"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:14-15).
Attitude is tremendously important in any aspect of one’s life. It is an open window to the soul giving a much greater view of one's inner makeup than might be desired. God considered attitude to be so significant that He exercised extreme punitive measures on those of the Children of Israel who were guilty of complaining as they faced the harsh and difficult journey across the wilderness.
"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved [brooded] upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2).
Unfortunately, the word "brood" has been saddled with a bundle of wrong connotations although it originally was a very powerful and positive word. Contemporary usages of it have it meaning "to mope, fret, worry, or to feel sorry for one's self." In its more primitive roots it has the idea of creative contemplation and meditation.
'Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith' (1 Peter 5:8,9a).
I find the life of faith to be extremely difficult—in fact, a life of warfare. Much of my ministry has been a faith ministry in that I have not been salaried or, when pastoring pioneer mission churches, extremely underpaid. I have been foolish enough (from the world's point of view) to take my large family into difficult situations where our only sure resource was our Heavenly Father.
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter 4:12 KJV).
The indicators of a healthy life have little or nothing to do with a trouble-free existence. Obviously, all of us prefer to avoid all of the problems we can but the bottom line is, they will come our way in various forms and at different times as threats to our well-being. A healthy life is one that is equipped and prepared to meet the difficulties that do come with grace and aplomb.
It is not a sign that things have gone wrong or that God doesn't care if difficulties do come. If we are properly tuned spiritually, these things will be little more than a "bump in the road" on the road we are destined to walk.
We tend to be results oriented. In our thinking a vision requires goals with the results of those goals demonstrating our progress in achieving our vision. I’m not quite so sure God sees it that way. God said: 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord' (Isaiah 55:8).
My friend, Kenny Ashley, shared about a man who was instructed by God to push on a huge rock in his yard every day. After years of being obedient the rock had still not moved. The man became discouraged and was complaining to God because he was unable to move the rock. To which God replied: 'I didn't tell you to move the rock--only to push on it.' He went on to call the man's attention to the changes which had occurred in him as a result of his obedience. That illustrates what I was trying to say yesterday and want to enlarge on today.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
I do not usually involve myself in political discussions and don’t plan to do so in this message. However, I was caused to give thought to a peculiar situation that has come up in the State of Indiana House of Representatives. A federal judge has prohibited the use of the name of Jesus in prayers given in the House.
I have no interest in getting into the politics of the situation or even the injustice of such a decision. What has occurred to me, however, is how fear is apparently struck in the heart of unbelievers when the Name of Jesus is properly used! What is there about that Name that should cause such anger or even panic?
I heard someone, speaking of a particular body of people, say: "They don't know enough for you to teach them anything." That statement struck me as being funny, knowing that the speaker wasn't being so much judgmental as he was concerned.
There is some merit, in some instances, to a statement such as that. There has to be a base of understood knowledge before one can easily receive more.
Isaiah gives the formula to understanding when he says: "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10). Understanding must come in bite sized portions for it to move from the head to the heart. Many of us came out of Bible School or Seminary with our heads full of knowledge but with little understanding. This is due to the fact that we were given so much in such a compressed period of time that it is impossible for us to develop real understanding.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
I have puzzled for some time over the meaning and intent of our theme this morning. What precisely was meant by “the joy that set before Him?” Was it making reference to Jesus excitement about getting back to Heaven? Did it have the idea of Him completing the task of His death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation? Was it referring to His rewards for His obedience. I think that the answer might include any or all of the above but may be none of the above.
Although we come to know God in an instant, there is a sense that we will not know Him to the fullest extent until we see Him in Heaven. At that time we will know as we are known.
My wife and I have been married for 45 years. From one point of view, we can never be more married than we were on that day, February 5, 1955, at the First Baptist Church in Pharr, TX, when Pastor Euell Clark pronounced us to be husband and wife. There is another sense that we have spent most of our lives learning to be what we already are.
It takes time, focus, and commitment to really know God. Like marriage, we come to know Him through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in want. We know Him because He continuously seeks us and because of that we seek Him.
A battle has always centered around the church, both the local church and at large. It is uniquely the body of Christ and as such will receive the same attention from the enemy that He gave Jesus no matter where it is located. It should be noted that the greater the threat to Satan’s kingdom, the more intense will be his anger and attack.
There are places in the world where his attack is overt and deadly with persecution and martyrdom occurring. In many places, for a person to become a believer is to invite essential excommunication from society, beginning at home, or even being marked for death. Obviously, in such places the church is largely underground.
