SAVED TO SERVE

 

Most evangelicals are familiar with Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  We ought to have those words embedded in our mind. 

Yet, we may not be as acquainted with the next verse, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them,” (v. 10). These go together—two sides of the same coin of salvation. While we are saved apart from our works—the root of salvation is solely in the work of Christ—our salvation is never apart from producing works—the fruit of salvation is seen in the work of Christ in Christians. The quote attributed to Martin Luther states it, “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”  

We are saved to serve. That is true of every child of God. This Gospel message must be preached. It must also be observed in the preacher’s life as well as heard from his lips.  Otherwise the words ring hollow and we may be branded a hypocrite.  The call is, “Practice what you preach!”

Ours is a POETIC LIFE, “For we are His workmanship…”.  The Greek word for “workmanship,” is poiema.  Our English word, “poem,” is derived from that. We might say it is a life that is “poetry in motion.”  I heard my mentor, Dr. Stephen Olford, put it, “a life of rhyme and reason.”  

God is the Author. He has written the script in His providence. As I look back over the course of my nearly seventy years of life, I can see how God has worked in me and through me. What may seem isolated events at the time, are now seen to be lines of sacred verse that God has been putting together. Since we are still here on earth, we may be sure there are more stanzas to be written.

Ours is also a PRACTICAL LIFE, “created in Christ Jesus for good works…”.  Orthodoxy in our doctrine leads to orthopraxy in our duty. If our belief is Biblical, then our behavior will be practical. God sovereignly created Adam and Eve for a sacred responsibility—to steward the creation and to shun the temptation.  Yet, they failed. Sin is now part of our natural state. 

Jesus came to give us a new nature—to fashion a new creation in Christ. This is regeneration. Yet, we are to flesh out our faith in daily duty. In Christ, His crucifixion means we die to self, sin, and this sphere of the world system (cf. Gal. 6:14), as we have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, we live, so in Christ’s resurrection we live for Him—yet, not I but Christ living in and through me, (cf. Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6). 

Further, ours is a PREPARED LIFE, “which God prepared beforehand…”. Before you were born, God already knew you. He fashioned you in your mother’s womb, infusing you with personality and capacity to be His choice servant. Then, He directed your life to the point of conviction of sin and conversion to salvation by the Gospel of grace. 

How all this transpired has been the topic of theological debate for two millennia of church history—so I will not attempt to resolve every question in this brief devotion. Yet, we cannot deny that God is sovereign and He orchestrates all things to the fulfillment of His will. This all redounds to His glory. 

Perhaps you are familiar with the quote, “Try to explain predestination and you may lose your mind.  Try to explain it away and you may lose your soul.” I am content to accept there is mystery in the harmony of God’s sovereignty in His choices and my responsibility for my choices. To paraphrase the Shorter Westminster Catechism, “The chief end of [Dennis] is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  You can insert your name into that, as well.

In conclusion, ours is a PROGRESSIVE LIFE, “that we should walk in them.”  Perfection is not attainable on earth. That awaits eternity—to be glorified when we see Jesus face to face, “but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is,” (1 Jn. 3:2b). While perfection is not attainable, progression is achievable. John also said, “Beloved, now we are the children of God…. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure,” (1 Jn. 3:2a, 3). More and more, as I express the life of Christ within, I exhibit more of His likeness without. 

Jesus is the Model Servant. He set the example for us. We are being like Him than when we are serving others.  We are saved to serve!

THE WAY, WHAT, AND WHY WE HEAR THE WORD

The parables of Jesus recorded in Mark 4 are about preaching and teaching the Word of God, and how that supernatural act brings spiritual life and growth to those who hear and heed it. As we come to the Lord’s Day and the gathering of the saints, let us do so with confidence that God’s intended results will come from that life-giving Book. We are likely familiar with the parable of the sower found in Mark 4:1-20. It deals with the condition of the soil—that is, the human heart. Only the soil that produces a crop (in varying measure) is good soil—one out of four hearers in this illustration. The Lord does not change the thrust of his sermon, as He proceeds further with four other parables, that we will group under three headings.

First, consider THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD IN SHINING LIGHT, (v. 21-23). 

Sin is for the shadows. This is the dark depravity of the human heart. The preacher is meant to take the Word of God as a Gospel light to summon men and women from the darkness to Christ who is the Light of the World. Pastors need to speak plainly. The light is not meant to be stuck under a basket of confusion or under the bed of comfort. The first type of teaching leaves the hearer scratching his head and the second style, rubbing his or her eyes. The preacher is not there to impress the people with his profundity or confound them with his obscurity. They need the light of truth plainly and simply communicated.  The congregation needs to come with preparation—ears to hear.  The best sermon will not help someone who is absent or absent-minded.  This has to do with the way we hear.

Second, note THE RECEPTIVITY OF THE WORD IN SHARING TRUTH, (v. 24-25). 

The church member has a responsibility to be selective in what they hear. They must make sure there is an alignment of the preacher’s sermon with the truth of Scripture. Obviously, the church needs caution to determine if the instruction is doctrinally sound or theologically deviant. If you attend a church or are part of a denomination that has departed from the Word, then you need to depart from that congregation. Saturate the place with your absence!  However, preaching can be so basic for so long as to end up giving people a bottle full of milk, sermon after sermon, and never nourish them with a plateful of meat!  Again, we do not start with fundamental matters and move on from them, for there will always be those in the fellowship who need the simple Gospel for they are lost, with others who are babes in Christ needing to be spoon fed. Yet, the preacher must give more than that for others are eager to grow, being receptive to the truth. Expository preaching produces a well-balanced diet for all stages of spiritual development. It will sort out the receptive hearers from the carnal crowd.  Some will ravenously consume it as they know it is feeding their soul. Others will spit it out and move on searching for a sugary sermonette that puts them in a spiritual slumber. This relates to what we hear.

Third, observe THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE WORD IN SOWING SEED, (v. 26-‭32‬‬)

In both these parables, there is similarity in presenting the productivity of God’s Word when it is faithfully sown.  The preacher is not responsible for fruitfulness. He is accountable for his faithfulness. We do the sowing and God does the saving. It is not a product of human ability, but heavenly activity. The preacher must make certain to cultivate the soil, sow good seed in abundance, and prayerfully prepare in faith for a harvest. He must be capable of gathering and conserving.  Do not be disheartened if there seems small progress. God can grow a church into a large work, not only in terms of numbers, but in Kingdom impact. Preacher, trust God and press on!  This speaks to why we hear.

If the Word of God is faithfully proclaimed then there will be results. God has promised this supernatural impact. Everybody who sits under the Word will leave changed by it. It is to the welfare of those who receive it, “For whoever has, to him more will be given,” (v.25a). But, sadly, it is to the worsening of those who reject it, “but whoever does not have even what he has will be taken away from him,” (v.25b).

WHO’S YOUR ONE, Day 19

Pray for Good Soil

“Then he said to them: “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables? The sower sows the word. Some are like the word sown on the path. When they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them. And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy. But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away. Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:13-20‬ ‭CSB‬‬

People will inevitably respond to the gospel differently. Some hear the truth, and Satan steals it. Others hear it and joyfully accept it, but the hardship of this world uproot and reveal its shallowness. Others allow the care of this world to choke out the truth, and what fruit they would have produced dies. And some hear the good news, receive it with joy and produce fruit beyond what we could ever ask or imagine. You are not responsible for how your one responds to the message, but you are responsible to share it. God will be with us as we spread gospel seeds and may the good news of the kingdom fall on fertile soil in the hearts of hearers.

Pray the heart of your one would be like the seed planted on good soil, which produced much fruit. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

JESUS, THE TRUE VINE: Abiding in Fruitfulness

“‘I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.’” (‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

This is the seventh and last of the “I AM” statements in John’s Gospel. Jesus declares that He is the True Vine in contrast to Israel that claimed to be God’s vine, yet were a false vine because they were not a fruitful vine. It is through Christ that all the covenant blessings promised to Abraham’s seed are fulfilled.

True followers of Christ are those branches that are vitally connected to Him. Christianity is not the dead branch of religion that may appear good, but has no eternal fruitfulness for there is no real relationship with Jesus. Such branches are destined for the fire. Jesus said that His followers are recognized by their fruit (Matt.7:16-20).

There will be varying degrees of fruitfulness, but there will be genuine fruit (Gal.5:22-23). Our aim is to see increasing fruitfulness and thus to glorify God.

The first essential is a saving connection. The word, “abide” is used eleven times in eleven verses. This is a relationship that comes by faith and is manifested by fruit. You never see a branch on a grape vine straining to produce fruit. It is the connection that makes the difference.  Apart from Christ, you can do nothing (v.5b)—zip, zero, zilch!

The second essential is the pruning action. Jesus is the Vine, but the Father is the Vinedresser. The way branches become productive is by pruning. Good branches are cut back and that makes them produce more fruit rather than more foliage. That it increases is seen in the progression from “fruit” to “more fruit,” (John 15:2), to “much fruit,” (v.5).    

The third essential is the spiritual transformation. This happens as we abide daily in God’s Word until it abides in us and abide in prayer with Him (v.7).  We often have scant and shriveled fruit because we spend little time in hearing from Christ in His Word and conversing with Him in prayer. You cannot expect to be fruitful for Christ in public if you are not faithful with Christ in private.

FAITHFUL TO THE CALL

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,” (I Timothy‬ ‭1:12‬‬)

In Gospel ministry, it is easy for the pastor to be focused on fruitfulness. He looks for results—with a twofold temptation. He may be discouraged when the numbers of people professing faith and attending worship are in decline. He is tempted to give up. If, on the other hand, it is a season of growth—more bottoms in the pews and more bucks in the plate, he may be tempted to puff up.

It isn’t that fruitfulness is unimportant. Jesus said that the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8). The key to such fruitfulness is abiding in Christ—a vital and vibrant connection to His life within us (John 15:1-7). Yet, our ability to discern how fruitful we are is not always easily measured here and must await the judgment of Christ hereafter. A congregation may increase numerically through carnal means—a mile wide and an inch deep—or, the soil may be rocky, shallow, and weed-infested in the main (Matt.13:3-7) with small numbers growing spiritually (v.8) in ways hard to detect—such as in love (John 15:9, 17), obedience (v.10), joy (v.11), devotion to Christ (v.12-15), answered prayer (v.16). The church may not attract a lot of people, but be scorned by the world (v.17-25). The rejection of the world may indicate their connection to Christ!

So, yes, seek to be fruitful in ministry, but focus on being faithful. Our fruitfulness, as God evaluates it, will rest in our faithfulness. A farmer may be faithful in a season of drought and see little fruit. There are some things beyond his control. What is always within his control is faithfulness to the task. Thus, God is looking for faithful men. Paul rejoices in our text that God had “counted me faithful.”

Although we must surrender ourselves in sacrificial service to the Lord, nonetheless this is an indicator of God’s grace at work in us and through us, so that even in this we must give Him glory and not claim it for ourselves. Paul speaks of how God employed him—“putting me into the ministry”—and enabled him—“Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me.”  As the Apostle was grateful for the grace of a call to Gospel ministry, so must we, who have such an assignment, be filled with awe that God would choose us!

So, as a pastor facing another Lord’s Day tomorrow, let us prepare our souls spiritually in seeking the Spirit of God and prepare our sermons dutifully in studying God’s Word. Then, let us be faithful to preach the truth in love, without fear or favor, trusting in God to make us fruitful.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHURCH

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:24-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The church will not rise above the level of commitment expressed by her leaders.  Paul was passionate and productive, “for the sake of His body, which is the church” (Col.1:24).  I want to challenge every leader—myself included—to elevate their effort for the sake of Christ’s body, the church.  I want to challenge those who are not in positions of leadership to pray for and encourage those who are—and to consider getting busy yourself!

There are several imperatives for us to follow in Colossians 1:24-29.

1. SUFFERING FOR THE CAUSE (v.24)   Why did Paul joyfully suffer?  It was for the cause of Christ; for “you,” he says—meaning the church.  We are familiar with the physical fitness mantra, “No pain; no gain.”  That is true spiritually, as well.  Every leader God uses has been forged in the fire of difficulty.  This wasn’t theoretical to Paul.  Note the word, “now,” and be reminded that as he was writing it was from a prison.  He was suffering in jail—his only crime being faithfulness to Christ.  But, he rejoiced!

2. STEWARDSHIP OF THE CAUSE (v.25-27)   Mark the word, “stewardship.”  It’s about more than money.  Paul was called to be a “minister.”  That word has to do with service.  Each of us has a work to do for God.  A steward was a household manager who took care of his master’s assets.  That’s what we do in the House of God.  Paul was a minister of the Word—a mystery he was unveiling.  The Apostle was part of a great movement to spread the Gospel around the world.

3. SUCCESS IN THE CAUSE (v.28)   Paul was a man of focus!  Benjamin Disraeli said, “The secret of success is constancy of purpose.”  D.L. Moody stated, “Give me a man that says, ‘This one thing I do,’ not ‘these fifty things I dabble in.’”  Paul had a laser-like intensity in his mission—to proclaim Jesus!  This is the church’s mission and is to be the leaders’ passion.  We cannot allow anything to distract us.

4. STRENGTH FOR THE CAUSE (v.29) Spiritual responsibilities demand supernatural resources. We are not smart enough to lead the church properly. We are not strong enough to lead the church productively. God wants to work in us and through us. This work is the work of God and He alone can do it, but remember this lesson I heard from John Maxwell years ago, “Apart from God, we cannot, and apart from us, God will not.”

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

There has only been one person who has ever lived the Christian life, and that is Christ Himself!  Our life as a Christian is not me trying to do my best and working my hardest to be like Jesus, for that is impossible.  Rather, it is His life in me being revealed through me, as I abide in a vital relationship with Him.

Jesus is the source of our life.  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-4‬). We have no life apart from Him.  He is the True Vine—the one and only.  In a faith relationship with Him, we demonstrate that by the fruit we bear, and He prunes us that we may be more fruitful.

Jesus is the substance of our life. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (v.5-8‬). Jesus doesn’t just give us life, He gives us Himself as our life. If we are not connected with Him, we are just dead branches fit for the fire. As we daily depend on Him, staying connected through the Word and prayer, His life is manifest in ours.

Jesus is the sum of our life. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (v.9-11‬). When we sum up what it means to truly live—it is the life of Jesus, seen in abiding love and abounding joy. In the end, as we stand before God, this is what will matter.  Then, we may say with Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil.1:21).

THE ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS

“A man is not established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.
The wicked covet the catch of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:3, 12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Twice in this chapter, Solomon uses the expression, “the root of the righteous.”  How are we to understand that?

THE DEFINITION OF THIS—Our righteousness is rooted in faith.

The righteous are those who are not merely self-righteous—proclaiming their own goodness in prideful religiosity that is not matched by reality. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were condemned for that.  Our Lord branded them hypocrites, and their hate for Him led them to reject the Lord of glory and demand His death.

The truly righteous are those so declared by God.  They possess the righteousness which is by faith.  That position of declared righteousness is the very righteousness of Jesus as He has paid for our sin by bearing it on the cross and provided us His righteousness as we have received Him. “For [God] made [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor.5:21).

It is more than a profession of righteousness, for when it is real, there is the practice of righteousness.  We are not saved because we do works of righteousness, but we do works of righteousness because we are saved.

Then there is THE DESIRABILITY OF THIS—Our root provides stability and productivity.

Stability comes when we our roots reach into the righteous standing of faith.   “A man is not established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.” (v.3). The wicked will be uprooted in the day of judgment, but the righteous will be rooted in the Garden of God. In this life we have the stability to stand when “the howling‬ storms of doubt and fear assail,” as the old hymn states.  We stand firmly on the promises of God.

Productivity arises from roots that draw from vital connection to Christ through faith.  “The wicked covet the catch of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit.” (v.12). The wicked are always lusting for more, while the righteous generate much fruit for the glory of God (John 15:8) and this fruit is the life of Christ reproduced by His Spirit.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal.5:22-23a).  We serve fruitfully in the power of God.

Are you a tree rooted in righteousness or a tumbleweed driven by the prevailing winds of the age?

FOLLOW YOUR HEART?

Read Jeremiah 17.

We have heard the instruction, “Follow your heart!” We dare not! Rather, heed the will of God found in the Word of God. The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. Sin has been engraved on it with a diamond-tipped, iron pen, so that what we think is good is bad and that which we brand bad is good.

The people of Judah were doomed to judgment for following their hearts’ diabolical desires. They worshipped the creation rather than the Creator. They trusted in what they could see instead of the immortal, invisible God who saw them.

The beautiful, bountiful blessings of a land flowing with milk and honey would be stripped and plundered by a marauding army. It would be as though they were sitting in the gasoline of God’s wrath, and their sins were the match they would continually be striking, until one day the explosive flame of HIs fury ignited.

We can know the blessing of trusting in God or the cursing of trusting in ourselves. To look to the Lord as our hope is to find the stability of being rooted by the river of His grace, the beauty of evergreen foliage where we reflect His glory, and the productivity of fruitfulness as His Spirit works in and through us.

Jeremiah testifies to his faithfulness in a populace that had forsaken the Lord. He cries out for God to spare him even as he visits judgment on his generation. He confesses his hope in the Lord.

It is never easy to stand alone. But, really the child of God never does—the Lord is near all who trust in Him. We can speak against the evil of our day. They may not be persuaded to repent. This generation may choose to stop their ears to the truth—that is the deceitfulness of the heart. What I have control over is my own path—to choose God’s way, as I look to His wisdom and lean on His strength. In the words of the old hymn:

“Stand up, stand up for Jesus!
Stand in His strength alone,
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.”

GRADUATE TO GREATNESS

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,

And He delights in his way.  (Psalm 37:23)

You who are graduating are going to be making the biggest decisions of your lives in the next few years: you will be deciding about continuing your education, getting married, and about your career.  Do you want to just make a living or make a life?  Will you graduate to greatness?  I’m not talking about fortune and fame—and all that the world says constitute greatness.   I mean true greatness—a life that makes an impact for God and for good.  David tells us how.

You must EXHIBIT FEARLESSNESS (v.1-4).  Fear will paralyze us.  Panic will drive us into bad decisions.  As we look at our world today, there is every reason to fear.  God, however, calls us to walk by faith and not by sight.  David was only a youth when he went out to fight a ten-foot giant armed only with a slingshot.  Human perspective would lead one to conclude, “He’s too big to beat!” David chose heaven’s perspective and concluded, “He’s too big to miss!”  Henry Blackaby has said, “Fear is having faith in the enemy.”  Who is bigger—the enemy or God?

Those who graduate to greatness also EXPRESS FAITHFULNESS (v.5-6).  These verses have been life-changing to me.  It was the evening of July 30, 1976 that my wife, Marilyn, and I were in an open air auditorium on a warm summer night at the Ben Lippen Conference Center.  The late Stephen Olford took this text and challenged us to full-time Christian service.  We had been wrestling with God’s call on our young lives and that night we both stepped out and surrendered to the will of God.  We signed a card, “Lord Jesus, anything, anywhere, anytime, I am ready.”  We embarked on an incredible journey and we haven’t looked back.  We have tried to be faithful to God’s call.  A life of impact for God does not require you to be a pastor or missionary.  God needs His people in all walks of life.  Be faithful wherever God stations you.

People of impact EXCLUDE FRETFULNESS (v.7-8). Three times in these verses we are told this!  The word literally means, “to boil”—we’d say, “hot under the collar.”  It happens when we see others succeed even though we may have worked harder; or someone else gets ahead by cheating while we try to do it right.  Do not get steamed when you think life isn’t fair—it isn’t.  Neither is God, by the way—He is just—which means in the end He’ll do right.  All fretfulness will do is give you ulcers or stroke.  Anger will poison your relationships: with your spouse, kids, fellow workers—even with God!

Those who graduate to greatness EXPERIENCE FRUITFULNESS (v.9-11).  This is a life that will make a difference in the world.  To the Jew, all the blessing of God was tied up in the land—a land flowing with milk and honey.  Jesus quoted this passage as a promise to the meek.  We do not get ahead by striving but serving—not by promoting yourself, but humbling yourself.  When we desire only what God desires, then He delights to give what we desire.  If you commit yourself to God, then it becomes His responsibility to enable you to fulfill that commitment.  Where God’s finger points, His hand provides.  David experienced this fruitfulness.  Where others saw a shepherd boy, God saw a king.  Step out in faith, and graduate to greatness!

 

THE PATH TO PROSPERITY

And whatever he does shall prosper.  (Psalm 1:3d)

Would you like to prosper in anything you do?  Do I have your attention?  God promises that in Psalm 1.  The issue is, “What is true prosperity and how do we get it?”  Most would equate prosperity with money. Yet, you would find some of the richest people to be the most miserable.  True prosperity is wrapped up in the word, “Blessed.”  In the original, it is a plural word.  God’s blessings are always many.  When He gives one, another follows.  It is speaking of a state of blessedness.  This is a life enriched with the friendship and favor of God.  The Psalmist points us to the path that brings us into true prosperity.

There is A DANGER TO AVOID (v.1).  The psalmist begins with a negative. There are both positives and negatives in Scripture.  One danger to avoid is secular counsel, “the counsel of the ungodly.”  Everyday we are inundated with information—a multitude of talking heads telling us what to do.  Some of it is merely nonsense, much of it destructive.  It is Satan’s propaganda, slickly packaged and authoritatively presented by some expert.  Stop your ears to it!  Another danger is sinful companions, “the path of sinners.”  Scripture warns that a companion of fools will be destroyed.  Peer pressure is another powerful force to shape us.  Stay away!  One more peril is scornful cynics, “the seat of the scornful.”  Our age has become increasingly cynical.  It is the inevitable consequence of those who begin to listen to wrong philosophies and doctrines.

The path to prosperity not only has a danger to avoid, but A DELIGHT TO APPLY (v.2).  “But” draws the sharp contrast between the ungodly and the godly.  He does not listen to the wisdom of the world, but of the Word!  He does not linger in the path of sinners, but in the presence of the saints!  He doesn’t learn from skeptical teachers, but the Scriptural truth!  Believers are blessed when they have a passionate love of God’s Word, “his delight is in the law of the Lord.”  Is studying the Bible a duty or delight?  If we do not delight in God’s Word, what does that indicate about our spiritual state?  Then there will be a persistent learning of God’s Word, “in His law he meditates.” The word has to do with rumination—as a sheep chewing its cud.  We are God’s sheep and need to fully digest His truth.  Then comes a practical living of God’s Word, “day and night.”  There needs to be a consistent application of God’s truth.  We are not to be mere hearers of the Word, but doers also.

Then the path to prosperity features A DYNAMIC TO AQUIRE (v.3).  God’s dynamic power is unleashed!  We will be planted, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.”  There will be stability and sustenance whether in seasons of deluge or drought.  We will be productive, “that brings forth its fruit in its season ”  This is the fruit of the Spirit.  Fruitfulness requires patience and pruning—God as the Divine Gardener does this.  We will be perennial, “whose leaf also shall not wither.”  We won’t wither in heat of summer, fall off in fall, and vanish in winter.  There will be consistency in our character and conduct.  We will be prosperous, “and whatever he does shall prosper.”  We will enjoy the blessing of God that touches every dimension of life.

There are two directions with two destinations (v.4-6).  Which will you choose?

HOW TO PRAY FOR OTHER CHRISTIANS

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you….   (Col.1:9a)

Often we pray wholesale when we should pray retail.  General prayers are generally pointless!  We pray, “Lord bless so and so…” and how would we know if He did?  Prayer needs to be specific.  Blind Bartimaeus cried, “Son of David have mercy on me.”  Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”  When he asked for sight, Jesus opened his blind eyes (Mark 10:46-52).  It is also true that prayer must align with God’s will if we are to expect an answer.  The will of God is in the Word of God, so prayers grounded in Scripture unleash the faith that moves the hand of God.  Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-11 is one that we can confidently pray for other Christians.

PRAY FOR THEIR WISDOM, “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (v.9b).  How valuable this is!  When Solomon was given a blank check from God, and could ask for anything he wanted, the young king requested wisdom—and God was so pleased with that He threw in everything else along with it!  No wonder Solomon would later write in Proverbs that it is worth more than gold!  Every day brings a multitude of choices.  It is not always a matter of choosing between right and wrong—which is more readily apparent—but can be a choice between the good and the best—and that is more difficult.  God will enable us to see what lies ahead—“wisdom”—and to see what lies behind things—“spiritual understanding.” 

PRAY FOR THEIR WALK, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him” (v.10a).  Discerning the will of God should direct our walk with God.  Convictions should set our course.  Some folks just get a big head from what they know, when what is needed is a burning heart for what we should do!  Our walk is to be worthy of the precious name that we bear—the name of Christ.  Peter tells us we “should follow His steps” (1 Pet.2:21).  Our prayer is for a life that is fully pleasing to God.  We pray for our brothers and sisters to have a passion for His pleasure as did Paul when he wrote, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  (Phil.3:14) 

PRAY FOR THEIR WORK, “being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (v.10b-11).   Our head—discerning God’s will—our heart—directing our walk—and our hands—doing God’s work—leads us to fruitfulness, forcefulness, and faithfulness.  Our prayer for the saints is that as they abide in Christ they will bear much fruit for the glory of God (see John 15).  This connection to Christ causes His very life to flow in force—a divine energizing—for supernatural service.  Satanic opposition is guaranteed, but God gives endurance that is greater still, so we do not give out, give in, or give up!  We can even smile in the struggle and sweat—full of joy!  This doesn’t arise from self-reliance, but spiritual dependence.

Pray this for your fellow Christians.  I know I want you to pray this for me!  By the way, it would be good to seek this for yourself also.  Just a thought.

GOD’S STANDARD FOR SERVANTS

 

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  (Mark 10:45)

You have heard it said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  Then, what might we understand from four pictures?  That is what we have in the Gospels—four portraits of Christ.  They are not contradictory, but complimentary accounts—giving us a better grasp of God through these pictures of His Son.  Matthew portrays Jesus as the Son of David, come to fulfill Old Testament prophecy—the rightful heir to David’s throne.  Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man, fully God and yet fully man, living as God intended for man to live.  John pictures Jesus as the Son of God, stressing His Deity—God in the flesh come to save us.  It is Mark’s perspective that we will focus on—and he promotes Jesus as the Servant of Jehovah—emphasizing what Jesus did more than what He said.  Jesus is God’s standard for servants.  Mark 10:45 is the key verse.

Jesus, in this verse, highlights HIS SERVICE, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve….”  The first ten chapters of Mark’s Gospel account fit under this heading.  Mark puts the GO in Gospel.  The word, “immediately,” is the Greek word, “euthus,” and is used forty times in Mark’s Gospel.  We see Jesus in action—moving from place to place—consumed with His mission.  He had three and one-half years to complete His assignment, and so the pace He kept was amazing.  That, however, is what servants do.  The standard has been set for those of us who have come to faith in Christ.  Do you know why you are here and what are you doing about it?  The same Spirit who rested on Jesus, resides with us—and all in view of replicating Christ’s work through His body—the church!

The Lord further spoke of HIS SACRIFICE, “and to give His life….”  The bulk of Mark’s material concentrates on chapters eleven through fifteen—and basically one week of the Savior’s life!  Imagine, almost three and one-half years, compressed into ten chapters, while seven days are spread across five chapters!  But that was the week that changed the world—the final days of Christ’s service that brought Him to the fulfillment of His work.  From His entrance, carried on a donkey’s back into Jerusalem with shouts, to His exit, His body carried by the disciple’s hands from Jerusalem amid sobs—the focus is one Calvary.  His sacrifice was the reason He came.  The cross was central to His service—it will be to ours.  Jesus has summoned all who would follow Him to take up the cross, in dying to what we want and living to what God wills.  My daily life is to be an outpouring of surrender to Him—giving my all to the One who gave His all for me!

The final chapter testifies to HIS SUCCESS, “a ransom for many.”  The tomb is not the end of the story!  His resurrection was the visible affirmation of the acceptance of His sacrifice—mission accomplished!  He had done all that was required to obtain our salvation, and could ascend back into the glory from whence He came.  One day too, our service will be over, and I pray that we will hear God’s commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joys of your Lord.”  May we be faithful and fruitful in our service today and everyday!

HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM A SERMON

And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”  ‎ (Mark 4:9)

We are busy people—always so much to do, and seemingly not enough time to do it.  Time is too valuable to squander—yet, the Sunday morning sermon may be the most wasted half-hour of the week!

Are you getting anything from the sermon? If not—then it certainly could be the preacher’s fault.  As a preacher, I am accountable to God to present His truth clearly and compellingly.  The hard reality, however, is that it can also be the fault of the listener.  As we look at the parable of the sower, we discover the problem isn’t with the seed—it is the Word of God.  The issue isn’t with the sower—the Word is faithfully distributed.  The trouble is with the soil—in three-fourths of the cases, the Word of God is unfruitful.  This parable is about hearing God’s Word—and not just having physical hears to tune into the sound waves, but spiritual ears to be on God’s frequency.

There are three levels of hearing required for a sermon to hit the target, as given by Jesus in Mark 4:20, “But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” 

1)      The information level, where we, “hear the word.”  The message goes into the ear and lodges in the brain.  Everything starts there, but must not stop there.  This would require our attendance.  I’ve noticed none of my sermons help those who don’t hear them!  So there must be committed attendance.

2)      The inspiration level, where we, “accept it.”  The message accepted in our head now touches our heart.  Information received can have a powerful effect on our emotions.  Now, as we will see there is more required, but this is an important intersection of truth and our heart.  For this to happen, there needs to be concentrated attention.

3)      The transformation level, where we, “bear fruit.”  The truth that is in our head and heart now moves to our hands.  The mind and emotions now lead to submission of the will.  This is consecrated application.

Thus, in every sermon, there are truths we should learn, emotions we should feel, and actions that should be taken.  Only when we do all three does the seed produce its God-ordained fruit.  How well we respond to the sermon determines how much fruit we bear, “some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Here are some, “hearing aids.”

• Be prayed up.  This opens our heart with expectancy, and cultivates the soil.
• Be present often.  There are times we all miss a service, but sometimes the one you need most, will be the one you miss.
• Be prepared to learn.  Bring your Bible, open it, and take notes.  This will help you concentrate and retain the message.
• Be planning to obey the message.  If what is said is true, then we have to do something about it!  God isn’t making suggestions!

ABIDING FAITHFUL AND ABUNDANTLY FRUITFUL

 

Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  ‎I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. … By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:4-5)

As a branch separated from the grape vine cannot produce fruit, neither can we generate spiritual fruit unless we faithfully abide in Christ.  He is the source of life, and all that is good.  We may think we can do something ourselves, but it will not stand the test of eternal judgment.  Men may commend us for our work, but it will not last beyond our lifetime.  God says it is nothing—and no other opinion matters.  He gets the final word!

What does it mean to abide in Christ?  It is to stay connected to Him through the Word, prayer, and surrender to His will.  This is suggested in John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”  How can I abide in Him without His Word abiding in me?  In the pages of that Holy Book, I meet with Him.  To abide in that Word is more than a casual reading of a verse or two—it is purposeful consideration and persistent contemplation.  In the Scripture, God speaks to me, and then I talk with Him—and I don’t change the subject.  My desires will be linked with His designs, so that I can ask for absolutely anything and He will do it in and through me, for I only want what He wills.  Prayer gives me that connection with Heaven’s resources—and all that is to produce fruit.  Abiding means what God has said to me, and what I have asked God to do through me, is produced as I yield to Him.  James reminds us that we have deceived ourselves if we think hearing is enough—that we will even forget what we have heard—unless we do the Word (see James 1:21-27).  This is abiding in Christ.

What fruit is produced?  It is this, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  (Gal.5:22-23a)  This is the very life of Jesus manifest in us by the Spirit’s indwelling and empowering.  It is Jesus being Jesus in me—the life of the Vine flowing into the branch connected with Him.  This is preeminently the fruit of character that cannot help but be expressed in conduct.

What is the goal of such a life?  “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”  (John 15:8)  Our objective is not to receive accolades from men for our accomplishments, but to bring glory to God for what He has wrought.  The more fruit we bear, the more glory we bring.  That is why we are here; it is the grand design of discipleship.

The disciple is one who has been summoned to follow Christ, to abide with Him and learn from Him.  Then, they will replicate His life from this association.  When the disciple speaks, it is as though the Teacher is speaking through them, for His Words abide in them.  What they do is the extension of the Master’s hands.  ABIDE IN HIM!

HOPE FOR THE HOMESTRETCH: HOPE THAT INSURES FRUITFULNESS

But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:43-45)

An old barren woman and a young virgin girl will be fruitful.  God is glorified in our fruitfulness.

That fruitfulness is rooted in A SERVANT’S CONDESCENSION (v.43-44)  Elizabeth speaks of “my Lord.”  She condescends to take the role of a servant.  Jesus would teach that this is the pathway to greatness—stooping to serve!  He would set the example with the basin and towel.  What we want to hear after crossing the finish line is, “Well done good and faithful servant!”  That is the hope of being crowned hereafter that inspires us to condescend here.

Fruitfulness is also rooted in A SCRIPTURAL CONVICTION (v.45)  These women of God believed the Word of God.  Their hope rested in the unchanging promises of an immutable God.   When our lives are rooted in truth and faith grows, then we become fruitful for God.  Until my last breath, I want to maintain the courage of my convictions and sustain my confidence in the Word of God.

This story ultimately, however, isn’t about Elizabeth and Mary—not even about the baby Elizabeth was carrying—a pretty important fellow named John the Baptist.  They are the supporting cast in this Divine drama.  The "star" of this show is the One who had just begun to form as a mass of cells multiplying in Mary's womb--the Lord Jesus Christ!  He was coming into the world to save us from sin.  No wonder the little John the Baptist leaped for joy in his mother’s womb!  Have you received Him as your Savior?  Leap at the chance!  There is no better time than  now.   You may be headed toward the finish line of life in a few minutes—will you be prepared to meet God?

If you have begun the Christian race with a personal commitment to Christ, how well are you running?  Many fade at the finish—no longer faithful, fervent or fruitful!  The pages of Scripture disclose many such sad examples: Samson, Saul, Solomon--who started off with much potential, but stumbled down the homestretch.  God deliver me!  Lord help us to race on and not falter!