Leaning

1. What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms;
   What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.
   • Refrain:
     Leaning, leaning,
     Safe and secure from all alarms;
     Leaning, leaning,
     Leaning on the everlasting arms.
2. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms;
   Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.
3. What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms?
   I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.

I'm always encouraged when some "Old Tyme Religion" song is running through my head after heavy heart and mindful concerns.  On one particular relationship, God said to "let it go and let Him have it".  I'm trying so hard to do that, but it keeps coming up.  I resolved to let it go then they try to converse.  After beating me back verbally, God's peace about letting it go, and my finally relenting resolve to let it go, now they want to have friendly chit-chat?  Where do I go with that?  ... "Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms." ... Through an old song I haven't sang since I was down at the Baptist Church, I am reminded that God's got this.  I am reassured that I can have hope that anyone can change at anytime and no situation is impossible.  Most of all, I am reminded that I can rest, yes ... rest, from the concerns, from the pain, from the unknown tomorrow - I can rest now, today, in Him.  Completely trusting Him to catch me and hold me.

Judging

¹ You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.  – Romans 2:1

I have experienced firsthand the use of this verse against me.  It seems that if you seek to ask another person to be responsible for their character as it relates to their testimony of who they claim to be you will receive their condemnation as a judgmental person.  Yet, you haven’t judged at all.  I find that their response judges them thereby making them the judge of themselves.  It’s just that they don’t want to accept their own actions for what they are and you, as someone who loves them and wants the best for them, being willing to ask them for growth and personal analysis are a judge.

The homosexual community and the many supporters of the “do whatever you want to do” Christian community are quick to use this verse in defense of any person who disagrees with their platform.  I personally am having a very difficult time getting my thoughts to see their point-of-view so I can understand their position.

I am not against people or persons.  I am commanded to love as my Father in heaven loves.  I am against sin as defined by God especially within myself.  I diligently seek God’s forgiveness at all times.  Unfortunately I can’t know at all times all my sins but others looking “outside in” can see things I don’t and it is imperative for them to show these to me so I can be forgiven and work to be who God made me to be.  They are not judging me, but loving me.  I may not want to hear it and it hurts to hear it, but only someone who really cares would tell someone something that hurts them. 

That said, how is it that when you have the position that a homosexual getting married is not in God’s will unless you are a man and women, you are judgmental and unaccepting?  I didn’t write the Word of God.  I am simply trying to let a Christian who is practicing homosexuality (this is key, this commentary doesn’t apply to non-Christians), they are living in a way that God specifically does not condone and therefore, they should not seek to ask God to bless a joining or marriage.  To make a covenant before God to enter into a homosexual marriage is to say to God, “I don’t care what Your Word says, I’m going to do what I want to do for an extended period in my life.  I’m asking Your blessing here before everyone who follow You so they know we can do what we want to do.”

This is rebellion against God while posing as godly.  It is exactly what Jesus came against with the Pharisees and He had plenty to say against that type of hypocrisy.  

Making Christ Lord of ALL

Philippians 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
Yesterday I had an opportunity to share with a young man for whom I have deep respect who is going through hell on earth.  He's clearly broken inside.  His strong desire is to restore a broken relationship.  I don't know God's will in this matter and unfortunately the other person gets a choice which may or may not align with God's will.  Clearly this young man is seeking it, but cannot make God move nor the other person. 
Sometimes our own desires can cloud God's communication to us.  When our desires outweigh our willingness to hear God, we've not made Him Lord in that particular situation.  In order to hear God, we must surrender our own will, no matter how "good" our will appears to align with scripture.  We must always be open to God moving in a different direction. 
In "Experiencing God," Henry Blackaby relates a story about a minister friend who made it his goal to come to the point in every situation where he had no real strong desire other than to hear from God.  I find that difficult.  When I want a meal or a new toy, I simply prepare it or buy it.  Sure I probably shop around on the internet for a good deal, but often I don't pray long enough to get to the point where I'm really open minded.  That is problematic in this country and in this day and age, the basics of life just come to easy, consequently we don't have to be people of deep and abiding faith.  We can simply sign up for Christ's offer of salvation and reject His desire to be Lord.  We can put ourselves in charge of our own happiness and create a false theology that "God would want me to be happy" leading to all sort of rationalization about what God wants. 
We've got to put our whole lives including our deepest desires on God's alter and make it available for Him to mold and shape into His likeness.  Failure to do so risks us living outside of God's will.

Bible on Marriage: Q1 response

The question is, “Does the Bible define marriage between a man and a woman?”

In order to discover this answer, I think marriage has to be defined.  It is unfortunate that the term “marriage” is thrown around so loosely today.  The whole effort against marriage is to minimize the importance of marriage thus allowing for it to be cut open and raped and used by whomever for whatever purpose they have to edify themselves.  Minimize the purpose of it, minimize the sin against it, and maximize the personal advantage, all the while ridiculing and scorning those who have protected, sacrificed, and established all that marriage represents.

I have bad news for these people.  You can’t have marriage without God.  Neither sex, laws, nor religious ceremonies establish a marriage.  Marriage is sacred relationship before God.  Marriage is a covenant between man and God.  Since God is involved, no part of the marriage can violate His Word.  Otherwise, God is a hypocrite for allowing something He clearly says is immoral in one part of His Word to be allowed in another way.  This is inconsistent with God’s character.

God says in Leviticus 18: 22, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination,” and in Leviticus 20:13, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination,” and in Romans 1:26-28, “For their woman exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”   Other references are in Jude 1:7 and 1 Timothy 1:10-11.  Therefore, if God says in these that homosexuality is unnatural, an abomination, and the subject of a debased mind, then it is contrary to believe that marriage, which is a relationship and covenant with God, would allow something He clearly does not condone.

Further, 1 Corinthians 7:2-4, “let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.  Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.  The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.”  Where in this description of marriage relations does it indicate anything other than a man and a woman in marriage?  It is not there, in fact, there is no description in Scripture that even hints of marriage not as a man and women nor has there ever been.

A man and a woman close to God chose to begin a covenant relationship with one another and they should start it with an acknowledgment that God created them, that God is love, and that if they are to love one another correctly they will have to have the source of love, God Himself in their relationship.  In order for God to be in the relationship, it cannot be opposed to God’s Word.  God Himself establishes the relationship when the man and woman commit it and themselves to God.  They recognize first that God is the authority over them and second, that the marriage will exists only if God keeps it.  

I have yet to see a homosexual argument that puts God’s authority first and faith in God alone as the protector of marriage second.  This is only because you can’t have God somewhere He doesn’t fit.  We are not to define God by our faith, our faith is defined by God.  That is, we are not gods.  We do not put the only one true God in a box and insert Him where He fits into our life.  We serve Him and He defines how we are to walk and where we are to go.

Bible on Marriage

As part of the ongoing political debate regarding our nation's laws regarding homosexuality, numerous well-intentioned people have advocated a change in the church's stance on this subject.  It is unfortunate in my opinion that this particular sin gets so much attention as I believe there are those "trying it" due to public pressure.  Regardless, there are numerous misguided on this subject and the whole subject of the church condoning sin.  I'd like to study 5 reasons I've seen to change the church's stance: 1) Scripture doesn't prohibit gay marriage, 2) Homosexuality isn't a sin, 3) Jesus didn't mention homosexuality, therefore it's not really important, 4) The Biblical stance on homosexuality has changed (or isn't addressed in the New Testament, 5) The church must change it's stance on homosexuality because it will die if it doesn't and it accepts other sin. 
1) Scripture is consistent throughout as far as I can tell in always referring to marriage as a union between man and woman.  I note with interest that in Genesis Chapter 2 that when there was no suitable helper for Adam, God made Eve - a single, female mate.  God didn't make 49 Eve's and a Steve with a "try before you buy, you might be bi" clause.  Anyway, this is a subset of the multitude of scriptures I find on marriage, all consistently referring to a man and a woman.  Note that polygamy was popular in the early phases of the old testament, but was gone by Jesus' time.

Gen 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Pro 12:4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.

Pro 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD.

Deu 24:5 "When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken.

Malachi 2:14,15  But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
Matt 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9 4And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? 6“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Eph 5:22-33

1 Cor 7:1-16

Col 3:18-19   18Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

Heb 13:4 4Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Ro 7:2-3

Additions?

 

Freedom

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
  And the firmament shows His handiwork.
² Day unto day utters speech,
  And night unto night reveals knowledge.
³ There is no speech nor language
  Where their voice is not heard.
⁴ Their line has gone out through all the earth,
  And their words to the end of the world. – Psalm 19:1-4

There are a lot of people who think they know better.  They know better than to believe in an old superstition like God.  They know better than to hold on to this lingering invisible supposedly supernatural authority and creator of all life.  They do all they can to limit it and work against its knowledge or believability.  They are appalled that anyone believes in it or follows it and they use that as an indication of someone’s “simpleton” thinking and they are looked at as being a lower class of person.

Yet, God says everyone sees the creation and knows that there is a God.  They see it every day and it reveals knowledge of His handiwork.  There is no language barrier and there is nowhere to go where this is not declared through creation.

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. – Romans 1:18-21

There is no excuse, except within a man’s heart who purposefully fools himself to try not to believe, to not know that there is a God.  God is seen by all men.  “His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead”.  This is understood by all things, not just those who believe and follow Him.  Yet, they choose their own authority and to worship their own makings.  And it is their God-given right to do so.

Similarly, everyone in the U.S. know upon what basis this country was founded and why people originally fled to this continent from Europe.  They wanted religious freedom.  They wanted to worship God as they were led to do.  America fought the Revolutionary war to be free; we fought the Civil war to show a man is equal under God; we fought against purposeful aggression and just plain evil in WWs; we sided with those who could not protect themselves in Korea and Vietnam so they could have the chance to be free; and in the Middle East we’ve worked for freedom against a religious theocracy that prevents it.  There are many other ways to describe those wars, but some aspect of freedom is always there.  There is not a single other nation on Earth who fights for freedom like this.  We are able to enjoy worshipping our God because of it. 

Too many people see our nation as something else.  It isn’t the fight against the world for freedom.  They would rather see conformity to the world rather than protect freedom of men so they can choose their life.  It is revealed to us all, we know it, yet they are those who deny it and oppose it and there will always be.  Therefore, there will always be a fight and there will always be death and there will always be a Memorial Day.  May we be willing to serve each other in the full knowledge of God who is clearly seen and our freedom to choose Him which is clearly available.

Thanks

Philemon 1:4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers

What a great weekend!  Time to relax on the beautiful waters of Northwest Florida and to spend with family and friends.  I'm thankful to the countless men and women of our US armed forces who sacrificed their very lives for our freedom to enjoy the life God has given us.  I pray that we as individuals and as a nation don't squander their sacrifice by abandoning the strong Judeo Christian values upon which this nation was founded and run so successfully for over 200 years. 

Can You be Shaken?

¹ Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
² Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

…

⁵ Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God^[c];
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.  – Psalm 62:1-2,5-8

Can you be shaken?  … Can this world corrupt your thinking into believing you aren’t secure?  Can this world make you fearful?  “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Ps 23:4).  Is there something that lies under the surface that you are fearful?  Do you worry or anticipate its occurrence with fear and allow it to make you old?  … Can you be shaken?

We should be able to settle our thoughts, settle our spirit, settle within our soul and rest in God.  It is there that we can’t be shaken or rattled, since we are in God.  Upon learning and resting in that spot, the next step is to carry that with you at all times.  To walk daily in God completely confident in His working in the universe, in the worldwide, in the world around you, and within you.  We rest in God.  We hope in God.  Our salvation is in God.  Our trust is in God.

May we decide and work on our faith so that we can declare that we will never be shaken and we will not be shaken.  How can this be so?  Because God is our fortress.  We do not protect ourselves.  We do not find rest from within ourself.  God protects us and He doesn’t move or change.  He is for us and will not forsake us.  WE CAN REST CONFIDENTLY IN HIM.  When we work out our faith correctly, we will not be shaken by anything of this world.

Many years ago—perhaps 70 years ago—the great Southern evangelist John R. Rice preached in Waxahachie, Texas, just south of Dallas.  As was his custom, Dr. Rice preached hard against sin, especially against the bootleggers bringing illegal liquor into that small Texas town.  Eventually the powers that be decided that this pesky evangelist must be silenced.  They sent a message to stop preaching or they would kill him.  “You can’t threaten me with heaven,” he replied.

Are you that confident when someone cuts you off in traffic?  Maybe they are rude to you and take something you deserve?  Maybe they demand too much of your time and give nothing back?  Maybe it’s just another chore that you’ve done 1,000 times and no one notices?  Maybe it’s someone who refuses your love and concern and scorns and ridicules you for it?  Maybe it’s a physical illness or an addiction? … Can you be shaken?  Where do you rest?  At the very worst of rejection, all anyone can do is threaten you with heaven.  

Be Thankful

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – Romans 1:20-23a

These verses in Romans chapter one from 18 through 32 would be really easy to discuss and teach/preach on for a very long time.  They are very revealing to the actions of myself at times and towards the actions that others take at times. 

The “they” referred to here is described in verse 18 and 19.  “They” are people “who suppress the truth in unrighteousness”.  “They” have been made aware of what “may be known in God” as “God has shown it to them” but they intentionally reject it.  Another description is they allow their wickedness to keep the truths revealed to them by God from being shared or observed.  They keep the truth from going forth.  They try to keep God’s character from being revealed.  Verse 18 says the wrath of God is against their actions.  If the power of God is in the knowledge of salvation (Romans 1:16), then it makes reasonable sense that the power of God is against whatever opposes that knowledge.

They knew God but rejected Him as God.  They were not thankful.  This is a key to this image presented of people who refuse to acknowledge God as the only one true living God.  When someone is unable to be thankful for their very life, for every person in their life, for everything in their life, for every circumstance or event in their life, so that every moment is treasured, they will not see God as the authority over their life.  Their life is not a gift but deserved and earned.  People and events are all to be manipulated into how it can benefit them.  This corrupt mindset leads to the following descriptions of these people in verses 22 through 32 in this chapter.  We can only hope that when we take this trip or when others do it’s a really short trip and the turnaround is as early as possible.

Let us be careful to intentionally be thankful and grateful for every small and big event, person, thing in our life today, recognizing that God is the only authority in the universe.

Cinderella

I can’t help but be mindful of my recent trip to the movies to see Cinderella.  The movie demonstrated some wonderful character traits of God and I would even argue that it was written around a verse of Scripture.  The obvious theme was “have courage and be kind” as it was repeated several times throughout the movie. 

While watching, I became immediately aware of the many times God tells His children to “be strong and very courageous”.  This is usually coupled with “do not be afraid” or “have no fear” which is indicated at least 40 times in His Word.  In order to be kind to someone you have to have a love for them, or at least a love for the righteousness compelling you to be kind, if you are being kind with a pure heart.  There are simply too many references to being kind written in the Bible to list, but the most obvious is written in Ephesians 4:32 as it relates to the plot of this story.  It is written as the first instruction following a long list of things not to do and a character not to have.   

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” - Ephesians 4:31-32

Most are aware of the movie plot.  The most striking aspects of the story are a girl who is grieved without cause, but simply at the cruelty and selfishness from the heart of others.  Another is her uncorrupted heart which endures the pain and shame and yet remains tender and loving and kind.  Then there is her gift of being allowed to do something that others get to do, she is allowed to be equal, but it is obvious she is not equal but much more.  And finally she shows a heart of forgiveness to those who neither ask for it nor deserve it and she enjoys a life ever after in “heaven”.

How many Christian qualities are exhibited in those highlights?  Each one exhibits a Godly character trait described in God’s Word, demonstrated completely in the life and death of Jesus, and commanded to us to have and show as children of the one true God.  I wonder if there could be a more Christian movie so cleverly veiled and openly shown in the current U.S. entertainment industry with no condemnation from the “movie police” who work intently to remove all things Christian.  It is brilliant, whether intended to be or not, but only to those who look for God.  I wonder how many will see God and not know it, and I wonder why more don't see Him in us everyday.

A Crumb

²⁵ Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, ²⁶ and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. ²⁸ For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

²⁹ Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. ³⁰ And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

³¹ But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

³² And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. ³³ But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. ³⁴ And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” – Mark 5:25-34

The story as described in Luke 8 is much like the one in Mark and the description in Matthew is much more condensed.  I find it impressive that this story is captured in these three gospels.  There are many stories not written in at least three gospels.  So, I find myself believing that this is an important lesson. 

The woman believed.  She believed if she could just touch the very end of a fringe on Jesus’s clothes, she would be healed.  She didn't have to touch Him; she didn't have to have Him touch her; she didn’t have to have anyone know, I even get the idea she’d have preferred no one to notice, but Jesus will always show someone’s great faith; she didn't need anything but just the slightest touch from something that touched Him.  Oh, how desperate she was!  I am reminded of the non-Jew woman who fell at Jesus’s feet two chapters later requesting Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter.

²⁶ The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷ But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”  ²⁸ And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”  ²⁹ Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” – Mark 7:26-29

This woman with the blood condition just wanted a crumb and a crumb is all she needed.  What great faith she had!  Only the Centurion who told Jesus He didn’t need to come to the house to heal his daughter but Jesus could just command it and it would be done had more faith by my estimation.  She believed that she didn't even need His look or acknowledgment, only the touch of His clothes.  While she was begging for just a crumb, her faith was as a mighty mountain.

She was healed by her faith.  Sure, the power of God healed her technically.  But Jesus specifically told her “your faith has made you well”.  Her belief in the presence of God and in the power of God made her well. 

Today, I pray for a crumb.  I pray for God to command healing and it to be done.  I pray for God’s will, His perfection, and His direction.  I know Ecclesiastes 11:5 says, “you do not know the works of God who makes everything”.  But I also know James 5:16 which says, “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”  I hope I am a righteous man and much can be availed.  The power of God is in the salvation message of Jesus.  I pray that our testimony and confession of His answer to our prayer would show everyone His power in our lives and move them in their faith.  May God become real to others by His work in us.

Back into the Fray

Ps 23:6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

 

As I return from vacation, it's tempting to be sad that it was much too short or that I didn't get today to rest, but I cannot bring myself to do so.  God has given me good, quality time with family and friends.  Many, if not most, families seem to lack that ability to celebrate time in each other's presence the way we can.  Sure I long for even better and more, but today I'm thankful for what I have.  Just as God's grace, it is sufficient.

 

And Still Not Ashamed

David gives more insight into his words in Psalm 25 from Psalm 69.

“¹ Save me, O God!
   For the waters have come up to my neck.
² I sink in deep mire,
  Where there is no standing;
  I have come into deep waters,
  Where the floods overflow me.
³ I am weary with my crying;
  My throat is dry;
  My eyes fail while I wait for my God.

…

²⁹ But I am poor and sorrowful;
  Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.” – Psalm 69:1-4,29

The picture of him in the first part is of a man who is emotionally spent.  He is desperate and his throat is dry and his eyes are dry from weeping.  He is physically dehydrated from his deeply emotional distress.  It is moving to read of a king writing about how he is concerned over his condition which would affect the kingdom.  When is the last time our nation had a leader that we seriously could believe was that concerned over it?  But more importantly, when was the last time we were so deeply emotionally distressed over our own household and our own character condition?

“I am poor and sorrowful”, David is ashamed.  He was the king; he was God’s chosen; how had he come to this?  “O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me. … Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.” (Psalm 25:2,20)  Now we can see another aspect of his plea to not be ashamed.  He wants his spirit to be restored.  He does not want to be poor and sorrowful, defeated.  He trusts in God, so he pleads to God to restore his spirit.  Do not let me be ashamed!  Do not let me be hopeless!  “I trust in You … keep my soul and deliver me … I put my trust in You.”  “Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.” (Psalm 69:29) 

David rightly looks to God and God alone to lift him up.  We can’t lift one another up out of the mud hole because we’re all in the same mud hole.  Only God, who is not in the mud hole or “deep mire” can lift us out of the mud hole.  All of us have mud on us and we can’t clean each other.  Only God, who has no mud can clean each of us.  A preacher once exclaimed, “You can go to God smelling like a pig!”  But the truth is, the only way to get to God is smelling like a pig and standing in the pig sty.  David cries to God for his salvation.  We should renew our cry to God, to praise Him greatly for lifting us out of that pig sty, and to protect us so that we don’t fall back in.  “Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.”

David's faith is in God and God alone to lift him from his shame.  May our faith rest solely on God's Words.  May our trust be in Him.

Still Not Ashamed

“O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me. … Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.” – Psalm 25:2,20

While the writing in Romans 1:16 is very much a declaration of who Paul is, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ”, I sense a few other meanings out of these writings in this Psalm.  I get the idea that part of the focus is on God to perform His great works according to David’s faith.  “I trust in You” he says.  I get the feeling that he is saying to God, “don’t allow me to be led to shame for my trust in You”.  I really don’t know how to comprehend that thought.  Would David really infer that to God?  It is as if he is saying to God - you know, the God of all who could destroy him at any instance or who could erase him as having lived at all so that no one would ever know his name or the thought of him – he is saying don’t “leave me hanging”. 

As you read the rest of Psalm 25 you can interpret the idea that David is declaring and asking together for the principles of God’s character - integrity, uprightness, mercy, grace, and great love - to be true and that his dedication to God’s character will deliver him because God deliver’s those who trust in Him.  He says three times “I trust in You” and he asks for deliverance from enemies who hate, from the traps set by them, and from their dealings in treacherously without cause. 

David is clear in his request that his enemies not triumph.  “Do not let that which is opposed to You celebrate in victory!”  This is a root of this Psalm.  The very idea that God might allow those who work against God, against His precepts, and against His people to be able to show themselves and their fake gods as more powerful or more present than the one true living God is incomprehensible!!  “It shall not be allowed!” David wants to cry in anger and anguish, but he knows it is up to God.  So he pleads that God not allow it and to save him who trusts in Him.  “Let me not be ashamed” David says.  I think the best interpretation is “Do not give them cause to not believe the name of the Lord is the only name that matters.  May they know there is one true living God and it is Yahweh.”    

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I am not Ashamed!

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” – Romans 1:16-17

I still remember the first time I read that verse.  I felt like charging hell with a glass of ice water.  I still get a little charged when I read it; I love the boldness of the first part of verse 16, “For I am not ashamed”.  I am not ashamed, me, this is who I am, this is what I believe, this is a part of me no matter who confronts me or how people hate me.  “The gospel of Christ” is my life.  Why? “For it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes”.  It IS the power of God!  People ask where God is, but God is in the gospel of Christ.  The problem is, that is not where people want God to be.  They want Him somewhere else.  Somewhere a little neater and more conformed to their life.  But God is in the gospel message, He is in Christ, but more so, His power is in the gospel message!  Do I want to walk in God’s power?  Then I need to walk in the gospel of Christ!  The gospel of Christ is “salvation to everyone who believes”.  If I want to walk in the power of God then I need to intentionally walk for everyone to believe in Jesus as Christ.

“The righteousness of God is revealed from faith.”  Do I understand the significance of that?  God reveals His righteousness from my faith to the faith of others.  Are we able to mentally process the idea of God being contained within us and His power ready for our use and others ready to believe (the fields are ripe)?   The only thing needed is for us to embody in mind and walk the message of Jesus and for us to demonstrate our faith in Him in all things.  His power is ready to go forth and He is ready to save.  Will we be a focused and steadfast worker (but the laborers are few)? 

The reference at the end of verse 17 is to Habakkuk 2:4 which says, “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” (NKJV) Or “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright – but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.” (NIV).  There is a direct contrast written here between those who are proud and those who are righteous.  It says here that a proud person has a tilted soul and does not live by faith.  Their desires are tilted, they do not seek what is right.  Because they are sufficient, they do not live by faith. 

“The just shall live by faith.”  They do not live dependent upon themselves.  They are not God.  They live completely and totally on their faith in their salvation through Jesus their Christ which is the power of God. 

Everything comes back to faith.  Do I have it?  Is there a shadow of doubt?  “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of (doubt), I shall fear no evil, for You are with me.”  Is my faith that strong?  Is my faith the strongest part of me and within me?  Does the faith within me trump even me?  Am I molded under my faith or is my faith molded under me?  “I am not ashamed!”  May I walk confidently and be careful to know that I am defined by my faith and my faith is not defined by me.  The proud define their “faith” and it is tilted, but the righteous have faith defined by God.

The Remnant

¹ I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. ² God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: ³ “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? ⁴ And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. ⁶ And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. – Romans 11:1-6

Today, I sometimes feel for the people around the world as the world attacks and condemns Christianity as a religion and Christians as a people.  I read where crowds cheered in Jakarta, Indonesia as the local government used a backhoe to tear down the just completed walls of the Batak Protestant Church; in Ethiopia, the evangelical Heaven’s Light Church, was destroyed by police; in Mosul, Christian graves have been desecrated and entire cemeteries destroyed all to eradicate Christian symbols; and in Syria, every cross or symbol of Christianity is being removed, some of which have been in place for over two millennium.  Here, in the U.S., the church is being destroyed through the eradication of Christian morality and the ability to live by Christian standards.

“Did God reject His people?”  Our Scripture retells the lesson of Elijah and how God told him that He had reserved for Himself people who had not worshiped other idols.  Today, we must believe that God is setting apart those who will not worship money, themselves, others, or false religions.   I sincerely believe that God is turning up the heat on the world, forcing a decision among every person, believe in Him or don’t believe but there will be no sitting on the fence, no lukewarm sorta kinda believers.  Those who aren't sure will have to choose and those who do believe will be tested so their faith is iron.

The remnant have been chosen by God’s grace.  I pray that I can stay in God’s grace and that my faith is increased, developed, and settled to be non-negotiable so I can be in that remnant.  I pray that I can settle God as my Father and my Brother and my best friend.  I pray that I can have a purpose to help those who will believe and to help those who do believe as they are tested.

Strength in Weakness

On April 23rd, Matt Ayers had an article about this and it is HERE.

I am reprinting it below just for ease of reading (saves you a click of the finger).

One of the paradoxes of the Christian faith that I struggle with is strength through weakness. I do not struggle with believing it to be true, I struggle with putting it into application on a day-to-day basis. What does this look like in the daily life of the believer?

The reality is that success in most (if not all) areas of human activity require a great deal of applied strength, thought, and discipline; it requires strategizing, hard work, sweat, tears, and applying oneself. This is certainly true for the spiritual life as well in terms of the spiritual disciplines, however, we have to balance this with:

COME TO ME, ALL WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN FROM ME, FOR I AM GENTLE AND LOWLY IN HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY, AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT” (MATT 11:28–29)?

How do we reconcile these two realities?

This is one of the frequent themes of scripture: if you want to be strong, you must be weak. Said another way, God uses the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:27). This theme really comes through in Isaiah. When King Ahaz needs help defending Judah against the Syria-Israel Alliance against Assyria, he sends a baby as a sign (Isaiah 7). A baby? Really? That’s the sign of strength?

In this same vein, when the people of Judah are awaiting their king under and oppressive Roman (and Greek prior to that) rule during Second Temple Judaism, God sends a baby who becomes a carpenter. Really? Our king is a table-maker?

The most obvious example is Jesus’ coronation day as the Messiah. He wears a crown of thorns. He pours his life out willingly. He is weak. He submits. He doesn't fight. He tells Peter to put the sword away.

Weakness.

THROUGH THE SUBMISSION OF JESUS, THROUGH THE WEAKNESS OF THE JEWISH KING, GOD’S POWER IS MANIFEST TO THE WORLD.

This is the symbol of the cross. Salvation comes through raising the white flag.

So how does this work? On a very practical level, how do we become weak so that God can be strong through us?

I think that it comes down to faith. When we’re faced with temptation, an opportunity to sin, why do we know that it’s temptation? How do we know that we’re facing a sin-potential situation? BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WITH US. One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin (John 16:8).

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THERE ENOUGH TO CONVICT US OF SIN AND IDENTIFY A SIN-POTENTIAL SITUATION, THAT HE WILL THEN WITHHOLD HIS HOLY POWER TO ASSIST US TO OVERCOME THAT SIN?

If we know it’s sin, the Holy Spirit is with us; this means that he’s poised and ready to act, ready to strengthen us for holiness. He’s there to enable the believer for the righteous Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

I like to compare this to the Holy Spirit hovering over the chaos in Genesis 1 during the time of creation (Gen 1:2). The Holy Spirit was hovering in such a way that his posture indicates that he’s poised for action—ready to respond; prepared. He’s prepared for when God speaks, “light”. He’s prepared to carry out God’s plan to let his power burst into the chaos and make order, light, and life.

In much the same way, he’s poised over us and our circumstances. God is ready to speak light into our darkness. He’s ready to speak order into our chaos. However, it it through our weakness, our recognition that there’s nothing that we can do to save ourselves, that God speaks into our circumstances and the Holy Spirit manifests very practical, and real help in our time of trouble.

This is strength in weakness, at least part of it.

I find that I like this writing.  It ends with faith.  What the world sees as weak, God sees as strong.  We are weak because we are relying totally on Him; either He does something or there is no way.  But this is our strength because this faith relies completely upon the strongest thing in all of existence: God Himself. 

Praise God!

“God is jealous, and the Lord avenges;
The Lord avenges and is furious.
The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies;
³ The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
And will not at all acquit the wicked.” – Nahum 1:2-3a

“When we were overwhelmed by sins,
    you forgave our transgressions.
Blessed are those you choose
    and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
    of your holy temple.” – Psalm 65:3-4

Two very contrasting sides of God.  The first gives a detailed and emotional picture of the intensity and fury of God over those who oppose Him.  He “avenges and IS furious”.  He “will take vengeance”.  It doesn’t say He might do it, it doesn’t say He’s a little put out, He will take vengeance and is furious, not just angry.  He “will not at all acquit the wicked”.  In other words, there is no doubt about God’s justice and righteousness and those who oppose Him will be met with a God who tried with great patience and understanding to present them Himself for the infinite time and they refused, and they will be met with His great power.  They can count on it.

We, who have accepted His offering of Himself, are crushed and overcome by our sins against Him and He forgives us with that same great power!  We are blessed that He has chosen us to live near Him in His house.  We are filled with the best things in His house, His own Spirit.  Blessed are we!  Oh, how blessed we are!  Do we lightly consider how very blessed we are!  We are not under the vengeance and fury of His power, but under His powerful saving grace.  Our sins are forever gone and we dwell peacefully with Him.  Do we truly grasp this every morning?  Every evening?  Praise God for coming to us!

True Love Hurts

Matt 10: 22You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
What to do when you find your closest brother has committed the most egregious of sins?  As it states in Matt 18, you go to him and "if he listens, you have won him over."  I recall a particularly painful exchange right at a year and a half ago.  I ranted, but you had already repented.  Yet instead of being defensive and excusatory, you took it.  You took a fusillade of rants from someone you really didn't have to even discuss this matter with, perhaps because you sought forgiveness in your heart or knew you deserved it.  Regardless of why, your response was to repent to God and your wife and they have won you over.  A family has been saved because of your repentance and their forgiveness.  Thanks be to God who puts forgiveness in our hearts especially when we lack the capability to conjure it up on our own. 
I've been surprised at my own reaction to that event. I was (and still am today) absolutely in total state of disbelief that a man of your stature could fall and fail so completely.  Instead of standing in judgement of you, upon realizing your repentance and humility, I looked inward at my own culpability in this situation as well as my own susceptibility to sin like this and I've stood deeply convicted by my own shortcomings ever since.  In fact, I've taken a deep look and recognize that in reality I'm no better.  While not committed physical sin, the lust in my heart condemns me none-the-less.  I struggle to love my wife like Christ loves the church, even at times blaming her for "making it difficult."  As much as I pray, I cannot shake the sin that holds me.  I've prayed even to the point of tearfully begging God to simply wipe all desire from my heart except that to agape her, yet I remain a man way short of who I should be.  What a poor and wretched man I am! 
Others have responded very differently than you.  There is no repentance, even no admission of wrongdoing.  As I've wrestled with my own response, I've realized that Satan aims to clearly and cleanly attack in our blind spot.  That area of our lives where we refuse to yield Lordship to Christ.  That area where we think we're in charge of creating our own joy and happiness.  That area where we buy into the clear lie that "God helps those who help themselves."  Satan doesn't attack me with the temptation of homosexuality because I'm not blind to it, but he does attack me with lust because he knows although homosexuality isn't an issue, my sexual desires are not fully yielded to Christ.  So I struggle.  I struggle with my eating and drinking habits because I cannot fully yield to Christ.  Yes I pray.  Yes I want to be more disciplined, just not enough to substitute water for Diet Mtn Dew or an apple vice cookies.  I just refuse to yield, but I don't want the consequences of being old and fat.  You can look in from the outside with pity and know that I'm doing it to myself and it would be easy to change, but change from my perspective is beyond me.   
So those with whom you struggle must make a decision to own their sin.  Short of that, I'm afraid you're stuck.  You cannot yield to the lies of Satan that say to love we must accept sin.  That lie is killing the church today.  We are no different than any other social club because we've bought into the secular humanistic lie that love means acceptance of any and all decisions with no consequences.  This is in fact diametrically opposed to love.  Divorce wrecks families and the sins of the father run the deepest from this particular sin.  There is no honor, no integrity, no respect, and no agape lessons to be taught to our sons from this event.  Only the lesson that comes out is that we know better than God how to achieve our own happiness and that is far more important than holiness - a "yellow brick road" to a life and eternity of and in hell.  We see it in others and we are pained by it, yet we have no power over them to force them to repent.  Note that this is the power that God chooses to withhold over us.  We know he could force us to choose wisely, but he refrains.  His Holy Spirit within us, therefore cannot empower us to force others to choose wisely either.  
A lot of words to say, we're stuck.  I'm stuck with a Mother-in-law who is possessed by the demon of addiction and I have no answers.  Ultimately she must acknowledge and repent, then and only then can all the mighty power of God save her.  Similarly you're stuck.  You're brother is flying in 1v1 aerial combat.  His foe is in the sun and unseen, but a missile called "I can find love & contentment in disobedience" is inbound.  He is ignoring his radar warnings and calls for evasive maneuvers because he thinks "he's got this."  Like countless others before him, he will die at his own hands not out of heroic bravery, but out of foolish bravado.  Unfortunately, others will go down in flames with him. 
I've not told you a thing you didn't already know, nor have I helped one bit.  I only say it for two reasons 1) your humble response has clearly had an incredibly positive influence on at least me and my walk and I believe I'm not the only one, so God's promises are very real, my faith is increased, and for that I'm thankful (NOT the outcome I would have predicted 1.5 yrs ago!); and 2) there is but one Savior, we're not Him, but we know that one day EVERY knee will bow to Him.  I pray that he bows in this life as opposed to the next.  I really don't know what else to do.  Clearly ignoring the issue and pretending to love by showing "support" is not the answer to drive one to their knees.  In fact, to do so would enforce what we call "negative training"  - lessons that drag us away from God rather than point us to Him.   I wish I knew how to help at least you, if not him, but I do not.  I know God does know, but it all starts with him willing to own his sin.