Month: May 2013

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Matthew 24:12

We had a stranger walk up during the Bible study last week and ask us what was the word from God in this hour.  He was a believer and wanted a present word from the Lord.  I had not prepared to answer such a question that morning.  There are many things God has impressed upon my heart and mind in recent times, but if I could only share one thing, what would it be?  I’m glad I had no notice that such a question would be asked because all I could do in that moment was cry out to God in my heart for an answer to the man’s question.  The Lord gave me the text above!

We live in a day of great darkness.  Lawlessness is clearly abounding.  In 2 Tim 3, the apostle begins to list the attitudes that will be prevalent in the last days. V. 3 tells us men will be “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good”.  With wickedness increasing, love is diminishing.  The word “unloving” in that verse is rendered “without natural affection” in some translations and “inhuman” in others.  How often in recent days have we been shocked by the criminal acts of men that are unnatural to our understanding?  We can hardly believe someone would do something so inhumane!  Those are illegal acts, but what about the legal ones?  Who would have thought that a nation of people seeking religious freedom would one day allow a mother to legally murder her child provided that baby was still in the womb?!!  It is a day of great of lawlessness and the love of many is growing cold.

As awful as those unnatural acts are, there is something even more disturbing about the list of sins in 2 Tim 3.  In v. 5, we find that the individuals that commit such things have “a form of godliness but [are] denying its power.”  These are religionists, i.e. this lack of love will be found within churches, among those who profess Christ!  Our assemblies today are well-educated in the love of God.  In fact, God’s love seems to be the only quality that many churches are willing to preach.  There was a church in the apostle Paul’s day that was also well-taught in the area of love.  Did you know that of all the individual letters Paul wrote to the churches, the letter to the Ephesians contains the most references to love (that is, the Greek word “agape” and its variants)?  They knew a lot about love and yet, of the seven churches listed in Revelation 2 and 3, it is to the church at Ephesus that we hear the Lord say, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Rev 2:4) Too many souls in places of worship today are so busy in their pursuit of the things of this world that if God gets any of their time, He is at best an afterthought!

Be careful, Christian!  When lawlessness abounds, love will grow cold.  Remember the verse that follows our text today?  “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Mt 24:13) The true child of God will endure that dark time and maintain a love for the Lord above all else.  Don’t forget which sins led to their destruction in the days of Noah.  “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark…” (Mt 24:38) In a day of great wickedness, it’s easy to look at those around you and think you’re doing okay.  But in Noah’s day, it was the simple everyday things that consumed their lives and became the idols that replaced a preeminent love for God!  The verse continues, “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (v. 39) May the love of God so consume us that, as the hymn says, “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”!

Jamie

Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.  And he said to them:“Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.”…And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
Acts 5:34-35, 38-39

I am amazed by the power of God displayed in this passage!  Gamaliel was a well respected Jewish teacher in his day.  He was the Pharisee who, according to Ac 22:3, trained the apostle Paul in the things of the law.  He clearly possessed a great mind and great influence among the Jews, but there was one thing he was not.  He was not a Christian!

We know that before God saved Paul, he was tasked with imprisoning Christians.  When the men who brutally murdered the beloved Stephen were gathering stones to kill him, Paul held their coats so they wouldn’t get dusty or be hindered from aiming well.  And we know that Paul didn’t assume this role because he disagreed with this stoning because Ac 8:1 tells us he was “consenting to his death”.  No doubt, this dislike for Christians was greatly influenced by his instructor Gamaliel!

Perhaps now you see my amazement.  Gamaliel was no friend to Christians!  He was in full agreement when the council beat the apostles and forbid them to preach in the name of Christ.  And yet, here in this one instance, Gamaliel becomes their deliverer.  The point is, Christian, God is going to take care of His children and can use whatever means necessary to do so.

He can use an idolatrous town clerk who confesses the “great goddess Diana” in Ac 19:35 and yet calms the hearts of the men of Ephesus so that the disciples can go free.  He can use a heathen king as in Is 45:1-7 where the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, is turned to the children of Israel even though, according to God, “you have not known Me.” (v. 4-5) Anyone and anything, godly or ungodly, may be used of our sovereign God to save His people.  He will deliver in this fashion before the eyes of all the world so that “they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me.  I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.” (v. 6-7)

Perhaps you’re in a dark place right now, Christian.  Maybe you can’t see any hope of deliverance.  Remember Who your Father is and that He is in no way limited!  “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jer 32:27) Continue to look to Him alone.  He will deliver His children, but He will do so in such a way that there is no doubt from whose hand the deliverance comes!  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph 3:20-21)

Jamie

26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:“We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:26-29

The text above teaches us about the proper way to respond to authority, particularly when that authority involves wicked men with evil intents!  How we react to those who have power over us reveals a great deal about our hearts.  Jude 8 describes ungodly men as individuals who “reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.”  We live in a day when many, in word or in deed, refuse to respect authority over them, and they excuse their behavior because of the ungodliness of that authority.  But, the Scripture is clear.  God calls us to submission and grants us liberty to rebel in only rare circumstances.  Let’s consider three points of instruction from our text today.

1) Resist not evil against us

The disciples clearly had the heart of the people in our passage because the Sadducees were afraid of how the people would respond if they took them forcefully.  However, notice thatbthe phrase “without violence”is not only true of the Sadducees, but also of the disciples taken into custody!  Even though the disciples might have caused an uproar, they went peacefully with their captors.  Such was the instruction and pattern of Christ.  “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” (Mt 5:39) Jesus never instructed us to do anything that He was unwilling to do Himself.  He lived as a man “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously”. (1 Pet 2:23) Such a pattern MUST be followed if we are to reveal the Christ we claim to serve.

2) Submit to the authorities over us

This attitude of patiently enduring when suffering wrongfully is not natural.  1 Pet 2:19 says, “For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.”  But, the word “commendable” is not what you might think.  It is in fact the Greek word for “grace”, which Eph 2:8 says is the gift of God.  In other words, you can only act this way by God’s grace!  As the old saying goes, “To err is human, but to forgive is divine.”  Whether good or evil, whether they establish godly or ungodly policies, we are almost always (we’ll see the exception shortly) to submit to the authorities over us.  Why?  Because God gave them their power!  “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” (Rom 13:1-2)

3) Obey God rather than men

Since the authority comes from God, when we submit to earthly rulers we are in fact submitting to God.  And, that fact is really the point.  Obey earthly masters not to please them but to please God!  If our service to God is what we always have in mind, there will be no question as to what the right course of action is when our rulers would have us disobey Him.  “Children, obey your parents in the Lord.” (Eph 6:1) “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (Col 3:18) “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…” (Col 3:22-23) Submission to man is always contingent upon obedience to God!  The one exception to obeying authority is NOT when that authority hurts us, costs us, or mistreats and takes advantage of us.  We only have permission to rebel when to obey authority would force us to disobey the Lord.

Christ lived in a day of ungodly authority.  The government he was under was idolatrous.  They legalized all kinds of wicked practices, but you’ll be looking a long time to find Christ speaking evil of those authorities.  When asked if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, we read that Jesus “perceived their wickedness” in such questioning of authority and bluntly replied, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mt 22:17-21) Don’t get caught up in the hateful rhetoric of our day by men who seem to enjoy nothing more than bashing those that rule over them–whether in the government, on the job, or in the church.  Sure, we’re going to find corruption in those places, but God says, unless they would have us disobey Him, we must honor Him by submitting and praying for them!  “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Tim 2:1-2)  Remember: “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” (1 Pet 2:17)

Jamie

So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
Act 5:25

We considered last week that the fear of God is necessary among believers.  After the death of Ananias and Sapphira for their deception, we saw that “great fear came upon all the church”. (Ac 5:11) This fear was of tremendous benefit because it purified the church.  No one was attracted to join this assembly for the wrong reasons (v. 13), and true believers were added by the multitudes! (v. 14) But the purifying effect of this fear was not the only beneficial result.  As a proper fear of God increased, improper fear was cast out!

The scriptures teach us that when we fear and reverence our holy God as we should, all other fears will be removed.  In Is 8:12-13, the Lord instructed his prophet to teach the people, “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.  The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.”  I’ve met Christians today that live in such fear of conspiracies (in the government, large corporations, other countries, etc.) that I don’t know how they sleep at night!  I’m not saying that men don’t have wicked motives.  Man’s heart outside of Christ is bent on doing evil! (Rom 3:10-18) But, when we live in the consciousness and confidence that God is reigning over all other powers, fear will be properly applied ONLY to Him. (Mt 10:28)

The New Testament echoes these thoughts of the Old.  We are encouraged not to fear man in 1 Pet 3:13-14: “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.’”  With improper fear removed, the next verse tells us that we must maintain the fear of God in our lives to have an effective witness in this world: “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“. (v .15) And, isn’t that fact exactly what we see in our text today?  When the believers feared God, they didn’t fear men and had a powerful boldness in declaring the word of God!  Even when beaten and threatened to not preach Christ, they simply replied, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Ac 5:29)

So what is crippling you today, child of God?  Are you fearful?  You have no doubt forgotten who you are!  You are a child of the High King of heaven and abide in the perfect love of Christ!!  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (1 Jn 4:18) We once lived in fear as death loomed over us, but Christ has delivered His children “who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb 2:15) All improper fear is cast out when we rest in the love of the One who set us free, and we are further encouraged to know that NOTHING can EVER separate us from that love!  “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:37-39)

Jamie

So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Acts 5:11

One of the silliest notions of men I’ve ever heard is that God is revealed to us as a God of love in the New Testament therefore He is no longer to be feared as He was in the Old.  There’s a fundamental misunderstanding about the character of God when a person makes such a statement.  “For I am the Lord, I do not change”. (Mal 3:6) God is perfect and always has been; thus He NEVER changes!  If God is love NOW (1 Jn 4:8, 16), then He’s always been love; likewise, if He was a God to be feared and respected then, He must also be feared NOW.

In our text today, this great fear experienced in and outside of the church was a response to God’s fatal judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira who had lied regarding the price they had received for the land they sold–an amount they had promised to fully give to God. (Ac 5:1-11) This fear was of great benefit to the early church, as the fear of the Lord has always been.  In Pr 1:7 & 9:10, we are taught that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.  If the path to wisdom begins here, men cannot enter the kingdom of heaven without it.  This doctrine is not an unhealthy one for society.  It is an absolute necessity!  In Ps 111:10, it is linked with obedience to God’s commands.  If it were more prevalent in our land, we would not have the moral decay we’ve seen rapidly increasing in the last 50 years!  After the lengthy quest for wisdom that we read of in the book of Ecclesiastes, the author ends by stating that it is the fear of God and obedience to His commands that sums up man’s responsibility in light of God’s coming judgment. (Ecc 12:13-14)

Our main text makes it clear that this fear of the Lord is not simply an old covenant doctrine.  We find it right in the middle of the establishment of the early church!  Perhaps the end of any argument regarding the present need for a proper fear of God is found in Lk 12:4-5 as the Son of God says, “My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”  Jesus Christ clearly taught the fear of the Lord!

Perhaps some will quote verses like 1 Jn 4:17-18 and claim that the fear of God is reserved for those outside of Christ: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  The context of this verse is that we have no fear in the day of judgment, for we are justified by the blood of the Lamb!  If we are in Christ, we will indeed be presented “faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy”! (Jd 24) However, other passages clearly reveal that the fear of God is presently expected even of believers.  2 Co 7:1 reads: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”  Eph 5:21 also instructs us to submit “to one another in the fear of God.”

Finally, we understand that a proper fear and respect of God is necessary for us to be faithful witnesses as we share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  “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) Most of us are familiar with 2 Cor 5:20 which describes the church as ambassadors for Christ that plead with men to be reconciled with God, but guess what we find to be our motivation as we consider the reality of His judgment?  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” (2 Cor 5:10-11) May we recover this needful doctrine in our day.  The fear of the Lord is not an outdated concept.  It is an absolute necessity for men who will stand justified before a holy God!

Jamie