A Template
(My Position and Identity)
Before the God of Heaven
As one…broken…
As one…redeemed…
As one…commissioned…
(My Mission) In This Life
…walking with God…
…in my place…strengthening family
…reaching out…as a channel of grace…
…to fellow believers…
…to unbelievers…
For most of
us, life is not likely going to become less busy any time soon. So, while we
are going down the highway of life at 70 to 75 mph, we need to figure a way to
still handle the forty issues of life coming at us, and, asking God to help us
do two things with more intentionality…1) to enlarge our scope of God
consciousness, and 2) to be proactively pursuing our God given mission (three
areas). Let’s ask God for his enabling grace to 1) walk more closely with Him,
2) strengthen our earthly and forever family, and 3) to be reaching out, being
a channel of grace to those around us.
This material is not intended to become a regular type of book. This material
will not just pass along information to you that once you have taken it in, you
are done with it and then you can just lay it down and keep moving. This is a
template. It is a spiritual GPS. No, the twelve gates are not twelve lessons or
sermons. They are navigational checkpoints, if you will. Just as a sailor
continually checks his compass, charts, and position, or a pilot repeatedly
consults his instruments, the believer continually comes back to these gates
and asks: 1) What does God desire? 2) Where am I right now? 3) What course
correction is needed?
Each of
these gates does not just bring us to common terrain, but to very special,
consequential, places. You may wonder why we are using the idea of gates. Let
me explain. Even in our culture, there are “Gated communities.” Farmers and
some businesses use fences and gates. Security is one issue. Protection of
valuable property is an issue. Fences and Gates communicate a separation
between what is public and what is private. A gate may communicate that you are
about to enter a place that is important and that accessibility is a privilege
not a right.
Here, each
unit is introduced as a Gate that has a designation that characterizes the
aspect of life that we are about to bring attention to, and to demonstrate,
coming here is not just a common place, but rather a special place to be shown
respect, for it has great impact on lives, our own, and on others, as well.
The question
is not, what chapter am I reading today? The question is, before the God of
heaven, which consequential aspect of the Christian life am I tuning into today,
as I navigate God’s universe? Gate One – Heart, Life, Legacy, Gate Two –
Integrity – Before the God of Heaven, Gate Three – Brokenness on Display, Gate
Four – The God of Grace – Redemption, Gate Five – Commissioned by God, Gate Six
– Integrity # 2 – His purposes or mine? Gate Seven – Integrity #3 – My mission
on Earth, Gate Eight – Walking with God, Gate Nine – In My Place…Strengthening
Family (Earthly), Gate Ten – In My Place…Strengthening Family (Forever), Gate
Eleven – Reaching Out…as a channel of Grace to Believers, Gate Twelve –
Reaching Out…as a channel of Grace to Unbelievers.
At each of the twelve
gates we will ask three questions.
What does God Desire?
Before the God of Heaven, where am I presently?
How, by His grace, do I move toward what God desires?
We are all
navigating God’s universe. And we do so before the God of Heaven. He is not a
casual observer. It makes a difference for now and all eternity how we deal
with the important matters within the twelve gates! These are twelve places we
should revisit often so as to remind ourselves of
God’s navigational “checkpoints,” and ask ourselves 1) what does God want from
me? 2) where are we right now, and, 3) by God’s grace,
how can I move toward where He wants me to be?
The
template, the GPS, the navigational guide found here uses Nehemiah as someone
who was tuned in to God, His purposes, people, truth, taking an honest and open
look, not satisfied to just let things go, was willing to get out of his
comfort zones to go motivate others to do what they should have been doing on
their own. Before the God of Heaven, was exactly where he lived his life.
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
HEART, LIFE, LEGACY DETERMINED HERE
KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE
“Keep thy heart with all
diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23)
Ponder for a
moment the wisdom of that proverb.
An
epic heart battle, pride vs. humility, first within
Lucifer, had devastating consequences on us all. Lucifer was not content with
the place God had for him. Pride prompted him to want to exalt himself above
the throne of God. Also, Adam and Eve fell for Satan’s lie, rather than holding
to what God had said to them. Again, note the eternal consequences.
So, as we
enter the Heart, Life, and Legacy Gate, think about the
importance of what happens here for each of us.
We will look at brokenness as Paul speaks of it in Romans
chapter one. Then, we will examine another critical aspect of heart life, our
human affections. Understand temporal treasures are ok, in their place,
until they have the ultimate place, God’s place, in our heart. Also, we
note fourteen epic battles of the heart, one we just mentioned,
that can become a huge trouble spot within our heart life. For these epic
battles of the heart, you need to bring truth to the
deliberations.
Also, we
will look at how the heart is won over to anyone or anything. It
determines who or what you put before God.
We will note
there are three undergirding principles to this growth and development
initiative. All of them can be activated in our heart life. And they work
together. They are about Heart, Life,
and Legacy.
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
We can, with
God’s help determine that we will do what we need to do, to make sure God has
our heart. There is a sequence of seven actions that make that possible.
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked.”
Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what you get.”
By
example/emphasis, when God has our heart, what we honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, will be God, and the things of God.
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
I have
simply noted for you some of the key aspects of heart life that we will focus
on in this tour of our heart life. Let’s begin!
Gate One
Heart, Life, Legacy
What God
Desires
Run to Jesus, love Him with all my heart
Honor Him
and His Word by my example and emphasis
Purpose in my heart to embrace His purposes as my own
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”.
Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
WHO CREATED HEART LIFE
1In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him;
and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:1-3)
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
13The LORD looketh
from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14From the place of his
habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the
earth. 15He
fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth
all their works. (Ps 33:13-15)
“Keep
thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
(Prov. 4:23)
From
these passages there are some important things we need to note from the Bible.
1) In the beginning God, through His Son, the Living Word, made the universe.
2) God makes it clear that from His habitation he sees all the sons of men. All
of them, and he knows intimately everything going on in an individual’s heart,
because He fashioned it. 3) Our heart, our Command-and-Control Center, needs to
be guarded.
Please
understand that this is only a survey tour. As you will see, each aspect of
heart life that we see here could have books written about each one. There is a
clear connection between what happens here and the flow of human history.
GUARD YOUR HEART
Our
heart needs to be guarded from outside, and inside, influences. It needs to be
understood that the heart itself is already sin tainted.
“The
heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who
can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)
Through
Lucifer’s fall, and his influence on Adam and Eve, the whole human race is sin
tainted all the way to our DNA. The apostle Paul, in setting forth the doctrine
of the depravity of man, in Romans 1 and through to chapter 3, interestingly
gives four phrases in chapter one that capture at our core, how sin works in our
flesh.
“…who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” (v. 18)
“Although they knew God, they
did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (v. 21)
“They exchanged the truth of
God for a lie” (v. 25)
“Worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25)
So,
having just begun our tour, we have great cause to not trust our own heart. It
is sinful to the core. This is a devastating reality with which we have to contend. I am addressing believers in this
navigational guide, and yes, we have been redeemed, but not yet glorified. We
still have to deal with our flesh. When we get to the
third gate, Brokenness on Display, we will elaborate more on what
this all looks like in this life.
There are eight components of our heart life.
We all
have a human spirit, volition (free will), emotions, intellect/mind,
conscience, imagination, memory, and human affections. I like to describe our
internal heart deliberations this way. It’s as if these aspects of our heart
life sit at a conference table, and as life situations, both from the outside,
and from within, come to us, there is a deliberation that takes place within
our heart. And we make choices of how we will act or react in these situations.
Books have been, and should yet be, written about the deliberations that take
place within the human heart.
HUMAN
AFFECTIONS –
TREASURES OF THE HEART
There is
this ongoing battle within us between focusing on temporal treasures and
spiritual treasures. We live in a temporal world. There is part of us that is
made to exist and operate in the temporal world. As temporal beings, we are
tuned in to the temporal treasures that are needed and wanted in this temporal
existence. There is nothing wrong with temporal treasure, if it stays in its
proper place. Understand temporal treasures are ok, in their place, until
they have the ultimate place, God’s place, in our heart.
For most of us life is not likely going to become less busy any time soon. So,
while we are going down the highway of life at 70 to 75 mph, we need to figure
a way to still handle the forty issues of life coming at us,
and asking God to help us do two things with more intentionality…1) to
enlarge our scope of God consciousness, and 2) to be proactively pursuing our
God given mission (three areas).
Let’s ask God for his enabling grace to 1) walk more closely with Him,
2) strengthen our earthly and forever family, and 3) to be reaching out, being
a channel of grace to those around us.
As
children of God, there is now a whole different level to our existence! And now
we need to give spiritual/eternal treasure greater priority than temporal
things.
So, we are conflicted. Will I be able, while doing the forty necessary temporal
things of life, to have a greater level of God consciousness, so that I do not
neglect my walk with the Lord? And, our spiritual
obligations to family, church, and individual believers, unbelievers, need
their place in our lives as well.
TEMPORAL VS. ETERNAL
TREASURE
Where we have been so far
addresses the reality that human beings are made with the capacity to tune in
to the temporal world. And yes, we need the capacity to do this. And in this
world, we come to ascribe value to what we call temporal values. You saw the
list, possessions, position, power, prestige, pleasure, popularity, praise of
men, and passion. There is nothing wrong with having temporal treasure, as long as these temporal things do not take first place in
our heart. If we treasure them more than we treasure/love our redeemer, Jesus,
then that treasure has taken God’s place in our life. That is idolatry. That is
a big problem.
21For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22The light of the body is the
eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of
darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that
darkness! 24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matt
6:21-24)
There are three points Jesus makes
in this passage. There are two kinds of treasure, temporal and spiritual. As we
have ascribed value to these two kinds of treasure, whoever or whatever has
been ascribed the higher value will have the heart of that person. Nothing
should be treasured/valued more than God. If it is, it has taken God’s place. So,
guarding the heart takes discernment, integrity, and determination. Our DNA is
strong and it is easier sometimes to suppress the truth rather than embrace it.
It is possible to find ourselves honoring ourselves,
and being in control, more than honoring God, and letting Him be in control. We
can quickly find ourselves buying falsehoods that allow us to rationalize doing
what we want to do. And, we can find ourselves
worshipping and serving self rather than worshipping and serving the Creator.
Some
of the most epic of battles on planet earth take place within the human heart.
As I note these, take a moment and recall how some of these you know have had
great impact in your own life, and the lives of family members, friends, and
people that have been in the world around you.
EPIC
BATTLES OF THE HEART
Truth vs. Falsehood
Good vs. Evil
Integrity vs. self-deception
Humility vs. Pride
Purpose vs. Nihilism
Meaning vs. Emptiness
Selflessness vs. Self-centeredness
Spirit vs. Flesh
Divine calling vs. Desire
Spiritual/Eternal vs. Temporal
Love vs. Hate
Faith vs. Fear
Hope vs. Despair
Passion vs. Illicit Passion
Intense,
draining, numbing, deliberations play out at the conference table of the heart.
Guard your heart. Life and Legacy play out from what’s in the heart.
HOW THE HEART IS WON
Contact
— The Beginning of Influence
“Do
not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
“Blessed
is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked…” (Psalm 1:1)
Dwelling
With — Repeated Presence Deepens Attachment
“He
who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer
harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
“Abide
in Me, and I in you.” (John 15:4)
(This is why Scripture
places enormous emphasis on fellowship, family, church life, companionship,
meditation, and abiding.)
Communication
— Exchange Builds Connection
“Faith
comes by hearing…” (Romans 10:17)
“Out
of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
(Matthew 12:34)
Knowing
— Familiarity Produces Internalization
People naturally move toward what
becomes familiar,
and, repeated familiarity reduces resistance, and,
intimate knowledge creates emotional attachment.
Valuing
/ Treasuring — The Heart Attaches
“Where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
Influencing — What Captures the Heart
Begins
Directing the Life
“Keep
your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs
4:23)
“My
son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” (Proverbs 23:26)
Embracing
— Full Identification and Ownership
At
this point there is connection, loyalty, and oneness.
ISRAEL AND THE RECHABITES
The Bible gives contrasting
illustrations of how the heart was won over within two groups in totally
opposite directions.
Throughout the Old Testament, God
wanted the children of Israel to not go dwell among the idolatrous people of
the surrounding pagan cultures. They did not obey. As they followed the seven
steps given above their hearts were won over to the people, the cultures, the
pagan gods within those cultures. And so, God did not have the hearts of His
chosen people. God would use pagan nations to bring judgement on his people.
17Therefore
thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon
Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have
pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not
heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. Jer. 35:17
In Jeremiah 35 there is an amazing
story. God is moving toward judging Judah for their waywardness. But He wants
to point out to them, and us, that there is a group that went the completely
opposite way.
1The word
which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of
Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2Go
unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the
house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
3Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah,
and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; 4And I brought them into the house of
the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of
God, which was by the chamber of the princes,
which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the
keeper of the door:
5And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full
of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.
6But they said, we will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of
Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither
ye, nor your sons forever:
7Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor
have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many
days in the land where ye be strangers. 8Thus
have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he
hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor
our daughters; 9Nor to build houses
for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
10But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to
all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
11But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up
into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the
army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at
Jerusalem. 12Then came the word of
the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 13Thus
saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my
words? saith the LORD. 14The words
of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are
performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s
commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking;
but ye hearkened not unto me. 15I
have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and
sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend
your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in
the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not
inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. 16Because
the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their
father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: 17Therefore thus saith the LORD God of
hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the
inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them:
because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called
unto them, but they have not answered. 18And
Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your
father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath
commanded you: 19Therefore thus
saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not
want a man to stand before me forever. (Jer. 35)
God
had the prophet bring the Rechabites to the house of God and had them set wine
before them and they were commanded to drink. They did not obey because Jonadab
the son of Rechab had commanded them not to drink wine. They kept their
distance from the surrounding cultures. Thus, their hearts were kept loyal to
their leaders’ directives.
Contact
The descendants continually
remained connected to the teachings of Jonadab. The commands were not
forgotten.
Dwelling With
Their entire communal
structure reinforced those convictions. They lived inside a culture of
remembrance. Environment reinforced identity.
Communication
The commands were
continually repeated from generation to generation. The family narrative stayed
alive. This parallels Deuteronomy 6:
Knowing
The descendants knew who
they were and where they came from. They knew why they lived differently.
Valuing / Treasuring
The commands became
treasured traditions rather than burdensome restrictions. The family honored
Jonadab’s vision. Their loyalty became affectionate and voluntary.
Influencing
The
inherited convictions governed their lifestyle, habits, priorities, boundaries,
and social behavior. Their worldview shaped conduct.
Embracing
Finally,
the Rechabites fully embraced this identity as their own. What began as
Jonadab’s commands became the descendants’ convictions. This is one of the most
powerful examples in Scripture of multigenerational loyalty.
18And Jeremiah
said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept
all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: 19Therefore thus saith the LORD of
hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to
stand before me forever. (Jer 35:18-19)
THREE
UNDERGIRDING PRINCIPLES
This
first navigational guide puts at the foundation the importance of knowing that
we must guard our heart, and keep it from so many
influences that want to be in first place in our lives. Our hearts are broken,
sinful, and easily won over to temporal treasure that then takes God’s place in
our life. Yes, these three heart purposes pursued Before the God of
Heaven with integrity, by God’s grace, should be how we navigate God’s
universe… Heart, Life, and Legacy.
Heart
“For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
Run to Jesus, love Him with all my heart
I want to make you
aware again, as we begin to illustrate the battles that rage within our sinful
hearts, that this is all happening Before the God of Heaven. Psalm 33:13-15
reminds us,
13The LORD looketh
from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
(Ps 33:13-15)
1(To the chief Musician, A Psalm of
David.) O LORD, thou hast searched me, and
known me. 2Thou knowest my
downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my
thought afar off. 3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art
acquainted with all my ways. 4For there
is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it
altogether.
(Ps 139:1-4)
Let’s take a close look at just how much our flesh, our
sinful flesh, suppresses the truth, just beyond our awareness. “We see what
we want to see. And we hear what we want to hear. Because we want to do what we
want to do. Because we treasure what we treasure.”
Numerous times a day we, in a moment, realize we have a minute
of discretionary “free” time on our hands. There may be a half dozen things we
could choose to do. Rather than listing all of them, I will just list two…pick
up my phone, or pick up my Bible. Why is it, that most
Christians, in that moment will opt for the phone. A temporal treasure
that influences us more than we realize is comfort, taking it easy, relaxing.
There are many moments in our lives where treasuring comfort rules the moment
over treasuring time communing with our God.
Another illustration of treasuring our pleasure (comfort
zones), over treasuring spiritual things would be that moment in our busy day
when someone moving in our sphere, who does not know Christ, and in the moment,
the Holy Spirit prompts us to start an exchange with them with the intent to
make it a moment of a verbal witness to them regarding Jesus, and our need of
His redemption, we shrug it off, rationalizing that surely it wasn’t a good
time after all (when we just wanted to stay in our comfort zone).
Treasuring our pleasure (a big category of temporal
treasure…a lot more than just our comfort), has to be
one of the predominate categories of temporal treasure that has a higher
priority than spiritual treasure much of the time, in the life of believers.
Ask God to help you become more aware of this, and ask His help, in the moment,
to opt for going after the spiritual treasure rather than the temporal one.
So, I have chosen one of eight categories of temporal
treasure to illustrate the battle between focusing on temporal treasure or
spiritual treasure. Added into that is the brokenness that is woven into our
DNA, just wanting to suppress truth so that we can just do what we want to do.
Please note that we illustrated from our core brokenness,
and from temporal treasure. We did not choose to illustrate how any one of the fourteen
Epic Battles listed can consume a lot of heart energy and focus.
Jesus desires that above all others, and temporal things,
He desires that our hearts treasure Him and things spiritual above all else.
Because human hearts, treasuring temporal things, come to worship temporal
things. Only Jesus is worthy of our worship, not things temporal.
19Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal: 20But
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be
single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23But
if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore
the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24No man can serve two masters: for
either he will hate the one, and love the other; or
else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
mammon.
######
Life
“If a ruler hearkens to lies, all his
servants are wicked”
Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
Honor
Him and His Word by my example and emphasis
If Jesus has
our heart, then we will follow His ways. If He has our heart, then our life
will show that above all else, we want to honor Him. Someone has said, “A
man’s life will be lived in light of the treasure he is seeking.” Our life
demonstrates what we treasure. The apostle Paul said, “For me to live is
Christ.” Phil 1:21
Clearly, as
you read the New Testament, including the epistles that Paul wrote, you will
see that both in example and emphasis he honored, dignified,
emphasized, paid attention to, and rewarded, lifting up
Jesus Christ!
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what you get.”
#####
Legacy
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
Purpose
in my heart to embrace His purposes as my own
For a long time, I
have loved this passage in Isaiah 46.
8Remember
this, and shew yourselves men:
bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
9Remember the former things of old: for I am God,
and there is none else; I am God, and there
is none like me, 10Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that
are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all
my pleasure: 11Calling a ravenous
bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel
from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I
have purposed it, I will also do it.
God is making it
clear that He alone is God. He declared the end from the beginning. He will use
heathen nations to discipline His people. God is the God of history. He is in
control. He says, “I have purposed it, I will also do it.” This is an awesome
statement. God has divinely decreed purposes, and he will carry out what He has
purposed. He will do it. There is purpose and there is integrity. Before the
foundation of the world God purposed creation, redemption, and His eternal reign. He will do it.
God has given to
mankind the capacity to purpose in heart what we will go do, and the capacity,
to will, to act with integrity to go do what we have purposed to do. Athletes
purpose to go to the Olympics, and focus and work to get there. Other’s purpose
to become business owners, preachers, etc., and they pursue these ventures with
determination to go accomplish it.
We can purpose as
a believer to…
Run to Jesus, love Him with all my heart
Honor
Him and His Word by my example and emphasis
Purpose
in my heart to embrace His purposes as my own
May we appropriate the grace, the enablement, He gives to
live for Him!
RUN TO JESUS –
LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART?
So, we come to these Gates, important navigational
guides, these important aspects of Christian life. See what’s here. Understand
what God wants. Give serious thought to these questions. Where am I presently with regard to heart life? Does my life honor God? If I were
to die today, what would be my legacy?
What does God Desire?
Before the God of Heaven, where am I presently?
How, by His grace, do I move toward what God desires?
HONOR
HIM AND HIS WORD –
BY MY EXAMPLE AND EMPHASIS?
What does God Desire?
Before the God of Heaven, where am I presently?
How, by His grace, do I move toward what God desires?
PURPOSE IN MY
HEART -
TO EMBRACE HIS PURPOSES AS MY OWN?
What does God Desire?
Before the God of Heaven, where am I presently?
How, by His grace, do I move toward what God desires?
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
GOD SEES WHAT IS REALLY, REALLY REAL
WILL I AGREE WITH WHAT GOD SEES?
13The LORD looketh
from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14From the place of his
habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the
earth. 15He
fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth
all their works. (Ps 33:13-15)
In gate one we looked at the tremendous importance of the heart.
We saw that the heart is continually deliberating, choosing, treasuring,
honoring, and embracing.
Now we must ask another important question:
Will we be truthful about what is really
going on within our heart?
Every moment of our lives is lived Before the God of Heaven.
There is nothing about us that He does not see. There is no circumstance He
misunderstands. There is no motive hidden from Him. Psalm 139 reminds us that
He knows our downsitting and our uprising, understands our thoughts afar off,
and knows our words before we speak them.
God sees what is really, really real.
Integrity begins when we are
willing to agree with what God already sees. In this Gate we will look at
integrity in four important ways:
Speak the truth.
Take an honest and open look at
what is in front of you.
Purpose to do the right thing.
Do the right thing you have
purposed to do.
We will also look at Nehemiah, a
man who lived with an extraordinary awareness that his life was unfolding Before
the God of Heaven. He prayed, depended upon God, faced reality
honestly, and acted with integrity, and embraced God’s purposes and blueprint.
So, before entering this Gate,
ask yourself:
IF God already knows the truth
about my heart, my motives, my circumstances, and my choices, am I willing to
agree with Him?
Let’s begin!
Gate
Two
Integrity –
Before the God of Heaven
What God Desires
Navigating
- Before the God of Heaven
Integrity - Before the God of Heaven
With Integrity - Embracing His Purposes as my Own
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked.”
Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
NAVIGATING-BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
13The
LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth
all the sons of men. 14From the
place of his habitation he looketh upon all the
inhabitants of the earth. 15He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth
all their works. (Ps 33:13-15)
For
the last five decades, in the American culture, there has been a concerted
effort on the part of the godless to suppress the truth that every human being
through every period of history has lived their lives Before the God of
Heaven.
There
are seven arenas of life that all of us navigate, even if we want to pretend
some of these don’t exist.
Six arenas we cannot
deny, the seventh, some will try to deny, but the universe is real. And the
universe speaks of an awesome God. In Romans 1:18-20 Paul makes this truth
clear. The magnificent design of the universe,
instructs us as to the awesomeness of our Creator God. Where there is
intelligent design, there is an intelligent Designer!
18For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold (suppress) the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God
is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from
the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that
are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are
without excuse:…(Romans 1:18-20)
The
godless believe that true freedom is possible when they can suppress truth, put
it aside, and do what they want to do. So, they want the idea of God and the
Bible to be suppressed and held down, so that they do not have to deal with
being accountable to God. But, them trying to push
aside the reality of God won’t work. In the verses cited (Ps 33:13-15) God
makes it clear that from his dwelling place He sees all the sons of men. You
can’t escape the presence of God. Also, this passage makes it clear you can’t
hide your heart life. He is the one that fashioned heart life. He understands
what transpires there. So, truly, our every move is before the God of Heaven. And,
in Romans 1:18-20, God makes it clear, the evidence of a Creator God is written
in the sky…enough so, Man is without excuse!
God
not only sees all of mankind from His dwelling place, the
scriptures make it clear that he sees every movement in His universe!
Besides Psalm 33:13-15, Psalm 139 in its entirety speaks to the reality that
God is aware of every movement in His universe.
1(To
the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2Thou
knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest
my thought afar off. 3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art
acquainted with all my ways. 4For there
is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it
altogether. 5Thou hast beset me
behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too
wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. (Psalm 139:1-5)
So, on
any day, to wake up, walk outside and look up into the sky, we are hit with the
evidence that God is real, He is present, and He is active in His universe and
in the affairs of mankind. The scripture also says in Colossians 1:17
“…by Him all things consist (hold together).”
If you
camped out on the equator you would be moving at a thousand mph as the earth
rotates. In twenty-four hours, you will have rotated one time. You can set your
clocks by the consistency of that rotation. The earth is orbiting the Sun once
every year. It goes about 585 million miles in that year. The earth is
rocketing at 1.67 million miles a day. That’s about 67,000mph. Jesus, the
Creator, by his awesome power keeps things right on time. Our orbit is spaced
just right so that we don’t get to close to the Sun and burn, or too far away
and freeze. The spacing is just right to sustain human life on planet earth.
NEHEMIAH-BEFORE
THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Let’s take a look at a man in scripture who lived daily with the
constant awareness of God being active in the affairs of mankind, and more
specifically, in his own life.
1The
words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in
the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2That Hanani,
one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked
them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity,
and concerning Jerusalem.
3And they said unto me, The remnant that
are left of the captivity there in the province are in great
affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down,
and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4And it came to pass,
when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and
mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of
heaven, 5And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great
and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for
them that love him and observe his commandments: 6Let thine ear now
be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy
servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of
Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we
have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7We
have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor
the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst
thy servant Moses.
8Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst
thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you
abroad among the nations: 9But if ye turn unto me, and
keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the
uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and
will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10Now
these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy
great power, and by thy strong hand. 11O
Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy
servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and
prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of
this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Before
the God of Heaven is where Nehemiah’s heart is as he has an exchange
with his brethren from Judah, … “I asked them concerning the Jews that
had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3And they said unto me, the remnant that
are left of the captivity there in the province are in great
affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down,
and the gates thereof are burned with fire.”
Nehemiah walked with God, and he knew his
God. When he heard this report, he sat down and wept, and mourned certain days,
and fasted, and prayed before the God of Heaven. There were some
truths about his God, that he spoke in this moment, to his God, because they
were applicable in the moment.
1) God is transcendent and
sovereign (1:5) “…O LORD
God of heaven…” God is above empires (Persia), He is above kings
(Artaxerxes). Artaxerxes looked powerful. But Nehemiah knew who held the higher
throne. 2) God is great and awesome, “The
great and awesome God” (1:5) Nehemiah’s God is not small, He is
majestic. God is Holy, Fearful in power, Worthy of reverence. 3) God
keeps covenant, “Who keeps covenant…” (1:5) Judah failed, but God
stayed true to His word. 4) God is merciful and loving, “…and
lovingkindness for those who love Him.” (1:5) Although judgement had
happened, mercy was still active. God responded to their repentance. 5) God
hears prayer, “Let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open…” (1:6)
Nehemiah knows God listens. He is not praying into nothingness. Heaven hears! 6)
God forgives repentant sinners, “We have sinned…” He brought no
excuses, no blame shifting…God sees me. He has missed nothing. Self-deception
weakens. Integrity is possible.
Integrity
is learning to agree with what God already sees.
Integrity
speaks the truth! God sees and knows the truth!
Integrity
is willing to take an honest look, because the God of heaven sees it all as it
really is…nothing is hidden from Him. He hears it all! He sees it all!
God
is present, and He is not a passive observer, He is active in the affairs of
mankind!
When
you read the first six or seven chapters of the book of Nehemiah, you can’t
miss that as Nehemiah is facing situations, in the moment, he talks to his very
present, active, caring God!
I am
going to note a few of these moments…
As
soon as Nehemiah heard the report about how things were back in Jerusalem, he
prayed before the God of Heaven.
3And they said
unto me, the remnant that are left of the captivity
there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall
of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned
with fire.
4And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and
wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God
of heaven,
In chapter 2 when he is before the king, and the king
asks what he wants, in the moment, he talks to God…
“So, I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to
the king…” (2:4)
In chapter four, Opposition comes.
Sanballat mocks. Nehemiah responds:
“Hear, O our God, for we are despised” (4:4).
When nobles oppressed the poor in chapter five, and
Nehemiah is handling it, toward the end of the chapter he says to God…
“Remember me, my God, for good…” (5:19)
May our awareness be elevated to the constant reality that
our God is present, active, caring, orchestrating, moving in the hearts of
those around us!
INTEGRITY – BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Stop
and ponder this…at this point in history approximately seven billion people are
on planet earth.
Many
people just get up and go do what is right in front of them and never give
thought to the questions around how did all of this get here? For some, they
don’t care about the answers to those questions. For others, they don’t want to
go there, because their life has been filled with an awful lot of pain, and
they can’t understand, if there is a God, how could He allow such pain in this
human existence? This premise is flawed, but that at least keeps them from
dealing with the issues.
Then
you have others who believe there was, out of nothingness, a big bang, and here
it all is…and, others, still want us to believe that over billions and billions
of years everything evolved.
Then
there are those who see, by observation, over and over again,
that wherever you are seeing wonderfully designed things coming into existence,
that you can with a little research find out the identity of that designer!
Intelligent design demands an intelligent Designer! So, when the Bible speaks
to God being the creator of the universe, it’s easy to see, “The existence of
God is the most obvious truth in the universe!” What other
possible designer could have possibly designed and created this magnificent
universe? If you look through the James Webb telescope, or through the
strongest microscope, the intelligent design of it all demands an intelligent
Designer!
So, as
seven billion people navigate the universe, there is an epic battle within the
hearts of human beings…will I seek to take an honest and open look at what’s in
front of me, and ask the questions, What is truth?
What is of value? How then, shall we live? Or, will I
just leave that alone, and do what I want to do? So, for many, there is this
epic battle in the heart, “Integrity vs. Self-deception.”
INTEGRITY
DEFINED
Integrity
is at least four things…1) speaking the truth, 2) taking an open and honest
look at what is in front of me, 3) purposing to do the right thing with what is
in front of me, and, 4) doing what I purposed to do, with what is in front of
me.
Nehemiah
was a man of integrity. The king saw it and made him his cup bearer. Nehemiah
navigated the universe before the God of Heaven. He understood
God’s eternal purposes, and His purposes with the people of Israel. He took an
honest look at the state of these people’s walk with God, after they came back
from the captivity, and saw they still were not getting it right. Jerusalem was
still in ruins, and they were not functioning in their families the way God
intended either. So, Nehemiah, when told how things were going back in Judah,
determined to take the honest look at what was happening. He asked God for the
stewardship of going back and leading the people to do the right thing God’s
way. He took the time to scout out the ruins of the wall around Jerusalem. Before
the God of Heaven, he came up with a plan and came to the people and
communicated the plan. As recorded in Nehemiah chapter three he organized the
people by family groups and ended up with 41 work groups. They would build the
wall in their own back yard, so to speak. In Nehemiah 4:13, Nehemiah says, “I
stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows…remember
the Lord…fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and
your houses.” Nehemiah knew
God’s purposes and blueprints. Family is God’s basic unit in a community.
Nehemiah put them to work in a way that he saw to it that families had to be
strong together, or the enemy would attack in their back yard.
Indeed,
today, the church needs to come back to that same default, and strengthen
families, to do the work of the ministry.
Nehemiah
had answered the basic questions, because he wanted truth, to speak truth, to
see what was really real right in front of him, and he purposed in his heart to
do the right thing with what was really real right in front of him, and he then
did what was right. He navigated with integrity!
It is
very important that our generation of believers in the United States know the
answers to the questions regarding truth. What is truth? What is of value? How
then, shall we live?
When
people suppress the truth in their unrighteousness, and throw off truth, there
is no limit to where they can go in moving away from truth. My generation can
name the list. I will give just a couple of examples…homosexual marriage,
transgenderism, and biological males in girls’ sports.
Integrity
and Truth fit together like hand in glove…
Navigating God’s universe before the God of Heaven aligns with what is really, really real!
There
is a connection between the three core questions, and the outworking of our
answers into the seven levels of our belief and behavior. As in the example of
Nehemiah, his view of God, and the scriptures, moved him to purpose to embrace
God’s purposes for his life.
“People
see what they want to see, and they hear what they want to hear, because they
want to do what they want to do, because they treasure what they treasure.”
The atheist
worldview throughout is permeated with wanting to suppress truth, because they
are driven by wanting to just do what they want to do.
WITH INTEGRITY
-
EMBRACING HIS PURPOSES AS MY OWN
Remember,
Integrity is at least four things…1) speaking the truth, 2) taking an open and
honest look at what is in front of me, 3) purposing to do the right thing with
what is in front of me, and, 4) doing what I purposed to do, with what is in
front of me.
The
third part of integrity is purposing…it is one thing to see truth, it is
another to determine with the human will, that I am going to purpose to act
accordingly!
“I
have purposed it; I will also do it!” Embracing God’s purposes as my own is
integrity in action.
That
statement, “I have purposed it, I will also do it!” by the God of heaven, and recorded in Isa.
46:11c, trumpets the heart of God from the beginning. He purposed, before the
foundation of the world, creation, redemption, and human history culminating
with the roll out of the end time events given in the book of Revelation. And
what he has purposed, He will also do! You can take that to the bank!
Nehemiah
had discerned God’s purposes, and blueprint, and determined to embrace God’s
purposes as his own. That is godly wisdom in action!
What
were some of the purposes he recognized as being what God would have him
embrace? He navigated God’s universe Before the God of Heaven. He
acknowledged his brokenness, was thankful for redemption, and requested being
commissioned, to be used by God with his people.
Before the God of Heaven
As one…broken…
As one…redeemed…
As one…commissioned…
My Mission In This Life
…walking with God…
…in my place…strengthening family…
…reaching out…as a channel of grace…
…to fellow believers…
…to unbelievers…
Integrity
– Before the God of Heaven
What God Desires
Navigating
- Before the God of Heaven
Integrity - Before the God of Heaven
With Integrity - Embracing His Purposes as my Own
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked.”
Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
We can purpose as
a believer…
Navigating
- Before the God of Heaven
Integrity - Before the God of Heaven
With Integrity - Embracing His Purposes as my Own
May we appropriate the grace, the enablement, He gives to
live for Him!
NAVIGATING –
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN?
“Thou God seest me.” —
Genesis 16:13
Integrity
is learning to agree with what God already sees.
We
will not grow and develop spiritually, if we refuse to see as God sees us.
Speak
the truth in your heart.
Navigate
life, more and more, Before the God of Heaven.
What does God Desire?
Before the God of Heaven, where am I presently?
How, by His grace, do I move toward what God desires?
INTEGRITY
–
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN?
What
does God Desire?
Speaking the truth in my heart
Taking an honest and open look at what is in front of you
Purposing to do what is right with what is in front of you
Doing the right thing you purposed to do
Before the God of
Heaven, where am I presently?
How, by His grace, do I move toward what God desires?
WITH INTEGRITY -
EMBRACING HIS PURPOSES AS MY OWN?
What does God
Desire?
Before the God of Heaven
As one…broken…
As one…redeemed…
As one…commissioned…
My Mission In This Life
…walking with God…
…in my place…strengthening family…
…reaching out…as a channel of grace…
…to fellow believers…
…to unbelievers…
Before the God of Heaven, where am I presently?
How, by His grace, do I move toward what God desires?
So,
we come to these Gates, important navigational guides, these important aspects
of Christian life. See what’s here. Understand what God wants. Give serious
thought to these questions. Am I speaking the truth in my heart? Will I take an
honest and open look at the realities in my heart life and whether
or not I am walking before the God of Heaven with integrity? Have I
purposed to do right with regard to integrity and
embracing God’s purposes for my life? Am I living a purpose driven life…having
embraced God’s purposes?
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
BROKENNESS IS REAL
WE MUST SEE WHAT SIN HAS DONE
“For
all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God.”
(Romans 3:23)
In Gate One we looked at the
battlefield of the heart. In Gate Two we considered the importance of
integrity—looking honestly at reality Before the God of Heaven.
Now integrity requires us to
look at something we would rather not see:
Human brokenness.
Why is the
heart such a battlefield? Why do we struggle with truth and falsehood, humility
and pride, Spirit and flesh, and spiritual and temporal treasure? Something has
gone terribly wrong.
In this Gate
we will go back to Lucifer’s rebellion and then to Adam and Eve in the Garden.
We will see what happened when God’s truth was challenged and the creature
chose to reject the Creator’s authority.
Then
Romans chapter one will put brokenness on display. Paul describes
mankind:
Suppressing
the truth.
Not honoring God or
giving Him thanks.
Exchanging the truth of
God for a lie.
Worshiping and serving
the creature more than the Creator.
We will also
look at the Seven Inescapable Realities of God’s Universe.
Brokenness does not make those realities disappear. Man may reject them,
suppress them, or ridicule them, but he still lives every moment Before
the God of Heaven.
And
remember—we are not entering this Gate merely to examine the brokenness of
somebody else.
This is our story.
Seeing more
clearly what sin has done should cause us to love our Redeemer more, hate and
run from sin, love and run to Christ, and desire to make much of Jesus and make
Him known.
We are going to look at the
darkness—but so that we might better understand the glory of the Light.
Let’s begin!
Gate Three –
Brokenness on
Display
What God
Desires
See Brokenness – Increase Gratitude and Love
for God
Hate and run
from sin – Love and run to Christ
Make much of Jesus, and, Make Him known
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked.”
Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
WHAT GOD DESIRES
Before
we look into the Brokenness on Display Gate, I want to
assure you that our purpose is not to discourage you. Some will ask if there
can ever be a redemptive benefit of looking into the trash can of brokenness?
Genuine
conversion not only changes our standing before God, but also fundamentally
changes how we view our former life. I believe there are three responses that
can come from looking at the brokenness we have been rescued from, through a
biblical lens.
First, when
we comprehend the magnitude of what redemption has rescued us from, it should
evoke a very deep response of overwhelming gratitude and love for God.
Before salvation we were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1–3),
condemned already (John 3:18), an enemy of God (Romans 5:10), and without hope
(Ephesians 2:12).
After salvation we cannot help but say, “Amazing
grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” This is why Scripture
repeatedly connects salvation with thanksgiving. Peter says, “Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant
mercy has begotten us again unto a living hope...”
(1 Peter 1:3)
Secondly, when
we realize the horrible consequences that ultimately people pay in an eternity
in hell, because they are so bound by their brokenness and darkness, and they
reject salvation through Christ, and, when we realize the consequences that
believers deal with because of sin, we should hate, and run from, sin – love,
and run to, Christ.
Thirdly, when
we think of what we have been rescued from, the amazing redemption provided,
and the horrible price that had to be paid, and that Jesus, in love, was
willing to pay that price, we owe Him everything. Indeed, we should with all
our being make much of Jesus, and, make Him
known!
16Hereby
perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we
ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
(I John 3:16)
“For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
(Titus 2:11–14)
Those are the first three responses that come to mind when I think of why it
is at times beneficial to ponder that I have been liberated from the penalty
and power of my brokenness.
I also want to give you a look at three aspects
of our brokenness that we deal with regularly, and to do so in a way as to help
all of us to understand how characteristically it works in these areas so that
we can be more discerning, and wiser, in dealing with our flesh. I want to look
at, 1) four phrases that Paul makes in Romans chapter one while expounding the
doctrine of the depravity of mankind, 2) dealing with how our heart is won, our
focus regarding temporal and spiritual treasure, and 3) dealing with the
fourteen epic battles of the heart mentioned in the first unit.
LUCIFER –
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
12How
art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art
thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For
thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be
brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isa. 14:12-15)
Lucifer
occupied one of the highest ranks among God’s created angels. At some
point after Lucifer’s creation, and before humanity’s temptation in
Eden, rebellion arose within his heart. Lucifer coveted God’s
authority, God’s glory, and God’s rightful place of supremacy. He wanted to be
in God’s place and was not satisfied with the place God had placed him in. He
decided to “exalt his throne above the stars of God.” And,
not satisfied with his place, he decided, “I will be like the Most High
God.”
Lucifer
at some level, at some time, had to know that there was only one God, and that
he himself was not on the same level with God. But, in pride, and desire, he
wanted to be like God, and have what was God’s. How did that work out for him,
and all of mankind?
This
is an extraordinary reality. We have to stop and
ponder this…what does it say about brokenness…? Before the God of Heaven stood
one of the highest of God’s created heavenly beings. Endowed with extraordinary
beauty, wisdom, and privilege, he was given a place of honor by his Creator. Yet, rather than being satisfied with the place God had
assigned him, pride arose within his heart. Desiring God’s glory, God’s
authority, and God’s throne, he declared five times, “I will.” The first
rebellion in God’s universe began, not with outward action, but with the
deliberation of a proud heart.
15Yet
thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isa. 14:12-15)
What
a choice, what a consequence…
SEVEN INESCAPABLE REALITIES-
OF GOD’S UNIVERSE
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Every person
who has ever lived, has lived before the God of Heaven. Because of Lucifer’s
fall, whether someone chooses to acknowledge it, or not, there are certain
realities that cannot be escaped. Men may reject them, suppress them, or
ridicule them, but they remain as true today as when Adam and Eve sinned in the
Garden of Eden. These realities are woven into the very fabric of God’s
universe. Every decision, every relationship, every success, every failure, and
ultimately every eternal destiny is shaped by them.
God and Satan
Good and evil
Truth and falsehood (right and wrong)
Universal Laws and Principles (established by God)
Personal Responsibility
Choice and Consequence
Life and Death, Heaven and Hell
These
seven realities are not isolated truths. They form the framework within which
every human life is lived. Every person lives before the God of Heaven, in a
world where good and evil contend, where truth confronts falsehood, where God
has established universal laws and principles, where choices inevitably produce
consequences, where life moves toward death, and where every soul is traveling
toward an eternal destination. Wisdom begins by recognizing these realities;
faith responds by submitting to the God who established them.
GOD AND SATAN
The first
reality is that there is a living God, and there is a real personal adversary. Scripture
begins not with an argument for God’s existence, but with the declaration, “In
the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) God
is eternal, self-existent, holy, sovereign, Creator, Judge, Redeemer, and King.
The Bible
also reveals a created being who rebelled against God. Lucifer became Satan,
the adversary, deceiver, accuser, and destroyer. Peter warns believers, “Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Jesus
described Satan as “a murderer from the beginning...and the father of it [lies].” (John 8:44)
Every human
being lives within the reality of this great conflict. There is no neutral
ground. We either belong to God’s kingdom or remain under the dominion of
darkness (Colossians 1:13).
GOOD AND EVIL
Good and evil are not human inventions or cultural preferences. Good
originates in the very character of God. “There is none good but one,
that is, God.” (Mark 10:18) Evil entered creation through rebellion
against God. Isaiah pronounces woe upon those who reverse these realities: “Woe
unto them that call evil good, and good evil.” (Isaiah 5:20) Paul
exhorts believers, “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is
good.” (Romans 12:9)
The struggle between good and evil is seen
throughout Scripture—from Eden, to Calvary, to the final judgment. Every human
heart must decide which kingdom it will embrace.
TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD
(RIGHT AND WRONG)
Truth exists
because God is true. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the
life.” (John 14:6) God’s Word is truth. “Sanctify them through
thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Satan, however, traffics in deception. Jesus
said, “When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of
it.” (John 8:44)
Human beings cannot escape truth simply by
denying it. Reality remains unchanged. Paul explains fallen humanity’s
condition: “Who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18)
Every life is ultimately built
upon either truth or falsehood.
UNIVERSAL
LAWS AND PRINCIPLES
(established by God)
God governs His universe through both natural laws and moral principles.
The physical universe operates with remarkable order because God faithfully
sustains it. Likewise, God’s moral universe operates according to fixed
principles. Jesus taught, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap.” (Galatians 6:7) Proverbs repeatedly demonstrates that diligence
generally leads to fruitfulness, honesty builds trust, humility precedes honor,
and pride precedes destruction. “Pride goeth
before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a
fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
These are not merely observations; they are reflections of how God governs
His world.
PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Paul reminds
every believer, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
God.” (Romans 14:12) And again, “For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body...” (2 Corinthians 5:10) Those
apart from Christ will likewise stand before God. John writes, “And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God...and they were judged every man
according to their works.” (Revelation 20:12–13) No one will ultimately
answer for another person.
Every person
will stand individually before the God of Heaven. This reality is both sobering
and liberating. It is sobering because we cannot shift blame for our sinful
choices onto someone else. Ever since Adam said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me...” (Genesis 3:12), fallen humanity
has sought to excuse itself. Yet Scripture continually calls us back to
personal accountability. It is liberating because, by God’s grace, we are not
prisoners of our past. Through repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and the
enabling power of the Holy Spirit, we may choose obedience, pursue integrity,
and walk in God’s purposes.
Personal responsibility is therefore the bridge
between truth and obedience. God reveals truth; we are responsible to respond.
God gives commands; we are responsible to obey. God extends grace; we are
responsible to receive His Son by faith.
CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE
God created
mankind with genuine moral responsibility. From Eden onward, people have been
confronted with choices. Moses challenged Israel, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose
life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) Joshua declared, “Choose you this day
whom ye will serve.” (Joshua 24:15) Every choice we make produces
consequences. Sometimes they come immediately. Sometimes they come years later.
Sometimes throughout eternity. No one escapes this principle.
LIFE
AND DEATH – HEAVEN AND HELL
Every person
experiences both physical life and physical death.
Scripture also reveals spiritual life and spiritual death. God warned Adam, “In
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die.” (Genesis 2:17) Paul explains, “For the wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23) Jesus came that sinners “might have life, and...have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
The great question is not whether we
shall die physically, but whether we possess eternal life through Christ.
History is
moving toward an eternal conclusion. Jesus spoke often of both Heaven and Hell.
He promised His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)
He also warned, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment:
but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46) John describes
the final judgment before the great white throne (Revelation 20:11–15),
followed by the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21–22).
Every human being will spend eternity in one of
these two destinies. The most important question any person can answer is this:
Have I been reconciled to the God of Heaven through His Son, Jesus
Christ?
ADAM AND EVE –
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Genesis 1 and 2 reveal perfect creation. Everything God made
was “very good.” There was no death, no shame, no fear, no guilt, no broken
relationships, no disease, no curse. Most importantly, God and man walked
together. Adam and Eve walked in fellowship with God.
Then, as
recorded in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve sinned.
This is the
beginning of Brokenness on Display…every funeral, every war,
every broken marriage, every guilty conscience, every tear, every temptation,
every hospital, every prison, every cemetery, every idol, every false religion,
every rebellion against God, and ultimately why Christ came into the world.
Adam and Eve
sinned Before the God of Heaven.
Nothing was hidden. Psalm 139 becomes vividly illustrated.
“O LORD, thou hast searched me,
and known me...”
Psalm 33:13-15 becomes reality.
“The LORD looketh
from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men...He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth
all their works.”
The first sin was committed under the all-seeing
gaze of the Creator. The issue was never that God did not know.
Genesis 3
explains why mankind is broken, why the heart is a
battlefield, why the Seven Inescapable Realities exist as they
do in human experience, and why redemption through Christ is absolutely necessary.
It explains why the human heart became
desperately corrupt.
“The heart is deceitful above
all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
SATAN’S
HEART AND STRATEGY
Lucifer/Satan
wanted to be in God’s place and was not satisfied with the place God had placed
him in. He decided to “exalt his throne above the stars of God.”
And, not satisfied with his place, he decided, “I will be like the Most
High God.”
The
first rebellion in God’s universe began, not with outward action, but with the
deliberation of a proud heart.
Satan
attacks God’s word. “Yea, hath God said...?” (3:1) Truth is no
longer treated as absolute. It becomes negotiable. This is exactly where every
temptation begins. Every sin starts by entertaining the possibility that God’s
Word need not be obeyed. Brokenness begins with questioning and suppressing truth.
Then open
contradiction. “Ye shall not surely die.” (3:4) Now truth is
replaced with falsehood. This is the first lie ever told. Jesus later said,
“When he speaketh
a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and
the father of it.” (John 8:44)
Then Satan attacks God’s goodness. “God
knows...” (3:5) Satan implies that God is holding out on you. The good
stuff is just beyond God’s boundaries. God cannot be trusted. God is keeping
you from happiness. So, who is telling you the truth…God or Satan?
The
fall of mankind is the beginning of what Paul was describing in Romans 1 in the
four phrases.
“…who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,…”
(v. 18)
Brokenness … truth suppressed
and resisted
God
had spoken clearly. Adam and Eve intentionally rejected it. Truth was
suppressed.
“Although they knew God, they
did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (v. 21)
Brokenness … ingratitude toward
God and refusal to honor Him as God
God’s
authority was no longer honored. Instead of honoring God…they elevated
themselves.
“They exchanged the truth of
God for a lie” (v. 25)
Brokenness … exchanging truth
for lies
The
serpent’s lie became more useful to them than God’s Word, because it allowed
them to do what they wanted to do.
“Worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25)
Brokenness … idolatry …
worshiping and serving self
Ultimately
Adam and Eve rejected God’s plan and substituted Satan’s and their own. Self was
put in the place that belonged to God. The creature replaced the Creator.
Consider
also here how the Epic Battles of the Heart were now in play for Adam
and Eve.
Truth vs. Falsehood –
will she believe God?
Good vs. Evil –
will she call evil good?
Integrity vs. self-deception –
will she honestly look at God’s
command?
Humility vs. Pride -
will she submit?
Purpose vs. Nihilism –
Whose purpose will govern her life?
Spirit vs. Flesh
Will she desire God’s will or immediate
gratification?
Divine calling vs. Desire
Will she follow God’s blueprint or her
desires?
Spiritual/Eternal vs. Temporal (Treasure)
Will she treasure pleasing God or
self?
The
point here is that the epic battles within the heart of mankind began here
where man chose to suppress truth, not to honor God as God, exchanged the truth
for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than God.
THE APOSTLE PAUL –
DEPRAVITY OF MANKIND DISPLAYED –
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
As one…broken…
“…who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,…”
(v. 18)
Brokenness
… truth suppressed and resisted
“Although they knew God, they
did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (v. 21)
Brokenness
… ingratitude toward God and refusal to honor Him as God
“They exchanged the truth of
God for a lie” (v. 25)
Brokenness
… exchanging truth for lies
“Worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25)
Brokenness
… idolatry … worshiping and serving self
Our
brokenness hinders and blocks
our awareness of the God of Heaven
Romans
chapter one reveals the universal collapse of humanity apart from God. These
four phrases speak to the anatomy of fallen man. They speak of man’s heart
condition Before the God of Heaven.
Mankind’s
rebellion at the deepest level is a resistance to God while existing entirely
within God’s universe.
“…who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,…” (v. 18)
Brokenness … truth suppressed and
resisted
The word
suppress means to hold down, to restrain, smother, or resist. Mankind is not
ignorant as they search helplessly for God. Mankind actively is resisting truth
that has already been made plain to him. Man pushes truth down because truth
threatens his autonomy. He refuses to hear, and respond, appropriately to God,
because he wants to be in God’s place within his own heart.
“We see what we want to see,
And we hear what we want to hear,
Because we want to do what we want to do,
Because we treasure what we treasure.”
This
is an active warfare against God, truth, and reality.
To show
just how broken this is, Paul, in making the statement above, illustrates it.
He makes it clear in the next two verses that the most obvious truth in the
universe is the existence of God. The intelligently designed creation
itself, which is right in front of you anytime you have your eyes open, speaks
of the attributes, divine nature, and power, of the Creator. Therefore, mankind
is without excuse.
God
revealed truth. Though man wanted to push truth aside, that was impossible. Man
is without excuse. He is accountable in spite of every
effort to not see truth. He has decided to embrace self-rule against every
evidence of our Creator-God.
“Although they knew God, they
did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (v. 21)
Brokenness
… ingratitude toward God and refusal to honor Him as God
Mankind
had enough revealed about God, that they rightly were obligated to honor,
reverence, and worship Him. But sinful man does not want to answer to God. So,
he refuses to put God in His rightful place in their heart and life.
This
refusal to honor God creates a vacuum immediately filled with substitutes.
Brokenness
is revealed when man enjoys God’s gifts while excluding God Himself.
Mankind
did not misunderstand truth. They traded truth, they exchanged truth, for a lie
more useful to them than the truth.
“They exchanged the truth of
God for a lie” (v. 25)
Brokenness
… exchanging truth for lies
What
was being traded was truth for illusion, revelation for deception, God’s
authority for self-rule.
The
lie was, God is holding out on you...He is keeping you from all the good stuff…
“You shall be as gods.” (Genesis 3:5)
“Worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25)
Brokenness … idolatry … worshiping and serving self
Human
beings were created to worship God. If God is rejected, worship does not
disappear—it redirects.
Idols
can be good things turned into ultimate things. Self becomes the idol of choice
when God is rejected.
Whoever
or whatever the heart treasures most, becomes our functioning God of choice.
WHO OR WHAT WILL WIN OUR
HEART?
WHO OR WHAT WILL WE
EMBRACE?
WHO OR WHAT WILL WE
WORSHIP? –
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
For
believers, we understand that all of these temporal
things (possessions, position, power, prestige, praise of men, popularity,
pleasure, and passion) are ok, and not bad in and of themselves. The
problem is when the temporal take priority over our walk with God, or
treasuring these over spiritual, or eternal things.
Again…
Human
beings were created to worship God. If God is rejected, worship does not
disappear—it redirects.
Idols
can be good things turned into ultimate things. Self becomes the idol of choice
when God is rejected.
Whoever
or whatever the heart treasures most, becomes our functioning God of choice.
Let me
point out one Bible example. The story of Samson’s life can be summed up in
these statements.
“A man’s life will be lived
in light of the treasure he is seeking.”
“For where your treasure is,
there will
your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever or whatever has a
person’s heart,
is whose ways will be
observed.”
The temporal
treasures that tell the story of Samson’s life are power, pleasure, and passion.
When
people look in to see what drives your life and mine, will they see a life
lived more focused on temporal treasures, or spiritual, eternal treasures? And
which of the temporal treasures captivate our focus, when we are focused on the
temporal?
WHAT GOD DESIRES
Remember,
genuine conversion not only changes our standing before God, but also
fundamentally changes how we view our former life.
There are at least three major
takeaways from taking this look at Brokenness.
See Brokenness – Increase Gratitude and Love for God
First, when
we comprehend the magnitude of what redemption has rescued us from, it should
evoke a very deep response of overwhelming gratitude and love for God.
Before salvation we were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1–3),
condemned already (John 3:18), an enemy of God (Romans 5:10), and without hope
(Ephesians 2:12).
After salvation we cannot help but say, “Amazing
grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” This is why Scripture
repeatedly connects salvation with thanksgiving. Peter says, “Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant
mercy has begotten us again unto a living hope...” (1 Peter 1:3)
Hate, and run
from sin – Love, and run to Christ
Secondly, when we realize the
horrible consequences that ultimately people pay in an eternity in hell,
because they are so bound by their brokenness and darkness, and they reject
salvation through Christ, and, when we realize the consequences that believers
deal with because of sin, we should hate, and run from, sin – love, and
run to, Christ.
Make
much of Jesus, and, Make Him known
Thirdly, when
we think of what we have been rescued from, the amazing redemption provided,
and the horrible price that had to be paid, and that Jesus, in love, was
willing to pay that price, we owe Him everything. Indeed, we should with all
our being make much of Jesus, and, make Him
known!
At each of the twelve gates
we will ask three questions.
What does God Desire?
Before the God of Heaven, where am I
presently?
How, by His grace, do I move toward what God
desires?
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
THE BROKEN STAND BEFORE HIM
BUT THE GOD OF HEAVEN IS A GOD OF GRACE
“In
whom we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace.”
(Ephesians 1:7)
We have just
looked at brokenness. We have seen rebellion, suppression of truth, idolatry,
guilt, judgment, and the terrible consequences of sin.
If the story ended there, there
would be no good news.
But God!
Before the foundation of the
world, the God of Heaven had already purposed His great redemptive plan
centered in His Son.
In this Gate we will look at
that amazing plan.
Ephesians chapter one will take
us back before Creation and show us that redemption was not an afterthought.
God purposed His redemptive work according to the counsel of His own will.
Romans
chapters three through five will take us into what we might call the Courtroom
of Heaven. Guilty sinners stand condemned.
But
Christ has come.
His blood
has been shed. God is both just and the Justifier of the one who believes in
Jesus. Through faith in Christ we are justified before
God.
Then Romans chapter eight asks:
Who shall lay anything to
the charge of God’s elect? Who is he that condemneth?
Christ died. Christ rose again.
Christ is at the right hand of the Father. Christ makes intercession for us.
And nothing
in this sin-cursed world, and nothing in all of God’s universe, can separate
His redeemed people from His love in Christ Jesus.
So, do not hurry through this
Gate.
Wonder, Worship, and
Gratitude, belongs here.
We have looked honestly at what
we are in our brokenness. Now let us look carefully at what the God of
Grace has done about it.
Let’s begin!
Gate Four
The God of Grace – Redemption
What God
Desires
Love Jesus most of all and Worship Him
Rest
securely in God’s Redemptive Work
Purpose to live for Christ and be a channel of His Grace
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked.”
Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
AN OVERVIEW
As we
approach The God of Grace – Redemption, we are going to be
focusing on three core passages of Scripture, Ephesians 1, Romans 3-5, and
Romans 8:31-39. As we expound the amazing truths of these passages, it will
become very clear why we have given the three stated desires that we believe
God would want from us, given what we see in these passages that He has done
for us.
In
Gate One we focused on the importance of Jesus having our heart. “Whoever or
whatever has a person’s heart, is whose ways will be observed.” Jesus said, “Where
a man’s treasure is, there will his heart be also.”
(Matt 6:21). So, it is important for us to see from the passages we
will be looking at, that our response should be our heart treasuring
Christ, and worshiping Him.
When we see
in these passages that being saved gives us a whole new identity, we are
translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (12Giving thanks unto the Father, which
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13Who hath delivered us from the power
of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” Col. 1:12-13), we have a new DNA (For
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be
made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22) We have a
new family. We are adopted into God’s forever family (Eph 1:5). When we see our
new standing in Christ, our response can and should be to Rest securely
in God’s Redemptive Work.
The
third stated response which the truths in these passages should evoke, Purpose
to live for Christ and be a channel of His Grace, is motivated by the reality of
such amazing grace.
That
progression—from heart, to identity,
to mission—is deeply rooted in the passages we now will
be looking into…Ephesians 1 establishes our identity in God’s eternal purpose,
Romans 3–5 establishes our standing in Christ’s righteousness, and Romans 8:31-39
expounds our security in the love of God. From there, the believer is prepared
to walk “before the God of Heaven” with a heart that treasures
Christ, a conscience at peace because of justification, and a life devoted to
His eternal purposes.
The
theme of this whole series, Before the God of Heaven, is not just
to remind us of the fact that we navigate God’s universe before Him, but we
need to be reminded that all of God’s redemptive plan, He orchestrated, as
purposed before the foundation of the world. Before the God of Heaven,
we were known before Creation. (Ps 139, Eph 1) Before the God of Heaven,
we stood guilty and condemned. (Rom 3) Before the God of Heaven,
Christ satisfied divine justice through His atoning death. (Rom 3-5) Before
the God of Heaven, the verdict of “justified” was pronounced over every
believer. (Rom 5, 8) Before the God of Heaven, no accusation can
stand, and no condemnation remains. (Romans 8) Before the God of Heaven,
we now live, walk, serve, and fulfil the mission He has entrusted to us until
we stand in His immediate presence. That progression – from known, to
condemned, to redeemed, to justified, to secure, to commissioned, is what this
first five Gates are all about.
As a
believer, navigating God’s universe, every day before the God of Heaven,
we can live knowing we are not a fugitive hoping to escape judgement, nor a
defendant awaiting a verdict, but as an adopted child whose case has already
been decided by the highest court in the universe. The Judge is now our Father. The Advocate is our Savior. The Spirit is our seal
(Eph 1:13-14). Our citizenship is in Heaven, our inheritance is secure, and our
mission on earth is clear.
EPHESIANS
ONE
“…before
the foundation of the world…”(v5)
“…in
the beginning, God…” (Gen. 1:1)
“…Before
the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the
world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:2)
“…Before
me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” (Isaiah 43:10)
“I
am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)
“I
am he; I am the first, I also am the last.” (Isaiah 48:12)
“In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…”
(John 1:1-3)
The
God of Heaven, before the foundation of the world, purposed what
He would do. He purposed Creation, Redemption, and His eternal
Kingdom. His statement given to Isaiah, reflects his stance for all eternity.
8Remember
this, and shew yourselves men:
bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
9Remember the former things of old: for I am God,
and there is none else; I am God, and there
is none like me, 10Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the
things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand,
and I will do all my pleasure: 11Calling
a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth
my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it
to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. “Declaring the end
from the beginning…” (Isa. 46:10)
“…I
have purposed it; I will also do it.” (Isa. 46:11c)
Before
time began, the one true God, eternal, all-powerful God, declared from before
the foundation of the world, what he would do from the beginning to the end.
Who else could do that, except the one true God?
A
parenthetical note here…there is a universal principle here. Everything is
created twice. The first creation, here, was in the mind and heart of God
almighty. Amazing love and grace emanating from the essence of His being,
created such a plan of redemption, that forever would be beyond man’s capacity
to fathom. The second creation of this plan of redemption, was rolled out in
time and space, and history, as His Son, came to earth, took on a body of
flesh, and went to the cross to shed His blood as an atonement for the sins of
mankind, died on an old rugged cross, rose again the third day, later ascended
into heaven, and has promised that He will come again and take us home with
Him. What the God of Heaven purposed, He will do! You can take it to the bank. What
He has purposed to do, He will do!
The
same God, whose heart was moved with love and grace, before the foundation of
the world, is whose presence we stand in right now. Before the God of
Heaven is an awesome place to be!
EPHESIANS 1:4-14 –
FIVE ASPECTS OF OUR REDEMPTION
Just
to be forgiven, or pardoned, of all my sin, and then destined for heaven, and
not hell, would have been redemption enough, I have heard people say. But our
God, rich in love, grace, and mercy planned for us a redemption that we will
spend eternity trying to wrap our minds and hearts around. This redemption is
all sufficient, far reaching, infinitely extensive, so as to
cover for my brokenness, my depravity, my sinfulness.
When
you and I ponder our sin, this first component of redemption listed here in
Ephesians one, is simply awesome.
Presented
to God as Holy and Blameless
“…that we
would be holy and blameless before Him.”
(Eph. 1:4)
God’s redemption has God presenting to Himself those who have
accepted Christ’s payment for their sin, as holy and blameless before Himself,
the Judge of the Universe. Christ bore our sin on the cross. He took our guilt.
Our sin was put to His account. His righteousness was put to our account. The
righteous Judge of the universe has declared us justified (just as if we never
sinned). Christ took our sin on himself and paid the penalty for our sin. The Father, declared us justified, because the Just One paid
the price for the unjust.
Adoption as Sons
“…adoption
as sons through Jesus Christ…” (Eph1:5)
When
Paul is using the term adoption, the meaning of that word, in his time, within the context of Roman adoption, was a strong construct. The
adopted child received the family name, the family inheritance, the father’s
protection, authority, affection, and permanent legal standing. The old life
legally ended. A completely new identity began. Paul intentionally uses this
picture.
Through
Christ, God does not merely pardon rebels, He welcomes them into His family. We
become sons and daughters, heirs, family members, co-heirs with Christ! This is
astonishing grace. The Judge becomes our Father. We
now belong to the family of God!
Redemption
Through His Blood — Forgiveness of Sins
“…redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…” (v7)
This is the heart of the gospel! The word redemption means to
purchase, to release, to set free by paying a ransom. In Bible times slaves
were redeemed. Captives were redeemed. Christ became our redeemer! Christ paid
the price for our redemption through His blood being shed on the cross. “Without
the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). The
cross satisfied God’s justice while displaying God’s love. Forgiveness
literally carries the idea of sending away. Our guilt is removed. Our debt is
cancelled. Our sins are remembered against us no more. (Heb. 10:17) Psalm 103
describes this. “As far as the east is from the west…” With regard to forgiveness, notice the phrase,
“according to the riches of His grace.” God does not forgive sparingly.
He forgives lavishly. Grace overflows!
Obtained an
Inheritance
“…we have
obtained an inheritance…” (v 11)
Because of Christ, our
inheritance is not merely escape from judgment but entrance into the infinite
riches of God’s eternal kingdom. We inherit eternal life (John 3:16), the
kingdom prepared for us (Matthew 25:34), God Himself as our everlasting portion
(Psalm 73:26), the glory of Christ (Romans 8:17), a glorified resurrection body
(Philippians 3:20–21), a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1), the
privilege of reigning with Christ (Revelation 22:5), unbroken fellowship with
God (Revelation 21:3), perfect righteousness (1 John 3:2), and everlasting joy
in His presence (Psalm 16:11). This inheritance is “incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away” (1 Peter
1:4), kept securely by God Himself. Yet the wonder is even greater: while
believers inherit God, God also calls His redeemed people “His inheritance”
(Ephesians 1:18), His treasured possession in whom He delights (Malachi 3:17)
Sealed with
the Holy Spirit of Promise
“…sealed in
Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
(v 13)
Believers
are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Because He lives in us, we are guaranteed the
resurrection, the glorified body, the new creation, eternal fellowship. The
Holy Spirit is our Guarantor of our redemption!
God is the great Initiator of redemption.
Before the foundation of the world, He purposed to have a people who would
stand before the God of Heaven as those who have been
made holy and blameless,
adopted into His family,
redeemed through the blood of Christ,
heirs of an eternal inheritance,
and sealed by the Holy Spirit
until the day redemption is brought to its glorious completion. These truths
lift the believer’s eyes from the immediate struggles of life to the vast sweep
of God’s eternal purpose, giving profound assurance that the God who planned
redemption before creation will also faithfully bring it to its consummation.
BEFORE
THE GOD OF HEAVEN –
ROMANS
3:21 THROUGH CHAPTER 5
As we
further walk through this Gate Four God of Grace – Redemption, I
want to help you see where we are going with this…
1)
Genesis 3 – How mankind fell.
2)
Romans 1 – 3:20 – How deeply mankind is broken.
3)
Ephesians 1 – God’s eternal plan of redemption before the
foundation of the world.
4)
Romans 3:21 – 5:21- How God justifies sinners through Christ
alone by faith alone.
5)
Romans 8:31-39 – The unshakable security of those whom
God has justified.
We
live every moment before the God of Heaven who “fashioneth their hearts alike” (Psalm 33:15) and
who searches and knows us completely. (Psalm 139) Romans 3-5 brings every one of us into His divine
presence, not merely as creatures observed by God, but as sinners summoned
before His holy tribunal. No one can hide. No excuse survives. Every mouth is
stopped. Yet, before the very God who knows us perfectly, the gospel announces
astonishing grace. The Judge who sees every sin is the Judge who provided the
Substitute. The One who fashioned our hearts also redeems broken hearts. The
One before whom we stood condemned now declares, because of Christ alone: “Righteous.” This declaration is not based on what we
have done, nor on what we will do. It rests entirely upon the finished work of
Jesus Christ. Therefore, the believer can live before the God of Heaven
not in terror of condemnation, but in reverent awe, grateful worship, joyful
obedience, and confident assurance.
Imagine
this…The holy God who had every right to condemn us took the initiative to
redeem us through the sacrifice of His own Son.
Jesus
Christ became our Savior! Every sin was charged to His account, and He paid it
in full upon the cross. Our greatest debt became Christ’s greatest burden.
The
believer stands before the God of Heaven clothed, not in personal
merit, but in the flawless righteousness of Jesus Christ. Christ’s perfect
righteousness became our greatest treasure!
JUSTIFICATION –
THROUGH CHRIST ALONE
BY FAITH ALONE
ROMANS 3:21-5:21
GOD’S
RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH ALONE
Romans
1-3:20 has all of mankind standing in the courtroom of heaven, before the
God of Heaven, broken. The evidence was presented. Every witness has
testified. The Law has spoken. Conscience has spoken. Creation has spoken.
History has spoken. God Himself has spoken. The verdict is unmistakable. “There
is none righteous, no not one.” (Romans 3:10) “All have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Every mouth
is stopped. Every person stands guilty before the holy Judge.
“But
now…” (Romans 3:21) God reveals the only answer! Not man’s
righteousness, but God’s righteousness! Not earned, but received, not by works,
but by faith! “But now the righteousness of God without the law is
manifested…” (3:21) This righteousness is revealed by God, provided by
God, received through faith, accomplished by Christ. It is something God gives.
21But
now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by
the law and the prophets;
22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of
Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God; 24Being justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25Whom God hath set forth to
be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God; 26To declare, I
say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus.
Propitiation
means that Christ completely satisfied God’s righteous wrath against sin. God
did not simply overlook sin. He judged it fully. God’s justice was placed on
Christ at Calvary. Very important for us to note that believers never face
God’s judicial wrath again. Justice has been satisfied!
THE
EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM
As we
move to chapter four of Romans, there are several points I want us to note,
very important points! First, Paul wants us to see that justification comes
through Christ alone by faith alone. He speaks of Abraham… “Abraham
believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)
HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MY ACCOUNT
MY
SIN TO HIS ACCOUNT
There
is a very important point I want to emphasize because too many believers
struggle with the judicial aspects of justification. There is an accounting
term that is used eleven times in chapter four. Paul uses the Greek word logizomai, an accounting and
bookkeeping term repeatedly. It means to credit, reckon, to count, to place to
one’s account, to impute. There is a legal transaction that takes place in
justification.
Here
are the eleven times the word is used in chapter four… (counted 4:3, reckoned
4:4, counted 4:5, imputed 4:6, impute 4:8, reckoned 4:9, reckoned 4:10, imputed
4:11, imputed 4:22, imputed 4:23, and imputed 4:24)
Two
accounts stand before God…Our account…filled with sin, guilt, rebellion,
selfishness, pride, lies, failures…Christ’s account…filled with His
perfect righteousness, perfect obedience, perfect holiness, and perfect love.
When
we accepted Christ as our Savior, two transactions happened. Our sin was taken
from our account and credited to Christ’s account. Christ’s righteousness is
credited to our account. Paul summarizes this magnificent exchange: “For
he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
BLESSINGS
OF JUSTIFICATION
In
Chapter five, Paul moves from explaining justification to celebrating its
results. The justified believer now has blessings that could never have been earned, and never can be lost because they rest on Christ’s
finished work at Calvary.
PEACE
WITH GOD
We
have Peace with God. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5:1)
PERMANENT ACCESS
We have access to God. “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
HOPE
“…and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God. In verse five we have hope of the glory of
God.
PURPOSE
IN SUFFERING
Tribulation
produces patience, proven character, and hope.
“3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing
that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed
abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY
“Christ
died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)
GOD’S LOVE DEMONSTRATED
“God commendeth his
love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8)
SAVED
FROM WRATH
“Being
now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans
5:9)
RECONCILED
TO GOD
“For
if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:10)
Standing
before the God of Heaven, the believer no longer stands as a
condemned criminal attempting to earn acceptance. Because of Christ, he stands
as one whom the Judge has already declared righteous. The courtroom is no
longer a place of dread but of settled peace, because the verdict has already
been announced: “justified by faith.” The God who fashioned our hearts (Psalm
33:13–15) and knows us completely (Psalm 139) also provided, through His Son,
the only righteous basis upon which He could forgive us while remaining
perfectly just (Romans 3:26). Our sins were judicially charged to Christ, and
His righteousness was judicially credited to us. That legal standing then
becomes the foundation for the transformed life that follows in Romans 6–8—a
life of walking with God, growing in holiness, and fulfilling His
purposes. Justification is not merely
the entrance gate into salvation; it is the secure foundation upon which every
other gate rests. The one who is declared righteous is then empowered, by
grace, to live before the God of Heaven with confidence,
gratitude, integrity, and joyful obedience.
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
GOD’S LOVE UNCONQUERABLE
ROMANS 8:31-39
CONTEXT
This is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture!
The apostle Paul, moved by the Holy Spirit, is bringing to a
conclusion his thorough, stunning, thoughtful exposition of sin,
salvation, and sanctification.
It becomes clear that he is taken in heart as he is before
the God of Heaven, in awe at the amazing grace and unconditional,
unconquerable love of our God, ready to put pen to paper to proclaim, to
mankind for all time, the message of love which the Triune God of Heaven will
now proclaim to His forever children…
31What shall we then say to these things? If
God be for us, who can be against us?
32He that spared not his own Son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us
all things?
33Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written, for thy sake we
are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37Nay, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am persuaded, that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
IF GOD BE FOR US…
“What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31
I am bringing to mind the
passage in Isaiah 46 where the God of heaven declares…
8Remember
this, and shew yourselves men:
bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
9Remember the former things of old: for I am God,
and there is none else; I am God, and there
is none like me, 10Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the
things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand,
and I will do all my pleasure: 11Calling
a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth
my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it
to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
At
this point you really have heard all you need to hear! If God is for you, who
can be against you? But He is not done! He wants us to get this point! So,
Paul, with delight, I can imagine, throws out another overwhelming question.
HE
THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON
“He that spared not his own Son,
but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?”
If God
the Father was willing to give His only begotten Son, to leave Heaven’s glory,
to willingly give Him, knowing the horrible price having to be paid, and
exposing His Son to such agony, and, knowing that for a time, He, God the
Father, forever having been one with the Son, and Spirit, would for a brief
time turn His face from the Son, because of the weight of the world’s sin on
His Son, … if He would do that, there is nothing left in heaven, that He would
not give, to purchase our redemption! What amazing love is that! Can we wrap
our minds and hearts around that kind of love?
After
those two incomprehensible questions, Paul will, before the God of Heaven,
take us to three scenes in the heavens. First, he takes us to a scene in the
Supreme Court of Heaven.
HEAVEN’S
COURTROOM – CASE ONE
“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s
elect?
It is God that justifieth.”
Revelation
12:10 indicates that Satan has access to the court of Heaven and day and night
comes there and puts before God charges against us, the Christians of the
world. On one such day, he comes and files his charge against me. The Father,
chief justice of the supreme court of Heaven takes out my file and says
something like this…Satan, David, asked Jesus to save him when he was five
years old. On that day, I made a legal declaration, Justified, in his record.
His sin was taken and put to Christ’s account, and Christ’s righteousness was
imputed to David’s account. He has been justified. Your charge will not stand!
Get out of here.
HEAVEN’S
COURTROOM – CASE TWO
Who is he
that condemneth?
It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us.
On
another day, Satan was back, and saying, “David should be condemned, because he
messed up.” Notice what Paul put in the scriptures…four things about Christ…He
died, He is risen, He is even at the right hand of the Father, and He makes
intercession for us. So, on this day, Christ gets up from His place at the
Father’s right hand, comes around to the front of the judgement bar and
addresses the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Heaven. He says, “Father, I
died on that old rugged cross, and shed my blood to
pay the price of David’s sin, and I rose from the grave on the third day, and
now am ascended to sit at your right hand and I serve as David’s intercessor
(his lawyer). I took David’s condemnation on the cross. There is therefore, no
more condemnation for David. The Father turns to Satan and says, case
dismissed! Christ took David’s condemnation on the cross.
God
wants us to know that our standing with Him is settled in the Court of Heaven.
Give that a lot of thought. There is no higher court in the universe to which
Satan can appeal. Satan cannot exercise enough power to overthrow God’s final
decision. We are forever justified!
SCENE CHANGE –
THIS CRAZY, SIN CURSED WORLD
Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written,
For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things
we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us.
It’s
an evil world we live in and there seems to be no limit to what evil
imaginations can come up with to do to their fellow earth dwellers. Christians
do not live in a bubble of protection from the evils around them. Besides the
acts of evil, we are appointed once to die. We are exposed to illness. We have
bodies that are temporal. And everywhere you look you see these things playing
out all around us.
But,
in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.
Nothing can separate us from Him. Paul says elsewhere, “to be absent from the
body, is to be present with the Lord.”
SCENE CHANGE –
THE UNIVERSE
“For I am persuaded,that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In the
court of Heaven our standing with God is settled. Nothing that can happen in
this crazy, upside down, world that will be able to separate us from the love
of God. We are more than conquerors through Christ!
Now,
Paul is in essence saying to us, in case you are still concerned, there is
nothing in all of the creation that can separate you
from the love of God!
GOD OF GRACE – REDEMPTION
EPHESIANS ONE, ROMANS 3-5, ROMANS 8:31-39
PERSPECTIVE
As we
have focused on these three core passages (Ephesians 1, Romans 3-5, and Romans
8:31-39). it is clear what God would want our responses to be, given what He
has done for us.
When
we understand that our redemption through Christ has rescued us from spending
an eternity in hell, and, that through the redemption He has provided, we will
spend eternity in Heaven with Him, our response should be overwhelming
gratitude, and treasuring Christ above all else, and worshiping
Him.
When we understand
that salvation gives us a whole new identity, and that we have been translated
from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (“… hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Col. 1:12-13), that we have a whole new
DNA (For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22),
that we have a new family, that we are adopted into God’s forever family (Eph
1:5), our response should be to Rest securely in God’s Redemptive Work.
When I
Survey the Wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died… my heart’s
response should be, Purpose to live for Christ and be a channel of His
Grace!
WHAT
DOES GOD DESIRE OF ME
Can we speak the truth here?
Can we take an honest look?
Can we see what purposes we have embraced in our daily lives?
Do we Love Jesus most of all?
Do we worship Him with all our heart?
Are we resting in His Redemptive Work?
Are we being a channel of grace to the people around us?
Love Jesus most of all and Worship Him
Rest
securely in God’s Redemptive Work
Purpose to live for Christ and be a channel of His Grace
What does God desire? Where do we stand right now?
What will we purpose to do to move in the right direction?
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
YOU HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN REDEEMED
YOU HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED
“As
my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
(John 20:21)
We have
traveled from brokenness to redemption. What amazing grace! It seems we will
never be able to wrap our minds around all that God’s redemption has provided
for us: Forgiven. Justified. Adopted. Secure. Going to Heaven. All of these are
gloriously true! But our Redeemer did not leave His redeemed people here merely
to wait for Heaven.
We have an assignment!
We have been sent!
We have been
commissioned!
In this Gate we will listen
carefully to Jesus.
In John 17 He tells His Father,
“As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into
the world.”
In John 20 the risen Christ
tells His disciples, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
And in
Matthew 28, the One who possesses all authority in Heaven and earth commissions
His followers to go and make disciples.
We will
consider what it means to be Christ’s witnesses, His light in this world,
and His ambassadors.
We will also
begin to think carefully about three words that will become very important as
we move forward:
IN MY PLACE.
Your home is
not merely where you live. Your workplace is not merely where you earn a
living. Your neighborhood is not merely where your house happens to stand. Your
relationships are not merely social connections. God, in His providence, has
placed us among people.
So, the commissioned believer
begins asking:
Why has God placed me
here?
Whom has He placed around
me?
How can Christ be seen
through my life?
To whom might I make Him
known?
Redemption gives us a new
identity.
Commission gives that
redeemed life an assignment.
Let’s begin!
Gate Five
As One – Commissioned
by God
What God
Desires
My Creator, my Redeemer, has Commissioned Me
Commissioned
to Make Disciples
I am a Representative, an Ambassador sent by Christ
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
COMMISSIONED – JOHN 17:18
“As thou hast sent me
into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” (John 17:18, KJV)
The
context of these words is profound. Christ has just spoken to His disciples in what
is referred to as His Upper Room discourse in chapters 13-16. Jesus knows the
cross is immediately before Him. He was preparing His disciples for His crucifixion,
and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Then in chapter 17 is
Christ’s Prayer to the Father. He prays concerning Himself (1-5). He prays for
His immediate disciples (6-19). And, He prays for
those who will be saved through His immediate disciples’ testimony (20-26).
He
makes some important statements regarding the believer’s relationship to the
world that they live in…
“out of the world.” (v-6)
“these are in the world” (v-11)
“they are not of the world.” (v-14)
“sent them into the world.” (v-18)
So,
before He goes to the cross, He is praying to the Father, for believers, and
lays out our role, our purpose… “out of the world…in the world…not of the
world…sent them into the world.”
This
means our continued presence in this world after salvation is not merely an
interval while we wait for heaven. We have an assignment! We have been sent! We
have been commissioned!
Christ
saves us out of the world’s system, but He deliberately leaves us here as
Ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20).
Christ accomplishes reconciliation
Jesus lived, “Before
the God of Heaven.” He was here on a mission from the Father.
I
have been sent.
I have been given a mission.
I am here to accomplish My Father’s will.
The
Father → sent the Son.
“As thou hast sent me…even
so have I also sent them.”
He
sought the lost
He spoke truth
He showed compassion
He confronted sin
He crossed social barriers
He taught patiently
He invested deeply in a small group of disciples
He served
He sacrificed
He obeyed His Father’s will
And He could finally pray
“I
have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4)
We proclaim the message of reconciliation
“As thou hast sent me…even
so have I also sent them.”
The
Son → sends His believers.
His believers → carry His Gospel into the world.
“Ye
are the light of the world.”
(Matthew 5:14)
Think differently about
being “in my place” in the world
I
am not merely here
I have been sent here
ordinary places have
extraordinary spiritual significance
My
home is not merely where I live
My neighborhood is not merely where my house
happens to stand
My workplace is not merely where I earn money
My relationships are not merely social connections
My church is not merely where I attend services
These
are spheres of providence
in which a commissioned believer lives
Before the God of Heaven.
Whom
has God placed around me?
Who needs encouragement?
Who needs truth?
Who needs the Gospel?
Who needs discipleship?
Who needs to see Christ demonstrated
in the life of one of His followers?
COMMISSIONED
– JOHN 20:19-21
“Then
the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and
stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so
said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad,
when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as
my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
The first
passage had as its setting, Christ praying to His Father, after seeking to
prepare His disciples for the crucifixion that would be happening within hours.
This passage dealing with commissioning comes after Christ has been crucified,
and the disciples are assembled, out of fear, in a room where the doors were
shut and locked. It’s resurrection day! Jesus comes and stands in their midst
and says, “Peace be unto you.” He shows them His hands and His
side. They have the evidence! Jesus is risen! Jesus proclaims, “Peace
be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Put off the
fear, the greatest news ever is here! He was crucified; He is risen! We have
the evidence! Christ is with us! This news has to get
out!
“As my Father
hath sent me, even so send I you.”
The resurrection changed
everything!
COMMISSIONED – MATTHEW
18:18-20
“And
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18–20)
The context
makes these words extraordinary. Jesus had been crucified, buried, and now
raised bodily from the dead. The disciples who watched their hopes seemingly
collapse now stand before the victorious Christ.
In the first
chapter of Matthew, we are told of Jesus, “Emmanuel…God with us” (Matthew
1:23). And now in the last verse, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew
28:20). Yes, what an awesome reality, for the disciples who were there
and saw him crucified, buried, and risen, to hear Him assure them… “I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” For
us, we walk Before the God of Heaven!
When we look closely at the
words of Jesus as he gave this command, which is referred to as the “Great
Commission,” it is interesting to see how Jesus began his statement. He did not
begin with what Christians must do, but rather, who He is, and the authority
given to Him as the risen Savior, and Redeemer. “All power is given unto
me in heaven and in earth.” The Greek work exousia
carries the idea of authority, right, jurisdiction, or sovereign rule.
Notice the comprehensiveness:
All authority. Heaven and earth. There is no territory outside Christ’s
rightful rule.
So, there is no need for
someone to ask if Jesus has the right, or jurisdiction, or authority, to
commission those he has redeemed. He has all authority in Heaven and earth.
In effect: Because I am
Lord, go. Because I possess all authority, make disciples. Because the nations
belong under My sovereign rule, carry My Gospel to them.
IN MY
PLACE – COMMISSIONED
The church
(believers worldwide) is not merely an institution; it is Christ’s visible
witness on earth. Part of what we are commissioned to do is, 1) carrying truth
into darkness, 2) carrying grace into brokenness, 3) carrying hope into
despair, and, 4) carrying reconciliation into
alienation.
“Ye
are my witnesses, saith the Lord…” (Isa. 43:10)
A witness testifies about what
they know to be true. The believer witnesses…with words, conduct, priorities,
worship, with endurance, love, and with holiness.
Jesus said, “Ye are the
light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
“Let your light so shine
before men…” (Matthew 5:16)
As a
commissioned believer, we are to bear witness in the workplace, with family, in
suffering, with integrity, in our speech, in forgiveness, with compassion, in
faithfulness. We need to make much of Jesus in all of
our everyday life.
We are ambassadors for Christ!
“Now then we are
ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us…” (2 Corinthians
5:20)
This is one
of the highest descriptions of the believer’s calling. As an ambassador we 1)
represent another kingdom, 2) we speak on behalf of our King, 3) we carry
delegated authority, and, 4) we live in a foreign land
while belonging elsewhere.
As a
commissioned ambassador, we are involved in evangelism, teaching,
encouragement, spiritual growth and development, and strengthening other
believers. As Christ labored in humility, love, truth, holiness, sacrifice,
compassion, and obedience, as He sought to seek and save the lost, so should we
in the same spirit and power.
“In my
place…” is a designation that I want people to understand and embrace.
Satan knew what his place was, but he did not want to stay in his place. He
desired to be in God’s place. How did that work out for him and all the rest of
us. Adam and Eve had a place that was theirs, but they were deceived to believe
God was holding out on them. So, they desired to go outside God’s boundaries, and reject his plan for them. Every creature,
and every human being, has a place for which they have been designed. All of us
should understand “in my place” is the place I need to occupy.
There are so many ways in our world where people, in defiance against God’s
blueprint decide to lay aside God’s place for them, and
decide to do their own blueprint. We all can list areas of our world where
humanity is trying to do this, and we see how that is working out for them.
All of us
have differing spheres in which we have been sent as commissioned believers. We
have family, interpersonal relationships (believers and unbelievers), church
family, and close Christian friends, relationships in
the marketplace, some hold leadership positions at home, at church, in the
marketplace, in the community and entities within the community. Our spheres of
influence vary greatly, but each of us should understand “in my place”
and the opportunities that are there to be an ambassador for Christ. We should
wake up each day understanding that I belong to Christ. I am an ambassador for
Christ. I have been sent by Christ, and my life should affect people for all
eternity.
“For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
INTEGRITY
REALITY AWARENESS
SEVEN INESCAPABLE REALITIES-
OF GOD’S UNIVERSE
COMMISSION INTENTIONALITY
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Integrity, remember we said, is first of all, speaking the truth. And,
integrity is being willing and to take an open and honest look at what is in
front of us. Integrity is then purposing to do the right thing with what I see
in front of me. And, integrity is then doing the right
thing that I have purposed to do.
But, let’s be honest at
this point. Because of our spiritual dullness, and the characteristics of our
brokenness, as described in the four statements in Romans one, we don’t even
realize that our reality awareness is hindered. So, it is hard
for us to even tune in to the seven inescapable realities in front of us. To
that extent, then, our hearts are dulled to the ramifications of all that is
happening with mankind because of the seven inescapable realities,
and we are not moved with regard to our commission toward how people in our
lives are being impacted tremendously by the seven inescapable realities.
I believe that if driven by integrity,
we pursued an honest and open look, working around our
brokenness, the curtains of our reality awareness
could be opened and if we really saw these seven inescapable realities in
action, it would change our commission intentionality
and action.
The central idea could be
stated this way:
We
often neglect Christ’s commission because we do not live daily, and moment by
moment, with reality awareness of the world as God says it actually
is.
If the
curtains were pulled back, and if,
God and Satan
Good and evil
Truth and falsehood (right and wrong)
Universal Laws and Principles (established by God)
Personal Responsibility
Choice and Consequence
Life and Death, Heaven and Hell
were as
vivid to us spiritually as the material world is physically—our priorities
would change.
That
connects directly with Romans 1. Fallen humanity suppresses truth, fails to
honor God, exchanges truth for falsehood, and gives created things the place
belonging to the Creator. Even redeemed people, while no longer in that
condemned state, can still live with a tragically diminished consciousness of
eternal reality. And when eternal realities fade, commission
intentionality and action fades as well.
Why
should Christ’s commission produce intentional action in the life of a
believer? When we truly see reality as God says it is, passivity
becomes increasingly difficult to justify. Commission intentionality
and action grow out of reality awareness. The problem is that we do not
train our focus to continuously see the seven inescapable realities that make
the commission urgent. Instead, we have a tendency to
have more of our focus on temporal realities, temporal treasures.
God and Satan
At the
third Gate, Brokenness on Display, pages 49-54 we laid out these seven
inescapable realities and gave biblical references and quotes to back us these
realities. In this section our focus is on helping us all to see the connection
between reality awareness and commission intentionality and action.
In
Romans 1:18-21 there is a truth that is often not seen clearly, which
demonstrates just how broken we really are.
18For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because
that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath
shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are
without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in
their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
There are
several important truths in this passage…
1) The most
obvious truth in the universe is the existence of God! 2) Where there is
intelligent design there is an intelligent Designer. 3) No matter which
direction you look into this universe, the evidence is
written where you can’t miss it…intelligent design…intelligent Designer…
So, mankind
is without excuse…God is… 4) Man-kind, broken,
spiritually dull, actively resistant to truth, defiantly not thankful to God,
and will not honor God as God, will exchange the truth of God for a lie
(evolution), and will embrace a world view that allows him to worship and serve
self. (20-21)
There is a
God! The universe is evidence! That’s called general revelation. Then there is
special revelation. God the Son, Jesus Christ, said, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but
by me.” (John 14:6) And I like His statement after he had been crucified and
had risen again, he approached his disciples and said, as they worshipped Him,
“All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and Earth. Go therefore,
and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:18-19) Also, as special revelation, not
only the living Word (Jesus), but also the written Word. Jesus said, “17Think not that I
am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfil. 18For verily I say
unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise
pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew
5:17-18)
Go back to Gate Three and
read of Lucifer, and his fall and how he became Satan. Yes, there is a God and
there is Satan.
Commissioned
saints, stir intentionality, and action! Either the people you talk to
today are listening to the voice of God, or, the voice
of Satan. Whose truth claims will they heed? Jesus said that those who are on
the side of truth, listen to His voice. (John 18:37) and He said in (John
12:48) “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth
him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” It matters for
all eternity whether those around you accept or reject Jesus and the Word?
Jesus said, “What
shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”
(Mark 8:36) What does that statement say about the value Jesus places
on the souls of the people around you?
Do you and
I, as demonstrated by our actions, show that we have ascribed that value to the
souls of those around us?
Good and evil
Earlier
this year, Franklin Graham was quoted as saying, “It seems as though all the
demons of Hell have been loosed into the American culture.” Even what we used
to think of as moderate democrats now are embarrassed and reject how far the
radical democrat socialists have taken social issues. I will leave it there.
When people abandon truth, there are no other lines. There is no end to where
they are capable of going in their depravity. We have
been sent, commissioned to be light in the darkness. Something is
profoundly wrong with mankind, and only God can make it right.
Truth and falsehood (right and wrong)
God,
in the beginning gave us His blueprint, His plan, His truth claims. Lucifer
challenged God’s truth claims and gave his own claims. How did that work out
for him, and how did that work out for Adam and Eve? And,
how has that worked out for the human race?
Just a
couple statements from Jesus…
“I
am the way, and the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus
said, “17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For
verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall
in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:17-18)
Jesus
described Satan as “a murderer from the beginning...and the father of it [lies].” (John 8:44)
Truth
and falsehood really do matter eternally. Silence on our part has eternal
consequences. I cannot force anyone to believe. But I can speak, explain,
testify, answer questions, and I can point someone to Christ. Because truth
matters, I must speak the truth.
Universal Laws and Principles
(established by God)
God,
in his grace and goodness to us, has given to us in His Word, enlightenment as
to the reality that, in the same way He has established universal laws that
govern the universe, he has established universal principles that govern in the
human realm. I love to see and share these awesome principles. There are three
that undergird the foundation of this growth and development initiative.
Three Universal Principles
These three
universal principles fit hand in glove with regard to
how they give purpose, clarity, and resolve toward pursuing godliness.
“…A
cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”
(Eccl.
4:12)
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
At Gate
One, Heart, Life, Legacy, it is clear that our
focus there is on the command-and-control center of a human beings’ Heart Life.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your Heart with all diligence for out
of it are the issues of life.” So, we have to start with
the heart. When you see, as explained in that first section, what we treasure
most determines where our heart is focused. The principle is this… “Whoever, or
whatever has our heart, is whose ways we will observe.” God wants our hearts.
He tells us that parents should have the kids’ hearts and turn them to God. We
better know how our heart is won over to someone or something. That is
discussed in the first section as well. The history of Israel in the Old Testament
was this principle lived out in living color. They went in and dwelt within the
pagan cultures, and their hearts were won over to the pagan gods. In Jeremiah
35 God honors a family that for at least 250 years demonstrated loyalty in
heart to their family leaders. The dynamics consistent with the principle were
present in how they operated.
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
A man’s life will
be lived in light of the treasure he is seeking. If
you look at Samson’s life, three temporal treasures that he had embraced and
pursued were power, pleasure, and passion. So, what we treasure in heart, is on
display to those around us by our example. What do we honor, dignify,
emphasize, pay attention to, and reward, simply by how we live our lives.
Example is important. What we emphasize in our speaking, teaching, training,
sharing, will be consistent with the values of our hearts, and the way we are
living our life. Our example, and emphasis, will have a lot of influence on
those around us.
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
This has to be one of my favorite statements that God makes in
all of scripture. God tells his people…
8Remember
this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. 9Remember
the former things of old: for I am God, and there
is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient
times the things that are not yet done, saying, My
counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11Calling a
ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth
my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring
it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Yes,
the immediate context is that God’s people are about to be judged by God for
their sin. He will use a heathen nation to accomplish that task. He makes it
clear that these false gods are not God. He alone is God. There is none else like Him. He says, “I have purposed it, I
will also do it.”
My
thoughts go to before the foundation of the world…before creation…as God in His
heart and mind, with grace and love we cannot comprehend, he purposes His
amazing redemptive plan, which later was laid out in Ephesians one. Also, God purposes
creation, and history. So, when those three components are complete in detail,
in thought, and blueprint, He could say, “I have purposed it… then
at the time God decrees He says, “I have purposed it, I will also do
it.” The God of Heaven spoke
and created a universe! History begins! Redemption’s plan is put in motion. And
it will be as He has purposed it. The last chapter of Revelation was already
part of His plan before the book of Revelation was written. Only God could do
these things… “Declaring
the end from the beginning.”
Besides the significance
of what we have just laid out, this statement is also about purposing and then
acting with integrity.
“I have purposed it; I will also do it.” I can rest my
soul, my everything, on this. God said what He would do. And then he assures us
that He will do what He has purposed. You can take it to the bank.
Now,
stay with me…one more rich truth in this statement! Here is a universal
principle…everything is created twice. God, in mind and heart, had the
blueprints perfect for creation, redemption, and history. That was the first
creation. Then, God, by the power of His Word, spoke, and He is doing it, and
will accomplish it!!
In
this world, if you are going to build a house, your first creation is to in
detail, draw a blueprint. When you are going to plant a garden, you know before
you sow the seed, how you will lay it all out by rows. Almost all the products
and services brought to the marketplace were first of all
planned in great detail, a business plan, and then it
is rolled out. Our IPhones, were first planned in
detail, put to a blueprint, (first creation) then taken to the factory (second
creation).
And
very importantly, we can purpose in our heart (first creation) determine that
God will have our heart, we can purpose that our example and emphasis will be
to honor Jesus, and we can purpose it to be how we will live our lives, and,
purposing that will be our legacy! All three universal principles are active in
purposing in our heart these things…
Gate
One…Heart, Life, Legacy.
Universal
laws and principles…these are such important, inescapable realities.
Actions have consequences. Seeds produce harvests. What is cultivated grows.
What is neglected deteriorates.
“Whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
Personal Responsibility
9Wherefore we
labour, that, whether present or absent, we may
be accepted of him. 10For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he
hath done, whether it be good or bad.11Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest
unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12For we commend not ourselves again
unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have
somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13For whether we be
beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it
is for your cause.14For the love of
Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,
that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he
died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves,
but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Choice and Consequence
“Choose
you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15)
Because
choices have consequences,
And because I have been commissioned by Christ,
I have purposed to live as His Ambassador.
By His grace, I will do it.
Our Stance
8We are troubled on every side, yet not
distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast
down, but not destroyed;
Dying to Self-Living at a different level
10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord
Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11For
we which live are alway delivered unto death for
Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal
flesh. 12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
Confident in the Resurrection-Emboldened in Mission
13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is
written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe,
and therefore speak; 14Knowing that he which raised up the
Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with
you.
My focus-Glorify God-Help others
15For all things are for your sakes, that the
abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of
God.
Don’t lose heart-be renewed daily
16For which cause we faint not;
but though our outward man perish, yet the
inward man is renewed day by day.
Take the long view
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Heavenly Mindedness
18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen: for the things which are
seen are temporal; but the things which are not
seen are eternal.
Life and Death, Heaven and Hell
I
want to bring this section about integrity, reality awareness, seven
inescapable realities-of God’s universe, and,
commission intentionality, before the God of Heaven, to a conclusion by giving
you a situation I was confronted with in the summer of 1995.
We had
lived in the Indianapolis area for about 18 years. We were going to be moving
to the Kansas City area in about a week. This was in July of 1995.
A
friend of mine, Billy Lester, a businessman, came to me, and this is the
situation he presented to me. He said, David, I have a friend named David that
I have known a long time. I have witnessed to him for a long time. He knows the
gospel as well as you and I do. It’s not that he disputes any of the details of
the gospel. He is a party man. He loves every aspect of night life, loose
living. That is why David does not want to get saved. He is afraid God will
take his party life away.
“Well,
this is why I am coming to you, David. David has really bad
health. He has a really bad heart. It’s so bad they
won’t attempt by-pass surgery. He just found out that he has serious cancer,
probably terminal cancer. He has one foot in the grave. Will you talk with
him?”
So,
Billy arranged for us to meet at the local Sam’s club snack area at lunch time.
Billy was the last of the big spenders. He was willing to treat us to a Sam’s
club hotdog, while sitting at a wire patio table, with the pole and umbrella.
It was
just a day or so after he had come to me that we met David at Sam’s club. We
ate our hotdogs and chit-chatted for a few minutes. Then I looked at David and
I began to address him directly, and kindly. “David, let me make sure that I
understand your situation correctly. Billy tells me you guys have been friends
for a long time. He also tells me that he has been telling you about him
getting saved, and telling you all about Jesus, and Him dying on the cross to
save you. He says you know the gospel as well as we do. He says you don’t
misunderstand, or disagree, with any of the details of the gospel. He also told
me you have a bad heart and that recently you found out you have serious
cancer. He says you have one foot in the grave. But, with all of that, you
won’t accept Christ as Savior, because you are afraid you will have to give up
your party life. Is all of that true, David?” “Well,
yes, it is.” he said.
So, I
took out my Bible and asked him if I could share a story that Jesus shared. I
took him to Luke 16:19-31.
19There was a
certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day:
20And
there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of
sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the
rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked
his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was
carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said,
Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of
his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But
Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst
thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and
thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there
is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot;
neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then
he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest
send him to my father’s house: 28For I have five brethren; that he
may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham
saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let
them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father
Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will
repent. 31And he said unto him, If they
hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one
rose from the dead.
“David, here
is what you need to hear from this man’s predicament is this, he found himself
in Hell, tormented in the flames so much that he asked Abraham if Lazarus could
dip the tip of his finger in water and touch it to his tongue, … just a drop,
one drop of water… David, he would have been willing to give up all the riches
he enjoyed in this life, for just one more chance to accept Christ as Savior.
David, let me see if I understand something. Billy tells me that you are not
willing to give up your party life to accept Christ as your Savior. So, let me
put it to you this way. You don’t know how much more party life you have left.
Billy tells me you have one foot in the grave. So, here is what you have to
think about. Let’s say you have six months to party. David, just five minutes
in hell being tormented in the flames, you’ll wish you could trade that party
life for just one, just one drop of water to cool your tongue. Or, are you willing to party for the six more months, reject
Christ, and spend an eternity in Hell?”
I will never
forget what happened next…David pushes his chair back from the table and
crossed his arms on his chest, and sat there for a moment, and looked at Billy,
and then at me, and back at Billy. Then he said, “That wouldn’t make sense
would it. I need to be saved.” We were just a short distance from Billy’s
office, so we went there and he prayed and asked God to forgive him of his sins
and save him.
We moved to
Kansas City area at the end of that week. A few months later I had to go back
on business to Indy. I went on a day that I knew some of the guys would be
having a bible study. I was late and sat in the back. I recognized most of the
men there. But I did notice that Billy was there, but I didn’t see David. So,
afterwards while visiting with the guys, I asked about David. Billy looked at
me realizing that I didn’t know. He said David had passed away recently.
That
happened in the fall of 1995. That was 31 years ago. David has been with the
Lord for 31 years, rather than constantly begging for someone, anyone, to dip
their finger in water and touch it to his tongue, because he’s tormented in
this flame…
WHAT
DOES GOD DESIRE OF ME
Can we speak the truth here?
Can we take an honest look?
Can we see what purposes we have embraced in our daily lives?
Do you embrace Jesus as your Creator, and Redeemer, and that He Commissioned
You?
Do you embrace being Commissioned to Make Disciples?
I am a Representative and Ambassador sent by Christ?
What does God Desire of Me?
My Creator, my Redeemer, has Commissioned Me
Commissioned
to Make Disciples
I am a Representative, and Ambassador sent by Christ
What
does God desire? Where do we stand right now?
What will we purpose to do to move in the right direction?
Three
Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
A DECISION MUST BE MADE HERE
HIS PURPOSES OR MINE?
“…I
have purposed it; I will also do it.”
(Isaiah 46:11c)
We are Before the God of
Heaven.
We are brokenness on
display.
Through Christ we have
been redeemed.
And our Redeemer has
commissioned us.
What will I do with what
I know?
It is
possible to know great truths about God and still organize much of life around ourselves. It is possible to say Christ is my Savior and my Lord
while giving most of my time to focusing on schedules, ambitions, comforts,
possessions, pleasures, fears, and personal desires to determine the actual
direction of our lives.
So, integrity confronts us
again.
God sees what is really, really real.
And the question becomes:
Am I embracing His purposes, or am I primarily pursuing my own?
Nehemiah will again help us.
When he learned what was happening in Jerusalem, he did not merely feel badly
about it. He sought God. He looked honestly at reality. He prayed. He purposed.
He acted. He persevered. He embraced what God was doing as his own mission.
That is integrity in
motion.
Speak the truth.
Take an honest and open
look at what is in front of you.
Purpose to do the right
thing.
Do the
right thing you have purposed to do.
There is a
life God desires. There are purposes God has revealed. There is a commission
Christ has given. And there is a heart capable of being pulled toward a
thousand competing treasures.
His purposes or mine?
That question cannot finally be
answered merely by what I say.
My life will answer it.
Let’s begin!
Gate Six
Integrity - His purposes or mine?
What God Desires
Purpose in your heart that God will have your
heart
By example/emphasis
I will Honor Him and His Word
Purpose in my heart to embrace His purposes as my own
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
A Template
Before the God of Heaven
As one…broken…
As one…redeemed…
As one…commissioned…
My Mission In This Life
…walking with God…
…in my place…strengthening family…
…reaching out…as a channel of grace…
…to fellow believers…
…to unbelievers…
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE
INTEGRITY – HIS PURPOSES OR MINE?
13The
LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth
all the sons of men. 14From the
place of his habitation he looketh upon all the
inhabitants of the earth. 15He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth
all their works. (Psalm 33:13-15)
“Thou God seest me.” (Genesis
16:13)
Integrity is learning to agree
with what God already sees as really, really, real (truth).
“Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.
(Proverbs 4:23)
Nehemiah clearly lived before
the God of Heaven, embraced
integrity, and embraced God’s purposes as His own!
Will you and I come to the “Integrity
– His purposes or Mine?” gate,
and 1) speak truth to ourselves, 2) take an honest and open look at what is in
front of us (desire to see as He sees), and, 3) purpose to do the right thing
(embrace His purposes as our own)? 4) doing what we have purposed to do
(embracing and living out His purposes)?
REMEMBERING
NEHEMIAH’S INTEGRITY
Let’s
take a second look at a man in scripture who lived daily with the constant
awareness of God being active in the affairs of mankind, and more specifically,
in his own life.
1The
words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in
the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2That Hanani,
one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked
them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity,
and concerning Jerusalem. 3And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the
province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem
also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4And
it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and
mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of
heaven, 5And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great
and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for
them that love him and observe his commandments: 6Let thine ear now
be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy
servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of
Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we
have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7We
have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor
the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst
thy servant Moses. 8Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye
transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9But if ye
turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you
cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather
them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set
my name there. 10Now these are thy servants and thy
people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 11O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine
ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy
servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant
this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s
cupbearer.
Before
the God of Heaven is where Nehemiah’s heart is as he has an exchange
with his brethren from Judah, … “2I asked them concerning the
Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning
Jerusalem. 3And they said
unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity
there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall
of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned
with fire.”
Nehemiah walked with God, and he knew his
God. When he heard this report, he sat down and wept, and mourned certain days,
and fasted, and prayed before the God of Heaven. There were some
truths about his God, that he spoke in this moment, to his God, because they
were applicable in the moment.
1) God is transcendent and
sovereign (1:5) “…O LORD
God of heaven…” God is above empires (Persia), He is above kings
(Artaxerxes). Artaxerxes looked powerful. But Nehemiah knew who held the higher
throne. 2) God is great and awesome, “The
great and awesome God” (1:5) Nehemiah’s God is not small, He is
majestic. God is Holy, Fearful in power, Worthy of reverence. 3) God
keeps covenant, “Who keeps covenant…” (1:5) Judah failed, but God
stayed true to His word. 4) God is merciful and loving, “…and
lovingkindness for those who love Him.” (1:5) Although judgement had
happened, mercy was still active. God responded to their repentance. 5) God
hears prayer, “Let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open…” (1:6)
Nehemiah knows God listens. He is not praying into nothingness. Heaven hears! 6)
God forgives repentant sinners, “We have sinned…” He brought no
excuses, no blame shifting…God sees me. He has missed nothing.
Self-deception weakens. Integrity is possible.
Integrity
is learning to agree with what God already sees.
Integrity
speaks the truth! God sees and knows the truth!
Integrity
is willing to take an honest look, because the God of heaven sees it all as it
really is…nothing is hidden from Him. He hears it all! He sees it all!
God
is present, and He is not a passive observer, He is active in the affairs of
mankind!
When
you read the first six or seven chapters of the book of Nehemiah, you can’t
miss that as Nehemiah is facing situations, in the moment, he talks to his very
present, active, caring God!
I am
going to note a few of these moments…
As
soon as Nehemiah heard the report about how things were back in Jerusalem, he
prayed before the God of Heaven.
3And they said
unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity
there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall
of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned
with fire.
4And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and
wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God
of heaven,
In chapter 2 when he is before the king, and the king
asks what he wants, in the moment, he talks to God…
“So, I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to
the king…” (2:4)
In chapter four, Opposition comes.
Sanballat mocks. Nehemiah responds:
“Hear, O our God, for we are despised” (4:4).
When nobles oppressed the poor in chapter five, and Nehemiah is
handling it, toward the end of the chapter he says to God…
“Remember me, my God, for good…” (5:19)
May our awareness be elevated to the constant reality
that our God is present, active, caring, orchestrating, moving in the hearts of
those around us!
INTEGRITY – BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Integrity
is at least four things…1) speaking the truth, 2) taking an open and honest
look at what is in front of me, 3) purposing to do the right thing with what is
in front of me, and, 4) doing what I purposed to do, with what is in front of
me.
Nehemiah
was a man of integrity. The king saw it and made him his cup bearer. Nehemiah
navigated the universe before the God of Heaven. He understood
God’s eternal purposes, and His purposes with the people of Israel. He took an
honest look at the state of these people’s walk with God, after they came back
from the captivity, and saw they still were not getting it right. Jerusalem was
still in ruins, and they were not functioning in their families the way God
intended either. So, Nehemiah, when told how things were going back in Judah,
determined to take the honest look at what was happening. He asked God for the
stewardship of going back and leading the people to do the right thing God’s
way. He took the time to scout out the ruins of the wall around Jerusalem. Before
the God of Heaven, he came up with a plan and came to the people and
communicated the plan. As recorded in Nehemiah chapter three he organized the
people by family groups and ended up with 41 work groups. They would build the
wall in their own back yard, so to speak. In Nehemiah 4:13, Nehemiah says, “I
stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows…remember
the Lord…fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and
your houses.” Nehemiah knew
God’s purposes and blueprints. Family is God’s basic unit in a community.
Nehemiah put them to work in a way that he saw to it that families had to be
strong together, or the enemy would attack in their back yard.
Indeed,
today, the church needs to come back to that same default, and strengthen
families, to do the work of the ministry.
Nehemiah
had answered the basic questions, because he wanted truth, to speak truth, to
see what was really real right in front of him, and he purposed in his heart to
do the right thing with what was really real right in front of him, and he then
did what was right. He navigated with integrity!
It is
very important that our generation of believers in the United States know the
answers to the questions regarding truth. What is truth? What is of value? How
then, shall we live?
When
people suppress the truth in their unrighteousness, and throw off truth, there
is no limit to where they can go in moving away from truth. My generation can
name the list. I will give just a couple of examples…homosexual marriage,
transgenderism, and biological males in girls’ sports.
Integrity and Truth fit together like hand in glove…
Navigating
God’s universe before the God of Heaven aligns with what is really, really real!
There
is a connection between the three core questions, and the outworking of our
answers into the seven levels of our belief and behavior. As in the example of
Nehemiah, his view of God, and the scriptures, moved him to purpose to embrace
God’s purposes for his life.
“People
see what they want to see, and they hear what they want to hear, because they
want to do what they want to do, because they treasure what they treasure.”
The
atheist worldview throughout is permeated with wanting to suppress truth,
because they are driven by wanting to just do what they want to do.
WITH INTEGRITY -
EMBRACING HIS PURPOSES AS MY OWN
Remember,
Integrity is at least four things…1) speaking the truth, 2) taking an open and
honest look at what is in front of me, 3) purposing to do the right thing with
what is in front of me, and, 4) doing what I purposed to do, with what is in
front of me.
The
third part of integrity is purposing…it is one thing to see truth, it is
another to determine with the human will, that I am going to purpose to act
accordingly!
“I
have purposed it; I will also do it!” Embracing God’s purposes as my own is
integrity in action.
That
statement, “I have purposed it, I will also do it!” by the God of heaven, and recorded in Isa.
46:11c, trumpets the heart of God from the beginning. He purposed, before the
foundation of the world, creation, redemption, and human history culminating
with the roll out of the end time events given in the book of Revelation. And
what he has purposed, He will also do! You can take that to the bank!
Nehemiah
had discerned God’s purposes, and blueprints, and determined to embrace God’s
purposes as his own. That is godly wisdom in action!
What
were some of the purposes he recognized as being what God would have him
embrace? He navigated God’s universe Before the God of Heaven. He
acknowledged brokenness, was thankful for redemption, and requested being
commissioned, to be used by God with his people.
Before the God of Heaven
As one…broken…
As one…redeemed…
As one…commissioned…
My Mission In This Life
…walking with God…
…in my place…strengthening family…
…reaching out…as a channel of grace…
…to fellow believers…
…to unbelievers…
When
we truly see reality as God says it is, passivity becomes increasingly
difficult to justify.
LUCIFER
–
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
12How
art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art
thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For
thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I will ascend above the
heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be
brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isa. 14:12-15)
Lucifer
occupied one of the highest ranks among God’s created angels. At some
point after Lucifer’s creation, and before humanity’s temptation in
Eden, rebellion arose within his heart. Lucifer coveted God’s
authority, God’s glory, and God’s rightful place of supremacy. He wanted to be
in God’s place and was not satisfied with the place God had placed him in. He
decided to “exalt his throne above the stars of God.” And,
not satisfied with his place, he decided, “I will
be like the most high God.”
Lucifer
at some level, at some time, had to know that there was only one God, and that
he himself was not on the same level with God. But, in pride, and desire, he
wanted to be like God, and have what was God’s. How did that work out for him,
and all of mankind?
This
is an extraordinary reality. We have to stop and
ponder this…what does it say about brokenness…?
Before the God of Heaven stood one of the highest of God’s created heavenly
beings. Endowed with extraordinary beauty, wisdom, and privilege, he was given
a place of honor by his Creator. Yet, rather than
being satisfied with the place God had assigned him, pride arose within his
heart. Desiring God’s glory, God’s authority, and God’s throne, he declared
five times, “I will.” The first rebellion in God’s universe began, not
with outward action, but with the deliberation of a proud heart.
15Yet
thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isa. 14:12-15)
What
a choice, what a consequence…
SEVEN INESCAPABLE REALITIES-
OF GOD’S UNIVERSE
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Every
person who has ever lived, has lived before the God of Heaven. Because of
Lucifer’s fall, whether someone chooses to acknowledge it, or not, there are
certain realities that cannot be escaped. Men may reject them, suppress them,
or ridicule them, but they remain as true today as when God created the heavens
and the earth. These realities are woven into the very fabric of God’s
universe. Every decision, every relationship, every success, every failure, and
ultimately every eternal destiny is shaped by them.
God
and Satan
Good and evil
Truth and falsehood (right and wrong)
Universal Laws and Principles (established by God)
Personal Responsibility
Choice and Consequence
Life and Death, Heaven and Hell
These
seven realities are not isolated truths. They form the framework within which
every human life is lived. Every person lives before the God of Heaven, in a
world where good and evil contend, where truth confronts falsehood, where God
has established universal laws and principles, where choices inevitably produce
consequences, where life moves toward death, and where every soul is traveling
toward an eternal destination. Wisdom begins by recognizing these realities;
faith responds by submitting to the God who established them.
GOD
AND SATAN
The first reality is that there is a living God, and there is a real
personal adversary. Scripture begins not with an argument for God’s existence,
but with the declaration, “In the beginning God created the heaven and
the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) God is eternal, self-existent, holy,
sovereign, Creator, Judge, Redeemer, and King.
The Bible
also reveals a created being who rebelled against God. Lucifer became Satan,
the adversary, deceiver, accuser, and destroyer. Peter warns believers, “Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Jesus
described Satan as “a murderer from the beginning...and the father of it [lies].” (John 8:44)
Every human
being lives within the reality of this great conflict. There is no neutral
ground. We either belong to God’s kingdom or remain under the dominion of
darkness (Colossians 1:13).
GOOD AND EVIL
Good and
evil are not human inventions or cultural preferences. Good originates in the
very character of God. “There is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark
10:18) Evil entered creation through rebellion against God. Isaiah
pronounces woe upon those who reverse these realities: “Woe unto them
that call evil good, and good evil.” (Isaiah 5:20) Paul exhorts
believers, “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
(Romans 12:9)
The struggle between good and evil is seen
throughout Scripture—from Eden, to Calvary, to the final judgment. Every human
heart must decide which kingdom it will embrace.
TRUTH
AND FALSEHOOD (RIGHT AND WRONG)
Truth exists
because God is true. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the
life.” (John 14:6) God’s Word is truth. “Sanctify them through
thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Satan, however, traffics in deception. Jesus
said, “When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of
it.” (John 8:44)
Human beings cannot escape truth simply by
denying it. Reality remains unchanged. Paul explains fallen humanity’s
condition: “Who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18)
Every life is ultimately built
upon either truth or falsehood.
UNIVERSAL LAWS AND
PRINCIPLES
(established by God)
God governs
His universe through both natural laws and moral principles. The physical
universe operates with remarkable order because God faithfully sustains it.
Likewise, God’s moral universe operates according to fixed principles. Jesus
taught, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians
6:7) Proverbs repeatedly demonstrates that diligence generally leads to
fruitfulness, honesty builds trust, humility precedes honor, and pride precedes
destruction. “Pride goeth before destruction,
and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
These are not merely observations; they are reflections of how God governs
His world.
PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Paul reminds
every believer, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
God.” (Romans 14:12) And again, “For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body...” (2 Corinthians 5:10) Those
apart from Christ will likewise stand before God. John writes, “And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God...and they were judged every man
according to their works.” (Revelation 20:12–13) No one will ultimately
answer for another person.
Every person
will stand individually before the God of Heaven. This reality is both sobering
and liberating. It is sobering because we cannot shift blame for our sinful
choices onto someone else. Ever since Adam said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me...” (Genesis 3:12), fallen humanity
has sought to excuse itself. Yet Scripture continually calls us back to
personal accountability. It is liberating because, by God’s grace, we are not
prisoners of our past. Through repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and the
enabling power of the Holy Spirit, we may choose obedience, pursue integrity,
and walk in God’s purposes.
Personal responsibility is therefore the bridge
between truth and obedience. God reveals truth; we are responsible to respond.
God gives commands; we are responsible to obey. God extends grace; we are
responsible to receive His Son by faith.
CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE
God created
mankind with genuine moral responsibility. From Eden onward, people have been
confronted with choices. Moses challenged Israel, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose
life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) Joshua declared, “Choose you this day
whom ye will serve.” (Joshua 24:15) Every choice we make produces
consequences. Sometimes they come immediately. Sometimes they come years later.
Sometimes throughout eternity. No one escapes this principle.
LIFE AND DEATH – HEAVEN AND HELL
Every person
experiences both physical life and physical death.
Scripture also reveals spiritual life and spiritual death. God warned Adam, “In
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die.” (Genesis 2:17) Paul explains, “For the wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23) Jesus came that sinners “might have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
History is
moving toward an eternal conclusion. Jesus spoke often of both Heaven and Hell.
He promised His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)
He also warned, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment:
but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46) John describes
the final judgment before the great white throne (Revelation 20:11–15),
followed by the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21–22).
Every human being will spend eternity in one of
these two destinies. The most important question any person can answer is this:
Have I been reconciled to the God of Heaven through His Son, Jesus
Christ?
One of
our greatest hindrances is that we do not train our focus to continuously see
the seven inescapable realities that make our commission urgent. Instead, we have a tendency to have more of our focus on temporal
realities, temporal treasures.
WHAT DOES GOD DESIRE OF ME?
Purpose in your heart that God will have your heart
By example/emphasis I will Honor Him and His Word
Purpose in my heart to embrace His purposes as my own
Can we speak the truth? Can
we take an honest look? Can we see what purposes we have embraced in our daily
lives? What does God desire? Where do we stand right now? What will we purpose
to do to move in the right direction?
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
PLEASE STOP!
WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
LOOK BACK BEFORE YOU GO FORWARD
NOW- WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE LIFE
GOD
HAS ENTRUSTED TO YOU?
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:10)
Before entering this Gate, look back for a moment.
We began with the heart.
We were reminded that every moment of life is lived Before
the God of Heaven.
With integrity, we looked at our Brokenness.
Then we stood before the God of Grace and His
redemption.
We discovered that the redeemed have also been commissioned.
And finally, we confronted the question:
His purposes or mine?
Now all of those truths come
together.
We have arrived at a question that will shape the rest of
this journey.
What is my mission in this life?
Not merely: What is my occupation? What do I want
to accomplish? What do I want to own? Where do I want to live? How comfortable
can I become?
Those questions may have their place, but they are too small to define
the mission of someone created by God, redeemed by Christ, commissioned by the
King, and living every moment Before the God of Heaven.
In this Gate we will begin putting into intentional
words the mission that the remaining Gates will develop:
MY MISSION IN THIS LIFE
…walking with God…
…in my place…strengthening family…(earthly)
…in my place…strengthening family…(forever)
…reaching out…as a channel of grace…
…to fellow believers…
…to unbelievers…
Here the three undergirding principles become very
practical.
What do I treasure?
Whoever or whatever has my heart is whose ways I will
observe.
What do I honor?
What I honor, dignify, emphasize, pay attention to, and
reward will increasingly shape my life.
What will I purpose?
Purpose it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
And integrity asks me to take
an honest look at where I am now, compare that with what God desires, purpose
the changes that need to be made, and, by His grace, move toward them.
From this Gate forward, we become very practical:
Walking with God.
Strengthening family—earthly and forever.
Reaching out as a channel of grace to fellow
believers.
Reaching out as a channel of grace to
unbelievers.
So, before entering this Gate, ask:
What does God desire?
Before the God of Heaven, where am I presently?
By His grace, how do I move toward what God
desires?
Let’s begin!
Gate
Seven
Integrity – My mission on Earth
What God Desires
Live
the life God has entrusted to me for His purposes
Recognize “in my place” as a divine
stewardship
Intentionally pursue my God-given mission
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
What
God Desires
Live
the life God has entrusted to me for His purposes
Recognize “in my place” as a divine
stewardship
Intentionally pursue my God-given mission
GATES 1-6 MY IDENTITY AND
POSITION
GATES 7-12 MY MISSION AND PURPOSE
In the first
six gates we address the realities of my identity and
position before the God of Heaven. My position is
that I exist before the God of Heaven, and I represent completely
the brokenness of fallen mankind. My identity is that I have been
adopted into God’s family by the grace of God. I have been redeemed
through Jesus Christ alone, and by faith alone. Every believer is commissioned,
sent into the world as an ambassador for Christ. We are either, with
integrity, embracing and living our life for His divine purposes, or not.
In gates seven through twelve we
delineate the relationships involved in living out the mission God has given
us. We are to be walking with God, and, being in our place,
strengthening family (earthly), and, being in
our place, strengthening our family (forever). Also, reaching
out…as a channel of grace…to fellow believers, and, reaching
out…as a channel of grace…to unbelievers.
A Template
(My Position and Identity)
Before the God of Heaven
As one…broken…
As one…redeemed…
As one…commissioned…
(My Mission) In This Life
…walking with God…
…in my place…strengthening family
…reaching out…as a channel of grace…
…to fellow believers…
…to unbelievers…
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
13The LORD looketh
from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
(Ps 33:13-15)
Integrity
is learning to agree with what God already sees.
Integrity
speaks the truth! God sees and knows the truth!
Integrity
is willing to take an honest look, because the God of heaven sees it all as it
really is…nothing is hidden from Him. He hears it all! He sees it all!
God
is present, and He is not a passive observer, He is active in the affairs of
mankind!
Nehemiah
knew that God is truth. He not only knows truth. He is truth. What He has
deemed as really, really real, is what’s really, really real.
We will come
back to this later, but the case can be made that Nehemiah valued/treasured
integrity because he saw that God was a God of integrity.
GOD HAS
ENTRUSTED ME WITH A LIFE
“For
none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the
Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord…”(Romans
14:7–8)
Our lives are not ultimately
our own.
“What, know ye not that
your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in
you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a
price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
“I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(Romans 12:1)
“And that he died for
all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but
unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2
Corinthians 5:15)
Jesus died and rose again,
not for us to just fill the space between our salvation and Heaven with
whatever we want to do, but that our lives should be lived for Him.
Therefore, the question is
not, “What do I want to do with my life?” It should be this, “Lord,
what do you desire to do with the life you have entrusted to me?”
CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS –
UNTO GOOD WORKS
“For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Ephesians
2:8-9, the two verses right before the one we just cited, give one of the
clearest statements in the Bible that salvation is entirely by grace through
faith and not by our works. Our works do not save us, but as a new creation, we
were ordained unto good works. There is purpose on this side of redemption!
God has
redeemed us, and commissioned us! He has redemptive
purposes for our lives. He has a blueprint! Our life is about more than our
occupation in the marketplace. We have been given a mission Before the
God of Heaven.
IN MY
PLACE
God’s
universe is awesome! The galaxies, the stars, the planets, the animals, and
plants all have their design, their place. It is amazing to observe how God has
created it all, and holds it all in its place. The
bible says, “by Him all things consist.” (Col.
1:17)
But consider
the devastation that comes when creatures, with free volition, decide that they
don’t want to be “in my place.” God has a plan, a design, a blueprint, a
special place for each human being. But it is consequential when someone is not
willing to be “in the place” God has for them.
I have been
commissioned to carry out His redemptive purposes “in my place” as my divine stewardship
Before the God of Heaven. The ordinary places of life we move in every
day become extraordinarily significant when they are viewed as places of divine
stewardship.
“…as God hath distributed
to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so
let him walk.” (1 Corinthians 7:17)
We will
revisit “in my place” when we move through the rest of the Gates (8-12) dealing
with God’s mission for us in the core relationships of life.
MISSION IS MORE THAN OCCUPATION
We all ask others, “Well what kind of work do you do?” And we all
understand that to refer to marketplace occupation. But,
marketplace occupation should not be the all-encompassing answer as to my
mission in life.
Our mission
in life is a much bigger matter. It answers the bigger question, “Why am
I here,
and what does God desire me to do with the life He has entrusted to me?”
Paul
answered this question in a very simple statement, “For me to live is
Christ…” (Phil. 1:21) That was his mission from God, and it looked a
lot like what we are putting in front of you to consider making your mission…
Walking with God
Strengthening family—earthly and forever
Reaching out as a channel of grace to fellow
believers
Reaching out as a channel of grace to unbelievers
MISSION MUST BECOME
INTENTIONAL
THREE UNDERGIRDING PRINCIPLES –
FOCUSED AND ENERGIZED TOWARD MISSION
For a long time, I
have loved this passage in Isaiah 46.
8Remember
this, and shew yourselves men:
bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
9Remember the former things of old: for
I am God, and there is none else; I am God,
and there is none like me, 10Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the
things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand,
and I will do all my pleasure: 11Calling
a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth
my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it
to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
God is making it
clear that He alone is God. He declared the end from the beginning. He will use
heathen nations to discipline His people. God is the God of history. He is in
control. He says, “I have purposed it, I will also do it.” This is an awesome
statement. God has divinely decreed purposes, and he will carry out what He has
purposed. He will do it. There is purpose and there is integrity. Before the
foundation of the world God purposed creation, redemption, and His eternal reign. He will do it.
God has given to
mankind the capacity to purpose in heart what we will go do, and the capacity,
to will, to act with integrity to go do what we have purposed to do. Athletes
purpose to go to the Olympics, and focus and work to get there. Other’s purpose
to become business owners, preachers, etc., and they pursue these ventures with
determination to go accomplish it.
We can purpose as
a believer to…
“…I
have purposed it; I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
Purpose
in my heart to embrace His purposes as my own
We just now
noted one of three undergirding principles to this growth and development
initiative. All three of them can be activated in our heart life. And they work
together. They are about Heart, Life,
and Legacy.
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
We can, with
God’s help determine that we will do what we need to do, to make sure God has
our heart. There is a sequence of seven actions that make that possible.
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
By
example/emphasis, when God has our heart, what we honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, will be God, and the things of God.
So we
come back to integrity.
What does God desire?
Where am I presently?
What needs to change?
What will I purpose?
And then:
Will I do what I have
purposed to do?
THE RELATIONSHIPS OF MY MISSION
Walking
with God
In my
place…Strengthening family (earthly)
In my
place…Strengthening family (forever)
Reaching out, as a
channel of grace, to fellow believers
Reaching out, as a channel of grace, to
unbelievers
THE SEVEN INESCAPABLE
REALITIES –
DEMAND MISSION URGENCY
God and Satan
Good and evil
Truth and falsehood (right and wrong)
Universal Laws and Principles (established by God)
Personal Responsibility
Choice and Consequence
Life and Death, Heaven and Hell
If these realities are really, really real, then the mission cannot be treated casually.
Reality awareness should produce mission intentionality and urgency.
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN –
WHAT WILL I DO?
The first six Gates establish what
is really, really real.
Gate Seven asks what I will do about
it.
The final five Gates show what that
intentional response looks like in the relationships God has entrusted to me.
All of
these sections are important, and demand our attention, as we navigate Before
the God of Heaven.
Before the God of Heaven - Heart -
Integrity - Brokenness - Redemption - Commission - His Purposes - My Mission -
Walking with God - Strengthening Family - Reaching Out as a Channel of Grace to
believers and unbelievers.
So, lets pause and see where we
are.
Look honestly.
Remember—you are Before the God of Heaven.
He fashioned your heart.
He sees your life.
He knows your brokenness.
If you are His, He has
redeemed you through His Son.
He has commissioned you.
He has placed you somewhere.
He has placed people around
you.
He has entrusted you with a
life.
Now integrity asks:
What will I do with it?
Will I merely admire God’s
purposes?
Will I merely agree with
God’s purposes?
Will I merely intend someday to pursue God’s purposes?
Or will I purpose in my heart to embrace His purposes as my own—and
then, by His grace, do what I have purposed?
WHAT DOES GOD DESIRE?
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN, WHERE AM I PRESENTLY?
BY HIS GRACE, HOW DO I MOVE TOWARD WHAT GOD DESIRES?
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
YOU HAVE DEFINED YOUR MISSION
NOW WE BEGIN TO LIVE IT
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
LIVING YOUR MISSION BEGINS HERE
WALKING WITH GOD
“And
Enoch walked with God…”
(Genesis 5:24)
And
Jesus said:
“Abide in me, and I in you.”
(John 15:4)
We began
with the heart. We were reminded that every moment of life is
lived Before the God of Heaven. With integrity, we looked
honestly at our brokenness. Then we stood amazed before the
God of Grace and His redemption. We discovered that the redeemed have
also been commissioned. We confronted the question: His
purposes or mine?
And in Gate Seven
we asked:
What will I do with the
life God has entrusted to me?
We defined our mission:
…walking with God…
…in my
place…strengthening family (earthly)
…in my
place…strengthening family (forever)
…reaching out…as a
channel of grace…
…to fellow believers…
…to unbelievers…
Now we begin to live that
mission.
And notice where we begin.
Not first with our family.
Not first with fellow
believers.
Not first with unbelievers.
Not even first with what we are
going to do for God.
We begin with God Himself.
…walking with God…
Let us enter.
Gate Eight
Walking with God
What God Desires
Know
Him
Love Him
Walk with Him in conscious fellowship,
dependence, obedience, and worship
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
“And
Enoch walked with God: and he was not;
For God took him.”
(Genesis 5:24)
“He
hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee,
but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
(Micah 6:8)
Walking with God
is not one activity among many in the Christian life. It is
the Christian life. It is living every part of life in conscious relationship with the God
who made us, sees us, knows us, redeemed us, indwells us, speaks to us through
His Word, has commissioned us, and before whom we will someday give account.
I
AM BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
“The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth
all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation
he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth
all their works.”
(Psa. 33:13-15)
“O
LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou
knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest
my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my
lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”(Psa.139:1-3)
He is
always present. God made my heart life. He sees every aspect of it, and
He doesn’t miss anything. My thoughts, affections, decisions, relationships,
conversations, work, money, disappointments, pleasures, ambitions, temptations
and plans are all lived before the God of Heaven.
The
Scripture gives us five great dimensions of what that walk looks like.
SALVATION
– I MUST FIRST BE RECONCILED TO THE GOD WITH WHOM I WOULD WALK
Our sin
alienated us from God.
“For
all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God.”
(Romans 3:23)
“For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23)
Sin
disrupted the relationship for which humanity was created. But God moved toward
us.
“But
God commendeth his love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8)
The God against whom we sinned
provided the reconciliation we could never provide for ourselves.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Romans 5:1)
“For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
The God of
grace, through redemption, reconciled us to Himself through Christ. This is
discussed thoroughly in Gate Four- God of Grace-Redemption.
FELLOWSHIP
– WALKING WITH GOD MEANS LIVING IN COMMUNION WITH GOD
A
relationship, two walking together, means there is awareness, conversation,
attention and response. The Christian’s fellowship with God has this
extraordinary rhythm:
God speaks to us through His
Word.
The Holy Spirit illuminates and applies His truth.
We respond to God in prayer.
This all occurs in the ordinary circumstances of life.
God
speaks through His Word
“Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.”
(Psalm 119:105)
Notice the
picture given in that verse. The Word is a lamp for my feet. It is a light for
my path. That is walking language. God has not left us wandering through His
universe without direction.
“All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
(2 Tim. 3:16-17)
God’s Word tells us what is
true, exposes where I am wrong, corrects my direction, and instructs me in the
way I should walk.
The Holy Spirit works within
us.
“ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth,
is come, he will guide you into all truth…”
(John 16:13)
“For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God.”
(Romans 8:14)
The Spirit
does not lead us independently of Scripture or contrary to Scripture. He opens
our understanding to God’s truth, produces His fruit within us, convicts us,
strengthens us and increasingly conforms us to Christ.
And we
speak to God through prayer
“Be
careful for nothing; but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God.”
(Phil. 4:6)
And then this extraordinary
command:
“Pray
without ceasing.”
(1Thess. 5:17)
This does
not mean twenty-four formal prayer. It describes a life increasingly lived with
an open line of communication toward Heaven.
That is
exactly what we saw in Nehemiah.
A problem
arose – and Nehemiah prayed.
A threat
appeared – and Nehemiah prayed.
A decision
confronted him – and Nehemiah prayed.
His life was
unfolding before the God of Heaven, and his awareness of that reality
repeatedly turned circumstances into prayer.
That is
walking with God.
HE MUST
INCREASE; I MUST DECREASE
Here we
arrive at the great issue of lordship.
Walking with
God cannot mean inviting God to accompany us while we continue pursuing
fundamentally our own purposes.
Something
much deeper must occur.
“He
must increase, but I must decrease.”
(John 3:30)
John
the Baptist gave us one of Scripture’s
most concise statements of God-centered living.
That
statement confronts the natural orientation of the human heart.
Brokenness
says:
What do I want?
What will make me happy?
What advances me?
What makes me important?
What gives me pleasure?
Walking with
God asks a different set of questions:
What does God want?
What honors Christ?
What advances His purposes?
What does His Word say?
What would faithfulness look like here?
Paul
captures this radical reorientation:
“For
to me to live is Christ,
and to die is gain.”
(Phil. 1:21)
And again:
“I
am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me…”
(Gal. 2:20)
This
connects Gate Eight directly back to the battle of the heart in Gate
One.
Who
has my heart?
Because
whoever has my heart will increasingly determine the direction of my walk.
EMBRACING
HIS PURPOSES AND BLUEPRINT
AS MY OWN
This is
where Gate Six – “His Purposes or Mine?” –
now becomes lived reality.
God
declares:
“…yea,
I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass;
I have purposed it, I will also do it.”
(Isa. 46:11)
We have
repeatedly described the principle this way:
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
But for the
believer there is a prior question:
What
should I purpose?
Jesus gives
the controlling priority:
“But
seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.”
(Matt. 6:33)
Paul
expresses the same surrender:
“For
none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the
Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord…whether we live therefore, or
die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14: 7-8)
Walking with God therefore involves a profound transfer of purpose:
His purposes increasingly
become my purposes.
His priorities become my priorities.
His values become my values.
His mission becomes my mission.
And that
brings us right back to the compass of Before the God of Heaven:
My
Mission In This Life
…walking with God
…in my place, strengthening family
…Earthly family
…Forever family
…reaching out as a channel of grace
…to fellow believers
…to unbelievers. And that brings us right back to the compass of Before
the God of Heaven:
These are not disconnected
activities.
They flow out of walking
with God.
OBEDIENCE TO GOD
Walking with God necessarily
involves obedience.
Jesus said:
“If
ye love me, keep my commandments.”
(John 14:15)
And
again:
“If
a man loves me, he will keep my words…”
(John 14:23)
James warns against knowledge
without response:
“But
be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
(James 1:22)
Here the definition of integrity
becomes extremely important.
I hear God’s truth.
I take an honest look at what
is before me.
I purpose to do what is right.
Then I do what I purposed.
That is walking with God with
integrity.
The issue is not merely:
What do I know?
The deeper question is:
What am I doing with what I
know – before the God of Heaven?
PROGRESSIVE
SANCTIFICATION –
WALKING WITH GOD CHANGES THE WALKER
If I genuinely walk with God, I
cannot remain unchanged.
God’s purpose is increasingly
to conform His redeemed children to the character of Christ.
“For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of
his Son…”
(Romans 8:29)
Paul describes the process:
“That
ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24)
There is a
continuing pattern:
Put off.
Be renewed.
Put on.
Romans 12
expresses the same transformation:
“I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world:
But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
(Romans 12:1-2)
And John gives us the standard:
“He
that saith he abideth in him
ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
(1 John 2:6)
What a statement!
Walk as Jesus walked.
Not perfectly in this life –
but progressively.
The longer I
walk with Christ, there ought increasingly to be something of Christ observable
in my walk. More love. More humility. More truth. More purity. More mercy. More
patience. More faithfulness. More self-control. More concern for others. More
hatred for sin. More hunger for righteousness. More God-consciousness.
That is progressive
sanctification before the God of Heaven.
LIVING LIFE AS A STEWARDSHIP
Finally, walking with God
radically changes how I understand my life itself.
The Christian eventually
confronts a breathtaking truth:
My
life is not actually mine.
“What? Know ye not that your
body
is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
(1 Cor. 6:19)
Then Paul explains why:
“For
ye are bought with a price:
Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
(1 Cor. 6:20)
That changes
everything. My time is entrusted to me. My abilities are entrusted to me. My
possessions are entrusted to me. My influence is entrusted to me. My family
relationships are entrusted to me. My opportunities are entrusted to me. My
spiritual gifts are entrusted to me. Even the number of days I am given is
entrusted to me.
Peter says:
“As
every man hath received the gift, even so minister
the same one to another, as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God.”
(1 Peter 4:10)
Paul brings stewardship into
the courtroom:
“Moreover,
it is required in stewards,
that a man be found faithful.”
(1 Cor. 4:2)
And Scripture points us toward
the coming evaluation:
“For
we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive
the things done in his body…”
(2 Cor. 5:10)
So the
believer walks through life knowing:
This day belongs to God.
This opportunity belongs to
God.
These resources belong to
God.
These people whom God has
placed around me are part of my stewardship.
This life has been entrusted
to me – and someday I will stand before the One who entrusted it.
And what could be more precious
at the end of that stewardship than the words of Matthew 25:21:
“Well
done, thou good and faithful servant…”
WALKING WITH GOD – THE WHOLE
PICTURE
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
ALL OF MY LIFE BELONGS TO HIM
THERE IS A PROGRESSING HERE
SALVATION – Reconciled to God!
FELLOWSHIP – Living in
communion with God!
HE MUST INCREASE — I MUST
DECREASE
I increasingly surrender
self-rule to Christ’s rule.
HIS PURPOSES AND BLUEPRINT
I increasingly embrace what
God wants as what I want.
OBEDIENCE
I act upon what God has
revealed.
PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION
As I walk with Him, He changes
me.
STEWARDSHIP
I increasingly recognize that all of my life
belongs to Him.
Before the God of Heaven
– Am I walking with Him?
What
does God desire?
“…to
walk humbly with thy God.”
(Micah 6:8)
Where
am I right now?
“Search
me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts.”
(Psalm 139:23)
What
must I purpose and do
to move toward what God desires?
“Teach
me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”
(Psalm 86:11)
Before the God of
Heaven—this is walking with God.
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
LOOK AROUND YOU
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
GOD HAS PLACED PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE
THEY ARE PART OF YOUR STEWARDSHIP
“But
as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD.”
(Joshua 24:15)
You have
considered carefully heart life. You understand that we live before
the God of Heaven. You understand more what your brokenness
really looks like. You have considered the wonder of being redeemed.
You have heard your Redeemer say that you are commissioned. You
have faced the choice: His purposes – or mine? You have given
thought to what your mission on Earth will be.
And you have understood,
that first, in our mission, is walking with God. From there, we
defined our mission:
…in my
place…strengthening family (earthly)
…in my
place…strengthening family (forever)
…reaching out…as a
channel of grace…
…to fellow believers…
…to unbelievers…
Look around!
Not out there…here, right at home. God has already placed people around you!
Your Family! These people are not incidental to your mission. They are part of
your mission. And you have an extraordinary opportunity and responsibility, to
love, serve, encourage, teach, strengthen, and influence, at home.
God has laid
out…“in
my place”…for
you, your core relationships at home. You see the role God has placed you in so
take the stewardship, the commission, seriously before the God of Heaven.
Strong families do not simply
happen.
Relationships must be nurtured.
Truth must be taught.
Love must be demonstrated.
Grace must be extended.
God’s purposes must be
intentionally pursued.
I must “in my place” do what will strengthen
my family.
Let us enter.
Gate Nine
In My Place…
Strengthening Family
(Earthly)
What God Desires
Purpose
in my heart to strengthen my family
By my example and emphasis turn hearts toward God Live out Godly values and
principles
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked.”
Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose it in your heart, then do
what you purposed.
God created Adam and Eve and
they became one flesh. Lucifer, Satan, had rejected God’s place for himself. He
wanted God’s place. That was a terrible choice that had horrendous
consequences. Satan lied to Eve and basically said God is holding out on you. The
good things are just beyond God’s boundaries. That also led to a terrible
choice that had horrendous consequences.
Since the
beginning, Satan and fallen mankind, have been resisting God’s blueprint for
the family. Books have been written documenting the attacks on the family in
our country over the last fifty years or so. We are stunned to see what fallen
man has embraced in defiance of God and His blueprint for mankind, and the
family.
The church
of God has been greatly affected by our declining, rotting pagan culture. May
our God help us to see that the hour is now when the light must begin to shine
brighter. The influences from several distinct evil forces within our country
are believing they can win. We must engage the battle. It is time. Or we will
lose our nation to the forces of darkness.
FAMILY IS THE FIRST INSTITUTION
ESTABLISHED BY GOD
(Gen 1:27-28) 27So
God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male
and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said
unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish
the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over
the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth
upon the earth.
(Gen. 2:18) And
the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make
him an help meet for him.
(Gen 2:20-24) 20And
Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast
of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help
meet for him. 21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon
Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and
closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22And the rib, which the LORD
God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23And
Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be
called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24Therefore shall a
man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they
shall be one flesh.
(Gen 4:1-2) 1And
Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have
gotten a man from the LORD. 2And she again bare
his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the
ground.
ROLES DELINEATED IN
SCRIPTURE
Husband
Initiator of Love
(Eph 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it;
Spiritual Leader
(Eph 5:23-24) 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour
of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so
[let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in everything.
Leader and Protecter of his family
(Gen 18:19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household
after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment;
that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Father
Spiritual Leader
(Deu 6:6-7) 6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall
be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy
children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in
thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and
when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
(Pro 4:1-5a) 1Hear,
ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2For
I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3For I was my
father’s son, tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother. 4He
taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart
retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5Get wisdom, get
understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
(Eph 6:4) And,
ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Wife
Help meet (suitable helper or completer)
(Gen 2:18) And
the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make
him an help meet for him.
(Tit 2:4-5) 4That
they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love
their children, 5[To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good,
obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Proverbs
31:10-31
Mother
To Instruct,
Nurture, and to instill Moral guidance to the Children
(Pro 1:8) My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law
of thy mother:
(2Tim 1:5) When
I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in
thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee
also.
(Isa 66:13) As
one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort
you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
(Pro 31:26) She
openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is]
the law of kindness.
Children / Youth
Honor and Obedience
(Exo 20:12) Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon
the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
(Eph 6:1-3) 1Children,
obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honour thy father
and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3That it
may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
(Pro 6:20-22) 20My
son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21Bind
them continually upon thine heart, [and] tie them about thy neck. 22When
thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and [when] thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
Spiritual Responsiveness
(Eccl 12:1) Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil
days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure
in them;
(2Tim 3:15-16) 15And
that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are
able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus. 16All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is]
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
“And these
words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt
teach them diligently unto thy children.”
(Deuteronomy 6:6–7)
“If any provide not for his own, and specially
for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith.”
(1 Tim. 5:8)
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
church.” (Ephesians 5:25)
“Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring
them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
(Ephesians 6:4)
HOW THE HEART IS WON – AND TURNED TO GOD
This is a subject we could discuss
for several hours easily. In Gate One we talked about it more than we will
here.
One aspect of our heart life is
what I refer to as our human affections. All of us from an early point in life
begin to ascribe value to things and people around us. We early on came to
value certain good foods, pleasurable human exchanges, and deserts like ice
cream. As we grow up that list of what we have ascribed value to becomes a
little more complex.
The bottom line is that as
temporal creatures in part, it is natural to focus on the temporal things
around us, and find ourselves treasuring those things
more than the spiritual treasures that God has said we need to treasure. There
is a progression by which our heart is won over to certain people or things. Take a look at how the heart is won.
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
We all know Christians that
allowed themselves to treasure temporal things more than the spiritual to the
point of making choices that shipwrecked their lives, and
caused great heartache for their loved ones. In the Old
testament history, is the story of a people whose hearts went to pagan
gods over and over again. Please learn how this works
and be the wiser for it.
HOW THE HEART IS WON
Contact — The Beginning of Influence
“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians
15:33)
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the
counsel of the wicked…” (Psalm 1:1)
Dwelling With — Repeated Presence Deepens Attachment
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But
the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
“Abide in Me, and I in you.” (John 15:4)
(This is why Scripture
places enormous emphasis on fellowship, family, church life, companionship,
meditation, and abiding.)
Communication — Exchange Builds Connection
“Faith comes by hearing…” (Romans 10:17)
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)
Knowing — Familiarity Produces Internalization
People naturally move
toward what becomes familiar, and, repeated familiarity reduces resistance, and, intimate knowledge creates emotional attachment.
Valuing / Treasuring — The Heart Attaches
“Where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
Influencing — What
Captures the Heart
Begins Directing the Life
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out
of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine
eyes observe my ways.” (Proverbs 23:26)
Embracing — Full Identification and Ownership
At this point there is connection, loyalty, and oneness.
Not only do
we need to guard our own hearts, it is our
responsibility as Christian parents to seek to have the hearts of our children
and turn their hearts to God.
“My
son, give me thine heart,
and let thine eyes observe my ways.”
(Proverbs 23:26)
There may be
few responsibilities entrusted to us that are more significant than the
influence we have upon the hearts of those God has placed closest to us. We
cannot regenerate another person’s heart. We cannot force someone to love God.
We cannot
guarantee the spiritual choices our children—or any other member of our
family—will ultimately make. But we can profoundly influence the
atmosphere in which hearts are being formed. Every day within a home, something
is being communicated about what really matters. Something is being treasured. Something
is being honored. Something is being emphasized. Something is receiving our
attention. Something is being pursued. Something is being modeled. And family
members—particularly children—are watching.
In Deuteronomy, God places
truth first in the heart of parents.
“And
these words,
which I command thee this day,
shall be in thine heart:”
And then:
“And
thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when
thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest
down, and when thou risest up.”
(Deuteronomy 6:6–7)
Truth is to
be in our hearts first, (example) and then we bring the (emphasis)
in every aspect of daily life.
Which brings us to the second principle.
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
What are we
honoring, dignifying, emphasizing, paying attention to, and rewarding? Is it
truthfulness, kindness, humility, hard work, responsibility, service, purity,
generosity, forgiveness, faithfulness, love for God, and concern for others?
Besides these
first two principles, there is a third one that is very important. Embracing
God’s purposes as our own, showing intentionality and integrity toward the
things of God.
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.”
(Isa 46:11c)
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
Nehemiah understood God’s
redemptive purposes toward His people in Israel. He was tuned in to what God
had purposed to do, and was in the process of doing.
Nehemiah wisely, determined that embracing God’s purposes as his own, and being
intentional about acting accordingly is putting this principle in action.
What does
God want with regard to our family life? Purpose it in
your heart, and then do what you purposed to do. Winning the hearts of your
children and turning their hearts to God is one of those important purposes for
parenting.
Be asking
these questions about the direction of your family life. By my example and
emphasis, what does my family see that I treasure? By my example and emphasis,
what am I honoring, dignifying, emphasizing, paying attention to, and
rewarding? By my example, what does my family see that I have purposed to do,
and that I am actually doing? Does my life remind them
of this verse?
“…choose
you this day whom ye will serve…
but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD.”
(Joshua 24:15)
LESSONS FROM
ISRAEL AND THE RECHABITES
The Bible gives contrasting
illustrations of how the heart was won over within two groups in totally
opposite directions.
Throughout the Old Testament, God
wanted the children of Israel to not go dwell among the idolatrous people of
the surrounding pagan cultures. They did not obey. As they followed the seven
steps given above their hearts were won over to the people, the cultures, the
pagan gods within those cultures. And so, God did not have the hearts of His
chosen people. God would use pagan nations to bring judgement on his people.
17Therefore
thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon
Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have
pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not
heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. Jer. 35:17
In Jeremiah 35 there is an amazing
story. God is moving toward judging Judah for their waywardness. But He wants to
point out to them, and us, that there is a group that went the completely
opposite way.
1The word which came
unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of
Judah, saying, 2Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto
them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and
give them wine to drink.
3Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah,
and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; 4And
I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of
Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of
the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of
Shallum, the keeper of the door:
5And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full
of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. 6But they
said, we will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded
us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons forever:
7Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor
have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many
days in the land where ye be strangers. 8Thus have we
obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath
charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our
daughters; 9Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we
vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
10But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to
all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
11But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up
into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the
army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at
Jerusalem. 12Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 13Thus
saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my
words? saith the LORD. 14The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab,
that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day
they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have
spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. 15I
have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and
sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend
your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in
the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not
inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. 16Because the sons of
Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which
he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: 17Therefore
thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon
Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have
pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not
heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. 18And
Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your
father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath
commanded you: 19Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me
forever. (Jer. 35)
God
had the prophet bring the Rechabites to the house of God and had them set wine
before them and they were commanded to drink. They did not obey because Jonadab
the son of Rechab had commanded them not to drink wine. They kept their
distance from the surrounding cultures. Thus, their hearts were kept loyal to
their leaders’ directives.
Contact
The descendants continually
remained connected to the teachings of Jonadab. The commands were not
forgotten.
Dwelling With
Their entire communal
structure reinforced those convictions. They lived inside a culture of
remembrance. Environment reinforced identity.
Communication
The commands were
continually repeated from generation to generation. The family narrative stayed
alive. This parallels Deuteronomy 6:
Knowing
The descendants knew who
they were and where they came from. They knew why they lived differently.
Valuing / Treasuring
The commands became
treasured traditions rather than burdensome restrictions. The family honored
Jonadab’s vision. Their loyalty became affectionate and voluntary.
Influencing
The inherited convictions
governed their lifestyle, habits, priorities, boundaries, and social behavior.
Their worldview shaped conduct.
Embracing
Finally, the Rechabites
fully embraced this identity as their own. What began as Jonadab’s commands
became the descendants’ convictions. This is one of the most powerful examples
in Scripture of multigenerational loyalty.
18And Jeremiah said
unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept
all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: 19Therefore
thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab
shall not want a man to stand before me forever. (Jer 35:18-19)
Israel repeatedly lived among peoples whose
gods, values, pleasures, prosperity, practices, and lifestyles eventually
became attractive to them.
Their history repeatedly
demonstrates the progression:
Contact - Dwelling With -
Communication - Knowing - Treasuring - Influencing - Embracing.
Psalm 106 summarizes it:
“But
were mingled among the heathen,
and learned their works.
And they served their idols…”
(Psalm 106:35–36)
Acts 7:39 gives perhaps the
most revealing description:
“…in
their hearts turned back again into Egypt.”
The heart was won—and the ways
followed.
SEVEN CORE VALUES –
AND SEVEN CORRESPONDING PRINCIPLES
(AN INTERNAL COMPASS –
FOR STRENGTHENING FAMILY)
|
CORE VALUES
|
PRINCIPLES
|
|
Integrity
(1) Speak Truth
(2) Look at every situation
with openness and honesty.
(3) Purpose to do what is right.
(4) Do the right thing that has been purposed.
|
Purpose/Mission
“I
have purposed it,
I will also do it.”
(Isa. 46:11a)
“God’s
desired results”
|
|
People
Co-laborers
Serving Others
|
|
Consideration
(Golden Rule)
Communication
“Speaking the truth in love”
|
|
Participation
of All
Stakeholders
|
Stewardship
Delegation
“In my place”
Empowerment
“Thoroughly equipped”
|
|
Excellence
|
Continuous
Improvement
(Change)
“I Press Forward”
|
|
Reward
|
Compensation
“Each according to
His own works”
|
|
Integrity
(1) Speak
Truth
(2) Look at
every situationwith openness and honesty.
(3) Purpose to
do what is right.
(4) Do the
right thing that has been purposed.
|
Purpose/Mission
“I
have purposed it,
I will also do it.”
(Isa. 46:11a)
“God’s
desired results”
|
I have most
of my adult life really been impressed with Nehemiah, as a godly man, and also as a leader. For a business man
I did a study to see if I could pinpoint Nehemiah’s core values and the
corresponding principles by which he conducted the amazing project of
rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. We identified seven core values and seven
corresponding guiding principles. It is interesting to me that Nehemiah saw in
how he knew his God, that these things were important to God as well. The
principles Nehemiah activated, God has activated as well.
There is a
layer of qualities which undergirds the values and principles by which he
operated. But I believe Nehemiah, moved by his Internalized Compass of
the Heart would be successful at whatever he purposed before God to do.
First of all, Nehemiah knew the God of Heaven and
navigated life here Before the God of Heaven. It’s awesome to see
how just doing daily life he had this ongoing
conversation, bringing God in on what was currently going on and asking for
God’s intervention. Because He did life with an acute awareness of the presence
of God, and that God knows everything perfectly, meant that speaking truth, seeing
truthfully, purposing in line with God’s purposes, then doing what he purposed
to do was very important to him, because it was important to his ever-present
God. So, with the situation presented in Nehemiah chapter one, here is how he
approached it. The compass was already in place.
Internalized a Compass
Recognized a Need
Agonized in Prayer
Personalized the Challenge
Organized the Work
Supervised the People
Realized his Goal
Can you
imagine what would happen in our Christian families in America, if each of us
decided, “In My Place,” God, help me to be keenly aware of the
reality that I live Before the God of Heaven, and living with integrity,
speaking truth, seeing what is really, really real, purposing to embrace His
purposes, doing what is in line with His purposes…
|
CORE VALUES
|
PRINCIPLES
|
|
People
Co-laborers
Serving Others
|
|
Consideration
(Golden Rule)
Communication
“Speaking the truth in love”
|
God created
man and woman and placed them in the Garden of Eden. Human life has great
value. Man sinned. The human race became broken. But
God...
“For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
First of all, because people are loved by God, we should
love people as well. Secondly, in God’s economy, he values the participation of
his children in being channels of His amazing grace to those around us who are
lost, and thirdly, participating in other aspects of His redemptive plan. If
that is our heart, the golden rule is an important operational principle.
“Therefore,
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
Yes, we need
to treat everyone with consideration as stated in this principle. Also, part of
treating people with consideration is communicating appropriately. After this
section is a communication section. But a good verse to start with is…
“…speaking
the truth in love…” (Eph. 4:15)
Valuing
people, showing consideration, speaking the truth are things that should be
taught and practiced first in the home. Being a team, working together, and
serving one another should be learned and practiced at home.
Nehemiah
demonstrated love, showed great consideration for others, and served others. He
was willing to leave the palace for awhile, and go and challenge the people to do what they should
have already done. And he saw them through to finish the work. Later, in
chapter eight, revival came.
|
CORE VALUES
|
PRINCIPLES
|
|
Participation
of All
Stakeholders
|
Stewardship
Delegation
“In my place”
Empowerment
“Thoroughly equipped”
|
Nehemiah
gathered all the people, after he had put together a plan, and this is what he
said,
“Then
said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth
waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up
the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” (Neh. 2:17)
In chapter
three, forty-one work groups are identified. In chapter four, verse thirteen,
this is his explanation…
“…and
I stationed the people in families
with their swords, spears and bows.”
In the next
verse, it is recorded that he said to the people,
“Do
not be afraid of them: remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight
for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”
Nehemiah
knew God’s blueprint. These families needed to build the wall in their own back
yard…”in my place” and fight the enemy together. He brought their
attention back to the stewardship delegation that had been given by God. Nehemiah also saw
to it that the people were empowered for the project…
“So they strengthened their hands
for this good work.” (2:18)
This works
for families! There are four ongoing cycles within a home…the food cycle…the
clothing cycle…the facilities maintenance cycle…and the personal and
interpersonal growth and development cycle. The full explanation of these will
come in a parenting class. But for here we will just go through the first one.
Either the
food has to be grown, or you have to
earn money to go to the store to purchase it. Someone has to
do the meal planning so that you can know what has to
be brought home to make the meals. Actual meal preparation is a huge job. Then
cleanup has to take place, and pots, and pans washed
and put away. Counters cleaned, and cleaned dishes put in their place, so we
can do it all over again the next time.
The whole
family, based on maturity, and stage of capability to learn and do, should be
right in there “in their place” pulling their share of the load.
|
CORE VALUES
|
PRINCIPLES
|
|
Excellence
|
Continuous
Improvement
(Change)
“I Press Forward”
|
Nehemiah
valued excellence. That separated him from the rest. He longed for God’s people
to pursue excellence. They should have seen and pursued getting the wall
rebuilt and things back in order as a priority. But other things already had
their hearts. Even after being in captivity, they still didn’t have the things
of God in their right place.
Home life
will show where individual and interpersonal growth and development is needed.
May Dad and Mom, like a Nehemiah, come alongside and motivate family members to
be their best for God.
Home is the
training ground for life. God placed the family as the cornerstone of the
community. We need to follow God’s blueprint. The church can train and equip
parents, but pastors can’t be in your home 24/7. “In My Place,”
captures it well. Take care of the stewardship delegation God has given you.
This
material, Before the God of Heaven, is a tool, a navigational
guide, a GPS, to bring us to the areas we need to revisit often, remind
ourselves of what God desires, help us see where we are, and point us to what
we need to do to move in the direction we need to go. Ages 10-90 can take this
tool and be equipped to grow personally. Families can grow using this material.
Our church family can grow using this material.
|
CORE VALUES
|
PRINCIPLES
|
|
Reward
|
Compensation
“Each according to
His own works”
|
Nehemiah had a view
toward spiritual, eternal reward
“... That we be no more a reproach.” (2:17)
“…all our enemies…they perceived that this
work was wrought by our God.” (6:16)
In the end,
our hearts should be motivated to be at home like a Nehemiah, so that the
hearts of our children, and grandchildren, will be won, and then turned to God,
and be themselves like a Nehemiah in their generation.
FIVE
GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNICATION
(Ephesians
4: 25-32)
Human relationships are built
on trust and understanding. If there is no trust, or no understanding, there is
no foundation for a lasting or meaningful relationship.
When I meet
with individuals, couples, or families to try to help them with strained or
broken relationships, I usually go through these five guidelines and explain
them carefully, but concisely. Then I ask this question, “If you had known
these guidelines, and been communicating based on the principles given, would
we be meeting today”? The answer is almost always, “No.”
BE
CORRECT
“Wherefore putting away
lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for
we are members one of another.”
(Ephesians
4:25)
Tell the
truth / Make your word as good as gold
Integrity is…
Speak the truth (to others and yourself)
Take an honest and open look at what is in front of you
Purpose to do the right thing with what’s in front of you
Do the right thing you purposed to do
Do not exaggerate
Do not distort another person’s words
Do not make unsubstantiated accusations
Do not use superlatives
Do not manipulate facts to win the point
“…for we are members one
of another.”
Before the God of Heaven,
speak the truth.
BE CURRENT
“…
let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
(Ephesians
4:26b)
Don’t pillow your head at night
with unresolved conflicts
Don’t keep an emotional account
of wrongs that can later be brought out as ammunition.
Don’t allow today’s
disagreement to become next month’s bitterness.
Keep current accounts.
And verse 27 adds a sobering
reason:
“Neither
give place to the devil.”
(Ephesians 4:27)
Unresolved anger can provide
fertile soil for resentment, bitterness, suspicion, division, and estrangement.
Be current.
BE CONSTRUCTIVE
“Let no corrupt
communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Eph. 4:29)
Use words
to build up rather than to tear down
“Let
no corrupt communication
proceed out of your mouth,…”
Don’t
communicate in ways that are corrupt
“…but
that which is good to the use of edifying…”
Communicate
in ways that build up
“…that
it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
“…reaching
out as a “channel of grace…”
Be Constructive
BE
CONTROLLED
“And
grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
(Ephesians 4:30)
Then he
identifies attitudes and behaviors that must be put away:
“Let all bitterness, and
wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be
put away from you, with all malice:”
(Ephesians
4:31)
The Holy
Spirit, which indwells the believer, is grieved when our flesh is in control
and we are out of control. Let it be a red flag to us that when we are out of
control, the Holy Spirit is not in control. Our flesh is in control at that
point.
Be Controlled
BE
COMPASSIONATE
“And be ye kind
one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
(Ephesians
4:32)
Treat the person as God has
treated you
Kindness is either in word or
deed
Tenderhearted is the well out
of which kindness is drawn
Christ forgave us…how can we
not forgive others
Be Compassionate
FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE
I SPEAK
BE CORRECT — Is it true?
BE CURRENT — Am I dealing with
the present issue rather than accumulating unresolved offenses?
BE CONSTRUCTIVE — Will the way
I say this build up and minister grace?
BE CONTROLLED — Am I governing
my emotions, words, tone, and behavior?
BE COMPASSIONATE — Am I treating this person with the
kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness God has shown me?
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
YOU BELONG TO HIS FOREVER FAMILY
YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A PLACE
YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH A STEWARDSHIP
WILL YOU EMBRACE HIS PURPOSES AS YOUR OWN?
“From whom the whole body
fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself
in love.”(Ephesians 4:16)
You have considered carefully
your heart life. You understand that you live Before the
God of Heaven. You have confronted the reality of your brokenness
and considered the wonder of redemption through Jesus Christ. You
have heard your Redeemer say that you are commissioned. You have
faced the question: His purposes – or mine? You have considered
your mission on Earth, beginning with walking with God. And
you have considered your responsibility, “In My Place,” to
strengthen your earthly family.
Now we turn our attention to
another extraordinary family.
FOREVER
FAMILY – THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD!
“Now therefore ye
are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and
of the household of God.” (Eph 2:19)
You belong to the
Household of God! You have brothers and
sisters in Christ. You have been given spiritual gifts, abilities,
relationships, and opportunities. And God has placed you within His Forever
Family for a purpose.
Christ is the Head of
the Church. He has given leaders to equip His people. And His design is that every
member participates in strengthening the whole body.
“…according to
the effectual working in the measure of every part…” (Eph. 4:16)
EVERY PART! THAT
INCLUDES YOU!
“For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12)
BEFORE THE GOD OF
HEAVEN…
I have been redeemed,
made part of His Forever Family, commissioned, and have been entrusted with a
stewardship “…In My Place…”
“As every man
hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)
Let us enter!
Gate Ten
In My Place…
Strengthening Family
(Forever)
What God Desires
Glorifying
God…making much of Jesus
Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry
Making disciples at home and around the
world
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose
it in your heart, then do what you purposed.
THE
FOREVER FAMILY – GOD’S DESIGN
Ephesians 2:19-22
We Belong to God’s Household
We Are Being Built Together
“19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20and are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21in
whom all the building fitly framed together groweth
unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22in whom
ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:19-22)
An
extraordinary reality that came to us through God’s redemptive work, is that in
Jesus Christ, those of us who were once alienated from God have been reconciled
to Him through Christ! We are no longer strangers or outsiders; we are members
of God’s household! Before the God of Heaven, I must recognize that my Forever
Family is part of God’s redemptive purpose, and I have a responsibility to
contribute to its unity, spiritual health, and growth. So, how does God want me to “…In My
Place…” strengthen my Forever Family?
Ephesians 4:11-16
Every Believer Equipped
Every Believer Participating
“11And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That
we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up
into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From
whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every
joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in
the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of
itself in love.” (Eph. 4:11-16)
God’s design for the functioning of His church, is that
gifted leaders, including pastors and teachers, are given to equip believers
for the work of the ministry. The ministry cannot be done by a few leaders. It
is God’s design that the leaders equip the believers who then have the
stewardship of carrying out ministry. The objective is that the entire body of
Christ becomes spiritually mature, doctrinally grounded, and actively engaged
in building itself up in love, “...according to the effectual working in
the measure of every part.” (v.16) Before the God of Heaven, we need to
ask ourselves if we are merely attending church or actively participating in
God’s purpose of strengthening His people.
Romans
12: 4-10
One Body
Different Gifts
Mutual Responsibility
4For as we have
many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5so
we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7or
ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth,
on teaching; 8or he that exhorteth, on
exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth
mercy, with cheerfulness. 9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor
that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10Be kindly
affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour
preferring one another; (Romans 12:4-10)
There are
many members in one body. We have differing gifts. Each believer needs to be
helped to figure out what their gifts are and use them to strengthen their
brothers and sisters in Christ. This passage, along with 1Corinthians 12-14 and
Ephesians 4, are the main passages that list and talk about the use of these
gifts. The gifts listed here are speaking forth truth, serving, teaching,
exhortation, giving, leading, and showing mercy. These gifts are given and
entrusted to believers for the benefit of other believers. Paul emphasizes that
as we exercise these gifts there needs to be love, hatred of evil, devotion to
what is good, brotherly affection, and honoring one another.
SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATIONS FOR
STRENGTHENING THE FOREVER FAMILY
John 13:34-35
Love One Another
The Distinguishing Mark of Christ’s Disciples
34A new commandment I give unto you, That
ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
love one to another.
The standard for the
demonstration of love, is extraordinary. We are to love one another, as He has
loved us. Before the God of Heaven, do others see Jesus in us, as they watch
our life with other believers?
Ephesians 4:2-3
Humility, Patience, and Love
Preserving the Unity of the Spirit
2With all lowliness and
meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Before the God
of Heaven, either our attitudes,
words, and actions contribute to the peace and unity of the Forever Family, or
they undermine peace and unity.
Philippians 2:2-5
The Mind of Christ
Putting Others Before Ourselves
2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,
[being] of one accord, of one mind. 3[Let] nothing [be done]
through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other
better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Christ is the supreme
example of love. He was willing to humble himself, put His own interests aside,
and go to Calvary to shed His blood to purchase our redemption. Can we
demonstrate that kind of love, that will give of self to meet the needs of
others.
Ephesians 4:32
Kindness, Tenderheartedness, and Forgiveness
And be ye kind one to
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake
hath forgiven you.
Kindness is expressed
in words and deeds. Tenderheartedness is the well from which kindness comes.
Forgiveness expresses grace which we ourselves have received in Christ.
Galatians 6:1-2
Restoring the Fallen
Bearing One Another’s Burdens
1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a
fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in
the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2Bear
ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ.
When a fellow
believer falls into sin, the response of a spiritually mature Christian should
be to come along beside and work to restore them “in the spirit of
meekness,” remembering our own vulnerability to temptation. Likewise,
we are to come along beside others who find themselves dealing with
difficulties, sorrows, and struggles that can overwhelm any of us.
Hebrews
10:24-25
Consider One Another
Provoke unto Love and Good Works
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good
works: 25Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but
exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The verses right
before this describe the privilege believers have of approaching God through
the finished work of Christ. Because of this access to God, we are urged to
draw near in faith, and to hold fast our profession of hope, and to consider
one another…give thought as to how to encourage each other to greater love and
good works.
1Peter 4:9-10
Hospitality and Spiritual Gifts
Stewards of God’s Manifold Grace
9Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10As
every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Peter, in
writing to believers experiencing hardship and opposition, emphasizes love,
hospitality, and faithful service within the community of believers. This is to
be carried out Before the God of Heaven, “As every man hath
received the gift.”
THREE
ESSENTIAL TRUTHS
FROM THESE TEN PASSAGES
GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR HIS
FOREVER FAMILY
He is building a redeemed
people into a spiritual household, united under Christ, growing toward
maturity, and bearing witness to His glory.
GOD HAS A PLACE FOR EVERY
BELIEVER
WITHIN HIS FOREVER FAMILY
No believer is spiritually
insignificant. Every member belongs, every member has responsibilities, and
every member has opportunities to contribute.
GOD EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE TO MOVE
FROM KNOWING HIS PURPOSES
TO PARTICIPATING IN THEM
God wants us to move from
knowing his design to embracing personal responsibility…taking it from
embracing God’s purpose to acting on it.
“I have purposed it; I
will also do it.”
In my heart I
should understand God’s purposes and embrace them as my own. I should humbly
determine that I will act in line with God’s divine purposes, and then by His
grace and enablement, do what I have purposed to do. I have been redeemed. I
have been commissioned. I have been placed within His Forever Family. I have
received gifts, abilities, and opportunities. I have relationships within my
brothers and sisters in Christ. I understand to a degree God’s purposes for His
people. What am I doing, “In My Place” to strengthen Family (Forever)?
MOVING FROM UNDERSTANDING
TO ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
How does
any pastoral leadership group move their congregation from understanding that
God wants us all to participate in accomplishing His purposes for His Forever
Family, to actually getting every member to embrace,
and fulfill their personal stewardship, “In My Place.”
Nehemiah was
a godly man. He was a man of integrity. He walked with God. He did not live in
the church age. But he did face a situation where God’s chosen people were not
where they should be spiritually, after having been in exile for seventy years.
In a study we did regarding Nehemiah’s leadership many years ago, there was a
noticeable intentional process that Nehemiah followed as he dealt with the
issues his brethren brought to him. This is an important piece of information
right up front. He loved God, and walked with
Him. And, he loved people, and desired for them to
love and walk with God as well.
Internalized
a Compass
Recognized a Need
Agonized in Prayer
Personalized the Challenge
Organized the Work
Supervised the People
Realized His Goal
Most of you
are familiar with this story regarding Nehemiah. Before the situation was
presented to him, we can note that he was aware of God’s redemptive purposes with regard to His chosen people. That is why he asked the
right questions of his brethren who came from Judah. The report was that the
Jews who had escaped the captivity and were back in the land were in a reproach, and were being afflicted. And, that the walls of
Jerusalem were broken down, and the gates were burned with fire. The need was
defined. Now Nehemiah agonized in prayer to God. By the end of the prayer in
Nehemiah chapter one, he has asked God to allow him to take on the challenge,
thus the stewardship delegation of bringing the solution to the issues at hand.
In chapter
two, after acquiring what he needed (letters and materials from the king) he
goes to Jerusalem. He takes some time to get an accurate assessment of the
situation, and in his mind and heart, created the first creation of the plan to
resolve the issues. He organized the work. Then, he met with all the people and
explained the plan that would involve all of them. Thus, he then supervised all of the people. It is important to note that he motivated
the people to take ownership of the stewardship. His challenge to them was, “Let
us rise up and build!” In chapter six it is recorded that the wall was
finished in chapter six.
Take note
that here is a very good pattern to follow in meeting needs of people. I am not
going to lay out in this Gate the seven core values and the seven corresponding
principles as we did in Gate Nine. The study from Nehemiah is the first item in
the addendum to this material. Please spend some time meditating on these
items. The seven core values, and the seven corresponding principles
move toward intentional action, rather than just having
understanding of an issue.
BRINGING
AN INCOMPLETE TEMPLATE
One of
the things that hinders full participation on the part of some believers is
that their template regarding what Christian living means is incomplete.
It would be hard to give percentages on this matter. The question would be, how
many Christians think that being a Christian involves mainly going to church on
Sunday and participating in the worship service, reading your Bible, praying,
and making a donation in the offering plate, and going
to lunch after church with a friend.
What is the
percentage of Christians who understand that being a Christian also involves
being equipped to come alongside other believers prepared to help with a whole
spectrum of issues as laid out in the ten passages that we have noted in the
beginning of this section. And those ten passages are not exhaustive of the
needs we need to be prepared to address. But starting to equip believers to
deal with just the needs mentioned above would be a great start.
ANOTHER HINDRANCE – A
DIVIDED HEART
This has
been an issue for all of human history. Man becomes so
attentive to the temporal things of this life that he fails to give the
attention needed toward spiritual things. We have already spent some time on
this with the history of Israel. They knew God. They saw His works! But they
had a divided heart. They came to treasure what the pagan cultures around them
treasured.
Now let’s
put this in the context of the church. For a long time, churches only get about
fifty percent of their people back for their Sunday evening services. It comes
back to this divided heart between spiritual and temporal treasures. And this
issue impacts “In My Place” stewardship.
“IN MY PLACE” – MY
STEWARDSHIP
STRENGTHENING MY FAMILY (FOREVER)
Think
differently about being “in my place”
I
am not merely here
I have been sent here
ordinary places have
extraordinary spiritual significance
My
home is not merely where I live
My neighborhood is not merely where my house
happens to stand
My workplace is not merely where I earn money
My relationships are not merely social connections
My church is not merely where I attend services
These
are spheres of providence
in which a commissioned believer lives
Before the God of Heaven.
Whom
has God placed around me?
Who needs encouragement?
Who needs truth?
Who needs the Gospel?
Who needs discipleship?
Who needs to see Christ demonstrated
in the life of one of His followers?
In Gate
Eight, we address the point, that walking with God is in part, living with the
awareness that every aspect of life is included in the stewardship
given to me. The gifts, talents, resources, opportunities, and challenges are
all part of my stewardship. Every day of life, every breath, every
relationship, every exchange with another human being, all of it is a stewardship!
NAVIGATING LIFE AND MINISTRY
(2 Corinthians 4:8-18)
PAUL’S COMPASS, LENS, AND GRID – AND MINE
Our Stance
8We
are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we
are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not
forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Dying
to Self-Living at a different level
10Always
bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of
Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11For we which live are
always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might
be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So then death worketh in us,
but life in you.
Confident
in the Resurrection-Emboldened in Mission
13We having
the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore
have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14Knowing
that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and
shall present us with you.
My
focus-Glorify God-Help others
15For all
things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the
thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
Don’t lose heart-be renewed daily
16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Take
the long view
17For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Heavenly
Mindedness
18While we
look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are
not seen are eternal.
PAUL – BEFORE THE GOD
OF HEAVEN
In Acts chapter seven
Stephen was testifying to the religious leaders. He laid the responsibility for
the crucifixion of Christ, the now risen Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah,
directly on them. At that charge, they did not want to hear it any more. They stoned Stephen to death. They believed Christ
to be a blasphemer, an imposter. They also saw many believing on Him as the
Savior of the world, who had extraordinary power. As these people stoned
Stephen, Saul witnessed it and had the outer garments of those who threw the
stones, resting at his feet. Chapter 8 tells us that Saul was consenting to
Stephen’s stoning.
Saul
was completely into Judaism. Christ was a threat to these leaders’ authority,
and their place in the Jewish culture. His worldview was being threatened. Saul
began ravaging the church, entering house after house, dragging off men and
women he would have put in prison.
1And
Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter
against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And
desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of
this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto
Jerusalem. 3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly
there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And
he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou,
Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:1-5)
Everything
changed in that moment! The risen, glorified Jesus Christ confronted him. Saul
was now Before the God of Heaven! What an exchange!
Jesus, whose
followers he was persecuting, is now the risen Lord! Jesus, whom he had
opposed, was speaking directly to him.
Saul
suddenly found himself confronted with the living Christ, before whom he had
always lived, but whom he had not truly known.
In a moment,
his understanding of God, righteousness, salvation, purpose, and eternity,
changed, and would never be the same. His worldview was turned inside out, and
upside down, when he heard the voice of Jesus!
Later he
would say, “7But what things were gain to me, those I counted
loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:7-8)
Paul
had encountered Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ had become the defining reality
of his existence.
Paul, in
darkness had seen the Light! Now he wanted his life to shine the Light of the
Gospel to a dark world.
“For
God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor 4:6)
Paul’s
mindset displayed in verse seven is demonstrated by his life from this point
on…
“But
we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may
be of God, and not of us.”
The power of
his ministry was not in the earthen vessel, but rather in the power of God who
redeemed him.
Our
Stance
8We
are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we
are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not
forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Another
translation puts this a little different way…
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
Perplexed, but not despairing;
Persecuted, but not forsaken;
Struck down, but not destroyed;
All of us, every day, have hundreds of things, from the
world around us, and from within our heart life, come at us. All kinds of
things. We have to sort through them quickly. Some
things are very difficult, and sometimes, devastating. What I love about these
four statements, they demonstrate that between what comes at us, and our
response to them, there is a gap. In that gap, God has given us the freedom to
choose how we will respond. For the believer, that is great news. By God’s
grace, when afflicted, we do not have to respond by choosing to be crushed! We
can choose to be strong in the Lord! Paul’s responses are instructive!
When you look at the list of things the apostle Paul
experienced in serving Christ, you come to understand this four statement Stance.
In chapter 11:23-28 he gives us a list. “…Far more imprisonments,
beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received
from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I
was stoned…” Go read the passage and ponder the reality of the
suffering.
So, when Paul said, “We are afflicted in every way,”
he was not exaggerating. But all of this was happening before the God of
Heaven.
So, in between the affliction and his response is the
presence and power and sustaining grace of God! Afflicted…yes,
but by God’s grace, “but not crushed.”
I want to bring this passage home to you before the
God of Heaven! I tell people that by God’s grace I have come to own
this passage that is Paul’s compass, lens, and grid. And I want by God’s grace
that believers the world over will come to own it as well.
Paul lived on a different level than most of us will ever
live. But even for us, life and ministry throws some hard things at us. There
are times we believe it all is closing in on us and that we are done. But, God is with us, for us, holding us, sustaining us. Yes,
afflicted, but…not crushed!
The second phrase is the one, of
the four, I come back to the most because it fits my circumstances the most, “Perplexed,
but not despairing;” To be perplexed is to be at a loss as to what to think, or do. I cannot tell you the times that I have been
overwhelmingly taken back by some very hard things that people have gone
through, and they desperately need help. And at times these things have been
very perplexing even to the counselor. Paul’s way of stating that “perplexed,
but not despairing;” made me know that humanly things can be so
troubling, you can be moved toward despair…it’s true…but, I love
the resolve, Before the God of Heaven, that helps me say by His
enablement, “…but not despairing;”
The third statement, “Persecuted, but not forsaken;…” is one that I cannot relate to as far as
being persecuted. But clearly, Paul was persecuted. I have been able to use
this statement with people over the years as we have sought to help folk.
Because people do not understand the scope of the truth, sometimes when bad
things happen the tendency is to blame God. Paul acknowledges persecution. But note
his understanding of the truth. While they were beating him, for example,
rather than thinking, God why are you letting them do this, (because he knows
God isn’t driving that) he clearly acknowledges that God is present, and
ministering to his need…he is “not forsaken.”
I can
relate to the fourth statement “Struck down, but not destroyed;”
in a way. No, I have never been beaten, stoned, etc., but
most of us have had things that have hit us hard and have been devastating.
Sometimes people are hit so hard, and because they haven’t been helped to
respond biblically, they are never the same, afterwards. The wind has been
taken from their sails, so to speak. But, by God’s grace, we can be enabled to
say, “but not destroyed;....”
So, no matter what comes at us down here, the God of Heaven
is with us, enabling us, to respond with resolve to hold fast in faith that our
God will see us through!
Now, we will take a look at six
amazing truths that are foundational to our being able to take that Stance
as we face the hard things of life.
The first of these six truths is packed with several
amazing truths.
Dying
to Self-Living at a different level
10Always
bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of
Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11For we which live are
always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might
be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So then death worketh in us,
but life in you.
Remember, Paul had this awesome exchange with Jesus…
he had encountered Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ had become the defining
reality of his existence. Everything changed in that moment. Literally, Jesus
had become the defining reality of his existence. It was nothing for Paul to
lay down everything temporal, even his life, to serve the one who had redeemed
him and given him an eternal inheritance.
That should be our thinking as well. To lay down his life in order for others to have the same redemption was
something he readily was willing to do! Paul was willing to die to self, in order for his life to make much of Jesus, and for others
to have the eternal redemption Christ provided. Dying to self, truly was living
at a whole different level, when doing so ensured the redemption of others! In
essence, it is exchanging what is temporal for that which is
eternal!
The
next truth is at its essence the same thing….
Confident
in the Resurrection-Emboldened in Mission
13We having
the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore
have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14Knowing
that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and
shall present us with you.
You can’t threaten someone with
a ticket to heaven, when they really understand that to die, is to be ushered
into the presence of the Lord!
There is no more, “the sting of
death!” “O death, where is thy sting?”
The next
truth that Paul rested in was that his purpose in living was two things…1)
glorifying God, and, 2) helping others.
My
focus-Glorify God-Help others
15For all
things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the
thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
Paul saw himself as a channel
of God’s amazing grace! Whether he was giving the gospel to someone who needed
to be saved, or helping a new believer understand the scriptures, and learning
what it meant to grow in their walk with the Lord. As people responded to God,
they in turn then would thank God for his amazing grace and give Him the glory.
And when you look at the New
Testament record of the life of Paul, clearly this statement of purpose was
lived out completely.”
“For
me to live is Christ…”
This should also be our
statement of purpose. And put that to the statement that God himself made in
Isaiah 46:11c
“I
have purposed it; I will also do it.”
Don’t
lose heart-be renewed daily
16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Paul did, and every believer now will need to, rely on
God’s empowerment and grace in order to be renewed in
heart day by day, moment by moment.
Walking with God, being in the Word, talking to Him,
allowing the Holy Spirit to take the Word of God, applying it to our heart and
life, and claiming his strength and enablement gives us the strength needed
moment by moment.
There were a lot of people out to get Paul. Every morning
as he prepared to go out and minister to people, he faced uncertainty with regard to his wellbeing and his safety. When you read 2
Corinthians 11:23-28 clearly his safety was always at risk. He knew he was
putting it all on the line each day to go be a witness for his Lord.
Take
the long view
17For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
This is the one that I come back to the most! I like how
Romans 8:18 states this truth.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom.
8:18)
Take the long view!
This life is short. Eternity is without end. Whatever
happens here is just a moment in time compared to all eternity. Someone has
said, and I don’t know who it was, “This is the hard part, but is the short
part. The best part is yet to come, and it lasts forever.” No matter the
hardships, heartaches, disappointments, the setbacks, sufferings, etc., five
minutes the other side, being with Christ, and our loved ones, all the hard
things from this side will fade into insignificance. It won’t matter anymore!
Heavenly
Mindedness
18While we
look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are
not seen are eternal.
There are a couple of impactful realities that I think of
immediately each time I come here. For those of you who have ever played the
board game, Monopoly, who recall what happens. For awhile
you role the dice, move, and
eventually go by GO, and get your $200 for passing through. Then in time, if
fortunate, you can buy properties and put houses and hotels on them, collect
rent, and try to increase your value, and decrease everybody else’s value. It is
not a win/win… that’s why at the end there seems to be a strain in the air
between the people. But, always, every piece on the board goes back in the box.
That is what we need to remember about our temporal things we have down here. It
all goes back in the box!
Paul reminds us to keep our focus on what matters for all
eternity, spiritual and eternal things.
It’s a grim reality. Even these temporal lives are short
lived. We need to pour out that which we cannot keep, in
order to gain what we cannot lose, investing in lives that will last
forever!
These seven truths are the foundation on which we rest our
souls as we navigate life down here.
And we take the…
Stance
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
Perplexed, but not despairing;
Persecuted, but not forsaken;
Struck down, but not destroyed;
What God Desires
Glorifying
God…making much of Jesus
Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry
Making disciples at home and around the
world
What does God desire?
Before the God of Heaven, where am I presently?
By His grace, how do I move toward what God
desires?
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
YOU BELONG TO HIS FOREVER FAMILY
YOU HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED
YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A PLACE
YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH A STEWARDSHIP
YOU ARE ENGAGED IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE
“10Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put
on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10–11)
“The
purpose of this Gate is not simply to describe the darkness around us. It is to
awaken believers to our responsibility in the midst of that darkness.”
America is
at a precipice. She is experiencing profound spiritual, moral, and cultural
conflict. Truth is increasingly challenged. God’s authority is rejected. His
Word is disregarded. Individuals, marriages, families, churches, and
communities are experiencing the consequences.
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Eph 2:19)
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12)
Gate Eleven is built on four passages of scripture. Here is
what we desire for you to see.
Isaiah 59 — Recognize
what happens when truth is abandoned.
2 Timothy 3:1–17 — Recognize the times and remain anchored in God’s
Word.
Ephesians 6:10–18 — Recognize the spiritual battle and put on the whole
armor of God.
2 Corinthians 4:8–18 — Embrace Paul’s compass, lens, and grid for
enduring hardship while faithfully serving Christ.
“13The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the
sons of men; 14From His dwelling place He looks out on all the
inhabitants of the earth.” (Psalm 33:13-14)
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN…
I have been redeemed, made part of His Forever Family,
commissioned, and have been entrusted with a stewardship “…In My Place…”
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the
same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter
4:10)
Let us enter!
Gate Eleven
Reaching Out…
As A Channel Of Grace
To Believers
What God Desires
Glorifying
God…making much of Jesus
Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry
Making disciples at home and around the
world
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose it in your heart, then do
what you purposed.
AMERICA AT THE PRECIPICE
BELIEVERS PATH FORWARD
GATE ELEVEN – FOUR PASSAGES
ISAIAH 59, EPHESIANS 6:10-18,
2 TIM 3:1-17, 2 COR 4:8-18
America is at a
precipice. It doesn’t look good. Only our God can rescue us. We are looking to
God to show us how to navigate this perilous time. My prayer is that God will
use this navigational guide to awaken and strengthen believers so that we can
faithfully serve Christ within this national crisis.
Isaiah 59 exposes
what happens when truth is abandoned. In 2 Timothy 3:1-17, Paul describes
conditions of the last days, the corruption of human character, the opposition
to truth, and the responsibility of Timothy to continue faithfully in the
Scriptures. Paul’s counsel culminates in the sufficiency of God’s inspired Word
to equip the man of God for every good work. Ephesians 6:10-18 explains how
believers are to stand in spiritual conflict. 2 Corinthians 4:8-18 reveals
Paul’s extraordinary perspective for enduring hardship without losing heart.
It is important as
we navigate Before The God Of
Heaven,
that we are moved from just being aware of God’s truth, to intentionally
embracing His purposes and putting them into action.
TRUTH
IS FALLEN IN THE STREETS – ISA. 59:14
“And
judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth
afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.”
(Isa 59:14)
How did they get
here?
“1Behold,
the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear: 2But your iniquities have separated between you
and your God, and your sins have hid his face from
you, that he will not hear.” (Isa 59:1-2)
The problem was
not with God. The problem was with His people. God had not lost His power. His
ability had not diminished. His knowledge, wisdom, and authority remained
unchanged. The people changed. They had turned away from God, and His truth.
They wanted God’s protection without submitting to His authority. They wanted
God’s intervention without acknowledging their rebellion. They knew about God,
possessed His Word, had experienced His faithfulness, and yet were turning
their hearts away from Him. The first step toward truth falling in the streets
was truth being abandoned in their hearts. Specific behavior is given.
“For
your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity…” (v.3)
“your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered
perverseness.” (v.3)
None
calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth…”
(v.4)
“their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity…” (v.7)
“The
way of peace they know not; and there is no judgement in their goings: they
have made them crooked paths…” (v.8)
When God’s truth
no longer governs the heart, it will eventually cease to govern conduct. This
is why we are given Proverbs 4:23
“Keep
thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.”
“Therefore is judgement far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but
behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.” (v.9)
“We
grope for the wall like the blind,
and we grope as if we had no eyes:
we stumble at noonday as in the night…” (v.10)
The
light was there. They walked away from the light.
“For
our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us:
for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them.”
(v.12)
“In
transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God,
speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words
of falsehood.” (v.13)
Does any of this
remind you of the four statements in Romans One, where Paul describes our
sinfulness?
“…who suppress the truth
in unrighteousness,…” (v. 18)
“Although
they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (v. 21)
“They
exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (v. 25)
“Worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25)
We understand that
Israel and America are completely different. Israel had a covenant relationship
to God. America did not, and does not, have that but the consequences of
putting God aside, and His Word, have the same effect.
Isaiah described a
society in which wrongdoing had become so widespread that truth and justice
could no longer function as they should. The moral condition had deteriorated
to the point that someone who turned away from evil exposed himself to danger.
Those who rejected wickedness could become targets. Standing for truth could
make a person vulnerable.
Society
had become so morally inverted that evil could prosper while righteousness
could provoke hostility.
“Yea,
truth faileth;
and he that departeth from evil
maketh himself a prey…” (v.15)
Does this sound
familiar? Our culture has declined to the point that if a person decides to
stand up, and call out evil, and appeal to people to consider their evil ways,
and turn to God, repent, and be saved, the other side is provoked to anger.
They want to get rid of that reminder that there is a God in Heaven to whom we
all will give an account.
“…and
the LORD saw it,
And it displeased him
That there was no judgment.” (v.15)
We will bring the
other three passages further down.
THE
WAR – SEVEN MARKERS
The intense
cultural battle, and subsequent decline, in America has been ongoing for at
least sixty years. From my own lifetime these seven pieces have served as
markers in my mind.
God was kicked out of school
The hippie revolution – drugs, sex, and rebellion
Woodstock
Supreme Court abortion ruling in 1973
(60 million babies murdered in the
womb since then)
Homosexual marriage sanctioned by the Supreme Court
Transgenderism
National Borders opened – Illegal alien invasion
(meant to dilute cultural
distinctiveness and
also to destroy voting integrity)
DARKNESS
VS THE LIGHT
“Therefore is judgement far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but
behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.” (v.9)
“We
grope for the wall like the blind,
and we grope as if we had no eyes:
we stumble at noonday as in the night…” (v.10)
“Then
spake Jesus again unto them, saying,
I am the light of the world:
he that believeth me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“And
ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
“If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Several decades
ago, when I was much younger, I was asked to accompany an Awana group’s
overnight cave trip. Our church was in the Indianapolis area. The cave was in
southern Indiana. I cannot remember its name. There were about 35-40 boys and
about seven or eight adult men leading the trip.
They gathered us
together and told us for the evening they had two activities planned. There was
an underground lake, or river, and they were going to take us out in seven
boats on that river. And, secondly, we were going to go on a hike. And then we
would spend the night in this cave.
It was cold in
there. And I had taken a sleeping bag and an airbag to put under it that was suppose to cushion things so that
I wouldn’t get cold while sleeping. That did not work well. I was very cold and
didn’t sleep well at all.
So first, we went
hiking. Parts of it were fine. Other parts of it were not, because we were on
our hands and knees crawling through small openings from one big room to the
next. Near the end we came to an opening that you could not crawl through. You
literally had to wiggle through. That was terrifying. So, we got into the last
“room.” After we rested for a few minutes and visited, it was time to head
back. I was next to last. They had the most physically fit, and young, man
bringing up the rear to make sure everybody would get out. Ahead of me was a
rather stout kid. He got about half way through the
wiggle hole, and stopped and said, “I can’t do this.” The gentleman behind me
said back to him, “Yes, you can! You don’t have any choice!” That was scary!
Then they put us
all in seven boats and took us out on this lake, or river, underground, down in
this big dark cave. I had never heard of there being rivers underground, or
down in caves. In each boat the adult in charge was given a lantern. When we
got out to the middle, the leader stopped all the boats and said, “Now, in a
minute, the men are going to gradually turn the lanterns down, very slowly, and
then off at the same time. He told us that when the lanterns would be off, we
will not be able to see anything, including our hands right in front of our
face. When he said that, I was looking around to make sure I knew where
everything was. First of all, I was uncomfortable
because I can’t swim. Secondly, if your boat gets tipped over, you really have
no idea what is in that crazy dark water. Perhaps it could be a snake or the
Lake Ness Monster, who knows! The lamps went down slowly and then out completely.
You couldn’t see your hand in front of you. I have never been in darkness like
that, before or after that evening. I was greatly relieved when they turned the
lamps back up.
Now why am I
telling you this? When I think of the cultural darkness in our country, I feel
like we are down to the last flicker of light before total darkness smothers
us. God help us! Within the past year, I believe, Franklin Graham said, “It
seems as though all the demons of hell have been loosed into our culture.” Yes,
it does. It’s as though the war between God and Satan, good and evil, truth and
falsehood, has come to earth, and we are at the epicenter of that intense
battle. I believe that only God can save, or rescue, us at this point. I pray
for our nation much. This is heavy on my heart.
OUR
WORLD IN THE LAST DAYS (2 TIM 3:1-17)
We have just
looked at what the culture looked like in Isaiah’s day when God’s people walked
away from God and the Scriptures. Paul in this passage looks up close at what
the culture will look like in the last days. He describes the corruption of
human character, the opposition to truth, and the responsibility of Timothy to
continue faithfully in the Scriptures. Paul’s counsel culminates in the
sufficiency of God’s inspired Word to equip the man of God for every good work.
This is instructive to all of us who desire to be channels of grace in what
many of us believe are the last days.
URGENCY
NEEDED
“Truth
is fallen in the street!” Look around. Watch the people. When truth is gone,
the darkness is scary.
“We
grope for the wall like the blind,
and we grope as if we had no eyes:
we stumble at noonday as in the night…” (v.10)
For the last fifty
years I have watched individuals, couples, and families. As our culture has
moved further from God’s Word, his purposes, blueprint, and principles, things
have moved in a very negative direction. Look up close at families outside the
church. Things are not good at home. A good analogy is watching big cities that
are run by people who do not have the right mental maps guiding their way of
managing and leading. Everything is falling apart. That is the contrast I see
when looking at families.
Seriously, I
wonder how long it will be before the fabric of our culture, family life,
community, etc., tears apart, and things decline into chaos, anarchy, and
revolution.
There is an urgent
need for believers everywhere to reach out…as a channel of grace and truth to a
very needy world.
NEEDED! LAMPLIGHTERS –
WALL BUILDERS, TRUTH TRUMPETERS
Before
electricity, lamplighters in certain places would come around just before dark
and light the lamps along the road in front of peoples’ houses, and in towns in
the business districts. People valued their lamplighters. They appreciated
light along the path.
Of course, a lot
of unsaved people today, want to push talk of Jesus and the Bible aside. They
operate on the premise that true freedom and happiness comes when they are
loosed from divine revelation, and can do what they
want to do. But we pray that in time more will see that true happiness comes as
we embrace our Creator’s design, purposes, blueprint, and principles. But
first, their greatest need is salvation.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16, “14Ye
are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15Neither
do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it
giveth light unto all that are in the house.16Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven.
We have been
commissioned. We are lamplighters! How are we doing?
When Nehemiah
heard how things were back in Jerusalem, he prayed and fasted for days before
the God of Heaven. He went back to Jerusalem and saw the walls broken down, and the
gates burned with fire, and he observed it all carefully, came up with a plan,
called the people together, and motivated them, and challenged them. Then they
responded, “Let us rise up and build.” (Neh. 2:17)
There are so many
individuals, couples, and families that have broken down walls and burned gates
in their family relationships and life in general. People all around us need
you and I to come along and show them how to put the pieces back together, and help them understand what God has to say about
so many issues they need help understanding. Please consider being a wall
builder as well as a lamplighter.
When Nehemiah was
managing the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem, the people were assigned
a section of the wall by family groups. Everyone was spread out around the
wall. The enemies around them were harassing them and threatening them.
Nehemiah came up with a plan. He told the people, that if while you are working
hard with your assigned work, and the enemy attacks in another section, and you
hear the trumpet, come running, and we will fight together, side by side,
families helping families.
May God help us to
embrace that plan in our churches. We need to equip families to build the walls
strong at home. But, if the enemy is attacking, and someone calls for help, we
need to be ready to help.
Thank God for
truth trumpeters. We need people that are willing to speak truth where needed
among the people. Also, we need truth trumpeters who are willing to tune in
outside our circle and speak the truth to those who will listen.
We desperately
need Lamplighters, wall builders, and truth trumpeters!
Let’s look closely
at what Paul wants us to see about how things will look in the last days. Most
of us here believe we are in the last days. May God make us wise, and strong,
so that we move forward and do the spiritual battle necessary to be the strong
witness that is needs badly in our country.
Paul was nearing
the end of his earthly ministry. He was imprisoned in Rome, facing the prospect
of execution under the Roman Empire. His life had been spent proclaiming Jesus
Christ, establishing churches, strengthening believers, defending the truth, and
enduring extraordinary suffering for the gospel.
Paul wrote to
Timothy as he was approaching the end of his life. He is writing to his younger
fellow laborer who would face enormous challenges. The world was hostile to the
gospel. False teachers were infiltrating churches. Moral corruption was
spreading. People were increasingly unwilling to receive sound doctrine. Paul
wanted Timothy to know clearly that the greatest danger to the church would not
come merely from hostility of the world outside, but from the corruption of
truth and character among those professing to know God.
Paul gave to
Timothy, and thus to us, a remarkable navigational guide for remaining faithful
in an increasingly hostile world. This passage provides four essential
realities for believers to understand: 1) Recognize the times – Understand the
perilous conditions and moral corruption that characterize the last days (vv.
1-5). 2) Recognize the battle for truth – Understand how deception operates and how
people come to resist the truth (vv. 6-9). 3) Remember the example of the
faithfulness – Follow Paul’s example of doctrine, purpose, character, endurance,
and dependence upon God (vv. 10-13). 4) Remain anchored in God’s Word – Continue in the
Scriptures, which are sufficient to make the believer wise unto salvation and
equip him for every good work (vv. 14-17).
These four
realities have profound implications for what we are trying to accomplish with
this navigational guide, Before the God of Heaven. These truths
provide a biblical foundation for awakening, strengthening, equipping, and
encouraging us to stand faithfully in these last days.
1)Recognize the times (2 Tim. vv.
1-5)
Perilous times and
the corruption of human character
“This
know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come.” (3:1)
“This
know also…,”
Paul
is wanting Timothy to understand something of enormous importance. The
expression last days refers to the period inaugurated by Christ’s first
coming and extending toward His return (Hebrews 1:1–2; Acts 2:16–17). Paul was
not describing conditions exclusively reserved for the final generation. These
dangers were already present in Timothy’s day.
Nevertheless, Scripture also anticipates increasing opposition and deception as
history moves toward its consummation (Matt 24:11-12; 2 Thess. 2:3-12). The
Greek word translated perilous is chalepos,
conveying the idea of difficult, dangerous, fierce, or grievous conditions.
When you look at the list of things Paul suffered during his time of ministry, it is clear that danger was everywhere (2 Cor 11:23-28).
Paul is warning Timothy that the spiritual and moral environment will become
extremely difficult. That is true in our culture. Paul is describing the
corruption of the human heart. The most dangerous conditions in a culture like
ours come from the internal moral and spiritual conditions of its people.
Again, we
are there. Is it dangerous these days to go on the streets of any big city in
America to witness? Clearly, when mission teams go out, they have
to take precautions for safety sake.
The
Character of the Perilous Times (v 2-4)
“For
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”
These portray a
society increasingly organized around human self-interest rather than
submission to God. Parents need to see the battle that comes when we hold to a
Biblical worldview in raising children, rather than embracing the secularist
worldview as the template for governing behavior which leads to the qualities
listed above.
In Gate 12 we are
going to look at the seven levels of belief and behavior as we look at
opposing worldviews. On one end of the
spectrum is the Atheist, or Secularist, worldview versus the Christian
worldview. You will find that layout clearly lets you see where the qualities
listed above come from. Let it suffice to say that we will see that when self
becomes supreme, God is displaced from His rightful place. This is why it is so
important that in strengthening earthly families it is necessary
to demonstrate the need for a consistent, well defined Christian worldview on
seven levels.
Both
of these main passages that we are using at this juncture are important in reaching
out…as a channel of grace to believers, because they demonstrate what happens when
people abandon God and the Bible. Yes, we as believers are reaching out to
believers wanting to be channels of the grace of God we need as
believers, so that we stay true to God and the Word. That is necessary before
we reach out… as channels of grace to unbelievers.
The
Most Sobering Characteristic (v. 5)
“Having
a form of Godliness,
but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away.”
Paul is describing
people who maintain the outward appearance of godliness while rejecting its
transforming power. Are we genuinely pursuing God? Are we submitting to His
Word? Are we embracing His purposes? Are we demonstrating Christlikeness?
We
cannot faithfully call a nation to return to God and the Bible while treating
God and the Bible as optional in our own lives.
2) Recognize the Battle for Truth
(2 Tim 3:6-9)
Deception, Manipulation,
And Resistance to Truth
Paul now moves
from describing moral corruption to explaining how deception operates.
The
Vulnerability of Those Who Lack Discernment
“For
of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women
laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever
learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
He is talking
about false teachers who exploit spiritually vulnerable people. Their victims
are susceptible to manipulation, burdened by sin, and influenced by various
desires. The false teachers exploit weakness rather than ministering truth.
They manipulate rather than disciple. They lead people away from genuine
spiritual understanding.
Resisting
the Truth (2 Tim. 3:8-9)
“Now
as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men
of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no
further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.”
The opposition
brought forth by these two illustrate a profound spiritual reality. Truth can
be clearly presented and still be deliberately resisted. Sometimes truth is
rejected because accepting it would require accountability to God, humility,
and submission. This brings us back again to the four phrases in Romans One
that describe how the sinful heart reacts to truth.
THE PROGRESSION OF
HUMAN REBELLION
“…who suppress the truth
in unrighteousness,…” (v. 18)
“Although
they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (v. 21)
“They
exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (v. 25)
“Worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25)
There is a
remarkable relationship between Romans 1, Isaiah 59, and 2 Timothy 3.
The
Great Battle for Truth
We
must be willing to embrace God’s truth even when it exposes our own errors.
This is integrity.
3) Remember the example of the
faithfulness –
Paul’s Life as a Pattern for Believers (2 Tim. 10-13)
“But
thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me
at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them
all the Lord delivered me.” (2 Tim. 10-13)
“But
none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that
I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of
the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)
These passages
demonstrate that Paul’s life was the “second creation” of what he had purposed
in his heart. His compass, his lens, his grid, that we refer to from 2 Cor.
4:8-18) was the purposing of heart, that his life mirrored!
“I
have purposed it; I will also do it.” (Isa. 46:11c)
4) Remain anchored in God’s Word
(3:14-17)
The Sufficiency of Scripture
For Salvation, Sanctification, and
Service
14But
continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,
knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou
hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God
may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good
works.
Paul reminds
Timothy that he has known the Scriptures since childhood. Paul had earlier
spoken of the sincere faith of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice
(2 Timothy 1:5). Consider the implications. The spiritual investment of a
grandmother and mother helped prepare Timothy for the ministry he would later
undertake. They could not have known all the circumstances he would eventually
face. But they faithfully passed along the truth of God. This is a magnificent
illustration of both Gate Nine and Gate Ten (Strengthening Family…earthly and
forever). Parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers, counselors, and mature
believers are entrusted with opportunities to influence coming generations.
5) All Scripture
Is Given By
Inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16)
The Divine Origin and Practical
Purpose of Scripture
16“All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
Scripture makes two extraordinary claims.
Scripture originates from God.
Scripture is profitable
for transforming the believer’s life
Also
in this verse is four functions of Scripture
Doctrine – Teaching us what is
true
Reproof – Exposing what is wrong
Correction – Showing us how to return
to what is right
Instruction in Righteousness – Training us
to live Godly
lives
PUT ON YOUR ARMOUR –
(EPHESIANS 6:10-18)
My purpose in Gate
Eleven is not simply to inform believers that spiritual warfare exists. It is
to awaken believers to the reality of the battle, equip us to stand, and
encourage us to become channels of God’s grace to other believers who are
struggling in the battle. In this passage Paul is not just speaking to
individuals. He is writing to the church – the forever family of God.
The context is
significant. Before he describes the armor of God, Paul has addressed the
practical responsibilities of Christian living: marriage, parenting, children,
and relationships within the household.
“Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.” (Eph. 6:10)
It is as though
Paul is saying: You have been called to walk worthy of your calling. You have
been called to walk in love. You have been called to walk as children of light.
You have been called to walk circumspectly. You have been called to honor God
in your marriage, your family, and your relationships. And,
understand you are engaged in a spiritual battle. And you cannot fight that
battle in your own strength.
THE
CONTEXT –
PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS
In chapters 1-3,
Paul addresses what God has done for us in Christ. He begins by unfolding the
extraordinary riches of God’s redemptive work. We have covered the highlights
of chapter one in Gate Four, expounding God of Grace – Redemption. Then in
Chapter two we are reminded of our former spiritual condition.
“And
you hath he quickened,
who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
(Ephesians 2:1)
Then comes one of
the most wonderful declarations in Scripture:
“But
God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us…”
(Ephesians 2:4)
God has brought
spiritually dead sinners to life through Jesus Christ. He has reconciled us to Himself, and joined us together into one spiritual
household.
“Now
therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens
wth the saints,
and of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19)
We are not merely
individual believers trying to survive in a hostile world. We belong to God’s
forever family. And we have responsibilities.
Then
in chapters four through six Paul emphasizes how redeemed people are to live.
He moves from doctrine to practice. He urges believers to:
“Walk
worthy of the vocation
wherewith ye are called.” (Eph. 4:1)
He then addresses
the character and conduct that should distinguish God’s people:
Eph.
4:1 – Walk worthy
Eph. 4:15 – Speak the truth in love
Eph. 4:25 – Put away lying
Eph. 4:27 – Neither give place to the devil.
Eph. 4:32 – Be kind one to another.
Eph. 5:2 – Walk in love.
Eph. 5:8 – Walk as children of light.
Eph. 5:15 – Walk circumspectly.
Eph. 5:18 – Be filled with the Spirit.
The Christian life
requires the ongoing influence and enabling of the Holy Spirit. Then Paul
addresses marriage and family relationships, and then
goes into the fact that there is spiritual warfare going on as we face daily
life, and life relationships. There is opposition, deception, and temptation.
There is a spiritual enemy.
THE
COMMAND – BE STRONG IN THE LORD
“Finally,
my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.”
(Ephesians 6:10)
This is a call to
dependence upon God. He is the source of our strength.
“19And
what is the exceeding greatness and of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in
Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in
the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:19-20)
The power
available to believers is the power of the God who raised Jesus Christ from the
dead. God supplies the spiritual strength necessary to accomplish His purposes
as we deal with life, and life situations. It is necessary that we all learn to
draw our strength from the Lord rather than ourselves.
THE
REALITY – WE HAVE A SPIRITUAL ENEMY
“Put
on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
Paul gives us two
realities with regard to this spiritual warfare we
face. God has provided armor. And, our enemy employs
deliberate strategies.
There are several
key points before he gives the pieces of armor. We are to put on the whole
armor of God. We will face the schemes, strategies, and cunning methods of our
enemy.
Jesus reminds us
about our enemy:
“He
was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is
no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of
it.” (John 8:44)
THE NATURE OF THE BATTLE –
OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT
ULTIMATELY AGAINST PEOPLE
“For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
As we move through
life, having interactions with people, we need to remember that they are not
the enemy, but our enemy is at work in how those interactions develop. These
spiritual forces of the darkness are organized in their opposition against God
and us. We need God’s power to overcome these influences. We cannot depend on
mere human resources. It is very important that all of us, as believers stand
firmly against evil without becoming hostile toward the very people we are
commissioned to love and reach.
THE NECESSITY –
TAKE THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD
“Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)
The language of
standing occurs repeatedly throughout this passage. What does it mean?
“Stand
against the wiles of the devil.” (v.11)
“Withstand in the evil day.” (v.13)
“Having done all, to stand.” (v.13)
“Stand therefore.” (v.14)
Paul is calling
believers to steadfastness, to remain faithful, to refuse to surrender to
deception, and to resist temptation. The believer is to hold firmly to truth,
and, to persevere under pressure. We are to help protect one another from
hardening influence of sin’s deceitfulness.
THE FIRST PIECE OF ARMOR –
THE BELT OF TRUTH
“Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth…” (Ephesians 6:14a)
Paul begins with
truth! The Roman soldier’s belt helped secure his clothing and equipment,
enabling him to move without unnecessary hindrance. The imagery Paul employs
emphasizes the essential place of truth in the believer’s spiritual
preparedness. Our faith is grounded in objective revelation from God. Jesus
declared:
“Sanctify
them through thy truth:
thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
“I am
the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
(John 14:6)
Truth must govern
our thinking, our conduct, and relationships. When we are grounded in truth we are better equipped to recognize deception.
THE SECOND PIECE OF ARMOR –
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
“…and
having on the breastplate
of righteousness.” (Ephesians 6:14b)
The breastplate
protected the soldier’s vital organs. This is speaking of practical daily
living of a righteous life. Living a righteous life does provide spiritual
protection.
THE THIRD PIECE OF ARMOR –
THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
“And
your feet shod with the preparation
of the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15)
A soldier’s
footwear was essential to stability and readiness. Without proper footing, he
was vulnerable. Paul connects the believer’s spiritual preparedness to the
gospel of peace. Commentators mention two possible meanings as to whether Paul
is stressing the believer’s readiness to proclaim the gospel or emphasizing the
need for firm footing, which the gospel provides. Both ideas are consistent
with Paul’s broader teaching. The believer must be firmly grounded in the
gospel and be ready to bear witness to it.
THE FOURTH PIECE OF ARMOR –
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
“Above
all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
(Ephesians 6:16)
The shield was a
vital defensive weapon. Faith, or the faith, is the means by
which believers resist the fiery attacks of the enemy. Scripture gives
examples of the how believers are attacked: temptation, accusation, deception,
discouragement, fear, doubt, despair, pride, and bitterness. These can become
powerful instruments of spiritual destruction.
THE
FIFTH PIECE OF ARMOR –
THE HELMET OF SALVATION
“And
take the helmet of salvation…”
(Ephesians 6:17a)
The helmet
protected the soldier’s head. Paul is emphasizing the protective significance
of salvation. The believer’s salvation includes past, present, and future
dimensions. We have been justified. We are being sanctified. And we await the
completion of God’s redemptive work known as glorification. Our churches must
help believers understand the extraordinary security and hope that belong to us
in Christ.
THE SIXTH PIECE OF ARMOR –
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
“…and
the sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God.”
(Ephesians 6:17b)
Paul makes it
clear he is referring to the Word of God. The sword is the one piece of armor
commonly described as an offensive weapon, but can of
course be also used as a defensive weapon as well. We must be well practiced at
using the Word in both ways. Believers need to help each other to be wise and
accurate in the use of scripture.
THE CONTINUAL NECESSITY –
PRAYING ALWAYS
“Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
(Ephesians 6:18)
The armor is
essential. Continual dependence on God is essential also. This should be an
ongoing attitude and practice of dependence upon God. My prayers cannot be just
focused on my needs, but on the needs of all of us as fellow soldiers. We have
a responsibility to intercede for one another. Prayer is one of the most
significant ways we participate in strengthening God’s forever family.
WE
ARE NOT MERELY CALLED TO WEAR THE ARMOR OURSELVES – WE ARE CALLED TO HELP EQUIP
ONE ANOTHER
“11And
he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
(Ephesians 4:11-12)
“From
whom the whole body fits joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh
increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:16)
Every believer has
a place. Every believer has opportunities to contribute to the spiritual health
of the body.
Three responses
God desires with regard to this spiritual warfare that
we face as believers…recognize the battle and purpose to
stand…appropriate God’s provision and purpose to walk faithfully…and, embrace my place and purpose to strengthen fellow
believers.
A
COMPASS, LENS, AND GRID (2 COR 4:8-18)
This was expounded
at the end of Gate Ten. Here it is again on purpose… Isaiah 59 exposes what
happens when truth is abandoned. In 2 Timothy 3:1-17, Paul describes conditions
of the last days, the corruption of human character, the opposition to truth, and
the responsibility of Timothy to continue faithfully in the Scriptures.
Ephesians 6:10-18 explains how believers are to stand in spiritual conflict…
2 Corinthians 4:8-18 reveals Paul’s extraordinary perspective for enduring
hardship without losing heart.
NAVIGATING LIFE AND MINISTRY
(2 Corinthians 4:8-18)
PAUL’S COMPASS, LENS, AND GRID
Our Stance
8We
are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we
are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not
forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Dying
to Self-Living at a different level
10Always
bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of
Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11For we which live are
always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might
be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So then death worketh in us,
but life in you.
Confident
in the Resurrection-Emboldened in Mission
13We
having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and
therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and
therefore speak; 14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus
shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
My focus-Glorify God-Help others
15For
all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through
the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
Don’t lose heart-be renewed daily
16For
which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Take
the long view
17For
our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Heavenly
Mindedness
18While
we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are
not seen are eternal.
What God Desires
Glorifying
God…making much of Jesus
Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry
Making disciples at home and around the
world
What does God desire?
Before the God of Heaven,
where am I presently?
By His grace, how do I
move toward what God desires?
PLEASE STOP! WAIT A MOMENT!
BEFORE YOU ENTER THIS FINAL GATE
A FEW THOUGHTS TO KEEP IN MIND
YOU ARE BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
YOU BELONG TO HIS FOREVER FAMILY
SEE PEOPLE AS JESUS SAW THEM
YOU HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED BY CHRIST
YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A PLACE
YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH A STEWARDSHIP
YOU ARE ENGAGED IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE
“Now
then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we
pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
We have come
to the final Gate. We have considered the human heart, our brokenness, the
extraordinary grace of our redemption through Jesus Christ, and recognized that
our Redeemer has commissioned us. We have focused on our mission: walking with
God, strengthening our earthly and forever families, and reaching out as
channels of grace to fellow believers.
Now we turn
our attention to unbelievers. Look around you. Family members. Friends.
Neighbors. Coworkers. People God has placed within your reach. Every one of
them bears God’s image. Every one of them lives before the God of Heaven.
Every one of them possesses a heart, embraces beliefs and values, makes
choices, and faces eternity.
Do we see
them as Jesus sees them?
“But
when he saw the multitudes,
he was moved with compassion on them,
because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
(Matthew 9:36)
Jesus saw their spiritual need. And He was moved with
compassion. We must approach unbelievers with that same heart – not with
superiority or condemnation, but with love, humility, truth, and grace. We are
sinners saved by grace, seeking to introduce other sinners to the savior.
THREE
THINGS GOD DESIRES OF US
IN THIS FINAL GATE
THAT WE SEE UNBELIEVERS THE WAY CHRIST SAW THEM – WITH
COMPASSION, LOVE AND AN AWARENESS OF THEIR SPIRITUAL NEED.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
THAT WE FAITHFULLY COMMUNICATE GOD’S TRUTH WITH GRACE,
HELPING OTHERS UNDERSTAND REALITY AND THEIR STANDING BEFORE HIM.
Every person lives within God’s universe and its seven
inescapable realities. Every person must confront three fundamental questions: What
is truth? What is of value? And, how
then shall we live?
In God’s grace, He did not leave us without witness. Creation
declares His glory. Scripture reveals His truth. Jesus Christ came and provided
redemption.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of
the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear.”
(1 Peter 3:15)
THAT WE PURPOSE IN OUR HEARTS TO EMBRACE CHRIST’S
COMMISSION – REACHING OUT AS FAITHFUL AMBASSADORS AND CHANNELS OF HIS GRACE.
“As my Father hath sent me,
even so send I you.”
(John 20:21)
We cannot save anyone. Only God can give spiritual life.
But we can pray, love, listen, speak truth, explain the Gospel, and faithfully
represent our Savior.
“For the love of Christ constraineth
us…”
(2 Corinthians 5:14)
Let us enter!
Gate Twelve
Reaching Out…
As A Channel of Grace
To Unbelievers
What God Desires
Glorifying
God…making much of Jesus
Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry
Making disciples at home and around the
world
Three Universal Principles
“For
where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:21
“Whoever
or whatever has a person’s heart,
is whose ways will be observed.”
######
“If a
ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked”. Proverbs 29:12
“What
you honor, dignify, emphasize,
pay attention to, and reward, is what
you get.”
#####
“…I
have purposed it. I will also do it.” Isa 46:11c
Purpose it in your heart, then do
what you purposed.
INTEGRITY
REALITY AWARENESS
SEVEN INESCAPABLE REALITIES-
OF GOD’S UNIVERSE
COMMISSION INTENTIONALITY
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Integrity, remember we said, is first of all, speaking the truth. And,
integrity is being willing and to take an open and honest look at what is in
front of us. Integrity is then purposing to do the right thing with what I see
in front of me. And, integrity is then doing the right
thing that I have purposed to do.
But, let’s be honest at
this point. Because of our spiritual dullness, and the characteristics of our
brokenness, as described in the four statements in Romans one, we don’t even
realize that our reality awareness is hindered. So, it is hard
for us to even tune in to the seven inescapable realities in front of us. To
that extent, then, our hearts are dulled to the ramifications of all that is
happening with mankind because of the seven inescapable realities,
and we are not moved with regard to our commission toward how people in our
lives are being impacted tremendously by the seven inescapable realities.
I believe that if driven by integrity,
we pursued an honest and open look, working around our
brokenness, the curtains of our reality awareness
could be opened and if we really saw these seven inescapable realities in
action, it would change our commission intentionality
and action.
The
central idea could be stated this way:
We
often neglect Christ’s commission because we do not live daily, and moment by
moment, with reality awareness of the world as God says it actually
is.
If the
curtains were pulled back, and if,
God and Satan
Good and evil
Truth and falsehood – right and wrong
Universal Laws and Principles (established by God)
Personal Responsibility
Choice and Consequence
Life and Death, Heaven and Hell
were as
vivid to us spiritually as the material world is physically—our priorities
would change.
Commissioned
saints, stir intentionality, and action! Either the people you talk to
today are listening to the voice of God, or, the voice
of Satan. Whose truth claims will they heed? Jesus said that those who are on
the side of truth, listen to His voice. (John 18:37) and He said in (John
12:48) “He that rejecteth
me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall
judge him in the last day.” It matters
for all eternity whether those around you accept or reject Jesus and the Word?
SEVEN INESCAPABLE REALITIES –
OF GOD’S UNIVERSE
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Every person
who has ever lived, has lived before the God of Heaven. Because of Lucifer’s
fall, whether someone chooses to acknowledge it, or not, there are certain
realities that cannot be escaped. Men may reject them, suppress them, or
ridicule them, but they remain as true today as when Adam and Eve sinned in the
Garden of Eden. These realities are woven into the very fabric of God’s
universe. Every decision, every relationship, every success, every failure, and
ultimately every eternal destiny is shaped by them.
God and Satan
Good and evil
Truth and falsehood – right and wrong
Universal Laws and Principles (established by God)
Personal Responsibility
Choice and Consequence
Life and Death, Heaven and Hell
These
seven realities are not isolated truths. They form the framework within which
every human life is lived. Every person lives before the God of Heaven, in a
world where good and evil contend, where truth confronts falsehood, where God
has established universal laws and principles, where choices inevitably produce
consequences, where life moves toward death, and where every soul is traveling
toward an eternal destination. Wisdom begins by recognizing these realities;
faith responds by submitting to the God who established them.
One of
our greatest hindrances is that we do not train our focus to continuously see
the seven inescapable realities that make our commission urgent. Instead, we have a tendency to have more of our focus on temporal
realities, temporal treasures.
When
we truly see reality as God says it is, passivity becomes increasingly
difficult to justify.
LUCIFER –
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
12How art thou
fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut
down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13For thou hast said
in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the
stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides
of the north:
14I will ascend
above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15Yet thou shalt be
brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isa. 14:12-15)
Lucifer
occupied one of the highest ranks among God’s created angels. At some
point after Lucifer’s creation, and before humanity’s temptation in
Eden, rebellion arose within his heart. Lucifer coveted God’s
authority, God’s glory, and God’s rightful place of supremacy. He wanted to be
in God’s place and was not satisfied with the place God had placed him in. He
decided to “exalt his throne above the stars of God.” And,
not satisfied with his place, he decided, “I will be like the Most High
God.”
Lucifer
at some level, at some time, had to know that there was only one God, and that
he himself was not on the same level with God. But, in pride, and desire, he
wanted to be like God, and have what was God’s. How did that work out for him,
and all of mankind?
This
is an extraordinary reality. We have to stop and
ponder this…what does it say about brokenness…? Before the God of Heaven stood
one of the highest of God’s created heavenly beings. Endowed with extraordinary
beauty, wisdom, and privilege, he was given a place of honor by his Creator. Yet, rather than being satisfied with the place God had
assigned him, pride arose within his heart. Desiring God’s glory, God’s
authority, and God’s throne, he declared five times, “I will.” The first
rebellion in God’s universe began, not with outward action, but with the
deliberation of a proud heart.
15Yet thou shalt be
brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isa. 14:12-15)
What
a choice, what a consequence…
ADAM AND EVE –
BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Genesis 1 and 2 reveal perfect creation. Everything God made
was “very good.” There was no death, no shame, no fear, no guilt, no broken
relationships, no disease, no curse. Most importantly, God and man walked
together. Adam and Eve walked in fellowship with God.
Then, as
recorded in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve sinned.
This is the
beginning of Brokenness on Display…every funeral, every war,
every broken marriage, every guilty conscience, every tear, every temptation,
every hospital, every prison, every cemetery, every idol, every false religion,
every rebellion against God, and ultimately why Christ came into the world.
Adam and Eve
sinned Before the God of Heaven. Nothing was hidden.
Psalm 139 becomes vividly illustrated.
“O LORD, thou hast searched me,
and known me...”
Psalm 33:13-15 becomes reality.
“The LORD looketh
from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men...He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth
all their works.”
The first sin was committed under the all-seeing
gaze of the Creator. The issue was never that God did not know.
Genesis 3
explains why mankind is broken, why the
heart is a battlefield, why the Seven Inescapable Realities
exist as they do in human experience, and why redemption
through Christ is absolutely necessary.
It explains why the human heart became
desperately corrupt.
“The heart is deceitful above
all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
What
a choice, what a consequence…
SATAN’S
HEART AND STRATEGY
Lucifer/Satan
wanted to be in God’s place and was not satisfied with the place God had placed
him in. He decided to “exalt his throne above the stars of God.”
And, not satisfied with his place, he decided, “I will be like the Most
High God.”
The
first rebellion in God’s universe began, not with outward action, but with the
deliberation of a proud heart.
Satan
attacks God’s word. “Yea, hath God said...?” (3:1) Truth is no
longer treated as absolute. It becomes negotiable. This is exactly where every
temptation begins. Every sin starts by entertaining the possibility that God’s
Word need not be obeyed. Brokenness begins with questioning and suppressing
truth.
Then open
contradiction. “Ye shall not surely die.” (3:4) Now truth is
challenged with a falsehood. This is the first lie ever told. Jesus later said,
“When he speaketh
a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and
the father of it.” (John 8:44)
Then Satan attacks God’s goodness. “God
knows...” (3:5) Satan implies that God is holding out on you. The good
stuff is just beyond God’s boundaries. God cannot be trusted. God is keeping
you from happiness. So, who is telling you the truth…God or Satan?
Ultimately
Adam and Eve rejected God’s plan and substituted Satan’s and their own. Self
was put in the place that belonged to God.
PAUL IN ROMANS ONE EXPLAINS
THE NATURAL BENT OF MAN’S DEPRAVITY
The
fall of mankind was the beginning of what Paul was describing in Romans one in
the four phrases.
“…who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,…”
(v. 18)
Brokenness … truth suppressed
and resisted
“We see what we want to see,
And we hear what we want to hear,
Because we want to do what we want to do,
Because we treasure what we treasure.”
This
is an active warfare against God, truth, and reality.
To show
just how broken this is, Paul, in making the statement above, illustrates it.
He makes it clear in the next two verses that the most obvious truth in the
universe is the existence of God. The intelligently designed creation
itself, which is right in front of you anytime you have your eyes open, speaks
of the attributes, divine nature, and power, of the Creator. Therefore, mankind
is without excuse.
God
revealed truth. Though man wanted to push truth aside, that was impossible. Man
is without excuse. He is accountable in spite of every
effort to not see truth. He has decided to embrace self-rule against every
evidence of our Creator-God.
This
refusal to honor God creates a vacuum immediately filled with substitutes.
Brokenness
is revealed when man enjoys God’s gifts while excluding God Himself.
“Although they knew God, they
did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (v. 21)
Brokenness … ingratitude toward
God and refusal to honor Him as God
God’s
authority was no longer honored. Instead of honoring God…they elevated
themselves.
“They exchanged the truth of
God for a lie” (v. 25)
Brokenness … exchanging truth
for lies
Mankind
did not misunderstand truth. They traded truth, they exchanged truth, for a lie
more useful to them than the truth. What was being traded was truth for
illusion, revelation for deception, God’s authority for self-rule.
“Worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25)
Brokenness … idolatry …
worshiping and serving self
Human
beings were created to worship God. If God is rejected, worship does not
disappear—it redirects.
Idols
can be good things turned into ultimate things. Self becomes the idol of choice
when God is rejected.
Whoever
or whatever the heart treasures most, becomes our functioning God of choice.
The
Fall of Lucifer, and the Fall of Adam and Eve, gave us Seven Inescapable
Realities.
GOD AND SATAN
The first
reality is that there is a living God, and there is a real personal adversary. Scripture
begins not with an argument for God’s existence, but with the declaration, “In
the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) God
is eternal, self-existent, holy, sovereign, Creator, Judge, Redeemer, and King.
The Bible
also reveals a created being who rebelled against God. Lucifer became Satan,
the adversary, deceiver, accuser, and destroyer. Peter warns believers, “Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Jesus
described Satan as “a murderer from the beginning...and the father of it [lies].” (John 8:44)
Every human
being lives within the reality of this great conflict. There is no neutral
ground. We either belong to God’s kingdom or remain under the dominion of
darkness (Colossians 1:13).
GOOD
AND EVIL
Good and
evil are not human inventions or cultural preferences. Good originates in the
very character of God. “There is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark
10:18) Evil entered creation through rebellion against God. Isaiah
pronounces woe upon those who reverse these realities: “Woe unto them
that call evil good, and good evil.” (Isaiah 5:20) Paul exhorts
believers, “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
(Romans 12:9)
The struggle between good and evil is seen
throughout Scripture—from Eden, to Calvary, to the final judgment. Every human
heart must decide which kingdom it will embrace.
TRUTH
AND FALSEHOOD – RIGHT AND WRONG
Truth exists
because God is true. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the
life.” (John 14:6) God’s Word is truth. “Sanctify them through
thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Satan, however, traffics in deception. Jesus
said, “When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of
it.” (John 8:44)
Human beings cannot escape truth simply by
denying it. Reality remains unchanged. Paul explains fallen humanity’s
condition: “Who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18)
Every life is ultimately built
upon either truth or falsehood.
UNIVERSAL LAWS AND
PRINCIPLES
(established by God)
God governs
His universe through both natural laws and moral principles. The physical
universe operates with remarkable order because God faithfully sustains it.
Likewise, God’s moral universe operates according to fixed principles. Jesus
taught, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians
6:7) Proverbs repeatedly demonstrates that diligence generally leads to
fruitfulness, honesty builds trust, humility precedes honor, and pride precedes
destruction. “Pride goeth before destruction,
and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
These are not merely observations; they are reflections of how God governs
His world.
PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Paul reminds
every believer, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
God.” (Romans 14:12) And again, “For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body...” (2 Corinthians 5:10) Those
apart from Christ will likewise stand before God. John writes, “And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God...and they were judged every man
according to their works.” (Revelation 20:12–13) No one will ultimately
answer for another person.
Every person
will stand individually before the God of Heaven. This reality is both sobering
and liberating. It is sobering because we cannot shift blame for our sinful
choices onto someone else. Ever since Adam said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me...” (Genesis 3:12), fallen humanity
has sought to excuse itself. Yet Scripture continually calls us back to
personal accountability. It is liberating because, by God’s grace, we are not
prisoners of our past. Through repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and the
enabling power of the Holy Spirit, we may choose obedience, pursue integrity,
and walk in God’s purposes.
Personal responsibility is therefore the bridge
between truth and obedience. God reveals truth; we are responsible to respond.
God gives commands; we are responsible to obey. God extends grace; we are
responsible to receive His Son by faith.
CHOICE
AND CONSEQUENCE
God created
mankind with genuine moral responsibility. From Eden onward, people have been
confronted with choices. Moses challenged Israel, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose
life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) Joshua declared, “Choose you this day
whom ye will serve.” (Joshua 24:15) Every choice we make produces
consequences. Sometimes they come immediately. Sometimes they come years later.
Sometimes throughout eternity. No one escapes this principle.
LIFE
AND DEATH – HEAVEN AND HELL
Every person
experiences both physical life and physical death.
Scripture also reveals spiritual life and spiritual death. God warned Adam, “In
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die.” (Genesis 2:17) Paul explains, “For the wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23) Jesus came that sinners “might have life, and...have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
The great question is not whether we
shall die physically, but whether we possess eternal life through Christ.
History is
moving toward an eternal conclusion. Jesus spoke often of both Heaven and Hell.
He promised His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)
He also warned, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment:
but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46) John describes
the final judgment before the great white throne (Revelation 20:11–15),
followed by the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21–22).
Every human being will spend eternity in one of
these two destinies. The most important question any person can answer is this:
Have I been reconciled to the God of Heaven through His Son, Jesus
Christ?
Seven Levels of Belief and Behavior –
Opposite Worldviews
Atheists, Humanists, Secularist
“Where there is no vision, the people
perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
(Prov. 29:18)
|
“Where
there is no vision
(divine revelation),
The people perish
(are loosed, unrestrained):”
(A Humanistic World
View)
Premise –
True freedom or
happiness is
possible when you
are free to do what you want to do.
|
Seven Levels
In Our System of
Belief and Behavior
|
In America
there is a spiritual war raging in the culture. Those who do not want God to be
at the core of their lives, and then there are Christians who want God and the
Bible to be at the very core of all we do. Those who want nothing to do with
God are operating on a premise, namely, true happiness and freedom, comes when
we can push aside divine revelation, and just do what we want to do.
“Where there is no vision (divine
revelation), the people (are unrestrained…loosed) perish: but
he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Prov. 29:18)
I am
describing the worldviews that are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. There
are many world views that are somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum.
|
Nothing
X
Blind Chance
=
Everything
|
Perceptions
“A man’s morality
will dictate his theology”
“We see what we want to see,
and we hear what we want to hear, because
we want to do,
what we want to do, because we treasure
what we treasure.”
|
The
atheists, humanists, and secularists don’t want a God, other than them being
their own God. Their perceptions are formed accordingly.
“We see what we want to see, and we hear
what we want to hear, because we want to do, what we want to do, because we
treasure what we treasure.”
|
No God
Big Bang /
Evolution
No absolutes
Autonomous Man
|
Presuppositions
|
They believe
nothingness x blind chance = everything. Their presuppositions
are, No God, Big Bang/Evolution, No absolutes, Autonomous Man. The problem with
their premise is that nowhere observable are there material things being formed
out of nothingness just by blind chance.
|
Man is his own
authority
(Humanist
Manifesto)
No absolutes
Your truth / my
truth
Situational Ethics
|
Precepts
(System of Beliefs)
|
If
there is no God, and it all just happened, and no God given absolutes, then man
is his own final authority. There are no absolutes in this system. You have
your truth, and I have my truth. There are no guiding ethical rules…it’s all
situational.
|
- Happiness by no
restraint
(
- Rule of the Elite
- Rights granted by
the Elite )
|
Principles
|
Their
principles amount to, whatever you want to do is your guiding principle. And, those of us who are the elite, grant the rights to the
unfortunate who are not elite.
|
Eat, drink and be
merry
|
Philosophy
|
Their
philosophy of life is, eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you die, and you
go back to being dust. Live it up. Get all the gusto you can get!
|
Promote Self –
Indulge Self
Do what you want to
do
|
Policy
|
Their
policy, rule of thumb, is promote yourself, indulge yourself, just do what you
want to do!
This
godless, atheistic, humanist, secularist worldview was created to allow a
person to simply live for themselves. This worldview was constructed by or
sanctioned by Satan in the pit of Hell.
Now we
are going to look up close at a Biblical, Christian worldview.
Seven Levels of Belief and Behavior –
Opposite Worldviews
Biblical, Christian
“Where there is no vision, the people
perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
(Prov. 29:18)
|
Seven Levels
In Our System of
Belief and Behavior
|
“…but
he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
(A Christian World
View)
Premise –
True freedom or
happiness is
possible when you
are enabled to do what is right.
|
This
worldview is based on the premise that God is the Creator. He designed it all.
He has a design, a blueprint, divinely decreed purposes, etc., and therefore,
true freedom and happiness are possible when we recognize and embrace God’s
plan, blueprint, and purposes for our lives.
Creation
is filled with examples of God’s creation following exactly God’s order of
operation.
It is
his creatures with a free will that seem to mess it all up when we choose to do
things our way rather than His way.
|
Perceptions
“A man’s morality
will dictate his theology”
“We see what we want to see,
and we hear what we want to hear, because
we want to do,
what we want to do, because we treasure
what we treasure.”
|
Design demands
a Designer
Effect demands
a Cause
|
“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal
power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Paul states as fact that
creation itself
demonstrates the awesome attributes and power of God.
Intelligent design demands an
Intelligent Designer
The existence of God
is the most obvious truth in the universe.
“We see what we want to see,
and we hear what we want to hear,
because we want to do,
what we want to do,
because we treasure what we treasure.”
People who do not want God in their lives
Exchange the truth for a lie.
Creation(truth) exchanged for a lie (big bang/evolution)
“…who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,…”
(v. 18)
Brokenness … truth suppressed
and resisted
This
is an active warfare against God, truth, and reality.
This is brokenness on display
The
intelligently designed creation itself, which is right in front of you anytime
you have your eyes open, speaks of the attributes, divine nature, and power, of
the Creator. (Intelligent design demands an Intelligent Designer) Therefore,
mankind is without excuse.
God
revealed truth. Though man wanted to push truth aside, that was impossible. Man
is without excuse. He is accountable in spite
of every effort to not see truth. He has decided
to embrace self-rule against every evidence of our Creator-God.
So,
this is rich, the same kind of “science” that says we have six genders, is the
same kind of “science” that said evolution is how everything came into
existence.
This
refusal to honor God creates a vacuum immediately filled with substitutes.
Brokenness
is revealed when man enjoys God’s gifts while excluding God Himself.
“Although they knew God, they
did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (v. 21)
Brokenness … ingratitude toward
God and refusal to honor Him as God
God’s
authority was no longer honored. Instead of honoring God…they elevated
themselves.
“They exchanged the truth of
God for a lie” (v. 25)
Brokenness … exchanging truth
for lies
Mankind
did not misunderstand truth. They traded truth, they exchanged truth, for a lie
more useful to them than the truth. What was being traded was truth for
illusion, revelation for deception, God’s authority for self-rule.
“Worshiped and served the
creature rather than the Creator” (v. 25)
Brokenness … idolatry …
worshiping and serving self
Human
beings were created to worship God. If God is rejected, worship does not
disappear—it redirects.
Idols
can be good things turned into ultimate things. Self becomes the idol of choice
when God is rejected.
|
Presuppositions
|
God is
God created
God revealed Himself
(Through Jesus – Our
All-Sufficient Savior)
|
Now we
move from perceptions to our presuppositions.
Yes,
God is…God created…
The existence of God
is the most obvious truth in the universe.
God revealed Himself to us
1) through
His Son Jesus,
And through the Scriptures.
A
little over two thousand years ago, Jesus walked on the earth. He told us who
He is. He told us where He came from. He told us about His relationship with
the Father. He told us why He came into the world. He told us what is wrong
with the human heart. He told us why He would die. He told us He would rise
again. He told us how sinners can be saved. He told us about the authority and
permanence of God’s Word. He told us about Heaven. He warned us about Hell. He
told us that He would return. He told us that every person will ultimately face
judgment. And He told those who belong to Him how they are to live until He
comes. Taken together, His words confront us with the extraordinary reality of who
it is before whom we live.
“For I came down from heaven, not to
do mine own will,
but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38)
“I proceeded forth and came from God;
neither came I of myself, but he sent me.” (John 8:42)
“I came forth from the Father,
and am come into the world: again,
I leave the world, and go to the Father.” (John 16:28)
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me
with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee
before the world was.” (John 17:5)
“27My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal
life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.
29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30I
and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life
and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
(John 5:24)
“For God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“25I am the resurrection, and the
life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And
whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
Believeth thou this?” (John 11:25-26)
“I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John
14:6)
“Jesus answered, Thou
sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into
the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the
truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37)
“…scripture cannot be broken.” (John
10:35)
“17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:17-18)
“…because I live, ye shall live also.”
(John 14:19)
|
Precepts
(System of Beliefs)
|
Scripture – Final
Authority
for Faith and
Practice
Natural Laws and
Universal Principles – A Compass
|
“16All scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
|
Principles
|
- Happiness by
keeping the law
(
- Rule of Law
- Unalienable
Rights endowed
by our Creator )
|
“For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.”
(Matthew 6:21)
Whoever or whatever has your heart,
is whose ways you will observe.”
|
Philosophy
|
We are pilgrims –
set affections on
things above
|
“These
all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar
off, and were persuaded of (them), and embraced (them), and confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Heb. 11:13)
|
Policy
|
Glorify God – Die
to Self
Do what God wants
you to do
|
“What?
Know ye not that your body is temple of the of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are
bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your
body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
|
Practice
|
Live for God and
others
|
“For
all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the
thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15)
Paul
saw himself as an ambassador for Christ. Jesus had an exchange with Paul on the
road to Damascus. Paul realized he was persecuting the followers of Christ. He
had come to realize Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah! With passion, Paul
took on the then known world to proclaim Jesus as Redeemer of the World. He
saw himself as a channel of God’s amazing grace.
All of
us have differing spheres in which we have been sent as commissioned believers.
We have family, interpersonal relationships (believers and unbelievers), church
family, and close Christian friends, relationships in
the marketplace, some hold leadership positions at home, at church, in the
marketplace, in the community and entities within the community. Our spheres of
influence vary greatly, but each of us should understand “in my place”
and the opportunities that are there to be an ambassador for Christ.
We proclaim the message of reconciliation
“As thou hast sent me…even
so have I also sent them.”
The
Son → sends His believers.
His believers → carry His Gospel into the world.
“Ye
are the light of the world.”
(Matthew 5:14)
Think differently about
being “in my place” in the world
I
am not merely here
I have been sent here
ordinary places have
extraordinary spiritual significance
My
home is not merely where I live
My neighborhood is not merely where my house
happens to stand
My workplace is not merely where I earn money
My relationships are not merely social connections
My church is not merely where I attend services
These
are spheres of providence
in which a commissioned believer lives
Before the God of Heaven.
Whom
has God placed around me?
Who needs encouragement?
Who needs truth?
Who needs the Gospel?
Who needs discipleship?
Who needs to see Christ demonstrated
in the life of one of His followers?
Whom
has God placed around me? I hope this story will make you more aware. God
orchestrates our paths and who he brings into our path. I would like to bring
this section to a close by sharing with you an amazing, awesome encounter that
the God of Heaven orchestrated!
For
many years I did counseling in the marketplace. I still do some of that. I was
privileged to have as many as about twenty entities at one point that allowed
me to be available to their employees. The Chick-Fil-A in Simpsonville, SC was
one of those.
In August, 2022, I had a meeting with a young lady that worked
at that CFA. We met for our meeting at Panera Bread, close by. We were sitting
in the middle of the back seating section. There were a couple of other people
in that back section. One of them was a college age young lady sitting at her
corner table with a laptop in front of her and her backpack on one of the
chairs. It seemed that as I met with this young lady from CFA the lady in the
corner seemed oblivious to us and deep in thought.
When
our meeting was done at the middle table, and the CFA employee had left, while
I was still gathering my stuff, I acknowledged the young lady, when we noticed
each other. As I was leaving, passing her table, she said, “Are you a
counselor?” I replied, “Yes, I am.” “Are you a biblical counselor?” Then I knew
she must have overheard some of the conversation. I replied, “Yes, I am.”
To
that, she responded, “I am reassessing my spirituality and my mental health.
Will you help me?” In my heart, quickly, the thought hit me, wow! I have never
had someone so carefully and thoughtfully say they were reassessing their
spirituality. While I was trying to process all of that, I quickly responded to
her, “I will be glad to help you! Tomorrow, we leave for Alaska to visit with
family for about a week. And the rest of today is packed with meetings, but let
me give you my card, and then text me on such and such a day, when we are
heading back from Alaska, and we will set a time to meet.” She said that would
be fine, because she was busy the rest of this day as well. She was studying
for a test on the human eye.
On our
return trip from Alaska, sure enough, on the trip, I received a text from
Marina. She was a student at USC in Columbia, SC, in pre-med. She was already
at her last year of undergrad, planning to become an eye doctor. I told her I
would meet with her. I didn’t know that she was operating out of Columbia,
however.
I
connected with her after looking for a restaurant near the university where we
could meet. When looking for a restaurant, I saw that there was a Lizard’s
Thicket! We used to have those in Greenville. I liked it! So, she agreed to it,
but it probably was not her favorite. So, we set August 23rd to meet
there in the early afternoon.
She
had a lot of very good questions. I explained the gospel to her. She was
clearly interested. It was clear that she was wanting to get a load off her
heart. I took her to one of my favorite passages of scripture, Romans 8:31-39.
I explained to her how when we trust Jesus as our Savior, the God of Heaven,
the Judge of the Universe, takes out our file, and, with the legal stamp of
Heaven, and stamps our file, “Justified!” (Just as if we never sinned!) Marina
had tears in her eyes, and said, “I need that!” We found a more private place
and Marina prayed and asked God to save her! This was different than many
situations like this. This is a thinker, a contemplative person. She was very
serious about wanting to be saved! We took a few more minutes to talk about the
impact of that decision, and how when you come to Christ, He secures your
salvation forever!
Marina
and I both, were that day, and from then on, awe struck at how God had
orchestrated our paths meeting in a Panera Bread, in Simpsonville, and later at
a Lizard’s Thicket in Columbia on that August 23rd, 2022, the day
before her 21st Birthday! It’s hard to explain to people how that
strikes you, when you realize, God brought a searching soul across my path, and meant clearly for me to take responsibility to
help her as she requested.
Yes, I
can’t tell you the number of times that kind of thing has happened over fifty
years of helping folk. But that one somehow awed me more than most. What an
awesome God we have.
God
wants us all to be aware in our “providential sphere,” our “in
my place” stewardship, where we reach out… to be a channel of
grace…
I
stayed in touch with Marina. She went to Optometrist School in Memphis, TN. She
is officially now an eye doctor. She looks forward to using her practice as a
platform to reach others for Christ. What an opportunity she will have to reach
out…as a channel of grace…
What God Desires
Glorifying
God…making much of Jesus
Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry
Making disciples at home and around the
world
What does God desire?
Before the God of Heaven,
where am I presently?
By His grace, how do I
move toward what God desires?
Just
a quick note regarding the structure of this material.
Gates 8-12 are about life’s relationships.
8 Walking with the Lord
9 In my place…strengthening
family…earthly
10 In my place…strengthening family… forever
11 Reaching out…as a channel of grace to believers
12 Reaching out…as a channel of grace to unbelievers
Gates
1-7 are about foundational areas -
1 Heart Life
2 Integrity and God conscientiousness
3 Brokenness on display
4 (Redemption)… at the middle…core… of the seven…
5 Commissioned
6 Integrity…God’s purposes or mine?
7 Integrity, My Mission on Earth
SEVEN CORE VALUES –
SEVEN CORRESPONDING PRINCIPLES
AN INTERNAL COMPASS FOR THE HEART
FOR SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
|
CORE VALUES
|
PRINCIPLES
|
|
Integrity
(1) Speak
Truth
(2) Look
at every situation with openness and honesty.
(3) Purpose
to do what is right.
(4) Do
the right thing that has been purposed.
|
Purpose/Mission
“I
have purposed it,
I
will also do it.”
(Isa. 46:11a)
“God’s
desired results”
|
|
People
|
|
Co-laborers
|
|
Serving Others
|
|
Consideration
(Golden Rule)
Communication
“Speak the
truth in love”
|
|
Participation
of All
Stakeholders
|
Stewardship
Delegation
“In my place”
Empowerment
“Thoroughly
equipped”
|
|
Excellence
|
Continuous Improvement
(Change)
“I Press
Forward”
|
|
Reward
|
Compensation
“Each
according to
His own
works”
|
An Internal Compass for the Heart
for
Spiritual
Leadership
INTRODUCTION
Whether you
are building a wall around a city, building the lives of young people,
equipping the saints for the work of the ministry or building a business,
Nehemiah exemplifies the kind of spiritual leadership that gets the job done,
and done right. Around the world,
business leaders and institutions of higher learning are working to figure out
the right package of values, principles and business practices which will help them optimize their
effectiveness in the marketplace. There
have been a number of men that have stepped forward in
the last fifty years and proclaimed that they had the “right package.” Years ago, I was given the opportunity to
study out the “right package” of values,
principles and practices. I have
always been fascinated with the leadership of Nehemiah. So, I started my study by analyzing
Nehemiah’s values, principles and
practices. I came up with seven core values and seven corresponding guiding principles. These core values and principles made up “An
Internal Compass For the Heart” by which
Nehemiah navigated through life. Then I
began to study what some of the experts of the last fifty years had to say on
the subject. Most of what is being said
today from a principle-based approach to effectiveness is not new. Actually, it at
least goes back to 445 B.C. when Nehemiah organized the Israelites into 41 work
teams and built the wall around Jerusalem
in 52 days. True effectiveness is
brought about by an operational philosophy based on God’s natural laws and
universal principles.
Let’s
analyze the component parts of the internal
compass that was at the essence of who Nehemiah was and which governed how
he led his people.
Nehemiah
Internalized a Compass
Recognized a Need
Agonized in Prayer
Personalized the Challenge
Organized the Work
Supervised the People
Realized his Goal
As a
spiritual leader, Nehemiah did many things right, but the first thing he did was the reason he did all of
the others. It is that Internalized Compass that will
enable each of us to be effective spiritual leaders. So
let’s take this Internalized Compass apart, examine it and begin to instill it
within our own hearts.
This Internalized Compass has three main components
that we will examine: PURPOSE, RIGHT VALUES and GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
PURPOSE
(MISSION)
1.
TO GLORIFY GOD
“I sat down... and prayed before the God of heaven,” (1:4)
And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven,
the great and /awe-inspiring/ God,
who keepeth covenant
and mercy for them who love him and observe his commandments:” (1:5)
“Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst
thy servant, Moses,...” (1:8)
“These are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed...” (1:10)
“...prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day,...” (1:11)
2.
“...LET US BUILD UP THE WALL
OF JERUSALEM,
3.
THAT WE BE NO MORE
A REPROACH.” (2:17)
RIGHT VALUES
AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1.
CORE VALUE: INTEGRITY
Nehemiah knew that God is a God of
Integrity
“I sat down... and prayed before the God of heaven,” (1:4)
And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven,
the great and /awe-inspiring/ God,
who keepeth covenant
and mercy for them who love him and observe his commandments:” (1:5)
“Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst
thy servant, Moses,...” (1:8)
Nehemiah therefore valued integrity
“...I was in Shushan the palace...” (1:1) (In
a position of leadership)
“...For
I was the king’s cupbearer.” (1:11) (Highly trusted)
“...I
asked them concerning the Jews...” (1:2) (Looked
into the situation)
“...I
wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed...”(1:4)
(Longed for
solutions)
“...prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day...” (1:11) (purposed what he would do)
“...So
the wall was finished...” (6:15) (did what he purposed to do)
What we
value will determine the principles we are guided by. In Matthew chapter six,
where Jesus talks about pursuing heavenly treasure instead of earthly treasure,
he makes it clear that the values we
embrace determine who will be our master. We will talk about guiding principles that correspond to
the right values that make up the Internalized Compass that Nehemiah
had.
A. GUIDING PRINCIPLE: PURPOSE
“I have purposed it, I will also do it.”
(Isa. 46:11a)
Nehemiah knew that what God had purposed
to do, he would do
“I sat down... and prayed before the God of heaven,” (1:4)
And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven,
the great and /awe-inspiring/ God,
who keepeth covenant
and mercy for them who love him and observe his commandments:” (1:5)
“Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst
thy servant, Moses,...” (1:8)
“These are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed...” (1:10)
Nehemiah therefore determined to act
in line with God’s purposes
“...I asked them concerning the Jews...” (1:2) (Looked
into the situation)
“...I...wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed...”
(1:4) (Longed for solutions)
“...prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day...” (1:11) (purposed what he would do)
“...So
the wall was finished...” (6:15) (did what he purposed to do)
2. CORE VALUE: PEOPLE
Nehemiah knew that out of all of
God’s creation, God focused on people
“Now these are thy servants and thy people,
whom thou hast redeemed...” (1:10)
Nehemiah chose to focus on people
because God focused on people
“I asked them concerning the Jews, who had escaped, who were left of
the captivity.. ” (1:2)
“...I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and
prayed...” (1:4)
“Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick?
This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” (2:2)
“...that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.”
(2:10)
3. CORE VALUE: CO-LABORERS.
Nehemiah knew that God values man’s participation
in his purposes
“Now these are thy servants and thy people,
whom thou hast redeemed...” (1:10)
Nehemiah valued being a co-laborer
with God and valued that in others
“...Ye see the distress that we are in...come, and let us build up the wall...” (2:17)
4.
CORE VALUE: SERVING OTHERS
MEETING NEEDS
Nehemiah knew that God’s focus was on
meeting man’s greatest need
“...the great and /awe-inspiring/ God,
who keepeth covenant
and mercy for them who love him and observe his commandments:” (1:5)
Nehemiah valued the opportunity to
serve others
“...For I was the king’s cupbearer.” (1:11)
“...The
remnant...are in great affliction and reproach;...”
(1:3)
“...Ye see the distress that we are in...come, and let
us build up the wall...” (2:17)
“...that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.”
(2:10)
B. GUIDING PRINCIPLE:
CONSIDERATION
“Treat others the way you want
to be treated.” (Mt. 7:12)
Nehemiah knew that God is a
compassionate God
“...the great and /awe-inspiring/ God, who keepeth covenant and
mercy...” (1:5)
Nehemiah treated others the way he
would want to be treated
“...Ye see the distress that we are in...come,
and let us build up the wall...” (2:17)
“...that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.”
(2:10)
C. GUIDING PRINCIPLE:
COMMUNICATION
“...Speaking the truth in love...”(Eph. 4:15)
Nehemiah knew that God was a God that
communicated with man
“Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst
thy servant, Moses,...” (1:8)
“...the great and /awe-inspiring/ God, who keepeth
covenant ...” (1:5)
“...O Lord, be attentive to the prayer of thy servant,...”
(1:11)
Nehemiah had good communication with
his superiors
“...The king said unto me...” (2:2)
“...And I said unto the king,...” (2:5)
Nehemiah communicated well with the
people
“..I
asked them concerning the Jews, who had escaped, who were left of the captivity..” (1:2)
“...And it came to pass when I heard these words...” (1:4)
“...Then I said unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in..
....come, and let us build up the wall...” (2:17)
5.
CORE VALUE: PARTICIPATION
BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN
ACCOMPLISHING THE
CORPORATE MISSION
Nehemiah valued participating in
accomplishing God’s purposes for His chosen people.
“...prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this
day...” (1:11)
Nehemiah valued the participation of
all the stakeholders in accomplishing God’s purposes with His people.
“...come, and let us build up the wall...”
(2:17)
D. GUIDING PRINCIPLE:
STEWARDSHIP DELEGATION
“To whom much is given,
much shall be required.”(Lu. 12:48)
Nehemiah was requesting of God the
stewardship of this project.
“...prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this
day...” (1:11)
Nehemiah was requesting of the King
the stewardship of this project.
“...If it please the king...send me...that I may build it.” (2:5)
“...So it pleased the king to send me;...” (2:6)
Nehemiah brought the people to accept
the stewardship of the project
“...And they said, Let
us rise up and build.” (2:18)
Note: Nehemiah gave a Stewardship
Delegation to 41 work teams
“...I even set the people according to their
families...” (4:13)
E. GUIDING PRINCIPLE:
EMPOWERMENT
“...Thoroughly equipped
for every good work.”
(II Tim. 3:17)
Empowerment is supplying all that is needed,
in terms of direction, knowledge, resources and support in
order to enable each individual or work team to give their best in
accomplishing the stated purpose.
Nehemiah asked God to empower him with regard to this project
“...prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this
day...” (1:11)
Nehemiah was empowered by the King
“And the king granted me, according to the
good hand of my God upon me.” (2:8)
Nehemiah saw to it that the people
were empowered for the project
“...So they
strengthened their hands for this good work.” (2:18)
6.
CORE VALUE: EXCELLENCE
Nehemiah knew that God was not
pleased with the situation and that currently the people were a reproach to
their God
“I sat down... and prayed
before the God of heaven,” (1:4)
And said, I beseech thee,
O LORD God of heaven,
the great and /awe-inspiring/ God,
who keepeth covenant and mercy
for them who love him and observe
his commandments:” (1:5)
“...That we be no more a reproach.” (2:17)
Nehemiah strived for excellence and
was not content to let the people of God continue to be a reproach to their God
“...I was in Shushan the palace...” (1:1)
“...For I was the king’s cupbearer.”
(1:11)
“...let
us build up the wall of Jerusalem,
that we be no more a reproach.” (2:17)
F. GUIDING PRINCIPLE: CHANGE
(CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
“I press toward the mark...” (Phil. 3:14)
Nehemiah knew that God wants his
people to grow and change
“...If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad...” (1:8)
“...But if ye return unto me,...” (1:9)
Nehemiah saw where the people were
and where change was needed
“The remnant ... are in great affliction and reproach;
the wall of Jerusalem
also is broken down,
and its gates are burned with fire.” (1:3)
“...Come, and let us build up the
wall ...
that we be no more a reproach.” (2:17)
7.
CORE VALUE:
REWARD FOR OUR LABOR
Nehemiah had a view toward spiritual,
eternal reward
“... That we be no more a reproach.” (2:17)
“…all our enemies…they perceived that this work was wrought by our God.” (6:16)
G. GUIDING PRINCIPLE:
COMPENSATION
“Each shall be rewarded
according to his own labor.”
(I Cor 3:8)
Nehemiah
knew that in God’s economy, each should be rewarded according to his own labor
“...The God of heaven will prosper us;...”
(2:20)
“...So the wall was finished...” (6:15)
“...When all our enemies heard of this...they perceived that this work was
wrought by our God.” (6:16)