Jude 3-4 3Beloved, while I was making every effort to write
you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing
that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to
the saints.
Jude's little volume lies near the end of God's Word, urging us as Christians to "contend earnestly for the Faith once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3) Yesterday we talked about how to guard your passion for God by mainly contending earnestly for God's Word.
In today's blog we want to answer two simple questions: What are the dangers in being unpassionate for God? What is the cure for rekindling passion for God?
Meet a man who was unpassionate for God
Jude 4 tells us why Jude is exhorting his readers to "contend for the faith" - "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness (sensual behavior with no standards) and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude gives historical biblical incidents and people who in times past illustrate the kinds of persons who were infiltrating the church to which he wrote:
1. The rebellious First Generation of Israelites out of Egypt. Jude 5
2. The rebellious angels who followed Lucifer and became the demons. Jude 6
3. Sodom and Gomorrah, the wicked city in the days of Abraham. Jude 7
4. Cain, the first murderer in history. Jude 11
5. Korah, the rebel who attempted a coup on Moses. Jude 11
Another man is mentioned in Jude 11 by the name of Balaam. Balaam was a pagan prophet who lived in the days when Israel was near the end of their 40 year period of wandering in the wilderness. Numbers 22-24 tells the complete account of Balaam's attempts to curse Israel, with each time having him bless the people. Balaam is mentioned elsewhere in God's word as being the epitamy of immorality and heresy. (2 Peter 2:15 & Revelation 2:14)
Jude refers to the "way of Balaam" and warns his readers not to go down such a way. Why is Balaam the picture of a man who is unpassionate for God?
1. He compromised God's word. Numbers 22:20,38
Balaam was told by God to not go with certain men nor speak a word unless they either asked him to come or unless God gave Him a word. Balaam in both cases "almost obeyed", meaning that he either stopped short of obeying God (Numbers 22:20) or said words beyond what God told him to say (Numbers 22:38). Either way Balaam's paganism had him relying more on his drives and the forces of wickedness rather than God. (Numbers 24:1)
2. He was careless and reckless. Numbers 22:34
Despite the unusual circumstances of a talking donkey and the angel of the Lord nearly slaying him, Balaam's "lip-service" repentance was more an act of "being sorry" for getting caught. 2 Peter 2:15-16 tells us - "forsaking the right way, they have gone astray,
having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages
of unrighteousness; 16but he
received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking
with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet."
3. He rejected Christ for the wages of sin. Numbers 24:17
Balaam's final attempt to curse Israel was changed by God into a blessing. What made this final oracle of Balaam unique was in the fact he uttered a prophecy concerning the coming of Messiah through the bloodline of the tribe of Judah. (Numbers 24:17) Sadly the testimony of scripture bears out that "Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness. (2 Peter 2:15) Unlike Moses, who "considered the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures of Egypt", Balaam chose the riches of wickedness over the glimpse of Christ's glorious kingdom. (Hebrews 11:26 and 2 Peter 2:15) In fact Numbers 24:25 sadly states - "Then Balaam arose and departed".
In this brief survey of Balaam, the man who was unpassionate for God, we see a predictable pattern: compromise of God's Word leads to carelessness and recklessness. Carelessness and recklessness, consistently pursued, will lead to spiritual death in an area, or could even be evidence of never having been born again in the first place. In short, Christ is exchanged for a lesser glory, a destructive fancy and a whim of the flesh.
Your cure for rekindling passion for God
You and I can avoid Balaam's error by taking into our hearts Jude's prescription for guarding your passion for God. As we close today, I will just list in outline form what Jude prescribes in terms of guarding your passion for God:
1. Contend for God's words, rather than compromise. Jude 3-5
2. Care about repentance, rather than be careless. Jude 17-20
3. Cherish Christ, rather than reject Him. Jude 21-25
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Sunday, November 11, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
How to Guard Your Passion for God
Jude 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common
salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend
earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Guarding your Passion for God requires a pro-active faith
Jude had been desiring for quite some time to write a letter that dealt with the grand themes of salvation. Paul had written Romans and Peter had just penned 1 and 2 Peter. Would it be that perhaps the Holy Spirit would guide him to write a similar book? As he put his pen to the scroll, the Holy Ghost came upon Him and like wind in a sail, began to influence Him in a different direction. The Book of Jude is all about teaching us how to contend for the faith. It is about urging the Christian on how to be "pro-active", rather than "re-active" in their faith-life. By being proactive in contending for "the faith" once for delivered for the saints, Jude is urging us to guard our passion for God.
Its important to be passionate, not passive, in your faith-walk
So often when I find myself waning in my passion for God, it is due to two primary issues - either I have compromised or have simply been careless. The word "passion" literally comes from a Greek word "pathos" which has to do with convictions gained as a result of suffering or intense emotional experience. Thus we refer to Christ's suffering and death on the cross for sinners as His "Passion". If we are to be passionate for God, we must do as Jude exhorts throughout His letter: Contend earnestly for the faith.
Guarding your passion for God requires you to contend for God's Words
As you look at what Jude writes, he states: "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints." This phrase is worth unpacking, since it gives us what we need to guard our passion for God in the realm of God's word:
1. Contend earnestly.
The two English words here are translations of one Greek word that has to to with "intense agony or wrestling". We so often approach God and His word in a flippant manner. Do we view our Bibles and retaining of their contents in our hearts as a matter of spiritual survival? Jude uses the most intense word to describe the ferocity of intensity we must have in battling the three common enemies of love for God's word: the world, the flesh and the devil. (compare 1 John 2:17-16).
2. Contend earnestly for "The Faith"
The word "faith" in the Bible is used in at least three different ways. There is the gifting of faith, whereby and wherein I am persuaded to believe and follow Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-9; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). The second use is in reference to the believer's own actual act of believing the Gospel. I refer to this as my "small 'f'" faith, meaning my own personal faith in Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 1:12) The third use refers to the Christian faith itself, or what I call "capital 'F'" faith. This third use is mainly with reference to the scriptures and the chief doctrines and core contents of the Christian faith believed upon by every Christian. My "small-f " faith resides in and is based upon "capital - F " Faith which is authored and completed by Jesus Christ through His Word. (Hebrews 12:2)
3. Contend earnestly for the "Faith" which was once for all handed down to the saints
So in guarding your passion for God, you need to be "contending earnestly for "The Faith" that was handed down "once and for all". This little phrase "handed down" or "delivered to" is used elsewhere to describe the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3 "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." 2 Peter 2:21 "For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them."
The Bible is the photographic negative of the mind of God and Christ as revealed by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:16). It has been handed down "once for all", meaning that there is no more scripture being written today. We must proclaim it, obey it, cherish it and pass it on to the next generation.
The fact that it is handed down "to the saints" tells us that the saints "small -f " faith is fed by and nourished by the "capital - F " Faith handed down - that is, God's Word.
Only when you and I contend for God's Written Word, as prescribed by Jude, can we have a pro-active faith that will guard the passion needed to live for God.
Guarding your Passion for God requires a pro-active faith
Jude had been desiring for quite some time to write a letter that dealt with the grand themes of salvation. Paul had written Romans and Peter had just penned 1 and 2 Peter. Would it be that perhaps the Holy Spirit would guide him to write a similar book? As he put his pen to the scroll, the Holy Ghost came upon Him and like wind in a sail, began to influence Him in a different direction. The Book of Jude is all about teaching us how to contend for the faith. It is about urging the Christian on how to be "pro-active", rather than "re-active" in their faith-life. By being proactive in contending for "the faith" once for delivered for the saints, Jude is urging us to guard our passion for God.
Its important to be passionate, not passive, in your faith-walk
So often when I find myself waning in my passion for God, it is due to two primary issues - either I have compromised or have simply been careless. The word "passion" literally comes from a Greek word "pathos" which has to do with convictions gained as a result of suffering or intense emotional experience. Thus we refer to Christ's suffering and death on the cross for sinners as His "Passion". If we are to be passionate for God, we must do as Jude exhorts throughout His letter: Contend earnestly for the faith.
Guarding your passion for God requires you to contend for God's Words
As you look at what Jude writes, he states: "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints." This phrase is worth unpacking, since it gives us what we need to guard our passion for God in the realm of God's word:
1. Contend earnestly.
The two English words here are translations of one Greek word that has to to with "intense agony or wrestling". We so often approach God and His word in a flippant manner. Do we view our Bibles and retaining of their contents in our hearts as a matter of spiritual survival? Jude uses the most intense word to describe the ferocity of intensity we must have in battling the three common enemies of love for God's word: the world, the flesh and the devil. (compare 1 John 2:17-16).
2. Contend earnestly for "The Faith"
The word "faith" in the Bible is used in at least three different ways. There is the gifting of faith, whereby and wherein I am persuaded to believe and follow Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-9; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). The second use is in reference to the believer's own actual act of believing the Gospel. I refer to this as my "small 'f'" faith, meaning my own personal faith in Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 1:12) The third use refers to the Christian faith itself, or what I call "capital 'F'" faith. This third use is mainly with reference to the scriptures and the chief doctrines and core contents of the Christian faith believed upon by every Christian. My "small-f " faith resides in and is based upon "capital - F " Faith which is authored and completed by Jesus Christ through His Word. (Hebrews 12:2)
3. Contend earnestly for the "Faith" which was once for all handed down to the saints
So in guarding your passion for God, you need to be "contending earnestly for "The Faith" that was handed down "once and for all". This little phrase "handed down" or "delivered to" is used elsewhere to describe the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3 "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." 2 Peter 2:21 "For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them."
The Bible is the photographic negative of the mind of God and Christ as revealed by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:16). It has been handed down "once for all", meaning that there is no more scripture being written today. We must proclaim it, obey it, cherish it and pass it on to the next generation.
The fact that it is handed down "to the saints" tells us that the saints "small -f " faith is fed by and nourished by the "capital - F " Faith handed down - that is, God's Word.
Only when you and I contend for God's Written Word, as prescribed by Jude, can we have a pro-active faith that will guard the passion needed to live for God.
Friday, November 9, 2012
P3 God's Strategy for Spiritual Victory - God's Promises
Numbers 21:24 Then Israel struck him with the edge of the
sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as
the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer.
Numbers 21:34 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”
For the past couple of days we have been focusing on God's Stretegy for Spiritual Victory. Through our exploration of the Israelite's experiences in Numbers 21, we have noted from them the following ideas:
1. God's Strategy for spiritual victory begins with the power of the cross.
2. God's Strategy for spiritual victory includes the Person of the Holy Spirit.
By way of types and illustrations of the Brazen Serpent and God's Provision of water for these people, we see scripture employing both images to point us to God's strategy for spiritual victory. The Brazen Serpent of course points to the cross. (John 3:14-16) Whereas the well of water and dry river beds in Numbers 21:12-20 is picturing the Person and work of the Holy Spirit working in the life of the Christian, the dry river bed. (John 7:38-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
Today we want to note some promises God gave the Israelites in Numbers 21, noting how God's precious promises provide yet another strategy for Christian spiritual victory.
1. God's Promises in His Word
There are over 8,000 promises in God's Word. For the Israelites here in Numbers 21, they were poised, ready to enter into the promised land. Numerous times God had promised their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that the Land of Canaan was to be their land. (Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17, 22, 24,25, 28, 32, 25, etc) This is the urgency for why Israel needed to defeat Sihon and Og, the two Kings and their Kingdoms standing in the way of the entry into the promised land. Thankfully God promised Moses and Israel elsewhere that He would deliver both kings into their hands. (Deuteronomy 2:33).
For us as Christians, we too are given precious promises. 2 Peter 1:3-4 states - "3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." Because of God's promises communicated to us by the Holy Spirit through scripture, we can have confidence for spiritual victory. But notice another fact concerning God's promises...
God's specific promise - fear not
Numbers 21:34-35 reads - "But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35So they killed him and his sons and all his people, until there was no remnant left him; and they possessed his land." I love this particular promise because it takes away fear so that faith and flourish.
Jesus often spoke to His disciples about not fearing, since He was there for them. (John 13:34) I find over 200 places in God's Word where God urged His people to "not fear" or "not be anxious". In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read - "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind." Because of this word to Moses and the Israelites, they were able to kill a Giant, Og of Bashan. David some 400 years later would kill the Giant Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 due to the fact he was clinging to the promises of God. For you, dear Christian, God's promise of "fear not" is accompanied by His promise "for I am with you". (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:8).
Would we today proceed in spiritual victory. The power of the cross is the grounds for victory. The Holy Spirit is God in us, granting victory. God's promises are there for our use, the grace of victory.
Numbers 21:34 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”
For the past couple of days we have been focusing on God's Stretegy for Spiritual Victory. Through our exploration of the Israelite's experiences in Numbers 21, we have noted from them the following ideas:
1. God's Strategy for spiritual victory begins with the power of the cross.
2. God's Strategy for spiritual victory includes the Person of the Holy Spirit.
By way of types and illustrations of the Brazen Serpent and God's Provision of water for these people, we see scripture employing both images to point us to God's strategy for spiritual victory. The Brazen Serpent of course points to the cross. (John 3:14-16) Whereas the well of water and dry river beds in Numbers 21:12-20 is picturing the Person and work of the Holy Spirit working in the life of the Christian, the dry river bed. (John 7:38-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
Today we want to note some promises God gave the Israelites in Numbers 21, noting how God's precious promises provide yet another strategy for Christian spiritual victory.
1. God's Promises in His Word
There are over 8,000 promises in God's Word. For the Israelites here in Numbers 21, they were poised, ready to enter into the promised land. Numerous times God had promised their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that the Land of Canaan was to be their land. (Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17, 22, 24,25, 28, 32, 25, etc) This is the urgency for why Israel needed to defeat Sihon and Og, the two Kings and their Kingdoms standing in the way of the entry into the promised land. Thankfully God promised Moses and Israel elsewhere that He would deliver both kings into their hands. (Deuteronomy 2:33).
For us as Christians, we too are given precious promises. 2 Peter 1:3-4 states - "3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." Because of God's promises communicated to us by the Holy Spirit through scripture, we can have confidence for spiritual victory. But notice another fact concerning God's promises...
God's specific promise - fear not
Numbers 21:34-35 reads - "But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35So they killed him and his sons and all his people, until there was no remnant left him; and they possessed his land." I love this particular promise because it takes away fear so that faith and flourish.
Jesus often spoke to His disciples about not fearing, since He was there for them. (John 13:34) I find over 200 places in God's Word where God urged His people to "not fear" or "not be anxious". In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read - "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind." Because of this word to Moses and the Israelites, they were able to kill a Giant, Og of Bashan. David some 400 years later would kill the Giant Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 due to the fact he was clinging to the promises of God. For you, dear Christian, God's promise of "fear not" is accompanied by His promise "for I am with you". (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:8).
Would we today proceed in spiritual victory. The power of the cross is the grounds for victory. The Holy Spirit is God in us, granting victory. God's promises are there for our use, the grace of victory.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
P2 God's Strategy for Spiritual Victory - The Holy Spirit
Numbers 21:12-13 12From there they set out and camped in Wadi
Zered. 13From there they journeyed and camped on the
other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of the border
of the Amorites, for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the
Amorites.
Yesterday we saw the first strategy for spiritual victory as pictured by the Brazen Serpent in Numbers 21:6-9, namely the Power of the Cross. In today's blog we will consider the second strategy prescribed by God for spiritual victory - The Person of the Holy Spirit. In the text of Numbers 21 we see reference to dry river beds and water. As you will see, both of these were crucial provisions for the Israelites, and they both point to the Person of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian.
The Significance of the Wadi - the dry river bed
According to the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, a Wadi is "a valley or ravine, that is dry except during the rainy season; also the water that flows through it." In other words, a Wadi is nothing more than a dry river bed.
God had Moses and the Israelites camp in a valley of dry river beds or "Wadis". (Deuteronomy 2:17-18) This episode gives insight into the work the Spirit of God desires to do in the Christian life. Lets explore some truths that we can glean out of this text in Numbers 21:12-20.
1. A Christian is a Wadi, a dry river bed, needing the Spirit's life to ever flow through it Numbers 21:12-15
God will sometimes have you dwell in a dry season of life to make you see the purpose for which He made you. God created you to be a channel, a conduit, a faucet whereby His Spirit can flow. However we often find outselves getting caught up in complaining or carelessnes, much like the Israelites had. However when they had experienced the remedy of the Brazen serpent (picture of the cross - John 3:14-16), God moved them into this dry area. They had complained about having no water before, and God was moving them to a spot that at one time had water flowing through it.
God was reminding these people, as well as us, that He is the One who provides living water - the Holy Spirit. Jesus notes in John 7:38-39 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."
We will experience dryness at times to see if we are desperate for God. Its not that the Holy Spirit has left us, rather its God prompting us to call out to God and to exercise ourselves to desire the flowing of the life of the Spirit in our lives. Ephesians 5:14 and 18 tells us - 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you..... 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit".
2. A Christian is a dry-river bed that is dependant upon the water of the Spirit for their identity Number 21:12-15
By definition a wadi is a dry river bed which is flooded by water in the rainy season. If there had never been water flowing originally, there would be no wadi. A Christian by definition is a person whose soul has been penetrated by the very life of God. We are those who are identified by the Spirit of God living in our spirit and flowing through the river bed of our soul. 1 Corinthians 12:13 notes - "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."
Maybe your life is dry right now as a Christian. Know that He is still there, inside of you. (Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20) Know that He is desiring you to desire Him to flow through you. Your very life is defined by Him as he communicates to to the life of Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
3. A Christian is a dry-river bed, rejoicing in the living water that only God can provide Numbers 21:16-18
The Person of the Holy Spirit is the Living water of God's very life flowing through the river bed of the Christian. Living water is flowing water. The Israelites problem through all their desert wanderings was the need for water. In Numbers 21:16 God tells Moses - "From there they continued to Beer, that is the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Assemble the people, that I may give them water.”
What did Jesus tell the woman at the well who was in search of satisfying water in John 4:14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” Just like the Israelites who sang for joy in Numbers 21:17-18, we as believers need to praise God for the provision of His Spirit to us.
4. A Christian is a dry-river-bed, through whom the Spirit desires to flow to prepare for spiritual victory Numbers 21:19-20
It is His Spirit, that mighty river, who can burst up as a fountain, cleaning out the mind, emotion and will of our souls. When He does this by His Word, we have the necessary power to move on, just as those people in Numbers 21:19-20. They arrived at the plains of Moab, the final stop on their 40 year wandering. Dear Christian, the Person of the Holy Spirit is Who positions us to be prepared to fight and win the fight of faith. These Israelites had a water well, an endless supply of water, given to them by God. We as Christians today have the Holy Spirit, living in us and desiring to flow through us to enable us to have spiritual victory in the Lord. As we close, I point you to Romans 8:2 - "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."
Yesterday we saw the first strategy for spiritual victory as pictured by the Brazen Serpent in Numbers 21:6-9, namely the Power of the Cross. In today's blog we will consider the second strategy prescribed by God for spiritual victory - The Person of the Holy Spirit. In the text of Numbers 21 we see reference to dry river beds and water. As you will see, both of these were crucial provisions for the Israelites, and they both point to the Person of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian.
The Significance of the Wadi - the dry river bed
According to the Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, a Wadi is "a valley or ravine, that is dry except during the rainy season; also the water that flows through it." In other words, a Wadi is nothing more than a dry river bed.
God had Moses and the Israelites camp in a valley of dry river beds or "Wadis". (Deuteronomy 2:17-18) This episode gives insight into the work the Spirit of God desires to do in the Christian life. Lets explore some truths that we can glean out of this text in Numbers 21:12-20.
1. A Christian is a Wadi, a dry river bed, needing the Spirit's life to ever flow through it Numbers 21:12-15
God will sometimes have you dwell in a dry season of life to make you see the purpose for which He made you. God created you to be a channel, a conduit, a faucet whereby His Spirit can flow. However we often find outselves getting caught up in complaining or carelessnes, much like the Israelites had. However when they had experienced the remedy of the Brazen serpent (picture of the cross - John 3:14-16), God moved them into this dry area. They had complained about having no water before, and God was moving them to a spot that at one time had water flowing through it.
God was reminding these people, as well as us, that He is the One who provides living water - the Holy Spirit. Jesus notes in John 7:38-39 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."
We will experience dryness at times to see if we are desperate for God. Its not that the Holy Spirit has left us, rather its God prompting us to call out to God and to exercise ourselves to desire the flowing of the life of the Spirit in our lives. Ephesians 5:14 and 18 tells us - 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you..... 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit".
2. A Christian is a dry-river bed that is dependant upon the water of the Spirit for their identity Number 21:12-15
By definition a wadi is a dry river bed which is flooded by water in the rainy season. If there had never been water flowing originally, there would be no wadi. A Christian by definition is a person whose soul has been penetrated by the very life of God. We are those who are identified by the Spirit of God living in our spirit and flowing through the river bed of our soul. 1 Corinthians 12:13 notes - "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."
Maybe your life is dry right now as a Christian. Know that He is still there, inside of you. (Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20) Know that He is desiring you to desire Him to flow through you. Your very life is defined by Him as he communicates to to the life of Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
3. A Christian is a dry-river bed, rejoicing in the living water that only God can provide Numbers 21:16-18
The Person of the Holy Spirit is the Living water of God's very life flowing through the river bed of the Christian. Living water is flowing water. The Israelites problem through all their desert wanderings was the need for water. In Numbers 21:16 God tells Moses - "From there they continued to Beer, that is the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Assemble the people, that I may give them water.”
What did Jesus tell the woman at the well who was in search of satisfying water in John 4:14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” Just like the Israelites who sang for joy in Numbers 21:17-18, we as believers need to praise God for the provision of His Spirit to us.
4. A Christian is a dry-river-bed, through whom the Spirit desires to flow to prepare for spiritual victory Numbers 21:19-20
It is His Spirit, that mighty river, who can burst up as a fountain, cleaning out the mind, emotion and will of our souls. When He does this by His Word, we have the necessary power to move on, just as those people in Numbers 21:19-20. They arrived at the plains of Moab, the final stop on their 40 year wandering. Dear Christian, the Person of the Holy Spirit is Who positions us to be prepared to fight and win the fight of faith. These Israelites had a water well, an endless supply of water, given to them by God. We as Christians today have the Holy Spirit, living in us and desiring to flow through us to enable us to have spiritual victory in the Lord. As we close, I point you to Romans 8:2 - "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
God's Strategy for Spiritual Victory - Power of the Cross
Numbers 21:34-35 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I
have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do
to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35So they killed him and his sons and all his
people, until there was no remnant left him; and they possessed his land.
A New Generation that had to win two battles
The Israelites had been wandering in the Desert of the Sinai Penninsula. They had rebelled against God, and God consigned them to 40 years of wandering. The original generation that God had brought out of Egypt under Moses' leadership had died off, leaving a whole new generation of Israelites. The former generation is recorded from Numbers 1-19, with forty years of unrecorded time lying in between chapters 19 and 20.
The New Generation, some 40 years later, were on the verge of entry into the Promised Land of Canaan. But before they could enter, two strong enemies stood in their way. They not only would have to defeat Sihon King of the Amorites, a people who had been in that area for centuries, but the Giant King Og of Bashan, who may have been as tall as Goliath! (compare Joshua 3:11)
Not only would the Israelites have to defeat physical enemies, but the internal strife and rebellion of their heart. God's victories for His people entails a very specific strategy. As we look at the wider context of Numbers 21:6-39, we can see God preparing his people for these battles, and how it was He was ordaining a strategy for their victory, as well as a spiritual strategy for us as Christians.
Power of Forgiveness in the Brazen Serpent, Picturing the Cross
Back in Numbers 21:5-7 we read - "The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” 6The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people."
If these people were going to survive to even fight those two Kings in battle, they had to first survive and be forgiven. God provided such a remedy. He had Moses fashion a serpent out of Bronze and place it upon a pole, so that all who looked upon it would be saved - having physical life. (Numbers 21:8-9) John 3:14-15 recounts this scene with these words: 14“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life." For us to have spiritual victory, we need the power of forgiveness and the cross to look to by faith, so that we can have eternal life.
Power for the basis for victory, how the Cross is the source of the post-conversion Christian walk
The cross is not only the basis for the beginning of New Life in Christ, but it is also the source of ongoing victory life in the post-conversion Christian walk. Too often Christians think that the cross was only something they needed to consider in order to be saved - which is true. (1 Corinthians 2:2; Ephesians 1:7) However the cross is so much more than just the means of salvation - it is also the tool for sanctification.
Consider the Holy Spirit's words in Hebrews 12:1-3 "1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. "
Those Israelites in Numbers 21 needed to be healed of their snake bite in order to be prepared to fight the military battles against Kings Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. They needed a soundly provided resource of physical life and vitality to move from where they were into the dry river beds of Zered, just South of these Kings.
If God had not provided the revelation to Moses to put up that Brazen serpent, no one would had survived. If God had not sent Jesus to put Himself upon the cross, no one would have the basis for Eternal life nor power to live the Christian life. The cross is the grounds for victory. It is where we look to. When we look to it, we see it stained with blood, reminding us that our salvation has been paid for. We also see it barren, reminding us that the Savior is Alive and well, ever representing us and ready to strengthen us in battle.
A New Generation that had to win two battles
The Israelites had been wandering in the Desert of the Sinai Penninsula. They had rebelled against God, and God consigned them to 40 years of wandering. The original generation that God had brought out of Egypt under Moses' leadership had died off, leaving a whole new generation of Israelites. The former generation is recorded from Numbers 1-19, with forty years of unrecorded time lying in between chapters 19 and 20.
The New Generation, some 40 years later, were on the verge of entry into the Promised Land of Canaan. But before they could enter, two strong enemies stood in their way. They not only would have to defeat Sihon King of the Amorites, a people who had been in that area for centuries, but the Giant King Og of Bashan, who may have been as tall as Goliath! (compare Joshua 3:11)
Not only would the Israelites have to defeat physical enemies, but the internal strife and rebellion of their heart. God's victories for His people entails a very specific strategy. As we look at the wider context of Numbers 21:6-39, we can see God preparing his people for these battles, and how it was He was ordaining a strategy for their victory, as well as a spiritual strategy for us as Christians.
Power of Forgiveness in the Brazen Serpent, Picturing the Cross
Back in Numbers 21:5-7 we read - "The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” 6The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people."
If these people were going to survive to even fight those two Kings in battle, they had to first survive and be forgiven. God provided such a remedy. He had Moses fashion a serpent out of Bronze and place it upon a pole, so that all who looked upon it would be saved - having physical life. (Numbers 21:8-9) John 3:14-15 recounts this scene with these words: 14“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life." For us to have spiritual victory, we need the power of forgiveness and the cross to look to by faith, so that we can have eternal life.
Power for the basis for victory, how the Cross is the source of the post-conversion Christian walk
The cross is not only the basis for the beginning of New Life in Christ, but it is also the source of ongoing victory life in the post-conversion Christian walk. Too often Christians think that the cross was only something they needed to consider in order to be saved - which is true. (1 Corinthians 2:2; Ephesians 1:7) However the cross is so much more than just the means of salvation - it is also the tool for sanctification.
Consider the Holy Spirit's words in Hebrews 12:1-3 "1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. "
Those Israelites in Numbers 21 needed to be healed of their snake bite in order to be prepared to fight the military battles against Kings Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. They needed a soundly provided resource of physical life and vitality to move from where they were into the dry river beds of Zered, just South of these Kings.
If God had not provided the revelation to Moses to put up that Brazen serpent, no one would had survived. If God had not sent Jesus to put Himself upon the cross, no one would have the basis for Eternal life nor power to live the Christian life. The cross is the grounds for victory. It is where we look to. When we look to it, we see it stained with blood, reminding us that our salvation has been paid for. We also see it barren, reminding us that the Savior is Alive and well, ever representing us and ready to strengthen us in battle.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Charles Stanley on Listening and Walking with God
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore
you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called
Today's blog features thoughts from a message I recently heard by Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta Georgia. The title of the message was: "Listening to God - Walking with God". I thought what he preached about listening to and walk with God was one of the greatest summaries I have ever heard on the subject. I could not bear not sharing this with you dear reader.
In the course of the message Dr. Stanley listed 20 items dealing with the subject of listening and walking with God. I have listed them below, and pray you will be as blessed as I was when I first heard them.
Walking with God involves.....
1. Faith
2. Agreement with God
3. Fellowship with God
4. Awareness of His Presence
5. Cheerful Obedience
6. Truth
7. Intimacy with God
8. The Will of God
9. Continuous Surrender
10. The Work of the Holy Spirit
11. Peace
12. Confidence
13. Security
14. Joy
15. Pleasing to God
16. Revolves around Jesus
17. Life separate from sin
18. Life that makes a difference
19. Progressive Journey
20. Its a Godly Life
May you be richly blessed this day as you aim to listen to God through His word and walk with the Lord in prayer.
Today's blog features thoughts from a message I recently heard by Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Atlanta Georgia. The title of the message was: "Listening to God - Walking with God". I thought what he preached about listening to and walk with God was one of the greatest summaries I have ever heard on the subject. I could not bear not sharing this with you dear reader.
In the course of the message Dr. Stanley listed 20 items dealing with the subject of listening and walking with God. I have listed them below, and pray you will be as blessed as I was when I first heard them.
Walking with God involves.....
1. Faith
2. Agreement with God
3. Fellowship with God
4. Awareness of His Presence
5. Cheerful Obedience
6. Truth
7. Intimacy with God
8. The Will of God
9. Continuous Surrender
10. The Work of the Holy Spirit
11. Peace
12. Confidence
13. Security
14. Joy
15. Pleasing to God
16. Revolves around Jesus
17. Life separate from sin
18. Life that makes a difference
19. Progressive Journey
20. Its a Godly Life
May you be richly blessed this day as you aim to listen to God through His word and walk with the Lord in prayer.
Monday, November 5, 2012
P5 - Traits of the Strong Christian - Prayer life
James 4:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
In recent days we have been blogging on the subject of what traits comprise a strong Christian. We have been examining the life of James, the author of the Epistle of James and Jesus' biological half-brother. We have noted the following four traits of a strong Christian:
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritizes Spiritual Maturity
3. Passion for Jesus
4. Persistent Application of God's Word
Todays blog will conclude this particular series on "Traits of the Strong Christian", noting how the strong Christian aims to have a prayer life.
Every Christian can be a strong Christian
My point in these series of blogs has been to demonstrate that any Christian can be a strong Christian. For starters, every Christian has a Personal testimony of what their life was like before Christ, how Christ brought them to the point of conversion and what their life has been like since.
Every Christian has been given the indwelling Holy Spirit through whom they can cultivate a desire to mature in their faith. They have also been given the beginning of a new nature that is inherently inclined to desire Jesus Christ - giving them the base to excercise themselves in focusing their mind, emotions and will upon Him. Then finally if you have a Bible, you have opportunity to know it, meditate upon it and apply it.
Immaturity is our doing alone, maturity is both God's doing and our doing
So why do we see so many Christian's struggling in spiritual immaturity? All the things I just listed in the above two paragraphs are graces given by God. Now salvation is all of God's doing. He brought you the grace and gifting of faith and repentance, whereby you simply received and believed on Jesus. (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18) However your growth in Jesus Christ following conversion - called sanctification - is both God's doing and your doing. (Philippians 2:12-13) God has done His part, however where we see the break down is due to the fact that we're not doing ours. Prayer, like the other four traits, is a grace given by God whereby the Christian is given the capacity to hear and talk to God. However, as with all sanctifying graces, the Christian must excercise themselves in it if they are expected to be strong in their faith.
A Strong Christian will pray according to the scriptures
James was related to Jesus biologically through Mary, making Jesus his half brother. However we also know that he had other brothers and sisters who, along with himself, were born after Jesus and who were naturally conceived by both Mary and Joseph. Among those, Jude is noteworthy, since he is the only other half-brother of Jesus who is also the author of a New Testament book bearing his name - the Book of Jude. (see Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3)
Both James and Jude write about prayer, since it was such a cornerstone of their lives as strong Christians. I will give you James' statements on prayer, followed by Jude's:
1. James 1:5-7 (Prayer for Wisdom) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord.
2. James 4:3 (Why your prayers may not be answered) You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
3. James 4:6-7 (The warfare and triumph in prayer) But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
4. James 4:15 (The submission in prayer) "Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
5. James 4:13-18 (Praying for healing) Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit."
6. Jude 20 (Prayer as a means of strengthening faith) "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit"
From those six scriptures in both James and Jude, we can glean much about prayer that is based upon the Word of God. Both men tie together prayer and the Word. James begins and ends his letter with statements about prayer, with fertile discussion about scripture throughout his letter. Jude begins his letter with the intent to urge his readers to embrace God's Word, with a powerful exhortation to persevere in prayer.
A Strong Christian prays like Jesus prayed
Why did James and Jude emphasize prayer so much? They both linked prayer with the written word - the Bible. However they both emphasized prayer because of its link to the Living Word - Jesus Christ. Remarkably, both men's teaching on prayer mirrors much of what Jesus' taught on prayer in the Gospels. Over a dozen places in the Gospels record our Lord's teaching on the subject, with parallels found in James' and Jude's writings. Please note the chart below that compares Jesus, James' and Jude's teaching on prayer:
Prayer Topic Jesus teaching James Jude
Wisdom Matt 7:7 1:5-8
Gifts Matt 7:11, 21:21 1:16-18
Promise of Kingdom Matt 6:13; Lk 11 2:5 14-15
Worry Matt 7 4:13-17
Wealth Luke 18:13 5:1-4
Oaths Mt 5:34 5:7-11
Anointing w/ oil/healing Mk 6:14 5:14
God centered prayer Mt 7:7;21:21 1:5-8
Promise based prayer Matt 7, John 14 2:5, 20-27 24-25
Motives in prayer Mt 6:14; 18:34-35 4:2
Corporate prayer Mt 21:13 3:14 20
Since Jesus emphasized prayer, and the Biblical authors emphasized prayer (some 600 times) and since James and Jude along with them emphasized it - why shouldn't we? Prayer is to the strong Christian like oxygen is to the lungs. Without prayer, the faith-life suffocates. May we take to heart these considerations of what it means to be a strong Christian, namely:
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritizing Spiritual Maturity
3. Passion for Jesus
4. Persistent Application of God's Word
5. Prayer
In recent days we have been blogging on the subject of what traits comprise a strong Christian. We have been examining the life of James, the author of the Epistle of James and Jesus' biological half-brother. We have noted the following four traits of a strong Christian:
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritizes Spiritual Maturity
3. Passion for Jesus
4. Persistent Application of God's Word
Todays blog will conclude this particular series on "Traits of the Strong Christian", noting how the strong Christian aims to have a prayer life.
Every Christian can be a strong Christian
My point in these series of blogs has been to demonstrate that any Christian can be a strong Christian. For starters, every Christian has a Personal testimony of what their life was like before Christ, how Christ brought them to the point of conversion and what their life has been like since.
Every Christian has been given the indwelling Holy Spirit through whom they can cultivate a desire to mature in their faith. They have also been given the beginning of a new nature that is inherently inclined to desire Jesus Christ - giving them the base to excercise themselves in focusing their mind, emotions and will upon Him. Then finally if you have a Bible, you have opportunity to know it, meditate upon it and apply it.
Immaturity is our doing alone, maturity is both God's doing and our doing
So why do we see so many Christian's struggling in spiritual immaturity? All the things I just listed in the above two paragraphs are graces given by God. Now salvation is all of God's doing. He brought you the grace and gifting of faith and repentance, whereby you simply received and believed on Jesus. (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18) However your growth in Jesus Christ following conversion - called sanctification - is both God's doing and your doing. (Philippians 2:12-13) God has done His part, however where we see the break down is due to the fact that we're not doing ours. Prayer, like the other four traits, is a grace given by God whereby the Christian is given the capacity to hear and talk to God. However, as with all sanctifying graces, the Christian must excercise themselves in it if they are expected to be strong in their faith.
A Strong Christian will pray according to the scriptures
James was related to Jesus biologically through Mary, making Jesus his half brother. However we also know that he had other brothers and sisters who, along with himself, were born after Jesus and who were naturally conceived by both Mary and Joseph. Among those, Jude is noteworthy, since he is the only other half-brother of Jesus who is also the author of a New Testament book bearing his name - the Book of Jude. (see Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3)
Both James and Jude write about prayer, since it was such a cornerstone of their lives as strong Christians. I will give you James' statements on prayer, followed by Jude's:
1. James 1:5-7 (Prayer for Wisdom) But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord.
2. James 4:3 (Why your prayers may not be answered) You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
3. James 4:6-7 (The warfare and triumph in prayer) But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
4. James 4:15 (The submission in prayer) "Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
5. James 4:13-18 (Praying for healing) Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit."
6. Jude 20 (Prayer as a means of strengthening faith) "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit"
From those six scriptures in both James and Jude, we can glean much about prayer that is based upon the Word of God. Both men tie together prayer and the Word. James begins and ends his letter with statements about prayer, with fertile discussion about scripture throughout his letter. Jude begins his letter with the intent to urge his readers to embrace God's Word, with a powerful exhortation to persevere in prayer.
A Strong Christian prays like Jesus prayed
Why did James and Jude emphasize prayer so much? They both linked prayer with the written word - the Bible. However they both emphasized prayer because of its link to the Living Word - Jesus Christ. Remarkably, both men's teaching on prayer mirrors much of what Jesus' taught on prayer in the Gospels. Over a dozen places in the Gospels record our Lord's teaching on the subject, with parallels found in James' and Jude's writings. Please note the chart below that compares Jesus, James' and Jude's teaching on prayer:
Prayer Topic Jesus teaching James Jude
Wisdom Matt 7:7 1:5-8
Gifts Matt 7:11, 21:21 1:16-18
Promise of Kingdom Matt 6:13; Lk 11 2:5 14-15
Worry Matt 7 4:13-17
Wealth Luke 18:13 5:1-4
Oaths Mt 5:34 5:7-11
Anointing w/ oil/healing Mk 6:14 5:14
God centered prayer Mt 7:7;21:21 1:5-8
Promise based prayer Matt 7, John 14 2:5, 20-27 24-25
Motives in prayer Mt 6:14; 18:34-35 4:2
Corporate prayer Mt 21:13 3:14 20
Since Jesus emphasized prayer, and the Biblical authors emphasized prayer (some 600 times) and since James and Jude along with them emphasized it - why shouldn't we? Prayer is to the strong Christian like oxygen is to the lungs. Without prayer, the faith-life suffocates. May we take to heart these considerations of what it means to be a strong Christian, namely:
1. Personal Testimony
2. Prioritizing Spiritual Maturity
3. Passion for Jesus
4. Persistent Application of God's Word
5. Prayer
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