As I have been writing about managing our thoughts and working off of Carolyn Leavy’s process; thoughts -> emotions - > attitudes -> behaviors, it is important to look at what happens when thoughts become entrenched and therefore, attitudes and behaviors also become entrenched. This is what Paul addresses in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
(2 Cor 10:3-5) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
A stronghold (according to author and counselor, Jim Logan, “is a mindset impregnated with hopelessness that causes me to accept as unchangeable something that we know is contrary to he will of God.” In other words, a stronghold refuses to believe that we have divine power to tear them down. Strongholds are built on the basis of a lie not the truth.Strongholds are torn down in the same way they are uilt up. Two lines of thought contribute to strongholds: strongholds, rationalizations and high places. Rationalizations are thoughts developed apart from the truth of God. We rationalize when we think without being informed by the reasoning truth of God. High places are like those in the Old Testament, they are places of worship. They are places that we hold on to; they could be things, relationships, attitudes that we believe we deserve to hold to, that for us are security, define our meaning in life, something that we blieve we cannot let go because life would be lost, they are a ‘high places of worship.’ Tearing down strongholds requires a rigorous honesty before God with our thoughts and a willingness to allow God’s truth to reign supreme.
(John 8:31-32) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Christ and Cancer
The following is the text of a message by John Piper, entitled, "Christ and Cancer"
Christ and Cancer | Desiring God link
By John Piper August 17, 1980
Romans 8:18-28
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. 27 And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.
Before I entered college I hardly gave a thought to cancer and terminal illness. But ever since those college days death by disease has walked beside me all the way. Two of my college acquaintances died of leukemia and cancer of the lymph glands before they were 22. At seminary I watched Jim Morgan, my teacher of systematic theology, shrivel up and die in less than a year of intestinal cancer. He was 36. In my graduate program in Germany my own "doctor-father," Professor Goppelt, died suddenly just before I was finished. He was 62—a massive coronary. Then I came to Bethel, the house of God! And I taught for six years and watched students, teachers, and administrators die of cancer: Sue Port, Paul Greely, Bob Bergerud, Ruth Ludeman, Graydon Held, Chet Lindsay, Mary Ellen Carlson—all Christians, all dead before their three score and ten were up. And now I've come to Bethlehem and Harvey Ring is gone. And you could multiply the list ten-fold.
What shall we say to these things? Something must be said because sickness and death are threats to faith in the love and power of God. And I regard it as my primary responsibility as a pastor to nourish and strengthen faith in the love and power of God. There is no weapon like the Word of God for warding off threats to faith. And so I want us to listen carefully today to the teaching of Scripture regarding Christ and cancer, the power and love of God over against the sickness of our bodies.
I regard this message today as a crucial pastoral message, because you need to know where your pastor stands on the issues of sickness, healing, and death. If you thought it was my conception that every sickness is a divine judgment on some particular sin, or that the failure to be healed after a few days of prayer was a clear sign of inauthentic faith, or that Satan is really the ruler in this world and God can only stand helplessly by while his enemy wreaks havoc with his children—if you thought any of those were my notions, you would relate to me very differently in sickness than you would if you knew what I really think. Therefore, I want to tell you what I really think and try to show you from Scripture that these thoughts are not just mine but also, I trust, God's thoughts.
Six Affirmations Toward a Theology of Suffering
So I would like everyone who has a Bible to turn with me to Romans 8:18–28. There are six affirmations which sum up my theology of sickness, and at least the seed for each of these affirmations is here. Let's read the text:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. (RSV)
1. All Creation Has Been Subjected to Futility
My first affirmation is this: the age in which we live, which extends from the fall of man into sin until the second coming of Christ, is an age in which the creation, including our bodies, has been "subjected to futility" and "enslaved to corruption." Verse 20: "The creation was subjected to futility.'' Verse 21: "The creation will be freed from slavery to corruption." And the reason we know this includes our bodies is given in verse 23: not only the wider creation but "we ourselves (i.e., Christians) groan in ourselves awaiting sonship, the redemption of our bodies." Our bodies are part of creation and participate in all the futility and corruption to which creation has been subjected.
Who is this in verse 20 that subjected creation to futility and enslaved it to corruption? It is God. The only other possible candidates to consider would be Satan or man himself. Perhaps Paul meant that Satan, in bringing man into sin, or man, in choosing to disobey God—perhaps one of them is referred to as the one who subjected creation to futility. But neither Satan nor man can be meant because of the words "in hope" at the end of verse 20. This little phrase, subjected "in hope," gives the design or purpose of the one who subjected creation to futility. But it was neither man's nor Satan's intention to bring corruption upon the world in order that the hope of redemption might be kindled in men's hearts and that someday the "freedom of the glory of the children of God" might shine more brightly. Only one person could subject the creation to futility with that design and purpose, namely, the just and loving creator.
Therefore, I conclude that this world stands under the judicial sentence of God upon a rebellious and sinful mankind—a sentence of universal futility and corruption. And no one is excluded, not even the precious children of God.
Probably the futility and corruption Paul speaks of refers to both spiritual and physical ruination. On the one hand man in his fallen state is enslaved to flawed perception, misconceived goals, foolish blunders, and spiritual numbness. On the other hand, there are floods, famines, volcanoes, earthquakes, tidal waves, plagues, snake bites, car accidents, plane crashes, asthma, allergies, and the common cold, and cancer, all rending and wracking the human body with pain and bringing men—all men—to the dust.
As long as we are in the body we are slaves to corruption. Paul said this same thing in another place. In 2 Corinthians 4:16 he said, "We do not lose heart, but though our outer man (i.e., the body) is decaying (i.e., being corrupted) yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." The word Paul uses for decay or corrupt here is the same one used in Luke 12:33 where Jesus said, Make sure your treasure is in heaven "where thief does not come near and moth does not corrupt." Just like a coat in a warm, dark closet will get moth eaten and ruined, so our bodies in this fallen world are going to be ruined one way or the other. For all creation has been subjected to futility and enslaved to corruption while this age lasts. That is my first affirmation.
2. An Age of Deliverance and Redemption Is Coming
My second affirmation is this: there is an age coming when all the children of God, who have endured to the end in faith, will be delivered from all futility and corruption, spiritually and physically. According to verse 21, the hope in which God subjected creation was that some day "The creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God." And verse 23 says that "We ourselves groan within ourselves waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." It has not happened yet. We wait. But it will happen. "Our citizenship is in heaven from which we await a Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our lowliness to be like the body of his glory" (Philippians 3:20, 21). "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52). "He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there shall be no longer any death; and there shall be no longer any mourning or crying or pain; the first things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).
There is coming a day when every crutch will be carved up, and every wheelchair melted down into medallions of redemption. And Merlin and Reuben and Jim and Hazel and Ruth and all the others among us will do cartwheels through the Kingdom of Heaven. But not yet. Not yet. We groan, waiting for the redemption of our bodies. But the day is coming and that is my second affirmation.
3. Christ Purchased, Demonstrated, and Gave a Foretaste of It
Third, Jesus Christ came and died to purchase our redemption, to demonstrate the character of that redemption as both spiritual and physical, and to give us a foretaste of it. He purchased our redemption, demonstrated its character, and gave us a foretaste of it. Please listen carefully, for this is a truth badly distorted by many healers of our day.
The prophet Isaiah foretold the work of Christ like this in 53:5–6 (a text which Peter applied to Christians in 1 Peter 2:24):
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (RSV)
The blessing of forgiveness and the blessing of physical healing were purchased by Christ when he died for us on the cross. And all those who give their lives to him shall have both of these benefits. But when? That is the question of today. When will we be healed? When will our bodies no longer be enslaved to corruption?
The ministry of Jesus was a ministry of healing and forgiveness. He said to the disciples of John the Baptist, "Go and tell John what you see and hear: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me" (Matthew 11:4–6). Offense? Why would anyone take offense at one who raises the dead and brings in the long expected kingdom? Easy—he only raised about three people. He left hundreds in the tombs all around him. Why? Because not enough relatives had faith? O no! When Jesus raised the widow's son in Luke 7:13, 14, she didn't know him from Adam. It was not because of her faith. All it says is, "He had compassion on her." What then? Didn't he pity all the other bereaved in Israel?
The answer to why Jesus did not raise all the dead is that, contrary to the Jewish expectation, the first coming of the Messiah was not the consummation and full redemption of this fallen age. The first coming was rather to purchase that consummation, illustrate its character, and bring a foretaste of it to his people. Therefore, Jesus raised some of the dead to illustrate that he has that power and one day will come again and exercise it for all his people. And he healed the sick to illustrate that in his final kingdom this is how it will be. There will be no more crying or pain any more.
But we do have a foretaste of our redemption now in this age. The benefits purchased by the cross can be enjoyed in measure even now, including healing. God can and does heal the sick now in answer to our prayers. But not always. The miracle mongers of our day, who guarantee that Jesus wants you well now and heap guilt after guilt on the back of God's people asserting that the only thing between them and health is unbelief, have failed to understand the nature of God's purposes in this fallen age. They have minimized the depth of sin and the cruciality of God's purifying chastening and the value of faith through suffering and they are guilty of trying to force into this age what God has reserved for the next.
Notice the flow of thought in Romans 8:23, 24: "We ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan in ourselves waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies, for in hope we have been saved." Because of Christ's purchased redemption, believers already have received the Holy Spirit. This is like a down payment of our full redemption, but it is only the first-fruits, a foretaste. And when Paul stresses that we, even we ourselves, who have this Spirit groan awaiting the redemption of our bodies, you can tell that he is warning against the false inference that because we've been saved, therefore our groaning with decaying bodies is over. So he goes on to say in verse 24, "For we have been saved in hope." Our salvation is not finished, it is only begun. We are saved only in hope. This is true morally; Paul says in Galatians 5:5, "We through the Spirit by faith are waiting for the hope of righteousness." And it is true physically; we wait for the redemption of our bodies. Christ has purchased that redemption, demonstrated its physical reality in his healing ministry, and given us a foretaste of it by healing many people in our day, but some very slowly, some only partly, and some not at all. That is my third affirmation.
4. God Controls All Suffering for the Good of His People
Fourth, God controls who gets sick and who gets well, and all his decisions are for the good of his children, even if they may be very painful and long-lasting. It was God who subjected creation to futility and corruption, and he is the one who can liberate it again. In Exodus 4:11, when Moses refused to go speak to Pharaoh, God said to him, "Who made man's mouth? Who makes him dumb or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I the Lord?" Behind all sickness is finally the sovereign hand of God. God speaks in Deuteronomy 32:39, "See now that I, I am he, and there is no God besides me; it is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal; and there is no one who can deliver from my hand."
But what about Satan? Isn't he the great enemy of our wholeness? Doesn't he attack us morally and physically? Wasn't it Satan who tormented Job? Yes, it was. But Satan has no power but what is allotted to him by God. He is an enemy on a chain. In fact, for the writer of the book of Job it was not wrong to say that the sores afflicted by Satan were sent from God. For example, in Job 2:7 we read, "So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and afflicted Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head." Then after Job's wife urges him to curse God and die, Job says, "Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and not receive evil?" And lest we think that Job erred in attributing to God his sores afflicted by Satan, the writer adds in verse 10, "In all this Job did not sin with his lips." In other words, it is no sin to recognize the sovereign hand of God even behind a disease of which Satan may be the more immediate cause.
Satan may be sly but on some things he is stupid, because he fails to see that all his attempts to despoil the godly are simply turned by God's providence into occasions for the purifying and strengthening of faith. God's goal for his people in this age is not primarily to rid them of sickness and pain, but to purge us of all the remnants of sin and cause us in our weakness to cleave to him as our only hope.
My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; for those whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives . . . he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Hebrews 12:5, 6, 10, 11)
All the affliction that comes to the children of God, whether through persecution or sickness, is intended by God to increase our holiness by causing us to rely more on the God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1:9). If we get angry at God in our sickness we are rejecting his love. For it is always in love that he disciplines his children. It is for our good and we must seek to learn some rich lesson of faith from it. Then we will say with the psalmist, "It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn thy statutes . . . I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me" (Psalm 119:71, 75). That is my fourth affirmation: ultimately God controls who gets sick and who gets well and all his decisions are for the good of his children, even if the pain is great and the sickness long. For as the last verse of our text, Romans 8:28, says, "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose."
5. We Should Pray for Healing Power and Sustaining Grace
The fifth affirmation is that we should therefore pray for God's help both to heal and to strengthen faith while we are unhealed. It is fitting that a child ask his father for relief in trouble. And it is fitting that a loving Father give his child only what is best. And that he always does: sometimes healing now, sometimes not. But always, always what is best for us.
But if sometimes it is best for us not to be healed now, how shall we know what to pray? How shall we know when to stop asking for healing and only ask for grace to trust his goodness? Paul had faced this problem in his own experience. You recall from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 that Paul, not unlike Job, was given a thorn in the flesh which he called a "messenger of Satan." We don't know what sort of pain or malady it was, but he says that he prayed three times for its removal. But then God gave him the assurance that though he would not heal him, yet his grace would be sufficient and his power would be manifest not in healing but in the faithful service of Paul through suffering.
In our text at Romans 8:26, 27 Paul addresses the same problem, I think: While we are waiting for the redemption of our bodies "the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words and he (God) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Sometimes all we can do is cry out for help because we do not know in what form the help should come. The Spirit of God takes our stumbling, uncertain expressions of need and brings them before God in a form that accords with God's intentions. And God responds graciously and meets our needs. Not always as we at first hoped, but always for our good.
So let us not be proud and stand aloof from God stoically bearing what fate has brought. Rather let us run to our Father in prayer and plead for help in time of need. That is my fifth affirmation.
6. We Should Always Trust in the Power and Goodness of God
Sixth, and finally, we should always trust in the love and power of God, even in the darkest hour of suffering. The thing that distresses me most about those who say Christians should always be miraculously healed is that they give the impression that the quality of faith can only be measured by whether a miracle of physical healing takes place, whereas in much of the New Testament you get the impression that the quality of our faith is reflected in the joy and confidence we maintain in God through suffering.
The great chapter on faith in the Bible is Hebrews 11. It begins, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." What is often overlooked in this chapter, though, is the final eight verses where we get the balanced picture of faith as that which lays hold on God for rescue from suffering, and as that which lays hold on God for peace and hope in suffering. Verse 33: "By faith they conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection." Now if we stopped reading here our conception of how the quality of faith manifests itself would be very distorted, because here it sounds as if faith always wins in this life. But here a shift occurs and we find that faith is also the power to lose our life: "By faith . . . others were tortured, not accepting release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheep skins, in goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground . . . And all these gained approval through their faith."
The glory of God is manifested when he heals and when he gives a sweet spirit of hope and peace to the person that he does not heal, for that, too, is a miracle of grace! O, that we might be a people among whom God is often healing our sicknesses, but is always causing us to be full of joy and peace while our sicknesses remain. If we are a humble and childlike people who cry out to God in our need and trust in his promises, the Holy Spirit will help us and God will bless our church with every possible blessing. He will, as the text says, work everything together for our good.
That is my theology of sickness in a nutshell. First, in this age all creation, including our bodies, has been subjected to futility and enslaved to corruption. Second, there is a new age coming when all those who endure to the end in faith will be set free from all pain and sickness. Third, Jesus Christ came and died to purchase our redemption, demonstrate its character as both spiritual and physical, and give us a foretaste of it now. Fourth, God controls who gets sick and who gets well, and all his decisions are for the good of his children even if they are painful. Fifth, we should pray for God's help both to heal and to strengthen faith while we are unhealed, and should depend on the Holy Spirit's intercession when we don't know which to pray for. Finally, we should always trust in the power and love of God, even in the darkest hour of suffering.
O, that we might be an assembly of saints who echo from the bottom of our hearts the faith of Joni Eareckson after a long struggle with paralysis and depression. She wrote at the end of her book: "The girl who became emotionally distraught, and wavered at each new set of circumstances is now grown up, a woman who has learned to rely on God's sovereignty" (Joni, p. 190).
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Christ and Cancer | Desiring God link
By John Piper August 17, 1980
Romans 8:18-28
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. 27 And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.
Before I entered college I hardly gave a thought to cancer and terminal illness. But ever since those college days death by disease has walked beside me all the way. Two of my college acquaintances died of leukemia and cancer of the lymph glands before they were 22. At seminary I watched Jim Morgan, my teacher of systematic theology, shrivel up and die in less than a year of intestinal cancer. He was 36. In my graduate program in Germany my own "doctor-father," Professor Goppelt, died suddenly just before I was finished. He was 62—a massive coronary. Then I came to Bethel, the house of God! And I taught for six years and watched students, teachers, and administrators die of cancer: Sue Port, Paul Greely, Bob Bergerud, Ruth Ludeman, Graydon Held, Chet Lindsay, Mary Ellen Carlson—all Christians, all dead before their three score and ten were up. And now I've come to Bethlehem and Harvey Ring is gone. And you could multiply the list ten-fold.
What shall we say to these things? Something must be said because sickness and death are threats to faith in the love and power of God. And I regard it as my primary responsibility as a pastor to nourish and strengthen faith in the love and power of God. There is no weapon like the Word of God for warding off threats to faith. And so I want us to listen carefully today to the teaching of Scripture regarding Christ and cancer, the power and love of God over against the sickness of our bodies.
I regard this message today as a crucial pastoral message, because you need to know where your pastor stands on the issues of sickness, healing, and death. If you thought it was my conception that every sickness is a divine judgment on some particular sin, or that the failure to be healed after a few days of prayer was a clear sign of inauthentic faith, or that Satan is really the ruler in this world and God can only stand helplessly by while his enemy wreaks havoc with his children—if you thought any of those were my notions, you would relate to me very differently in sickness than you would if you knew what I really think. Therefore, I want to tell you what I really think and try to show you from Scripture that these thoughts are not just mine but also, I trust, God's thoughts.
Six Affirmations Toward a Theology of Suffering
So I would like everyone who has a Bible to turn with me to Romans 8:18–28. There are six affirmations which sum up my theology of sickness, and at least the seed for each of these affirmations is here. Let's read the text:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. (RSV)
1. All Creation Has Been Subjected to Futility
My first affirmation is this: the age in which we live, which extends from the fall of man into sin until the second coming of Christ, is an age in which the creation, including our bodies, has been "subjected to futility" and "enslaved to corruption." Verse 20: "The creation was subjected to futility.'' Verse 21: "The creation will be freed from slavery to corruption." And the reason we know this includes our bodies is given in verse 23: not only the wider creation but "we ourselves (i.e., Christians) groan in ourselves awaiting sonship, the redemption of our bodies." Our bodies are part of creation and participate in all the futility and corruption to which creation has been subjected.
Who is this in verse 20 that subjected creation to futility and enslaved it to corruption? It is God. The only other possible candidates to consider would be Satan or man himself. Perhaps Paul meant that Satan, in bringing man into sin, or man, in choosing to disobey God—perhaps one of them is referred to as the one who subjected creation to futility. But neither Satan nor man can be meant because of the words "in hope" at the end of verse 20. This little phrase, subjected "in hope," gives the design or purpose of the one who subjected creation to futility. But it was neither man's nor Satan's intention to bring corruption upon the world in order that the hope of redemption might be kindled in men's hearts and that someday the "freedom of the glory of the children of God" might shine more brightly. Only one person could subject the creation to futility with that design and purpose, namely, the just and loving creator.
Therefore, I conclude that this world stands under the judicial sentence of God upon a rebellious and sinful mankind—a sentence of universal futility and corruption. And no one is excluded, not even the precious children of God.
Probably the futility and corruption Paul speaks of refers to both spiritual and physical ruination. On the one hand man in his fallen state is enslaved to flawed perception, misconceived goals, foolish blunders, and spiritual numbness. On the other hand, there are floods, famines, volcanoes, earthquakes, tidal waves, plagues, snake bites, car accidents, plane crashes, asthma, allergies, and the common cold, and cancer, all rending and wracking the human body with pain and bringing men—all men—to the dust.
As long as we are in the body we are slaves to corruption. Paul said this same thing in another place. In 2 Corinthians 4:16 he said, "We do not lose heart, but though our outer man (i.e., the body) is decaying (i.e., being corrupted) yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." The word Paul uses for decay or corrupt here is the same one used in Luke 12:33 where Jesus said, Make sure your treasure is in heaven "where thief does not come near and moth does not corrupt." Just like a coat in a warm, dark closet will get moth eaten and ruined, so our bodies in this fallen world are going to be ruined one way or the other. For all creation has been subjected to futility and enslaved to corruption while this age lasts. That is my first affirmation.
2. An Age of Deliverance and Redemption Is Coming
My second affirmation is this: there is an age coming when all the children of God, who have endured to the end in faith, will be delivered from all futility and corruption, spiritually and physically. According to verse 21, the hope in which God subjected creation was that some day "The creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God." And verse 23 says that "We ourselves groan within ourselves waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." It has not happened yet. We wait. But it will happen. "Our citizenship is in heaven from which we await a Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our lowliness to be like the body of his glory" (Philippians 3:20, 21). "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52). "He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there shall be no longer any death; and there shall be no longer any mourning or crying or pain; the first things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).
There is coming a day when every crutch will be carved up, and every wheelchair melted down into medallions of redemption. And Merlin and Reuben and Jim and Hazel and Ruth and all the others among us will do cartwheels through the Kingdom of Heaven. But not yet. Not yet. We groan, waiting for the redemption of our bodies. But the day is coming and that is my second affirmation.
3. Christ Purchased, Demonstrated, and Gave a Foretaste of It
Third, Jesus Christ came and died to purchase our redemption, to demonstrate the character of that redemption as both spiritual and physical, and to give us a foretaste of it. He purchased our redemption, demonstrated its character, and gave us a foretaste of it. Please listen carefully, for this is a truth badly distorted by many healers of our day.
The prophet Isaiah foretold the work of Christ like this in 53:5–6 (a text which Peter applied to Christians in 1 Peter 2:24):
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (RSV)
The blessing of forgiveness and the blessing of physical healing were purchased by Christ when he died for us on the cross. And all those who give their lives to him shall have both of these benefits. But when? That is the question of today. When will we be healed? When will our bodies no longer be enslaved to corruption?
The ministry of Jesus was a ministry of healing and forgiveness. He said to the disciples of John the Baptist, "Go and tell John what you see and hear: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me" (Matthew 11:4–6). Offense? Why would anyone take offense at one who raises the dead and brings in the long expected kingdom? Easy—he only raised about three people. He left hundreds in the tombs all around him. Why? Because not enough relatives had faith? O no! When Jesus raised the widow's son in Luke 7:13, 14, she didn't know him from Adam. It was not because of her faith. All it says is, "He had compassion on her." What then? Didn't he pity all the other bereaved in Israel?
The answer to why Jesus did not raise all the dead is that, contrary to the Jewish expectation, the first coming of the Messiah was not the consummation and full redemption of this fallen age. The first coming was rather to purchase that consummation, illustrate its character, and bring a foretaste of it to his people. Therefore, Jesus raised some of the dead to illustrate that he has that power and one day will come again and exercise it for all his people. And he healed the sick to illustrate that in his final kingdom this is how it will be. There will be no more crying or pain any more.
But we do have a foretaste of our redemption now in this age. The benefits purchased by the cross can be enjoyed in measure even now, including healing. God can and does heal the sick now in answer to our prayers. But not always. The miracle mongers of our day, who guarantee that Jesus wants you well now and heap guilt after guilt on the back of God's people asserting that the only thing between them and health is unbelief, have failed to understand the nature of God's purposes in this fallen age. They have minimized the depth of sin and the cruciality of God's purifying chastening and the value of faith through suffering and they are guilty of trying to force into this age what God has reserved for the next.
Notice the flow of thought in Romans 8:23, 24: "We ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan in ourselves waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies, for in hope we have been saved." Because of Christ's purchased redemption, believers already have received the Holy Spirit. This is like a down payment of our full redemption, but it is only the first-fruits, a foretaste. And when Paul stresses that we, even we ourselves, who have this Spirit groan awaiting the redemption of our bodies, you can tell that he is warning against the false inference that because we've been saved, therefore our groaning with decaying bodies is over. So he goes on to say in verse 24, "For we have been saved in hope." Our salvation is not finished, it is only begun. We are saved only in hope. This is true morally; Paul says in Galatians 5:5, "We through the Spirit by faith are waiting for the hope of righteousness." And it is true physically; we wait for the redemption of our bodies. Christ has purchased that redemption, demonstrated its physical reality in his healing ministry, and given us a foretaste of it by healing many people in our day, but some very slowly, some only partly, and some not at all. That is my third affirmation.
4. God Controls All Suffering for the Good of His People
Fourth, God controls who gets sick and who gets well, and all his decisions are for the good of his children, even if they may be very painful and long-lasting. It was God who subjected creation to futility and corruption, and he is the one who can liberate it again. In Exodus 4:11, when Moses refused to go speak to Pharaoh, God said to him, "Who made man's mouth? Who makes him dumb or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I the Lord?" Behind all sickness is finally the sovereign hand of God. God speaks in Deuteronomy 32:39, "See now that I, I am he, and there is no God besides me; it is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal; and there is no one who can deliver from my hand."
But what about Satan? Isn't he the great enemy of our wholeness? Doesn't he attack us morally and physically? Wasn't it Satan who tormented Job? Yes, it was. But Satan has no power but what is allotted to him by God. He is an enemy on a chain. In fact, for the writer of the book of Job it was not wrong to say that the sores afflicted by Satan were sent from God. For example, in Job 2:7 we read, "So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and afflicted Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head." Then after Job's wife urges him to curse God and die, Job says, "Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and not receive evil?" And lest we think that Job erred in attributing to God his sores afflicted by Satan, the writer adds in verse 10, "In all this Job did not sin with his lips." In other words, it is no sin to recognize the sovereign hand of God even behind a disease of which Satan may be the more immediate cause.
Satan may be sly but on some things he is stupid, because he fails to see that all his attempts to despoil the godly are simply turned by God's providence into occasions for the purifying and strengthening of faith. God's goal for his people in this age is not primarily to rid them of sickness and pain, but to purge us of all the remnants of sin and cause us in our weakness to cleave to him as our only hope.
My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; for those whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives . . . he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Hebrews 12:5, 6, 10, 11)
All the affliction that comes to the children of God, whether through persecution or sickness, is intended by God to increase our holiness by causing us to rely more on the God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1:9). If we get angry at God in our sickness we are rejecting his love. For it is always in love that he disciplines his children. It is for our good and we must seek to learn some rich lesson of faith from it. Then we will say with the psalmist, "It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn thy statutes . . . I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me" (Psalm 119:71, 75). That is my fourth affirmation: ultimately God controls who gets sick and who gets well and all his decisions are for the good of his children, even if the pain is great and the sickness long. For as the last verse of our text, Romans 8:28, says, "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose."
5. We Should Pray for Healing Power and Sustaining Grace
The fifth affirmation is that we should therefore pray for God's help both to heal and to strengthen faith while we are unhealed. It is fitting that a child ask his father for relief in trouble. And it is fitting that a loving Father give his child only what is best. And that he always does: sometimes healing now, sometimes not. But always, always what is best for us.
But if sometimes it is best for us not to be healed now, how shall we know what to pray? How shall we know when to stop asking for healing and only ask for grace to trust his goodness? Paul had faced this problem in his own experience. You recall from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 that Paul, not unlike Job, was given a thorn in the flesh which he called a "messenger of Satan." We don't know what sort of pain or malady it was, but he says that he prayed three times for its removal. But then God gave him the assurance that though he would not heal him, yet his grace would be sufficient and his power would be manifest not in healing but in the faithful service of Paul through suffering.
In our text at Romans 8:26, 27 Paul addresses the same problem, I think: While we are waiting for the redemption of our bodies "the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words and he (God) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Sometimes all we can do is cry out for help because we do not know in what form the help should come. The Spirit of God takes our stumbling, uncertain expressions of need and brings them before God in a form that accords with God's intentions. And God responds graciously and meets our needs. Not always as we at first hoped, but always for our good.
So let us not be proud and stand aloof from God stoically bearing what fate has brought. Rather let us run to our Father in prayer and plead for help in time of need. That is my fifth affirmation.
6. We Should Always Trust in the Power and Goodness of God
Sixth, and finally, we should always trust in the love and power of God, even in the darkest hour of suffering. The thing that distresses me most about those who say Christians should always be miraculously healed is that they give the impression that the quality of faith can only be measured by whether a miracle of physical healing takes place, whereas in much of the New Testament you get the impression that the quality of our faith is reflected in the joy and confidence we maintain in God through suffering.
The great chapter on faith in the Bible is Hebrews 11. It begins, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." What is often overlooked in this chapter, though, is the final eight verses where we get the balanced picture of faith as that which lays hold on God for rescue from suffering, and as that which lays hold on God for peace and hope in suffering. Verse 33: "By faith they conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection." Now if we stopped reading here our conception of how the quality of faith manifests itself would be very distorted, because here it sounds as if faith always wins in this life. But here a shift occurs and we find that faith is also the power to lose our life: "By faith . . . others were tortured, not accepting release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheep skins, in goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground . . . And all these gained approval through their faith."
The glory of God is manifested when he heals and when he gives a sweet spirit of hope and peace to the person that he does not heal, for that, too, is a miracle of grace! O, that we might be a people among whom God is often healing our sicknesses, but is always causing us to be full of joy and peace while our sicknesses remain. If we are a humble and childlike people who cry out to God in our need and trust in his promises, the Holy Spirit will help us and God will bless our church with every possible blessing. He will, as the text says, work everything together for our good.
That is my theology of sickness in a nutshell. First, in this age all creation, including our bodies, has been subjected to futility and enslaved to corruption. Second, there is a new age coming when all those who endure to the end in faith will be set free from all pain and sickness. Third, Jesus Christ came and died to purchase our redemption, demonstrate its character as both spiritual and physical, and give us a foretaste of it now. Fourth, God controls who gets sick and who gets well, and all his decisions are for the good of his children even if they are painful. Fifth, we should pray for God's help both to heal and to strengthen faith while we are unhealed, and should depend on the Holy Spirit's intercession when we don't know which to pray for. Finally, we should always trust in the power and love of God, even in the darkest hour of suffering.
O, that we might be an assembly of saints who echo from the bottom of our hearts the faith of Joni Eareckson after a long struggle with paralysis and depression. She wrote at the end of her book: "The girl who became emotionally distraught, and wavered at each new set of circumstances is now grown up, a woman who has learned to rely on God's sovereignty" (Joni, p. 190).
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Friday, August 21, 2009
Rationalizations and High Places
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 is another thought management passage. We started in Romans 12:2 and the inside-out process given by Carolyn Leavy in her book, Who Switched off my Brain.
Thoughts -> emotions -> attitudes -> behaviors. If you want behavioral change, work on your thought life. In Romans 12:2, mind renewal is encouraged by yielding ourselves to the work of the Spirit of God. Then in Philippians 4, we looked at the replacement principle. Paul gives us eight positive qualities to replace any toxic thoughts that we might run after in our mind. Here again is a reminder from Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
In 2 Corinthians we are encouraged to take captive our thoughts. The word, Take captive” has the idea of taking captive at spear point. Visualizing this may be helpful in your thought management process.
Two issues influence our rabbit-train thinking according to 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
(2 Cor 10:3-6) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. {6} And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
Note these principles in this passage:
1. Our process of managing thoughts employs resources that are right out of heaven.
2. Strongholds are those established thought and attitudes entrenched over time and repeated thinking in an area. They can be demolished.
3. Strongholds are established through two lines of thinking: rationalizations and the establishment of worship centers, called “high places.”
4. Thoughts can be taken captive.
More tomorrow.
Thoughts -> emotions -> attitudes -> behaviors. If you want behavioral change, work on your thought life. In Romans 12:2, mind renewal is encouraged by yielding ourselves to the work of the Spirit of God. Then in Philippians 4, we looked at the replacement principle. Paul gives us eight positive qualities to replace any toxic thoughts that we might run after in our mind. Here again is a reminder from Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
In 2 Corinthians we are encouraged to take captive our thoughts. The word, Take captive” has the idea of taking captive at spear point. Visualizing this may be helpful in your thought management process.
Two issues influence our rabbit-train thinking according to 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
(2 Cor 10:3-6) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. {6} And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
Note these principles in this passage:
1. Our process of managing thoughts employs resources that are right out of heaven.
2. Strongholds are those established thought and attitudes entrenched over time and repeated thinking in an area. They can be demolished.
3. Strongholds are established through two lines of thinking: rationalizations and the establishment of worship centers, called “high places.”
4. Thoughts can be taken captive.
More tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Skill by Practice only
Over the last few weeks, I have been focused on how to manage our thought life. Thoughts stir emotions, which then develop attitudes and then lead to behaviors. This is an inside-out process as is all of spiritual formation directed in the Bible. Along the way, I have tried to give some practical applications for the development of the skill of managing our thoughts. How have you been doing practicing using my suggestions? If you have done nothing or very little, let me lovingly encourage you. Who of you in any area of your skill, gained that skill without practice? Can a piano student become proficient without practice? Can a brick layer, become a skilled apprentice without practicing brick laying. Can an athlete become a skilled player without practice? I think you get the idea.
Many of you have been highly complementary and affirming about what you see in my life and Dottie’s life as we have gone through this last year and as we have shepherd the Southwood congregation. Your affirmation has certainly been a wonderful confirmation of God’s good work in our lives. Our confidence is in His work. Only His genuine work will stand as gold at His judgment seat and the rest deserves to be burned up. However, here is my challenge to you. I would be deeply disappointed if I carried away from my relationship with you, only your compliments. Seeing you takes steps to put into practice that things you have heard and seen in me would bring even greater affirmation. I exist not for compliments but to invest in every way possible the transformation of your lives. Note again, Philippians 4:4-9.
(Philippians 4:4-9) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. {6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. {9} Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Gentleness cannot be manifested in and through your life without inner transformation. Inner transformation takes place as you take anxious thoughts to the Lord in prayer, ask Him for help, and allow Him to direct our anxious thought from anxiety to positive trust. Paul gives a list of eight replacement thoughts. Finally, Paul encourages us to put into practice whatever has been heard and seen in and through Paul’s life. I also encourage you to put into practice whatever you have seen in others that has been the manifestation of the peace of God worked into their lives by the Spirit of God as a genuine evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. Practice, practice, practice! Remember, there is no spiritual transformation by proxy, only by personal practice.
Have you written Philippians 4:4-9 on a 3 x 5 card so you can carry it with you? Memorization would be even better but writing it out so that the passage is readily available for view and meditation is also sufficient. Meditation is nothing more than reviewing the passage in our minds, reflecting on the truths in the passage, and praying that God will shape our thoughts by the truth of this passage. We all meditate throughout the day. But do we manage what is the content of our meditation? Use this passage to replace unproductive meditation with positive, fruitful meditation. Practice, practice, practice!!!
May the peace of God begin to become a guard for your hearts. I pray that you will become skilled in this area.
Many of you have been highly complementary and affirming about what you see in my life and Dottie’s life as we have gone through this last year and as we have shepherd the Southwood congregation. Your affirmation has certainly been a wonderful confirmation of God’s good work in our lives. Our confidence is in His work. Only His genuine work will stand as gold at His judgment seat and the rest deserves to be burned up. However, here is my challenge to you. I would be deeply disappointed if I carried away from my relationship with you, only your compliments. Seeing you takes steps to put into practice that things you have heard and seen in me would bring even greater affirmation. I exist not for compliments but to invest in every way possible the transformation of your lives. Note again, Philippians 4:4-9.
(Philippians 4:4-9) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. {6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. {9} Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Gentleness cannot be manifested in and through your life without inner transformation. Inner transformation takes place as you take anxious thoughts to the Lord in prayer, ask Him for help, and allow Him to direct our anxious thought from anxiety to positive trust. Paul gives a list of eight replacement thoughts. Finally, Paul encourages us to put into practice whatever has been heard and seen in and through Paul’s life. I also encourage you to put into practice whatever you have seen in others that has been the manifestation of the peace of God worked into their lives by the Spirit of God as a genuine evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. Practice, practice, practice! Remember, there is no spiritual transformation by proxy, only by personal practice.
Have you written Philippians 4:4-9 on a 3 x 5 card so you can carry it with you? Memorization would be even better but writing it out so that the passage is readily available for view and meditation is also sufficient. Meditation is nothing more than reviewing the passage in our minds, reflecting on the truths in the passage, and praying that God will shape our thoughts by the truth of this passage. We all meditate throughout the day. But do we manage what is the content of our meditation? Use this passage to replace unproductive meditation with positive, fruitful meditation. Practice, practice, practice!!!
May the peace of God begin to become a guard for your hearts. I pray that you will become skilled in this area.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Choices and Joy
If you are someone who has put your trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you have a new heart, new potentialities to be all that God has desired you to be. His life transforming power in the person of the Holy Spirit indwells you. You are a child of God and have all of the new opportunities this new family relationship provides. You have not arrived at perfection. Perfection happens when you transfer to heaven. But this side of heaven provides all of the potential to experience a taste of heaven, to enjoy the presence of God and the privilege of serving God. In all of this you have the choice to choose thoughts that bring joy. Real joy does not depend on circumstances but on your confidence the God who is in charge of life.
In my listening of Ken Boa’s audio series on James, on James 1:2, he noted that there are three why’s that can be asked.
(James 1:2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
1) Why of grumbling: Why are you letting this happen? Why are you so inept? Why do you not have my best interest at heart? Are you not in control? Why can’t I seem to trust you? These are question that we may not vocalize out loud but have as subconscious thoughts in our grumbling.
2) Why of guidance: What do you want me to do. This is why turned into a what. What are You trying to teach me? This is a more productive approach.
3) Why of gratitude: Why have you been so good to me? Why have you allowed me to be born this country? Why have you given me good health, friends, etc.? Why do I deserve this? Am I better than others?
You get to choose your response to life’s trials. You don’t get to choose the trial or type of trial. Trials will come to all of us. You have a choice by the act of your will. Your greatest resource apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit is your will. Your will and the thoughts you choose to dwell upon will shape your life (Proverbs 4:23). The real you, with your holy intentions(the result of God’s indwelling transformative power) can experience real joy and the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work. There is a divine synergy between your will and the Holy Spirit that allows you to grow in a deepening freedom to think and act in a more Christlike manner. Even though your flesh (the part of you that persists in acting contrary to the will of God) will always be with you, time and practice will give you new thoughts, emotions, attitudes and behaviors as you walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16. Keep choosing the right thoughts (Philippians 4:8) and enjoy God’s type of joy as you walk with Him.
In my listening of Ken Boa’s audio series on James, on James 1:2, he noted that there are three why’s that can be asked.
(James 1:2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
1) Why of grumbling: Why are you letting this happen? Why are you so inept? Why do you not have my best interest at heart? Are you not in control? Why can’t I seem to trust you? These are question that we may not vocalize out loud but have as subconscious thoughts in our grumbling.
2) Why of guidance: What do you want me to do. This is why turned into a what. What are You trying to teach me? This is a more productive approach.
3) Why of gratitude: Why have you been so good to me? Why have you allowed me to be born this country? Why have you given me good health, friends, etc.? Why do I deserve this? Am I better than others?
You get to choose your response to life’s trials. You don’t get to choose the trial or type of trial. Trials will come to all of us. You have a choice by the act of your will. Your greatest resource apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit is your will. Your will and the thoughts you choose to dwell upon will shape your life (Proverbs 4:23). The real you, with your holy intentions(the result of God’s indwelling transformative power) can experience real joy and the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work. There is a divine synergy between your will and the Holy Spirit that allows you to grow in a deepening freedom to think and act in a more Christlike manner. Even though your flesh (the part of you that persists in acting contrary to the will of God) will always be with you, time and practice will give you new thoughts, emotions, attitudes and behaviors as you walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16. Keep choosing the right thoughts (Philippians 4:8) and enjoy God’s type of joy as you walk with Him.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Compartmentalization
I am very aware that one of the dangers of American Christianity is our ability to compartmentalize our faith. How are doing with my suggestions for managing your thoughts? Is this irrelevant activity or only for the seriously religious or religious employed? I hope not. I have just begun to listen to the audio of Ken Boa's series on the epistle of James. James leaves no area of our life untouched by the truth of God's Word. Since Christianity is an inside-out process and integrates all of our life, thoughts in every area, throughout the day, in every aspect of life are to be managed by the truth of God's Word. Keep at it. Allow God to keep doing His perfect work.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Trust and Guard
I finished listening and taking notes on Ken Boa’s series on Proverbs early this morning. I also received through Amazon in the mail yesterday, his workbook on Proverbs, Pursuing Wisdom by Kenneth Boa & Gail Burnett (NavPress). Ken Boa’s summary of Proverbs keys on two applications:
1) Trusting God implicitly
2) Guarding your hearts completely
If you have been with me on this blog you can pick up both of those. Remember the definition for faith? Faith is choosing to believe that God has reveled, in His Word, my truth and reality in spite of my feelings or circumstances Have you memorized this definition or written it on a 3 x 5 card, a piece of paper, or anything? What are you waiting for? This definition should be an anchor point on developing a trust in God in everyday life. Has He not given us every reason to trust Him. Dottie and I are seeking to do so with regard to our future. Our most often quoted verse is Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you with great joy and peace as you trust in Him so that hope may overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And then, if you have followed my recent blogs, I have been encouraging us to guard our hearts and thoughts. Thoughts lead to emotions, which lead to attitudes, and then behavior. Spiritual transformation is from he inside out. Keep the eight healthy thought qualities from Philippians 4:8 in mind and use them to redirect your rabbit trail thoughts.
(Philippians 4:8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
When we head off in the car, we have been reminding each other of things for which we are grateful. Our goal is ten grateful things. This is a good exercise for the heart.
(Proverbs 4:23) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
1) Trusting God implicitly
2) Guarding your hearts completely
If you have been with me on this blog you can pick up both of those. Remember the definition for faith? Faith is choosing to believe that God has reveled, in His Word, my truth and reality in spite of my feelings or circumstances Have you memorized this definition or written it on a 3 x 5 card, a piece of paper, or anything? What are you waiting for? This definition should be an anchor point on developing a trust in God in everyday life. Has He not given us every reason to trust Him. Dottie and I are seeking to do so with regard to our future. Our most often quoted verse is Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you with great joy and peace as you trust in Him so that hope may overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
And then, if you have followed my recent blogs, I have been encouraging us to guard our hearts and thoughts. Thoughts lead to emotions, which lead to attitudes, and then behavior. Spiritual transformation is from he inside out. Keep the eight healthy thought qualities from Philippians 4:8 in mind and use them to redirect your rabbit trail thoughts.
(Philippians 4:8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
When we head off in the car, we have been reminding each other of things for which we are grateful. Our goal is ten grateful things. This is a good exercise for the heart.
(Proverbs 4:23) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Thoughts and yielding
How have you been doing in yielding to the Spirit of God over this last day? Let’s combine yielding with the mind renewal principles that I have been communicating over the last few days. Remember, thoughts -> emotions -> attitudes -> behavior, so if I am going to change and manifest the fruit of the Spirit, it begins in the thought life. How has your thought life been for the last few days? What do you think about? What dominates your life? What bring anxiety?
In Philippians 4:8, Paul encourages us with the principle of replacement. I find it impossible to deny wrong thoughts. To say to self, “don’t think about that thought,” is like posting a “do not touch sign.” Paul offers a better solution. In the face of anxiety, have replacement thoughts available. He gives us eight words that can be used as replacement thoughts:
Whatever is ... true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. When anxious thoughts come, develop a replacement thought according to verse 8. Try this: you have a meeting with someone tomorrow and you are anxious about its outcome. What is true? God is with you. He will help you. He is overseeing all that is going on in your life. He will help you know what to say and do. Transform your thoughts by replacing them with true thoughts. You have the freedom to do so. Refresh yourself on the other verses before and after verse 8. You have prayer, The Lord is near. God is available to guard your heart and mind. Think about the things guided by verse 8. Put this into practice (v. 9). Walk in the Spirit, one step at a time. Write out Philippians 4:4:4-9 on a 3 x 5 card with the replacement words in verse 8 in separate lines. Keep it with you at all times as a reminder of where your thoughts should go and where your spiritual resource for life transforming power comes from. You are on a great journey of transformation and freedom. God is at work within you to carry out His good purpose (Philippians 2:13)Keep at it daily, one step at a time. You will make progress and the outcome will be wonderful!
I have been thoroughly enjoying the audio lecture series by Ken Boa on Pursuing Wisdom from Proverbs. Check it out. But don’t add it to your activity list until you have worked carefully and diligently on your thought life as outlined above.
(Prov 4:23) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
In Philippians 4:8, Paul encourages us with the principle of replacement. I find it impossible to deny wrong thoughts. To say to self, “don’t think about that thought,” is like posting a “do not touch sign.” Paul offers a better solution. In the face of anxiety, have replacement thoughts available. He gives us eight words that can be used as replacement thoughts:
Whatever is ... true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. When anxious thoughts come, develop a replacement thought according to verse 8. Try this: you have a meeting with someone tomorrow and you are anxious about its outcome. What is true? God is with you. He will help you. He is overseeing all that is going on in your life. He will help you know what to say and do. Transform your thoughts by replacing them with true thoughts. You have the freedom to do so. Refresh yourself on the other verses before and after verse 8. You have prayer, The Lord is near. God is available to guard your heart and mind. Think about the things guided by verse 8. Put this into practice (v. 9). Walk in the Spirit, one step at a time. Write out Philippians 4:4:4-9 on a 3 x 5 card with the replacement words in verse 8 in separate lines. Keep it with you at all times as a reminder of where your thoughts should go and where your spiritual resource for life transforming power comes from. You are on a great journey of transformation and freedom. God is at work within you to carry out His good purpose (Philippians 2:13)Keep at it daily, one step at a time. You will make progress and the outcome will be wonderful!
I have been thoroughly enjoying the audio lecture series by Ken Boa on Pursuing Wisdom from Proverbs. Check it out. But don’t add it to your activity list until you have worked carefully and diligently on your thought life as outlined above.
(Prov 4:23) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Yielding to God’s Spirit
Another great message yesterday [Southwood Current Messages] from Mark Crocco on yielding to God’s Spirit.
Here are some key points:
1. The Christian life is aChrist centered, Spirit empowered, faith driven life leading to Christlike transformation to the Glory of God.
2. Living in the supernatural power of God's Spirit involves choosing to place our dependence in the power of the Spirit of God on a daily basis (Galatians 5:16.
(Galatians 5:16) So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
3. Living in the supernatural power of God's Spirit involves choosing to yield to the control of the Spirit of God on a daily basis (Ephesians 5:18)
(Ephesians 5:18) Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
How do you do this on a practical level, in those everyday situations that test whether we are walking in the Spirit or the flesh? Typical of those everyday situations is our verbal responses to mates, children, co-workers, people in public, other family members, etc. A statement is made, you have a thought of how to respond, or you give your spontaneous response (not good!), or you rationalize briefly and then respond. As you respond or later in reflection or obviously by the reaction and/or conflict, you realize this comment did not match walking in the Spirit. It did not mimic, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What can you do to prevent your responses being out of the flesh? Two aspects are involved in learning how to walk in dependence on the Spirit: 1) preparation and process.
1) Preparation: Acknowledge who you are in Christ. If you have put your trust in Christ as your Savior, you are a new person. God’s Spirit lives in you and you have a whole new potential for living out God’s call upon your life. The flesh (the negative aspect of your life that rejects God’s authority) is still resident but does not have to have the upper hand. Please read Romans 6, especially vss 8-14.
(Rom 6:8-14) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. {9} For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. {10} The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. {11} In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. {12} Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. {13} Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves (yield) to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. {14} For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Couple with this reading, a review of the definition of faith: Faith is choosing to believe that God has reveled, in His Word, my truth and reality in spite of my feelings or circumstances. (This would be good to write on a 3 x 5 card so that it is always handy for review). Ask God to remind you of the reality of your newness in Christ. Based on the truth and reality revealed in Romans 6, remind yourself that you do have the capacity to respond according to the Spirit of God’s leading. You are no longer subject to your flesh and in spite of feelings or circumstances, you can respond in the Spirit. Acknowledge that this is not something you can do in your natural strength but only in the power provided by the Spirit of God.
2) Process: Learning to walk in the Spirit is a step-by-step process, just as it was for us as a child. Don’t be surprised if this takes time. You will have moments of stumbling. Keep focused on the freedom that comes from Spirit-enabled responses and pleasing God (review the blog on”Why no fear?” )
There is effort required on your part, which is why I assume so many of us are not making the progress we should. Don’t we wish that the preacher’s preaching would be used magically, so that we can walk out on Sunday morning, instantly transformed without any effort on our part? My assumption is that most of us experience some degree of conviction under Mark’s excellent preaching of theWord of God, have good intents, but very little follow-through. The rest of the day progresses, Monday comes with it’s full schedule and good intentions are lost on the altar of daily demands. So my challenge to you is to start walking in the Spirit. If not now, when? If not when, then why not? Continue to examine your thought life as the basis for your emotions, attitudes, and behaviors. Thoughts are the root of the issue. If your thoughts are rationalizing, in denial, projecting, or any other excuses, how come? Why wouldn’t your great relationship with God be sufficient motive to hunger and thirst after His righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Why isn’t the motive to please Him dominate in your life? (2 Corinthians 5:9).
Take the first step and keep walking.
Here are some key points:
1. The Christian life is aChrist centered, Spirit empowered, faith driven life leading to Christlike transformation to the Glory of God.
2. Living in the supernatural power of God's Spirit involves choosing to place our dependence in the power of the Spirit of God on a daily basis (Galatians 5:16.
(Galatians 5:16) So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
3. Living in the supernatural power of God's Spirit involves choosing to yield to the control of the Spirit of God on a daily basis (Ephesians 5:18)
(Ephesians 5:18) Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
How do you do this on a practical level, in those everyday situations that test whether we are walking in the Spirit or the flesh? Typical of those everyday situations is our verbal responses to mates, children, co-workers, people in public, other family members, etc. A statement is made, you have a thought of how to respond, or you give your spontaneous response (not good!), or you rationalize briefly and then respond. As you respond or later in reflection or obviously by the reaction and/or conflict, you realize this comment did not match walking in the Spirit. It did not mimic, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What can you do to prevent your responses being out of the flesh? Two aspects are involved in learning how to walk in dependence on the Spirit: 1) preparation and process.
1) Preparation: Acknowledge who you are in Christ. If you have put your trust in Christ as your Savior, you are a new person. God’s Spirit lives in you and you have a whole new potential for living out God’s call upon your life. The flesh (the negative aspect of your life that rejects God’s authority) is still resident but does not have to have the upper hand. Please read Romans 6, especially vss 8-14.
(Rom 6:8-14) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. {9} For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. {10} The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. {11} In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. {12} Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. {13} Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves (yield) to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. {14} For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Couple with this reading, a review of the definition of faith: Faith is choosing to believe that God has reveled, in His Word, my truth and reality in spite of my feelings or circumstances. (This would be good to write on a 3 x 5 card so that it is always handy for review). Ask God to remind you of the reality of your newness in Christ. Based on the truth and reality revealed in Romans 6, remind yourself that you do have the capacity to respond according to the Spirit of God’s leading. You are no longer subject to your flesh and in spite of feelings or circumstances, you can respond in the Spirit. Acknowledge that this is not something you can do in your natural strength but only in the power provided by the Spirit of God.
2) Process: Learning to walk in the Spirit is a step-by-step process, just as it was for us as a child. Don’t be surprised if this takes time. You will have moments of stumbling. Keep focused on the freedom that comes from Spirit-enabled responses and pleasing God (review the blog on”Why no fear?” )
There is effort required on your part, which is why I assume so many of us are not making the progress we should. Don’t we wish that the preacher’s preaching would be used magically, so that we can walk out on Sunday morning, instantly transformed without any effort on our part? My assumption is that most of us experience some degree of conviction under Mark’s excellent preaching of theWord of God, have good intents, but very little follow-through. The rest of the day progresses, Monday comes with it’s full schedule and good intentions are lost on the altar of daily demands. So my challenge to you is to start walking in the Spirit. If not now, when? If not when, then why not? Continue to examine your thought life as the basis for your emotions, attitudes, and behaviors. Thoughts are the root of the issue. If your thoughts are rationalizing, in denial, projecting, or any other excuses, how come? Why wouldn’t your great relationship with God be sufficient motive to hunger and thirst after His righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Why isn’t the motive to please Him dominate in your life? (2 Corinthians 5:9).
Take the first step and keep walking.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Why no fear?
I am keenly aware that most of us live fairly busy lives and thought lives consumed with the details and activities of the day. Those who have work and home responsibilities have enough to keep them busy from early morning to late evening. So, where do we fit in spiritual formation (the inner character development that shapes our thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors) to be more like the character of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit? My familiarity with people leads me to believe that most of us want Christlike character but don’t take the time or don’t know how. We show up on Sunday am, Saturday night, or whenever church fellowship meets, hear a convicting message, have good intentions of making changes, but on Monday, life moves on. Why isn’t spiritual formation a higher priority for us? I have some thoughts as I have been encouraging us to manage our thoughts in Philippians 4:4-9.
1. We don’t recognize the priority of pursuing eternal values. Life is ok. There are no serious problems occurring, other than the daily squabbles with kids, occasion, not-so-gentle response to our mate, irritations with co-workers, irritations at other drivers, clerks, parking lot attendants, etc. But, in general, we assume things are ok.
2. We don’t live with a real fear of God. This is the kind of fear that takes Him seriously each day and each moment of each day. We don’t recognize that we live in His presence and at any moment could be in His presence.
3. We are entrenched in a temporal value system and forget that earth is not our permanent home. Even though, we know in theory that haven is our real home, we have become comfortable in this place and heaven seems like a far off place. When you read the priority given in Proverbs of the fear of God.
(Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon draws this conclusion after pursuing life in every which way.
(Eccl 12:13) Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
As I reflected on my own attitudes and speech over this last wee and am convicted that all is not well, I asked why? Here is my assessment:
1. I have convinced myself that I want what I want and deserve, need, have rights that are more important than what God wants.
2. But it all boils down to the fact that I think my attitude and behavior at present is more important than my fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is not relevant in my life. How can someone who is facing a serious brain tumor situation have such an attitude. I hope you realize that this is deeply painful hard work. And I think my growth issues pale to insignificance compared to many others. I hope you take encouragement from the fact that I, at least partially understand, and am also working at these hard growth issues. Today I made a renewed commitment, that by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to allow God to have His perfect way. Along with this is a committed recognition that I want Him to be honored in my life and speech. If I truly believe that the Lord is truly Lord of my life, then my fear for Him (respect, trust, awareness of His holy presence, awareness that someday, possibly soon, I will be in His presence) should be sufficient motivation to allow Him to work out His thought, attitude, and behavior changes.
Keep up the progress.
(Phil 4:4-8) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. {6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
If interested, here is my list of verses that address the fear of the Lord (These verses were abstracted using eSword [www.eword.net] and searching in the NASB+ version for the Strong number, 3374, ‘yirah’
(Psa 19:9) The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
(Psa 34:11) Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
(Psa 55:5) Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.
(Psa 90:11) Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
(Psa 111:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
(Prov 1:29) Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD,
(Prov 2:5) then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
(Prov 8:13) To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
(Prov 9:10) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(Prov 10:27) The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
(Prov 14:26-27) He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. {27} The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
(Prov 15:16) Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.
(Prov 15:33) The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
(Prov 16:6) Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
(Prov 19:23) The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
(Prov 22:4) Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
(Prov 23:17) Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
(Isa 33:6) He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
(Isa 63:17) Why, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.
(Jer 32:40) I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.
And then note that it was one of Paul’s primary motives (see 2 Corinthians 5:9-11)
(2 Cor 5:9-11) So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. {10} For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. {11} Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
Enjoy what God is working into your life and out of your life. Those around you will benefit. You will have greater inner joy knowing that you are pleasing the One to whom you have been called to please.
1. We don’t recognize the priority of pursuing eternal values. Life is ok. There are no serious problems occurring, other than the daily squabbles with kids, occasion, not-so-gentle response to our mate, irritations with co-workers, irritations at other drivers, clerks, parking lot attendants, etc. But, in general, we assume things are ok.
2. We don’t live with a real fear of God. This is the kind of fear that takes Him seriously each day and each moment of each day. We don’t recognize that we live in His presence and at any moment could be in His presence.
3. We are entrenched in a temporal value system and forget that earth is not our permanent home. Even though, we know in theory that haven is our real home, we have become comfortable in this place and heaven seems like a far off place. When you read the priority given in Proverbs of the fear of God.
(Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon draws this conclusion after pursuing life in every which way.
(Eccl 12:13) Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
As I reflected on my own attitudes and speech over this last wee and am convicted that all is not well, I asked why? Here is my assessment:
1. I have convinced myself that I want what I want and deserve, need, have rights that are more important than what God wants.
2. But it all boils down to the fact that I think my attitude and behavior at present is more important than my fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is not relevant in my life. How can someone who is facing a serious brain tumor situation have such an attitude. I hope you realize that this is deeply painful hard work. And I think my growth issues pale to insignificance compared to many others. I hope you take encouragement from the fact that I, at least partially understand, and am also working at these hard growth issues. Today I made a renewed commitment, that by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to allow God to have His perfect way. Along with this is a committed recognition that I want Him to be honored in my life and speech. If I truly believe that the Lord is truly Lord of my life, then my fear for Him (respect, trust, awareness of His holy presence, awareness that someday, possibly soon, I will be in His presence) should be sufficient motivation to allow Him to work out His thought, attitude, and behavior changes.
Keep up the progress.
(Phil 4:4-8) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. {6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
If interested, here is my list of verses that address the fear of the Lord (These verses were abstracted using eSword [www.eword.net] and searching in the NASB+ version for the Strong number, 3374, ‘yirah’
(Psa 19:9) The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
(Psa 34:11) Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
(Psa 55:5) Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.
(Psa 90:11) Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
(Psa 111:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
(Prov 1:29) Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD,
(Prov 2:5) then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
(Prov 8:13) To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
(Prov 9:10) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(Prov 10:27) The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
(Prov 14:26-27) He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. {27} The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
(Prov 15:16) Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.
(Prov 15:33) The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
(Prov 16:6) Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
(Prov 19:23) The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
(Prov 22:4) Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
(Prov 23:17) Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
(Isa 33:6) He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
(Isa 63:17) Why, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.
(Jer 32:40) I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.
And then note that it was one of Paul’s primary motives (see 2 Corinthians 5:9-11)
(2 Cor 5:9-11) So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. {10} For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. {11} Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
Enjoy what God is working into your life and out of your life. Those around you will benefit. You will have greater inner joy knowing that you are pleasing the One to whom you have been called to please.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Managing thoughts: no anxiety
I have been addressing for several weeks the issue of managing our thoughts from the stimulus I received from Carolyn Leaf’s book, Who Switched Off My Brain?
Like you, my thought life is active. For that we can be thankful, sometimes, because it is an indication that we have a brain. But like you, I am not always pleased at the direction of my thoughts: anxious, irritated, impatient, angry, etc. And new a new passage that brings even more conviction.
(Philippians 4:4-9) {4) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. {6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. {9} Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Paul doesn’t leave any moment uncovered in the Philippians thought life when he uses comprehensive terms like, “rejoice always;” “gentleness evident to all;” “not anxious about anything.” Don’t I have any room to let my thoughts run down any rabbit trail any way that I want? Think about it. What emotions, attitudes, behaviors are being developed? And most of all, Who do you want to please the most (2 Corinthians 5:9)? For whom do you exist? Who is at work on your heart moving you in a direction to bring Him glory? Before whom will you someday appear for acknowledgment of what you have allowed Him to do in your life (2 Corinthians 5:10)?
The first help in Philippians 4:4-9 comes in verse 8. This verse was a tremendous help to my during my time in the navy. Whenever we had been in port for a few days, the men under my command and in my watch area would reiterate their shore activities, and it wasn’t good. There were things shared, vocabulary used that had the potential of filling my mind with trash. I had to find a way to combat those thoughts and Philippians 4:8 was very helpful. Whenever trash thoughts occurred in my mind, I replaced them with healthy thoughts from verse 8: whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. I became grateful that God was not only present in my life but was also present to let me know which thoughts were please and which were not pleasing to Him. Without Him, my thoughts would have run rampant if it were not for God’s presence and intervention. Here is a first step in managing thoughts in light of Philippians 4:8. When rotten thoughts come to your mind and you recognized them as such, thank God for His presence in your life and how He is reshaping your thought life. Without Him, where would you thoughts be? It frightens me sometimes and makes me grateful for His transforming presence (Romans 8:28-29). Develop true thoughts and other along the lines of verse 9 to replace the unhealthy thoughts (“toxic” in Carolyn Leavy’s words). Have a great day today seeing God at work in your life transforming thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and eventually behaviors.
(Philippians 4:4-9) {4) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Like you, my thought life is active. For that we can be thankful, sometimes, because it is an indication that we have a brain. But like you, I am not always pleased at the direction of my thoughts: anxious, irritated, impatient, angry, etc. And new a new passage that brings even more conviction.
(Philippians 4:4-9) {4) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. {6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. {9} Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Paul doesn’t leave any moment uncovered in the Philippians thought life when he uses comprehensive terms like, “rejoice always;” “gentleness evident to all;” “not anxious about anything.” Don’t I have any room to let my thoughts run down any rabbit trail any way that I want? Think about it. What emotions, attitudes, behaviors are being developed? And most of all, Who do you want to please the most (2 Corinthians 5:9)? For whom do you exist? Who is at work on your heart moving you in a direction to bring Him glory? Before whom will you someday appear for acknowledgment of what you have allowed Him to do in your life (2 Corinthians 5:10)?
The first help in Philippians 4:4-9 comes in verse 8. This verse was a tremendous help to my during my time in the navy. Whenever we had been in port for a few days, the men under my command and in my watch area would reiterate their shore activities, and it wasn’t good. There were things shared, vocabulary used that had the potential of filling my mind with trash. I had to find a way to combat those thoughts and Philippians 4:8 was very helpful. Whenever trash thoughts occurred in my mind, I replaced them with healthy thoughts from verse 8: whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. I became grateful that God was not only present in my life but was also present to let me know which thoughts were please and which were not pleasing to Him. Without Him, my thoughts would have run rampant if it were not for God’s presence and intervention. Here is a first step in managing thoughts in light of Philippians 4:8. When rotten thoughts come to your mind and you recognized them as such, thank God for His presence in your life and how He is reshaping your thought life. Without Him, where would you thoughts be? It frightens me sometimes and makes me grateful for His transforming presence (Romans 8:28-29). Develop true thoughts and other along the lines of verse 9 to replace the unhealthy thoughts (“toxic” in Carolyn Leavy’s words). Have a great day today seeing God at work in your life transforming thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and eventually behaviors.
(Philippians 4:4-9) {4) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Thoughts on thoughts
See my family blog on Awake and Rejoicing.
(Psa 118:24) This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Why not direct your thoughts in a direction that is encouraging? Who is telling you that you do not have the freedom and capability to think encouraging thoughts? If you want to continue to thinks thoughts of discouragment, maybe you have identified a root issue. Do you really want revege? You don’t think you are valuable? You have forgotten the richness of your present salvation and Who it is that has made you rich? Why not capture thoughts and direct them in a healthy direction? More on this when we get into Philippians 4:8 on Monday.
Check out my Family Blog on the joyful thoughts prompted early this early morning wakeup (I am still on decadron).
(Psa 118:24) This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Why not direct your thoughts in a direction that is encouraging? Who is telling you that you do not have the freedom and capability to think encouraging thoughts? If you want to continue to thinks thoughts of discouragment, maybe you have identified a root issue. Do you really want revege? You don’t think you are valuable? You have forgotten the richness of your present salvation and Who it is that has made you rich? Why not capture thoughts and direct them in a healthy direction? More on this when we get into Philippians 4:8 on Monday.
Check out my Family Blog on the joyful thoughts prompted early this early morning wakeup (I am still on decadron).
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