While praying this morning, I was reminded of when Peter was released from prison. Herod had killed James the brother of John. When he saw how it pleased the Jewish leaders, he also arrested and imprisoned Peter. Acts 12:5-10 relates the details of Peter's miraculous release: "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him."
Peter was a Christian who followed Jesus to the end and the Holy Spirit worked mightily through him. While he was in prison, people in the church were continually praying for his deliverance. When the day of his likely public execution drew near, God sent an angel to free him from his bonds. Peter was sleeping soundly when he was suddenly struck on the side and lifted to his feet as a light shown around him. The chains fell from his wrists, Peter put on his clothes and shoes as he was commanded, and followed the angel to freedom. The scene was so surreal that Peter figured he must have been dreaming. It was not until he was outside the prison that he realized his deliverance from the prison was reality.
In a spiritual sense, every person is born into a prison of sin where Satan is the chief warden. We are all like Peter, chained in a dungeon behind reinforced walls and doors. There is no capacity for man to escape from this prison, nor is salvation or reconciliation obtainable through good behaviour. The only way to be saved from our sin is to repent and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, following Him to the end. The Bible does not say how long Peter was in prison. Knowing that James had been killed with the sword and that likely death awaited him was not a enjoyable prospect to consider. Can you imagine if Peter was so depressed because of his plight that when the angel slapped him on the side and raised him to his feet Peter lay back down between the Roman guards, rubbing his sore ribs? How ridiculous it would seem for Peter to ignore the command of the angel to follow and willingly place his hands back into the shackles. But this is the same thing defeated Christians can choose to do every day, believing that escape from the prison which holds them is futile.
The only thing more tragic than a person choosing to reject Jesus Christ is when those who have received Him through faith reject the hope, peace, and victory He has granted by grace. That smack on Peter's side was intended to wake him up and bring him to his senses, not to make him cower in fear or pain. Peter's escape from prison hinged upon one thing: his obedience. If Peter refused to follow the angel through the doors, he would have likely died in that prison. As Peter followed in obedience, they walked right past posted guards. They approached bolted doors and secured iron gates which swung open on their own accord. Peter didn't have to break the necks of guards, strain at rusted locks, or dig his way free: God loosed his chains, led him out of the prison, and delivered him by God's grace.
I read a story of a 59 year-old man in the States who robbed a bank of $1 the purpose of being arrested so he could go back to prison for health care purposes. This story is not an isolated case. There are people, believe it or not, who enjoy being inside prison more than being out of prison. While incarcerated inmates are given a bed, clothes, access to clean water and showers, food at regular intervals they do not need to purchase or prepare, medical treatment, and have many friends and activities to pass the time. Is it so crazy to think that there are professing Christians who willingly go back to a prison of sin for the perceived perks? Friends, God did not save us so we can stay in bondage: Jesus came to deliver the captives and set us free! We must follow Him, and the doors Jesus opens none can shut.
For us who have been born again through faith in Jesus, we never need be arrested again. Unlike Peter, should a Christian find himself in prison of sin again it is because he has willingly chosen to enter and remain. Isaiah 54:17 promises us, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD." I'm glad that God slaps me when I am in a sinful rut! In love and grace He renews our minds and gives us strength to repent and follow Him again. We have been saved not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to God's mercy. Let us continually walk and rejoice in this fact!
20 February 2012
19 February 2012
Do As You Have Said!
I've recently started a new routine of Bible reading in the evenings inspired by something I read in a George Mueller biography. He said that he had read through the Bible 200 times, and 100 of those times he read on his knees. Now there was a man who was thoroughly convinced of the truth of God's Word, the importance of seeking to hear God's voice and obtain answers to prayer through reading, and the correct attitude of the heart in approaching God in humility. So many times we ask God for direction and wisdom, but how often do we actively seek the answer in God's Word? Now it's your turn to be inspired by the Holy Spirit to do just that!
During my reading last night, I was struck with a statement by the heavenly visitors when the LORD appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre. Upon seeing these who had the appearance of men, Abraham ran to meet them and bowed himself to the ground. Genesis 18:3-5 records the conversation: "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said."
After Abraham offers his hospitality, his guests graciously accepted. He was not to leave anything undone which he had said. He was to have water brought so their feet could be washed. They were then to rest comfortably under the tree. Then Abraham would supply some bread (and later meat in abundance) so they would be satisfied. Their answer was simply, "Do as you have said." These words remind me of Mary's exhortation concerning the directives of Christ in John 2:5: "Whatever He says to you, do it."
As Christians we are taught from scripture that God always keeps His Word, for lying lips are an abomination to Him. Everything He has said He will do. But we must examine ourselves with the rigorous scrutiny with the same words God spoke to Abraham: "Do as you have said." When I read those words last night, I was immediately convicted. Had I done what I had said? I committed to reading the Bible immediately after putting the boys to bed, but yesterday decided to watch the cricket for an extra half hour before reading my portion. In His gentle but stern way God said clearly to me, "Do as you have said." The Father didn't have to tell me specifically what He was referring to, because the Holy Spirit prompted me to know immediately what He meant. That's the way God speaks: through His Word, straight to our softened hearts by means of the indwelling Spirit.
Dear Christian, you expect God to keep His Word to you: have you kept your word to Him? The same standard applies to both God and man, for God's standard is righteous and true. What He says to you do it, and do as you have said. There is joy and peace in keeping His commandments.
During my reading last night, I was struck with a statement by the heavenly visitors when the LORD appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre. Upon seeing these who had the appearance of men, Abraham ran to meet them and bowed himself to the ground. Genesis 18:3-5 records the conversation: "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said."
After Abraham offers his hospitality, his guests graciously accepted. He was not to leave anything undone which he had said. He was to have water brought so their feet could be washed. They were then to rest comfortably under the tree. Then Abraham would supply some bread (and later meat in abundance) so they would be satisfied. Their answer was simply, "Do as you have said." These words remind me of Mary's exhortation concerning the directives of Christ in John 2:5: "Whatever He says to you, do it."
As Christians we are taught from scripture that God always keeps His Word, for lying lips are an abomination to Him. Everything He has said He will do. But we must examine ourselves with the rigorous scrutiny with the same words God spoke to Abraham: "Do as you have said." When I read those words last night, I was immediately convicted. Had I done what I had said? I committed to reading the Bible immediately after putting the boys to bed, but yesterday decided to watch the cricket for an extra half hour before reading my portion. In His gentle but stern way God said clearly to me, "Do as you have said." The Father didn't have to tell me specifically what He was referring to, because the Holy Spirit prompted me to know immediately what He meant. That's the way God speaks: through His Word, straight to our softened hearts by means of the indwelling Spirit.
Dear Christian, you expect God to keep His Word to you: have you kept your word to Him? The same standard applies to both God and man, for God's standard is righteous and true. What He says to you do it, and do as you have said. There is joy and peace in keeping His commandments.
16 February 2012
God Gives More Grace
Early in his life as a Pharisee, Saul thought he was doing a great work for God by fiercely persecuting the church. It was only after Jesus confronted him on the road heading to Damascus that Saul saw that in persecuting Christ and His followers he was persecuting God Himself. Saul was later converted as a follower of Jesus, baptised, filled with the Holy Spirit, and became widely known as Paul. The same fire and tenacity was there, but Paul had been tempered and honed by Jesus Christ. Never again did Paul go on a fleshly rampage or crusade against evil. Instead he was led and empowered by the Holy Spirit and his words were seasoned with love and grace.
The same ill which affected young Saul as a Pharisee ironically afflicts many professing followers of Jesus to this day. In trying to make a strong stand for Jesus they do much damage to the cause of Christ. I'm sure you've seen the websites with animated flames, the screen filled with wordy articles in all caps screaming at "non-believers," all with a sense of smug self-righteousness. The presentation spoils the message. The words well-meaning people type very well may be true in an academic sense, but if they are not written motivated by love for God and compassion for the lost they are all wrong. Some people write as if their blood is boiling with rage instead of having cheeks moistened with tears of sympathy for those who are blind, lost, and dead in transgressions and sins. James and John suggested to Jesus that they call down fire on unbelievers to teach them a lesson. Luke 9:55-56 reads, "But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village."
As Christians we should contend for the truth of scripture and the veracity of the Gospel, but we are not called to be contentious. Many do not share Christ as they should, but this does not give us license to be rude, condescending, and hateful. We would do well to obey the exhortation of Christ when He faced those who were self-righteous in Matthew 15:14: "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." When you consider the life of Jesus, you will find that He never entertained dishonest questions. If someone was testing Him, Jesus would never answer those questions directly with doctrine. He did not debate views or doctrine that people wanted to fight over. Yet if someone was ignorant and desired God's wisdom, Jesus took the time to explain.
For those Christians who feed on debate and love to throw punches, seek God for a spirit of meekness and gentleness. In the long list of sins Paul mentions in Romans 1:29, one of them might come as a surprise: "...Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers..." Tucked between murder and deceit, we find the word "debate" in the KJV, "strife" in the NKJV. Wrangling and quarreling have no place in the body of Christ, and that is not the way Jesus won souls for the kingdom of God. Love God, love people, and share the truth of God's Word. We do not need to condemn people, for they are condemned by their sins already - just like me and everyone else! If they want to fight and debate over it, let them alone. Go to the next village. But we should not let them alone without interceding for them in prayer with moistened eyes and a heavy heart. We should have the heart of David, who fasted and prayed for days that his dying child would live. Who knows if God might be gracious and turn that soul to repentance and eternal life?
The same ill which affected young Saul as a Pharisee ironically afflicts many professing followers of Jesus to this day. In trying to make a strong stand for Jesus they do much damage to the cause of Christ. I'm sure you've seen the websites with animated flames, the screen filled with wordy articles in all caps screaming at "non-believers," all with a sense of smug self-righteousness. The presentation spoils the message. The words well-meaning people type very well may be true in an academic sense, but if they are not written motivated by love for God and compassion for the lost they are all wrong. Some people write as if their blood is boiling with rage instead of having cheeks moistened with tears of sympathy for those who are blind, lost, and dead in transgressions and sins. James and John suggested to Jesus that they call down fire on unbelievers to teach them a lesson. Luke 9:55-56 reads, "But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village."
As Christians we should contend for the truth of scripture and the veracity of the Gospel, but we are not called to be contentious. Many do not share Christ as they should, but this does not give us license to be rude, condescending, and hateful. We would do well to obey the exhortation of Christ when He faced those who were self-righteous in Matthew 15:14: "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." When you consider the life of Jesus, you will find that He never entertained dishonest questions. If someone was testing Him, Jesus would never answer those questions directly with doctrine. He did not debate views or doctrine that people wanted to fight over. Yet if someone was ignorant and desired God's wisdom, Jesus took the time to explain.
For those Christians who feed on debate and love to throw punches, seek God for a spirit of meekness and gentleness. In the long list of sins Paul mentions in Romans 1:29, one of them might come as a surprise: "...Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers..." Tucked between murder and deceit, we find the word "debate" in the KJV, "strife" in the NKJV. Wrangling and quarreling have no place in the body of Christ, and that is not the way Jesus won souls for the kingdom of God. Love God, love people, and share the truth of God's Word. We do not need to condemn people, for they are condemned by their sins already - just like me and everyone else! If they want to fight and debate over it, let them alone. Go to the next village. But we should not let them alone without interceding for them in prayer with moistened eyes and a heavy heart. We should have the heart of David, who fasted and prayed for days that his dying child would live. Who knows if God might be gracious and turn that soul to repentance and eternal life?
14 February 2012
When Liberty Kills
Information and knowledge becomes more widespread and easily accessible with each passing moment. For those who think the ills of mankind reside in ignorance, this is an indictment against them. Though information is readily available, people still face the same problems which have plagued them from the beginning. Man knows the truth but lives in conscious opposition to it, convinced that the truth does not apply in his unique case. He lives in denial of God's existence, embraces subjective relativism to avoid guilt, and lives as if he is a god. Generation after generation impales itself upon lust, greed, power, and pleasure, always learning but never receiving the truth of the Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ. There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of that way is death.
This tragic saga is not only perpetuated by those who reject God and His righteous commands. Through the prophet Hosea God lamented, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hosea 4:6) Even though God had provided His Law and priests, Levites, and prophets to instruct His people in how to keep it, the people remained without knowledge. The people excelled at keeping ordinances and the minutiae of the oral commands made by men, but they missed the main point. The Law was intended to reveal the righteous character of God and display man's inability to be holy through external means. Paul explains in the New Testament that the Law is a schoolmaster which leads us to Christ. Galatians 3:24-25 says, "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." Faith in Christ brings forgiveness and freedom from sin. We are freed from keeping the letter of the Mosaic Law because we are now governed by the law of liberty through the leading of the Holy Spirit who indwells us. We are free from the penalty of breaking the Law because Jesus has met the righteous requirements through His sacrifice.
The Mosaic Law governed a man's external actions, but now the Holy Spirit holds us to God's holy standard from within. Through Him we have both the will and ability to live a life fully pleasing unto God not according to the letter, but according to the Spirit. In the book written to the Galatians, Paul marveled how the people received Christ by faith but quickly went back under the Law. They fell into the trap of thinking a man is righteous by what he does, not by who he is in relation to Jesus Christ through faith. The opposite error Paul sought to correct in his letters to the churches in Rome and Corinth. People were using the grace and forgiveness of God as an excuse to pursue sin. People rejoiced in the "liberty" they had in Christ, misunderstanding what this "liberty" actually means. Liberty is both what God has saved us from and what He has saved us for: He has liberated us from the oppressive bondage of sin and death, and has liberated us to serve and glorify Him forever.
This misunderstanding of what liberty is and what it is not remains a massive issue in the church today. How many Christians have been shipwrecked through the exercise of what they thought or claimed as liberty, but in reality was a retreat back into bondage! Liberty is not freedom to placate and satisfy the flesh, but the opportunity to honour God through godly action. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:9, "But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak." It is understood that Christians ought to also beware that this liberty of ours can be a stumbling block to ourselves - because we too are weak! It is only through God we are strong. God did not grant us liberty so we can justify ourselves from the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, having graciously pulled us like helpless sheep from the teeth of Satan, sin, and Hell. How foolish and ridiculous it would seem if us sheep, having been spared a horrible end and given exceedingly great and precious promises through Christ by faith, used our remaining time on earth to flee from the Shepherd and seek shelter in a dark pit - perhaps the same dark pit we used to frequent before we were saved. What kind of liberty is this? The mind is of such a one is still enslaved in old ways of thinking. Proverbs 26:11 reads, "As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." Foolishness in the Bible is directly related to wickedness. It is the fool who says in his heart, "There is no God." (Ps. 14:1) To atheists and Christians alike Solomon says in Proverbs 1:22: "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge." Fools hate knowledge, and it is because of the lack of knowledge God's people perish.
Let us not be foolish, but wise concerning what liberty actually is. If my exercise of liberty is not bringing honour to God or is a justification from the Holy Spirit's conviction, I willingly return to bondage. Psalm 10:4 states, "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts." I find this verse very convicting. The righteous must seek God, and God should be in all my thoughts. I confess to you that I am righteous only through faith in Christ, for in my flesh no good thing dwells. It is my hearts desire that God would be in all my thoughts, and I have much room to grow! Let us follow the command of Christ: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto us. I find I am not able to do this, but God has liberated my heart, mind, and body to both will and do His good pleasure by His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. Praise Him!
This tragic saga is not only perpetuated by those who reject God and His righteous commands. Through the prophet Hosea God lamented, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hosea 4:6) Even though God had provided His Law and priests, Levites, and prophets to instruct His people in how to keep it, the people remained without knowledge. The people excelled at keeping ordinances and the minutiae of the oral commands made by men, but they missed the main point. The Law was intended to reveal the righteous character of God and display man's inability to be holy through external means. Paul explains in the New Testament that the Law is a schoolmaster which leads us to Christ. Galatians 3:24-25 says, "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." Faith in Christ brings forgiveness and freedom from sin. We are freed from keeping the letter of the Mosaic Law because we are now governed by the law of liberty through the leading of the Holy Spirit who indwells us. We are free from the penalty of breaking the Law because Jesus has met the righteous requirements through His sacrifice.
The Mosaic Law governed a man's external actions, but now the Holy Spirit holds us to God's holy standard from within. Through Him we have both the will and ability to live a life fully pleasing unto God not according to the letter, but according to the Spirit. In the book written to the Galatians, Paul marveled how the people received Christ by faith but quickly went back under the Law. They fell into the trap of thinking a man is righteous by what he does, not by who he is in relation to Jesus Christ through faith. The opposite error Paul sought to correct in his letters to the churches in Rome and Corinth. People were using the grace and forgiveness of God as an excuse to pursue sin. People rejoiced in the "liberty" they had in Christ, misunderstanding what this "liberty" actually means. Liberty is both what God has saved us from and what He has saved us for: He has liberated us from the oppressive bondage of sin and death, and has liberated us to serve and glorify Him forever.
This misunderstanding of what liberty is and what it is not remains a massive issue in the church today. How many Christians have been shipwrecked through the exercise of what they thought or claimed as liberty, but in reality was a retreat back into bondage! Liberty is not freedom to placate and satisfy the flesh, but the opportunity to honour God through godly action. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:9, "But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak." It is understood that Christians ought to also beware that this liberty of ours can be a stumbling block to ourselves - because we too are weak! It is only through God we are strong. God did not grant us liberty so we can justify ourselves from the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, having graciously pulled us like helpless sheep from the teeth of Satan, sin, and Hell. How foolish and ridiculous it would seem if us sheep, having been spared a horrible end and given exceedingly great and precious promises through Christ by faith, used our remaining time on earth to flee from the Shepherd and seek shelter in a dark pit - perhaps the same dark pit we used to frequent before we were saved. What kind of liberty is this? The mind is of such a one is still enslaved in old ways of thinking. Proverbs 26:11 reads, "As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." Foolishness in the Bible is directly related to wickedness. It is the fool who says in his heart, "There is no God." (Ps. 14:1) To atheists and Christians alike Solomon says in Proverbs 1:22: "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge." Fools hate knowledge, and it is because of the lack of knowledge God's people perish.
Let us not be foolish, but wise concerning what liberty actually is. If my exercise of liberty is not bringing honour to God or is a justification from the Holy Spirit's conviction, I willingly return to bondage. Psalm 10:4 states, "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts." I find this verse very convicting. The righteous must seek God, and God should be in all my thoughts. I confess to you that I am righteous only through faith in Christ, for in my flesh no good thing dwells. It is my hearts desire that God would be in all my thoughts, and I have much room to grow! Let us follow the command of Christ: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto us. I find I am not able to do this, but God has liberated my heart, mind, and body to both will and do His good pleasure by His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. Praise Him!
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