Month: March 2012

For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you.
Romans 15:22-24

Indeed, Paul did eventually make it to Rome but not at all like he had planned!  Rather than stopping there on his way to Spain, he entered Rome in the custody of the Roman government to be tried for allegations previously made against him in Jerusalem.  There’s a reason Jms 4:15 instructs us to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  Our plans don’t always line up with the providence of God!

How great is our God?  There is no one comparable, not even close!  As we discussed the topic of prayer last week, we considered the fact that God’s plans are far beyond our vision.  Scripture reveals the following:

It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. (Isa 65:24)

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Mat 6:7-8)

The Lord is the God of “before”!  Remember, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM”! (Jn 8:58) He is the God named “I AM”!  His existence transcends time.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Heb 13:8)  He states: “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure…’” (Is 46:9-10)

If God’s working things out before time, setting things in motion in eternity past to accomplish His will in our time and beyond, why then do we pray?  I like what C. S. Lewis was quoted as saying: ” I pray because I can’t help myself.  I pray because I’m helpless.  I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping.  It doesn’t change God–it changes me.”

Understanding God’s absolute, sovereign control over His creation will certainly change the way we pray.  It also changes the way we live.  There is no reason to ever feel defeated, Christian–not with this God on your side!  Guess what?  He has plans for His children as well.  He set them in motion before the world began!  Just listen to the word declared to the Jewish remnant who were captive in Babylon.  (Don’t forget what we’ve learned in Romans–the true Jew is that one that has experienced the new birth, the circumcision of the heart–Rom 2:28-29) This verse in Jer 29:11 is for every believer!  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  Wow!  That’s the way God thinks of you, dear saint!  I hope that keeps a smile in your heart today! 🙂

Jamie

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Rom 6:1-2

As we continued our study of spiritual maturity and Christian liberty, we were asked the following question last week: “What particular behaviors in today’s culture are okay or not okay for a Christian to participate in?”  The verse above may not name specific behaviors, but it does give us the answer in a general sense.  No matter how mature we are as Christians, it is never okay to participate in that which is sinful!  Maturity in Christ should drive us from sin not draw us to it.

I remember a newspaper article some time back that my wife brought to my attention.  It was written by a local pastor who was confessing that he frequented the restaurant Hooters.  His justification for such an activity was that the lost were the ones that needed the truth.  After all, wasn’t Jesus ridiculed by the religious leaders of his day for eating with tax collectors and sinners?  And didn’t Jesus say it was the sick that needed a physician and that He had come to call sinners, not the righteous, to repentance? (Mt 9:11-13)

As true as that account of Christ was, when we consider the entire context of that passage, we find out in v. 9 that Jesus had just called Matthew the tax collector to be His disciple.  Matthew (or Levi) responded by throwing a great feast (Lk 5:29), and as Jesus ate, the tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. (Mt 9:10) The point is that Jesus was simply eating a meal in the house of one of His disciples, and sinners were drawn to Him!  There were plenty of places in Christ’s day where people went to participate in sinful activities.  Jesus never entered the brothel’s to minister to the lost!  He didn’t reject an adulterer brought before Him, a Samaritan He met at a well, or a tax collector sitting in a tree as He passed by.  He was truly a friend of sinners (Mt 11:19) while at the same time being separate from their sin! (Heb 7:26)

But, what about the Apostle Paul?  Didn’t he say that he became all things to all men so that he might win some?  Let’s consider fully what the apostle said in 1 Cor 9:20-21:

…and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law…

He said, “not being without law” to make clear he was not entering into sin!  In fact, he said in Rom 3:8 that it was a slanderous report against his ministry that claimed his attitude to be, “Let us do evil, that good may come”.  He goes on to say that “damnation is just” for those that would do evil and claim they were doing so for the glory of God.  So, what did he mean when he said that he became all things to all men?  He simply meant that he removed any barriers to ministry without entering into sin.  Notice how he ministered to the Greeks in Ac 17.  He noted that they were full of idolatry, so he used an altar that had been built “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” as the springboard for his message of redemption in Jesus Christ, the true God they didn’t know!  They couldn’t have received a message from the standpoint of the Mosaic law because it was foreign to them!  He approached the Greeks on their level, but he did so without participating in their idolatry.

So, does it matter what places we frequent?  How we look or talk, is that really an issue?  Those are outward things, and God looks on the heart, right?  Did it matter with Peter?  What did he do when he DID NOT want to be identified with Christ?  He began to curse! (Mt 26:74) Why did he behave this way?  Because he was scared to death and wanted to convince the people that he was not a follower of Jesus!  Was he a believer?  Yes!  But was this behavior a good thing?  No way!  If our appearance, words, or actions say we are not followers of Christ, then that’s a problem!  We should be identified with Christ, not the world, and “abstain from every form of evil”. (1 Th 5:22) Be careful!  There are those that would enter into sin and brand it Christian service!  The reality is simply that they love to do sinful things.  “Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 Jo 2:15) Don’t worry.  God will sovereignly work in our lives to interesect our paths with those that need the Gospel.  Our job is to be ready when He does!  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear”. (1 Pet 3:15)

Jamie

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
Romans 15:1-2

We considered the verse above a couple of weeks ago only from the point of view from the strong believer.  I’ve had to frequently tell my older boys over the years to watch out for the younger.  They would start playing too roughly, and the youngest would get hurt.  It’s good for the stronger to be careful for the weak’s sake, but does the weak believer have a responsibility as well?  Absolutely!  We’d like to consider today a couple of points regarding the weak believer.

1) The weak brother may not recognize he is weak.  He may be deceiving himself, viewing himself as the strong one because he’s excusing sin and calling it Christian liberty!  Any time we encounter someone who is convicted about some activity that we allow, our first response should be to examine ourselves.  We must recognize that we all have blind spots and room to grow.  The person under conviction may be the stronger and more mature brother because he recognizes sin for what it is.  We must always examine our own hearts, judging not that we be not judged. (Mt 7:1) Every believer is commanded to constantly check out his own heart because sin can be very deceptive. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…” (2 Cor 13.5) We may be feeding some inordinate affection and disguising it as freedom in Christ!  We are to live “as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.” (1 Pet 2:16)

2) The weak brother should be striving to not remain weak!  God doesn’t intend for us to stay that way.  Maturity is the goal!  The Hebrews were scolded for not growing up.  They were hindered in their service to others because they were not spiritually mature.  Just listen: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” (Heb 5:12-13) We don’t want our kids to stay babies forever.  Neither does the Lord!  So, how do we mature?  The process is the same in the spiritual as it is in the physical.  If a child eats and exercises, he’s going to physically mature.  We need to do the same spiritually!  What’s our spiritual food?  The word of God! “…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby… ” (1 Pet 2:2) But, if we would be healthy, we must do more than just eat.  We must exercise or food will just turn to fat!  Spiritual exercise means we put into practice what we have learned.   “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb 5:14)

The good news is that we’re not alone in this effort to mature.  God will see to it that all his children become strong.  We are being conformed to the image of His son (Rom 8:29), and God will make sure each of His children reach that point.  What’s that process like?  Well, what does it take to get strong physically?  Our muscles are strengthened through resistance.  God will see to it that just the right amount of resistance is applied to our lives to bring us to full maturity.  It may not feel good right now, but I promise you, you’re going to like the results!  “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.” (1 Pet 5:10 AMP)

Jamie

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:2-3

His steps had nearly slipped?!!  What would almost make this man of God walk away from religion?  Why would he say in his heart, “Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence”? (v. 13) The next verse tells us: “For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.”  He was walking faithfully before God, and things seemed to continually get worse for him!  In contrast, the wicked didn’t seem to have any problems at all.  Everything they did prospered!  This psalm of Asaph expresses the heart of an honest man.  If we would be truthful, we would not cast stones at him.  All of us at times have looked at those that have no respect for the things of the Lord yet seem to be doing so well, and we have said in our hearts, “That’s not fair!”  What do we need to do to overcome our pity party and quit murmuring against God?

1) We need to attend a church where the true Gospel is preached.
Nothing sets us on the right path better than the word of God.  Are you confused?  God’s word will make things clear!  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Ps 119:105) Asaph said in v. 16-17, “When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me—until I went into the sanctuary of God…”   He went to church, and the message he heard made things clear!  In Heb 10:25, we are warned to make sure we’re not “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together”.  Does God say that because we need to improve our social skills?  Of course not!  Church isn’t about socialization!  (I’m afraid many don’t understand that!) The verse continues, “not forsaking…but exhorting one another”.  As we hear the word of God preached and encourage one another in that truth, we see things for what they truly are.

2) We need to understand how things will turn out for the wicked
When Asaph went into the sanctuary of God in v. 17, he says, “Then I understood their end.”  Remember the rich man and Lazarus the beggar?  Abraham’s response to the rich man’s plea in hell was, “in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.” (Lk 16:25) Would you trade eternal glory for brief earthly pleasure?  Moses had that choice before him, and he chose wisely, “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” (Heb 11:25-26) Asaph saw the end of those whose life was consumed with earthly pleasures: “Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.” (Ps 73:18-19)

3) We’ve got to remember what God’s children have in store for them
Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, we need to refresh ourselves in the knowledge of what is ours in Jesus Christ!  Asaph’s thoughts turn to this fact in v. 25-26: “Whom have I in heaven but You?  And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.  My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”  If we have God, what else do we need?!!  No wonder the apostle said in 1 Tim 6:8: “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”  You have God as your portion, children!  Rejoice that you know Him and that He has promised to work all things together for your good! (Rom 8:28) If you are God’s child and you don’t possess earthly riches, then there’s only one reason for that fact.  They’re not the best thing for you!  Remember, it’s hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven! (Mt 19:23) Would you desire that which might keep you, your spouse, or your children out of heaven?  How foolish it is to envy the rich man!  His riches will not last; your riches are eternal.  Be content with where God has you, dear soul, remembering that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Tim 6:6)

If we find we have given in to the tempation to murmur against a righteous and holy God, we need to follow Asaph’s example.  We need to confess that sin and rejoice in all the blessings we have in Jesus Christ.  Listen to his confession and his hope in v. 21-24: “Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind.  I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.  Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.  You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”  The truth is that God has been much better to us all than we deserve.  May we give Him the glory that is rightfully His!

Jamie

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
Romans 15:1-2

Is sin always sin?  Strange question, isn’t it?  Jm 4:17 says that “to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”  This verse tells us that what is sin to one individual may not be to another.  The level of spiritual maturity, the depth of knowledge, and the things that are uniquely temptations for an individual are all factors that determine what is sin for each person.  Sure, there are actions that are broad enough to be considered sin for all.  Take the first of the ten commandments for example: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex 20:3) Idolatry is always sin; however, what constitutes idolatry for each individual may be different.  For the average person, a meal may simply be a way to sustain the body; however, for a glutton, a meal becomes a spiritual battle of epic proportions!

According to Webster’s, a scruple is “an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action”.  Some people should not do the same things that others have liberty to do.  When we question ourselves regarding a particular activity and wonder if it’s okay to engage in it, our best course of action when we have doubts is to not do it.  That’s your God-given conscience nagging you!  The worst thing you could do would be to violate your conscience.  To those in the early church that questioned eating meat that had been offered to idols, Paul warned that “he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Rom 14:23)

So, what if we’re on the other side of this situation.  Our conscience does not struggle with such an activity.  What do we do when in the presence of those that do struggle?  I love the instruction in our text.  Simply put–don’t please yourself!  Taking the example of eating these sacrificial meats, what if a strong believer who had no issue with eating that meat really had a taste for meat that night, and a weaker brother shows up?  That stronger brother can almost taste those juicy steaks!  After all, it’s not sin for him.  Shouldn’t that weaker brother just understand?  The instruction of the Lord is always that the stronger should suffer for the weaker’s sake!  Isn’t that steak of little consequence in light of eternity?!!  How often do we let small, insignificant things get to us?  Our love for the souls of others should be so great that we would gladly do without for the sake of their eternal good!

“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” (Rom 15:2) The edification, or the spiritually building up, of others is the goal.  Every action should be to that end per 1 Cor 14:26: “Let all things be done for edification.”  After all, isn’t that the example Christ set for us?  Our passage in Romans continues on, “For even Christ did not please Himself…” (Rom 15:3) He didn’t suffer for His sake; He suffered for our sakes!  Let us honor Him by doing the same.  Then this dying world will see Christ, the only hope they have, through us.  What evidence do we have anyway that we truly love Him except that we do what He commands? (Jn 14:21-24) “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (Jm 1:22)

Jamie