I John 2.12-17:
“The Battle Fought ‘Round the World”
Every day we’re in a battle. No matter who you are, no matter where you stand with God, you are fighting a battle. Inside all of us is a sense of something bigger, something shall we say, divine? And this longing for the divine, even if we deny it, puts us in a battle. Some have given into that calling, some fight it still, but John writes in his first epistle that we are in a fight. He addresses those that are fight on the right side, that have given into that longing for something bigger, and he encourages them to keep fighting. He writes:
“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because you have known the Father. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. “(I John 2.12-17)
To start we have to almost work backwards through the passage. What is the battle? Who are the players in the battle? The battle is between worldliness and godliness. One cannot be both, worldly and godly. Just as darkness has no fellowship with light, the love of the world cannot be consume the same heart that has a love for God. Now, to preface the world we are talking of here is the fallen, sinful, perverted ways of the world. Not the people that make up the world, but the sinful nature of the world. It is important to make this distinction. We are to love everyone, yet not love disgusting sin.
There are three categories in which sin usually falls; lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life (v.16). We see all the way back in the Garden of Eden these sins being prevalent. Within the story of the tempting of Even and the first sin, we see these three characteristics of sin. Eve saw (lust of eyes) that the fruit was good for eating (lust of flesh) and that it would make her like God (pride of life). These three areas of sin needed to be guarded against, and are the battle in which we fight. John goes on to encourage and remind believers , no matter what their spiritual standing, they are in a battle and to fight well.
Three categories of Christians are given in this passage; children, young men, and fathers. Some will say this is in reference to the age of the believers, but it is not. John here is referring to a type of age, but not age as we think of it, rather spiritual age. Children refer to the spiritual babies, or newly saved. These are the babes or little children in Christ. The next are the fathers, they are the other end of the spectrum. These are defined by the spiritually mature, those that have a deep and intimate understanding of spiritual things. The last group John discusses is the young men, who are strong. These are those that are on their journey that are more mature in Christ than the babes, but aren’t as mature as the fathers. These guys are still going thru the fire, if you will.
There is a battle we fight every day. How do we fight it? Well no matter where we’re at on our journey (child, father, or young man) we draw encouragement from each other, and from the Word of God. Paul wrote in Ephesians about our battle and that we need to put on the whole armor of God. This being said we also have to keep our way pure by the very Word of God (Psalm 119.9). We do this all by the grace of God, and hopefully at the end of our life, we have fought the good fight!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
I John 2.12-17: The Battle Fought 'Round the World
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Book Review: The Air I Breathe
This has been the best book that I have read this year. It was hands down, absolutely incredible. Louie Giglio has written one of the greatest, straight to the point works on worship. The subtitle to the books explains it all, “worship as a way of life”. He discusses throughout the book how worship is built within us, and that we worship just like we breathe air. He ends the book with his final definition on worship: “Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God—for who He is! And what He’s done! Expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.”
This book should be bought and read by every person that claims to be a Christian!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Disciplines of a Godly Man
Book Review For:
Disciplines of a Godly Man
I would recommend this book to any guy. This is a book specifically written to men, and is a calling out of our recent failures. R. Kent Hughes does a masterful job of writing in a very understandable, yet to the point way. He does not shoot the bull, but gives a great discussion on frank issues on discipline. He discusses four areas of our lives that need discipline, inside these four areas there are sub-area. This was a wonderful book and should be read by all Christian men. Mr. Hughes to start the discussion tells us that he is writing as if he were sitting across the table, drinking coffee with his son.
First he discusses Relationships. Inside of relationships he discusses the disciplines of purity, marriage, Fatherhood, and friendship. What a great discussion these were very frank and very enlightening! These talks were very fatherly, and very sound. In our world today the discussion on purity was very practical. Secondly, he talked about our souls. These are the disciplines that we need in order to grow in our relationship with Christ. Inside this area he discusses the disciplines of mind, devotion, prayer, and worship. These were very practical ideas to cultivate a deeper understanding and relationship with Christ. Thirdly, he discussed the discipline of Character encompassing the discipline of integrity, tongue, work, and perseverance. This was an eye opening talking for a culture that is not too concerned with character. And lastly, he discussed the discipline of ministry. Inside of this discipline was the disciplines of church, leadership, giving, witness, and ministry.
This book should be read by all men, and if studied intently could change your life, and the course mankind has set over the last couple of decades. Men now have no backbone, and are a joke. This was a call for real men to step up grab the reins of life and live a God-honoring, selfless, life. This is an unusual thing in our culture, yet something that needs to be desired! Pick up this book and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Conqueror’s Prayer Requests 1.20.10
Jennie Reilly- Boyfriends mom has lump in her throat
Micah Burgess- Neighbor passed away & friends boyfriend is going to be leaving for Haiti
Pat Barger- Unspoken & 3 girls he goes to school with are pregnant
Kari Haase- Friends uncle passed away & a girl she knows is having tests done
Jillian Jenkins- Very close family friend
Ellen Schaaf- Praise, her mom got called back to work
Daniel Morales- Friends moms surgery & friend died & all the people in Haiti
Jared McCord- Christy Wright
Stephanie - Grandma
Sarah Hunter- Praise, she got accepted to U of M
Lisa Bolton- For her moms tests
Sam Hopper- For her friend who just left for an internship in Florida & her cousin is going to be leaving for Haiti
Alicia Clark- Friend who is pregnant is having pregnancy complications
Kaitlyn Sears- Trying to get her friend to come to Church
Zach Lezotte- Failing Geometry
Alyssa Barker- Her mom's uncle broke his ankle & her and her friends school grades
Kori Spigoda- Family situation
Micah Burgess- Neighbor passed away & friends boyfriend is going to be leaving for Haiti
Pat Barger- Unspoken & 3 girls he goes to school with are pregnant
Kari Haase- Friends uncle passed away & a girl she knows is having tests done
Jillian Jenkins- Very close family friend
Ellen Schaaf- Praise, her mom got called back to work
Daniel Morales- Friends moms surgery & friend died & all the people in Haiti
Jared McCord- Christy Wright
Stephanie - Grandma
Sarah Hunter- Praise, she got accepted to U of M
Lisa Bolton- For her moms tests
Sam Hopper- For her friend who just left for an internship in Florida & her cousin is going to be leaving for Haiti
Alicia Clark- Friend who is pregnant is having pregnancy complications
Kaitlyn Sears- Trying to get her friend to come to Church
Zach Lezotte- Failing Geometry
Alyssa Barker- Her mom's uncle broke his ankle & her and her friends school grades
Kori Spigoda- Family situation
I John 2.3-11: You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?
In a culture where everyone seems to at some level say: “yeah, I’m a Christian”, how do you know who to believe? It seems like every athlete, even some rock stars, and celebrities quickly will “thank God” yet turn around and use some four letter swear word, stumble around trashed off their butt, or talk about the girls they spent the night with the night before. In an increasingly spiritualized culture, how can we take people at their word, when they claim the name of Jesus Christ? To begin let me say that I am not judging any of the afore mentioned people, I love them and hope that their testimony of Christ is true, but if we name the name of Christ we have to do it in deed as well as the words we say.
John the apostle, the beloved disciple, faced these same issues. It’s exactly what He addresses in the second chapter of his first epistle to the early church. In verse 3-11 we will see the genuine marks of a true Christian. The premise John and we’ll work off of is what James talked about in Chapter four of the book named after him. He wrote:
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, ‘Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled’; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone. Yea, a man may say ‘Thou hast faith, and I have works’: shew me thy faith without they works, and will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God’. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2.14-26)
James is not advocating a salvation by works, which many false teachers will teach. The basic truth is there is NOTHING we can do to be accepted by God. There is nothing good enough that we can bring to the table, to have him accept us into his family. The only thing we have going for us is the death, burial, and glorious resurrection of Jesus. Without that we are completely , and utterly hopeless! What James is talking about is a salvation, unto good works! We are saved so that we can now do good. This manifests itself directly into what John is talking about here in his letter to the early church. This is what John writes:
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, ‘I know him’ and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have head from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hatheth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth in darkness, and knoweth not wither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” (I John 2.3-11)
It is high time that we started to put our money where out mouths are. John here gives us three ways in which we can measure our Christianity. He says essentially, “if you say you’re a Christian, than this is what your life will look like. This is what it will be characterized by.” 1.) You obey God (v.3-5); 2.) You imitate Christ (v.6); 3.) You love others (v.7-11). The use of the word commandments is prevalent in these verse, as these characteristics flow from the greatest commands; Love God; Love people. This is the basic summary of the ten commands given to Moses.
John tells us in verses 3 thru 5 that we know that we know Him, if we keep his commandments. He goes on to say that if we say that we know him, but don’t keep his commands, we are liars. But, we’re told, if we keep the commands, “the love of God is perfected in us” (v.5). In verse six we‘re told to imitate Christ. We are to walk as he walked, and love as he loved. This is evidence all thru the gospels and we see Jesus fulfilling this “love God, love people” command. He is constantly talking about glorifying God, constantly looking for way to bring glory to God, and always putting others above himself.
The talk of a new commandment/old commandment can be very confusing. But what John is saying is that there is not new commandment, but that loving God and loving people has been the deal since creation. However, the context in which they are to carry this out is new. The church was now facing life without Jesus. So now they had to worship under the definition of faith-the things hoped for, evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11.1). They also were going to be facing, or were already facing major persecution, which would make it difficult to love others. However, if they imitated Jesus, they would love their enemies.
John’s teaching here reiterates the Ten Commandments given to Moses. All ten can be summed up into the previous paraphrase: Love God, love people. Dealing with the first four, these all focus on loving God. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me…Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (idols)…Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain…Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” (Exodus 3.3-8). These first four commands deal solely with worshipping and honoring God. And if these commands be understood and practiced, especially the first two, then the rest fall into place.
Secondly we are to love people. This is the second commandment, the second half--if you will-- of the Ten Commandments. “Honor thy father and mother…Thou shalt not kill…Thou shalt not commit adultery…Thou shalt not steal…thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)…Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 3.12-17).
How are we doing on these two commands : Love God, love people? These are the marks of a genuine faith in Christ. You can’t have one without the other. Are you just talking the talk, or can you actually walk the walk?
John the apostle, the beloved disciple, faced these same issues. It’s exactly what He addresses in the second chapter of his first epistle to the early church. In verse 3-11 we will see the genuine marks of a true Christian. The premise John and we’ll work off of is what James talked about in Chapter four of the book named after him. He wrote:
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, ‘Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled’; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone. Yea, a man may say ‘Thou hast faith, and I have works’: shew me thy faith without they works, and will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God’. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2.14-26)
James is not advocating a salvation by works, which many false teachers will teach. The basic truth is there is NOTHING we can do to be accepted by God. There is nothing good enough that we can bring to the table, to have him accept us into his family. The only thing we have going for us is the death, burial, and glorious resurrection of Jesus. Without that we are completely , and utterly hopeless! What James is talking about is a salvation, unto good works! We are saved so that we can now do good. This manifests itself directly into what John is talking about here in his letter to the early church. This is what John writes:
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, ‘I know him’ and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have head from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hatheth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth in darkness, and knoweth not wither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” (I John 2.3-11)
It is high time that we started to put our money where out mouths are. John here gives us three ways in which we can measure our Christianity. He says essentially, “if you say you’re a Christian, than this is what your life will look like. This is what it will be characterized by.” 1.) You obey God (v.3-5); 2.) You imitate Christ (v.6); 3.) You love others (v.7-11). The use of the word commandments is prevalent in these verse, as these characteristics flow from the greatest commands; Love God; Love people. This is the basic summary of the ten commands given to Moses.
John tells us in verses 3 thru 5 that we know that we know Him, if we keep his commandments. He goes on to say that if we say that we know him, but don’t keep his commands, we are liars. But, we’re told, if we keep the commands, “the love of God is perfected in us” (v.5). In verse six we‘re told to imitate Christ. We are to walk as he walked, and love as he loved. This is evidence all thru the gospels and we see Jesus fulfilling this “love God, love people” command. He is constantly talking about glorifying God, constantly looking for way to bring glory to God, and always putting others above himself.
The talk of a new commandment/old commandment can be very confusing. But what John is saying is that there is not new commandment, but that loving God and loving people has been the deal since creation. However, the context in which they are to carry this out is new. The church was now facing life without Jesus. So now they had to worship under the definition of faith-the things hoped for, evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11.1). They also were going to be facing, or were already facing major persecution, which would make it difficult to love others. However, if they imitated Jesus, they would love their enemies.
John’s teaching here reiterates the Ten Commandments given to Moses. All ten can be summed up into the previous paraphrase: Love God, love people. Dealing with the first four, these all focus on loving God. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me…Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (idols)…Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain…Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” (Exodus 3.3-8). These first four commands deal solely with worshipping and honoring God. And if these commands be understood and practiced, especially the first two, then the rest fall into place.
Secondly we are to love people. This is the second commandment, the second half--if you will-- of the Ten Commandments. “Honor thy father and mother…Thou shalt not kill…Thou shalt not commit adultery…Thou shalt not steal…thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)…Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 3.12-17).
How are we doing on these two commands : Love God, love people? These are the marks of a genuine faith in Christ. You can’t have one without the other. Are you just talking the talk, or can you actually walk the walk?
Monday, January 18, 2010
Start Your Mornings Right
I've been reading a book by C.J. Mahaney called, Humility, and it is a wonderful book. He talks of how everyone deals with a pride problem. And because of this pride, God actually opposes us. James 4.6 talks about how "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." So how do we deal with this pride issue? Mahaney says that sin never sleeps, therefore in the morning it doesn't have to wake up, but is ready for the battle tho we may still be a little inhibited from our recent awaking. Our job then is to not play defense on pride, rather mount an offensive strike.
C.J. shares certain morning habits that he has tried to practice, I have made it a goal this week to do the same. I will share them here, with a few verses that I've found. Starting our mornings off the right way, whether a morning person or not, sets the correct tone for the rest of the day. So if interested I challenge you to take the offensive this week and try these practices it, write them down, place it somewhere as a reminder!
Practice #1: Begin your day by acknowledging your dependence upon God and your need for Him. (Psalm 121):
"I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth. He will not let your foot be moved; Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on you right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from the time forth and forevermore."
To go on the offensive we have to depend on God. When we start to try and do things on our own, we fail, we become prideful, we sin. We want grace from God, so we have humble ourselves and acknowledge our dependence upon him.
Practice #2: Begin your day expressing gratefulness to God.(Psalm 4.7-8):
"You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."
Gratefulness allows us to put into perspective our life. Without God we have nothing. We should be grateful for the life he is allowing us to live!
Practice #3: Practice the spiritual disciplines:
-Prayer (Psalm 5.3): "O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice..."
-Reading (Psalm 1.1-2): "Blessed is the man...[whose] delight is in the law
of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and
night"
-Worship (Psalm 7.17): "I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his
righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name
of the Lord, the Most High"
Practice #4: Cast your cares upon him (Psalm 18.6):
"In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice and my cry to him reached his ears"
If we cast our cares upon him, even as Peter wrote about (I Peter 5.6-7), we can live free of the bondage that pride has on our life. When we delve into the despair of our worries, all we're concerned with is ourselves. Shed those chains and cast your cares on the One who cares for you!
If we take these practices into our lives, we can see a transformation happen! Jesus want all of us, but we can't give that to him if we're engulfed in our own lives. Come to the end of yourself and live a life that is pleasing and worshipful of Jesus. He loves you and gave his life for you, will you give it back to him?
C.J. shares certain morning habits that he has tried to practice, I have made it a goal this week to do the same. I will share them here, with a few verses that I've found. Starting our mornings off the right way, whether a morning person or not, sets the correct tone for the rest of the day. So if interested I challenge you to take the offensive this week and try these practices it, write them down, place it somewhere as a reminder!
Practice #1: Begin your day by acknowledging your dependence upon God and your need for Him. (Psalm 121):
"I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth. He will not let your foot be moved; Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on you right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from the time forth and forevermore."
To go on the offensive we have to depend on God. When we start to try and do things on our own, we fail, we become prideful, we sin. We want grace from God, so we have humble ourselves and acknowledge our dependence upon him.
Practice #2: Begin your day expressing gratefulness to God.(Psalm 4.7-8):
"You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."
Gratefulness allows us to put into perspective our life. Without God we have nothing. We should be grateful for the life he is allowing us to live!
Practice #3: Practice the spiritual disciplines:
-Prayer (Psalm 5.3): "O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice..."
-Reading (Psalm 1.1-2): "Blessed is the man...[whose] delight is in the law
of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and
night"
-Worship (Psalm 7.17): "I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his
righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name
of the Lord, the Most High"
Practice #4: Cast your cares upon him (Psalm 18.6):
"In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice and my cry to him reached his ears"
If we cast our cares upon him, even as Peter wrote about (I Peter 5.6-7), we can live free of the bondage that pride has on our life. When we delve into the despair of our worries, all we're concerned with is ourselves. Shed those chains and cast your cares on the One who cares for you!
If we take these practices into our lives, we can see a transformation happen! Jesus want all of us, but we can't give that to him if we're engulfed in our own lives. Come to the end of yourself and live a life that is pleasing and worshipful of Jesus. He loves you and gave his life for you, will you give it back to him?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Matthew 5.5
Matthew 5.5:
Meekness is not for the Faith of Heart
The idea of meekness in our time is grossly misunderstood. Most people when talking of meekness think that it carries with it a sense of weakness. The common error with our understanding of meekness has been practiced within churches for too long. Our false idea has allowed Christians to take a back seat to people too often. We (most of us) will get walked on, “out of love”, and call it being meek. When Jesus told his disciples “[b]lessed are the meek…” he was not referring to a lifestyle which just lies down at the feet of opposition in the name of love. Rather, he had something much different in mind. None of Jesus’ commands were for the faint in heart, they were for warriors. Only the strong can live a life Jesus is describing in these nine verses, especially verse 5. Only warriors can be meek.
To start we have to re-define the word meek. Webster even defined meek in a soft, “please walk all over me” way. He defined meekness as, “too submissive, spiritless.” It would carry with it the idea of someone with no backbone, someone who just submits to everyone without looking out even for themselves. Now, this does not mean that we should only be looking out for numero uno, but we should not allow for everyone and their brother to walk all over us. To redefine meek we have to look at the life of Jesus, and we will draw most of our material from Philippians 2.5-9. Just remember, meekness IS NOT weakness.
Philippians 2.5-9:
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of a God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which his above every name”
Jesus reflected the true idea of meekness. He possessed all the strength in the world, because he created it. By him all things were made, and there was nothing made that was not made by him (John 1. 3). Yet, humbly he came and lived among us. He defined meekness. And what is that definition? Strength under control. Though Jesus could have came and ruled here on Earth, he chose to come as a baby, live as a peasant and be murdered at the hands of religious people. While being spat upon, hit in the face, having a crown of thorns shoved into his head, Jesus did not react. Isaiah 53.7 prophesied that Jesus would react this way: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53.7).
We are shown meekness in Philippians, through Jesus, and Paul encourages us to have this same attitude (Phil 2.5). Though Jesus was God, he humbled himself and became a servant. He was meek. He had every right to demand worship, to rule and reign over this world, because he made it! Yet, he stooped down on his last night with the disciples and WASHED THEIR FEET (John 13)! Meekness is a humble attitude, not allowing others to walk on us, but not promoting ourselves over them either. We read throughout scripture that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4.6). In our passage in Philippians we find that through Christ’s meekness, God exalted him to a name above every name. When we are meek, we are strong, but under control, like a father wrestling with his child. We are to live humbly or meek, and allow God to exalt us, so that he and he alone gets the glory!
Meekness is not for the Faith of Heart
The idea of meekness in our time is grossly misunderstood. Most people when talking of meekness think that it carries with it a sense of weakness. The common error with our understanding of meekness has been practiced within churches for too long. Our false idea has allowed Christians to take a back seat to people too often. We (most of us) will get walked on, “out of love”, and call it being meek. When Jesus told his disciples “[b]lessed are the meek…” he was not referring to a lifestyle which just lies down at the feet of opposition in the name of love. Rather, he had something much different in mind. None of Jesus’ commands were for the faint in heart, they were for warriors. Only the strong can live a life Jesus is describing in these nine verses, especially verse 5. Only warriors can be meek.
To start we have to re-define the word meek. Webster even defined meek in a soft, “please walk all over me” way. He defined meekness as, “too submissive, spiritless.” It would carry with it the idea of someone with no backbone, someone who just submits to everyone without looking out even for themselves. Now, this does not mean that we should only be looking out for numero uno, but we should not allow for everyone and their brother to walk all over us. To redefine meek we have to look at the life of Jesus, and we will draw most of our material from Philippians 2.5-9. Just remember, meekness IS NOT weakness.
Philippians 2.5-9:
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of a God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which his above every name”
Jesus reflected the true idea of meekness. He possessed all the strength in the world, because he created it. By him all things were made, and there was nothing made that was not made by him (John 1. 3). Yet, humbly he came and lived among us. He defined meekness. And what is that definition? Strength under control. Though Jesus could have came and ruled here on Earth, he chose to come as a baby, live as a peasant and be murdered at the hands of religious people. While being spat upon, hit in the face, having a crown of thorns shoved into his head, Jesus did not react. Isaiah 53.7 prophesied that Jesus would react this way: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53.7).
We are shown meekness in Philippians, through Jesus, and Paul encourages us to have this same attitude (Phil 2.5). Though Jesus was God, he humbled himself and became a servant. He was meek. He had every right to demand worship, to rule and reign over this world, because he made it! Yet, he stooped down on his last night with the disciples and WASHED THEIR FEET (John 13)! Meekness is a humble attitude, not allowing others to walk on us, but not promoting ourselves over them either. We read throughout scripture that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4.6). In our passage in Philippians we find that through Christ’s meekness, God exalted him to a name above every name. When we are meek, we are strong, but under control, like a father wrestling with his child. We are to live humbly or meek, and allow God to exalt us, so that he and he alone gets the glory!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I John 1.5-2.2: A Fellowship Based Upon Death
A Fellowship Based Upon Death
I John 1.5-2.2
As we dive into our second lesson in the book of I John, and review of the prologue is in store. John began by establishing his authority as an eyewitness to the Word of Life, the gospel of Jesus Christ. John’s purpose for writing was so that his readers might partake in the fellowship he enjoyed with fellow believers, and also with Christ. He wrote so that their joy may be complete. The language he uses is that of an older father to his kids, and with the authority of a lawyer in a courtroom. The scene of a courtroom is very prevalent especially in these first couple of paragraphs (eyewitness, advocate, etc). He talks of three walks the believer will take and these are all different phases of our journey. Walking in the light (where we’re going), walking in sin (where we are), walking with the advocate (how we get to the end result).
The first journey he takes us on is found in verse 5-7. He discusses believers walking in the light. What John is discussing is fellowship with God. He talks of light having no fellowship with darkness. The theme of darkness in connection with sin is readily apparent throughout the whole Bible. Jesus said in the gospel of John, that he is the light of the world. Light is used in reference to Jesus and God, and the life they bring. He compares the two opposing sides. John’s language here indicates that in the eternal state, the life to come. In this life, light will never have fellowship with darkness, on Earth or in Heaven. If there is a perpetual state of darkness, we may need to re-examine our salvation experience.
John in his writings is addressing heresies that were taking over the teaching of church. Many were probably teaching that you could have fellowship with God and live however you please. This however is a false teaching that John quickly refutes. See Jesus died for those sins, and it was those very sins that sent him to the cross to die. If it were not for this death, we would have no hope. The Liberty Bible Commentary makes this statement concerning this verse, “if it were not for the atoning (atonement: reconciliation of mankind to God) death of Jesus Christ, fellowship with God would be impossible.”
Secondly, John talks about us that are walking in sin. This is the state we continually live in. Romans 3.23 discusses that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” All of us are sinners and are in need of a savior. Because of this sin, we live in darkness, and are in need of light. John doesn’t end there, but goes on to say “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins”. This is a direct comment on dealing with sin. No one wants to deal with sin, but we NEED TOO! To confess our sin is to acknowledge our sin, and allow God to cleanse us. God is faithful in two aspects: 1) He is faithful to deal with our sin, and accept the sacrifice; 2) He is faithful to acknowledge the sacrifice that was made by Jesus.
The third way in which John describes our journey, is to explain how we get from where we are (sinners v.8-10) to where we’re going (fellowship with God v.5-7). He talks here of walking with the Advocate. He starts by saying “My Little children”. He is not speaking of literal children, but it is rather a term of endearment to the church in which he is writing. He tells us he’s writing so that we won’t sin, but if we do sin, we have an advocate. The courtroom vocabulary takes over and John starts discussing how we have an advocate, who is Jesus, with the father (Judge). See when we sin we incur the wrath of God upon us; we are GUILTY. Our sentence, Romans 6.23, “the wages of sin is death…” Because we sin, we deserve to die. However v.2 tells us that He (Jesus) was our propitiation or our payment for the “fine” we accrued against God. This completes the verse in Romans, “for the wages of sin is death…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I John 1.5-2.2
As we dive into our second lesson in the book of I John, and review of the prologue is in store. John began by establishing his authority as an eyewitness to the Word of Life, the gospel of Jesus Christ. John’s purpose for writing was so that his readers might partake in the fellowship he enjoyed with fellow believers, and also with Christ. He wrote so that their joy may be complete. The language he uses is that of an older father to his kids, and with the authority of a lawyer in a courtroom. The scene of a courtroom is very prevalent especially in these first couple of paragraphs (eyewitness, advocate, etc). He talks of three walks the believer will take and these are all different phases of our journey. Walking in the light (where we’re going), walking in sin (where we are), walking with the advocate (how we get to the end result).
The first journey he takes us on is found in verse 5-7. He discusses believers walking in the light. What John is discussing is fellowship with God. He talks of light having no fellowship with darkness. The theme of darkness in connection with sin is readily apparent throughout the whole Bible. Jesus said in the gospel of John, that he is the light of the world. Light is used in reference to Jesus and God, and the life they bring. He compares the two opposing sides. John’s language here indicates that in the eternal state, the life to come. In this life, light will never have fellowship with darkness, on Earth or in Heaven. If there is a perpetual state of darkness, we may need to re-examine our salvation experience.
John in his writings is addressing heresies that were taking over the teaching of church. Many were probably teaching that you could have fellowship with God and live however you please. This however is a false teaching that John quickly refutes. See Jesus died for those sins, and it was those very sins that sent him to the cross to die. If it were not for this death, we would have no hope. The Liberty Bible Commentary makes this statement concerning this verse, “if it were not for the atoning (atonement: reconciliation of mankind to God) death of Jesus Christ, fellowship with God would be impossible.”
Secondly, John talks about us that are walking in sin. This is the state we continually live in. Romans 3.23 discusses that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” All of us are sinners and are in need of a savior. Because of this sin, we live in darkness, and are in need of light. John doesn’t end there, but goes on to say “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins”. This is a direct comment on dealing with sin. No one wants to deal with sin, but we NEED TOO! To confess our sin is to acknowledge our sin, and allow God to cleanse us. God is faithful in two aspects: 1) He is faithful to deal with our sin, and accept the sacrifice; 2) He is faithful to acknowledge the sacrifice that was made by Jesus.
The third way in which John describes our journey, is to explain how we get from where we are (sinners v.8-10) to where we’re going (fellowship with God v.5-7). He talks here of walking with the Advocate. He starts by saying “My Little children”. He is not speaking of literal children, but it is rather a term of endearment to the church in which he is writing. He tells us he’s writing so that we won’t sin, but if we do sin, we have an advocate. The courtroom vocabulary takes over and John starts discussing how we have an advocate, who is Jesus, with the father (Judge). See when we sin we incur the wrath of God upon us; we are GUILTY. Our sentence, Romans 6.23, “the wages of sin is death…” Because we sin, we deserve to die. However v.2 tells us that He (Jesus) was our propitiation or our payment for the “fine” we accrued against God. This completes the verse in Romans, “for the wages of sin is death…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Matthew 5.4: “It’s ok to mourn, and maybe even cry”
Matthew 5.4: “It’s ok to mourn, and maybe even cry”
“He that sins is human; he that grieves over sin is a saint; he that boast of sin is of the devil; and He that forgives sin is God.” - Old Proverb
As if starting his teaching on “kingdom attitudes” didn’t start on a high note (blessed are the poor in spirit...) Jesus continues in the next verse to talk of mourning. “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted” (KJV). The terms blessed and mourn, don’t seem to coincide. Rather they seem silly. Blessed are they that mourn. In our culture today, especially “the Christian bubble”, mourning seems to be looked down upon. We are told, “put on a happy face, you’ve got Jesus!” Which, seems all good and all, but sometimes life just simply stinks. Then you get those that say, “It’s not that bad...” but it really is. Everyone always has a solution, everyone always has the answer and yet, most of the time they fail too. Some of us go through some things that are just plain hard, and it isn’t easy to fake a smile with life sometimes. And here Jesus is addressing that. There are two things we can and most likely should mourn over; 1) Trials in life and 2) Sin.
To mourn is defined as “to feel or express sorrow for (something that is regrettable). In both instances of mourning (trial and/or sin) the regrettable aspect of mourning takes full effect. Who has ever been through a trial and hasn’t thought “I regret having to go through this”, or a feeling of regret toward the situation. Then when it comes to sin, if we grieve over it, we do regret it happening, because of the pain that it causes Jesus.
The first thing we are free to mourn over is trials that come into our lives. The saying “life’s hard get a helmet” is a very true saying. Life sometimes just plainly, well, sucks! Sometimes it may feel like you’re climbing a mountain with a slippery slope, or as one pastor, C.H. Spurgeon said, “its like fighting the mist”. Trials usually are unexpected and lead to some of the most difficult times of life. Now trials can be a direct effect of the life we’re living, but sometimes we have no control over what we are going through. So what do we do when we are in this season of life?
I Peter 1.3-8 gives the believer hope for the trials they are going through:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tired with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory...”
What Peter writes here is so comforting for those that mourn over trial in this life. What he says basically is, “yes, its hard. Yes, its tough, but continue on for your reward is not for this life, but in the life to come. It may never get better down here in this life. But there is a day that its going to get better!” He reminds us to rejoice in the fact that we have Jesus, and an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, that will NEVER fade away! This is the hope believers have for the trials of life, when they come.
The second thing we should mourn over is sin. When Jesus says “blessed are those that mourn” he is talking mainly of repenting of sin. In our culture today, sin is a subject that is not dealt with, sometimes even in churches! Sadly enough, people believe in a bobble headed Jesus that bobs his head up and down to answer any question they may have. But sin is a serious matter. Sin is the reason Jesus had to step down out of the splendor of Heaven and be beaten brutally and then crucified upon the cross. As a believer when we sin, we should grive. To grieve is an ache that goes down to the bone. We should grieve because it was that sin that sent Jesus, our great God and Savior to the cross.
When we sin, we make little of the cross. Everytime we sin should think about what we’ve done. It was our sin that put him there. I heard an illustration used once where the speaker said, “everytime you sin, imagine that you are walking up to Jesus while he’s hanging bloodied on the cross, and you look him in the eye, and then spit into his face”. That is the magnitude of our sin. We spit in the face of him who died for us, everytime we sin. Think its not serious anymore? So Jesus says, mourn over your sin.
The great hope through this as believers is that our mourning will never go unnoticed. Christ promised that when he left, he would send us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit (Jn 14.16, 26; 15.26; 16.7). When we grieve over sin, or mourn over the trials of our life, as believers we have the Holy Spirit who if we repent, will forgive, or if we are “fighting the mist” we will be comforted. To end there are two quotes I’d like to leave you with. One is from pastor, Erwim McManus. He said, “there is a beautiful life to be found in the midst of sorrow.” There is an idea of depending on God with this life. To repent or be comforted means you have come once again to the end of your self, with the end result of joy. To this effect Matthew Henry comments on this verse (Matt. 5.4) saying, “the ultimate goal is the mountain of God, the mountain of joy, but you will have to go through a vale of tears to get there.”
“He that sins is human; he that grieves over sin is a saint; he that boast of sin is of the devil; and He that forgives sin is God.” - Old Proverb
As if starting his teaching on “kingdom attitudes” didn’t start on a high note (blessed are the poor in spirit...) Jesus continues in the next verse to talk of mourning. “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted” (KJV). The terms blessed and mourn, don’t seem to coincide. Rather they seem silly. Blessed are they that mourn. In our culture today, especially “the Christian bubble”, mourning seems to be looked down upon. We are told, “put on a happy face, you’ve got Jesus!” Which, seems all good and all, but sometimes life just simply stinks. Then you get those that say, “It’s not that bad...” but it really is. Everyone always has a solution, everyone always has the answer and yet, most of the time they fail too. Some of us go through some things that are just plain hard, and it isn’t easy to fake a smile with life sometimes. And here Jesus is addressing that. There are two things we can and most likely should mourn over; 1) Trials in life and 2) Sin.
To mourn is defined as “to feel or express sorrow for (something that is regrettable). In both instances of mourning (trial and/or sin) the regrettable aspect of mourning takes full effect. Who has ever been through a trial and hasn’t thought “I regret having to go through this”, or a feeling of regret toward the situation. Then when it comes to sin, if we grieve over it, we do regret it happening, because of the pain that it causes Jesus.
The first thing we are free to mourn over is trials that come into our lives. The saying “life’s hard get a helmet” is a very true saying. Life sometimes just plainly, well, sucks! Sometimes it may feel like you’re climbing a mountain with a slippery slope, or as one pastor, C.H. Spurgeon said, “its like fighting the mist”. Trials usually are unexpected and lead to some of the most difficult times of life. Now trials can be a direct effect of the life we’re living, but sometimes we have no control over what we are going through. So what do we do when we are in this season of life?
I Peter 1.3-8 gives the believer hope for the trials they are going through:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tired with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory...”
What Peter writes here is so comforting for those that mourn over trial in this life. What he says basically is, “yes, its hard. Yes, its tough, but continue on for your reward is not for this life, but in the life to come. It may never get better down here in this life. But there is a day that its going to get better!” He reminds us to rejoice in the fact that we have Jesus, and an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, that will NEVER fade away! This is the hope believers have for the trials of life, when they come.
The second thing we should mourn over is sin. When Jesus says “blessed are those that mourn” he is talking mainly of repenting of sin. In our culture today, sin is a subject that is not dealt with, sometimes even in churches! Sadly enough, people believe in a bobble headed Jesus that bobs his head up and down to answer any question they may have. But sin is a serious matter. Sin is the reason Jesus had to step down out of the splendor of Heaven and be beaten brutally and then crucified upon the cross. As a believer when we sin, we should grive. To grieve is an ache that goes down to the bone. We should grieve because it was that sin that sent Jesus, our great God and Savior to the cross.
When we sin, we make little of the cross. Everytime we sin should think about what we’ve done. It was our sin that put him there. I heard an illustration used once where the speaker said, “everytime you sin, imagine that you are walking up to Jesus while he’s hanging bloodied on the cross, and you look him in the eye, and then spit into his face”. That is the magnitude of our sin. We spit in the face of him who died for us, everytime we sin. Think its not serious anymore? So Jesus says, mourn over your sin.
The great hope through this as believers is that our mourning will never go unnoticed. Christ promised that when he left, he would send us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit (Jn 14.16, 26; 15.26; 16.7). When we grieve over sin, or mourn over the trials of our life, as believers we have the Holy Spirit who if we repent, will forgive, or if we are “fighting the mist” we will be comforted. To end there are two quotes I’d like to leave you with. One is from pastor, Erwim McManus. He said, “there is a beautiful life to be found in the midst of sorrow.” There is an idea of depending on God with this life. To repent or be comforted means you have come once again to the end of your self, with the end result of joy. To this effect Matthew Henry comments on this verse (Matt. 5.4) saying, “the ultimate goal is the mountain of God, the mountain of joy, but you will have to go through a vale of tears to get there.”
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
I John 1.1-4: The testimony of John to the reality of Jesus Christ and His gospel.
I John 1.1-4:
The testimony of John to the reality of Jesus Christ and His gospel.
The book of I John is a wonderful book. Written somewhere between AD 90-98, we have a letter written to a church, giving full apostolic proof to the reality of the life of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. John writes with boldness, power, authority, and the reality that he was there when Christ lived. John was among the first disciples called, and lived his life within the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples. He was a highly respected man, and the last living apostle.
John writes as a defense attorney would. He sets the stage as if the reader was in a courtroom. His language is that of a lawyer defending and giving evidence for a couple of different things throughout the book. The epistle much like his gospel, operates in this fashion.
There is no traditional introduction to the letter, not statement of authorship, nor audience. However, tradition accepts that it was the beloved apostle, John. Within the first verse John talks of that which was from the beginning. In looking at other writings of John, he is not stating that there was an origination of the Word of life but that since the beginning (and before) the Word of Life was (John 1.1). There is an idea of an "always has been", not of a starting point. He goes on to give four verifiable senses in which he experienced the Christ and therefore proves His existence. 1) We have heard. John heard Jesus’ voice many times throughout his three year ministry with Christ. He would have heard him teach different sermons, tell different parables, and even speak kind words of forgiveness from the cross while he was atoning for the sins of the world. John takes it a step farther proclaiming that 2) we have seen with our eyes. This is important, because someone could be heard and not seen. Having the physical proof that Jesus was there was a case John present against the heresies facing this church at the time.
The third thing John addresses dealing with his sense, is an addition to number two. He says that they not only saw Jesus but 3) looked upon Him. This is significant because this word for looked means to gaze upon intently, but not a stalker way. They payed attention and gazed upon Jesus, not merely just caught a glance of Him. Then to put the cherry on top of the cake, John tells us that he 4) handled or touched Jesus. To seal the deal John tells his readers that the testimony of Jesus and the things they heard about him could be true, because He truly existed, to the point that John touched Jesus.
John was writing to clear up the false teachings of the Docetist, which wrongly taught that Jesus only seemed to be who He was not actual. A mere mirage. And John takes their argument right out from under them by giving the physical experience he had with the Savior. Proving that Jesus existed and that he was the one from the beginning who was the Word of life.
Verse two is parenthetical meaning that it breaks the flow from the first verse to the third verses. What John discusses in this verse is important because it tells us that Jesus not only existed, because He always has, but that He actually manifested that life to us. He came and showed us what eternal life looked like in the flesh. Without the initiation of Jesus coming to Earth to manifest this life, we would still all be lost, without knowing what the Word of Life is.
In verse three we see the purpose of this combined, long sentence (v.1-4). John is writing so that he can proclaim or declare this message of the manifestation of the Gospel of Jesus, and he is declaring this so that those who believe could have fellowship with those that already believed. John goes on to explain that the fellowship they would have is with God the Father, and Jesus His Son. This denotes a participation in the Grace of God, from the Father, through Jesus by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The entire trinity is involved in fellowship. Fellowship is the evidence of Christianity. And the two are indistinguishable from the other, fellowship with God and other believers.
This leads right into the last thing that John discusses with here in the prologue of his opening letter. He is telling all of this so that our joy may be complete. Joy and fellowship go hand in hand. How we respond to Jesus determines our joy. Bible teacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones in his book Life in Christ says this, “Joy...is the response and the reaction of the soul to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ” (30). True fellowship combines social and spiritual interaction and is made possible by Jesus Christ.
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