Disappointment

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul," - Hebrews 6:19a

Disappointment is a part of life. We live in a fallen world with fallen people and disappointment is inevitable. Disappointment is the first step toward despair. Despair is the vanquishing of hope. Disappointment is the result of unfulfilled hopes. Disappointment is a product of horizontal living; living with a godless “under the sun” perspective as Solomon put it (e.g. Ecclesiastes 1:3).

Those closest to us can be the greatest or most deeply grieving sources of disappointment.  Nabal was literally a fool of a husband. His wife Abigail was a good and wise wife. Nabal’s foolishness almost caused them to lose everything, including their lives. A foolish spouse can cause great disappointment (1 Sam. 25:23-31). The wife who causes shame to her husband is said to be “like rottenness in his bones” (Proverbs 12:4). Eli’s sons were immoral and shamed him with public displays of their lustful indulgences. This was a great grief and disappointment to Eli (1 Sam. 2:12-17). Our children, who we love so much, can be one of the greatest sources of disappointment in our lives.

Disappointment comes from our own personal failures or being rejected by others. Sometimes this leads to thoughts of suicide. Ahithophel gave good counsel to the usurper King Absalom, but his counsel was rejected. He was so disappointed and crestfallen that he got on his donkey, went home, put his house in order, and then hanged himself (2 Sam. 17:23). There is a better way to handle disappointment.

We may think that reason and understanding hold the key to alleviating disappointment but that’s not what Solomon was inspired by God to say. Solomon said, “My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge” (Ecclesiastes 1:16). But he went on to say, “For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18). Knowing why things are the way they are does not necessarily mean they will be changed. In fact, it may add to our disappointment. You may understand the reason why a person is the way they are, but that may not mean they will change.

Rejection and persecution can cause us to be disappointed. Jeremiah was rejected by the people along with the message God had given him to share. He went so far as to say he would give up and not speak the word of the Lord anymore. But God’s word was in his heart like a fire and he couldn’t stop sharing it (Jer. 20:7-9). Here we begin to see the first trace of how to overcome disappointment.

Sometimes the mission or calling of God Himself on our lives is a source of disappointment. Like Jonah, we don’t like what God is telling us to do. Jonah hated the Assyrians. The Assyrians were a ruthless terroristic and merciless people. But God called Jonah to go and preach to these lost people. Jonah knew if he did that, they might repent and God would be merciful to this hated people. He was disappointed. He wanted God’s wrath on them. He wanted them to experience what he felt was the just judgment of God. He wanted them annihilated; to taste a bit of the suffering they had caused others to suffer (Jonah 4:1-9). It’s hard to love our enemies as Jesus calls us to do (Mat. 5:44-47). We’d rather see them get what we believe are their just deserts. We don’t like it when God tells us to love or forgive our offenders. And that is frequently a cause of disappointment to us.

When God’s promises don’t seem to be coming to pass it becomes a source of disappointment. Cleopas and his friend expressed this when they spoke of Jesus’ death (Luke 24:17-24). They, along with many others, had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah, a political Messiah who would deliver Israel from the oppression of Rome. That was not God’s plan for Christ’s first coming.  It took Jesus’ enlightening exposition of the scriptures about His resurrection to rekindle the fire in their hearts (Luke 24:27-32). Are you disappointed in an unfulfilled promise of God?

There is an antidote to disappointment. That antidote is the hope we find in the Lord. God tells us that His word was given to dispel disappointment and replace it with hope (Rom. 15:4). And the hope God gives does not disappoint. God promises, “Now hope [His hope] does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5). The hope God gives is not a pipe dream, vain or an empty hope. God’s hope is a living hope proven and verified, as sure as the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-4). Therefore, even though our lives may at times seem fruitless and empty, barren and filled with roadblocks, we can say, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like the deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills” (cf. Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Disappointment comes when we make our interests a priority over the LORD’s interests. When God’s people returned from the Babylonian exile to Jerusalem at one point they became very disappointed. They sowed seed, but harvested little. They consumed the fruit of the land but never seemed to be full. They clothed themselves but were never warm enough. They earned wages, but it never seemed enough to meet their needs. This led to disappointment. Why? God said, “Consider your ways!” The people had put their own personal interests ahead of God’s. And the result was that God withheld His blessing. God called for a drought on the land (Habakkuk 1:1-11). This disappointment wasn’t dispelled until the people got right with the LORD. They got right with the LORD by putting Him and His mission interests first again in their lives. They obeyed the LORD and revered His presence once again in their lives (Habakkuk 1:12). When the people did that, the LORD responded, “I am with you” (Habakkuk 1:13). The LORD stirred up the spirit in their lives and blew away the disappointment as they got back on track with Him. And here is the key; deliverance from disappointment comes through devotion to God. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mat. 6:33).

Disappointment comes when we don’t feel what God is doing is good enough or what we had hoped for. When God’s people returned from exile to rebuild the Temple, those who had seen the original Temple built by Solomon were greatly disappointed. The rebuilt Temple, in their eyes, was nowhere near as glorious as the original Temple. They were disappointed that their sinfulness had led to a diminishing of the glory of this great place. There are times where we sin and suffer loss. We don’t think we will ever be happy again; ever rejoice again; ever experience the fullness of God again the way we once did. To that God says, “My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!” (Habakkuk 2:1-5). God told the returning Israelites that He was going to “shake heaven and earth” and “shake all nations” and  in time the glory of the rebuilt Temple would, “be greater than the former” (Habakkuk 2:6-9). God gives us hope when we have to rebuild portions of our lives. God is able to restore us (Joel 2:25). Our lives may not be exactly the same, but if we look to Him, wait on Him and His work, we will find satisfaction and joy in exchange for disappointment.

In the end disappointment is a loss of trust in God. This can manifest itself by ignoring the Lord and His word resulting in sin. It can be in times of uncertainty or confusion when because we don’t understand what the Lord is doing, we indulge the disappointing thoughts slung at us by the enemy. When that happens we need to protect ourselves with the shield of faith (Eph. 6:16). We need to trust in the goodness of God who has a plan He is working out and that in the end His good will prevail (cf. Jer. 29:11-13; Rom. 8:28; Eph. 2:10). God doesn’t forget our labors of love on His behalf (Hebrews 6:9-10). And if we know God remembers our lives lived for Him, we can be sure of “better things” that our loving heavenly Father will bestow on us. This is a rich hope that deals a death blow to disappointment. Indeed, God can be trusted; He doesn’t lie and He isn’t capricious or wishy-washy. The hope we have in God is dependable; it serves to anchor our soul (Hebrews 6:18-19). Don’t be disappointed, be devoted to God. 

 

 

The Spirit Built Church is Reverent, Miraculous, and Giving

“Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed . . . had all things in common. . .” – Acts 2:43-45

The Spirit built church is reverent. It continues, “Then fear came upon every soul” (Acts 2:43a). The word “fear” (Greek phobos) here probably means “awe” or “reverence.” When the Holy Spirit is working in a church there will be a reverent sense of the presence of the Lord. This is something much of the church has lost today. In our efforts to emphasize relationship rather than a religious pursuit of God, we often become overly informal and lose the sense of God’s presence and awe. There was a holy awe amongst the people in this Spirit filled early church (e.g. Acts 5:5, 11; 19:17). 

When we look at some of the incidents of people coming into the presence of Holy God in the Bible what we see is humble bowing to the ground and worship (e.g. Gen. 17:3; Exodus 34:8; Num. 22:31; 2 Chron. 20:18). Even stone pagan idols bow before Holy God (1 Sam. 5:1-5). Reverence should be reflected in our prayers (Neh. 1:4-7). We are to come into God’s presence with a sense of His holiness.

When humanity comes into the presence of God there is an convicting awareness of one’s sinfulness (e.g. Isaiah 6:5). When Jesus brought the huge catch of fish to Peter and the other fishermen who had unsuccessfully been fishing all night, Peter exclaimed, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8).

The Bible states:

 

• Psalm 89:7- God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

In the last book of the Bible the heavenly picture is one of humble worship before Almighty God and the Lamb Jesus (Rev. 4:8-11; 7:11-12).

The Spirit built church is miraculous. This section goes on to say, “and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:43b). The word “wonders” as described above refers to the fact that there were things happening that only God could have done, there was no natural explanation for what was being done in and amongst God’s people. “Signs” tell us that the wonders done were not just for entertainment or to incite excitement, but they were like road signs that directed people to Jesus. When we see the miracles and wonders done in Acts those used to bring them about always point to Jesus as the Source of the miracles and the works are used to bring people to glorify God.

When considering wonders and signs it is important that they are kept in proper perspective and priority. In Mark when Jesus mentions signs He says they will “follow” or come after the preaching of God’s word:

 

• Mark 16:15-18 – “nd He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;18 “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 

The Spirit is able and willing to do signs and wonders today. The problem is that much of the church often seeks the signs and wonders first, before the teaching of God’s word. That is a mistake. Some evangelism strategies seek to manufacture a a miracle in order to bring attention and then preach the gospel. This is opposite to Jesus’ plan.

When signs and wonders are put before the priority of teaching the word of God, the church becomes unstable and emotion oriented. Such a set of priorities also lends itself to the trap of seeking bigger and better signs and wonders, kind of a can you top this mentality. There needs to be a balance, a balance like that held in God’s model for the church in Acts.

Acts is filled with accounts of miracles. One incident of “unusual miracles” is found in Acts 19. Paul traveled to Ephesus and ministers to some seekers who had an incomplete understanding of the gospel and baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). Paul ministered there for an extended period of time (Acts 19:8-10). Then we are informed that “God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul” (Acts 19:11). Handkerchiefs and aprons were used by the Spirit to bring healing of those who were sick and diseased (Acts 19:12). These were “unusual” signs. You don’t see the apostles package these handkerchiefs in order to mail them out to make a profit. Some in our day do just that. But this was unusual. It wasn’t something that would commonly happen.

 Some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of Jesus to exorcise but were soundly humiliated and defeated by the demons (Acts 19:13-16). But at the end of the account it states, “fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified” (Acts 19:17). The magnifying of the name of Jesus is the aim of the Spirit in all things. And when Jesus is magnified it leads to life-changing work in people (Acts 19:18-20).

The Spirit built church is giving and helps people. This section continues:

 

• Acts 2:44-45 – “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” 

This is not Communism. In fact when we look at the result of such communal type of living we see problems associated with it. It was out of this communal type of living that the first major in church problem arose when Ananias and Sapphira sought to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:32-37 and 5:1-11). We also see a disturbance associated with the distribution of goods later in Acts when the believers with a Hellenist background felt they were being neglected by the believers who had a Hebrew background (Acts 6:1-7). Later Paul needs to take up a collection for the church in Jerusalem because it would appear that very possibly their communal living has led to a financial problem (1 Corinthians 16:1-4).

In light of these associated problems, it seems best to understand from these verses that when the Holy Spirit is at work in the church, He creates a helpful and giving spirit among believers. God has a heart to lift the poor and needy “out of the ash heap” (Psalm 113:7). Those in Jerusalem may have taken this spirit to an extreme. In giving and helping one another we should proceed in the Spirit as in all things.

When the Spirit comes upon a church there will be a giving spirit. That will start with the tithe. Some discount the tithe stating it is a product of the law. They state to encourage the tithe is legalism. However upon closer study we see that tithing is something we find 400 years before the giving of the Law (Gen. 14:20). In the New Testament we see Jesus affirm the tithe (Mat. 23:23). And while Paul teaches that we should not give grudgingly (2 Cor. 9:7), a bad attitude about giving is not a reason to not tithe. Tithing is one of the areas God calls us to test Him on. Bring in the tithe to the storehouse and see if He won’t open the windows of heaven and pour out blessing (Malachi 3:7 ff.). Go ahead, test God in this. Tithe to the church where you are getting spiritually fed. Then see what happens. Pray about it.

In light of what God has given for us, (His only Son Jesus), we should give cheerfully (2 Cor. 8:9). We are not our own. We belong to God. We have been bought with Jesus shed blood (1 Cor. 6:19-20). When the Spirit comes upon us, this point will be brought home to us. The Spirit will convict us of any ungiving spirit in us. Hopefully we will repent and get right with God.

 

 

Why the Storm? – Acts 27:14-44

I came across a message by Jon Courson and thought, given Hurricane Irene,  I’d pass it on to you with a few editorial changes. The Lord promised everyone on board would survive the storm - Acts 27:1-13.  In the rest of the chapter we see four types of storms that blow into our lives:

Storms of correction. Jonah is a good example of this. When a storm arose he was tossed overboard and swallowed by a great fish, because he was rebelling against the Lord (Jonah 1:10). So, too, sometimes when we rebel and disobey the Lord, He will allow a storm to get us back on track again.

Storms of perfection. Jesus fed the five thousand and then sent His disciples across the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14). Midway through their journey, a storm arose around them for their perfection. You see, Jesus knew it wouldn’t be too many months before these same disciples would see another multitude of five thousand—not fed, but saved (Acts 4:4)—followed by another storm—not on the sea, but of persecution within the church (Acts 8:1). Thus, Jesus was training His boys to endure the storms of persecution that inevitably follow the seasons of blessing. Faith is not a pill we take, folks. It’s a muscle we work (e.g. 1 Peter 1:6-9). Therefore, the Lord will send us storms from time to time not for correction, but for perfection because the way I respond to storms internally will tell me where I’m at spiritually. Storms provide a unique opportunity for us to see where we are in our walk with the Lord and to grow in our understanding that the Lord will come through at the right time, saying, “Be of good cheer. We’re going to make it.”

Storms of protection.  “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). And we see that grace as God sent a storm to drown out all of the carnality, sin, and iniquity that surrounded him. The storm raged for forty days and nights, but Noah and his family were not only protected in the storm—they were protected by the storm. “Oh no!” we cry. “My TV blew up,” or, "My phone . . . iPad . . . iPod . . . computer . . . etc. broke. What a storm I’m in.” But, as in Noah’s case, it might be a storm of protection—protecting us from the distractions of life, the carnality and iniquity that surround us continually.

Storms of direction. Knowing there was a group of people on the island of Malta in need of ministry, the Lord said, “Before you go to Rome, Paul, I’m going to allow you to be blown off course because there is something I want you to do for Me—something you never would have thought of on your own, something that wasn’t part of your agenda. I have some people to whom I want you to minister, so I’ll allow a storm to arise, which, although it looks like it’s blowing you off course, will put you in the very place I want to use you.” “How come I got canned?” “Why did she dump me?” “How come it’s not working out?” you ask. Don’t be blown away. Realize that the Lord is changing your direction because there’s something He wants to do that will ultimately be a blessing. Look at such things not as rejection, but as redirection.

Storms of correction and perfection, storms of protection and direction—how can you know which one you might be in? Talk to the Father: “Why am I in this storm, Lord? Is it correction—or are You perfecting me for what You see is coming my way? Is there a new direction for my life—or are You protecting me from something that would be very damaging?”

(Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (851). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.)

 

 

The Spirit Built Church has a Passion for Fellowship

“And they continued steadfastly in . . . fellowship . . .” – Acts 2:42c

Acts 2:42 gives us four pillars of the church as well as for the individual believer. For the church and individual Christians to be spiritually healthy, these four pillars must be firmly in place. These are the posts upon which the foundation of Christ is laid (1 Cor. 3:11). The teaching of God’s word, fellowship, worship and prayer are these pillars. I believe the Spirit inspired Luke to give these pillars in a particular order. Each succeeding pillar flows from the other. The Spirit gives us a passion when He comes upon us. That passion of the Spirit leads to a passion for the teaching of God’s word. A passion for God’s word unites God’s people in fellowship. This passion for fellowship happens as we come into the presence of the Lord in worship. Worship finds its most hospitable place in prayer. Let’s proceed in our consideration of the Spirit built church and its attributes while keeping these pillars in mind.

The Spirit built church has a passion to be united in fellowship. It states, “And they continued steadfastly in . . . fellowship” (2:42c). “Fellowship” is not just hanging out, playing cards or some other game, watching TV together or doing some other thing together. “Fellowship” (from the Greek term koinonia) involves communion, communication, contribution, interacting actively.  ^[1] Fellowship is the gathering together of believers to edify one another spiritually by discussing the work of Jesus by the Spirit in and through them. In Hebrews it describes fellowship in the following way:  

• Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

Look at these inspired words. There is much to glen from them. It says, “And let us consider one another.” The first thing is that we are to put others before ourselves. This is especially true when we come to church. Most come to church looking for what they can get from the service. That is true. But we should also be looking to the Lord for what He would have us give. I’m not speaking only financially. I’m speaking about being alert to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2) and encouraging others or sharing a scripture (2 Tim 3:16-17).

Specifically we are to come together, “in order to stir up love and good works.” When we come across someone who is in an unloved or unloving state of mind, insert the love of Jesus into the conversation. And the love we insert should be an active love that leads to good work and action. It is in fellowship with other believers that we see the opportunity for us to become “fellow workers” with Christ and with each other (1 Cor. 3:9-10).

We are exhorted to, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some.” Fellowship and going to church needs to be a priority. It shouldn’t be just one other activity on your calendar. It should take priority on your calendar. That means if there’s a conflict in the schedule you put church first! Even if it’s a little league game, dance practice, you have family or friends coming over and you want to prepare your home and the meal, or anything else, make sure you don’t get distracted from going to church. If ever there was an oxymoronic practice it is those who will stay home from church in order to prepare for a time of fellowship in their home! Some do this. You should not.

Instead of not fellowshipping we should come together, especially in church; “but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching.” We need to redeem the time! Time is short. Look at the signs of the times in God’s word (e.g. Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) and then compare them with what is going on in the world today. These are the Last Days. Soon we will be raptured into the presence of our Lord Jesus. Then we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account. Make sure you are able to give a good report. Make sure you are able to lay your life before the Lamb who was slain and not be ashamed. Fellowship is important! We need to exhort each other to keep the main things the main things. We need to exhort one another to keep Jesus and His mission as our top priority.

The early saints were passionately dedicated to encouraging and exhorting one another to serve the Lord. Is that what you do in your times of “fellowship”?

In one of the psalms of assent (that the people would sing as they made the trip and assent up to Jerusalem), the blessing of fellowship is expressed through the inspired words:

• Psalm 133:1-3 – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.” 

In Psalm 133 we are told the gathering of brethren in unity is like anointing oil poured out on the head. Oil is a type or symbol of the Holy Spirit (cf. Zech. 4). When the Spirit comes, He unites believers! Are you united with fellow believers or living as a lone wolf Christian? Private Christianity is an oxymoron. Christians were and are created by God for fellowship with Him and with each other (see 1 John 1:7).

Jesus died to make a way to unite us with God. He also died to unite us to each other. The Spirit brings people together. When we come to fellowship with a worldly mindset that is self-centered and full of “deceitful lusts’ such as lying, mean spirited speaking, stealing, “bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking . . . malice” it grieves the Spirit and hurts the fellowship for which Christ died (cf. Eph. 4:17-31). Instead we should “be kind and tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave” us (Eph. 4:32).

That is what the Spirit built church looks like. It is filled with those who have a passion for fellowship. Too often our churches are empty because people have a passion for the thing sof this world. Our nation has a rugged individualist nature in its DNA. Christ came to build a church. The Holy Spirit draws us to Him and into fellowship with each other in the process. Don’t neglect the gathering of the fellowship. Instead, be filled with the Spirit and come together in fellowship. Come! “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

 

 

---

^[1]Strong, J. 1996. Enhanced Strong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship: Ontario

The Spirit Built Church has a Passion for the Teaching of God’s Word

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine . . .” – Acts 2:42b

The Spirit built church has passion. But passion must be directed toward something. The Spirit doesn’t instill passion for passion’s sake. It must be directed toward the right thing. Otherwise it won’t serve its holy heaven sent purpose. For what does the Spirit give passion?  There are a number of things the Spirit’s passion is to be directed toward. But the first thing we are to have a passion for is the teaching of God’s word.

The Spirit built church has a passion for the teaching of the word of God. It states, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine” (Acts 2:42b). “Doctrine” simply means “teaching” (Greek - didache). What was it that the early apostles were teaching? They were teaching what the Spirit brought to their remembrance from the teachings of Jesus (John 14:26; 15:26). Jesus taught the Old Testament word of God to the disciples. The Apostle’s teaching consisted of the Spirit revealed application and fulfillment of the Old Testament in Christ. In the Spirit they were teaching the word of God to others as Jesus had taught them.

When the Spirit acts He moves people to teach God’s word.  The teaching of the word of God is the mainstay of God’s church. What a tragedy it is that so many churches have left the simple expository teaching of the word of God. The impotence and apostasy we find in churches is directly correlated to the absence of proper teaching of God’s word. If a church is to be a church according to God’s model it must be a church where the word of God is taught in the Spirit.

Why study the Bible? The Spirit who inspired or breathed out the words of the Bible through holy men gives us many reasons for studying the Bible. Here are just a few.

First, believers need a steady diet of God’s word to grow in their faith. The apostle Peter was inspired to write, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” (1 Pet. 2:2). God’s word is filled with all of the spiritual nutrients necessary for spiritual nurture and growth. The new believer as well as the believer who has been walking with the Lord for a time needs to study God’s word so that they know what and why they believe and have been born again.

Feeding on God’s word equips the believer to move in to a life of discipleship where they share God’s word with others (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Therefore, God’s word is essential to spiritual growth from the onset of life in Christ to the sunset of life on earth.

Second, studying God’s word gives the disciple skill and discernment in ministry. As the disciple studies God’s word he or she becomes equipped to minister and be used by God to further His kingdom plan. The Bible instructs us that the disciple should not only familiarize themselves with the entry-level truths of repentance, faith, salvation, etc., but that the disciple should broaden their understanding of God’s will by feeding on the full counsel of God’s word.

When Paul was saying farewell to the Ephesian church leaders he reminded them of how he had taught them. He said, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.27 “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”  (Acts 20:26-28). The Bible is a manual for life. God made humankind and gave us an instruction manual so that we would know how to get the most out of life on earth as well as be prepared to live life eternally. God’s word equips us for life. God’s word tells us what is really important in life, what the purpose of life is.

In Hebrews the study of God’s word is promoted and likened to moving from milk to the meat of God’s word.  Studying God’s word is the means by which the Christian is prepared and equipped to guard against falsehoods. It states, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”  (Heb.5:12-14). The implication here is that if the recipients, to which the letter of Hebrews was written, had studied and taken to heart God’s word, they would be better prepared and skilled, “exercised,” for ministry. This leads us to the final statement about why we should study God’s word.

Third, studying the Word of God prepares the disciple against falsehoods, fallacies, and fakeries. In Paul’s inspired letter to the Colossians he warns them against heretical teachings that diminish the deity of Jesus Christ and that rely on human tradition and worldly philosophy as their foundation. In this letter Paul exhorts believers to grow in their relationship with Jesus and one of the primary means this is accomplished is by the application of God’s word by the Spirit to their lives. Paul states, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”  (Col. 3:16). If we are to grow in our relationship with Jesus and be protected against the evil influence of aberrant teachings, we need to be students of God’s word.

Fourth, we need to study God’s word to get an accurate appraisal of where we are in our spiritual walk. The heart is deceitful and wicked (Jer. 17:9-10). The only way to know it accurately is through God’s word (Heb. 4:12-13). God’s word is a mirror that shows us what we look like (James 1:22-25). We need God’s word to show us our blemishes and to keep us going in the right direction (Ps. 119:105).

Do you have a passion for God’s word? One prime sign of a Spirit built church is that central to its ministry will be the teaching of the word of God. And while not everyone will be able to teach God’s word, everyone will be moved by the Spirit to live by God’s word. Does that describe you? I encourage you to do everything you can to assure and encourage that your church teaches the word of God. And I encourage you to get into the word of God yourself. Ask Jesus to give you a passion for His word. He has a way of stoking the fires of His passion in us with His word.

 

The Spirit Built Church has Passion

“And they continued steadfastly . . .” – Acts 2:42a

 

Acts chapter 2 is where the Spirit is poured out in power on 120 disciples including the apostles. At the end of that chapter the church is born. Acts 2:42-47 is an account of the growth and formation of the church. These verses give us God’s model for the Spirit built church.  As we look at these verses we should ask, Is this what my church looks like? It should be. Every church should be a Spirit built church. Every church should look like this. I believe the revival we need in the church and for our nation will come when we get back to this Spirit built model for the church.

The first thing we see here is that the Spirit built church is filled with people who  have a passion for God and ministry.”  It states, “And they continued steadfastly . . .” (Acts 2:42a). The phrase, “continued steadfastly” is translated from one Greek term proskartereo which occurs ten times in the New Testament being translated as “continue” four times, “continue instant” once, “continue steadfastly” once, “attend continually” once, “give (one’s) self continually” once, “wait on” once, and “wait on continually” once.” ^[1] The grammatical form of the word emphasizes an ongoing persistence. It means, “to be earnest toward, . . . to persevere, be constantly diligent, . . .  to adhere closely to. . . .” ^[2] These disciples were wholeheartedly committed to, passionately dedicated to, zeroed in on and focused upon the things mentioned about the church, which follow here.

Think of the focus people have at the critical time of a movie or a sports match. Think of how you would hang on every word of someone who was bringing information that was of particular interest to you. These people lived for their life in the Spirit and what God was doing. There was nothing else in their lives that came close to challenging their interest and dedication to the work of the Spirit in and through them and their brothers and sisters in Christ. When the Spirit spoke, they jumped to ready service.

This first aspect of the Spirit birthed church is essential. It is the energy that propels us and empowers us to fulfill what follows. When the Spirit comes He empowers. And that power will in part be evidenced by a passion for God and His work. Do you have a passion for God and His work? When you look at the people of God in Acts, do you see more similarities or more dissimilarities?

God’s plan for all people is that they become like Jesus (Rom. 8:28). This is the holy work of the Spirit in us. Jesus had a zeal and passion for the house of God (John 2:13-17). He had compassion for people (Mat. 9:36). We need the passion of Jesus. True repentance produces such passion (2 Cor. 7:9-11). Jesus finds lukewarmness detestable; it makes Him nauseous (Rev. 3:14-19). It is tremendously telling that today’s church and many “Christians” are so passionless for God and the things of God. We won’t escape if we neglect the great salvation of God in Christ (Heb. 2:1-3). Truly, if we claim to be Christians and live on unchanged in our sin, we are only fooling ourselves; we don’t fool God (Heb. 10:26-29). Anyone in Christ is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). And the love of Christ should be compelling us (2 Cor. 5:14 f.). We are not our own, we have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Does our life reflect that? Is there a heaven sent Spirit enflamed fire within us?

In Jesus’ Olivet Discourse He first mentions characteristics of the world that will be found in the Last Days before His 2^nd Coming (Mat. 24). He said the love of many would grow cold (Mat. 24:12). Sadly, this seems to be true of some in the church. Jesus illustrates how we should be living in light of His imminent return (Mat. 25). The first of these illustrations speak of virgins awaiting the Groom, five ready for His return, five who aren’t ready. Those who are ready have oil in their lamps symbolic of the fullness of the Spirit (compare Zech. 4:1-8). The four who aren’t ready have lamps that have run out of oil. Lamps were lit with a wick of fire. Which group best describes you? On fire for the Lord and burning bright, ready for His return? Or is the light in your lamp gone out and you are groping in the darkness?

Jesus said He wouldn’t break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick (Mat. 12:20). If you are bruised and as a result smoldering instead of on fire with a passion for Jesus, He will fire up your passion if you open up and invite Him in for some personal one on one time. In fact, the Last Days Laodicean Lukewarm church was called to repent by Jesus (Rev. 3:14-19). He said He was knocking on the door of that church and if anyone opened and invited Him in, He would come in and dine with them (Rev. 3:20). That is the key to acquiring His fire. Spending time with Jesus is how we can be re-fired. Contact with Jesus kindles a holy passion in us. I encourage you to open your heart and invite Him in. I encourage you to encourage your churches to open the door to Jesus and invite Him in. It’s time to burn bright with His holy fire.

This focus and passion is something that is frequently missing in the church of our time. We have TVs, computers, the Internet, cell phones, hobbies, sports, careers, and a myriad of other things to distract us from the same kind of passion for the Spirit that these first century believers had. But it’s not too late and it’s not impossible to recapture that zeal. Jesus told the lukewarm Laodiceans that He was waiting and knocking on the door of their church and their heart. All that is needed is to open and invite Jesus in. Passion and zeal are kindled as the Spirit brings us into the presence of Christ. The Holy Spirit working in and through us can start the fire in us. Jesus wants to stoke and fire us up again, if we let Him. Jesus is knocking. Will you open your church and heart and invite Him in?

---

^[1]Strong, J. 1996. Enhanced Strong's Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship: Ontario

^[2]Strong, J. 1997, c1996. The new Strong's dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words (electronic ed.). Thomas Nelson: Nashville

Undetected Spiritual Pride One Cause of Failure in Times of Great Revival by Jonathan Edwards

The first and worst cause of errors that abound in our day and age is spiritual pride. This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of Christ. It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit to darken the mind and mislead the judgment.

Pride is the main handle by which he has hold of Christian persons and the chief source of all the mischief that he introduces to clog and hinder a work of God. Spiritual pride is the main spring or at least the main support of all other errors. Until this disease is cured, medicines are applied in vain to heal all other diseases.

It is by spiritual pride that the mind defends and justifies itself in other errors and defends itself against light by which it might be corrected and reclaimed. The spiritually proud man thinks he is full of light already and feels that he does not need instruction, so he is ready to ignore the offer of it.

On the other hand, the humble person is like a little child who easily receives instruction. He is cautious in his estimate of himself, sensitive as to how liable he is to go astray. If it is suggested to him that he is going astray, he is most ready to check into the matter.

Nothing sets a Christian so much out of the devil s reach than humility and so prepares the mind for divine light without darkness. Humility clears the eye to look at things as they truly are. Psalm 25:9—He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way.

If spiritual pride is healed, other things are easily corrected. Our first care should be to correct the heart and pull the beam of pride out of our eye and then we shall see clearly.

Growing Christians Beware!

Those who are most zealous in the cause of God are the most likely to be targeted as being filled with pride. When any person appears, in any respect, to be noticeably excelling others in his Christian walk, odds are ten to one that it will immediately awaken the jealousy of those about him.

They will suspect (whether they have good reason or not) that he is very proud of his goodness and that he probably thinks no one as good as he is, so that everything he says and does is observed with this prejudice.

Those who are themselves cold and dead, and especially those who have never had any experience of the power of godliness on their own hearts, will easily entertain such thoughts of the best Christians. This arises from nothing less than a secret hostility against essential and fervent holiness.

But the zealous Christian should take heed that this does not prove a snare to him, and the devil take advantage of it to blind his eyes from beholding the true nature of his heart and to think that because he is charged with pride wrongfully and with an unkind spirit, that such charges are not sometimes valid.

Alas, how much pride the best have in their hearts! It is the worst part of the body of sin and death; the first sin that ever entered into the universe and the last that is rooted out. It is God s most stubborn enemy!

Pride: a Secret Enemy

Pride is much more difficult to be discerned than any other corruption because of its very nature. That is, pride is a person having too high an opinion of himself. Is it any surprise, then, that a person who has too high an opinion of himself is unaware of it? His thinking is that he thinks that the opinion he has of himself has just grounds and therefore is not too high. If the grounds of the opinion of himself crumbled, he would cease to have such an opinion.

But, because of the nature of spiritual pride, it is the most secret of all sins. There is no other matter in which the heart is more deceitful and unsearchable and there is no other sin in the world that men are so confident in. The very nature of it is to work self-confidence and drive away any suspicion of any evil of that kind. There is no sin so much like the devil as this for secrecy and subtlety, and appearing in great many shapes that are undetected and unsuspected.

Spiritual pride takes many forms and shapes, one under another, and encompasses the heart like the layers of an onion: when you pull off one, there is another underneath. Therefore, we have need to have the greatest watch imaginable over our hearts with respect to this matter and to cry most earnestly to the great Searcher of hearts for His help. He that trusts his own heart is a fool.

Since spiritual pride in its own nature is so secret, it cannot be so well discerned by immediate intuition on the thing itself. It is best identified by its fruits and effects, some of which I will make mention of below together with the contrary fruits of Christian humility.

Pride: the Great Fault-finder

Spiritual pride causes one to speak of other persons sins, their enmity against God and His people, or with laughter and levity and an air of contempt, while pure Christian humility disposes either to be silent about them or to speak of them with grief or pity.

The spiritually proud person shows it in his finding fault with other saints, that they are low in grace and how cold and dead they are, and are quick to discern and take notice of their deficiencies. The eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home and sees so much evil in his own that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts.

He complains most of himself and complains most of his own coldness and lowness in grace. He is apt to esteem others as better than himself and is ready to hope that most everybody has more love and thankfulness to God than he, and cannot bear to think that others should bring forth no more fruit to God s honor than he.

Some who have spiritual pride mixed with great learning and joy, earnestly speaking to others about them, are likely to be calling upon other Christians to emulate them and sharply reprove them for their being so cold and lifeless.

There are others who are overwhelmed with their own vileness, and when they have extraordinary discoveries of God's glory, they are taken up by their own sinfulness. Though they are disposed to speak much and very earnestly, yet it is very much in blaming themselves and exhorting fellow Christians, but in a loving and humble manner.

Pure Christian humility causes a person to take notice of everything that is good in others, to make the best of it and to diminish their failings; however, he turns his eye chiefly on those things that are bad in himself and to take much notice of everything that aggravates them.

Pride: Ministering in a Harsh Spirit

It has been the manner of spiritually proud persons to speak of almost everything they see in others in the most harsh, severe language. It is frequent with them to say of other's opinion, conduct, advice, coldness, silence, caution, moderation, prudence, etc. that they are from the devil or from hell.

Such kind of language they will commonly use, not only towards wicked men, but towards those who are true children of God and also towards ministers of the gospel and others who are very much their superiors. Christians who are but fellow-worms ought at least to treat one another with as much humility and gentleness as Christ treats them.

Pride: Putting on Pretenses

Spiritual pride often causes persons to act different in external appearance, to effect a different way of speaking, to use a different sort of dialect from others, or to be different in voice, countenance or behavior. But he that is an eminently humble Christian, though he will be firm in his duty, however different — going the way of heaven alone, though all the world forsake him — yet he does not delight in being different for difference s sake.

He does not try to set himself up to be viewed and observed as one distinguished, as desiring to be accounted better than others — despising their company or conformity to them — but on the contrary, desires to become all things to all men, to yield to others and conform to them and please them in all but sin.

Pride: Takes Offence Easily

Spiritual pride takes great notice of opposition and injuries that are received and is prone to be often speaking of them and to be much in taking notice of their aggravation, either with an air of bitterness or contempt.

Pure and unmixed Christian humility, on the other hand, causes a person to be more like his blessed Lord when reviled: quiet, not opening his mouth, but committing himself in silence to Him who judges righteously. For the humble Christian, the more the world is against him, the more silent and still he will be, unless it is in his prayer closet, and there he will not be still.

Pride: Presumption Before God and Man

Another effect of spiritual pride is a certain self-confident boldness before God and men. Some, in their great rejoicing before God, have not paid sufficient regard to that rule in Psalm 2:11 — Worship the Lord with reverence, and rejoice with trembling.

They have not rejoiced with a reverential trembling, in a proper sense of the awful majesty of God and the awful distance between Him and them. There has also been an improper boldness before men that has been encouraged and defended by a misapplication of Proverbs 29:25 — The fear of man brings a snare... It is as though it became all persons, high and low, men, women and children in all Christian conversation to wholly abandon all manner of modesty or reverence toward man.

Not that any should refrain from Christian conversation, but with such humility as in I Peter 3:15—But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

Pride: Hungry for Attention

Another effect of spiritual pride is to make the subject of it want attention. People often tend to act in a special manner as though others ought to take great notice and regard of them. It is very natural to a person that is very much under the influence of spiritual pride to take all the respect that is paid to him.

If others show a disposition to submit to him and yield in deference to him, he is open to it and freely receives it. It becomes natural for him to expect such treatment and to take much notice if a person fails to do so, and to have an ill opinion of those who do not give him that which he feels he deserves.

One under the influence of spiritual pride is more apt to instruct others than to inquire for himself and so naturally puts on the airs of control. The eminently humble Christian thinks he needs help from everybody, whereas he that is spiritually proud thinks everybody needs his help. Christian humility, under a sense of other's misery, entreats and beseeches, but spiritual pride tries to command and warn with authority.

Pride: Neglecting Others

As spiritual pride causes persons to assume much to themselves, so it treats others with neglect. On the contrary, pure Christian humility disposes persons to honor all men as from I Peter 2:17. To enter into disputes about Christianity is sometimes unseasonable, such as in meeting for Christian conference or for exercises of worship.

Yet, we ought to be very careful that we do not refuse to converse with carnal men, as though we counted them not worthy to be regarded. On the contrary, we should condescend to carnal men as Christ has condescended to us, to bear with our unteachableness and stupidity.