Galatians 3:28- "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Here it says that Christians, "... are all one in Christ Jesus." While each of us are different there is a spiritual connection between true believers that should override the differences we may have. The fact that we are all one in Christ also speaks to the fact that we are all on level ground spiritually. Someone who is a new Christian can be used by God just as someone who has been a believer for years can be used by Him. God looks for those who will say "yes" to Him when He wants to use them to advance His kingdom.
In this article I would like to share some things the word of God says about unity. Unity is a theme that runs throughout the New Testament, and in John 17 Jesus even prayed that we would be one. Unity is important, but what does it look like? To answer this question it may be helpful to first see what unity is not:
Unity is not compromise:
Matthew 10:34-36 (words of Jesus)- "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to, 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' "
1Corinthians 11:18-19- "For first of all, when you come together as a church, I here that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you that those who are approved may be recognized among you."
We must remember that unity is not compromise. While we should avoid being critical or judgmental over the doctrinal differences we have, we must never compromise truth, not even for the sake of unity. As we see in these two passages, the truth naturally brings division between those who believe it and those who do not.
Unity is not conformity:
Romans 12:4-5- "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another."
When discussing unity it is important to remember that being in unity does mean everyone being exactly the same. God made each of us unique and we each have different roles in the body of Christ. Many people are miserable because they are trying to fit into a mold that God never intended for them to fit into. We are to all reflect the nature of Jesus to those around us, but as we do we will each do it in a way that is unique to us. We must remember this and seek God's direction to find our specific place in the body.
Now that we have seen what unity is NOT we will look at two characteristics of true, godly unity:
Unity is cooperation:
Romans 15:5-6- "Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
As I said before, each of us have a unique role in the kingdom, and when we are in unity we are each working toward a common goal, which as we see here is to glorify God. Ephesians 4: 16 speaks of every member of the body doing their share to build up the body. This cooperation in which each of us are in our place doing our part to advance the kingdom is the unity that I believe God wants to bring to His church.
Unity enables the Church to be an effective witness:
John 17:20-21- "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You Father are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us that the world may believe that You sent Me."
The fact that Jesus said in His prayer for the Church that when we are one the world will know that He came from the Father tells me that one of the ways we can show the world who God is is by being in unity.
In Genesis chapter 11 we read of a time in which the world was united and decided to build a tower with a top reaching to the heavens and make a name for themselves rather than obey His command for them to fill the earth. In Genesis 11:6 it says, "And the Lord said, 'Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.' " Think about what God said here: because the people were in unity they would be able to accomplish anything. If that were true when they were united in an act of rebellion, how much more can we accomplish as the body of Christ if we are working together in unity to do what God does want us to do?
In Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus said, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." One thing that helps the Church to be an effective witness when we are in unity is the fact there is a spiritual power to be found in unity.
So what can each of us do to promote this unity? I believe that it will come through us loving one another and serving one another in love. May the Lord help us to walk in unity and make us more effective as we work to advance the kingdom!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Power of Prayer
We have all heard of "the power of prayer," but how powerful is prayer really? Does prayer really accomplish anything? In this weeks' article these questions will be answered.
1Kings 17:1- "And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the Lord God of Israel lives before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years except at my word.' "
In this verse we are introduced to the prophet Elijah in this account of how he pronounced judgement on the land because the wicked king Ahab had turned the hearts of the children of Israel away from God (or to be more accurate he led them farther away from God than they already were). Elijah's statement was basically, "It's not going to rain until I say so." It took amazing boldness to make this statement: a boldness that I believe came from an understanding of the power of prayer. As we understand the power of prayer we will see an increase in faith and we will learn how we can work with God to change the world around us.
1Kings 18:11- "And it came to pass after many days that the word of Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, 'Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.' "
Three and a half years had passed since Elijah declared that there was going to be a drought and just as the prophet said, there had been no rain, but now God told him, "I'm going to send rain." In this situation many of us would probably have said to ourselves that if God is going to send rain we should just wait for it to happen, but remember that it was not to rain until Elijah said so. God had told Elijah what He was going to do, and in revealing His will the creator of the universe invited Elijah to work with Him to bring that will into the earth. This same invitation is extended to us today.
1Kings 18:41-46- "Then Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the abundance of rain.' So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, 'Go up now, look toward the sea.' So he went up and looked and said, 'There is nothing.' And seven times he said, 'Go again.' Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, 'There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand rising out of the sea.' So he said, 'Go up, say to Ahab, "prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you." ' " Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went up to Jezreel. Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel."
After presenting himself to Ahab and facing the prophets of the idol baal, Elijah went to the mountain to pray. However, before he prayed, Elijah said, "...there is the sound of the abundance of rain." Elijah was about to pray for rain, but he believed he already had the answer before he saw it. Jesus taught us to do this in Mark 11:24 when He said, "Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive [or "have received"] them and you will have them." This is precisely what Elijah did, believing that he already had the answer even before he began to pray. Jesus gave the pattern for us today to pray this prayer of faith, with the promise that as we do we will have what we are praying for.
We also read that Elijah prayed seven times, each time sending his servant to look for a cloud. Elijah believed he already had the answer, but he saw a need to keep praying. Elijah had a promise from God and as an act of faith he prayed until he saw it happen. In the "Lord's Prayer" (sometimes called "the Model Prayer" which is actually what it was) Jesus taught us to pray: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) When Jesus made this statement as part of the Lord's Prayer He was telling us that we can pray the Father's will into the earth. Elijah prayed seven times before he saw the rain God promised but he refused to give up. If you have a promise from God that you are praying for that hasn't happened yet, don't give up. God has promised and He cannot lie. I believe Elijah kept praying because he knew God would keep His promise to send rain, and we can have this same confidence in God to keep His promise. Elijah was not some "super saint" who reached a level of faith unattainable by us, but as James says, "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit." (James 5:17-18) Elijah was an ordinary man who was used mightily by God and his actions were recorded to show us how we too can be used mightily by God when we pray the prayer of faith. James wrote these words to show us that, "...the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16) In other words, there is great power in prayer. Prayer does more than we realize because when we pray we are asking God for help, and there is nothing too hard for Him. Whatever promises you may be praying for, be encouraged and keep praying. Remember to focus on God and trust Him as the God who will always keep His promise.
1Kings 17:1- "And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the Lord God of Israel lives before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years except at my word.' "
In this verse we are introduced to the prophet Elijah in this account of how he pronounced judgement on the land because the wicked king Ahab had turned the hearts of the children of Israel away from God (or to be more accurate he led them farther away from God than they already were). Elijah's statement was basically, "It's not going to rain until I say so." It took amazing boldness to make this statement: a boldness that I believe came from an understanding of the power of prayer. As we understand the power of prayer we will see an increase in faith and we will learn how we can work with God to change the world around us.
1Kings 18:11- "And it came to pass after many days that the word of Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, 'Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.' "
Three and a half years had passed since Elijah declared that there was going to be a drought and just as the prophet said, there had been no rain, but now God told him, "I'm going to send rain." In this situation many of us would probably have said to ourselves that if God is going to send rain we should just wait for it to happen, but remember that it was not to rain until Elijah said so. God had told Elijah what He was going to do, and in revealing His will the creator of the universe invited Elijah to work with Him to bring that will into the earth. This same invitation is extended to us today.
1Kings 18:41-46- "Then Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the abundance of rain.' So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of mount Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, 'Go up now, look toward the sea.' So he went up and looked and said, 'There is nothing.' And seven times he said, 'Go again.' Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, 'There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand rising out of the sea.' So he said, 'Go up, say to Ahab, "prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you." ' " Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went up to Jezreel. Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel."
After presenting himself to Ahab and facing the prophets of the idol baal, Elijah went to the mountain to pray. However, before he prayed, Elijah said, "...there is the sound of the abundance of rain." Elijah was about to pray for rain, but he believed he already had the answer before he saw it. Jesus taught us to do this in Mark 11:24 when He said, "Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive [or "have received"] them and you will have them." This is precisely what Elijah did, believing that he already had the answer even before he began to pray. Jesus gave the pattern for us today to pray this prayer of faith, with the promise that as we do we will have what we are praying for.
We also read that Elijah prayed seven times, each time sending his servant to look for a cloud. Elijah believed he already had the answer, but he saw a need to keep praying. Elijah had a promise from God and as an act of faith he prayed until he saw it happen. In the "Lord's Prayer" (sometimes called "the Model Prayer" which is actually what it was) Jesus taught us to pray: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) When Jesus made this statement as part of the Lord's Prayer He was telling us that we can pray the Father's will into the earth. Elijah prayed seven times before he saw the rain God promised but he refused to give up. If you have a promise from God that you are praying for that hasn't happened yet, don't give up. God has promised and He cannot lie. I believe Elijah kept praying because he knew God would keep His promise to send rain, and we can have this same confidence in God to keep His promise. Elijah was not some "super saint" who reached a level of faith unattainable by us, but as James says, "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit." (James 5:17-18) Elijah was an ordinary man who was used mightily by God and his actions were recorded to show us how we too can be used mightily by God when we pray the prayer of faith. James wrote these words to show us that, "...the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16) In other words, there is great power in prayer. Prayer does more than we realize because when we pray we are asking God for help, and there is nothing too hard for Him. Whatever promises you may be praying for, be encouraged and keep praying. Remember to focus on God and trust Him as the God who will always keep His promise.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Changed by Grace
Many times teaching on God's grace leads some to wonder if the message of grace encourages people to sin. While there may be some who do use it as an excuse I believe that a true understanding of God's grace will not encourage a person to sin but will actually help them to walk in holiness. I believe the Bible is clear that we can all be changed by grace, and I would like to share some things the Bible says about God's grace and it's influence in our lives.
Romans 6:1-2- "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?"
Here Paul addressed this issue, asking if God's grace allows people to continue in sin. His answer was "no" or more precisely, "Certainly not!" This phrase was often used to describe something that was completely unthinkable. In this passage, and the rest of Romans 6, we are told why the answer is no: believers are already dead to sin. Basically God did not simply forgive us, He made us into a totally new creature. 2Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
God in His grace reached into my life when I totally helpless, brought me out of darkness and into His marvelous light, and made me into a new creature. Now my desire is to serve Him in everything I do, not because I "have to," but because of what He did for me when I could do nothing for myself. When I was dead in sin Jesus breathed new life into me and now He has enabled me to reflect His nature to those around me. This is the message of grace, and I believe that as we renew our minds to this truth we will be changed and this will become a reality in our lives (see Romans 12:2).
Titus 2:11-12- "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age."
In this verse it says that the grace of God teaches us. This speaks of the fact that having a true understanding of God's grace will motivate us to walk in holiness. This summer I found myself thinking about the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and recently I have seen the truth of God's amazing grace more than ever before. As a result I saw more growth and experienced greater victories than ever before. It came, not as a result of me saying, "I can do it," but when I said, "Lord I can't do this, I need Your mercy and grace to do this in me."
One of the greatest of miracles is this work that God, in His grace, does in our hearts. Millions have seen God work this miracle in their lives through the ages, I am seeing God work this miracle in my own life, and God can work this miracle in Your life.
I would like to end this week's blog by sharing a quote from Charles Spurgeon that goes along with the thoughts I have shared:
"I cannot conceive it possible for anyone truly to receive Christ as Savior and
yet not receive Him as Lord. A man who is really saved by grace does not need to
be told that he is under solemn obligations to serve Christ. The new life within
him tells him that. Instead of regarding it as a burden, he gladly surrenders
himself- spirit, soul, and body- to the Lord who has redeemed him, reckoning
this to be his reasonable service."
May everyone who reads this experience the miracle of God's grace and fully enter into His rest.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Many Members
1Corinthians 12:12-27- "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and all have been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand I am not of the body,' is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,' is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary, but our presentable parts have no need. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unrepresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."
In this passage we see the Church compared to a human body, with the focus on the fact that this body "is one and has many members." We see that just us our bodies have different parts with different functions, we each have a specific place in the body of Christ. The fact that there is "one body" tells us that there is to be unity among believers, but we are also told that there are "many members," which shows us that we are not all to be exactly alike. Psalm 33:15 says, "He [God] fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works." God has created us to be unique: He created you to express an aspect of His glory that no one else can. You are unique and you have a place in God's kingdom that only you fit. This passage tells us of two attitudes that often keep us from finding our place in God's kingdom:
Some think they have to be like everyone else:
There are some who look down on themselves and think there is something wrong with them because they aren't just like everyone else. So many people today are miserable because they are trying to fit into a mold that was made for someone else. God made each of us unique and we can reflect His nature in a way that no one else can. I have often used the illustration of a puzzle when discussing this: each piece of the puzzle has a unique shape, has a different part of the picture on it, and each piece goes into a different place, but each piece fits together to make one puzzle. You may not be like everyone else, but God has fashioned your heart individually (uniquely) for a reason: so you will fit in that special place He has for you.
Some think they don't need the rest of the Church:
There are others who have the attitude: "I don't need anyone else, I can serve God by myself." The truth is, regardless of how smart a person may be, how talented they are, how much money they have, or even how much discipline they may have, we need each other. Even though we are each unique, even though we are many members we must not forget that we are still "one body."
If anyone reading this has struggled with either of these attitudes I want to remind you that you are valuable to the Lord. In one of the earlier blogs I wrote that we are each God's treasure (It is titled "God's Treasure"). I encourage you to look back at that blog and remind yourself that you are valuable to God. You may not see yourself as valuable, but God does. How much does God love us? We see the answer in this statement: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while were still sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). The Lord has such a love for You that He paid the ultimate price to have You as His own. Learn to rest in God's love and find your value in Him instead of what you accomplish or what others say or think. As you do this you will find a peace and a joy that comes only from the Lord.
In this passage we see the Church compared to a human body, with the focus on the fact that this body "is one and has many members." We see that just us our bodies have different parts with different functions, we each have a specific place in the body of Christ. The fact that there is "one body" tells us that there is to be unity among believers, but we are also told that there are "many members," which shows us that we are not all to be exactly alike. Psalm 33:15 says, "He [God] fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works." God has created us to be unique: He created you to express an aspect of His glory that no one else can. You are unique and you have a place in God's kingdom that only you fit. This passage tells us of two attitudes that often keep us from finding our place in God's kingdom:
Some think they have to be like everyone else:
There are some who look down on themselves and think there is something wrong with them because they aren't just like everyone else. So many people today are miserable because they are trying to fit into a mold that was made for someone else. God made each of us unique and we can reflect His nature in a way that no one else can. I have often used the illustration of a puzzle when discussing this: each piece of the puzzle has a unique shape, has a different part of the picture on it, and each piece goes into a different place, but each piece fits together to make one puzzle. You may not be like everyone else, but God has fashioned your heart individually (uniquely) for a reason: so you will fit in that special place He has for you.
Some think they don't need the rest of the Church:
There are others who have the attitude: "I don't need anyone else, I can serve God by myself." The truth is, regardless of how smart a person may be, how talented they are, how much money they have, or even how much discipline they may have, we need each other. Even though we are each unique, even though we are many members we must not forget that we are still "one body."
If anyone reading this has struggled with either of these attitudes I want to remind you that you are valuable to the Lord. In one of the earlier blogs I wrote that we are each God's treasure (It is titled "God's Treasure"). I encourage you to look back at that blog and remind yourself that you are valuable to God. You may not see yourself as valuable, but God does. How much does God love us? We see the answer in this statement: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while were still sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). The Lord has such a love for You that He paid the ultimate price to have You as His own. Learn to rest in God's love and find your value in Him instead of what you accomplish or what others say or think. As you do this you will find a peace and a joy that comes only from the Lord.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Crucified With Christ
Galatians 6:14- "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world."
Here we see first that the apostle Paul decided to "boast" only in the cross. In other words he decided to put his confidence in the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross. I have often heard people talk about "crucifying the flesh," but in Galatians 5:24 Paul wrote, "And those who are Christ's have (past tense) crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." The word "have" is in the past tense, telling us that the flesh has already been crucified! I don't have to try to "crucify the flesh" (the old sin nature) because Jesus already did it! In Galatians 2:20 we read: "I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Here Paul said, "I have been (already) crucified with Christ." Paul realized that he was a new creation because Jesus died on the cross and rose again and that he was now able to be a revelation of Jesus to everyone he met. Paul did not have this confidence because of his own effort, but because of what Jesus did. Paul believed that Jesus has already overcome and worked from that position of victory. In my own life I found myself experiencing greater victory and greater joy when I realized this truth that "the flesh" has already been dealt with. Let us look to the Lord, believing that we are free at this moment because of what He did for us and let us follow Him as He leads us into the experience of His finished work.
In Galatians 6:14 we also see Paul stating that through the cross he was dead to the world. This means he was free from the world's influence. In the Bible we are consistently told that believers are not to be like the world. The Lord has called us to not be influenced by the world, but to be an influence in the world. By dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead Jesus set us free from sin and gave us a new nature so that we can be a reflection of Him to the world around us. In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus called His followers the light of the world. In that verse (Matthew 5:14-16) Jesus did not tell us to be the light, but said, "You are the light of the world." He then told us to let our light shine by showing with our actions who God is.
At this moment you are free, you have overcome, and you are totally righteous because of Jesus. He did the work and finished it and now you can be a expression of who God is to the world around you, bringing light into the darkness because, "... greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1John 4:4)
Here we see first that the apostle Paul decided to "boast" only in the cross. In other words he decided to put his confidence in the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross. I have often heard people talk about "crucifying the flesh," but in Galatians 5:24 Paul wrote, "And those who are Christ's have (past tense) crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." The word "have" is in the past tense, telling us that the flesh has already been crucified! I don't have to try to "crucify the flesh" (the old sin nature) because Jesus already did it! In Galatians 2:20 we read: "I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Here Paul said, "I have been (already) crucified with Christ." Paul realized that he was a new creation because Jesus died on the cross and rose again and that he was now able to be a revelation of Jesus to everyone he met. Paul did not have this confidence because of his own effort, but because of what Jesus did. Paul believed that Jesus has already overcome and worked from that position of victory. In my own life I found myself experiencing greater victory and greater joy when I realized this truth that "the flesh" has already been dealt with. Let us look to the Lord, believing that we are free at this moment because of what He did for us and let us follow Him as He leads us into the experience of His finished work.
In Galatians 6:14 we also see Paul stating that through the cross he was dead to the world. This means he was free from the world's influence. In the Bible we are consistently told that believers are not to be like the world. The Lord has called us to not be influenced by the world, but to be an influence in the world. By dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead Jesus set us free from sin and gave us a new nature so that we can be a reflection of Him to the world around us. In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus called His followers the light of the world. In that verse (Matthew 5:14-16) Jesus did not tell us to be the light, but said, "You are the light of the world." He then told us to let our light shine by showing with our actions who God is.
At this moment you are free, you have overcome, and you are totally righteous because of Jesus. He did the work and finished it and now you can be a expression of who God is to the world around you, bringing light into the darkness because, "... greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1John 4:4)
Monday, February 1, 2010
"Pursuing Perfection"
Hebrews 2:11- "For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren..."
In this verse we see believers being referred to as, "those who are being sanctified," The word "sanctified" means, "set apart, to make holy." Notice that God is the One who sanctifies. We are not cleaning ourselves up but letting Him work in us to clean us up. The fact that we are BEING SANCTIFIED (present tense) shows that we are currently going through a process of growing to be more like the Lord. Regardless of how long someone has been following the Lord, they will always find that there is some way in which they have fallen short of perfection. None of us have "arrived" spiritually (and we will only when we are in heaven). The apostle Paul realized this and wrote, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)
Comparing his life to a race, Paul painted a picture of a runner who knew his race wasn't over yet and kept running, giving it everything he had to finish the race. Paul's passion was to know Jesus and be like Him (see Philippians 3:8-11), and he passionately pursued that goal, always aware that while he may have made progress he still had not fully realized that goal. There is another important fact revealed here about Paul's pursuit: his decision to forget "those things which are behind." This simply means Paul refused to let his past keep him from going forward. Paul apparently learned that he was a new creature in Christ Jesus and refused to let his past mistakes slow him down. In this life we must press on in this passionate pursuit of the Lord.
I find it amazing that in Hebrews 2:11 it says that the Lord is not ashamed to call us His "brethren." I really love this: the Lord sees our weaknesses and He works with us on those points, but He is not ashamed of us. God is far more patient with us than we are with ourselves-and He sees this process differently than many of us do:
Hebrews 10:10- "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
While in Hebrews 2:11 it says we are "being sanctified [present tense]" it says here that we "have been sanctified[past tense]." So which is correct, past tense or present tense? They both are. Colossians 2:10 tells us that we are "complete in Him [Jesus]," and Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." God sees our perfection as something that happened at the cross. The process we now experience is simply one of us growing into who we already are. Both Hebrews 10:10 and 10:14 speak of "one sacrifice" with reference to Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus did the work and finished it, actually declaring, "It is finished!" (John 19:30) We know that we will grow into this perfection because Jesus already did it when He died and rose again! Now we can look to Jesus not just to forgive us but to also perfect us and bring deliverance, freedom, and healing. Jesus did the work completely and He has laid hold of us (Philippians 3:12) to help us press on to be all He wants us to be.
In this verse we see believers being referred to as, "those who are being sanctified," The word "sanctified" means, "set apart, to make holy." Notice that God is the One who sanctifies. We are not cleaning ourselves up but letting Him work in us to clean us up. The fact that we are BEING SANCTIFIED (present tense) shows that we are currently going through a process of growing to be more like the Lord. Regardless of how long someone has been following the Lord, they will always find that there is some way in which they have fallen short of perfection. None of us have "arrived" spiritually (and we will only when we are in heaven). The apostle Paul realized this and wrote, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)
Comparing his life to a race, Paul painted a picture of a runner who knew his race wasn't over yet and kept running, giving it everything he had to finish the race. Paul's passion was to know Jesus and be like Him (see Philippians 3:8-11), and he passionately pursued that goal, always aware that while he may have made progress he still had not fully realized that goal. There is another important fact revealed here about Paul's pursuit: his decision to forget "those things which are behind." This simply means Paul refused to let his past keep him from going forward. Paul apparently learned that he was a new creature in Christ Jesus and refused to let his past mistakes slow him down. In this life we must press on in this passionate pursuit of the Lord.
I find it amazing that in Hebrews 2:11 it says that the Lord is not ashamed to call us His "brethren." I really love this: the Lord sees our weaknesses and He works with us on those points, but He is not ashamed of us. God is far more patient with us than we are with ourselves-and He sees this process differently than many of us do:
Hebrews 10:10- "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
While in Hebrews 2:11 it says we are "being sanctified [present tense]" it says here that we "have been sanctified[past tense]." So which is correct, past tense or present tense? They both are. Colossians 2:10 tells us that we are "complete in Him [Jesus]," and Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." God sees our perfection as something that happened at the cross. The process we now experience is simply one of us growing into who we already are. Both Hebrews 10:10 and 10:14 speak of "one sacrifice" with reference to Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus did the work and finished it, actually declaring, "It is finished!" (John 19:30) We know that we will grow into this perfection because Jesus already did it when He died and rose again! Now we can look to Jesus not just to forgive us but to also perfect us and bring deliverance, freedom, and healing. Jesus did the work completely and He has laid hold of us (Philippians 3:12) to help us press on to be all He wants us to be.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Walk in Love
Ephesians 5:2- "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma."
In the Bible a person's lifestyle is frequently referred to as their "walk." Here we are told to "walk in love." Jesus' love for us is given as the example for how we are to love. In John 15:12 Jesus told His disciples: "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Notice that we are to love as He has loved us. In this blog I would like to share a few things the word of God says about expressing God's love to those around us.
Matthew 22:37- 40- "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love you neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' "
Jesus had been asked which of God's commandments was the greatest, and this was His answer: love God and love people. While studying to write this blog, I kept thinking of the last sentence in this passage: "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Everything God commands will be fulfilled when we truly love Him and love people. This truth is taught again in Romans 13:8-10, which says, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, all are summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.' " In John 14:23 Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word..." These statements all make it clear that our love for God causes us to be obedient to Him.
Now I would like to mention five characteristics of love:
(1)-Love for God cannot be separated from love for people:
1John 4:20-"If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
This statement couldn't be clearer: it is impossible for a person to love God without also loving people. A person who truly loves people is most likely someone who loves God as well.
(2)-Love is to be demonstrated:
1John 3:18- "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth."
This statement makes it clear that true love is to be expressed by our actions. Inward qualities (such as love) produce corresponding actions. If you truly love someone that love can be seen.
(3)-Love is sacrificial:
Romans 5:8- "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
1John 3:16- "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Jesus demonstrated His love by laying down His life as a sacrifice for a human race that had turned it's back on God. the love of God is a sacrificial love that compels us to go to great lengths to see others restored to God and brought close to Him. This sacrificial love does not cause us to ask what we can get, but what we can give.
(4)-Love keeps us from focusing on others' faults:
1Peter 4:8- "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for, 'Love will cover a multitude of sins.' "
Loving someone does not mean saying it's okay for them to sin, but when you love someone your focus is not on their faults. When we do this we will find ourselves loving people as they are, seeing them as valuable because God loves them and they are valuable to Him even with their weaknesses. God loves even the most sinful and rebellious person on the planet, and His heart longs for them to turn fully to Him. When that kind of love is developed in us there will be no sacrifice too great if it leads people to the Lord.
(5)-Love is something Christians already have in them:
In Galatians 6:22-23 love is mentioned as one of the fruits of the Spirit, which is the result of the indwelling Holy Spirit's work in believers. If you have truly been born again, this love is already in you and the Holy Spirit is working to develop it in you. I believe that as you remind yourself of this and ask for His help, the Lord will help you to walk in His love in an even greater way and you will be a revelation of God's love to those around you.
In the Bible a person's lifestyle is frequently referred to as their "walk." Here we are told to "walk in love." Jesus' love for us is given as the example for how we are to love. In John 15:12 Jesus told His disciples: "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Notice that we are to love as He has loved us. In this blog I would like to share a few things the word of God says about expressing God's love to those around us.
Matthew 22:37- 40- "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love you neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.' "
Jesus had been asked which of God's commandments was the greatest, and this was His answer: love God and love people. While studying to write this blog, I kept thinking of the last sentence in this passage: "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Everything God commands will be fulfilled when we truly love Him and love people. This truth is taught again in Romans 13:8-10, which says, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, all are summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.' " In John 14:23 Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word..." These statements all make it clear that our love for God causes us to be obedient to Him.
Now I would like to mention five characteristics of love:
(1)-Love for God cannot be separated from love for people:
1John 4:20-"If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
This statement couldn't be clearer: it is impossible for a person to love God without also loving people. A person who truly loves people is most likely someone who loves God as well.
(2)-Love is to be demonstrated:
1John 3:18- "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth."
This statement makes it clear that true love is to be expressed by our actions. Inward qualities (such as love) produce corresponding actions. If you truly love someone that love can be seen.
(3)-Love is sacrificial:
Romans 5:8- "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
1John 3:16- "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Jesus demonstrated His love by laying down His life as a sacrifice for a human race that had turned it's back on God. the love of God is a sacrificial love that compels us to go to great lengths to see others restored to God and brought close to Him. This sacrificial love does not cause us to ask what we can get, but what we can give.
(4)-Love keeps us from focusing on others' faults:
1Peter 4:8- "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for, 'Love will cover a multitude of sins.' "
Loving someone does not mean saying it's okay for them to sin, but when you love someone your focus is not on their faults. When we do this we will find ourselves loving people as they are, seeing them as valuable because God loves them and they are valuable to Him even with their weaknesses. God loves even the most sinful and rebellious person on the planet, and His heart longs for them to turn fully to Him. When that kind of love is developed in us there will be no sacrifice too great if it leads people to the Lord.
(5)-Love is something Christians already have in them:
In Galatians 6:22-23 love is mentioned as one of the fruits of the Spirit, which is the result of the indwelling Holy Spirit's work in believers. If you have truly been born again, this love is already in you and the Holy Spirit is working to develop it in you. I believe that as you remind yourself of this and ask for His help, the Lord will help you to walk in His love in an even greater way and you will be a revelation of God's love to those around you.
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