Rambles and Rambles

Walking In The Spirit

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-26 NKJV)

God’s Painting

Society says that how the Bible lays out the roles in marriage is ancient and archaic. That it shouts inequality and is unfair. That the way to go now is by being “progressive”, letting everyone do as they please.

Take a paint brush and paint for example of a marriage. See the brush as the husband and the paint as the wife. In order for anything to be done correctly, they need each other. To paint a picture or paint a wall, both are needed equally. The paint is no greater than the brush and the brush no greater than the paint. However, they each have their differing roles in the scope of the project (marriage). The brush leads the paint where to strike the canvas, the speed, the pressure, the color. The paint is guided by the brush, not out of chauvinism, but rather out of duty to make sure the picture comes out correctly. The paint accepts and submits to the brush as the leader for without it, the picture will be incomplete, blank, or just splashes of color imitating what could and should be a masterpiece.

Neither one should see itself as greater than the other.

As the paint submits to the brush, the brush also takes care to watch over the paint. It makes sure to not stretch it too thin, to put too much pressure on it and to guide it appropriately so that the canvas or painting is not torn.

But beyond even those two, the brush and the paint, there is One more. One that without, there would be no painting, no movement of the brush, no masterpiece. The One Who, like the brush guiding the paint, guides the brush. The One who puts together the two and paints a masterpiece that neither the brush nor the paint may understand or be able to see until His work is finished; and during the process, the two must have faith in the Painter’s vision of what will come of their marriage.
The One, God, orchestrates each movement, creating something so beautiful that neither the brush nor the paint would be able to do on their own, nor out of order of duty and role.

These roles aren’t archaic. They’re for a purpose. For the One Who made both, to create a masterpiece of a marriage, and every time we try to reverse roles or change them around slightly or largely, all we are doing is creating havoc for the Painter and when brushes and paint are no longer of use, they’re thrown out and others who are willing and accepting of their true roles will be used for His glory.

The masterpiece is created in love and guidance. Who are we to interfere?

Evaluating Our Suffering

“By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler.”
- 1 Peter 4:15

We must not presume that God blesses every possible kind of suffering a Christian may become involved in.

It’s quite obvious that some sufferings and trials are not part of God’s plan for us. Believers should never suffer because they’ve murdered, robbed, or done evil. But in today’s verse Peter mentions a fourth category—“a troublesome meddler”—whose meaning is not as apparent and whose application might be more in dispute.

“A troublesome meddler” interferes with everyone else’s business, and Paul says we should avoid such persons (1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:14; 1 Tim. 5:13). But I believe Peter also uses the term to refer to a political agitator, someone who actively tries to disrupt the normal function of the government. If this understanding is correct, then Peter is commanding Christians to be good citizens in their non-Christian cultures (cf. Rom. 13:1-7). We are to go to work, live peacefully, witness to others, and exalt Christ.

Believers are not to act like radicals who are intent on overthrowing existing authority or imposing Christian standards on society. Getting into trouble with your employer or being fired by him because of disruptive activities, even those done in the name of Christ, is not honorable but disgraceful.

Most believers would never even consider the possibility of being involved in militia groups that are engaged in separatist activities and are violently opposed to all legitimate governmental authority. Yet some Christians wrongly see validity in strategies of civil disobedience and violence as they oppose some government-sanctioned acts, specifically abortion. They are not satisfied with simply providing biblical counsel or material and educational assistance at a local pro-life agency, as many believers have done over the past twenty-five years. Therefore, if we would seek to promote what is right and redress injustices, we must use scriptural discernment regarding which strategies to implement or support. Similarly, the Lord wants us to evaluate all our trials and sufferings and be sure they are placing us in the center of His will. Otherwise, we can claim to suffer righteously when we are not and merely be “a troublesome meddler,” which is not pleasing to God.

Suggestions for Prayer:
Pray that your church would always have biblical reasons for supporting any efforts at redressing social wrongs.

For Further Study:
What areas does Peter include in 1 Peter 2:11-19 when he encourages obedience to authority?

From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

Letter About How To Relate To A Relative Who Is Homosexual

A good yet tough answer to this dilemma by Pastor John Piper. This can also be applied to friendships.

“I wrote this letter to a real person based on this real situation. We have altered names and a few details to sufficiently conceal the identities, but be assured this is a real situation involving real people, and the pastoral concern is painfully not made up.”

Dear Robert,

The situation that you and your parents are in is agonizing. I groan with you imagining what I might feel and do if one of my sons announced his homosexual orientation and his intention to affirm it and live in it, instead of bemoan it and renounce it and strive in chastity against its domination. It would be heart-breaking. I have seen parents’ hearts broken at Bethlehem. There is another family in virtually this identical situation only with a daughter. I could connect you if you wished. The pain of parents is one of the deepest kinds, it seems to me. Which is why Romans 8:32 is a trumpet blast of good news: he did not spare his own Son. His own Son! As if this were the hardest thing of all - to lose a Son. And add to that hours on the cross and in the grave to bear the sins of his people.

“What would Jesus do?” is a good, but precarious question. Are there any instances in Jesus’ ministry where he met, forgave, and admonished a person to forsake sin, and yet they did not change? I know of none. Peter temporarily denied him, but broke in great weeping and changed long term. The one possible example would be Judas, who was among the twelve as a thief and yet not driven out. It would seem dangerous to make Judas a typical case when in fact his whole role seems to be for the sake of fulfilling Scripture that Jesus might be betrayed by a confidant (John 13:18). What we do find in the Gospels is the warning from Jesus, “Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you” (John 5:14, cf. John 8:11). In other words, Jesus was incredibly merciful with people in the most horrid sins, and was willing to meet with them and talk to them and love them and touch them. But when the repentance and cleansing came, the expectation was that they would walk in a new way, and that if they did not, dire judgment would befall them. How he would relate to someone who turned away from his way after being forgiven is not described.

But there are hints that he would not have been lenient. Besides John 8:11, for example, there is the parable of the servant who was forgiven a 10-million-dollar debt and then went out and would not forgive a 10-dollar debt: Jesus described him as thrown into prison until he pay the last farthing (Matthew 18:23-35).

So it is not easy from the actual acts or words of Jesus to build a pattern of behavior toward unrepentant sinners in our circle of acquaintances or family.

But the case is different when we come to the letters of Paul. He gives counsel that goes further than Jesus did explicitly. For example, he said, in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13:

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler - not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

The issue here becomes whether your brother is a professing believer or not. If he is, then this text is very relevant. So is 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15:

If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

This is perhaps not what you or your mother, not to mention your dad, would want to hear, namely, that if Larry (not his real name) insists he is a believer, then your ostracism that Paul counsels is more extensive than you are already applying. In other words, if a professing believer lives in open, persistent, unrepented sin, then we are to treat him with an aching separation, that longs for his repentance and return, but does not spend time together in casual ways as if nothing seriously were not amiss.

Whereas if Larry is not a professing believer, then you would treat him like you would most other unbelievers, and not rule out having him for dinner in the hope that your friendship would win him to Christ. Both loving ostracism and loving connections are ways of winning. But Paul proposes one for professing believers and another for professing unbelievers.

If Larry is a professing unbeliever, it seems to me that other factors figure into whether he and his friend are welcome to dinner. I would not think it is automatic, but certainly would not be ruled out from the start. The issues become wisdom issues with lots of implications. One is in need of great spiritual wisdom, as Paul says in Colossians 1:9. It may indeed be perceived as condoning the relationship. But maybe not - especially if steps were taken to make crystal clear that 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 is a major concern of your hearts:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

In other words, if Larry is a confessed unbeliever in Jesus, then the door of connectedness is much wider than if he is a confessed believer.

This does not make your life easier. But I pray it will bring added light and give you some help in seeking the mind of the Lord in an agonizingly difficult and painful situation.

God is merciful and will help you (Hebrews 4:16; 13:5-6).

For the supremacy of God in all things,

Pastor John

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Being Prepared for the Worst of Trials

“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.”
- Matthew 7:25 

Faithfulness in discipleship will mean we are prepared for the worst possible adversity and trial.

People are often unprepared for life’s unexpected upheavals. This was vividly illustrated by the once-in-500-year floods that struck the Northern Plains of the United States in the spring of 1997. One community on the Red River in North Dakota was especially devastated by the surprising events. After working diligently for days to fortify levees against the swelling river, people in Grand Forks were hopeful. But one early morning in mid-April 1997, the relentless Red River broke through the earthen and sandbag flood barriers and inundated the entire town of 50,000. Few deaths or serious injuries occurred, but practically the entire population had to abandon homes and property to the muddy waters. It was one of the largest mass evacuations in the history of American disasters, and it will take many months, even years,before Grand Forks and surrounding towns can repair all the flood damage.

For believers, facing such an utterly unexpected trial can help them learn to grow closer to the Lord. And they can prepare themselves by resting in the truth of the prophet’s words: “The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock” (Isa. 26:3-4).

Jesus emphasized the need for total self-denial by His followers and complete preparedness to face any challenge, even death (Matt. 10:38-39). If we are living daily as His disciples, no trial will catch us totally unprepared. We might be temporarily surprised and feel inadequate initially, but we won’t remain that way. We already know from our studies this month that a sovereign God has the right to bring certain trials and tribulations into our lives, and He is also more than able to give us every resource we need to endure (Phil. 4:11-13; 1 Peter 5:6-7).

Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the strength and wisdom He gives through His Word so that you may be prepared for whatever trial He sends.

For Further Study:
Read 1 Peter 5:6-11, and spend some extra time meditating on or memorizing one or two of the verses. Write down one key thought that relates to being spiritually prepared for trials.

From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

Trials’ Lessons: Right Priorities

“For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
- Genesis 22:12

Trials from the Lord will reveal to believers what they love and appreciate the most.

Abig part of the reason for the Lord’s testing Abraham at Moriah was to show him what he valued most in life. The question God wanted Abraham to answer was, “Do you love Isaac more than Me, or do you love Me more than Isaac?” And the Lord was prepared for the drastic test of taking Abraham’s son’s life if that’s what was necessary for Abraham to give God first place in everything.

God also tries the sincerity of those today who claim to love Him (see Deut. 13:3; Matt. 22:36-37). Jesus was so concerned that we have our priorities right that He made this radical statement: “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26).

Christians must love Christ so much that by comparison they will seem to hate their families and themselves. In order to test this first love, God might in some dramatic fashion ask us to renounce the many tugs and appeals from family and place His will and affections first in our life.

That kind of radical obedience, which is what Abraham had, always leads to God’s blessings. Jesus Himself was a perfect example of this principle. Because He was fully human as well as fully God, our Lord did not escape ordinary pain and hardship while on earth. As the Suffering Servant (Isa. 53), He learned completely what it means to obey through pain and adversity, all the way to His crucifixion (Heb. 5:7-9). As a result, the Son was exalted by the Father (Phil. 2:8-9).

God sometimes makes our path of obedience go through the experiences of trials and sufferings. But if we are faithful to His Word and will, those difficulties will teach us to value and appreciate God’s many blessings.

Suggestions for Prayer:
Pray that your priorities each day would stay in line with God’s.

For Further Study:
Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9. What must be the top priority for all believers?

From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.