Archives: Episode

13: Christ’s Finished Work – Propitiation

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NASB)

The work of salvation accomplished by the Lamb of God is so broad, deep, and high that it might be compared to viewing a mountain range. Mountains will look different depending on our vantage point. It is the same with the finished work of Christ. We will look at it from different perspectives to gain a better understanding of the whole. Some of the views will overlap, as when we blend many shots together to make a panorama.

As I begin breaking down the magnificent and multi-faceted work of our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I will be using theological terms that may or may not be familiar to you. Some of these concepts are overlapping and have more than one way of being understood. The word that I believe encompasses the entire work of salvation is the “atonement,” which is an invented word to describe what Christ did. Jesus died and rose again to restore us to a place of “at-one-ment” with God. I have chosen to break down the atonement into various aspects that I believe are distinctive and enlightening. It is important to see how each part contributes to the whole. Let’s begin with “propitiation”, a word rarely used today.

Propitiation is accomplished by offering a blood sacrifice to appease God’s just wrath against sin.

If we are in deep trouble with a very powerful and angry person because of a major offense we committed, the first thing we need to do is somehow defuse the situation. Otherwise, no progress will be made in the relationship. If we have betrayed someone to whom we owe loyalty, our treason demands justice.

Beginning with Adam and Eve, we humans have rejected our Creator in favor of going our own way and trying to be our own god. Instead of being grateful creatures, we have arrogantly refused to acknowledge, praise, and serve the One to whom we owe everything.

In our fallen condition, things have only gotten worse. We have committed numerous crimes against other people and the creation as well. This is a violation of God’s justice and has justly stirred up his holy wrath.

Our greatest primary need regarding God is to somehow satisfy or appease His just wrath against our rebellion and sin.

Jonathan Edwards was a brilliant theologian in New England many generations ago during the First Great Awakening in this country. In his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” he put into words the condition of every person without Christ.

So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger, neither is God in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment; the devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up; the fire pent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out: and they have no interest in any Mediator, there are no means within reach that can be any security to them. In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of; all that preserves them every moment is the mere arbitrary will, and uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God.

Obviously, this was written for the purpose of awakening each of his listeners to the imminent danger of dying while being in an unforgiven and unreconciled state and to stimulate us to reach out to God for mercy. It is recorded that many in his congregation grasped the truth of his words and groaned in agony until they had a breakthrough of knowing in their hearts they were forgiven. Only the sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah, the innocent Lamb of God, could satisfy or propitiate God’s fiery wrath against our sin..

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NLT)

Only Jesus could take the full fury of God’s wrath upon Himself, thereby leaving us unscathed and unthreatened. And that is just what He did!

Because Jesus took God’s wrath as our substitute, we now have been delivered from that wrath and any threat of ever encountering it.

For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NASB)

We can compare Paul’s words to those of our Lord regarding our deliverance from wrath and condemnation.

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)

Jesus substituted for us by taking our punishment. We are identified with him because the Word of God says that when he died, we died, and when he rose, we rose. Our sin fell upon him, and his righteousness was given to us who believe. Substitution and identification are two very important concepts we need to understand and believe.

The reason we are not destined for wrath is because Jesus took our condemnation and punishment upon himself, leaving us “justified” or “not guilty” before God. We have passed from death to life because Jesus died for us and rose again. When he died, we died. When he rose, we rose.

Some appointments are pleasant, such as one to see an old friend. Others are not pleasant at all, such as an appointment to have a root canal. The most feared of all appointments is an appearance before the judgment seat of God for one who has no propitiation for his or her sins. This is an appointment to wrath. Every believer in Christ has been delivered from this appointment. It is not in our future. Praise the Lord!

This does not mean we will never encounter God’s discipline or reap the consequences of our sin. We will reap what we sow, but we will never have to endure God’s wrath.

For example, King David committed two deadly sins for which death was the just punishment. He committed adultery with his faithful friend’s wife and had his friend put to death to hide the fact. God, showing David New Covenant mercy, did not require David to be put to death. He was forgiven when he repented, but God warned him through the prophet that he, his family, and the entire nation would suffer bad consequences for his sins. We can be forgiven yet still have to reap what we sow. King David was a person who ushered in countless blessings to his family and the nation, but he also brought to them some negative reaping. The same is true for us. We all reap what we sow; so, we should ask God’s help to bring blessings upon those we love and serve and ask for a crop failure when we sow evil.

But those of us who put our faith and allegiance in Christ will never reap the wrath of God. That bit of reaping has already been taken by Jesus when he became sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor.5:21)

And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NLT)

The next time we think about what God has done for us in Christ, let us try to remember what it was like to fear the certainty of spending an eternity in hell suffering the torments of God’s wrath. Let us lift our hands to heaven in thanksgiving that He sent a Savior Who endured that wrath on our behalf so that we will never have to face it.

Instead of being sinners in the hands of an angry God, we are beloved children sitting in the lap of a loving Father.

Only Jesus could effect that change. What a Savior!

We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him. John 1:16-18 (NLT)

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Why didn’t God simply forgive us, instead of requiring Jesus to appease His wrath?
  • Why can we be confident we will never encounter God’s wrath if we put our faith and allegiance in our Lord Jesus Christ?
  • Animistic religions also recognize the need to appease the wrath of demon “gods.” If you were preaching the gospel to a group of people who regularly offered animal sacrifices to gain the blessing and protection of a demon spirit ruling the area, how would you go about it?

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Share this post...

12: Christ’s Finished Work – A Mystery

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30 (NASB)

What exactly did Jesus mean by these last words upon the cross? How we interpret them will somewhat depend on our view of Scripture and life. For the pessimist, maybe they were the last words of a defeated man who died tragically for nothing. For the more positive minded, perhaps Jesus was simply relieved that he had made it through the worst and finally would find escape in death. But what about the believer? What truth do we find in Jesus’ last words upon the cross? I believe he gave us the clue we need in a previous discourse.

Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. John 17:1-5 (NASB)

Even before his crucifixion, Jesus could confidently say that He had accomplished the work his Abba Father had given Him to do. How much more could he claim that upon the cross as his last breath was exhaled as an act of total obedience to His Father’s will.

For us to understand what is meant by the finished work of Christ, we must go back to the “once for all” aspect of salvation.

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus died once and will never need to do that again, having purchased our salvation through His ultimate sacrifice.

He does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the other high priests. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he sacrificed himself on the cross. Hebrews 7:27 (NLT)

As we consider the nature of what Jesus did on the cross, we must engage our minds to think quite deeply. This was not a simple or superficial thing. C.S. Lewis, in his Chronicles of Narnia, which is an allegory about Christ, calls it “deep magic”. Of course, there was nothing magical about it, but it was “deep”. Paul calls it God’s “secret wisdom”.

Yet when I am among mature Christians, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world, and not the kind that appeals to the rulers of this world, who are being brought to nothing. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would never have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 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." 10 But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God's deep secrets. 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 (NLT)

In the Bible a “mystery” is something hidden until it is revealed by God.

What Christ accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection is just such a mystery.

God's secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. 10 And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. 12 God's purpose was that we who were the first to trust in Christ should praise our glorious God. 13 And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God. Ephesians 1:9-14 (NLT)

The mystery is that God’s salvation was accomplished in and through Christ via the cross and resurrection.

God’s eternal plan to conform us to His glorious image has been carried out to perfection through His Son’s ultimate sacrifice and his indwelling life (“Christ in you, the hope of glory” – Col.1:27). This plan was conceived in the mind of Abba Father before the world was created. (Ephesians 1:4)

The Holy Spirit applied Christ’s finished work to our lives when the gospel intersected our timeline.

Here is another passage that clarifies the plan.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 (NASB)

Every key verb in the above passage is in the Greek aorist past tense, which means it is a once for all completed action, a “done deal”.

Our faith is not in something shifting or uncertain.

We have been given a strong anchor that is hooked into Christ’s finished work.

So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence. 19 This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God's inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the line of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:18-20 (NLT)

As we continue to trust in what God has already done for us in Christ, we have the stability to navigate through the uncertainties of our “fragile” earthly existence in these mortal bodies.

Despite having to do battle with renegade desires coming from the “flesh,” we have bold confidence that ultimately our salvation is complete and does not depend on our performance but on Christ’s perfect work.

God sees the end from the beginning. The Holy Spirit Who indwells us is God’s guarantee that what He has begun, He will finish. In fact, it is finished!

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NASB) 

God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:5 (NLT)
 
Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • What difference does it make for us to know that Christ already completed the work of salvation?
  • How does our understanding of “spirit-soul-body” help us to grasp the difference between the “once-for-all” eternal salvation of the spirit and the “in process” daily salvation of the soul?
  • What part does each Person of the Godhead play in our salvation?
  • Does Christ’s death on the cross also cover all of our present and future sins or just those in our past?
  • If Jesus already paid for our forgiveness, what place does repentance have in the process?

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Share this post...

How Jesus Sets Us Free from Shame

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Psalms 34:5 (NLT)

Shame can be either a painful negative emotion for having done something specific that was wrong of foolish, or it can be a general pervasive negative emotional state resulting from a chronic sense of self-reproach or sense of failure. The latter may originate in childhood and is more difficult to alleviate. Some of our shame is well-deserved. If we sin against God and others, shame can be the consequence. It certainly was for Adam and Eve.

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7  At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. Genesis 3:6-7 (NLT)

Sin reveals the unseemly side of us that most of us wish to conceal, as did Adam and Eve.

When the shame of our sin is exposed, we usually try to hide.

This can make relating to others a big challenge, since they/we often go to great lengths to prevent being known in certain areas in which we might feel ashamed. We anticipate that, if we are truly known, we may be rejected, which is sometimes the case, it turns out. As a result, sometimes we grow to like or love someone based on the façade presented to us, rather than the real person. This is unnerving to the person who is hiding because of the fear of one day being exposed. This kind of hiding can involve big issues or small. Eventually who we really are will surface, however, and that is when relationships get tested. This process can end in disillusionment, when we get rid of our illusions about the person and face the truth. This is often a necessary step in building a great relationship or marriage.

Deep friendships and great marriages can happen when people take down the façade and continue to love one another despite knowing the other person’s weaknesses and sin.

Conversely, friendships and marriages can rip apart if the deception and resulting disillusionment are too great. This can also happen in a church.

Most of the time we do not truly know a person until after we have a disagreement with them or go through a crisis together. How we weather those storms can more perfectly reveal the nature and depth of our relationship. One of my mentors once told me that he never truly trusted a person until after he had a fight with him. Whenever a new person or family joins our church, I am usually excited to get to know them. My hope is that they will prove to be good friends and valuable assets to the kingdom. In the back of my mind, however, is the realization that one day they may turn out to be just the opposite.

Disappointment and disillusionment are risks we take when we dare to love people.

There are countless numbers of believers who are drifting with no church home because at some point they were hurt and disillusioned by members of some local church. This is a very sad commentary. Part of the problem is that they were not prepared to encounter these things. If we are going to survive and thrive in a very sinful world, we must come to terms with the fact that people are not always who they pretend to be.

One person who is incapable of being disillusioned is God.

God knows us completely and anticipates every thought, world, and action we will ever take. Nothing we ever do surprises him.

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2  You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. 5  You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! Psalm 139:1-6 (NLT)

God’s omniscience makes it even more remarkable and encouraging that he chooses people to belong to him even before they are born.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4  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. Ephesians 1:3-5 (NLT)

Adoption is never by accident. It is an intentional act of love. Every child, whether biological or adopted, is a treasure. Parents may have some idea of who their biological children are, but the full revelation comes over time. Adoptive parents have less idea of who their children may be, since they usually have no idea what family traits may have been passed down. But God knows everything about all of us. He will never step back in disgust or disappointment after we make a huge misstep or sin, thinking that he made a mistake in choosing you or me.

God knew ahead of time all we would ever think, say, or do, and still chose to love us. This is a big antidote to shame.

Abandonment and rejection are at the root of much shame. These two things signify that the other person is of little value. Sometimes the reason for the abandonment or rejection is understood; sometimes, not. In the latter case, the affected person is left to imagine the reason. Little children are quick to assume blame, thinking that there must be something wrong with them. This can lead to the development of a pervasive since of shame mentioned in my opening definition.

Sometimes shame can be associated with sinful things we have done or were done to us. People who commit sexual abuse, for example, should feel shame for their actions; that is, until they experience the forgiveness and cleansing provided by our Lord Jesus. Children who are preyed upon also experience a sense of shame in many cases, even though the abuse was not their fault. Unfortunately, many predators tell their young victims that it was their fault, establishing a “lie-based stronghold” in that young one’s mind. This sort of lie must be replaced with the truth in order for shame to be eradicated.

Whether our shame was earned through our own sinfulness or improperly thrust upon us by some predator, Jesus has done everything necessary to set us free.

When Jesus hung naked upon the cross, enduring scorn, rejection, abandonment, injustice, and disgrace, he took that shame on our behalf, along with the shame attached to our sin. Just as He carried our sin and guilt to the cross, He also bore our shame there.

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NASB)

Because He carried our shame, we do not have to bear it. Here are some promises.

"Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. The shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood will be remembered no more, 5 for your Creator will be your husband. The LORD Almighty is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. 6 For the LORD has called you back from your grief—as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband," says your God. 7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back. 8 In a moment of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:4-8 (NLT)

But the LORD will save the people of Israel with eternal salvation. They will never again be humiliated and disgraced throughout everlasting ages. Isaiah 45:17 (NLT) 

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 1 Peter 2:6 (NKJV)

But that is now. Did Jesus ever liberate anyone from shame during his three-year itinerant ministry? The answer is “Yes!” He set free the demoniac, who endured the shame and disgrace attached to his condition. He was forced to live alone in the tombs away from society. Jesus healed lepers who had to isolate themselves and cry out “unclean” whenever they moved about. Jesus allowed the adulteress in John Chapter 8 to walk away forgiven and with dignity after rescuing her from those who would have stoned her to death for her publicly exposed sin. He forgave and restored Peter, who shamed himself and his Lord by denying him publicly three times. Jesus was big on delivering people from shame then and continues to be to this day.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

Therefore, we who follow Christ must believe that our shame has been carried away by Our Lord Jesus Christ and we no longer must bear it. Jesus came to liberate his followers from shame. To believe and live out anything less is unbelief. We must throw off any oppressive weight of shame by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Now we have the privilege of honoring the One who was shamed for our sake.

We should make it our aim to honor and glorify God by putting our full trust in him and his promises and by boldly declaring the Gospel and name of Christ without fear of any shame the world may attempt to thrust upon us for doing that. If we are proud of our Lord, he will return the favor at the Last Judgment.

Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT)

Let’s trust the Lord to help us to be bold witnesses for Christ. Whenever we may fall short, let’s quickly repent and receive forgiveness and cleansing from our sin and shame and have another go at it.

Share this post...

How Do I Know if I Am Called by God?

Anyone who aspires to what some call “full-time” ministry is probably well aware of the idea of receiving a “calling” from God. What this means is that such a person knows, senses, or believes that God uniquely chose him or her for some ministry responsibility. It may be a general sense of calling or very specific. Having a strong sense of calling can be very important when, not if, things get rough. One missionary who lost his wife and family on a foreign field told me that the only thing that kept him going then was his “calling.” How do I know if God has called or is calling me to some leadership or ministry responsibility in the local church or wider kingdom of God? This article is my attempt to answer that question.

A good place to start is with the general call regarding which every child of God receives and responds. Paul wrote about this call in his letter to the church in Rome.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30  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 8:29-30 (NLT)

How does this call come to us? Usually it is through reading or hearing the gospel message. It might even come via a dream or vision, as is the case in many Islamic countries. This might be labeled the “outward” call, which many people hear without ever responding in faith. When the outward call comes our way, if it is going to make an eternal impact on us, it must be accompanied by what some have designated the “inward” call, which is the hidden or invisible work of the Holy Spirit in our lives drawing us to Christ. Jesus spoke of this.

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. John 6:44 (NLT)

Everyone who has put his or her faith in Christ did so after receiving an outward call combined with an inward call from God. Some were aware of the process. Others were not. Some who are born into a family with parents who are disciples and hear the gospel from infancy often quite seamlessly start believing in Christ at a young age without any critical moment of decision. Others of us, who never really heard or understand the gospel until later in life, as was my case having been raised in a Roman Catholic family, have a decisive born-again experience, which enables us to compare our “before Christ” experience with our lives after being saved.

Here is my first point: every genuine disciple of our Lord has been called by God.

We can divide this general call into three parts, about which I have written previously: the call to belong, the call to allegiance, and the call to mission. The call to belong to God’s family is the first one each of us receive. This corresponds to knowing Jesus as Savior. The call to allegiance draws us to surrender our lives as best we can to Jesus the Lord. Water baptism is our outward declaration of allegiance to him. The call to mission challenges us to consciously enlist in God’s Great Commission army of disciple-makers. We receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit to empower and embolden us for this task.

In other words, every single follower of Christ is called to serve in the completion of the Great Commission and to minister in some fashion or another, and this ministry is “full time.” There is no clergy-laity divide in the kingdom of God, no elite status of people who are “above” the rest. We are all servants.

Jesus said that he only did what he saw his Father doing. (John 5:19) In other words, our heavenly Father has great interest in our lives and shows his children what he wants us to do. This is what it means to be led by the Spirit. Following the Spirit takes faith because the invisible Spirit of God often communicates in very subtle ways. We must learn and be open to the ways God communicates to us, which is another subject about which I have written. In short, he speaks to us through the words of the Bible, through his indwelling Holy Spirit, through other people, and circumstances. The most reliable way for us to hear God is through the words of the Bible, but even then we need the indwelling Spirit of God to help us properly interpret those words. The impressions we get from God’s Spirit are also very reliable, but it takes practice to discern and properly interpret them. This is why we need to turn to the Bible and other people to help us. God often uses people to communicate his will to us. The prophetic ministry is a great example of this. When this happens, it should always be confirmed internally by what God is speaking or has spoken to us. Circumstances are the least reliable, and it is important for us to interpret their meaning, too. Sometimes circumstances are against us because God is allowing our faith and resolve to be tested. At other times, contrary circumstances may suggest God is not in a particular venture. Likewise, when things are easy, it not always clear what that means either from a guidance perspective.

The takeaway is this: God does not leave us to our own devices. “God with us,” Emmanuel, is well able to communicate his will to us; although, sometimes it can be a challenge for us to understand it. We have this promise, however: if we seek him, we will find him. If we ask for his help and wisdom, it will be given to us.

This brings us to the topic of this article. Are some of us called to a level of leadership or ministry that is beyond the general call on all disciples to serve? If so, what is the nature of this ministry and how can we know if we are called?

There are various kinds of ministry found in most local churches. The first person that probably comes to mind is usually called the pastor or shepherd. This person is looked to as the spiritual leader of the church under Christ. Other leaders and ministers(servants) function in harmony, hopefully, with the pastor – elders, deacons, worship leaders, Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, etc. In addition to that, we have the leadership God places in each family. Fathers and husbands are the “heads,” and mothers and wives function alongside and in harmony with their spouses. Does every one of these ministry “positions” have to receive a unique call from God, or just the pastor?

Men become the spiritual heads of their homes when they marry. It automatically happens, whether or not we are aware of it or embrace it. Husbands and fathers have a responsibility from God to provide, lead, teach, protect, and model Christ to their families.

Leadership and ministry always include responsibility. We receive grace from God to carry the weight of whatever responsibility he assigns to us. If God asks us to take more responsibility in his kingdom, we want to make sure it is something he wants, or we will not have the grace to do it.

Usually, if not always, we have a desire to do what we think that God is calling us to do, even if it is layered over with fear and doubt at first. For example, Moses took upon himself to be a leader of Israel before God called him to do it. He flopped miserably because he got ahead of God’s timing, which drained him of all self-confidence. When God appeared to him in the burning bush many years later and called him to lead his people, Moses protested to the point of disobedience because of his fear and doubts, not because he did not want to lead. He was a “natural” leader, but God had broken him of all self-confidence. Now he needed to replace self-doubt with God confidence. This is my point.

If we have a desire to lead or minister in God’s kingdom, this is likely an indication that we are called. Most people do not have this inclination. But this is not foolproof. Sometimes we may misunderstand what God wants, or we may simply have a form of unholy ambition.

John the apostle wrote about such a person named Diotrephes, who loved to be the leader, but in whom something was not right. (3 John 1:9) He had not been appointed by God, or if he had, he did not have the character required. Character often determines whether we will succeed or not. Anointing is a gift that can be torpedoed by a lack of godly character. Character plus anointing will produce great results. (E.g. Moses was denied the privilege of leading Israel into the Promised Land because of a character defect – anger. Joshua, who represents Jesus, did take them in. He had no marked defects character wise.)

So, if we have a desire to lead or minister, what is next? Paul tells us that such a desire is good, as long as it is submitted to God.

This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.” 1 Timothy 3:1 (NLT)

If a person is called by the Holy Spirit to be an elder, it will be recognized and confirmed by others in the church. When this happens, elders are “installed” or “ordained” by other recognized leaders in the church, usually accompanied by the laying on of hands, which is symbolic of the anointing or grace for leadership being conferred to them. Elders have a greater responsibility in the church and receive greater grace.

A general principle is that we should only lay hands on those upon whom we recognize that God has singled out, called, or given them grace and ability for ministry or leadership. In other words, if we are called, other leaders and the people will see it.

Those who are truly called by God to leadership and ministry in the church will have the grace, character, ability, humility, faith, and courage to accept the call and fulfill its responsibilities – all the while very much depending on God’s ongoing help and support. None of us is truly adequate to the task.

Whereas elders are called by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), other important ministries, called by some “five-fold ministries” and by others “ascension gift ministries,” are appointed by Christ himself. These include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11-12) Five-fold ministers have the responsibility of leading and equipping the church to fulfill its ministry. Those who end up leading or “pastoring” local churches are usually one or another of the five-fold ministry. They will also be part of the eldership, sometimes called the “lead” elder, at least in churches that follow the New Testament model of church government by elders. How do I know if I am called to this kind of ministry and leadership?

Moses received a unique call to leadership which was unmistakable and directly from God himself. He was also given the very great responsibility of leading Israel out of captivity in Egypt, through the desert, and into the promised land of Canaan. Moses did not have the privilege of being surrounded by other godly leaders who could mentor him. He had to get it all from God directly. This is one way men and women are called to ministry.

Another way we enter this level of leadership and ministry was modeled by Joshua, Moses’ understudy or servant. Joshua served Moses for years and spent large amounts of time with him and in the presence of God. He was privy to much of the interactions Moses had with God. When it became time for Moses to turn over leadership due to his impending death, God told him to lay hands on Joshua and transfer his leadership anointing to him.

O LORD, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community. 17  Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 18  The LORD replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. 19  Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people. 20  Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him. Numbers 27:16-20 (NLT)

We have no record of Joshua receiving a direct message from God calling him to replace Moses. Instead, the Lord chose to use his mentor to relay that instruction. The same dynamic took place between Elijah and Elisha. Elisha apparently was the son of a well-to-do farmer who was out supervising the plowing of their fields when Elijah called him to prophetic ministry.

So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20  Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” 21  So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant. 1 Kings 19:19-21 (NLT)

Eventually Elisha, as was the case with Joshua, had his own personal encounter with God that confirmed that he was indeed called by God himself, not just his mentor. I give examples of both below.

After the death of Moses the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2  “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3  I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— 4  from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 5  No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Joshua 1:1-5 (NLT) 

As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12  Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. 13  Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14  He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. 2 Kings 2:11-14 (NLT)

It is no secret why serving a leader can lead to being the leader eventually. One of the most important qualities of any true leader is a willingness to serve the Lord and the people one leads.

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

Servants are willing to devote themselves to helping another person be successful and to be called to greater responsibility by the one they serve.

We all serve the Lord, but in the church he distributes his authority among various leaders and ministers.

The ability to see the Lord’s delegated authority in others who lead is a mark of a true servant.

This is the reason behind why wives are asked to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. (Ephesian 5:22) It is not because their husbands are superior in some way; rather, it is because God has chosen to distribute his authority through husbands and fathers. Any woman who properly submits to her husband’s authority does so because she understands that in so doing she is indirectly submitting to God. This gives her safety because she knows that, if her husband misuses that authority, he will answer to God, not her. It takes great faith to lead and to be led.

This brings us back to the question with which we began. How do we know if we are called by God to some ministry or leadership responsibility? Let me summarize what I believe are some key points to remember.

  1. God calls some of us directly and some indirectly through the one we serve.
  2. Normally those who have a calling also have a desire or an aspiration to have ministry or leadership responsibility, but this in itself is not proof of their calling. However, it is a good indicator. (E.g. If someone tells me they feel called to pastor, I take that very seriously because it is not “normal.”)
  3. If God calls us directly, other people should be able to recognize and confirm this calling. If we believe we are called, but no one else sees it, we should wait until others do. Timing in God’s kingdom is crucial. We can really foul things up if we get ahead of God. Take for example, Moses.
  4. If we are tapped to serve a leader, realize that it may or may not lead to taking the leader’s place one day. If it does, God will confirm our role as leader when the time comes. Until then, or perhaps always, we should be content to serve another.
  5. Whether we are called directly by God or indirectly through men, God will give grace to us to fulfill our leadership and ministry responsibilities. This grace often comes at the point of ordination, when hands are laid on us and we are commissioned to the work. No matter when and how the grace comes to us, it is vital for our success in serving God. We do not have the resources within ourselves to pull it off. We all depend on the Lord, whether we are leading or following.
  6. All of us are servants of the Lord and one another. Whether we lead or follow, we are servants. Leaders serve those they lead, just as surely as those who follow serve the Lord and his delegated leaders. No one ever stops being a servant.

I have been carrying the “weight” of leadership in the local church for about forty years. I look forward to stepping aside soon to turn over this responsibility to another. In so doing, I plan to become a very good follower. As a pastor, I understand how crucial it is for people to be willing to humble themselves to follow another person. All leadership success depends on this, whether in the family, at work, in government, or the church.

We should all make it our goal to serve to the best of our ability, whether it be as a follower or a leader. This is a key way we serve and glorify the Lord.

Prayer

Lord, I am willing to serve or lead in your kingdom. I consecrate myself to your will. Use me as you see fit. I trust that you will make clear to me and others what my role is to be now and in the future. I trust you to provide the grace for me to be faithful in what you ask me to do. Amen.

Share this post...

Can I Know If I Am Doing Enough for God?

Recently someone I know suggested that if one gets too involved in politics, it brings into question his or her devotion to Christ. My first thought was, “who authorized you to be the judge of another person’s heart”? All of us are prone to judge others. It’s part of the human condition. Here is what Paul wrote about it.

Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval. Romans 14:4 (NLT)

Paul said in another place that he did not even judge himself. He left that up to the Lord, the only one who sees perfectly into our hearts and motivations. (1 Corinthians 4:3)

At times we get the idea that other people must measure up to the standard we set for them. One definition of a legalist is someone who demands everyone else come up to the level of righteous behavior he thinks he has attained. We like to do that to other people, but hate it when it is done to us. But God makes it clear that only he can adequately see into the heart and properly judge us. (1 Samuel 16:7) We tend to judge ourselves by our good intentions and others by their actions.

Even a leader as great as Moses failed in this area. Let’s not forget how reluctant he was to take on the leadership of Israel to guide them out of Egypt. He came up with all kinds of excuses, but finally he agreed. He should have been merciful to his people’s reluctance to follow God, but he became judgmental of them toward the end of their desert wanderings, which cost him the privilege of being able to lead them into the promised land. (Numbers 20:10-13)

When leaders judge the the people under their care, they stop properly representing God and may reap the judgment they sow.

This begs the question, is it even possible to measure our own or others’ devotion to Christ? What standard should we use? A great diagnostic question I sometimes ask is, “Are you doing enough for the Lord?” The answer will tell a lot about how someone understands what Christ has done for them. A friend of mine recently told me that he believed he had done enough that day. Naturally I asked him how did he know? He gave the perfect answer: he felt he had done what the Holy Spirit showed him to do that day.

The Bible says that Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the Law on our behalf. (Romans 10:4) He measured up perfectly to God’s holy standard so that we do not have to do so. Therefore, we begin each day with an A+ on our spiritual report card. Now all that remains is for us to follow the leading of the Spirit, not to measure up, but simply for the joy of it.

Have you ever noticed that people who really enjoy their work usually go above and beyond what is required or expected? I have a friend who loves woodworking. He builds furniture for people and charges far less than what one would expect considering his labor. He does it because he loves his work. He refuses to cut corners even though he isn’t getting a proper return on his investment of time and effort. He produces a very good product because he loves and is good at what he does.

I spend quite of bit of time writing. For some people, writing is difficult and unpleasant; so, they don’t do much. For me writing comes fairly easily and is very satisfying. For that reason, I am happy to spend whatever time it takes to write and rewrite an article like this one because it brings me satisfaction and joy. No one is making me do this. I certainly am not getting rich. Because I love to write, I spend time to do it as well as I can and hope it benefits others and somehow glorifies the Lord.

Paul wrote that his labor in the gospel was done because of love.

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)

Certainly not everything Paul did was fun, but he loved what he did because he loved his Lord and deeply appreciated all that Jesus did for him. Paul said that he worked harder than his contemporaries, but gave all the credit to God.

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NLT)

Jesus also did his work for the joy of it. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote:

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)

Someone once said that, if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. Paul and Jesus worked very hard doing what they loved. Love compelled or motivated them to expend themselves for the Father’s and our sake.

I have never met a missionary who did not love missions. God seldom calls us to go against how he made us. Some women are tremendous mothers because they absolutely love being a mom. It is certainly not easy work, but love motivates them to be excellent. They take joy in their calling. Some fathers do a great job being a dad because they love their kids and greatly value having that role.

Those who resent what they do rarely go the “extra mile,” and they will certainly not inspire others. However, when someone loves what he does and goes above and beyond what is expected or required, his enthusiasm becomes contagious.

The elder brother of the prodigal son faithfully served his father, but not for the joy of it. His resentment bubbled up when his father blessed his younger repentant brother. Many of us Christians, sadly, are like the elder brother. We resent those in the church who do not seem to work as hard as we think we do because we are serving for the wrong reason. When love motivates us, we will joyfully serve whether or not anyone else does or not. We realize that we too are by nature reluctant to obey God at times; so, we extend mercy to others who have yet to “see the light.” People generally respond to our tone as much as they do to our words. If we are joyful in our service, we will more be more likely to inspire others.

No one likes to be “guilted” into obedience. God loves a cheerful giver, not someone who obeys merely because they are under duress. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

As a great man of God once said, “Expect the best from God and the worst from people, and you will never be disappointed.”

Can we know if we are doing enough for the Lord? By now I hope you see that this is the wrong question. First of all, Jesus has done it all for us already. Secondly, how can we even measure our devotion and performance, since only God can see into the heart? We are not even adequate to judge ourselves. Thirdly, what right do we have to make that judgment? Only the Accuser of the Brethren (Revelation 12:10) enjoys pointing out our deficiencies. God reserves to himself that responsibility, and the Bible says he is our advocate, not someone who condemns us. (Romans 8:33-34)

Perhaps a better question might be what is it that we truly love to do, and how can we translate that into blessing others and glorifying the Lord?

Do we love talking to people? How then can the Holy Spirit help us to nudge conversations toward the Lord? Do we love to be hospitable? How can that be used to make people feel welcome and loved? Do we love to fix things? How can we serve our neighbor in that way? Do we love to cook? How can we bless people with that gift and skill? Do we love to play golf? How can we use that sport to talk to people about Christ? Do we love to work with wood? How can we use that skill  to make connections with people and bless them? Do we love to kayak, camp, hunt, fish, sew, clean, do yard work… The list can go on and on.

You get the point. If we can serve others doing what we love to do, we will never resent or avoid it.

I have known someone who regularly shared the gospel in a public setting, who told me that seeing results was not his concern, only being obedient. I am fairly certain that he saw little fruit because people quickly pick up on whether or not we love them. His demeanor did not exude love. If we don’t care if someone comes to the Lord, why on earth should we bother? How can we properly represent Christ who laid down his life for his enemies? If we share the gospel out of a sense of duty, it will be less than inspiring to the one listening to our message. We need to realize that how we come across is an advertisement for what we share. We should never share the good news about Jesus merely to check off another task in the hope of eventually “doing enough.” We should share because we are excited about the Lord and want more people to know and love him as we do.

People will likely be more open to our message when they observe excitement and enthusiasm in the speaker.

Some of us pray only because we hope to get something from God for our efforts, and the Lord understands that. Sometimes our aspirations are quite noble and sometimes selfish. We may put in time in prayer in the hope that God will pour out revival. We may think that we have to earn it. But shouldn’t our motivation be something even higher? What if we prayed simply because we love to be in God’s presence? How would we like it if our spouse or child only came to us when they wanted ask us for something, but did not care to spend time with us otherwise? Isn’t that how many of us treat prayer?

It all boils down to our motivation. God’s motivation in all of this is crystal clear. He loves us past comprehension, wants to be with us, and wants the absolute best for us. King David discovered the joy of being in God’s presence. Here is a psalm he wrote, perhaps as a young man.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

These are not the words of a resentful, dutiful servant. David did not worship God when he tended sheep in the wilderness because someone made him do it. He did it for the sheer joy of being with God. Worshiping and spending time with God seemed to be one of his chief desires, at least when he was at his best. His love for God propelled him into worship, psalm writing, fighting God’s enemies, and government service. David was exceptional at most everything he did because, I believe, his love for God motivated him to give his very best. As was the case with Paul, he no longer lived for himself, but for God.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:16-17 (NLT)

We see a progression here. Spend time with the Lord, in his Word and in worship, because we love him, and then we will be inspired and able to heartily and joyfully serve him and others as he directs.

Like us, David and Paul had their ups and downs. No one is perfectly consecrated all of the time, except for Jesus. We should not beat ourselves up when we fail. Since Jesus has already made us measure up, that is not a concern. The only thing we really should focus on is growing in our love for God and others. When love motivates us, we just naturally go the extra mile.

So instead of asking, “are we doing enough,” perhaps we should first thank Jesus for doing enough on our behalf and then ask him to so work in us so that we love him and other people more.

Perhaps we should follow David’s example and spend quality time with the Lord in the Word, worship, and prayer. Then perhaps we will find ourselves expending ourselves out of love for God and others, and no one will be able to rate our performance, because love cannot be measured, except by God, the one whom we serve and who loves us past comprehension.

Share this post...

Finding Contentment in a Very Discontented World

 

 

Recently I sensed the Holy Spirit guiding me to read and study Solomon’s Ecclesiastes. It is a sort of “dark” cynical look at life from a secular vantage point for the most part, not a place you would expect to find something life giving. Was I wrong!

I have reached the age when I find myself looking backward in an assessment of my life, to some extent. Even if I reach the age of my parents, I am now in the last quarter of my earthly existence. Each day could be my last one here on planet earth; so, it’s a good thing to take stock of things in the hope of making my remaining days the best possible. In this Solomon and his father King David agree with me. We do not look backward in nostalgia or regret, hopefully, but to learn. I would like to think that what I have learned thus far has prepared me to finish well. How about you?

I have pastored Liberty Church / LifeNet for going on 34 years. Before that, I was an elder and assistant pastor at my father’s church in Greensboro for a number of years. In other words, I have been at this for most of my adult life. The church growth movement entered the scene during the seventies and eighties, which introduced a new sort of competitiveness among local churches. It became the goal of pastors to engineer a growing church, usually at the expense of neighboring churches. New Christians were not coming into the kingdom in record numbers; so, if a church enjoyed astronomical growth, it was because people were leaving their former churches to join the growing church. In general people want to feel good about themselves, and being part of a “happening” church can help with our self-image. It’s like pulling for a winning team. Everyone likes to win.

All sorts of methods and strategies were employed to insure growth, so much so that the idea of church franchises came into being. Church networks figured out how to blitz an area with advertising and launch a new fully funded church plant with a core of committed people which would be up and running in no time. I came to view these behemoths as “vacuum cleaner” churches because they were sucking up members of other churches by the droves. It would be like Walmart moving into an area and sucking customers away from the more traditional “mom and pop” stores. The movement toward huge has been a part of our society for a long time now.

For smaller churches to survive, they had to learn how to fill a niche, so to speak. For many, it was the promise of real community, which is more likely to happen in smaller groups. For charismatic churches, we could say that our churches were open and encouraging to the gifts of the Spirit, something megachurches shied away from to avoid offending the uninitiated. Every church seemed to be in competition for members, which harmed unity among pastors. Large church pastors sometimes looked down on small church pastors. Small church pastors were suspicious of the motives of megachurch pastors. Working together became difficult if not impossible. Even small churches competed among themselves for members. Among charismatic churches, following the latest spiritual “fad” might be a way to draw people. It had a wearying effect on me over the years as I watched people come and go in their search for something better than what we offered. Eventually I realized that I had had enough.

The last significant exodus from our church happened after we made the decision to become more “missional”. That is, we decided that making disciples would be our main thrust, since that is what Jesus commissioned us to do. We began to rethink how we did church and move toward a model that focused on helping people to become more intentional in their pursuit of discipleship. That required us to try to adequately define discipleship. What does it mean to be a disciple? I came to the conclusion that it meant following Christ and fishing for people.

We have been doing this for about twelve years now. Eventually we got rid of our building and began to meet in homes and other venues, believing that small groups offered the best opportunity to build solid relationships and influence our communities. We plunged into trying to impact our neighborhoods in various ways through friendship building, ministry projects such as doing yard work for needy people, hospitality, neighborhood watch creation, praying and ministering to people, etc. Over the years we saw some good fruit from this activity, but overall it was disappointing how few people seemed to want to join us in our quest to build an authentic community of disciples in a small group setting. Tradition is a huge influence, and not having a building made some regard us as a kind of cult. A lot of people expressed their liking for the idea of what we are doing, but few were willing to make the commitment. We grew little by little, but usually it was with people who just seemed to find us, rather than the people we pursued.

Then Covid hit, which effectively put an end to most outreach. People got used to being holed up at home and would look at you suspiciously if you simply showed up at their door. Our small groups continued to meet after a very brief time of Zooming, but some of our folks were still skiddish about going maskless and being in small groups. Many of us caught Covid and survived, even the ones who were jabbed. Eventually less people feared the dread disease and our groups are running as before the outbreak.

If Covid did nothing else positive for us, it got us all off the treadmill of trying hard to be a “successful” church. We were just glad to be with one another on this challenging journey called life.

This January we are in the process of fasting and praying for LifeNet. We are asking the Holy Spirit to speak to us as individuals, families, and as a church, and that brings me back to Ecclesiastes. I have been pastoring long enough that I have done most everything there is to do to grow a church. In fact, I am a sort of church growth expert, I tell people, because I have helped churches all over our area to grow. Many of our former members are happily ensconced elsewhere, as other churches’ members are now with us. We have tried most church growth strategies and found them wanting. Like Solomon, I can say.

Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. Ecclesiastes 1:8 (NLT)

I see people who are not content in their marriages, their jobs, their ministries, or their churches. I decided a long time ago that it is impossible to satisfy the needs of discontented people; so, I gave up trying. I truly enjoy being with people who are content in God’s love and how God made them, who they are in life, and with the people around them that they love. Yes, I still want to share the good news of what Jesus did for us to reconcile us to his Father. Yes, I still love teaching the Bible and ministering in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I still have a heart for lost and hurting people, but I do not want to try to make discontented people happy any more. Only God can do that.

This brings us to the whole idea of what it means to be content. Solomon shared what he thought brought contentment.

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 19  And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 (NLT)

Some of us are so engrossed in the pursuit of what we do not have that we fail to enjoy and appreciate what we do have. What a waste. I could lament that our church has never grown very large or I can rejoice in the wonderful family of friends that we have become. We can see life as a glass half empty or half full.

Contentment begins with appreciation for what we have.

That is a huge key to relational happiness as well. It is a very grave mistake to focus on another person’s faults because, if we are not careful, that is all we will be able to see. Likewise, we can fault find at work and at church. It never ends well because we always reap what we sow.

When we know we are loved and make it our goal to love others, we find a large measure of contentment.

John wrote about this in his first letter.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18  Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19  We love each other because he loved us first. 1 John 4:16-19 (NLT)

Earlier when I tried to define discipleship, I failed to mention love, which is a surprising oversight, since Jesus said that people will know we are his disciples by our love for one another. (John 13:35) How could I have missed that? Was it because I was still too focused on doing the work of making disciples rather than on being one? Was it because I was still pursuing something God has given to us? Was it because I was still missing the main point? Most likely. I was focused on teaching people the mechanics of being a disciple without properly emphasizing the heart of it.

When we are not sure that we are loved by God for who we are rather than for what we do, it engenders discontent. Picture a cat purring as it nestles up next to his owner. That is a great example of contentment.

God wants us to be thoroughly content in his love for us. That is the foundation from which we can do the work of the kingdom without sending a mixed message.

John Piper once said that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him.

There is a reason that Jesus rose from the dead on the day after the Sabbath. We begin our week resting in Christ’s victory. We start from a place of rest.

We are not trying to earn our victory or rest: it is a gift to us.

Jesus invited us to join him in his position of perfect contentment and rest.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

This is Jesus’ invitation to the discontent. Come to him to be set free from your wearisome pursuit. Learn what it means to be content in God’s love. Let that love overflow to those around you, including the lost.

When love is our foundation and the Holy Spirit is our guide, we will find contentment in whatever God gives us to do because we are content in who he is and who we are as his beloved children.

So don’t be surprised if I am not overly enthused with church growth strategies or methods to convince God to pour out revival on us. Been there, done that, and have the t-shirt. What makes me enthusiastic is being with my family of friends as we come together in God’s presence to talk about what it means to be God’s children. I am excited when the Holy Spirit opens a door to share God’s love with someone. We cannot orchestrate the Spirit of God. He orchestrates us.

I believe people who are searching for contentment will be drawn to those who have found it in God.

I also believe that discerning people will flee from any so-called gospel message delivered by someone who is using ministry to try and quench his or her desperate longing for acceptance by God. Why should I buy into a movement that makes its people discontent? When I came to Christ, he gave me peace and joy as I had never experienced before. When I share Christ, it is with the promise that he will open the door into the experience of God’s amazing love. Who we are is perhaps as important as what we say. People will pick up on our spiritual vibe as well as our words. If we carry in our person a different message from our words, people may doubt our words. It would be as if a harsh critical parent tells his child that he loves him or her. The mixed message inspires doubt instead of security. As we find our joy and contentment in God’s love, our demeanor will match the gospel message. People will be drawn toward the God who makes us content in his love.

Share this post...

11: I Reckon

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:11 (NKJV)

If you come from Texas or the deep South, you might use the word “reckon” in your normal conversation, such as, “I reckon you’re right.” This use of the word is about the same as “suppose”. The King James version of the Bible also uses the word “reckon”, but in a much different way. In the above verse, “reckon” is the equivalent of “consider it true or done”. This type of reckoning is very important if we are to grow as a Christian.

Faith is the God-given ability to take God at His word.

Faith is not something we generate from within ourselves or something innate in everyone. When Adam sinned, we all died spiritually, and the human heart lost its connection to God. We died to spiritual things. God had to revive us on the inside for us to be able to live again. Paul put it very clearly in his letter to the Ephesians.

God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8 (NLT)

Jesus is called the Author and Finisher or initiator and completer of our faith.

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NASB)

Faith is a work of grace from start to finish. The indwelling Holy Spirit is God’s Agent of grace. He is the One who develops faith inside us. He is called the “Spirit of faith”. (1 Cor.12:9; 2 Cor.4:13) He is the One Who lives out the Christ life from inside us. When we trust in God, it is the Spirit trusting in and through us. When we worship the Father, we do so in cooperation with the Spirit.

Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Galatians 4:6 (NASB)

Because we have been joined or united to the Holy Spirit through the new birth, it is next to impossible for us to differentiate between God’s Spirit and ours in these matters.

But the person who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT) 

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

Faith is the ability to accept God’s promises as being true just because God said. Faith enables us to consider that his promises are a done deal even before we see or receive what was promised.

Faith reckons that what God has said is true.

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

Now why is this so important? Remember that salvation begins in the spirit, on the inside, and over time works its way into our thoughts, motives, and behavior, as yeast works its way through a lump of dough. (Matthew 13:33)

If we think that our spiritual growth depends on how hard we work at it, we will always be unsettled. But if we trust completely in what the Bible says, that our new life is a gift of grace from start to finish, we will be steadfast in our faith.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

By God’s grace, our thinking and behavior will sooner or later catch up to God’s promises that we believe. This is a crucial principle for spiritual growth.

Here is an example of how this works, going back to our opening scripture verse. The Bible says we are “dead to sin”. How many of us “feel” dead to sin? I would venture to say that none of us do. Are we dead to sin or not? If we only consider that we are dead to sin when we feel like it, we will never agree with what God says is true. We will not be operating in faith. If, however, we take God at His word and reckon that we are indeed dead to sin, despite what we feel or how we have recently acted, we will be living by faith. Not only that, what we believe will be the truth.

What difference does this make? Practically speaking, it makes a lot of difference. After sinning, which we all do, we will either be cast down and discouraged because we failed again or relatively upbeat and encouraged because we realize a temporary set back is just that. Which way of thinking will lead to which outcome? Now I am not suggesting that we be careless when it comes to sin, but if we get discouraged because we sin, we will be discouraged a great deal of the time. If we can stay encouraged even at our worst, trusting that no matter how we have behaved, we are indeed dead to sin and it shall not be able to dominate us, we will avoid one of the greatest deceptions of the enemy – the power of condemnation.

Condemnation robs us of our joy and peace. It puts us into “Judas Mode”. After betraying Jesus, he felt so hopeless and worthless that he committed suicide. Peter, on the other hand, also betrayed the Lord, but he had hope that he would be forgiven and kept on going. He eventually was fully restored. Unless we conquer lying condemnation, we are likely to despair of there being any hope for us and give up. We might even wonder if we are really God’s children at all. Jesus took our condemnation upon Himself on the cross. When we were made right with God through faith, God the Father declared that we are “Not Guilty” in the court of heaven. We were once for all delivered from the power of the Law to condemn.

"I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)

God justifies us, and Christ died and intercedes for us. No one of any rank is left to condemn us.

Condemnation is usually the result of a lack of understanding of what Christ has accomplished, and it is a killer of faith.

Paul lists it as the number one enemy to conquer before a person can learn to “walk in the Spirit”.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)

Now the question we must ask ourselves is this: is what I have just read true? I reckon it is, and so should we all.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Why is it crucial for us to consider that we are dead to sin, even if we are not yet acting as if we are?
  • What makes condemnation such a powerful enemy, and why must we gain victory over it before we can walk in the Spirit?

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Share this post...

10: The Hope of the Resurrection

And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. Romans 8:23-25 (NLT)

Sometimes when we are attempting to share the gospel with someone, we might ask them if they are saved. A typical response might be, “I hope so!” At that point we have a perfect lead in to tell them about the meaning of biblical hope.

Instead of hope being something we wish for, but is unlikely to happen, biblical hope is a confident expectation that God’s promises will be fulfilled.

Biblical hope enables us to patiently wait for the promise, no matter how long it may take for it to come to pass. Some have described hope as “stretched out” faith. Faith is the basis or ground of hope. Like faith, hope originates in God, who is our source. Paul wrote:

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NLT)

 We expectantly wait (hope) for what we believe (know) to be true.

Faith immediately receives the answer to prayer, knowing that God has already “done” what He promised, even though we do not yet see it. Hope hangs on to that promise for as long as it may take until we see and experience the actual fulfillment.

The resurrection is our hope. We know it’s coming, but we don’t know how long it will be before it arrives.

The future salvation of the body is called glorification, and this is what will happen when believers rise from the dead. We will be instantly transformed into Christ’s image, and our resurrection bodies will radiate His glory.

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere. Philippians 3:20-21 (NLT)

The resurrection is the final installment of God’s great salvation.

The first installment is the new birth, whereby we are given a right standing with God, liberation from all that would enslave us, forgiveness of sins, life eternal, the indwelling Holy Spirit, reconciliation to the Father, and the privileges and rights of sonship. The second installment is called sanctification or transformation, which is the day-by-day walking out in our souls of what was given to us through the new birth. This requires our participation in daily grace, faith, and obedience. This is the process of working out our salvation and becoming more and more like Jesus in our thoughts, motives, and behavior. This process will continue until the day of our death. At that point, we will be ready to receive the last installment, the resurrection of the body. The first installment is a past grace. It was accomplished at Calvary. The second installment is a present or daily grace. The last installment, the resurrection, is in the future. Though it will certainly come, we cannot have it now and must patiently wait for it. When the resurrection becomes our experienced reality, salvation will be complete.

But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. 53 For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. 54 When this happens—when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die—then at last the Scriptures will come true: "Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (NLT)

The transformation of our souls will be instantly completed when our bodies are transformed, too. Jesus wants us to live today in the tension between looking back to what He has already completed through His death and resurrection and what will be ours in the resurrection. In other words, we must learn to live in past grace, present grace, and future grace.

We must learn to reckon as true what is already done and confidently wait for what yet remains to be done.

This will give us the faith and strength to walk with God today, day after day after day.

What do we hope for? Jesus wants us to live our lives in the hope of receiving a reward at the resurrection. This means we should invest in God’s kingdom by making sacrifices now so that we can have a more glorious resurrection later.

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25  He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26  He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. Hebrews 11:24-26 (NLT)

Having a future hope in the resurrection gives us a reason to live today.

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)

Hope in the resurrection is one of our most powerful motivations toward godly living. We should ask God to give us transforming hope.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NLT)
 
Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • In your own words, give a working definition of hope.
  • Explain why it is important for our life in the present to both look back to what Christ has already accomplished for us through His death and resurrection and to look forward to what will be given to us in the resurrection.
  • What practical difference will it make for me today, if I live in the hope of the resurrection?

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Share this post...

9: More about Repentance

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)

Repentance is integral to the entire process of our salvation. Without it, there is no salvation. Prior to repentance our condition is one of denying our need or willingness to submit to God’s rule. After repentance we recognize the greatness and glory of our Creator–Redeemer–Sustainer and our utter dependence upon him, and we willingly serve him out of love and appreciation for who he is and what he has done.

The “deeper” our repentance from independence and rebellion against God, the greater will be our enjoyment of his benevolent rule and the more effective we will be as his servants.

The basic meaning of repentance is “to change the mind”. How does this happen and what does it look like? Everyone is born with a mind that is clouded or deformed by sin. By default, we are prone to distrust the truth and believe lies. Thanks to the presence of evil in the world, deception is ubiquitous and relentless. Over the course of a lifetime, without continual repentance, all sorts of wrong thinking can begin to accumulate. Sometimes seemingly impregnable fortresses of deception are erected in our lives as a result of painful experiences and wrong interpretations or reactions to those experiences. The net result is a mind that resists God and rejects truth. Paul describes it in Romans as a deliberate suppression of truth.

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. Romans 1:18 (NLT)

This is every person’s condition before God gives us the desire and ability to repent.

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 2 Timothy 2:25 (NIV)

It is important to realize that, before the Holy Spirit begins to work inside us, we are quite incapable of understanding how far from God and His truth we are.

Self-deception is deadly because the person who is gripped by it has no idea of his or her condition or peril.

Using God’s Word as the catalyst, the Holy Spirit does an inner work of revelation and conviction. He brings us to the point where we begin to see that we are guilty of wrong thinking and sin, and that we need a Savior.

And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. John 16:8 (NLT)

When this happens, God asks us to humble ourselves before Him and sometimes other people, admit we are wrong, ask for his help, and surrender to his lordship.

Repentance, then, is the process whereby we transition from sinful defiance of God and His ways to humble reliance and obedience. It opens the way for us to receive God’s blessings and forgiveness.

The process includes aligning with how God thinks. Confession of sin means we agree with what God says about our sin and rebellion. 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NASB)

To confess in Greek means “to speak the same things as” God.

True repentance always agrees that God is right instead of justifying our own actions.

King David did this in Psalm 51.

Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. Psalms 51:4 (NLT)

Ultimately repentance will result in a change of behavior, which is the fruit of repentance.

Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. Luke 3:8 (NASB)

You can tell when we are truly repentant because we will no longer argue in an attempt to defend our innocence or justify our actions. Instead, we will humbly admit to our wrongdoing, along with having a heartfelt sorrow for our sin and a desire to make things right. Here is how Paul describes it in his second letter to the church at Corinth.

For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death. 11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish the wrongdoer. You showed that you have done everything you could to make things right. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NLT)

In summary, repentance is an inner work of the Holy Spirit that begins with a change of thinking and will ultimately result in a change of behavior. Repentance opens the door to faith and the blessings of God. It is something we must do for all our lives. No one ever outgrows our need for it.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion

  • Why does our thinking have to change before our behavior does?
  • Why it is important for us to agree with God regarding our sin.
  • What would you say to someone who says that he has repented of a specific sin but who still struggles in that area?
  • Why are godly emotions usually a part of true repentance?
  • Would you characterize repentance as more of a gift from God or a choice that we make?

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Share this post...

8: The Renewing of the Mind

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. Romans 12:2 (NLT)

The first component of Jesus’ message concerning the Kingdom of God was repentance. He echoed John the Baptist when he proclaimed, “Repent!” The basic meaning of the Greek word for repentance, metanoeo, is “to change the mind”. We are born into this world with a predisposition to believe lies. It’s called the “old man” or sin nature. Have you ever wondered why gossip is so universally appealing? We love the “dirt” about folks, and it doesn’t usually matter whether it’s true or not. Why do people so easily believe negative news but find it difficult to believe the truth? It’s because we’re sinners whose minds need renewing.

Satan is a liar, and his kingdom operates on fear, intimidation, and lies. He lied to Adam and Eve about God, and his most destructive work today is to convince people that God is not to be trusted. He plants deception and misinformation wherever he can, because knowing the Truth (Jesus) will set us free. Knowing and believing the truth of God’s Word will keep us free.

All of us are in bondage to one degree or another, which is always connected to our believing lies. The way out of slavery is to displace lies with God’s truth and begin to act upon it.

Jesus put it like this.

...If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32 (NASB)

The salvation of the soul is the process over time whereby God displaces wrong thinking and actions with correct thinking and living. This is a lifetime process that requires fresh help from God (grace) each day. Ideas have consequences. What we believe will affect every part of our lives.

Right thinking, the result of repentance, is the key to right living.

The Word of God affects every area of our lives, if we are open and willing to obey. If we see that God’s Word conflicts with something we believe or are doing, we should ask God to help us change.

Repentance is a gift (2 Timothy 2:25 and Acts 5:31), not something we can do on our own.

The Holy Spirit comes alongside us to work repentance or right thinking into our lives. We participate in repentance by responding to the conviction and leading of the Spirit in the pursuit of embracing God’s truth and turning away from evil. The turning away from evil is the fruit or evidence of our change in thinking.

Embracing truth is always the first step in transformation.

Sometimes we will discover areas in our lives that seem impregnable to God’s Word. The Bible calls these “strongholds”.

Biblical strongholds are fortresses of falsehood reinforced by fears and hurts that resist God’s truth. They are usually built on logical arguments that we have constructed, perhaps without realizing it, which interfere with our ability to believe and receive the truth.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

We can often tell where we have a stronghold against the truth by observing when we use the word “but” as our defense against believing and receiving God’s truth. Here is an example: “I know the Bible says God is a loving Father, but that has not been my experience.” Or “I know we are supposed to forgive, but… (fill in the blank).” In cases like these, everything that comes after the “but” is a lie that must be cast down.

Perhaps our own father was such a bad example of what a father should be that we have transferred our experience with him to God, and we cannot believe in our hearts that God really loves us. This is a common stronghold that must be destroyed with God’s help, if we are going to experience true victory and freedom in our daily lives.

Remember: it’s not necessarily what we believe theologically that will set us free, but what we believe in our hearts. How we act under pressure reveals what is truly in our hearts.

Whenever we act contrary to what we thought we believed or with a reaction that is disproportionate to the stimulus, we should suspect the presence of a stronghold.

Some strongholds run so deep that we must get help from others to recognize and overcome them, but it is always worth the effort. Most of the time God breaks these things down as we seriously study God’s Word, listen to good teaching, pray, and interact with other believers who will speak the truth in love to us.

Unless we take seriously the requirement to study and become familiar with God’s Word as revealed in the Bible, we have little hope of renewing our minds and living in freedom.

Many Christians are lazy in this regard and therefore fail to qualify as real disciples.

Christians are born (again), but disciples are made by the Holy Spirit over a lifetime of disciplined study and committed obedience.

Which are we going to be? Regardless of what our past has been like, we can make the choice to act as a disciple from now on. May God help us all make the right choices.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion

  • Is the basic meaning of repentance different from what you thought?
  • How is the mind renewed?
  • What is a stronghold and how are they demolished?

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Share this post...
Share this post...