Tag: Holiness

Small & Weak: MT episode 28

When you think of Samson, what comes to mind?  To be clear, I am referring to Samson, from the book of Judges, who had incredible strength. 

After he was born, no razor was to touch his head.  His strength would be tied to that vow.  If he did not cut his hair, he would remain strong and be used by God to deliver Israel from the Philistines.

And Samson did mighty things (he also did some very unwise unmighty things as well.).  But the promise of God remained true.  Samson was beyond strong.

He killed a lion with his bare hands.  By himself, he defeated 1,000 Philistines in battle.  He even lifted and removed the city gate of Gaza. 

He carried these gates on his shoulders. In Scripture, the weight of these gates is not provided but experts who know archaeology have a range of what they would weigh.  That range is between 1,000 and 8,000 pounds. 

So, when I ask you to close your eyes and think of Samson, what kind of image comes to mind?  Arnold Schwarzenegger? Incredible Hulk?  Adre “anybody want a peanut” the Giant?

The Bible does not tell us, but I have an idea.  I don’t think he was big at all.  I think he looked like a regular man.  If pressed, I might even go the other way and think he looked more like a squirrely and skinny little man like Barny Fife.

His enemies could not figure out from where he got his strength.  If he looked like Hulk Hogan, it is possible they would not wander.  They could look and say, “Well, he is a big strong man.”

His strength came from God.  Which is the strength of us all.  It is all I have.

God has used weak, frail and small men and women all throughout time.  It is how little boy David could defeat the 9-foot-tall Goliath.

He does the same today.  “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

The treasure to which Paul refers is Jesus. 

You and I are weak without our Lord. When it comes to Spiritual matters, we are unable even to carry a five-gallon bucket of fertilizer. The surpassing power belongs to God and this God will do great things in small, weak, squirrely men and women.  This is glorious!

S.D.G.

More Than You Can Handle: MT episode 27

There is an old saying that I hear frequently that goes, “God will not give you more than you can handle.” I have heard it said by many believers and at some point in life, I most likely have repeated this.

Scripture does say God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, but that is different.

The phrase, “God will not give you more than you can handle,” cannot be found in Scripture. What can be found in Scripture is “God will give more than you can handle.”

2 Corinthians 1 as Paul was writing a church about some trials and suffering he had to endure he said this: “We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely on God and not ourselves.”

There was so much for Paul to endure, that it was beyond his strength. Our sovereign God had permitted them to endure more than they could handle. Why? So Paul would know only God can get him through this. He could not do it.

There have been moments in my life where I had to tap out. I did not have the strength to make it and God absolutely provided the delivery.

In a world where do-it-yourself is heartily praised, we must, as believer, remember that it is “God who works in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

Regardless of how much we grow in faith or how long we have been a believer, we rely on Him always.

S.D.G.

Fanning the Flame part 2: MT episode 22

Two weeks ago, we had looked at Paul’s words of encouragement to Timothy, “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.” (2 Timothy 1:6) I want to share a way in which we can do this and that is to put yourself in a position to be successful. Let me explain it this way.

When I was young man my two friends Chris, Kenny and I came up with an idea to begin camping.  It was not May or August when the urge hit us to set up a tent, but rather February.  We set the date for our first campout on a night when the temperature was to be in the teens. 

We had the site cleared and a fire ring in place with a small collection of “wood” for the fire.  With all the ambition and excitement in the world we took our snacks and sleeping bags and began our first night of roughing it.

A book could be written about the numerous adventures we had that night.  For today, one stands out and it was the fire.

In our inexperience, we had not gathered the proper amount of wood.  We had a nice large stack of what would be defined as twigs.  They produced enough heat to keep us warm, but only for a few minutes at a time. 

By 1030PM our wood supply was gone.  Which prompted a constant search for more wood and in the dark of night.  More twigs for temporary heat. What was needed was something big to supply a lasting fire.

We had to restart and fan the flame of that fire many times.  We were not prepared! 

With that in mind, if you want to grow in this faith, you must be thoughtful and be deliberate and prepared.  Put yourself in a position to succeed.  How is this accomplished?  Humble submission.

Often, we can get started in a daily time with God but then lose focus.  The flame dies out.  Our fire is weak with twigs. In my experience, humbly acknowledging that I need help to be consistent is key.  This comes by just admitting this in prayer.  God will supply.

Growing in your faith can only come by daily feeding.  Fanning this faith into a flame (as our text states) is by God’s Spirit, within us.   Seek help to consistently spend time in prayer and reading.  Otherwise, you will be constantly in search of twigs and reviving a smoldering, smokey faith.

S.D.G.

Fanning the Flame: MT episode #20

I was having a conversation with someone recently about physical fitness. We chatted the struggle of consistency.

There have been moments where I have been more fit than others In a joking manner I said, “I was doing really well last year until I began visiting the Dr.” They said, “Dr.?” I said, “Dr. Pepper!”

I do greatly enjoy fitness. It helps my thinking, I am more focused, less anxiety . . life is better all the way around. But somedays I am more motivated than others. It takes a little time and occasionally it needs to be put off to the next day or something may come up that needs immediate in focus.

Then there may be a visit from the Dr. Yes! Dr. Pepper tastes so great but in reality it is anti anything related to fitness what about our Spiritual life?

If spiritual growth is a desire, it is imperative that you spend time DAILY with Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wrote two letters written to a beloved son in the faith, named Timothy. It is from the second letter that he says this, “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you”.

The words here for Timothy are to fan the flame! (anazopureo) The whole phrase is one word in the original language.

Ana = again

Zoe = life

Pur = fire

Bring to life the fire, the life of faith in God. It is stated in a way of a progressive (ongoing) continuous action.

This is far, far more important than any physical activity. This body will eventually fail, your Spirit is forever I encourage you – fan the flame – Keep the life going inside of you that is brought on by God through the Spirit.

Next Thursday we will consider ways in HOW you can invest time spiritually. Until then, Go to Church on Sunday and I will see you there!

S.D.G.

The Great Exchange: MT episode 14

Little over a year ago while driving down the interstate there was a suitcase on the side of the road. It had sat there for over a week, and I just had to investigate.

One of the very few treasures that made me chuckle was these gloves. These gloves made me go back in time, all the way back to college. We had intramural football. My buddies and I were average, maybe a little below average football player.

I knew what I needed to be great was a pair of gloves. Yes, these would make me much better. The cheapest I could find were around $70 which is way too much on a college budget. So, I kissed intramural football greatness goodbye.

That is the thought that made me laugh at myself. The gloves, NOW FREE, would have made no difference in my ability to catch the ball (unless I lathered on some stick ‘em). My best with the gloves is horrible.

Those gloves on the hands of Jerry Rice? Now you are talking. That would be perfect. It is not the gloves that make the receiver, it is the receiver who makes the gloves. I would need Jerry Rice hands, arms, legs and the gloves to be better. This is the exchange I need- his for mine. This is unrealistic and silly to consider.

How does this relate to Jesus? One of my favorite New Testament passages in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Martin Luther called this passage, “The Great Exchange.” Why?

“For our sake, God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

For the believer an exchange took place. Christ is my righteousness. Christ is in my place. Christ took my sorrow and shame (and there was and is plenty of it) and gave me His perfect righteousness. This is the exchange. realistic change. Christ in my place. I will take that all day!

S.D.G.

Wrestling with God & Sanctification

In Genesis 32, Jacob has a very interesting encounter that could even be labeled mysterious.  Jacob, all alone, is met by a man and they began to wrestle.  It says that they wrestled all night until the breaking of the new day.

I wrestled in high school, and I recall the first day of wrestling practice.  The coach paired each boy with someone close to the same size and each of us was given a small area and were told at the sound of the whistle we were to wrestle. 

What I recall distinctly is how quickly fatigue set in.  We were to wrestle for three minutes, but after like 50 seconds, it felt like it had been an hour.  We were winded and tired and weak.  I can’t imagine Jacob wrestling ALL night long.  Jacob must have been a man of incredible strength.

This is a passage in which MUCH time could be spent.  Some day these deeper truths will be addressed but for the couple minutes we have together today the focus will narrow on sanctification (the process through which we become holy) and suffering.

In this passage it states that Jacob was wrestling with God.  This fact is confirmed in Hosea 12.  This presents a problem because God tells Moses that earthly man cannot see God and live.  Because of the wording in this passage, it appears that this is a Christophany, the appearance of Christ in the O.T. 

Three things happened to Jacob in that wrestling match:

  1. His name was changed to Israel (He strives with God)
  2. He obtained a limp because in this wrestling match Jacob’s hip was touched by his opponent and was put out of joint.  Jacob limped away from the match.
  3. Because of this limp, he was forever changed.  All Jacob’s natural powers were crippled, and every future step would be a reminder of God’s divine grace.

Here is a lesson for you and me. Sometimes our growth in holiness (sanctification) comes from something which is causing suffering.  In this day, we are so quick to want to escape pain.  We get a slight headache, and we immediately want ibuprofen.  There is no sin in taking ibuprofen – this is only an example of what we do in other areas of life in that we want to end suffering immediately.

It is quite possible the suffering we want to end is being used by God to bring about more holiness in us and more dependence upon Him. 

I have wrestled with God (figuratively speaking) for years, trying to get my own way.  Desiring that suffering needs to end or that area of suffering is unjust.  All the while missing that maybe God is working through suffering to produce change and holiness.

S.D.G.

Two Front Door Houses: MT episode 11

One of the many advantages of growing up in the mid-west is the various farmhouses that remain in use.  Some of these houses are well over 100 years old.  They are not the mansion plantation houses in the south, but they are still beautiful in their own humble way.

One thing easily noticed is that many of these old farmhouses have two front doors.  They are separated by just five to ten feet.  Both doors look identical, same height, same width and even the same door.

The reason for two front entrance doors lies in that one is the formal entrance for when company visits and the other is more casual, for the family only.

I can imagine the formal entrance is kept more tidy and spotless.  The floors are most likely not messy, and everything is placed in its correct spot. 

The casual side, however, may not be messy but for certain the effort placed on the formal side is not on the casual side. 

Think of this in terms of your relationship to Jesus.  Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.”

Last Thursday our discussion was around sanctification.  It is the process we are 1. Instantly sanctified at new birth and 2. Progressively sanctified as we live.  We are always working towards being more like Jesus, He becomes greater, we become less.

This passage here in Philippians is also passage on sanctification.  For those who are saved, it is only because God began that good work.  Ezekiel 36:25-27 clearly states it is a work done by God alone. 

But for those who are saved, those who have had this good work done in them, you now can work to holiness. How?  Because God is at work in you, and He will keep working in you until completion.

The problem for many, and I will speak personally here, sometimes there are 2 entrance doors.  One that I wanted Jesus to see, more formal, more together and then the real me.   I can’t fool Jesus.  In reality, there is ONLY one door to me.  Jonah is not the only one who has loved God and tried to hide.

Monday, we will start here and add some thoughts, but for the weekend be challenged with this: what comes to mind when pondering how you can be more holy?  That is your starting point to pray and ask the Father, “Help me to grow and be more holy.”

SDG

Duck Sanctification: MT episode 9

There was an artist who lived in Virginia whose name was Herbert G. Phipps.  Part of his art was sculpting and his work was exquisite. 

Someone asked him once how he made such beautiful sculptures.  He said, “It’s easy.  If I am trying to sculpt a duck out of a piece of wood, I look at the wood and I remove all the parts that do not look like a duck.”

Oh if it were that easy, right?

In our last visit together, we considered how as believers we are perfect.  It does not come by our personal performance but our perfection is being in Christ and his perfection becomes our perfection. 

But there is this thing called sanctification.

What is sanctification? It is being set aside for holy use.  For the believer it both instant and ongoing. 

1 Corinthians 6 shows that sanctification is instant in that as soon as you are a believer, you are sanctified and justified.

It is also an ongoing thing and this truth is all through Scripture but specifically in Hebrews 10:14  it says Christ has perfected us for all time and we are being sanctified.

What does this mean?  Like Herbert Phipps, we are being shaped.  Shaped into the image of Christ.  Becoming like Him.  As we grow in Christ, the things that do not look like Christ are removed.  We work this out as God works in us. 

So, yes, on our own we are not perfect, but we are both perfect and being perfected. 

S.D.G