HERE’S HOPE: WE ARE BEING PURIFIED

“teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:12, 14) 

I am being saved from the power of sin.  That is the work of God’s Spirit in sanctification.  That is an on-going process from the moment we are saved until we reach heaven.

How are we purified?  Paul mentions the key element of “teaching” in Titus 2:12.  The Psalmist said it this way, "Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." (Ps.119:11). Old D.L. Moody said it well, "Either this Book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this Book."

First, we are instructed by God’s Word to avoid, "ungodliness." Ungodliness is all that is contrary to the nature of God.  Imagine, a sculptor taking a hunk of rock, then with an image of a horse in his mind, his skilled hands take a hammer and chisel and knock off everything that doesn’t look like a horse.  God is refashioning you into His image, and so knocking off all that is ungodly.  The Word is the hammer He uses.  Jeremiah said, “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jer.23:29)

Secondly, we are taught to avoid, "Worldly lusts."  Those are the perverse passions of our nature that are informed by the putrid philosophies of our culture.  It’s impossible to wallow in a cesspool and stay clean.

This is why we must be instructed by the Word—to have a renewed mind.  “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Rom.12:2).  This sets the choice before us—conformed to the world or transformed by the Word. 

But the Christian life isn't just about what we avoid, but what we apply.  

"We should live soberly."  This is our inward disposition.  We take our walk with God seriously. Then we are to live "righteously." This is our outward demonstration.  My conduct is to be right—especially in how I treat my fellowman.  But further I am to live "godly."  This is our upward devotion.  This is particularly in reference to my relationship with God. 

We must be different to make a difference "in the present age."  Jesus said we would be in the world, but not of it.  A boat is of no use unless it's in the water, but get water in the boat and you're sunk!  Paul says that Christ has purified us "for Himself."  We belong to Him—all we are and all we have. We are "His own special people."  Paul reminds us that we are to be "zealous for good works." Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.  I am like Him when I do that.  While I am not all that I ought to be, I have hope for progress.  That hope should be seen in the change happening in my life.

HERE’S HOPE: WE HAVE BEEN PURCHASED

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men… who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us…”  (Titus 2:11, 14a) 

I have been saved from the penalty of sin.  That's justification—the work of the Spirit whereby we are placed in right standing with God by faith in Christ.  What an incredible hope we have experienced in having our sins blotted out, the stain and shame of our guilt removed, and the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, so that we need have no fear of condemnation.

There are three great Gospel words in our text: "grace" and "salvation" in verse 11 and "redeem" in verse 14.  Grace means that I have freely received the gift of eternal life that I could never deserve, solely because of the merits of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross.  This is salvation.  Salvation means that I was hopeless and helpless myself to better my situation.  I was drowning in an ocean of iniquity when His love lifted me!  The word redemption means to be set free by payment of a price.  We have been purchased.

When Paul wrote these words, men and women were sold in the marketplace like commodities.  Spiritually, we were in the slave market, held fast in the shackles of sin.  Christ paid the price to free us—and the price He paid was His own blood!  He "gave Himself for us" and the great exchange took place—Christ took my sins and gave me His righteousness—all that He is for all that I am. 

That sealed the deal!  Nothing can ever alter that.  My everlasting hope is secured because the debt was marked, “Paid in Full!”

How thankful we should be!

HERE’S HOPE!

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,   looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,   who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

You can lose all your worldly possessions in a flash.  All it takes is one house fire.  I received a phone call last night that one of our deacons and his wife, Chase and Katie Harris, had a house fire.  Thankfully, the family wasn’t home, but the house was badly damaged.  It broke my heart to see it, but I rejoiced that I heard no cursing, just the giving of thanks.  A circle of family and friends gathered and prayed.  I never heard, “Why us? Why God did you let this happen?”  Not that they may not have the subtle hint at those questions creep into the shadow of their thoughts in the future—or even that it is necessarily wrong to wonder what God is up to when some things don’t make sense.  Here is the reality I saw in the face of tragedy: there was no expression of bitterness, but there were several expressions of blessings.  That is what hope produces.

It was evident that their hope does not rest in the things of this world, but in the certainties of eternity.  They might have been shaken, but they stood because they are grounded on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Their house might not have been saved, but Chase and Katie are! 

Do you have such a hope?  You can.  The Harris Family is a faithful one, but still a frail one.  They are not exceptional in the sense that they are people of flesh and blood.  Yet, they are exceptional in that they have chosen to trust in God’s good hand and gracious direction. 

But—and this is so important—all of us can join their ranks if we wish.  It is possible to put your hope where it will stand—not wishful thinking, not hope so, maybe so—but a resolute confidence in Biblical truth.

Paul wrote a preacher named Titus and told him how.  He in turn was to share it with the congregation.  The Holy Spirit means for us to apply it today. 

We see salvation is in three tenses—all bringing hope.  There is a past dimension whereby we have been saved from the penalty of sin.  There is a present dimension meaning we are being saved from the power of sin.  There is a promised dimension when we will be saved from the presence of sin.  Here’s hope!  We’ll explore it further this week.

OUR WORK: How Hope is Shown

"Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need." (Acts 2:43-45 NKJV)

The reality of our hope is shown in the priorities we flesh out in daily action.  We are demonstrating whether our hope is fixed on things that are eternal or that which is temporal.  We can claim we have our heart set on heaven, and yet how we invest our time, talent and treasure contradict that.

Jesus did many mighty works while on earth in His mortal body.  He would keep on working after He ascended to heaven, through His spiritual body, the church.

As seen in our text, these Christians loved each other.  They helped each other.  They shared life together.  If a man or woman faced a seemingly hopeless situation, they refused to allow it, but lifted them up and gave them hope and help.

Just read in the next chapter of a hopeless cripple, consigned to poverty, begging for a few coins outside the Temple gates.  Peter and John didn't ignore him, but intervened in the name of Jesus and his life was changed forever.  He found hope!

We still have work to do.  Help someone find hope today!

OUR WITNESS: How Hope is Shared

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. …And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:41, 47b) 

Good news is made for sharing!  There is certainly a plethora of bad news in our world.  The resistance of hardened sinners, however, often leads us to be mute, when we have the very thing they need to hear.

The first Christians might have made the same excuse and been silent.  Jesus had preached in the temple at Jerusalem, and they rejected Him.  Never was a greater evangelist present than Him!  But, they stopped their ears, despised the truth and cried out, “Crucify Him!”  That was the very crowd which the church was sent to preach to—an audience that had nailed Jesus to a cross. 

Peter underscored this as he proclaimed, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death…” (Acts 2:22-23).

That would not seem to be a hopeful situation to find a positive response to the Gospel.  But the first altar call is given and thousands were saved.  Not a day went by that the church wasn’t reaching people.  So, through the ages the church has faithfully sown Gospel seed—some on stony ground, some shallow ground, some choked with weeds, but also, always some fertile soil that has yielded eternal fruit.

In a world that is desperate for hope—that is the message God has given us.  There is hope for new life, hope for forgiveness, hope for peace with God, and the hope of heaven when we die!  The church says to the lost world, there is hope and you can find it here. 

We have prospects everywhere!  You don’t have to look for pagan people—they are proud of it.  They parade it and proclaim it on their bumper stickers.   Have you seen this one, “Tree-hugging Dirt Worshipper”?

Despite our fearful, sinful reluctance to give the Water of Life to those that are dying, the fact is there is a great spiritual thirst and willingness to discuss spiritual things.  People are trying all kinds of isms—only we have hope!  God will bring you into contact with some hurting, helpless, and hopeless soul today.  As the Christ denier who became a Christ declarer said, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” (1 Pet.3:15 ESV).

 

OUR WORSHIP: How Hope is Sustained

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. …So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.”  (Acts 2:41-43,46-47a)

There is no blessing God makes available that Satan will not try to steal.  Our gracious Lord bestows bountiful hope on His children, and the Wicked One sets out to drain away every last drop.  How is hope sustained?

All we must do is look at the first-century saints and see how they did it.  The church was birthed in a hostile climate, but there is no sense of gloom and doom detected in the second chapter of Acts—just the opposite.  There was joy and enthusiasm.  They met together in celebration. 

It would not be long until severe persecution would erupt—Peter and John would be locked up in prison.  The godly deacon, Stephen would be put to death, and the first of the Apostles to be martyred—James was beheaded.  Yet, no matter their circumstances, you find a people who were full of hope. 

Here’s why: they didn’t look around, they looked above.  That’s what worship does.  It realigns our focus—and when we do hope rises within as our hallelujahs rise up. 

We hear so much pessimism about the wickedness of the world and the weakness of the church.  That is undeniable.  But, to focus on that is a hope killer.  Instead, we are to gather for worship, and look up.  God is still on the throne, Jesus is still alive, the Holy Spirit is still at work, the church is still the bride of Christ, and the Gospel is still changing lives!  Is that not the ultimate reality?  None of that has been diminished by the deteriorating spiritual state of the world and decline of many a local church.  Indeed it cannot be, for God is eternally the same—and there’s hope!

That’s how Paul and Silas raised their hands in chains and their voices in a prison cell—full of hope (Acts 16:16-39)!  Their mission had met with great resistance, their backs were beaten to bloody ribbons, it was dark midnight in a dungeon, but they lift their hands, even as the chains rattle, dangling from their wrists, and sing their version of the Hallelujah Chorus!  Such hope shakes iron bars and liberates them.  It wasn’t some phony smile pasted on their face and an attempt at positive thinking.  Their problem was real; their pain was intense.  It was a choice of focus.  They worshipped.  Old Job did from a heap of the ashes of financial ruin and family loss—and so can we (Job 1:20-22). 

That is how hope is sustained—and that very hope then sustains us.

 

THERE’S HOPE FOR THE CHURCH

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  ‎And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  ‎ Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  ‎ Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.   So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”  (Acts 2:41-47 NKJV)

“You can live forty days without food; you can live three days without water; you can live eight minutes without air—and about one second without hope.”  

I was listening to Pastor Greg Laurie on the radio this week and heard him say that.  He was talking about the tragic death of his young son—and how only through the hope that God gives was he able to survive the sorrow.  Otherwise, it would have swallowed him up in despair. 

Disappointments, difficulties, diseases, and death are everywhere—realities we all must face.  We cannot face them without hope.  Somehow, we may have arrived at the conclusion that becoming a Christian makes us immune from hurt, and nothing could be further from the truth.  What following Christ means is an infusion of hope that transforms the very nature of the misery into a mercy, as God promises to work all things together—even the tough stuff of life—into good, and ultimately uses the sharp tool of trials to carve us into the image of Christ.

If you got up with the sunshine and feeling fine, then praise God.  If you got up to meet a storm thank God also—for He has given you an anchor for your storm.  “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” (Heb.6:19)

Our world is desperately seeking hope, and the church has it.  Our unflinching declaration is, “There’s hope and you can find it here!” 

From its inception, the church has been a reservoir of hope.  The verses from Acts 2:41-47 portray such a joyful, expectant assembly—a place where hope was found.  That is still to be the reality.  There is hope for the church—a hope rooted in our worship, our witness and our walk.  God willing, we will explore this further this week.

 

THE SHEPHERD’S STANDARD: The Cultivation of Contentment

 

“A bishop then must be…not greedy for money…” (1 Timothy 3:2,3 NKJV)

Covetousness is a basic prohibition—the sinful spirit forbidden in the tenth commandment.  The New Testament calls it idolatry.  Covetousness is a cancer of the heart—materialism—that becomes a consuming craving which captivates the pastor’s passion and clouds the pastor’s vision.

If a preacher doesn’t get into trouble with the lust for a woman, then this is the next most powerful enticement—the love of money.  “Covetousness characterizes false teachers (Tit 1:11; 2Pe 2:1–3, 14; Jude 11), but not Paul’s ministry (Ac 20:33; 1Co 9:1–16; 2Co 11:9; 1Th 2:5).”^[1]

The pastor who is greedy will supplant the Biblical bottom line of seeking God’s glory with pursuing monetary benefit.  This corrosive force decimates the minister’s testimony.  The world believes that every man has his price—and if we succumb to greed, then we have affirmed their worst thoughts about pastors and their hypocrisy.

The NASB renders this to be, “free from the love of money.”  There is a liberating power in contentment to preach and serve without concern for how it affects the giving of some wealthy member who might not appreciate the message or desire a different direction in the church.  We don’t work as a hireling, but as a true shepherd!

Contentment is the antidote to the disease of covetousness.  Let us cultivate it by focusing on the eternal and find the blessedness of giving rather than getting.

The question is, “Where will a pastor invest his life?”  Will it be in the pursuit of God’s Kingdom agenda or in building his own little kingdom?  Will the shepherd fleece the sheep for his profit or will he feed them for their good and God’s glory?

A PRAYER

Blessed Giver of All Good,
Thank You for Your assurance that You will supply our needs.  May we rest in contentment that the One who feeds the fowls and clothes the flowers will do so for His servants.  Grant us Your spirit of generosity that will root out the spirit of greed which is the spirit of the age.
In the Name of the Perfect Provision, Jesus,
Amen.

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^[1] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ti 3:3). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

A NEW YEAR AND A RENEWED CHURCH

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’” (John 11:25 NKJV)

As another year arrives, will it bring more of the same—ho-hum, been there, done that—or a dynamic sense of renewal—a rebirth of hope?  God will do the latter, if we reject the former—and this is what we call, “revival.”  The story of the raising of Lazarus from the grave is an illustration of genuine revival.  It is described in John, chapter eleven.

SICKNESS AND DEATH ARE A REALITY.  Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha—but that did not prevent him from becoming ill and dying.  Churches have life cycles too—they are living organisms and are subject to spiritual disease and death.  Some churches remain open for business, and go through the motions of life—zombie-like—but, are dead concerning vibrant life in Christ.  It can happen to any church, no matter how strong it is today.

HEALTH AND LIFE ARE ABOUT RELATIONSHIP.  Martha spoke to Jesus about her beloved brother’s demise, and regretted it, while tearfully, wistfully longing for his resurrection.  Her mistake was in thinking of resurrection merely in terms of an event—something at a point in time.  Jesus revealed to her that resurrection was in a Person—in Himself, the Lord of Life!  We can try to schedule a “revival” as an event—indeed the fact is God might use a week or meetings and an anointed preacher to ignite a revival—however you can’t put God on your calendar.  He doesn’t schedule an appointment according to what you believe expedient.  We observe that in John 11, as Jesus hears about Lazarus’ illness, but makes no move to go to him, arriving only after he has been dead for four days!  Revival is about a fresh encounter with Christ—a deeper revelation of His person and is about His glory.  

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”  ‎Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40)

STRENGTH AND BLESSING ARE ABOUT RENEWAL.  By the authority of His Word, Christ summons Lazarus from the dead.  You can have preaching without revival, but it is unlikely you will have revival without preaching.  There is a power unleashed through God’s truth that brings renewal.

·         Renewed Vitality.  His eyes opened.  Lazarus could hear again.  He had strength to move.  All that was once part of his life was reenergized.  When the church experiences true revival, life returns to what was once a corpse.

·         Renewed Liberty.  Lazarus was still bound by grave-clothes.  Jesus demanded that he be set free.  Revival brings freedom from bondage—whether alcohol, pornography, greed, bitterness—and such enslaving evils.

·         Renewed Testimony.  Lazarus had a story to tell!  The enemy was so threatened by it, that as they conspired to silence Jesus, they discussed putting Lazarus to death also.  Revival is not the same as an evangelistic effort, but the two are often associated as one because to be renewed means our passion for the Great Commission is restored and our testimony has conviction behind it because we see what God has done.

May God do such a work among us for His glory in 2014!

HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY

All during this holiday season, we will hear the words, “Merry Christmas!”  Yet, for many the hustle and bustle of activity, elbowing through crowded malls, elevating your balance on credit cards into the stratosphere—all this and more will lead some to be more on the mad side than the merry side.  Others will not be mad, but sad—due to a death of a loved one, a disappointment they have experienced, a disease they are struggling with, a dearth of financial resources, or other reasons—and their theme song is, “Blue Christmas.”  None can deny the very real struggles and strain that may arise during this time of year.  Yet, I believe we can still choose to rejoice in our Redeemer’s birth and express it with a sincere, “Merry Christmas!”

How can “Merry Christmas” be more than words?  The first twelve verses of Matthew, chapter two give us insight.

SEEK THE RIGHT PERSON (v.1-2).  The Magi came to seek the Savior.  They met Herod. They heard from some scribes.  There were a lot of important people around—including Joseph and Mary—but the singular pursuit of the Wise Men was the Christ Child.

Little children will be seeking Santa.  For adults, family and friends gathering together is special.  We have to race to this party or that function—grandma’s, our parent’s house, and so on. Just don’t forget that Christmas is about Christ—seeking Him.  If you get that relationship right, the others will take care of themselves.

SEE THE RIGHT PLACE (v.3-9).  The Magi didn’t travel to Rome and Caesar’s imperial palace, and even though they stopped in Jerusalem, they didn’t take time to visit the Temple, and didn’t stay any longer than necessary in the capital.  They came to Bethlehem—that obscure village—because that was the focal point of God’s activity.

Don’t feel like you have to be in the middle of the crowd this December to experience the work of God in your life.  We must not insist on being in a prominent place, but in the center of God’s will for our lives.  Is it possible we might encounter God in a soup kitchen at the homeless shelter?  Might we know more joy in Christmas by spending time with a widow, consoling her in her loneliness?  You might be surprised!

SET THE RIGHT PRIORITY (v.10-12).  The Wise Men worshipped Christ with exceeding joy!  They presented their costly gifts to Him.

If you seek happiness in the holidays as your goal, you may miss it.  Rather, a merry Christmas is a by-product of seeking the Lord Christ.  Remember what Jesus said about priorities?  “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Merry Christmas!

 

THE STANDARD FOR STEWARDS OF THE GOSPEL

So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” (Genesis 24:2-4 NKJV)

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. (1 Cor.4:1-2 NKJV)

Abraham's servant, Eliezer was sent to find a bride for Isaac.  He sets a standard for soul-winners: devoted, dependent, discerning and decisive. We are sent into the world as God's servants to seek those who will become part of the Bride of Christ.

 It will require devotion to our mission—this required much effort on Eliezer's part, but he was a faithful steward to his duty (24:1-11). 

No matter our effort, however, we must be dependent on God's might—Eliezer called on the Lord for aid (24:12-14).

We must be discerning in our motive—Eliezer wasn't out to find just anybody, but was looking for the one God had prepared to receive the appeal (24:15-16).   If we are motivated by just recording a decision, rather than making a disciple, then our motives are wrong.

Then, we must be decisive with our message. When the opportunity presented itself, Eliezer shared his heart, and called for a decision (24:17-28). He conveyed the urgency of the choice (24:29-60) and returned successful in his task (24:61-66) with a bride presented to Isaac.

What an amazing assignment God has given to us, empowered by His Spirit, to be used to summon His Bride into a love relationship with our Lord!

THE SHEPHERD’S STANDARD: The Control of Temper

“A bishop then must be…not given to wine, not violent…” (1 Timothy 3:2,3 NKJV)

Anger is a powerful emotion, and wrongfully expressed becomes a destructive force.  It is the seed of murder.

The pastor must not allow anger to get the best of him—to allow it to lead him to, “fight fire with fire.”  He cannot excuse a disposition toward being hot-tempered with, “That’s just the way I am,” because by the Spirit of God, he no longer is what he once was.

The NASB renders the word, “pugnacious.”  That is, beware the pastor who is always spoiling for a fight.  Doubtless there are things that will properly stir anger, but we must also channel that in a productive way, rather than allow the passion to channel us into igniting a fire that may consume a ministry and even leave a church in ashes. 

People will wrong us—that’s guaranteed.  Do not look to “settle the score.”  Give it to God to handle.  He is qualified to do so, and we are not.

HCSB has this as, “not a bully.”  You can be a bully without being in a literal fist-fight.  A pastor can do it with his words—berating and belittling people from the pulpit and in personal conversation.  It is never appropriate to use the Bible as a club to bludgeon people!

Charles Spurgeon told his Pastor’s College students, “Don’t go about the world with your fist doubled up for fighting, carrying a theological revolver in the leg of your trousers.”^[1]

Some of the brethren would be well-served to heed this counsel. 

A PRAYER

Lord of Love,

I know that we are in a battle.  Please remind us that our war is not with people, but with the power of the Evil One that moves them to rise up against us.  Help your preachers to never be bullies with a Bible!

In the Name of the One Who Reserves Vengeance for Himself,

Amen.

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^[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 220). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE

“This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.  Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.”  (Gen.2:24-25 HCSB)

Marriage is a Divine institution.  The first wedding was performed by God.  It is the fundamental building block for society—and God laid the foundation.  As such, He ordained the parameters that make a marriage.  For millennia, there had been few questions about the meaning of marriage, but in our day, the relationships between people and ideas about marriage have become so distorted that the definition of marriage must again be reasserted.

Marriage is meant to be PURE.  We read of this first marriage and see a man and woman standing before each other with no shame.  There was no shame because there was no guilt.  Their relationship was pure.

The modern argument is, “Why, I wouldn’t buy a car unless I took it on a test drive!”  This is used to excuse hooking up, leading to shacking up, when what needs to happen is a guy needs to man up and if he loves a woman, give her a ring, wed her and only then bed her!  People are not cars to be “test-driven.”  Humans have memories and emotions—and all that is done wrong leads to guilt and shame, which rather than enhancing the possibility of a later successful marriage undermines it.  The foundation thus set with lust and not love, getting and not giving—so when the storms come later, as they surely will—the home collapses.

Another polluted way of thinking is, “If two people love each other, why shouldn’t they be permitted to marry?”  This is used to make a plea for homosexual marriage.  Clearly God formed sexual beings—heterosexual beings, male and female—and designed us in such a way that this is the only legitimate expression for marriage.  The physical union and procreation of the species requires a man and a woman.  Both of these are at the core of God’s design for marriage.

Marriage is meant to be PARTICULAR.  Adam and Eve—one man and one woman—were placed in a monogamous relationship.  This was always God’s design, and even though there are instances in the Old Testament where people practiced polygamy, it was never given Divine sanction, and the problems associated with the practice are evident.  Polygamy is something that is looming on the horizon as the next acceptable perversion of marriage, and has been glamorized in the media in recent days.  This is not marriage as God ordained.

Marriage is to be PERMANENT.  The HCSB renders it, “bonds to his wife” and that’s a great picture of the permanent nature of this union.  When you take two pieces of wood and bond them together, if you later try to break them apart, you do not break the bond, you break the wood.  How many broken homes, lead to broken hearts—and children are often the broken pieces when a marriage splinters.  Divorce is so destructive.  We realize that divorce does happen and it is not the unpardonable sin.  There are at least a couple of reasons given when it may be permitted, although it is never demanded.  Jesus said that a marriage break-up is due to the hardness of the heart—at least on the part of one partner, and often both to some degree.  From the beginning, God’s intention was for this institution to be permanent—a lifelong commitment ended only by death.

Marriage is to be PUBLIC.  Note the leaving of father and mother and the bonding of husband and wife—a public commitment is made where all can witness that a new family unit has been formed.  While it is true that Adam and Eve had no human parents, God used the occasion to establish the pattern and teach the principle of the public nature of a marriage commitment.

“It’s only a piece of paper!”  If two people “commit” to each other, then what’s the point of a legal proceeding?  An argument akin to this is, “What right does the government have to get involved in marriage?”

A public commitment is a legal proceeding.  Government has also been ordained by God for the preservation of society.  Government has an appointment by God to promote good and prohibit evil—its primary function.  The state thus should be a benevolent partner to the church in establishing solid marriages that produce a better citizenry, thus building a better society.  As the home goes, so goes the nation and the church—both profit, and both have responsibilities in regulating and commending marriage through their practices and policies.

Marriage is to be PHYSICAL.  The couple becomes one flesh, naked and unashamed.  Sex is not dirty.  God created it and made it good—very good!  There is a bond formed, an intimacy developed, an expression of love that cements a healthy relationship between the two.  The honeymoon may end in a week, but romance is to remain for a lifetime.  The best way to keep a spouse from seeking someone else’s arms is to hold them tight in yours!  God intends for this relationship to produce godly offspring that will impact the world for Christ.

This is only an overview.  A book could be written—and many of them have been.  But, these truths are drawn from the Good Book—timeless texts inspired by an unchanging God.  When Jesus taught about marriage, this was His authoritative text.  If I follow Christ, then I will submit to His teaching in every area—including marriage.

I have set before you God’s ideal.  We live in a fallen world.  Sin happens and it soon wrecked paradise.  The impact on Adam and Eve’s relationship and family was dramatic.  However, Christ came to redeem us from the curse of sin—in every dimension of life.  So no matter where you may be in your relationship, no matter the failings of the past, or struggles in the present, we can repent and by the grace of God move on.  This is our goal by the grace of God.

THE SHEPHERD’S STANDARD: The Abstinence from Alcohol

“A bishop then must be…not given to wine” (1 Timothy 3:2,3 NKJV)

Calvin comments, “By the word πάροινον, which is here used, the Greeks denote not merely drunkenness, but any intemperance in guzzling wine.”^[1]

It is interesting that some preachers—mostly among the young “reformed” movement—champion study around a table in a beer joint, Bible in one hand and a brew in the other.  That they are free to do that under grace, could be debated, but whether they are wise to do it is another matter.  One might find this personally permissible (though I do not), yet to be publicly promoted is a dangerous thing.

In our culture, the intentionally hyped up levels of alcohol bring a particular danger.  They are not to be compared to Jesus sitting with His disciples and drinking a small amount of wine with a meal—a wine that was the product of natural fermentation and then typically diluted with water.  That was a different time and a different culture than where the pastor serves today in America.  Drinking the types of beverage alcohol popular today is playing with fire—and many will be burned.  You will not become a drunk if you never take a drink—and the risk is not worth any kind of reward associated with frequenting a pub.

Even in twenty first century America, many who might indulge in booze, will be surprised to find a preacher doing so.  It can needlessly damage your testimony, and recklessly become a stumbling block to others.  There are simply too many other things to drink—flavored waters, teas, coffees, sodas, and the like—which are safe and tasty to consume.  When Paul said to Timothy, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities” (1 Tim 5:23), he was speaking to a “tee-totaler,” advocating that polluted water could be treated with a little alcohol to purify it.  Dave Miller’s article is helpful: https://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=11&article=1208.

Alcohol never did one good thing for me prior to my conversion, but it did nearly destroy my life—and had my life ended then, Hell would have been my fate.  I have no need of it now.  In the course of ministry I have seen its horrible effects on too many people, and cannot justify even “social drinking.”  The perils exceed any positives.  The shepherd must lead his people to safe pastures instead of into risky places—by his actions and not only his speech.

A PRAYER

Father,

Help us resist the tide of popular opinion and stay with a clear mind, focused vision, and steady gait as one who abstains from alcohol.

In the Name and for the Glory of Your Son,

Amen.

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^[1] Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentaries on the Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (p. 80). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

THE SHEPHERD’S STANDARD: The Sobriety of Shepherds

“A bishop then must be…able to teach; not given to wine” (1 Timothy 3:2 NKJV)

The Word of God must govern the pastor’s life.  He is given over to serve the Lord, and not liquor.  There can only be one Master—and if a man is dominated by drink, He cannot be directed by Deity.  A faithful shepherd will be filled with the Spirit and not filled with booze (Eph.5:18).  His intoxication is to be with God alone.  The message of Scripture is to be given with clarity and not with the confusion of a clouded mind and slurred speech!

The Old Testament priests were forbidden to minister while under the influence of alcohol.

Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die.  It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations…” (Leviticus 10:8-9) 

We, who represent our Lord to the flock dare not risk the marring of that model by being drunk.  How can we become a drunk, if we never partake of alcohol, even the so-called, “social” sip?

“A godly pastor would certainly want to give the best example and not be an excuse for sin in the life of some weaker brother.”^[1] 

John MacArthur states,

More than a mere prohibition against drunkenness…An elder must not have a reputation as a drinker; his judgment must never be clouded by alcohol (cf. Pr 31:4, 5; 1Co 6:12), his lifestyle must be radically different from the world and lead others to holiness, not sin (Ro 14:21).^[2]

This may seem an antiquated idea, and there could come the accusation of legalism.  Instead, it is a wonderful thing to be free from the enslaving potential of this powerful force.

A PRAYER

My Lord,

Thank You for setting me free from the bondage of alcohol.  Now, I am mastered by a strong Savior and not strong drink!  Help me to ever be an example of holiness—not just in what comes from my mouth, but also in what goes into it.  May I lead others to the same liberty from liquor I have experienced by the power of Christ!

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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^[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 220). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[2] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ti 3:3). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  ‎For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.” (Colossians 4:12-13 NKJV)

Epaphras is not a household name.  He is one of the more obscure figures in the New Testament.  We are told little about him, but the little we know means a lot.  His name was known in heaven, and his activity—though not bringing celebrity on earth, was commended for eternity.  This man was a prayer warrior.  He was devoted to the ministry of intercession—making a difference for others by praying for others.

The ministry of intercession is inspired by sympathy.  Epaphras was “one of you,” that is, a fellow member of the same church and facing similar circumstances.  He understood how to pray because he knew their needs.  When we pray for others, our hearts are stirred by sympathy—we’ve often been through hurts and needed help—and so are inspired to pray for others as we would want them to pray for us.

The ministry of intercession is rooted in obedience.  He is called, “a bondservant of Christ.” Epaphras prayed because he knew he should.  If we only pray when we think we have time or when we feel like praying, then we won’t be effective intercessors.  The bottom line is that Jesus taught, “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).  We pray for others because it is the right thing to do!

The ministry of intercession is to be persistent.  Note the word, “always.”  Epapahras understood that there would not be a day that passed without some of his fellow Christians facing great need.  Therefore, he had to be faithful to consistently intercede for them.  Sometimes we will find that prayer is like the force of water running over a rock, gradually wearing away the rough edges—it takes a long time to see some of the rough times that are resistant to change smoothed out.

The ministry of intercession is demanding in effort.  Epaphras was, “laboring” in prayers.  It has been said that prayer doesn’t just fit you for the work—it is the work!  When I work, I accomplish what a man can do, but when I pray I can see what God can do.  There is effort required to be a faithful intercessor.  Jesus prayed until His sweat became as great drops of blood.  There is as much perspiration called for in our praying as inspiration!

The ministry of intercession calls for passion.  “Fervently” and “great zeal” are the key terms.  Cold, casual prayers rise no higher than the ceiling.  God is sickened by a lukewarm ritual.  Formalism must give way to fervency.  Vain repetition is to be supplanted by intense passion.  If you saw someone drowning, would you say to the lifeguard, “Have you thought about the possibility of helping that person?”  Or would you scream to the top of your lungs, “Help!  Help them they are drowning!”  People have real problems and there is a real God who will intervene if we intercede intensely.

The ministry of intercession is about others.  Paul says that Epaphras prayed, “for you.”  How infrequently we pray and when we do pray how self-centered are those prayers at times!  We come with a list of stuff we want God to do for us, as though He is Santa Claus in the sky.  While there is certainly a place for making our needs known (that’s need, not greed), intercession is about others—and that is the nature of love.  Love is the distinguishing mark of the Christ-follower (John 13:35).  If love is in our hearts, then it will be expressed from our lips, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt.12:34b)

The ministry of intercession is focused on God’s purposes.  The specific petition was, “that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”  Our prayers are not about getting our will done in heaven, but getting heaven’s will done on earth.  We may, with the best of intentions, sometimes pray cross-purposes to God’s designs.  For example, it is a quick reaction for us to see a fellow Christian suffering and ask God to remove the problem.  Yet, our perspective is only on the immediate, while God’s goal is for His glory and the ultimate good—which is shaping us in the image of Christ, to stand before the throne, “perfect and complete.”  Pain and problems are part of that pressure to mold us into vessels that are useful here and trophies of grace to be displayed in heaven.  So, we seek the Spirit’s guidance about how to pray and when we don’t always know say, “Your will be done!” (Matt.6:10b)

Give yourself to the ministry of intercession.  Doubtless, God has gifted you in other areas of service and you should get busy in them.  But, none of these will be fruitful in performance, if we are not faithful in prayer.  There are many things we can do after we pray, but nothing until we pray!