Monday, July 22,
2013, 8:42 a.m. – The song “Believe
Him” began playing in my mind. I read Philippians
2:1-18 (ESV).
In Full Accord (2:1-11)
So
if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any
participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by
being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or
conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let
each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of
others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who,
though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be
grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in
the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God
has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
This past week one day I all of a sudden had this notion in
my head to trade in my car (a Honda Accord) for a SUV – a Sports Utility
Vehicle. I inquired of the Lord as to where this notion could have come from,
because it didn’t make sense to me at all. Then, my husband came home from work
and told me he was thinking about trading in his truck for a car like mine (a
Honda Accord). I thought that was really weird and coincidental. It didn’t make
sense to have two different Accords, so we went and looked at a couple of SUVs.
I liked the Honda CR-V that we drove, but it would cost us an additional
$10,000 to buy one of those, even with trading in my husband’s truck, possibly.
It just didn’t make sense to spend that kind of money when we already have two
vehicles, which are both completely paid off.
The Lord Jesus used this real life scenario as an allegory
to illustrate a Biblical truth here. I believe the Lord Jesus is giving me a
picture here first of all of someone thinking of trading in his own life (or
his first love) for an “accord,”
i.e. for a covenant agreement - like the real one, but not the same “agreement”
as the true one - i.e. a trade for a different gospel, and then for a SUV (a diversion
for amusement and entertainment). The truck represents a human life, rolling
along in an easy-going way, powered by the flesh, hauling the heavy burden of
sin. So, the truck represents a non-believer. And then he gave me a picture of a
believer in Christ considering trading in her “first love,” i.e. her “accord”
(agreement with Christ) for a Sports
– diversion; amusement; & entertainment – Utility - something that is convenient and is an instrument – Vehicle - a tool or a medium of some
kind.
I believe this is about replacing Christ and his gospel with
any other agreement and/or with diversions. None of it made sense to me. Jesus
already paid the price in full so we could be free from slavery to sin and
self-pleasure, free from eternal damnation, and so we could be free to walk in
his truth, love, forgiveness, righteousness, grace, peace, purity and
faithfulness. Therefore, it makes no sense at all when we replace him in any
way with “other loves,” i.e. with other agreements, such as a false gospel. As
well, it also makes no sense whatsoever when we replace him in any way with
diversions for our own entertainment and amusement, such as smart phones,
IPads, TVs, the internet, movies, sports, video games, etc., or with other
relationships. Some of these things may not be wrong for us to use with
discretion and discernment, but if they are replacements for our relationship
with Jesus Christ, and for our time spent with him in his word and in obedience
to his commands, and/or for time spent in ministering to the body of Christ, then
this makes NO SENSE!
Paul asked the believers, if they were indeed united (one)
with Christ, that they also be in one accord (agreement) with one another. Yet,
the unity among the believers must be of the same accord, not two different
ones which may have the same name but are two completely different vehicles
(means of salvation). We need to make certain, thus, that being in full accord
with the fellowship of believers does not involve an agreement with a false
gospel (a look-alike). We must know the word of God and what it teaches with
regard to the gospel and our salvation so that we are not easily persuaded to “buy”
an “agreement,” or a “SUV,” other than what is contained in the original gospel
– the New Covenant (cf. Lu 9:23-25; Ep. 2:8-9; 4:17-24; Ro 6; 1 Jn; & Gal
2:20, et al.).
Crooked and Twisted
Therefore,
my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but
much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do
all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and
innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted
generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the
word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in
vain or labor in vain.
I woke from a dream this morning. The subject matter was
that of a romantic affair (extra-marital). I will try to just share with you
what I believe the Lord Jesus is teaching me through this passage of scripture
with the use of this dream as an allegory to illustrate a Biblical truth. I
believe the “other woman” represents the institutional church (or religion)
and/or preachers and prophets in today’s religious movements. The church (the
body of Christ) is in crisis, because she is receiving her nourishment,
standing, foundation and growth from her “other lovers,” i.e. she has placed
her affections and dependency for her fellowship and spiritual nourishment in
humans and in humanistic teachings instead of in Christ. The woman was sending handwritten
love notes to the house (to the true church), i.e. these “other lovers” are
distributing to the body of Christ personal revelations supposedly from God to
the body of Christ, but that are not from Christ – our “first love.”
I wondered if the woman was deranged or if this was a
two-way relationship. Other words for “deranged” are “crooked and twisted,”
i.e. she represents this crooked and twisted generation, which is now
permeating the church, so it is a two-way relationship in many instances,
though there are certainly many who hold true to the gospel and who continue to
follow their Lord Jesus Christ in obedience and surrender to his will for their
lives.
To those who have followed after “other lovers,” and who
have turned to or who are considering turning to another gospel, or who are
involved in or are considering making “SUVs” their gods (Lords), I believe the
encouragement here is that we should cease and desist with putting our
dependency in humans and in “SUVs”; and desist in trusting humans to be our
voices from God and/or to relying upon humans alone to be our source of
spiritual nourishment and spiritual growth. There are a lot of voices out
there, but they aren’t all from God. Many of them are “the other woman,” so be
wise and discerning, and make sure your relationship with Christ is based on
Christ and not in humans, and that you are walking in obedience to Christ and
to his will for your life.
Paul asked the believers to obey Christ, not just when he
was present with them, but when he was not present, i.e. he asked that they be
consistent in their walks with the Lord, and that their dependency be on Christ
alone, and not on him. This, then, is one of the possible meanings of working
out our own salvation with fear and trembling. It is Christ who works in us, so
this is not works-based salvation, but it is speaking to our spiritual walks
and development as followers of Christ. We must have a holy respect of God
which trembles at the thought of giving in to sin, and we must yield our lives
completely to the rule of the Holy Spirit within our lives. And, our walks with
Christ should not have to be dependent on a particular man or woman, preacher
or prophet, but we should depend on Jesus Christ alone to work in us to work
out his good pleasure for our lives. Trust God instead of humans!
To those who are obeying Christ and his word, who are
walking in the Spirit, who are faithful to their relationship with Jesus Christ
as their only “husband,” and who are his hands and feet in sharing his love and
his gospel with the world around them, I believe the encouragement here is to
be wise concerning “other lovers” (other accords) and the “SUVs” of this life
which have the potential for diverting and sidetracking from the Great
Commission, and might place our focus, instead, on self-pleasure, just because
it is easy and perhaps makes less waves and helps us to blend in better with
our surroundings. We may be even persuaded to believe the lie that we must do
some of the things the world does just so we can identify with them and reach
them. Jesus called us to come out from the world and to be separate, and he has
called us to be lights for the gospel to the world, holding (embracing and
keeping) fast (firmly and steadfastly) to the word of life (of truth).
Poured Out
Even
if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of
your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be
glad and rejoice with me.
Yesterday we were having a problem with ants coming into our
house. They seemed to be attacking my shoes and no one else’s. That seemed odd.
I could not find anything on my shoes that would attract them, and then today
the Lord Jesus gave me an understanding of this from a spiritual standpoint. My
shoes represent my witness for Jesus Christ and for his gospel. Ants are like
soldiers, but they are also workers, so this represented an army of workers
coming against my witness and testimony for Jesus Christ. They will attack those
of us who are ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ in many ways, because
they can smell the aroma of the gospel of Christ on our “shoes.” And, they will
do all they can to try to get us off course, distracted, or following after “other
lovers.” Lord, help me to be sensitized to this so that I am not easily
distracted or diverted away from preaching your gospel. Amen!
Trust
in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in
all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. – Pr.
3:5-6 (NIV)
Believe Him / An
Original Work / July 15, 2013
My heart cries: Lord,
won’t You hear me
Seeking You for the
answers
To my heartache and
questions
I have concerning my
life?
Speak, Lord, to me
right now.
“Oh, dear one, why
don’t you trust Me
With your life’s
circumstances?
Give your all on the
altar
In submission of your
will
To My purpose for you.
“Surrender your life
completely
To your Lord and your
Savior.
He has all things
planned for you
For His glory and
honor.
He’ll work all things
for good.
“Believe Him. He will
fulfill all
Of His promises to you
For your life and your
future.
Trust Him. Rest in His
love.
He’ll give you peace
from above.”
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