By Example

Tuesday, October 31, 2017, 3:30 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Muted Trumpet.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read 1 Peter 5 (Quoting select vv. ESV).

Being Examples (vv. 1-5)

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

What is the role of elders within the church (the body of Christ)? They are rulers, preachers, teachers, ministers, directors, guides (leaders), and pastors (shepherds) of God’s people under the direction and supervision of the Lord Jesus Christ, our chief shepherd, and they are his servants. They have the commission of oversight and discipline of the people, but they also have the duty to rule and to guide (lead, direct) the church according to God’s Word, as a shepherd would lead his sheep to pasture (to eat). As shepherds of God’s people, the elders are to keep watch over the people (the sheep), to care for them, to minister to their needs, to lead them in the way of righteousness, to caution them against wandering, and to exercise church discipline, if necessary, to bring a wandering one back into the fold.

Because of the seriousness of their God-given assignment within the body of Christ, elders must meet certain spiritual requirements to even be an elder. They must live lives above reproach, be God-fearing, and not be arrogant or quick-tempered or be drunkards, greedy, or violent. They must be hospitable, lovers of good, self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. And, an elder “must hold firmly to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it,” etc. (See: Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7, 1 Peter 5:1-4).

Other than the part about ruling and overseeing, as members of the body of Christ, we are taught that our lives must reflect these spiritual qualifications or characteristic traits, too. We, as well, are to serve as ministers of the gospel of Christ, and of his love, mercy, grace and compassion. We are to care for one another, encourage (urge, inspire, cheer) one another in the faith, speak the truth in love, and build one another up in Christ to maturity, etc. We are all given spiritual gifts and assignments to be used within the body of Christ for the strengthening, encouragement and spiritual growth of one another. And, we are to serve Christ and one another in Christ’s love, and according to God’s Word (See: Rom. 12; 1 Co. 12; Eph. 4).

As far as elders are concerned, not only must they shepherd God’s flock (his sheep), exercising oversight, willingly, and not under compulsion, and for the right reasons, but they must do so in a manner in which is not domineering (oppressing) over the people, as though they are the masters of the people and that the people are their slaves. Instead, they must serve as examples to the flock. What this means is that they shepherd (lead, guide, direct) God’s people by example and not by words only, not hypocritically, and not harshly or by bullying (intimidating; browbeating).

Although we are certainly not all called to be elders, nor can all of us be elders, many (if not all) of these truths apply to us, as well, in that we should also lead others to walk with Christ, not just by our words, and not arrogantly or through mistreatment, but by example in how we live our lives. The Bible has much to say to us on the subject of being hypocritical. We need to tell others about Jesus Christ, and share the gospel of our salvation with them, and we need to encourage (urge, inspire, cheer) and build up one another in the faith, but we must be so careful to make certain that we are walking the talk and not just talking the walk. Actions speak louder than words, and people will judge our words by what we do. So, we need to take the log out of our own eyes before we try to take the speck out of another’s eye, and then we will see clearly to remove that speck.

Humble Yourselves (vv. 6-11)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 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.

So, we are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. He is to be our Lord (owner-master) and we his servants. We are not to be arrogant or haughty (conceited, prideful, self-righteous), but we are to be realistic with regard to where we were outside of Christ, when dead in our sins, and acknowledge the fact that it is only by God’s grace that we are now saved from our sins, and that we can even walk righteously before him. We are not to exalt (elevate, applaud) ourselves, but we are to leave that to God. This is not to say that we can never defend ourselves against false accusations, but that we should not go around promoting self, but Christ, who is our lives.

We, too, are to be serious-minded about Christ, about his Word, and concerning our walks of faith. Too many Christians (or professing Christians) do not take God and his Word seriously (to heart), and so they live with one foot, they think, in heaven, and one in the world, which cannot be. If we take God and his Word seriously, we will follow our Lord in obedience and we will do what his Word teaches us we must do, and live how it instructs us to live, not in our own power, but in the power and strength of the Lord. And, we will be watchful about how we live our lives, what we say, what we think and with regard to our attitudes and beliefs (doctrines), to make certain they are in agreement with the teachings of Christ and of his NT apostles.

Yet, we are to be mindful of the fact that we have an enemy whose goal it is to defeat, distract, discredit or to destroy us, so we must actively resist him. Daily we must put on the armor of God (Eph. 6:10-20) with which to fight off Satan’s evil attacks and schemes against us. When he throws his fiery darts our way, we must answer (respond) back with the truth of God’s Word, with steadfastness of faith, with perseverance, confidence in Christ, and trust in our Lord Jesus and in his sovereignty and his faithfulness.

When we are tempted to sin against God, we must flee the sin, throw off any hindrances to our walks of faith and cut out of our lives all which leads us into sin. If we play with fire, we are bound to get burned. We can’t keep tempting fate and not expect to get bit. We have to cut the cancer out so we don’t die. But, we don’t resist and flee in our own strength or willpower, but in the strength and power of God living within us. He is able and he will restore, strengthen and establish us in the faith as we yield to his lordship over our lives, submit to his will and purposes, and walk in obedience to his Word.

Muted Trumpet / An Original Work / October 14, 2011

Softly He speaks gently to us,

Giving us His messages, and

He waits patiently for us to

Respond to His words.

Will you listen to Him speaking?

Will you waken from your sleeping?

He is calling; hear Him whisper

His truth unto you.

Jesus speaks His words unto us,

So that He might live out through us,

Giving light to all who need Him,

So they can obey.

He gave His life to die for us,

So that from sin He would free us

To walk humbly in obedience

Unto Him each day.

Hear the trumpet clearly calling.

He died to keep us from falling.

Won’t you listen; heed His call to

Turn to Him today?

Hasten to Him calling to you.

Turn from sin and follow Jesus.

He loves you so much He gave you

Life eternally.

https://vimeo.com/125739604

We Once Were

Monday, October 30, 2017, 12:00 noon – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Muted Trumpet.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Ephesians 2 (Select vv. ESV).

You Once Walked (vv. 1-3)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

As believers in Christ, before we were born again of the Spirit of God, crucified with Christ in death to sin, and resurrected with him to newness of life, to be lived to Christ and to his righteousness, we were dead in our sins in which we once walked (conducted our lives, practiced sin). All of us have sinned and have come up short of the glory of God, of attaining his divine approval (Ro. 3:23). We all followed the course of this world and Satan. We all gave in to (lived in) the passions of our flesh, carrying out sinful desires. And, thus, we were, in our sin natures, children of wrath, destined to spend eternity without God, without hope, in the fires of hell (or the lake of fire).

So, what does this tell us? It tells us that this is to represent who we were, not who we are. This is to be past tense, not present tense. These types of things should no longer be true of one who has died with Christ to sin and who has been resurrected to newness of life in Christ Jesus. It also tells us that our salvation is not merely about Jesus taking our punishment for sin, but it is about our deliverance from bondage (addiction) to sin. As well, it tells us that, if this is still how we are living, that we are still among the “sons of disobedience,” and we are still children of wrath, and we don’t have the hope of heaven when we die (See: Gal. 5:19-21; Rom. 8:1-17).

By Grace (vv. 4-9)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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.

There is nothing we can do, in and of ourselves, to deserve or to earn or to gain our own salvation. No amount of works (good deeds) of our own flesh will ever merit us eternal life with God. We can never be good enough. If we could, Jesus would not have had to die on a cross for our sins. But, this is not to say that we don’t have a part in our own salvation, for it is by God’s grace, through faith, that we have been saved. Yet, I believe that even the faith to believe is a gift from God, but we still have to choose to appropriate it to our lives, through yielding control of our lives over to God. For God so loved the world… that whoever believes (believing) in him has eternal life (Jn. 3:16). And, it is to all who receive him, who believe (believing) in his name, that he gave the right to become children of God (Jn. 1:12).

So, we don’t first clean up our old lives, on our own, so that we will be accepted by God. Jesus, by his blood shed on a cross for our sins, is the one who makes us acceptable to God, by his grace, through our faith, which I believe is a gift from God, too. He is the one who transforms us from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that we might receive forgiveness of sins, and a place among those sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ. But, the whole point of his salvation is that we ARE transformed, and that we no longer walk in darkness, but that we now walk in the light and according to the Spirit of God (1 Jn. 1:5-9; Rom. 8:1-17).

So, are we puppets on a string now? Does God just zap certain ones of us and we no longer can make a choice as to how we live from this point on, but he literally takes over our minds and bodies and forces his will upon us? If he did that, then why would there be all the warnings written to Christians in the NT, reminding them of how they should walk, and instructing them in what to put off and what to put on? And, why would we need the armor of God with which to fight off Satan’s evil attacks and schemes against us? It seems, then, that we would not even have to concern ourselves with temptation, because God would take care of that for us. Yet, he makes the way of escape for us, but we still have to choose to take it, don’t we?

Walk in Them (v. 10)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

So, what is the crux of all of this? It is that our salvation from sin is only by God’s grace, but that it requires faith, on our part, which is faith in action. This faith is not us trying to earn our salvation, but it is our cooperation with God’s work of grace in our lives. It is us yielding and surrendering to God. Remember that James said that even the demons believe and they shudder, so there must be something about genuine faith that is more than just acknowledgment of who Christ is or a literal belief in his existence, or even just an acceptance of his forgiveness of our sins, which is conditional on us being turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.

So, what does this faith look like? When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are crucified with him in death to sin, and we are resurrected with him, of the Spirit of God, to newness of life in Christ Jesus, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. No longer should we walk (in lifestyle) according to the sinful passions of our flesh, but we should live our lives according to (in agreement with) the Spirit of God. We should walk, too, in obedience to Christ and to his commands. We should walk in purity and in holiness, and we should resist Satan, flee temptation and sin, and draw near to God. Daily we should put on the armor of God, because we have an enemy who is out to get us. And, we must walk in love.

Bottom line: Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. This is the crux of the gospel message, which is taught all throughout the New Testament by Jesus, and by his NT apostles. His grace to us is not merely to free us from hell and to promise us heaven, but it is to make us alive together with Christ by delivering us out of slavery to sin, so that we might live to his righteousness. We are not saved just positionally, but we are saved (being saved, will be saved) experientially. When he saves us, we should no longer follow the course of this world, but our lives should be surrendered to Christ to walk in his ways, and in his truth, and our desire should be for him, and for him to be our ONLY Lord (owner-master).

Muted Trumpet / An Original Work / October 14, 2011

Softly He speaks gently to us,

Giving us His messages, and

He waits patiently for us to

Respond to His words.

Will you listen to Him speaking?

Will you waken from your sleeping?

He is calling; hear Him whisper

His truth unto you.

Jesus speaks His words unto us,

So that He might live out through us,

Giving light to all who need Him,

So they can obey.

He gave His life to die for us,

So that from sin He would free us

To walk humbly in obedience

Unto Him each day.

Hear the trumpet clearly calling.

He died to keep us from falling.

Won’t you listen; heed His call to

Turn to Him today?

Hasten to Him calling to you.

Turn from sin and follow Jesus.

He loves you so much He gave you

Life eternally.

https://vimeo.com/125739604

Body Life

Sunday, October 29, 2017, 10:22 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Zeal for Your House.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read several scriptures on the subject of the Body of Christ.

Different Functions (Romans 12:3-8)

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

No matter our gifts, our callings, our service (ministry), or our body parts, not one of us is superior to the other. Paul said, in essence, that all who are ministers of Christ are all servants of the Lord, but we just have different functions, yet it is God who causes the growth. So, not one of us has ever any reason to take pride in our callings or ministry, because God is the source of our gifts and callings, and there is nothing we can do for his service, apart from him. Only by and through him can we even have any impact for God’s eternal kingdom. So, since it all comes from him and is empowered by him, then he is the one to get all the glory and praise. Amen.

As God Desired (I Corinthians 12:14-20)

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body.

I think that today’s modern (corporation) church here in America has lost sight of what the church is really all about. For one, the church, Christ’s body, is not a business, a corporation, an organization, a social club, a civic organization or a marketing venture. It is the people of God who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. It is also not a building built by human hands. When we enter that building called a church, we are not entering into God’s house, and when we enter the worship center (formerly called “sanctuary”), we are not entering into the presence of Almighty God. We, the people of God, are his house, and his presence is within us.

As far as body parts go, it is important to note here that it is God who determines the parts (the roles, the assignments), not humans. He not only determines who gets what parts, but he decides the parts, i.e. what they consist of and how they are to operate, like he does with the gifts. As well, they are only operational in the power and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, which means the Holy Spirit has to have the freedom to work through these parts as predetermined by God. So, a body part may or may not coincide with an institutional church ministry, which may be designed by humans but then designated as a “body part.”

For example, a small group leader, who is a facilitator of someone else’s teaching materials probably does not qualify as a body part, because the part is man-made, and because it is usually confined to follow particular man-made objectives, purposes, plans and goals, which may or may not be consistent with scripture. And, it is normally all predetermined by humans, which leaves little room for the Holy Spirit to speak or to work, because consistently humans set the perimeters for this assignment, not God.

So, because the modern church is run like a business, it is not run like the body of Christ. Thus, it is often lopsided with a handful of leaders doing the ministry, and determining the ministries, which often must fit with the goals and objectives of the business. So, it is kind of like the whole body is an eye, and that there is no place for the other parts, which may lead some people to feel as though they are not necessary to the body, because they don’t fit, but all the parts are necessary, but again, as God determines, not man.

Rejected Parts (1 Corinthians 12:21-26)

And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

I admit I am very passionate about what this talks about here, partly due to my own experiences, some of them not so good, partly due to how I have seen others treated within the body of Christ, sometimes in the name of God, which is also not always so good, but mostly because Jesus lives within me and so I have his heart, his zeal for his body, God’s house.

If we are truly following Jesus Christ with our lives, and we are being led of the Holy Spirit, and we are responding to God’s leading, he will show us our gifts and our assignments within the body of Christ, which will be in complete agreement with his Word. But, they may not be accepted within these modern churches which have turned God’s house, his body, into a marketplace. So, we may be rejected within the church because our body part just doesn’t fit with their business goals and marketing schemes. And, they may invite us to go “someplace else” where we will be a “better fit.” But, where? So many of today’s churches have taken this business path and are following marketing schemes and humanistic philosophy, often over and above God’s Word.

So, what can we do? Well, we have to remember that the church is the people, not the organization, and that it exists worldwide. So, God is not confined to any specific location or group in order for him to use us as he chooses. He may have us start a Bible study with our neighbors, or he may give us a writing ministry, or a prayer ministry, etc. We also have to remember that God is completely sovereign, and he knew the church was going to turn this direction, so he already planned for this, which means our body part is not contingent on any one congregation accepting us. He will give honor to the parts which lack it (from humans) so that there may be no division in the body.

So, if you have been rejected, place this in his hands, and just follow his lead, and he will show you what he has for you to do. It will probably not be conventional, not in the sense of what we have come to accept as “church” ministries, most likely. It may be something “outside the box” of traditional “church,” but it won’t be outside God’s box or outside his wisdom, or contrary to his Word. What God opens, no man can shut, and what God shuts, no man can open, so just trust him, let him lead, and follow him.

Zeal for Your House

An Original Work / August 1, 2016

Based off Jn. 2:17; Ps. 69:9

Zeal for Your house, it consumes me.

Lord, I love my times with You.

I love to worship You and sing Your praises.

Time in Your Word brings me closer to You,

List’ning to You speaking to me,

Gently guiding me in truth.

Lord, You are my life’s example,

Showing me how I should live.

I love to walk with You where’er You lead me.

No greater joy have I when serving You.

Loving, giving, resting in Your strength,

I’m yielding to Your will.

Zeal for Your house, it consumes me.

See the church turned upside down:

Marketing ventures taking place of worship,

Men of the gospel turning into clowns.

Gospel message made appealing,

So the world will feel at home.

Lord, we need a great revival.

Turn their hearts, Lord, back to You.

Open the blind eyes, turn them all from darkness,

Lord, to the light. May they return to You,

Turn from their sin, forsake idols,

Be restored to God again.

https://vimeo.com/177433676

Conformity

Sunday, October 29, 2017, 3:23 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Lord Move Me.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 12:1-2 (NASB).

A Holy Sacrifice (v. 1a)

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God…

I urge you, I implore you, fellow believers in Jesus Christ, by way of and as a result of God’s mercies to us, i.e. his compassion and kindness toward us, in forgiving us and in delivering us out of our sins, that you give yourselves over to God as a living and holy sacrifice, pleasing and acceptable to him.

God, out of his love for us, provided the way for us to be delivered from slavery to sin, to be forgiven our sins, and to have new (eternal) lives in him free from the control of sin and Satan. He also has granted us the freedom, empowerment, wisdom and strength, of God’s Holy Spirit, to now walk (in lifestyle) according to his righteousness and holiness. This is why God sent his Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross for our sins. So, righteousness is what is deemed right in God’s eyes, i.e. all that is holy, moral, just, upright, honorable, honest and decent. And, holiness is being separate (different) from the world, because we are being made into the likeness of Jesus Christ.  

So, since Jesus did all this for us, and for these reasons, what kind of lives should we be living? We should be living in conformity to God/Christ, to his holiness and righteousness, and to the Word of God. Our lives are no longer our own, to do with what we want, for we were bought back for God with the price of Jesus’ blood, shed on a cross for our sins. He is now to be our ONLY LORD (owner-master), and we are to be his bondservants, to do his bidding. So, our lifestyles should reflect that truly we have been crucified with Christ in death to sin, and that we have been resurrected with Christ to newness of life, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Spiritual Worship (v. 1b)

…which is your spiritual service of worship.

Giving ourselves to God as a living and holy sacrifice (offering), acceptable (pleasing) to Him is our spiritual service of worship of Him. We can raise our voices and our hands to him in song, and still not worship him. We can serve within the church as a teacher, small group leader, deacon, elder, pastor, nursery worker, singer, instrumentalist, etc., and still not worship God. We can also attend church services every week faithfully, and give our money in the offering plate, and feed the poor and hungry, and still not worship God. And, we can, as well, read our Bible and pray every day and still not experience true worship of God and true fellowship (communion) with Him.

Worship certainly includes singing, praise, ministry, personal Bible reading (study) and prayer, benevolence, and the gathering together with the saints of God for the teaching of the Word, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. But, we can do all of these things and still not worship God, if we do them in form only, and if or because our lives are not given to God as a living and holy (separate) sacrifice (offering), acceptable (pleasing) to him. So, if we want to worship God, truly (in truth), then our lives need to be surrendered to him (to Jesus Christ) as obedient servants ready to do what he wants for our lives, rather than us determining that for ourselves.

Not Conformed to World (v. 2a)

And do not be conformed to this world…

Conformity means compliance, agreement, obedience, and submission; similarity in form, manner or character. So, if we are living in conformity with the world of sin, that means we live in such a manner in which we obey and submit to and/or become similar to, in manner or character, the world.

So, what is the sinful world like? It does not submit to God. It does what the sin nature desires, rather than what God desires. Its eyes are full of adultery, lust, and greed. Immorality is not only regularly practiced, but it is acceptable practice, and not to be condemned by anyone who thinks or believes differently. In fact, it mocks those who follow after the way of righteousness, or anyone who doesn’t think like it does. It has no problem viewing pornography or sexually charged or sensual movies, videos or still pictures. It has no issues with being entertained incessantly by murder, adultery, fornication, lying, cheating, stealing, mockery, gossip, and the like. And, thus, it often follows suit and does these things it views, too. And, it is alright with angry outbursts, meanness, lewdness, and course joking, also.

So, if we are to not be conformed to (in compliance with) the sinful world, then these things mentioned here, and more, should not be a part of our lives, too. Again, this is not to say that we will never sin (1 Jn. 2:1-2), but that sin should not be our practice, we should not walk in it, and it should no longer have dominion (control, mastery) over us. Daily, by the Spirit, we should be putting to death the deeds of the flesh. Daily we should take up our cross and follow Christ. And, daily we should be putting on the armor of God with which to fight off Satan’s evil schemes and attacks against us (Eph. 6:10-20). And, we should be cutting out of our lives all which hinders our walks of faith or which draws us into sin. Many people do not live in victory over sin because they are not willing to let go of what leads them into sin.

But Transformed in Mind (v. 2b)

…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

So, we are not to be conformed to this sinful world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, which is the working of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives, but only as we yield and submit to and obey our Lord’s directives for what to put off and what to put on (Example: Eph. 4:17-5:21). Yes, God is the one who cleanses, purifies, strengthens and helps us, but we have to do our part, which is to submit, obey, and surrender to Him. We have to walk according to the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

For, Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. He will give us (has given us) all we need to do this, but we have to do it, all in his power and strength, yes, but we still have to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we await Christ’s return (Tit. 2:11-14). This is what his grace instructs us to do! Our minds are not going to be renewed in the Spirit if we keep filling them with the trash of this world. That is counterproductive! We are not going to have victory over any particular sins if we are continually feeding the sins and we are not feeding on the Word of God and his righteousness.

The Christian life is a series of put offs and put ons. This is why Jesus died, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, and that we might deny self and daily take up our cross and follow Christ. When we believe in Jesus, with genuine faith, we are turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that we might receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus (Ac. 26:16-18). Our salvation is not just about escaping hell and going to heaven when we die. It is about forsaking our old lives of living for sin and self, and putting on our new lives in Christ Jesus, and following him in obedience and surrender.

Lord, Move Me  

An Original Work / October 16, 2011

Be my desire, my heart set on fire,

Lord, move me to worship You only, I pray.

Fill with Your Spirit, my heart overflow.

Lord, may I long for You; Your word to know.

Teach me to walk with You, Lord, in Your power,

And may I serve You, Lord, right now in this hour.

Lord, how I want to obey You forever.

Help me to hear You, Lord, so I will not stray.

Teach me to love You; adore You always.

Envelope me, Lord, with Your grace today.

Meet me in my need, and show me Your mercy.

Forgive me for all things, as I humbly pray.

Counsel me, lead me, direct me, and guide me,

So I follow You, Lord, where’er You lead now.

I love to hear You speak Your words to me.

I am so grateful that You set me free.

Wash me, and cleanse me, and make me like You, Lord,

And I will live with You for eternity.

https://vimeo.com/125966625

Honor and Praise

Saturday, October 28, 2017, 7:41 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Jesus, I am Resting, Resting.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read 1 Peter 1 (Quoting select vv. NASB).

Chosen by God (vv. 1-2)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

For those of us who are chosen by God, predestined to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, we are chosen to be holy and blameless in God’s sight. We are chosen to serve the Lord, to obey him, and to follow him. We are chosen to use our spiritual gifts for his service, and to do what he has assigned us to do, which is our part in the body of Christ - all in his power and strength now at work within us. We are chosen, too, for daily cleansing from sin, being made holy by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, as we cooperate with God’s work of grace in our lives, doing what he has called us to do, and being who he has called us to be.

Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. Jesus said if we want to come after him we must deny self, take up our cross daily and follow (obey) Him. We have to die daily to sin and self. Paul said if we walk according to the flesh we will die (in our sin), but if by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh we will live (with Christ for eternity). God’s grace is not a free license to continue in sin. His grace, which brings salvation, teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return. Jesus died to make us holy, to conform us to his image, and to use us as his servants and witnesses to bring others to Christ and to encourage his body in the faith and in their walks with the Lord. This is why we are here.

Born Again (vv. 3-5)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

What does it mean to be “born again”? Well, first we are born as flesh, from the wombs of our mothers. We have arms, legs, eyes, ears and such, which are all physical. But, these flesh bodies are going to one day die and rot. And, then the real us, our souls, the core of our being, will live on either in hell or in heaven; either in eternal damnation and punishment, or in eternal life with God. So, what determines our eternal destiny? It is whether or not we have been born again, not physically, but of the Spirit of God. We are all born physically, if we are here on this earth, but we also need to be born spiritually. So, how do we get “born again”?

First we have to realize that we are all sinners, and that we all come up short of attaining God’s divine approval in our own merit (Ro. 3:23), and that we cannot earn our way to heaven through our own good works. It is only by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, that we are able to be saved (delivered) from our sins and have eternal life with God (Eph. 2:8-10; Jn. 3:16). But, then we must also realize that this “faith” is not just a feeling or something intellectual, but that it is putting into practice in our lives, by the Spirit, what Jesus Christ did for us in dying for our sins, and in being resurrected back to life, so that we could die to sin and live to righteousness. This means we leave our old lives of sin behind us in order to follow Jesus Christ with our lives, which is, thus, the meaning of being “born again.”

Various Trials (vv. 6-9)

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Yet, while we are still on this earth, prior to going to our eternal home, we will suffer many things, especially for the sake of Christ and of his gospel. But, these trials are for our good, for they test and try our faith in order that, when Jesus Christ returns, our faith in him may result in his praise, honor and glory.

So, through trials and tribulations we learn perseverance, patience, and endurance. We learn to rely on God and not on ourselves. We grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus, and we mature in our walks of faith, being made holy and conformed to the likeness of Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Although, through God’s divine discipline in our lives, we may suffer much, this is for our good that we may share in his holiness, and in order that, when trained by his discipline, we may bear the fruit of his righteousness. And, the outcome of our faith is the salvation of our souls.

Be Holy (vv. 13-16)

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Since Jesus died and rose again, in order that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, and since we have been born again of the Spirit of God to new lives in Jesus Christ, not like our old lives, our desire should be for our Lord, to walk in his ways and in his truth. We should no longer want to walk in the ways of this world or of our sinful flesh, for Jesus set us free! So, we ought to be serious minded about God and his Word and about obeying him. Thus, we have to prepare our minds for action, because the devil is out to get us. So, daily we must be putting on the armor of God with which to fight off his evil schemes against us (Eph. 6:10-20).

No longer should we live the way we did before we met Jesus, for if we truly were crucified with him in death to sin, and resurrected with him to newness of life (born again), we should love him, desire him, obey him, and walk in his ways. This is not to say that we will never sin again (1 Jn. 2:1-2), but that sin should no longer have mastery over our lives, for Jesus set us free! So, we ought not to do the things we did before. We must not lie, cheat, steal, commit fornication or adultery, murder, hate, gossip, etc. These should no longer define who we are. We should not conduct our lives in these ways, but according to the Spirit of God. For we are to be holy in all of our conduct, separate from the world, because of being made to be like Christ.

Jesus, I am Resting, Resting  

Jean Sophia Pigott

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,

And Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by Thy transforming power,

Thou hast made me whole.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,

Vaster, broader than the sea!

O, how marvelous Thy goodness,

Lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,

Know what wealth of grace is Thine,

Know Thy certainty of promise,

And have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

Satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings:

Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me

As I work and wait for Thee;

Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,

Earth’s dark shadows flee.

Brightness of my Father’s glory,

Sunshine of my Father’s face,

Keep me ever trusting, resting,

Fill me with Thy grace.

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

A Distress Signal

Friday, October 27, 2017, 5:25 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “A Believer’s Prayer.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Hebrews 4 (Select vv. NASB).

United by Faith (vv. 1-3a, 11)

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest… Therefore, let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

Who is “us” here? It is all of us who make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, but certainly this can apply to anyone. And, what is this “fear” we are supposed to have? It is a warning, an alarm being sounded, or a distress signal, which is being used to indicate a possible life-threatening situation. But, it includes the fear of God, in the sense of taking God at his Word, believing what he says, and knowing that he will do everything he said he would do. In other words, there is something here which is of such a serious matter that this is a call to sit up and take notice, and to take what is being said to heart, for our lives depend on us taking this matter seriously.

So, what is God’s rest that we are to enter? It is our salvation, it is eternal life with God, and it is the promise of eternity with God in heaven. It is life in the Spirit, and fullness of life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. And, it is freedom from bondage to sin, deliverance from the punishment of sin, and freedom to walk (in lifestyle) in Christ’s righteousness and holiness. As well, it is victory over darkness, and walking in the Light of Christ and His Word. For, our eternal life with God begins when we first trust in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives, as well as it is what we receive when our lives on this earth are done (Jn. 3:36; Jn. 5:24; Jn. 6:47-54; Ro. 6:22-23; Gal. 6:8).

So, why is this alarm being sounded? And, why should this concern us? It is because there is a danger that many people will believe they have that promise of eternal rest (eternal life with God), but that their hope will be (or is) based in a lie, and not in the truth. And, so, the Israelites who were delivered out of slavery in Egypt are being used here as an example to us of those who did not enter into God’s rest due to unbelief and disobedience. And, so, we must understand here that true belief in Jesus Christ includes both repentance and obedience. Yet, it isn’t that we will never sin (1 Jn. 2:1-2), but that sin should no longer have mastery over us to where we walk (in lifestyle) in sin instead of walk (conduct our lives) according to (in agreement with) the Holy Spirit.

For, you see, Jesus Christ did not die on that cross for our sins merely to take our punishment and to forgive us our sins so that we can go to heaven one day. He died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. This is the crux of the gospel message. Coming to faith in Jesus Christ means we die with him to our old lives of sin and that we are resurrected with him to new lives in him, which are created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. But, if we continue in sin, living sinful lifestyles, and we make sin our practice, we don’t have that promise of eternal rest, but a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire, so we need to take this seriously (1 Pet. 2:24; Eph. 4:17-24; Rom. 6:1-23; 8:1-17; 1 Jn. 1:6; Gal. 5:19-21).

Living and Active (vv. 12-13)

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

So, how do we know this? We know this by the Word of God which is able to judge our thoughts and intentions and to expose lies and to reveal truth. This Word certainly includes God’s written Word, Jesus Christ, the Word, and the living Word within our hearts in the person of God’s Holy Spirit. What this Word teaches us is that true belief in Jesus Christ is not intellectual, emotional, hypocritical, past only, or in form (ritual) only. It is present tense, active, continuous, enduring and persevering. It is also obedient, submissive, and repentant. It does not demand perfection, but continuance, and that lack of perfection should not be used as an excuse for willful sin.

Too many people today have diluted the gospel message to make it more attractive and appealing to human flesh, and so they have removed God’s requirements for repentance, obedience, submission and continuance. They have exchanged the truth for a lie which says all we have to do is believe in Jesus’ existence or believe he died to save us from our sins, and then accept his forgiveness, and then we are guaranteed heaven no matter how we live from this point forward. But, the truth is that we must walk in the light as He is in the light, we must walk according to the Spirit, and we must, by the Spirit, be putting sin to death, if we want to enter into God’s eternal rest.

In Time of Need (vv. 14-16)

Therefore, since 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 cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

But, you say, life is tough, and temptations are everywhere, and it is so hard to maintain a Christian walk. No doubt! But, not too hard for God! Surely we cannot live the Christian life in our own strength and willpower, but only in the power and strength and wisdom of Almighty God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

When Jesus Christ walked the face of this earth as fully God yet fully man, he was also tempted, but he resisted Satan and he fled temptation to sin and he did not give in. Thus, he sympathizes with us in our weaknesses, but he does not excuse away sin, i.e. his grace is not carte blanche to continue in willful sin against God. His grace, instead, instructs us to say “NO!” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we await Christ’s return (Tit. 2:11-14).

So, when we are tempted to sin, we resist Satan, we flee the sin, and we draw near to God, and we draw on his strength and power to walk in holiness and righteousness and to not bow to the pressure of sin’s deceitfulness.

But, so many who claim to believe in Jesus still walk in sin, live in addiction to particular sins, and then make excuses for their sin, or they try to claim that God’s grace covers it all. And, many or all of them do so because truly they don’t want to be free from the sin, I believe. For, if they do, Jesus has already made the way of escape for us out from underneath the temptation. We just have to take it, and that means cutting out of our lives those things which lead us into sin and also fleeing the sin, not playing with fire hoping you won’t get burned when you know you probably will.

A Believer’s Prayer / An Original Work / July 31, 2012

With my whole heart, Lord, I pray

To be Yours, and Yours always.

Lead me in Your truth today.

May I love You, and obey.

Lead me in Your righteousness.

When I sin, may I confess;

Bow before You when I pray;

Live for You and You always.

Love You, Jesus, You’re my friend.

Life with You will never end.

You are with me through each day,

Giving love and peace always.

You will ne’er abandon me.

From my sin You set me free.

You died on that cruel tree,

So I’d live eternally.

Soon You’re coming back for me;

From this world to set me free;

Live with You eternally.

Oh, what joy that brings to me.

I will walk with You in white;

A pure bride, I’ve been made right

By the blood of Jesus Christ;

Pardoned by His sacrifice.

https://vimeo.com/114796263

Discerning Error

Thursday, October 26, 2017, 6:11 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Broken and Contrite.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read 2 Timothy 3 (NASB).

Difficult Times (vv. 1-9)

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

The last days are the days leading up to Jesus Christ’s return. Although many or all of the sins listed here have always existed, the sense here is that these will increase in severity and volume, and will pervade our societies and even much of the organized church of our time, especially the closer we get to our Lord’s return.

Many men and women, even within the organized church, can be described in this manner. In fact, a large number of pastors today live similarly to this, as well, as numerous ones of them are addicted to pornography, power, fame and/or fortune, and/or are involved in adultery, corruption, swindling, greed, and/or manipulations of people and/or of truth. Many of them, in fact, are being schooled in manipulation (lying) as a way of swaying the people toward a particular direction, and of weeding out undesirables, which may include weeding out those who have close walks with Jesus Christ so that they don’t offend anyone with the truth. I have seen this in multiple congregations, and have read much about it, so I know of what I speak.

A large majority of the church here in America has turned God’s house, the body of Christ, into a marketplace, and they are marketing her just like any other business, which means that they use marketing schemes (tricks, gimmicks) as a way to draw in large crowds of people. In other words, they gear their meetings to give their customer base (the world) what they want so that they will come back, because it is much more about pleasing people than it is about pleasing God. So, they dilute the gospel to make it more appealing to human flesh so that people can believe they have heaven as their eternal destiny while they also believe they can continue in sin and that it is all covered by God’s grace. And, then they try to silence those who are teaching the truth by trying to discredit them and/or their message.

Their folly is now obvious to some, but not yet to all, for many are deceived by their trickery and their deceptions. But, one day everything will be exposed for what it is, and then many eyes will be opened to the truth, "For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:17).

Continue in Faith (vv. 10-15)

Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Instead of being partakers with those who walk in sin and who deny and oppose the truth, we who profess Christ as Savior of our lives should be followers of Christ, i.e. we should be obedient, faithful and committed to Christ and to walking in his ways and in his truth. This is not to say that we will never sin, but that sin should no longer have mastery over our lives so that we continually obey its lustful desires (Ro. 6:1-23; Gal. 5:16-24).

But, we must know that when we do walk in truth, righteousness and holiness, as the pattern of our lives, though not necessarily in sinless perfection, but with sin no longer our master, that we will be hated, rejected, despised, ridiculed, opposed strongly and persecuted for our faith and for our stand on God’s Word, i.e. on his truth. And, a lot of this opposition may come from within the church, not from without, because so much of the church has been deceived by clever enchanters and master manipulators who disguise themselves as servants of righteousness but who inwardly are ferocious wolves whose goal it is to steal, kill and to destroy.

Training in Righteousness (vv. 16-17)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

So, how do we discern truth from lies? How do we recognize when someone is attempting to manipulate us? Well, first off we have to be in Christ Jesus, by God’s grace, through faith in Him, be born again of the Spirit of God, and have the Holy Spirit living within us. Then, we have to study the scriptures, if they are available to us, so that we know what they teach, but we need to do this in the context in which they are written, for many pull scriptures out of context to make them say what they are not saying. And, we have to go into God’s Word asking for the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts, and we must be willing to hear and to obey the truths God speaks to our hearts.

Then, as we listen to men and women speak (or write), we must examine their teachings against the Word of God, in context, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, to make certain that what they are telling us is indeed truth, and not obvious lies, deceptions, twisted truth or subtle lies inserted inside truth. We must also look for patterns in what they say or in how they say what they do. For instance, I have known at least two pastors who, toward the end of their sermons, would tell a story intended to move people emotionally, and they would get a certain quiver in their voices, one seemingly copying the other, since one once served under the other. It was an obvious manipulation to any discerning spirit. One of the pastors once admitted to his congregation that he knew he had the power to manipulate.

One other thing to look for is what they don’t say, but which is implied. For instance, we once began to take a certain discipleship training course, and we began to read through the training manual. I noticed that on one page, in very large bold letters, was a particular passage of scripture intended to convey a certain message. Then, in smaller letters on that same page was the teaching, which had no reference to that passage, and which wasn’t even biblical, but was created in the minds of humans. Yet, there was a very subtle lie present there, because, by the presence of the scripture passage the reader was to assume a connection, and the connection was that God gave his approval to what was written there, but that was a lie.

So, anyway, know what the Bible teaches, but in context to the whole and to the book you are reading. Don’t pull verses out of context to make them say what they are not saying. Be open to what the Spirit wants to say to your heart, listen to God speak, and then walk in obedience to the truth.

Broken and Contrite / An Original Work / May 13, 2012

I come before You, Lord, my Savior,

With humble heart and crushed in spirit.

I bow before You, I implore You,

Heal my broken heart, I pray.

Love You, Jesus, Lord, my master,

You are the King of my heart.

Lord, purify my heart within me;

Sanctify me, whole within.

Oh, Lord, I long to obey fully

The words You’ve spoken through Your Spirit.

I pray You give me grace and mercy,

Strength and wisdom to obey.

Father God, my heart’s desire,

Won’t You set my heart on fire?

Lord, cleanse my heart of all that hinders

My walk with You, now I pray.

Oh, Jesus, Savior, full of mercy,

My heart cries out for understanding.

I want to follow You in all ways,

Never straying from Your truth.

Holy Spirit, come in power,

Fill me with Your love today.

Lord, mold and make me;

Your hands formed me;

Live Your life through me, I pray.

https://vimeo.com/118841304