Monday's Message: By Love Unfeigned

Today’s message will be on the sixth descriptor in 2 Corinthians 6:6, how we are to approve ourselves as the ministers of God by love unfeigned.

2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

Love is the greatest commandment given by God to us, especially as believers. We know that God is love and that God so loved the world that He gave, and we are commanded by God to love Him above all else, and to love one another above our own selves. Love is most genuinely expressed when we give sacrificially of ourselves to God and to others with no expectation of anything in return. 1 Corinthians 13 gives us the most comprehensive teaching on what true Biblical love is and what it does, how it behaves, and how it does not behave.

While love is an emotion that we feel, and God is the creator of our emotions, feelings and emotions are not the summation of what love is. We should feel love toward God and neighbor, and if we don’t, that is a sign of a heart problem that we have and a symptom of a deep misunderstanding of who we are and who God is and what He has done for us all. When we understand the awesome goodness and love of God, when we glimpse His frightening holiness and righteousness, when we begin to understand the immeasurable sacrifice He made in order to bring the hope of eternal life to the whole world, and we compare that to our own selfish and deceitful hearts, our utter lack of ability to truly love someone other than ourselves from a pure heart without the revelation of God’s Word and the guiding of His Holy Spirit, then we can learn to express a deep, meaningful love that is unfeigned.

Unfeigned means genuine and sincere, a love that is not a manipulative tactic used to get what we want from someone else. It is a recognition that the recipient of our love was created by God in His own image for His own glory, someone that Jesus Christ died on the cross for, someone that God loves and desires to have fellowship with.

1 John 2:10-11

¹⁰ He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

¹¹ But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Unfeigned is a love that comes from a heart that desires to see that person conformed to image of Christ, to be free from sin and do great works for God and others, it is a wonderful feeling of affection for someone that causes us to give to them of our own selves in order that they can succeed at their Christian life and receive the fullness of the blessings of God. Love is a broad term that includes many distinctly different kinds and expressions.  We ought to have a general love for all people and a special love for the household of faith. There is another love shared between family members and a high love between married people, but they all should share a common denominator, an esteem for others that is greater than self and a desire to give in order to see them thrive in a Godly manner.

Let’s begin this new year with a plan to have love unfeigned for our brothers and sisters in Christ and work to help them succeed this year in growing closer to God and further from sin. Let’s have a renewed compassion on our lost neighbors and an increased estimation of their value in God’s eyes as the crown of His creation and a creature who was formed by God in the womb with so great care and detail. Someone for whom our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords left his throne in heaven for to be born in a dirty feeding trough and to hunger and hurt and be spit upon and mocked and murdered. God didn’t just command us to love, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to show us how to love, let’s decide that this year we will follow our Saviour’s blessed example and show the world His love through our own.

John 13:34-35

³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Thoughtful Thursday: Stuff

I love January (except for the weather…give me Spring)!  Wherever you go, it seems there is talk of refresh and resolve.  Optimism and change are everywhere!  It can be contagious, but also a bit overwhelming trying to make and keep all of our resolutions.  

So as to keep some focus, each year I’ve tried to choose just one word that I will use to propel and guide my goals for the year.  Some I have used in the past have been:

-Peace

-Consider

-Euchristeo (Giving Thanks)

This year I have decided to use DE-CLUTTER as my word.  I plan to de-clutter my house, my mind and my life overall.  I don’t know about you, but I tend to just have a lot of stuff.  In my house, I have stuff that covers the walls, stuff that covers the counter, stuff that fills the closets, drawers and cabinets.  In my mind, I have stuff that clutters my thoughts and stuff that preys on my anxiety and fears.  In my life, I have stuff that takes up my time unnecessarily, and stuff that I want to do but don’t have the time.  There is always something to do and always a race to do it.  

With all this stuff, I don't believe that I am allowing myself the chance to focus on the important things.  The things that really matter.   

As I go through 2017, I will ask myself quite often if this thing (item, thought, time) brings value into my life.   If the answer is no, then it likely needs to go or at least needs to be re-prioritized.  I want to place more time and value on the things that matter most.  The eternal things.  The things that please God.  I want to fill my home, my mind and my time with things that bring happiness and joy, not just to me, but to those around me as well

So, in 2017, with God’s help…I will get rid of STUFF!  Let the DE-CLUTTER begin…

1Timothy 6:6-7  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

 I’m curious to know if you choose a word or a theme for your year.  If so, please share.  

Happy New Year!  I pray that 2017 brings you much joy and peace.

We Pray Wednesday: People of Prayer in the Bible: Abraham

We read in the Bible about people who had great prayer relationships and wish that we could have the type of relationship that they had with God.  To me, Abraham is one of these people.  As we read the life of Abraham, there are several things to notice about his walk with God.  There are steps we can follow that can allow us to have a better prayer relationship with God.

1.  He prayed everywhere he went.

After God called Abraham out of his home town to that land of Canaan, we find that everywhere he stopped, he built an altar to call upon the name of the Lord.  He even taught his family the importance of calling on the name of the Lord.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing."  This does not give a time or place; it simply says to pray.  We, as children of God, should not be worried of what others will think if we pray to God.  There are many situations that I look back on in my life and realize that had I prayed, things would have probably turned out differently.  We should ask God for help in every situation, no matter where we find ourselves.

2.  He followed his way instead of seeking God's direction during a trial.

When a famine arose in the land of Canaan, he went down to Egypt, a Bible picture of the world.  We do not find him seeking God's direction in this time of trial and testing; we find him doing what many of us will do: following our own way.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  We too often trust our way and what we think is best, instead of asking God to direct our steps.  Because Abraham followed his own way, he almost lost his wife and his life.  He also left with a maid named Hagar that caused problems later on in his family.  When trials and troubles come into our life, this is the time to seek God's face in prayer, not to blame him for the trial and difficulty in our life.

3.  He prayed for the mercy of God for his family.

Abraham's nephew Lot lived in the wicked city of Sodom and Gomorrah.   When God came and told Abraham that he would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham prayed for it to be spared.  Abraham knew that there was no other way to spare the city then to intercede for his family.  How often do we find family members in need of our prayers to God for them?  Do we plead to God to have mercy on them?  Do we ask for God's will in their life?  Too often we try to "fix them" instead of praying, pleading, and interceding for them to God.

4.  He prayed for God to heal.

In his travels, Abraham went to the country of Gerar where Abimelech the king took Sarah as a wife.  God warned Abimelech and said "Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live."   Abimelech wakes up and calls Abraham and asks Abraham to pray for him and his family.  The Bible says, " So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants."  As a people that pray, there are many that we should ask God to heal.  Notice the man had wronged Abraham, yet he still prayed for him and his family to be healed.  Do you ask God to heal those that are ill or diseased even if they have wronged you? 

            There are many people in God’s Word that we can emulate our prayer lives after.  We should realize that they had many of the same difficulties that we have in our lives and still communed and fellowshipped with God.  We should be people who read God’s Word and talk to Him daily.  In doing so, we can be people of prayer like those that we read about in the Bible.

Monday's Message: Balancing the Christian Life

II Corinthians 6:8-10

8  By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Last week we discussed the idea of our “Christian Engine”

The function of that engine being described in 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

The parts of the engine are found in vss. 2 Corinthians 6:6-7

6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

This week we are going to examine some areas of the Christian life that require us to be fully dependent on the Spirit of God. All too often, we as believers will become over confident in our abilities based on a mistaken track record of success which, in reality, is the Holy Spirit working through us. “Thine is the glory” is too quickly forgotten.

 Most of the descriptions offered in contrasting terms in this passage are made by someone who is observing the construction and the functions of the “engine”. It seems to be a bit of a critical point of view. I’ve heard it said, “While critics are often wrong in their approach, motive, and timing they are often supremely accurate in their assessments.” To dismiss relevant information strictly based on the delivery is foolish.

The first contrast we find is “Honor and Dishonor.”  It is not a mystery, to us who are called out of the world and unto our Holy God, that we will not enjoy the praise of everyone. In fact in the culture we dwell in these days, it seems, we must be prepared for dishonor much more than honorable treatment by those who do not know or love God. This begs the question, “From whom are we seeking approval?”

“Evil report and good report” How often are people who stand for what the Bible says is right, eternal, and unchanging treated as bigots, intolerant, and hateful? We have seen a great deal of “Evil reporting” done in these recent days. This should come as no surprise! We find here that the church has experienced this sort of treatment now for centuries.

“Deceivers and yet true” This is quite possibly referring to the necessity of deceiving authorities who are killing Christians to have opportunity to share the Gospel with others who may be receptive. This also lends itself to the idea of being judged as a hypocrite; most likely from someone whose entire Bible quoting repertoire is “Judge not”! The Bible is not a medieval conspiracy comprised by rulers of that age to control the enslaved population; however, it is a Book of great power and authority. That is exactly why it receives so much criticism and disdain from those who wish to live free of its impact. We cannot expect to be loved for our adherence to it by such a group.

“Unknown and yet well known” This speaks, I believe, to the proper separation we must have in our lives.  We must be available to help whenever a person needs us, but not live in similar manner with them. There must be some amount of mystery in every relationship. You’ve heard the saying, “familiarity breeds contempt.” In a word, influence: that is what is being described by this comparison. When too many of our flaws, shortcomings, and weaknesses are known by those who we attempt to influence for Christ, the task only increases in difficulty.

“As dying and yet we live” This is referring to the idea of dying to the flesh and walking the Spirit which will never see death. This will NOT make sense to the world, but it is necessary to flourish in our walk with the Lord. Dead people don’t get offended. Dead people are not affected by the criticism of those who wish to see them fail. If we are dead to self and living only unto God we will be free of the constant struggle to walk in the Spirit.

“As Chastened and not killed” – here we are reminded that we are sinners saved by grace who will be chastened and corrected by the Lord because we deserve it. Though it should be our goal, we will never be perfect this side of Glory. Far too often we think of the Christian life as a life that must be lived in its entirety TODAY, but that is not the case.  The issues that we have studied over the past few weeks are issues that Christians who have been saved for decades continue to struggle with, myself included! It’s referred to as the Christian LIFE for a reason; it will take a lifetime.

“As sorrowful yet ALWAYS rejoicing” YES!! The trials and the tragedies of this life will bring sorrow into our lives, but a trial does not mean that everything in life is bad or destroyed.  It simply reminds us that we have an enemy and a flesh and that some parts of our lives really stink! This should not even interrupt our constant praise and gratitude being expressed to the Father for all that He has done and is doing.

“As poor yet making many rich” A believer should be one who is unassuming yet oozing with the knowledge of God.  I believe, “poor” indicates a level of understanding and wisdom, without pedigree.  We may be looked on as unlearned and ignorant by those the world deems educated. This does not rob us of the opportunity  to offer the priceless gift of salvation to anyone who will believe!

“As having nothing yet possessing all things” There may be many things we will do without here on earth because we do not live for earthly pleasures and for money, but we will have everything and more than we have ever imagined one day and we will have it for all of eternity! God provides all that we need! This is the observation of those who live for God and the Lord just blesses them in a way that is beyond comprehension. 

There are many contrasts, descriptions, and comparisons here, and I am sure that we can all relate to them in some way.  The message for us today is to have a testimony that reflects the power of God at work!  There should be some things that take place in our lives the world just can’t understand and that only GOD could have done! Believer, take God off trial in your life! NO, your life will not be easy or without failure, but you will never be forced to take one step of your journey alone. Remember, God is working for our good and for His glory.