Friday, January 30, 2009

What do True Believers Think About?

Philip. 4:8, 9: True believers must think on matters beyond ordinary thought, otherwise they will not remain true believers. “Whatever is true... honorable...right...pure...lovely...of good repute...if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise let your mind dwell on these things” (v. 8).

Just as “righteous Lot (was) oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men,” and his “righteous soul (was) tormented day after day with their lawless deeds,” believers in Christ are also oppressed and tormented by the same kind of people. And as God rescued righteous Lot, He is rescuing the godly people of our time from temptation and sin (2 Peter 2:7- 9). The Bible calls these rescued people righteous; we call them true believes. Our text tells us what we must think about if we are to be God’s righteous people.

We all know the meaning of these words but I have found it helpful to think on synonyms of these words. How better could we dwell on these things? And we must dwell on them in order to get these virtues deep down into hearts and live them out in our lives. Much or what gets our attention and dominates our thoughts are antithetical to these. This is why we need to be in the Word, share thoughts with other believers and spend time in prayer. Join me in a time of thought and reflection, concentration and application; join me as we “dwell on these things.”

l. Think about whatever is honorable (ethical, good, honest, respectable, worth while, worthy). During the recent hard-fought campaign, many false and ugly statements, as well as personalities, were heard and seen, which no doubt influenced our minds and lives. Did we watch too much television? Did we argue with TV images? Were we bombarded and provoked by ugliness and stinkin’ thinkin’, as recovering alcoholics say? Don’t we admire honorable people? They get that way by thinking on honorable things. We too must let our minds dwell on whatever is honorable.

2. Think about whatever is right (correct, exact, righteous). We will think about wrong things and how they contrast with right things, but we must not let our minds dwell on wrong things until they become our mindset. This is why staying in God’s Word is so vitally important. His Word is right because it is true. We should dwell on it and trust it to guard out hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

3. Think about whatever is pure (chaste, clean, virtuous, undefiled). Gold is refined by smelting until all the dross comes to the top and is removed; then it is considered pure. Let your mind and life be refined, as by fire, until it is purified; then keep it pure and undefiled by dwelling on whatever is pure.

4. Think about whatever is lovely (loveable, endearing). Albert Barnes wrote that even though it is difficult to love that which is unlovely and to cast one’s affections where they are undeserved, but a man must love his wife unconditionally, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. A lovely, loving wife is different, and a man is different who lets his mind dwell on his loving wife. Thinking about what is lovely makes the thinker lovely and loving.

5. Think about whatever is of good repute (esteemed, of good reputation). “A good name is to be chosen above riches.” And one gains a good name by thinking good thoughts and acting on them. Good role models are indispensable. Every true believe should guard his reputation because he or she is a role model to others.

6. Think about whatever is excellent (first class, worthy, surpassing others, eminent). It is said that one becomes like the God he worships. We have an excellent God, the only God, and we become like Him by dwelling on Him. And think of the many you know who have become like Christ by their fellowship with Him. Dwell on what is excellent and don’t fill your mind with unimportant matters.

7. Think about those things that are worthy of praise (laudable, commendable). Lord, help us to understand what is praiseworthy and what is not, and bless our efforts with character.

This is what true believers think about.

You are not what you think you are, but what you think, you are.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Careful What You Ask

On the day our Illinois Governor was expelled from office, the following article appeared in The Rolling Stone, a paper published by the Stevenson County Senior Center.

In a trial in a small Southern town a prosecuting attorney called his first withes, a grandmotherly, elderly woman, to the stand. He approached her and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know me?” She responded, “Why yes, I do know you, Mr. Nelson, I’ve known you since you were a boy, and frankly, you’ve a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you’re a big shot when you haven’t the brains to realize you’ll never amount to anything more than a two-bit paper publisher. Yes, I know you.”

The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?”

She replied again, “Why yes, I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He is lazy, bigoted and he has a drinking problem. He can’t build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention his cheating on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.”

The defense attorney nearly died.

The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and in a quiet voice said, “If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I’ll send you both to prison.”

Friday, January 23, 2009

The Secret of Contentment

More than fifty years ago I preached a sermon on Philippians 4:4-7, which I titled, “The Secret of Contentment.” “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”). That was a difficult time for me, and what I needed to know about contentment I had yet to learn. Nevertheless, I did the best I could. I presented a five point sermon and spent the next 50 years (ten years on each point) learning what I was trying to communicate in that sermon. These years have taught me many invaluable lessons. Here is a modern version of that sermon.

1. "Rejoice in the Lord always” (v. 4). Think of how Paul suffered for Christ and how he was hounded by his enemies everywhere he went. J. H. Jowett, a great preacher in New York a hundred years ago, said in a sermon, “A wounded hare left a bloody trail in the snow; that was Paul, traveling across Asia Minor. But he learned to find joy and contentment in all circumstances. “Rejoice…always,” was his theme. This is what he practiced and this is what he practiced. The same peace is available to us; else Paul would not have offered it to us. In this suffering world, just think of all the things you have to rejoice about. And if not now, when? If you cannot have joy today, why would you suppose that you will find it tomorrow? If you can rejoice today, you can rejoice tomorrow and always.

2. “Let your forbearing spirit be know to all men” (v.5a). “Think of the most patient and forbearing person you know. Don’t you admire that person? Wouldn’t you like to show that kind of forbearance to others? Well, do it! No one can do it for you. And you cannot do it without effort. It is something one learns by experience. In this restless age a forbearing person stands out from the crowd because he can “put up with” the foibles, frustrations and failures of others. He can “deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness” (Heb. 5:2). There was a cartoon in a Christian magazine some years ago, showing a clergyman on his knees praying, “Lord, I have a crack in my indomitable spirit.” I laughed when I saw it because of its contradiction. If our spirits have cracks in them, let us ask the Lord to repair them, to raise us up and send us on our way, having learned the secret of contentment.

3. “The Lord is near” (v. 5b). Other translations say, “The Lord is at hand,” which led me to think that He is soon to come. It wasn’t until I read the New American Standard Bible (NASB) that I understood it to mean the Lord is near us, with us, at hand to help our spirits forebear. It blessed me to realize that what I couldn’t do by myself, I could do with the help of my Lord who is always near me.

4. “Be anxious for nothing” (v. 6a). “For nothing, did you get that? “But you don’t understand,” you say, “I can’t help being anxious. I’ll be all right when this crisis passes.” How are you ever going to learn to be content in crisis if you must always wait until they pass? “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it (I Cor. 10:13). Well, why don’t you trust Him. Do it and the mystery is revealed.

5. “Let your requests be made known to God” (v. 6b). If you detect a crack in your spirit or feel as if you are about to crack, don’t be anxious about it but “let your request be made known to God.

Conclusion: “Be anxious for nothing… and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7). “Practice these things, and the God of peace shall be with you” (v. 9). Live this way and you will have learned the secret of contentment. When one can say, “I rejoice in the Lord always” (v. 4) he can say, “I have learned the secret of contentment (v. 12). Contentment is not an entitlement, it is not a free gift, nor is it something to be deferred; it is a way of life produced by obedience to God and fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Questions on Philippians 3

(These questions are based on the New Ameraican Standard Bible (NASB).

1. What did Paul ask the Christians to do? (v. 1)

2. What three derogatory names did Paul call those fakes who were troubling the saints (v. 2)?

3. What three commendable things did Paul say to the true believers (v. 3)?

4. What reasons did Paul have to put “confident in the flesh” had he chosen to do so ((v. 4 - 6)?

5. What did he do about his reasons for self-confidence (v. 7, 8)?

6. What two sources of righteousness does Paul mention (v. 9)?

7. Give five advantages gained by those who receive God’s righteousness (vs. 10, 11).

8. Why did Paul “press on” (v. 12 & 14)?

9. Paul says that this pressing on is an attitude that all who are __________ must have (v. 15).

10. How are those who have a “different attitude” to receive the proper attitude (v. 15)?

11. What condition must be met in order to have this assistance from God (v. s. 16, 17)?

12. Many who do not walk this way are “_______________________________” (v. 18).

13. What is to become of such people (v. 19a)? Why (v. 19b)?

14. Where is the Christian’s citizenship (v. 20a)? What may we expect from our Savior who is coming for us (vs. 20b, 21)?

15. What sort of transformation shall we expect (v. 21)?

___________________

Unconditional love is a mature Christian characteristic sent in by Paula. Isn’t this a great one?

Brother Bob, another fellow minister, suggests that if Pastor Jack had added kind, noble, forgiving and a felt need to unify the world, he would have used the whole alphabet.

Friday, January 9, 2009

The Cardinal Characteristaic of a Mature Christian

My last essay was on “Christian Maturity,” what it is and how it is attained. Searching for the leading characteristic, I wrote a letter to my correspondents asking for help. Twelve responded with great suggestions, which I list here; and then I give what I concluded to be the cardinal characteristic of the mature Christian. These are not ordinary human traits but qualities that set a mature Christian apart from immature Christians and unbelievers. I thought it might be helpful if I share these responses with you.

Control (self-control) - “A trait that I have often observed in the mature Christian .... The control of anger, control of patience, control of thought, control of language, all because they have turned over to God, complete control of their own lives. The mature Christian is the one who always appears to be in control of themselves in the most stressful situations, who always seems to be even tempered....” – Mike

Understanding – (as in 1 Cor.14:20). “Brethren, do not be children in your thinking, yet in evil be babes, but in your thinking be mature.”) – Bob

Selflessness – Lisa

Strong prayer life – Ernie

Love – “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God” (1`John 4:7) – Rea

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Compassion – Karen

Forgiveness – “People that have a hard time forgiving puzzle me. They talk of how they can't forgive because of the pain someone caused them. I find it hard to understand why people feel that way. To me, it is simple when we look at how Jesus suffered. He suffered more than all of us could imagine and with his last dying breath, asked his father to forgive us because “they know not what they do.” –Nikki

Soul-Consciousness – We often see others with eyes that see only their physical nature and character flaws rather than a soul that will spend eternity somewhere. Frank

Compassion and patience – we all have these but not to the levels we should – Harry

Honesty – Kim

A to Z – My preacher friend Jack responded with a note saying, “You asked for one or two characteristics but I’m going to give you more anyway.” And he sent me the following list, which is so helpful that I have to publish it. But if it seems long don’t blame me; blame Jack! Brother Jack, I appreciate your excellent list and I urge everyone to print and study it. Jack’s contribution is as follows:

The Character of a Christian

Alertness -paying attention to all the lessons God is teaching through authorities, friends and experiences; learning to foresee dangers and understand consequences of behavior
Attentiveness - learning the wishes of others through facial expressions, words and tone of voice; listening to promptings of the Holy Spirit to God’s moral standards and will
Availability - learning to reject distractions that hinder me from fulfilling my responsibilities; rejecting ambitions that hinder my delighting in God-given priorities; completing a task
Boldness - basing words and actions in the authority of Scripture; demonstrating confidence that following the principles of Scripture will bring ultimate victory
Cautiousness learning that unfamiliar situations may be dangerous; gaining counsel before making decisions; seeing future consequences of present actions; recognizing temptations
Compassion - doing all that is possible to relieve the hurts of others; learning to use words and actions which will bring comfort and healing
Contentment - learning to enjoy present possessions rather than desiring new or additional ones; to control curiosity; to enjoy times of being alone
Creativity - completing tasks with greater efficiency and quality; finding ways to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles; discovering practical applications for Scriptural principles
Decisiveness - finalizing difficult decisions on the basis of God’s Word and ways; refusing to reconsider decisions we know are right; making present commitments to avoid future failure
Deference - limiting my freedom in order not to offend the personal tastes of those God has called me to serve; not allowing in moderation what others can then excuse in excess
Dependability - being true to your word even when it is difficult to carry out what you have promised; lifting pressures from those you serve by consistently fulfilling assigned projects
Determination - giving whatever energy is necessary to complete a project; learning to reduce a seemingly impossible task to achievable goals
Diligence - studying Scriptures for accurate insight and interpretation; relating all other learning to the higher truths of Scripture; concentrating on assigned tasks
Discernment -using your faculties to go beneath the surface of the problem; to detect the true wishes and feelings of others; knowing what to look for in evaluating people and problems
Discretion responding to difficult situations with the wisdom and character of Christ; knowing what is and is not appropriate; seeing consequences of words and actions down the road
Endurance -maintaining commitment to a goal during times of pressure; knowing how and when to invest my time and energy; keeping focus on objectives God has given me
Enthusiasm - learning what attitudes and actions please God and being excited about doing them; motivating others by a spirit of praise and joy; seeing value in discouraging situations
Faith - learning the basis of faith and putting personal trust in the finished work of Christ; developing unshakable confidence in God’s Word; investing in what counts for eternity
Flexibility- learning the wishes of the one I serve and adapting my priorities to meet them; to cheerfully change plans when unexpected conditions require it; avoiding what will hinder
Forgiveness -demonstrating Christ’s love toward an offender; understanding the motives and conflicts of an offender; learning to see spiritual value in the hurt God allows
Generosity -recognizing that all possessions belong to God; learning to be a good steward of time, money and possessions; discerning what will damage the life or attitudes of others
Gentleness - responding to needs with kindness and love; knowing what is appropriate to the emotional needs of others; administering direction without impatience or anger
Gratefulness - recognizing the benefits God and others provide; looking for appropriate ways to express genuine appreciation; learning to give all expectations to God
Hospitality -providing an atmosphere which contributes to the physical and spiritual growth or others; to invite them to our home and make them comfortable with our possessions
Humility - recognizing my total inability to accomplish anything for God apart from His grace; understanding how deceitful the heart is; redirecting praise to God and others
Initiative - taking steps to seek God with the whole heart; making the best of opportunities to witness; assuming responsibility to physically and spiritually encourage others
Joyfulness - lifting the spirits of others; learning to be happy regardless of outside circumstances; thanking God for every situation and seeing God’s benefit in allowing each one
Justice - recognizing personal responsibility to God’s unchanging laws; basing decisions on eternal values rather than temporal; learning to plead for mercy instead of covering sin
Love - giving to the basic needs of others; to hold dear; cherish; take pleasure in; having the same concern for others as the Heavenly Father has for mankind
Loyalty - adopting as your own the wishes and goals of those you are serving; learning to stand by those you are serving when conflicting pressures increase
Meekness - yielding rights and possessions to God; responding properly to anger when others violate personal rights; earning the right to be heard rather than demanding a hearing
Obedience - learning the importance of limitations and the meaning of the word “no;” responding to the wishes of God, parents and others; yielding the right to have to have final word
Orderliness - organizing and caring for personal possessions; giving attention to personal grooming; learning to write legibly; respecting the way God created you
Patience - waiting to fulfill personal goals; increasing the time you can wait between achievement and reward; accepting difficult situations as from God without giving Him a deadline
Persuasiveness - learning to guide important truths around the mental roadblocks of our listeners; thinking through objectives before presenting our case; understanding needs of others
Punctuality - arranging my schedule around the appointment that are made; showing esteem for other people and their time by not keeping them waiting; timely fulfilling commitments
Resourcefulness - seeing value in what others overlook; making wise use of what others discard; achieving tasks with a minimum of outside resources; using the skills and interests of others
Responsibility - assuming protection of what was entrusted to you; establishing personal restrictions and guidelines necessary to fulfill what you know you should do
Reverence - respecting the possessions of others; recognizing God works through those in authority; giving them honor; learning to care for our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit
Security - building affections around the person of Christ and His eternal Word; appreciating temporal possessions without making them the focus of your delight
Self-control - quickly identifying and obeying the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit; bringing my thoughts, words and actions under His control
Sensitivity - exercising my senses to perceive the true spirit and emotions of others; being alert to promptings of the Holy Spirit; avoiding danger by sensing wrong motives in others
Sincerity - having motives that are transparent; doing things because I desire God’s gain and fear loss to His reputation; having a genuine concern to benefit the lives of others
Thoroughness - learning what details are important for the success of a project; taking time and effort to validate facts before discussing a matter
Thriftiness - knowing how to accomplish the most with the resources available; not encouraging yourself to spend that which is not available
Tolerance - esponding to the immaturity of others without accepting their standard of immaturity; to accept others as unique expressions of specific character or maturity
Truthfulness - learning to be a reliable messenger; gaining approval of others without misrepresenting the facts; facing the consequences of a mistake
Virtue - learning to build personal moral standards which will cause others to desire a more godly life; reproducing Christ’s character in yourself and in others
Wisdom - seeing life from God’s perspective; recognizing a cause / effect relationship to life; tracing conflict to their roots; discerning and rejecting false philosophies
___________________

Faith - Now it’s time for me to enter what I consider to be the “cardinal characteristic of a mature Christian,” which is faith. W. E. Vine, in his Expositors Dictionary of New Testament Words, defines faith as having three levels: “(1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgement of God’s revelation of truth, (2) a personal surrender to Him, and (3) a conduct inspired by such surrender.” A mature Christian displays all three levels of faith. That’s why James says, “Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (James 2: 17). And I want to add; faith that is not personal is not real. In a discussion of our differences, I once questioned a man’s belief. Not having a ready answer, he turned to his partner and asked, “What do we believe about that?” In Hebrews 11, we have a great list of those who triumphed by faith – their own personal faith. They were not victors simply because they believed God’s word but because they lived it. Most folk live by what they were taught when they were young or by what their church of party believe or by current movements; but the mature Christian, the one who understand the Word and has his own faith, live by a deep abiding trust in Jesus Christ. This is the cardinal characteristic of a mature Christian.

Note: I haven’t forgotten that we are studying Philippians; we’ll be back on track very soon for questions on chapter three and a look at chapter four.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Request

Dear Friend,

My last essay was, "Christian Maturity." My next one should be, "The Cardinal Characteristic of a mature Christian." But I need your help. Would you please submit what you regard as a leading Christian virtue--a distinguishing characteristic of a a mature Christian. I will list some of your submissions in my next essay, along with my own determination. Please don't send a list of virtues that any Christian might display, but give me one or two traits that are truly distinguishing--perhaps ones that you would most like to possess.

Thank you,

Lacy

Friday, January 2, 2009

Christian Maturity

Phil. 3:1-21

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).

Paul begins this chapter by mentioning two classes of persons. First, there are the unrighteous ones who persecute Christians. These he calls “dogs,” “evil workers,” and “false circumcision” (these pretenders claim to have earned righteousness by obeying the Law). Secondly, there are the righteous ones who are being persecuted, whom Paul calls “perfect” because they are growing in faith as the Lord expects them to do. Regarding the latter, Paul continues, “We are the true circumcision (heart circumcised Rom. 2:29), who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” Then, in order to be an effective teacher, Paul gives his Jewish credentials and immediately denounces them as an example for other believes. “I count all things to be loss,” he says, “in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteous of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Paul knows that he is on the right road and that he has not yet reached his destination. He also has some sage advice for those of us who are trying to become mature Christians.

1. Live what you know and God will show you more. “Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by the same standard to which we have attained” (vs. 15, 16).

2. Follow mature examples. “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (v. 17).

3. Be aware of the enemies of Christ and don’t let them influence you. “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things” (v. 1, 19).

4. Remember that you are a citizen of heaven and Christ will come for you. “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 20).

5. Think often about what Christ will do for you when He comes. “(He) will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (v.21). “Behold, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is” (I John 3:2). “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).

6. Rejoice in the Lord always. “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord (v. 1).

7. What Paul has written is a“safeguard” for us (v. 1).

Many Christians lament the fact that they are immature. Some try too hard to grow while others don’t try at all. Christian maturity doesn’t come by following rules any more than righteousness comes by obeying the Law. Study these statements and “think on these things;” see if they won’t help you to “press on toward the goal” and make this way of living your life style. This is the meaning of Christian maturity.