciples and you and I, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21 ESV) This is the secret to the continuum of believing in His work on earth — to be One with Jesus Christ via His indwelling Spirit. The parable of abiding in the vine teaches this truth: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:15 ESV)

Believe in His operative work in you by faith; connect to the living Christ just as He depended on His Father for guidance and success in His walk on earth and for our eternal future in His redemptive work of salvation.

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Influencing others for Christ

“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a [heavy] wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews]” (Luke 7:34 AMP)

In the world but not of it. Being sociable does not necessarily equate to being a friend whom you relate to as a brother or sister in Christ. We must be kind, and a friend — friendly to those we associate with — in extended family circles, in business, and in civil life in general — a sign of possessing influential character.

Jesus befriended Mathew, an infamous tax collector; immoral women, even one caught in adultery about to be stoned to death by the “religious” mob. He also was open to hearing a Roman centurion’s request to heal his servant (see Luke 7:34-50). All of these “sinners” religiously condemned by the Pharisees, and teachers of the law in Israel (the leadership) were not influenced to love God.

Nevertheless, they were moved by the non-partisan love of Jesus, who perceived their potential faith in Him and forgave their sin. Jesus noted that his disciples had a mission that must be carried out in a sinful world.

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them, I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified”. (John 17:16-19 NIV)

Association in ministry differs from collaborating with unbelievers as intimate friends, or marrying another with whom you would have children. The Apostle Paul was always sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Many became Christian brothers and sisters in Christ through his efforts. God’s purpose is that the Gospel must intergenerationally influence family members from the parents and grandparents, and fellowship amongst true believers for a continuance of His kingdom on earth.

Others like Paul and Christ’s disciples were called to separate themselves unto the calling to go out into the whole world — yes, among blatant sinners — and preach that they too have hope if they place their faith in Jesus — the hope of eternal life in Christ. Read the conversation that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the well. He knew she was living in sin, yet he activated her faith with discretion and kindness. He perceived her as a child of God in the making. She perceived Him as a prophet in her awakening. The gentle patience of Christ opened her mind to hear Him tell her that He was the Messiah whom she awaited! She proclaimed Him to others in her town who all rushed out to see the Lord (see John chapter 4).

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Paul spent time ministering to people in prison and to Greeks in Athens who had many false ideas about God. The encouragement and power of the indwelling Spirit must accommodate sharing the Word of God, as Satan will try to twist its meaning:

“After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Mathew 4:2-4 NIV)

Be friendly in the context of sharing the Good News Convincing someone else that your godly ideas are good comes from association and discussion in the context of witnessing for Jesus while trusting the Holy Spirit to open the heart to God’s influence.

Christians meet at the Cross Guard against the mob mentality that “only my church owns the right doctrine”. Basing your viewpoints on the Word of God, use the logical mind, not the emotional mind to weigh the motives of men or women you would befriend. The war between the British Protestants and Catholic Irish in Northern Ireland would never have subsided without association and negotiation. When we truly meet Jesus, in our heart, in our mind’s eye, all unreasonable prejudice is removed. Together we all realize that He came to redeem all men who would see the grace offered at the foot of the Cross.

Decision Making and Guidance, Spiritual Guidance, Unorthodox Doctrine

Cutting the ties of darkness that bind you

“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 NLT)

Dr. Henry Cloud wrote a piece for Success magazine 10 Things Successful People Never Do Again predicated on the idea that we have to change to progress. We must allow ourselves some pretty radical changes if we are to evolve in our life-journey. The Holy Spirit will lead us into the destiny that God is guiding us to in our distinct lives according to His higher values.

Chose your yoke-fellows wisely. The Scripture commands all Christians not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers? This scripture applies to marriage, business partnership, and church alignment. Paul offers profound insights into relationships. He writes out of both love and pain, about severing relationships and mending them. He writes in a way that is decidedly centered on God, as seen in the person of Christ. Paul is humble and meek; he is bold and adamant. Moses made it clear to the Israelites that ungodly influence can lead God’s people astray: “Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped…for the LORD…is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you” (Exodus 34:12-14 NLT)

Why is it important to cut your ties with darkness? When Paul says, “Do not be unequally yoked,” he means first, that we should not associate with believers who don’t actually live for Jesus, and second, that engaging in any intimate relationship or partnership with someone who does not let Jesus be the center of their lives will ultimately lead to our demise. We must cut ties with whatever or whoever leads us to darkness. Influence can be subtly corrupting. “For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. “Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord…and, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18 NIV)

Wasn’t Jesus loving? Christ engaged with people who didn’t understand who He was while on earth, to reach out to people and reveal the love of God. Nevertheless, He didn’t want to see relationships with unbelievers lead His followers into darkness. The Corinthian believers were to change the world, not to be changed by it. Paul wanted to see the Corinthian believers separate from their old way of living and fully embrace the ways of Jesus. Thus, his question which applies to all Christians today: How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

Kindness versus close or intimate relations with non-believers must be understood in context. For more depth on this subject read Influencing others for Christ.

But this is complicated. False teachers and leaders are even within the church; old friends can turn on you and become your enemies, and there are broken relationships among the followers of our Lord. There may be things in the Bible that are very clear to one following the Lord closely adhering to the Word, to form correct doctrine while desiring to live according to Sola Scriptura. Within the church, some follow a man or a woman, who some may feel they have prophetic insight (who may say or write: “God told me” or “my angel said”). However, we must follow only the Lord’s teaching found in the Word of God and never follow a teaching that the Bible does not condone.

Consider that the educated doctorates of Israel did not believe the teachings of Jesus though He was their Messiah. The scripture regarding cutting our ties with darkness was written by Paul of Tarsus to the Corinthians. Paul had been one of the leading Pharisees (named Saul). He was a leading doctorate student taught by Dr. Gamaliel. He turned from the darkness of twisting scripture to follow Jesus Christ as did the Pharisee Nicodemus.

Jesus Teaches in the Synogogue

 

 

Uncategorized

Self-will can avoid acting on the revealed will of God

“Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.” (Jeremiah 42:3 ESV)

The people of Judah came to the prophet Jeremiah asking for his prophetic guidance to know if they should go down to Egypt to avoid King Nebucannezar of Babylon and his armies.

“I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the Lord says and will keep nothing back from you.” Ten days later Jeremiah gets the answer from the Lord:

“…hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there, then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die. Indeed, all who are determined to go to Egypt to settle there will die..not one of them will survive” (Vss 16-17)

Often we feel that we have the right intention to do a certain thing, go somewhere, advise someone, begin a new job, leave a spouse, and some go as far as to seek the Lord’s will as the people of Judah did. Notice that Jeremiah, speaking God’s word said “‘If you are determined to go to”, and they were determined to go, and to disobey.

The people had even said: “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.” (Vss 5-6)

They quickly asserted their own determination, contrary to the Lord’s revealed will — and clearly though it was unfavourable to follow the Lord’s will: “all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there’.” (Jeremiah 43:2)

Consider your own actions, prayers, and self-determined will. How do you behave when the revealed will of God is clear in His Word — do your own plans ever get altered or reconfigured to line up with the Word of God? The danger is this: Self-will can avoid acting on the revealed will of God.