Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 35 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and five amazing great grandchildren. He has written several books, including two that are available on Amazon - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles.

How God Moves Us from Fear to Faith

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This is the eleventh article in a series entitled Wonderful Counseling. I sometimes use other names for this ministry, such as Personal Prayer Ministry and Biblical Healing and Deliverance. The adjective "wonderful" is used because Jesus is the "wonderful Counselor" of Isaiah 9:6. This ministry attempts to make room for Jesus to personally counsel people by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit, with human ministers acting as facilitators. This makes it different from most counseling. It is highly effective at teaching the recipient how to hear the voice of the Spirit and to receive his life giving words.

 

The account of Gideon in Judges is a wonderful example of how God can move us from fear to faith. The opening scene in Judges 6 shows Gideon threshing wheat in a wine press. Wine presses were located in valleys which made them generally less visible to prying eyes. Wheat was usually threshed on top of hills where there likely would be more of a breeze to separate the heavy wheat from the lighter chaff, when the mixture was thrown into the air. Gideon chose to work in the less efficient wine press for fear that Israel’s enemies, the invading Midianites, might see him, steal his crops, and perhaps even injure or kill him. He was a fearful and oppressed person who was intimidated by his oppressor – not a likely candidate for being a hero.

The angel of the Lord stood under a tree watching all this, most likely a little amused because he knew what was coming. God’s sense of humor can be found throughout the Bible. If we need more proof, consider that he made you and me.

God loves to choose unlikely people to accomplish the seemingly impossible because it gives him pleasure, fulfillment to us, and brings glory to his name.

God selected Gideon to lead Israel to victory over apparently insurmountable odds. The Lord picked a man who was fearful, insecure, and small in his own eyes, a man who at the time had very little faith in God because he believed some very big lies.

Imagine Gideon’s surprise when he heard the angel’s greeting.

The LORD’s messenger appeared and said to him, “The LORD is with you, courageous warrior!” Judges 6:12 (NET1)

Gideon must have been taken aback by this announcement because he believed neither of these things. He saw no evidence that God was with him and certainly did not believe he was a courageous warrior. When God starts to work on destroying the lies in which we trust, he doesn’t beat around the bush. By addressing Gideon in this way, the Lord prompted Gideon to state what he believed on a heart level.

Exposing the Lie

Getting the lie into the open is a great first step toward freedom.

Gideon said to him, “Pardon me, but if the LORD is with us, why has such disaster overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Did the LORD not bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.” Judges 6:13 (NET1)

Let’s look at some of the key words: if, why, where, and but. We often reveal the lies we believe when we use these words.

Satan loves to insert an “if” into the equation to inspire doubt in God’s character, God’s promise, and God’s plan.

The “if” was derived from the why and where. Gideon showed that he depended on his own powers of deduction rather than on God’s character and promises. Paul called this a “stronghold” – a logical speculation or argument derived from our experience or observations that prevents us from knowing and trusting in God. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) Gideon saw that disaster had overcome Israel and that no known miracles had taken place in his day. This led him to conclude or speculate that God was no longer on Israel’s side and that he was not doing anything powerful at all. This logical argument stood between him and the experience of deliverance and freedom. It blocked him initially from simply believing God’s word to him.

The “but” surfaced the lie in which Gideon trusted: God had abandoned Israel, he thought, leaving them powerless against their enemies.

In Gideon’s lie-based worldview, God was not present and Israel had no hope, thereby providing Gideon with no basis for faith from which to derive courage.

The lie was now out in the open, as was Gideon’s unbelief. Gideon had been paralyzed by lies of abandonment and powerlessness, two of the most prevalent lies we all must face and conquer.

Once the embedded lie is exposed, the Lord desires to speak his truth into our lives, which will demolish the stronghold, if we hear, receive, believe, and act on it.

The devil loves to hide in the darkness, and he wants our lie-based arguments and speculations to swirl around in our minds pulling us deeper into the abyss of unbelief, fear, and confusion. Once these lies are exposed to the light of God’s truth, they tend to dissipate like the morning mist.

Lies cannot coexist with truth, just as darkness and light cannot exist side by side.

The Power of a Personal Word from God

God’s answer to Gideon was a “rhema” word to him. I use the Greek word for “word,” “rhema,” to describe the experience of God’s revealing himself and his eternally true logos Word to us by the Spirit. In other words, a “rhema” word makes the eternally true “logos” Word found in the Bible both personal and faith inspiring.

A personal “rhema” revelation of truth has the power to destroy lies and transform us.

God’s rhema word to Gideon invited him to see things as God did and to believe the truth that the Lord was still with him and is much bigger than any fear or enemy.

Then the LORD himself turned to him and said, “You have the strength. Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites! Have I not sent you?” Judges 6:14 (NET1)

We should pay close attention to what happened in this verse. Suddenly it was no longer God’s messenger speaking: now it was the Lord himself. My next sentence is one of the biggest keys to being set free. This truth is able to unlock some of the strongest prison doors.

In order for us to be delivered from deeply embedded lies, we must hear the Lord himself speak his truth to our hearts.

This is called revelation in the Bible and comes via the Holy Spirit.

God can speak through another person, a Bible verse or passage, or by his Spirit in the inner recesses of our hearts. In this case, it was through a pre-incarnational appearance of the Lord. God’s rhema to Gideon smashed both of the lies in which Gideon trusted: God had not abandoned him or Israel, and Gideon was not powerless because God was with him.

When the Light of the world, Jesus, enters our hearts, darkness is dispelled.

God himself told Gideon that he had the strength to deliver Israel and gave him the command to go do it. Gideon still has his doubts, however, because there were yet more lies to be confronted.

Gideon said to him, “But Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family.” 16 The LORD said to him, “Ah, but I will be with you! You will strike down the whole Midianite army.” Judges 6:15-16 (NET1)

“But Lord!” How contradictory are these two words when used side by side! Here Gideon revealed that his calculations did not include God at all. He still saw things through the lens of his own inadequacies and failed to factor in God’s ability and power. (Don’t we all tend to do this?) When we make excuses for not doing what God commands us, it reveals that we believe that God is either not with us or not up to the task of enabling us.

Our unbelief clearly indicates we doubt either God’s trustworthiness, power, or his love – or maybe all three.

In other words, unbelief impugns God’s character and negates his power; whereas, faith upholds both.

Only faith glorifies God. Peter Block wrote in his book, The Answer to How Is Yes, that when we commit to do something, negativity evaporates and we begin to use our faith to become creative problem solvers.  The “how” of unbelief does not calculate on God and makes excuses for disobedience; whereas, the “yes” of faith moves forward in obedience trusting that God will somehow come through.

When the Lord reaffirmed that he would be with Gideon, he revealed the key to living the faith life – God is always with us.

Jesus is Immanuel – God with us. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this truth.

The root of many deeply embedded lies is a deep sense of abandonment by God.

This derives from humanity’s actual separation from him in the Garden of Eden because of our sin. But Genesis 3:15 reveals that God never actually abandoned us at all. He promised Adam and Eve that one of their descendants would crush the head of the serpent – Satan. This is the Bible’s first messianic promise.

Because Jesus, our Messiah and Immanuel, died and rose again, no one who believes in him needs to experience life apart from God any longer. (John 14:16)

When we imagine that we do, it reveals how far we still have to go in our understanding of grace and how sinfully independent our thinking still is.

Amazingly, God allows us to collaborate with him in life and when we face obstacles. This is one of the great joys of being a follower of Christ. We are not alone any longer! God delights to use us, even though, ultimately, all the glory will go to him, because he alone is able to pull off the miracle. What a joy for us to be his partner! When God allows us to participate, he shares his power, glory, and honor with us in a similar fashion as the moon shares the sun’s glorious radiance. The moon has no light of its own, yet it shines beautifully in the night sky. We have no power or glory of our own, yet we can win great victories when we obey God and trust him completely.

God’s grace shines through us, despite our weaknesses.

But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NET1)

When God made Gideon a promise that he would be with him, it should have confirmed to him that God was loyal and loving toward him; but, he was still not convinced of where he stood with God. This is a common problem for many of us – yes, even with Bible-believing followers of Christ. Because we are at least partially aware of our own faults and shortcomings, we cannot imagine that God could be truly pleased with us or use us in any significant way.

This shows that we have negated God’s gracious promises with a lie-based argument, which causes us to miss a central point of the gospel of grace. No one can possibly be good enough to please God: that is why Jesus had to die for us.

The mindset that God cannot use us is sinful and must be repudiated.

When we receive the benefits of the finished work of Christ by faith, not only are we forgiven, but we are completely reconciled to God. We become members of God’s family and true friends. God provides the Spirit of his Son to indwell us. We have been given the Son of God’s relationship with the Father, minus the divinity part; therefore, when God looks at us, he is as pleased with us as he is with his Son.

Consequently, because of our relationship with God, our commission to be his representatives on the earth, and the  indwelling Spirit, we are able to do whatever he tells us.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16 (NET1)

But Gideon did not know this, since he lived in a time before Christ’s death and resurrection. Even though God told him he was highly favored, he still wanted further proof.

So Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speak with me. Judges 6:17 (NASB)

If you are like me, you might be thinking that God was beginning to get a little impatient with Gideon, as he did with Moses when he made excuse after excuse. But that was not the case. God was calling and commissioning Gideon to do the impossible; so, he was willing to corroborate his word to him.

The greater the task the more willing is God to make it plain to us. He knows that our faith needs bolstering.

Gideon offered the Lord a sacrifice, which God accepted by consuming it on the spot with fire in which the angel disappeared from sight. Gideon promptly went from doubt that it was God to doubt as to whether he would continue to live after seeing God. You have to admit this is at least a little humorous. After receiving an assurance that he would not die, Gideon built an altar to the Lord there, naming it “Jehovah-Shalom” – the Lord is peace, security, wholeness, success, or prosperity. All of the these concepts are rolled up into one word – shalom. I like how the New English Translation translates Jehovah-Shalom: “The Lord is on friendly terms with me.”

God took Gideon from doubting his good intentions to worshiping him for showing shalom towards his servant.

By revealing himself as Jehovah-Shalom, God shattered the foundation of several strongholds at once.

Once again, God revealed himself personally with a “rhema” word. He nullified the lie that God did not favor Israel or Gideon. He broke the power of the lie that God is not able to give victory over his circumstances and fears. Shalom declared that God was the provider of financial well being, healing, success, victory, and peace. Gideon’s faith in these truths would later be tested even further; so, Gideon could come to know this amazing God of shalom better.

Faith grows when it is tested, just as muscles are strengthened by exertion.

The Lord moved quickly on the heels of Gideon’s breakthrough revelation. It is important for us to realize that God does not reveal himself to us just for fun. It is to prepare us for what he has called us to do. That same night God gave Gideon his first big job, one that confronted his remaining fears to the core. I find it ironic and intensely interesting that God would reveal himself as Gideon’s peace (shalom) just before commissioning him to fight.

Peace is not the absence of conflict. It is the presence of God that gives us the courage to fight the Lord’s battles.

That night the LORD said to him, “Take the bull from your father’s herd, as well as a second bull, one that is seven years old. Pull down your father’s Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole. 26 Then build an altar for the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold according to the proper pattern. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt sacrifice on the wood from the Asherah pole that you cut down.” Judges 6:25-26 (NET1)

In the afterglow of finding out that God favored him and was with him, Gideon was told to provoke the anger of the local idol worshipers, which included members of his own family. This man who went out of his way to stay hidden from danger now was told to stir up trouble and bring down the wrath of the community upon his head. Gideon obeyed, but stuck to his old ways of trying to stay hidden. He did the deed at night with the help of ten associates.

The command to build an altar on top of the idolatrous stronghold is especially significant. Not only does God intend to smash our lie-based strongholds, but he plans to transform their rubble into a place of worship for us, building an altar faith and devotion to God upon which we can give ourselves unreservedly to him.

From the rubble of our smashed strongholds likely will emerge our ministry to the Lord and other people.

As expected, the local townspeople threatened Gideon, but God preserved his life. His name was changed to Jerub-Baal, meaning “let Baal contend with him.” In other words, he became known for his brave and confrontational act of destroying the idols that offended God. God insulated him from men’s threats and violence by personally defending him. His own father, a former idolater-in-chief, defended his son when an angry mob wanted to harm him. God was indeed his “shalom.”

But this test was only the “warm up.” Next God told him to confront and defeat a vast horde of Midianites which oppressed Israel. In a very short time God took Gideon from fearing those invaders to becoming the captain of the minuscule force that defeated them. What an amazing turn around! But this next task required that Gideon become even more convinced that God was with him.

Strongholds run deep. Even though Gideon had obtained some deliverance, he still battled unbelief and fear, as is often the case with us. How could he be sure that this command was really the Lord? When the Lord asks us to do things within our “comfort zone,” we may obey him fairly promptly; but, when he tells us to do something of which we are afraid, suddenly we are not sure if it’s really the Lord! That is probably why God “broke in” Gideon with a lesser task first before sending him against a huge army.

If we are predisposed to unbelief because of our fears, we may lack confidence that we really have heard the Lord or have difficulty accepting even the most obvious confirmations. Fear lacks the ability to think clearly.

Understanding this human frailty, the Lord was very patient with our reluctant hero. When Gideon asked him for a double reverse sign involving a fleece, God obliged both times. On top of that, God even came up with a further sign to help fortify Gideon’s faith. He told him to venture near the enemy’s camp, where he heard one of the enemy soldiers voice his interpretation of an ominous dream in which he predicted that Gideon and his army would prevail over them in battle. This was all Gideon needed. Gideon promptly marched back into camp and spoke rousing words of faith to his men.

When Gideon heard the report of the dream and its interpretation, he praised God. Then he went back to the Israelite camp and said, “Get up, for the LORD is handing the Midianite army over to you!” Judges 7:15 (NET1)

Isn’t it interesting that Gideon put more stock in a dream’s interpretation than he did in God’s direct promise? May God give us more reliance on his Word than in anything else!

But we get ahead of ourselves. God had previously reduced the size of Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300, saying:

…“With the three hundred men who lapped I will deliver the whole army and I will hand Midian over to you. The rest of the men should go home.” Judges 7:7 (NET1)

God really does have a sense of humor, but I am sure it did not seem so at the time to Gideon. After thoroughly convincing Gideon that it was really He giving him the command to destroy the Midianites, God removed 99% of his army, giving the following reason:

… “You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, ‘Our own strength has delivered us.’’ Judges 7:2 (NET1)

This is one of the ways God operates. He convinces us to sign on to his program and then removes from us some of the resources we thought we could count on. He does this so that we can learn to trust in him alone.

Even before reducing the size of the army, Israel was hugely outnumbered, but now the odds were ridiculous from a human point of view. If God did not do a major miracle, Gideon would go down in history as one of the biggest fools who ever lived. This must have been why God obliged him with the two fleece confirmations and gave him the interpretation of the enemy’s dream. Gideon needed to know that this adventure with God was legitimate. His life and that of his men, as well as Israel’s freedom, depended on it.

Well, if you don’t know the rest of the story, it’s in Judges 7. As you might have guessed, Gideon, with God’s help, triumphed and became one of the great heroes of Israel.

When we cooperate with God by allowing him to help us conquer our fears by smashing our strongholds of lies and unbelief, it is no telling what great things can be accomplished in God’s kingdom.

Maybe God has a Gideon-sized job for you? If so, you likely have a Gideon-sized set of embedded lies that need uprooting. Don’t be surprised if God requires you confront your fears head on. Draw near to him and let the Lord speak his loving truth into those hidden places in your heart. The truth will set you free.

Go back to Part 10.

Read Part 12: An Introduction to Overcoming Generational Devastation

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Whose Money Is It?

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The first and most important question that we must ask and answer, if we want to have a right relationship with our money with regard to the Lord, is “Whose money is it?”

  1. Is it all mine?
  2. Is 90% of it mine, after I give the Lord his 10%, or
  3. Does it all belong to the Lord?
  4. And, of course, the final choice – “I don’t know.”

Judging by the giving habits of many church goers, the answer is #1. Among those who have discovered the blessings associated with giving back to God, many accept the Old Covenant tithe (10%) as the normative level for their giving. But what about that other 90%? Is that mine to do with as I please, or is it God’s for me to manage as he pleases? Many have discovered the liberating truth that all our money and everything else we have, including life itself, is on loan to us from God. It all belongs to him, and we are assigned to manage it well.

So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:33 (NLT)

GollumA disciple is someone who lets go of everything for the Lord’s sake. When God puts something in our hands to steward, we are tempted to think of it as our own. Think Gollum in Lord of the Rings – “my precious.” We forget from whom it came and to whom it ultimately belongs. When we die, we take nothing with us. It is wise to hold on to what God has given us with an open hand. Be ready to let it go.

I am reminded of when my children were small, and we would go to McDonald’s to eat. I would pay for their meals and later ask if I could have a french fry – just one. Sometimes the answer was “no.” They did not want to share what had been given to them with the one who gave it. That’s how we are with money quite often because we just don’t understand.

Pure selfishness might be the motivator, but often fear is behind our refusal to release ownership of our money. We doubt that we will have enough for ourselves; so, we hold tightly to what is “ours.” The only problem is that it’s not really ours. It’s God’s to be used as he sees fit. What if we handled all of our money as if it were God’s? Would it make a difference in how we spend, save, or give it away? Most likely. But if we treat our finances as if we are accountable only to ourselves, we might easily miss out on God’s best, or, worse, end up handling it very poorly.

The first step in gaining financial freedom is to recognize that all of our money belongs to God and act accordingly.

We will see what this looks like in coming articles. Until then, why not tell God that now that you realize that of your money, all of it, and everything else you have, belong to him, and he can do with it as he sees fit? Sounds scary? Only because we don’t trust him or realize how loving and generous he is. It’s time for us to let go of our wallets and exchange fear for faith in God’s faithfulness.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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The Ten Principles of Tithing

god and money

So far in this series I have looked at the disciple’s relationship to money from a number of angles. Now it’s time to consider tithing, which simply means giving a tenth of our income to God and his kingdom work.

Tithing Is an Acknowledgement of God’s Authority over our Lives and Wealth

Tithing is a practice that goes all the way back to Genesis, which is first mentioned when Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, a priest-king of Jerusalem, who many believe was at least a type of Christ. With God’s help, Abraham had just defeated a coalition of pagan kings to rescue his nephew, Lot, and his family.

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19  and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20  And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV)

Tithing was a common practice in that day and long predated the giving of the Law to Moses, at which time tithing became part of the legal code of Israel. In Abraham’s case, he was tithing to a person, who was greater than he, as a way of acknowledging that he was under his authority and blessing, which brings us to our first tithing principles.

Principle One: Tithing shows that we acknowledge God’s authority over our lives and finances.

Principle Two: Tithing reveals that we believe that God is our Provider. It is from him all blessings flow, and to him we return a tenth.

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)

If we accept that the tithe belongs to God, then those who withhold giving the tithe are actually robbing God, keeping for themselves what is rightfully God’s.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9  You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Malachi 3:8-9 (NIV)

Those who robbed God in this manner brought upon themselves a curse or judgment. Instead of experiencing God’s supernatural provision, they would experience being robbed themselves by the “devourer.”

A Gateway to Blessing
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:10-11 (NIV)

Principle Three: Giving to God what is his already opens the door to God’s returning immense blessings to us. It is an amazing thing that God rewards us for doing our duty.

It is not that we give to get. Rather, we give because we believe that God, our Provider, will supply well beyond our needs as we sacrificially give to him and his kingdom. Tithing often takes money that we feel we need. When we choose to give it to God, he knows what we need and makes provision for his people. There are countless stories of people who began to tithe by faith, only to see God surprise them with unexpected and unforeseen provisions. God delights in honoring the faith of his people in this way.

A Means of Provision for those who Serve on a Full-time Basis
I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting. Numbers 18:21 (NIV)

Under the Law of Moses, the tithe supported God’s appointed representatives, the Levites and priests, who served God in the stead of the entire nation. The tithe enabled them to serve undistractedly, without worry of how they would be able to provide for their own families. If the people of Israel tithed, the priests and Levites were able to perform their assigned duties. If the people failed to tithe, the work of God suffered because the workers had to use other means to stay alive and make ends meet.

I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. Nehemiah 13:10 (NIV)

Principle Four: Today, when people tithe to the local church (the New Covenant version of the Old Covenant “storehouse”), it enables called servants of God to serve without encumbrance in their ministry to the Lord.

Secular jobs take enormous amounts of time, which subtract from what is available for the Lord’s work of study, prayer, counseling, visitation, sharing the Gospel, disciple making, and whatever else might present itself during a day to a pastor or other full-time church leader. It is my conviction that the number one priority for church spending is to support the five-fold ministry – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, because the work of the kingdom depends on their having the means and ability to serve. Providing for those in need is second. Buildings and such come in a distant third.

A Provision for the Poor and the Marginalized

Every three years a special tithe was collected in Israel, which was specifically used for helping not only the Levites, but also foreigners, widows, and orphans – the poor who cannot provide adequately for themselves.

Principle Five: Local churches are able to help the poor and those facing unexpected hardships by using the tithe in conjunction with other special offerings.

When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. Deuteronomy 26:12 (NIV)
The Tithe in the New Covenant
Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. Luke 11:42 (NIV)

There is not a lot written about the tithe in the New Testament. Jesus told the Pharisees that they were both to tithe and keep the more important aspects of the Law. This would have been the perfect place for him to throw out the tithe, as he did with ceremonial washing and other dietary laws, but he did not.

Principle Six: The tithe is outside the jurisdiction of the Law and is actually built into the framework of humanity, going back to Genesis and creation itself.

The only other place tithing is mentioned in the New Testament is in the the Letter to the Hebrews, where the author makes a case for Jesus’ superiority over the Aaronic priesthood.

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5  And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6  But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7  It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8  In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9  One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10  for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Hebrews 7:4-10 (ESV)

In this case, the tithe once again shows how the lesser supports the greater. It’s a matter of authority and blessing and recognizing the need to support the five-fold ministry.

Some argue that the tithe is “legalistic” and was done away with in the New Covenant. To these, I point out that Jesus never did away with God’s authority over and ownership of our finances. He clearly stated that a true disciple is one who serves God, not money. In fact, our Lord said that a disciple is one who gives up everything for the sake of the kingdom of God.

So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Luke 14:33 (NASB)

The rich young ruler was offered the opportunity to sell all and become part of Jesus’ traveling band of disciples. What an opportunity and honor! Jesus still holds the power to call each and everyone of his followers to the same high standard with regard to money.

Principle Seven: If God required at least a tenth from his Old Covenant saints, is it probable, or even conceivable, that he would ask less of us? The only legitimate way to do away with the tithe is to move up to the New Covenant standard of giving everything.

A Matter of the Heart

Over the years, I have known some who objected to tithing because they were selfish and wanted to hold on to their finances for themselves. Others refuse to be limited by the tithe and give much more. Ultimately tithing and all giving is a matter of the heart. If it is not done willingly, it is not worth a whole lot, at least in terms of heavenly reward.

Principle Eight: Tithing should not be approached legalistically. It is something we do by faith because we believe it is the right thing to do and because we trust that God is our provider. If we give willingly and cheerfully, God will see it and return a blessing.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)
Conclusion

God asks some disciples to give all their money and resources to him, as he did with the rich young ruler. For the rest of us, as we consider how God would want us to give toward his kingdom, ten percent is a great place to start.

Principle Nine: I believe we should consider the tithe a minimum automatic category in our budget. Giving beyond the tithe is an opportunity to listen to the Spirit of God for his direction in our giving. This kind of giving is sometimes called making “offerings.” It is an act of obedience to the Spirit , a spiritual sacrifice that pleases God, and is a function of our faith in God and the generosity of our hearts. We learn the art of generous giving by starting with the tithe and progressing beyond.

I have tithed for years out of conviction and faith. I cannot imagine doing otherwise. I know many others who have done the same. In fact, I know of no one who has tithed regularly who does not agree that God abundantly supplies all our needs. The work of the kingdom somewhat depends on the generosity of the people of God. Let’s be faithful in giving.

If you have never tithed, give it a try. God promises to faithfully bless you.

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9  You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Malachi 3:8-10 (NLT)

Imagine! God wants us to test him in this matter! Have you exercised your faith by giving to God money you think you need to make ends meet, because you acknowledge that he is your supplier and can somehow make up the difference and more? It’s time to get started. You may be cheating yourself out of an amazing blessing!

Principle Ten: Once you find out that tithing opens up blessings, you will be ready to ask God, “How much do you want me to give beyond the tithe?” Then you will be ready for a really exciting ride!

One thing is for sure, if we give little, we will reap a small blessing. If that is what you want, have at it. I rather think we all want more than that. Try tithing. You’ll like it.

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7  You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.

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How We Handle Money Says a Lot about Us

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Jesus taught his disciples a lot about money. The subject comes up in sixteen of his thirty-eight parables. This is remarkable since Jesus seemed to be unconcerned about his personal finances and wealth. He taught his followers not to worry about money, but to simply trust God to supply our needs. He gave generously to the poor, and encouraged his followers to do the same.

Money tries to make a claim upon our lives, and, if we do not resist its pull, we may end up following its dictates instead of obeying Jesus.

Our Lord also said that the way we handle our finances reflects our inner condition.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12  And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? 13  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:10-13 (NLT)

From this micro teaching on money, we can extract the following principles.

  • Money is a “little thing” in God’s eyes. This means we must guard against it becoming a “big thing” to us.
  • Unfaithfulness and dishonesty with regard to money reveals an inner heart condition that will affect every area of our lives.
  • God will entrust us more and more with those things which are truly valuable in his kingdom, when we prove faithful with handling money.
  • Money pulls at us so strongly that God requires us to “hate” it. In other words, we must consciously put God and his will above the pull of wealth and the desire for the comforts, security, and prestige it offers.

The condition of our souls is reflected in the way we handle money. If our finances are in disarray from God’s perspective, something is amiss in our relationship with money.

The key areas we will look at in articles following in this series will be:

  1. What does money represent?
  2. Whose money is it, mine or God’s?
  3. What are my spending priorities and do they line up with what the Bible teaches? In other words, am I being faithful and wise with money?
  4. Am I obeying God when it comes to tithing and being generous?

If we are handling money unwisely, it is sometimes the result of a lack of self-control. We use money to satisfy our greed and lusts, instead of using it wisely. Sometimes we lack wisdom and foresight, failing to understand that we must live within our means and give ourselves some “margin” so that we have something extra set aside for unforeseen or unexpected expenses. Maybe we do not make enough money to meet our legitimate needs. That is another problem. Many times people fail to prioritize what they do with their money, failing to give a proper amount to God and his kingdom work. This leads to all sorts of problems. God wants us to be generous to the poor and those in need, too. Generosity is perhaps one of the greatest secrets to having all that we need.

The crux of the matter is this: how we spend our money reveals what we truly value in life.

What comes first – God, our car, our home, clothes, food, entertainment, vacation? If we place anything in front of God, we are heading for trouble! Are we generous or hoarders? Are we savers or spenders? Are we free or fearful? Are we content or never quite have enough? The answers to these questions reveal a lot about us and our relationship to God. If you suspect that something is out of kilter and you need help with handling your finances, you will want to read the next several articles. Even if you handle money well, the following articles in this series may help you.

To access the entire series on the Disciple and Money, click here.
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Chapter 85: Participating in Christ’s Victory by Faith

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When God brought Israel to the boundary of Canaan, he invited them to participate in the promised victory. When Israel stepped out in faith to attack the pagan Canaanites, they discovered that God helped them to succeed.

Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.  Joshua 1:1–5 (NASB95)

The first generation who escaped Egypt refused to accept God’s invitation to take the promised land by faith. They were afraid that God would not be with them; so, they never experienced the victory that could have been theirs and died in the desert.

God designed faith to produce obedience by which we experience his grace.

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,  Romans 1:5 (NKJV)

True faith acts as if it believes that God is faithful to his promises. Intellectual faith leads to lip service with no follow through. That is why James wrote that our faith can be seen by our actions.

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  James 2:18 (NKJV)

If we take God’s faith challenge and do what he commands, we will experience God’s grace enabling us to succeed.

The Canaanites were formidable enemies who threatened Israel’s safety. It took courage and faith in God to face and overcome them. God told Joshua…

Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.  Joshua 1:6–7 (NASB95)

Courage is evidence of faith.

It gives us the ability to face our enemies and our fears with the confidence that God is with us. It is vital that we stand by faith or we may find ourselves overthrown by fear.

…If you will not believe, Surely you shall not be established.  Isaiah 7:9 (NKJV)

When Gideon was asked to lead Israel against a seemingly overwhelming army, God told him…

“…I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”  Judges 6:16 (NLT)

If God is with us, who can be against us. (Romans 8:31) We understand that he who lives within us is greater than any enemy we may face. (1 John 4:4) We rely on Jesus’ promise that nothing can ultimately harm us.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.  Luke 10:19 (NASB95)

When Joshua defeated five of the kings of Canaan, he had them brought before him and made them lie upon the ground. It was customary for conquering kings to place their feet upon the necks of those he conquered, but in this case Joshua (who was a type of Christ) had his soldiers do the deed.

When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25 Joshua then said to them, “Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.” 26 So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening.  Joshua 10:24–26 (NASB95)

This foreshadowed how Jesus allows his church to participate in his victory over Satan.

When our Lord died on the cross and rose again, he effectually and legally defeated Satan and put him to an open shame.

In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.  Colossians 2:15 (NLT)

Afterward, Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, where he sits waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool.

“For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”  Acts 2:34–36 (NASB95)

This means that Satan is legally defeated, but his final humiliation at the hands of the church waits for God’s perfect timing.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  Romans 16:20 (NASB95)

This may not be completed until the Second Coming, resurrection, and final judgment, at which time the Bible says that we will receive what is called the “adoption” or full sonship, including authority to judge angels. (1 Corinthians 6:3) However, as we wait for that day, we are charged with extending Christ’s rule through the preaching of the gospel, making disciples, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, and exercising Christ’s spiritual authority through the power of the Spirit. This also includes being involved in secular activities and politics as representatives of Christ.

If we do not involve ourselves in the everyday affairs of secular government, by default we cede that area to the devil and his minions, who are more than willing to fill the vacuum.

Jesus told us to be “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13-14) and a lamp set on a stand (Luke 8:16) for all to see. This involves more than simply ministering to like-minded people within the walls of the local church. It includes becoming an answer to our Lord’s prayer that workers be sent into the harvest.

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”  Matthew 9:36–38 (NASB95)

As people hear, believe, and respond to the gospel, the kingdom of God is extended. As we use Christ’s authority to heal, deliver, and set the captives free, the kingdom of God comes in an experiential way.

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Matthew 12:28 (NASB95)

As we go outside the walls of the church to let our light shine and bring good news, more and more people will come under the influence of our Lord’s kingdom. The goal is for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. It is God’s plan for his glory to cover the earth (Habakkuk 2:14) after he pours out his Spirit upon “all flesh,” as prophesied by Joel.

It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. 29 “Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.  Joel 2:28–29 (NASB95)

God includes his church in his plans and will use us to accomplish what he promised.

The wisdom of God will be revealed through the church.

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Ephesians 3:10–11 (NLT)

It is our responsibility and privilege to contend for what God has given to us, just as Israel contended for the promised land.

Paul told Timothy to fight the fight of faith.

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  1 Timothy 6:12 (NASB95)

Eternal life is a gift purchased by the blood of our Lord Jesus. Nevertheless, we must take hold of it and receive it by faith.

We have a responsibility to seek and lay hold of what has been freely given to us.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:12–14 (NASB95)

Even though our Lord Jesus defeated Satan on the cross, we must do our part by “wrestling” with spiritual wickedness.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)

Christ’s victory must be enforced by his representatives who carry his authority and are empowered by God’s Spirit.

God gave Joshua and the Israelites all the land on which they set foot in warfare mode. Those who refused to fight did not share in the victory. In fact, that initial disobedient generation died in the wilderness because of the disobedience caused by their unbelief.

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.  Hebrews 4:1–3 (NASB95)

Because God’s purpose is to mature us as sons and daughters, he ordained that, even though Christ completed the work of salvation, we only get to experience it through the obedience of faith.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:8–10 (NKJV)

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

In spiritual warfare, we contend by faith for what Christ already won.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Philippians 3:12 (NKJV)

In many cases, we can discern the areas in which we are responsible to God to possess by faith. God’s gifts to us are our assignments, as is the case with children. What he gives us becomes our responsibility to steward and govern.

Click here to see all the articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • What gifts has God given to you for which you are responsible to him to use in a way that will bring him glory and extend his kingdom?
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Silent Belief Reveals a Lot

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Gospel in a Minute

Have you ever felt convicted by God’s Spirit because you chose to be silent about your faith in Jesus? If we have the courage to publicly confess Jesus, it reveals that we value God’s praise more than men’s. 

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42–43 (NKJV)

Evil generally is unashamedly vocal and perfectly willing to vilify and shame anyone standing for truth. The Old Testament prophets usually were very unpopular because they spoke unwelcome words of truth. They had to choose between bowing to obedience to God or to the intimidation of men. The same is true for followers of Christ today. If we stand for biblical truth and Jesus, we will suffer persecution, sometimes from other believers, but usually from the world.

If we want the praise of God, we may have to forsake the praise of men by refusing to be silent.

Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You. Psalm 25:20–21 (NKJV)
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Chapter 83: Introduction to Spiritual Warfare

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Warfare is as old as humanity. The clash started in Genesis when Satan introduced deception to bring about mankind’s rebellion against God. Soon after, Cain killed Abel out of jealousy and spite. Since then, there have been two lines of people, the elect and the reprobate.

In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;  Romans 11:5–7 (NASB95)

Down through the ages, those descended from the enemy have persecuted the chosen of God.

And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.  Galatians 4:28–29 (NASB95)

The Bible teaches us that pride and covetousness are the roots of all strife. (Proverbs 13:10 and James 4:2) Satan was not content to be a highly privileged and honored created being. He wanted to displace God on his throne.

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.  Isaiah 14:12–15 (NKJV)

This passage ostensibly refers to the King of Babylon, but it apparently goes beyond that to speak of the “shining one,” Lucifer. This is one of those cases, as happens in prophecy, when there is more than one meaning – the obvious and narrower one and the more hidden one. In this passage, if we accept it as a reference to Satan, we learn several things.

  • He fell from heaven. (Luke 10:18)
  • He was a shining one, meaning an angel. (2 Corinthians 11:14)
  • He tried to move beyond his appointed position and take the throne of God, which is located above the firmament, in which are located the stars, according to Genesis 1:16-17. Coveting a position above what God has given us is a common source of rebellion. E.g. Korah in Numbers 16.
  • The throne of God is located “on the farthest sides of the north…above the heights of the clouds.” This fits with its being located above the firmament, as described in Isaiah 40:22.
  • God judged Satan and will eventually assign him a place in the “lowest depths of the pit,” which perhaps will be the lake of fire. Currently he is still engaged in resisting God and trying to steal his glory and people.

Satan’s ongoing rebellion is the origin and context of all spiritual warfare.

We should keep that in mind whenever we discuss the topic or find ourselves embroiled by it.

Rebellion is contagious, and a third of the angels were swept away in the deception. The following passage is accepted by many scholars to refer to Satan’s fall.

Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.  Revelation 12:3–4 (NASB95)

Stars are somewhat mysterious. At times they seem to represent living beings, as in the passage above. At other times, they seem to be simple luminaries. Jesus is also called the Morning Star. Perhaps the Lord will give us more understanding before he comes again. In his letter, Jude wrote about angels who rebelled.

And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment.  Jude 6 (NLT)

Because rebellion is based in pride and a deception originating from the “father of lies,” it appeals to our sinful pride and covetousness.

Jesus is the opposite of Satan. Instead of trying to usurp God’s throne, Jesus emptied himself of all privilege and position to assume the role of a humble servant.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Philippians 2:5–8 (NASB95)

When Jesus died for our sins on the cross, he defeated Satan and took back the authority Adam ceded to Satan through his sinful disobedience and rebellion against God. Now all authority in heaven and earth belongs to our Lord. (Matthew 28:18)

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.  Colossians 2:13–15 (NLT)

When Roman generals defeated an army, they would lead the survivors into Rome in a parade or procession to be shamed and eventually executed. This is what our Lord did to Satan and his minions.

One of the ways we can engage in a very high form of spiritual warfare is to submit our will to the Lord Jesus. This is the essence of what it means to be saved. We believe in the efficacy of what Christ accomplished on our behalf, and we confess that he is Lord.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”  Romans 10:9–11 (NLT)

In this case, faith might better be called allegiance. Satan was disloyal to God. Jesus was completely true, all the way to death. When we declare allegiance to Jesus, we join him in engaging in the reclamation of mankind under the proper rule of God.

However, God did not remove Satan from the earth. He left him here so that God’s people could be tested and learn the art of spiritual warfare.

These are the nations that the Lord left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. 2 He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.  Judges 3:1–2 (NLT)

God uses our struggles against spiritual wickedness to help us grow into mature overcomers to prepare us for sharing in Christ’s glorious eternal rule.

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.  Romans 8:16–17 (NLT)

As children of God, we are destined for the throne as co-rulers with Christ.

It is only fitting that God prepares us for such an exalted position by allowing us to overcome spiritual wickedness by faith in Christ’s authority and victory during our time here on earth.

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  1 John 5:4–5 (NLT)

The stakes are extremely high – our spiritual reward. Our enemy is implacable and unrelenting. There is no escape from this battle. We either surrender or overcome.

Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.  Luke 14:31–33 (NLT)

If we surrender to the enemy of our souls, we give away incalculable reward in heaven. Conversely, we can participate in the cosmic struggle at the potential cost of losing all that we have here on earth in exchange for all we will gain from our Lord in heaven.

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.  Matthew 19:29 (NASB95)

Many Christians wish to avoid any sort of direct confrontation with the enemy of our souls. The only way we can do this is by compromising our testimony through sin or by holding back from sharing the truth of the gospel.

If we persist in maintaining our testimony before the world and share the truth in love, it is guaranteed that we shall encounter resistance from the enemy.

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)

Persecution is a form of spiritual warfare through intimidation.

The enemy seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. He begins quite often by mockery. If this does not work, he will likely step things up to false accusations and intimidation through threatened or actual force. The last step is usually persecution that involves suffering and even death, if we persist in holding on to our convictions and testimony. Before Saul’s conversion, this is what he did to the church.

Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.  Acts 26:10–11 (NLT)

However, if we endure, we will overcome.

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.  Revelation 12:11 (NLT)

When we first decide to become a disciple, it is important for us to count the cost.

Jesus made it clear that following him is costly. The Holy Spirit will give us the strength to continue when the going gets tough, if we decide up front to trust him to do that. He will give us the words to say when they are needed.

When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  Matthew 10:19–20 (NLT)

God will strengthen us so that we can endure. None of us are expected to stand by our own strength. It is the power of the Lord that enables us to overcome.

‘Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you.’  Deuteronomy 3:22 (NASB95)

Jesus has already won the war, and God works with us as we confront the enemy as part of God’s mopping up operation in which Christ’s victory is enforced and his kingdom extended. He teaches us to war (Psalm 144:1) and enables us to overcome in the power of his might.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Ephesians 6:10 (NASB95)

In the following chapters, we will reference some concepts we already covered and look at some specific principles of warfare that will help us to bring glory to God and joy to us.

Click here to see all the articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Have you ever experienced spiritual warfare?
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Chapter 84: Our Identity in Christ

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The reason we can be effective in warfare against Satan and his legions is because of our identity in Christ.

God created us to be sons, heirs, and co-rulers with Christ.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.  Galatians 3:29 (NASB95)

Adam was defeated by Satan’s wiles, but God foresaw this and eternally planned that his one and only Son, our Lord Jesus the Messiah, would take our guilt and shame upon himself in order to satisfy the debt incurred against God’s righteousness and bring us into God’s family, with all the attendant privileges, not the least of which is that we are now representatives of God’s kingdom.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.  Ephesians 1:4–6 (NLT)

King David wrote that we have been made a little lower than God.

Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,  Psalm 8:5–6 (NASB95)

All this is because of what Christ did for us through his death and resurrection.

When our Lord died and rose again, he disabled or disarmed Satan, preventing him from being able to rule over us any longer against our will.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.  Colossians 2:13–15 (NLT)

Satan still exists, but his power to oppress individuals who are submitted to God is severely limited now. The authority that Adam ceded to him in the garden was wrested away from him at the resurrection. As a result, all authority now resides in our Lord. (Matthew 28:18) Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father, waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool.

“Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”  Acts 2:33–36 (NASB95)

Amazingly, because we are now one with the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17) and “in Christ,” we are seated with him there.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  Ephesians 2:4–6 (NASB95)

From that privileged place and position of authority at God’s right hand, the church already co-rules with Christ in a limited fashion, being his representatives on the earth, who can use his name and authority, which is backed up by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This does not mean we can do whatever we like. The secret to our success is our willingness to walk in step with God’s Spirit, speaking and doing what he directs.

Jesus told his disciples that Satan has fallen.

“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”  Luke 10:18–20 (NLT)

Satan’s defeat is assured, having been once for all accomplished by our Lord at the resurrection, but God in his wisdom and love has ordained that our enemy’s final crushing will be at the hands of the church. God, as a loving parent, is training and preparing us to co-reign with him for eternity. He wants us to grow up in all things, including warfare.

Abba Father is not a doting parent who does everything for his child, thus robbing him or her of any chance to mature. Instead, our Lord expects us to become mature sons and daughters who represent him well.

One of the great end time prophecies links to one of the first messianic promises in Genesis. In the garden, just after Adam and Eve threw away everything by choosing to follow Satan instead of God, the Lord spoke to the serpent these amazing words of hope.

And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”  Genesis 3:15 (NLT)

 We now know that this was a veiled promise that God would raise up a Messiah from Eve’s descendants who would render a death blow to Satan, which Jesus did on the cross. What is not so apparent, but which the apostle Paul clearly understood, is that God has included us, the church, in carrying out that victory.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  Romans 16:20 (NASB95)

We are fully identified with Christ through the new birth.

Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:13 (NLT)

Our spirits are joined to the Holy Spirit in a spiritual union that is difficult to grasp with our minds but is nevertheless real. (1 Corinthians 6:17) What is true of our Lord is also true for us, except that we are not God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,  1 Corinthians 2:12 (NASB95)

However, as David revealed to us, because of our Lord, we are just a little lower than God. We are above angels, not because we are inherently superior. It is quite the opposite. We are but dust, earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7), that God has filled with his Spirit and elevated to the throne!

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  1 John 3:1–2 (NASB95)

While we reside here on earth, we are Christ’s representatives, carrying with us the authority of Christ backed by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:20) Even though “nothing by any means can harm us” (Luke 10:19), we are still mortal and subject to physical death until the resurrection shall free us at last. (1 Corinthians 15:53)

Even though our destiny is to crush Satan, our current reality is that we may physically die in the battle. Our ability to overcome rests mainly on our position of authority and power in Christ and secondarily on our willingness to expend our lives in service to him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”  Revelation 12:10–12 (NASB95)

The final crushing of Satan is reserved for the very end when Jesus shall return with his saints. We shall participate in this final victory, which will remove our and God’s enemy at last.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.  Colossians 3:1–4 (NASB95)

When Jesus returns our transformation into glorified sons and daughters in Christ’s image will be complete. (1 John 3:2) As glorified immortal beings, we shall participate in Satan’s final crushing.

In the meantime, we are to function as sons and daughters of the king, his representatives who carry the authority and power of the kingdom wherever we go.

May the church shake off her fear and ignorance and arise to fulfill her destiny! And as we experience the authority of Christ flowing through us to displace the enemy by the power of the Holy Spirit, let us never forget that everything stems from who we are in Christ. Our victory rests upon our identity as redeemed children of the Most High. Our joy rests in the knowledge that our names are written in heaven! (Luke 10:20)

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Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • How hard is it for you to see yourself seated with Christ at the Father’s right hand?
  • Have you ever exercised the authority Christ has given to us to heal and cast out demons?
  • Where do you find the most joy!
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Chapter 82: The Eternal State

foundations

Our state of being after death is topic in which we should be most interested. If we accept the Bible as our source of truth, we can gain many insights into this existence, but there is still some mystery to it.

God created us to live forever as a unified being consisting of a body, soul, and spirit.

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground [body], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [spirit]; and man became a living being [soul].  Genesis 2:7 (NASB95)

The addition of a spirit to the body produced a soul. However, sin introduced death, according to God’s word.

The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”  Genesis 2:16–17 (NASB95)

The day Adam ate, his body did not die, which seemed to confirm the serpent’s lie, but his spirit was cut off from its connection with God. Spiritually he died, but it took many years for it to show up in his body. Today people are born into the world with spirits that are cut off from God. Before the new birth, people are zombie-like creatures who are spiritually dead while living physically. Our souls are cut off from the Holy Spirit and only know a self-directed way of living, which is destitute of the fullness of life and joy God intended for us to have. We only experience an empty unfulfilling existence that we try to offset in any number of ways – wealth, pleasure, power, and various ways of escapism. Nevertheless, something within us yearns for more, which is only found in God. As the French philosopher wrote:

“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.” – Blaise Pascal, Pensées VII(425)

Sin created a God-shaped hole in our souls that only he is able to fill.

God saw us in our lost condition and took initiative to save us.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:4–6 (NLT)

The glorious truth is that God so loved us fallen creatures that he sent his own Son to suffer the consequences of our sins, which included experiencing death, so that we can once again live forever as God originally intended when he put the tree of life in the garden.

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  Hebrews 2:14–15 (NKJV)
The Current State of the Saved

When we are born again, our spirits are renewed and made perfect in God’s sight through our identification with our Lord. This is a once for all time event that permanently imparts Christ’s righteousness to us. You can read more about this by going to the section on justification. Following justification, our souls enter an ongoing daily process called transformation or sanctification in which the Holy Spirit works inside us to make us more and more like Jesus. This will continue until we die or are caught up to heaven at Christ’s second coming. As our bodies await resurrection, we undergo the process of dying daily. (1 Corinthians 15:31) We may experience temporary reprieves from this march toward death through healing, but eventually we will die.

Our current state can be most perplexing since we continually experience a battle between what the Bible calls the flesh and the spirit.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:17 (NKJV)

We are sort of bipolar in that we have a justified perfect spirit combined with a very imperfect and dying body that is still linked to the judgment of death on Adam’s sin. Paul called this a battle between the flesh and the spirit that requires us to walk by faith and not by sight.

The Current State of the Unsaved

Those who are not born-again are spiritually dead while physically alive. They are cut off from God.

In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.  Ephesians 2:12 (NLT)

Since existing without God is the only state unsaved people have ever known, it seems normal.

Unless God intervenes, they will continue in this condition until death and the judgment.

The Intermediate State of the Saved and Unsaved

Our existence after the physical death of the body, but before the resurrection of the dead, is called the intermediate state.

Probably the least is known about this form of existence, but the Bible does give us some information.  Some believe that at death people go into an unconscious state until the resurrection, since it is inconceivable that our souls could exist without a body. The Bible however indicates that we will have consciousness in this state.

Jesus told a parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) which indicates that this is the case. After death, the rich man could see Lazarus enjoying his intermediate existence in a place called Abraham’s bosom, which seems to have been a holding place for the righteous before the resurrection of Christ. In contrast, the rich man was in a place of torment, but he was able to communicate, nevertheless. There was an impassable chasm between the two versions of the intermediate state.

Therefore, since I do not believe Jesus would tell a parable that leads us down a false path, we can conclude that we will have consciousness in the intermediate state and that the righteous will be blessed, but the unrighteous will be tormented.

After Christ’s resurrection, I believe he led those righteous dead in Abraham’s bosom (paradise) right into the presence of the Father. Paul later wrote about the intermediate state of the righteous dead in Christ.

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.  2 Corinthians 5:6–8 (NASB95)

It seems obvious that Paul is not looking forward to a state of being unconscious, but to enjoying God’s presence.

The Final State of the Wicked

If we die in an unsaved condition, we have no hope in the final state.

We will continue eternally in the state in which we died, that of being cut off from the life and presence of God.

“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”  John 8:24 (NASB95)

And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.  2 Thessalonians 1:7–9 (NLT)

This eternal destruction is described in another place as the lake of fire.

And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:11–15 (NLT)

Before this consignment to the lake of fire, there will be a general resurrection. (Acts 24:15) Therefore, the wicked will be cast bodily into this fire, as prophesied by Jesus.

And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’  Mark 9:47–48 (NLT)
 
The Eternal State of the Saved

Those who are born again have an indescribably better future. After our resurrection, we will have an eternal bodily “tent” in which to dwell.

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.  2 Corinthians 5:1–4 (NLT)

Our final state is called glorification.

We will reflect the glory of the Lord in our entire being. From God’s point of view, this has already been accomplished, but for us who currently dwell inside time, it remains in the future.

And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.  Romans 8:30 (NLT)

It is impossible for us to understand or appreciate fully what this will be like, since we have not experienced it yet.

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  1 John 3:2 (NKJV)

The eternal state will include the recreation of heaven and earth.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.  Revelation 21:1–7 (NLT)

Revelation uses apocalyptic language, which must be properly interpreted. We should take it literally unless it is obvious from context that it should not be. Not surprisingly, God says much the same in other prophecies to help us understand more fully.

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.  2 Peter 3:10–13 (NLT)

Our eternal bodies will be able to endure this catastrophic judgment and cross over into the new eternal state of things. We do not really know what the new creation will be like, but we will fit in, being new creations ourselves. The goodness and glory of God will be reflected in everything, as was the case before the entrance of sin with the resulting spiritual blindness. There will be no danger of our being bored or unfulfilled. I assume that our revelation of God will continue through eternity. I also assume that we will have much to do as residents in this new creation, but we will have to wait to see what it will be like. One thing is for sure: we will delight ourselves with worshiping God.

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified.”  Psalm 70:4 (NASB95)

In the meantime, we are encouraged to live with the confident expectation of our glorious eternal state with God.

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.  1 John 3:2–3 (NLT)

Those who believe what the Bible says about eternal rewards and the glories to come will live in a way to maximize their joy in this life and guarantee a better resurrection in the next.

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.  Philippians 3:7–14 (NLT)
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Chapter 81: Eternal Rewards

foundations

Over the years I have heard many say that they are not looking for rewards for serving God, as if that were a very noble thing. There is only one problem, however: it directly opposes Jesus’ teachings on the matter. Our Lord made a very big deal of how important it is for God’s people to live in a way that will gain for them a maximum reward from God.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV) 

People will sacrifice for what they treasure.

We learn from Jesus and other biblical authors that “laying up” heavenly reward is costly. Just as we must deny ourselves to put aside savings and investments in the natural world, it is necessary to deny ourselves to gain heavenly riches, too.

Jesus taught in the passage above that the pursuit of worldly wealth and laying up heavenly riches can be at odds. We must choose which we will prioritize.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

Money can be extremely useful in God’s kingdom if it is managed by someone whose heart is devoted to God. Those in whom God has put a gift of giving need money to fulfill this calling. Paul wrote about using money for God.

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.  1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NKJV)

It is not money that is the problem: it is the love of money.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV)

If we make the choice to forego the pursuit of money, the thing that is most attractive to the great majority of people, it stands to reason that there must be something even better being offered by God.

Surely our Lord is not asking us to deny ourselves in this life just to be masochistic.

Paul the apostle was a man who willingly gave up worldly wealth, prestige, and power to follow Christ. What motivated him? Here are his stated reasons.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11  that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11 (ESV)

Paul received a clear revelation of Christ that motivated him to pursue a lifetime of costly service to his Lord. He suffered quite a lot and was finally martyred, but to him it was all worth it.

Our willingness to deny ourselves in the pursuit of Christ and his kingdom indicates how much we treasure the rewards God offers.

Likewise, our unwillingness to sacrifice in the here and now for what is promised in eternity means we probably do not even believe it is true, at least not at a “gut” level. Or perhaps we simply don’t care. I am not sure which is worse.

The following passage is a sad biblical example of this in operation.

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.  Genesis 25:29–34 (NKJV)

Paul probably had this passage in mind when he wrote the following:

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.  Philippians 3:18–19 (NKJV)

Jesus taught his followers that we should perform acts of love because of the attached reward.

He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13  But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14  and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:12-14 (ESV) 

Jesus not only taught this principle: he lived by it. As he approached his crucifixion, he weighed the price he was about to pay against the reward that lay ahead in heaven. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews informs us that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that awaited him at the end. (Hebrews 12:2)

It is a good practice to weigh the cost of serving God against the joy of our heavenly reward.

Every time we choose between immediate gratification and the reward that God promises to those who love and serve him, we please and glorify God and become spiritually richer. Otherwise, we put ourselves in danger of becoming like the rich fool who lost everything while trying to hoard his wealth.

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”  Luke 12:16–21 (NKJV)

There is an intense battle associated with the choice to live for heavenly reward. Only those who have faith will be able to choose well.

The world system, flesh-oriented people, and the devil will tell us that expending our lives for Jesus is a waste.

When the woman poured the expensive bottle of perfume upon Jesus’ feet, she was rebuked by worldly minded disciples.

And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”  Mark 14:3–9 (NKJV)

Nothing we expend upon Jesus out of devotion and worship to him is ever a waste.

It is important that love be our motivation; otherwise, our sacrifice may be in vain.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:3 (NKJV)

Over our lifetimes we demonstrate whether God and his promises mean more to us than what this world has to offer. We do not want to wrongly invest our lives in things that do not matter to God. Right now, we still can put God first. There will come a day when it will be too late to make changes, as it was for Esau.

Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17  You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears. Hebrews 12:16-17 (NLT) 

But when we do choose for God, Jesus promises a sure and lasting reward.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30  who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (ESV)

The apostle Peter, who heard Jesus say these words, took it to heart and lived accordingly.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you... 1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV) 

Should we be rewarded for serving God? Yes, according to Jesus. Even though our ability to serve God comes through grace and is a gift from God, our choice to serve him is so priceless to God that he celebrates it by pouring out even more blessings upon us.

We cannot overestimate how much God appreciates people who lay down their lives in service to him.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.  Mark 9:41 (NASB95)

God is extravagant. He will richly reward us beyond our imagination.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:4–7 (NKJV)
What Will These Rewards Look Like?

It is impossible for us to comprehend the wonders and glory that await us in eternity.

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

In another verse it compares variations in reward to how stars differ in brightness, which is an obvious reference to our somehow reflecting God’s glory in varying degrees.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.  Daniel 12:2–3 (NKJV)
There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.  1 Corinthians 15:40–42 (NKJV)

Jesus spoke of heavenly reward in terms of how a master would repay a servant for being faithful.

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)

The idea here is that being faithful in carrying out responsibilities gains a reward of praise from the master and added responsibility. This would not be appealing if we are lazy or irresponsible. But for those who find joy in service, it is attractive. In contrast, according to the Lord, lazy servants will be punished. (Matthew 25:26) In heaven, we will have responsibilities and work to do, it appears.

Heavenly reward is compared to an inheritance in several places in the Bible.

All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  Matthew 25:32–34 (NLT)

Peter said this inheritance is ours because of the new birth through which we have become children of God.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  1 Peter 1:3–5 (NKJV)

Paul agreed with Peter and added that the Holy Spirit guarantees it.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.  Ephesians 1:13–14 (NKJV)

In another place, however, it seems that our obedience will influence our inheritance.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.  Colossians 3:23–25 (NKJV)

One of God’s unchangeable principles is the law of sowing and reaping. We gain an inheritance because of what Christ did for us, but that inheritance will be measured to us based on our obedience to God.

In God’s mysterious economy, his sovereignty never dispenses with our need to act responsibly. Grace never precludes obedience. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Grace leads to good works, and grace produces obedience.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.  Titus 2:11–14 (NKJV)

Those who serve God with a whole heart in the pursuit of God’s honor and glory will store up for themselves eternal unfading reward. Those who belong to Christ but do not choose heavenly riches, will still be saved, but without acquiring what could have been theirs.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.  1 Corinthians 3:10–15 (NKJV)

The Bible makes it clear that in either case, full of rewards or suffering loss, heaven will be a place of eternal joy. I suppose once we get past the judgment and meting out of rewards, we all will be simply amazed and overcome at the mercy, grace, and glory of God. There will be no room at all for any sort of regret or sadness.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”  Revelation 21:3–4 (NLT)

The sure conclusion is that whatever the cost associated with honoring and obeying God here on earth will all be worth it.

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