THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING

"Cush fathered Nimrod, who was the first powerful man on earth. He was a powerful hunter in the sight of the Lord. That is why it is said, 'Like Nimrod, a powerful hunter in the sight of the Lord.' His kingdom started with Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar." (Genesis 10:8-10 HCSB)

The first sin was not committed on earth, but in heaven. A beautiful, brilliant being named Lucifer decided he deserved to have a throne and be as God. With that wicked thought entertained and embraced, Satan was spawned. We find the old Serpent, the Devil, then seducing Eve, with the same appeal: "Eat the fruit. You will become as God." She took the bait, took a bite and shared it with her husband. The catastrophic consequences were immense and immediate, with their implications known on a global scale still felt today. The ripples of ruin have reached our shores.

Of all the effects of this evil choice, the pattern of thinking that persists and permeates human life is that of the demand for autonomy. In our arrogance, we think we can be God. We can direct our own lives, chart our own course, pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and storm heaven's gates--really, we believe that we can pull heaven down to earth and build utopia here. All we need is to think globally, find the right government leader, bond together under a common religion of tolerance, promote uniformity and as one we can have heaven on earth! "ALL ONE" "COEXIST"--the bumper sticker mantra.

It is not a new concept. In the early chapters of Genesis, we meet the man who would be king. Nimrod was his name. Babylon was his capital. Empire was his passion. We see he was a natural leader--charismatic, powerful--a man who knew what he wanted and how to get it. The tower of Babel became the great symbol of his global vision. Who needs God? Why wait for heaven? Narcissism reached the apex of arrogance in Nimrod. That spirit is woven into the warp and woof of fallen humanity. It is the attitude expressed in William Henley's poem, "Invictus."

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbow'd.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

That is the spirit of Nimrod. It persists. The founders of our nation recognized the danger and established a government with separation of powers--providing checks and balances against the tyranny of one man seizing too much power--the man who would be king. The erosion of that foundation brings grave peril. In every generation, Satan has his hand-picked man--the man who would be king.

Scripture is clear that a new Nimrod is on the way. He is called the Antichrist in 1 John, the Man of Lawlessness and Son of Destruction in 2 Thessalonians, and the Beast in Revelation. Jesus warned, "I have come in My Father's name, yet you don't accept Me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him." (John 5:43 HCSB).

What will bring the new Nimrod to power? A nuclear exchange, war in the Middle East, a global pandemic, a worldwide financial meltdown, widespread natural disasters--or a combination of these? The world will clamor for a messiah waiting in the wings--a man of charming personality and commanding oratory who says, "I have the answer," and the world swoons and submits.

And what does God think of it? The same as ever--He tolerates no rival! The building of Babel ends in judgment!

"After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. He cried in a mighty voice:

It has fallen,

Babylon the Great has fallen!

She has become a dwelling for demons,

a haunt for every unclean spirit,

a haunt for every unclean bird,

and a haunt for every unclean and despicable beast.

For all the nations have drunk

the wine of her sexual immorality,

which brings wrath.

The kings of the earth

have committed sexual immorality with her,

and the merchants of the earth

have grown wealthy from her excessive luxury.

Then I heard another voice from heaven:

Come out of her, My people,

so that you will not share in her sins

or receive any of her plagues.

For her sins are piled up to heaven,

and God has remembered her crimes.

Pay her back the way she also paid,

and double it according to her works.

In the cup in which she mixed,

mix a double portion for her.

As much as she glorified herself and lived luxuriously,

give her that much torment and grief,

for she says in her heart,

'I sit as a queen;

I am not a widow,

and I will never see grief.'

For this reason her plagues will come in one day-

death and grief and famine.

She will be burned up with fire,

because the Lord God who judges her is mighty." (Revelation 18:1-8 HCSB)

TRACING THE RAINBOW THROUGH THE RAIN

"I have placed My bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth." (Genesis 9:13 HCSB)

The rainbow requires the rain.

Rainbows are naturally occurring phenomena, as sun shines through drops of water in the atmosphere, which function as a prism, breaking down the light spectrum into the beautiful, multi-colored hues. It would seem that Noah and his family saw the first rainbow, since it was likely it had never rained before! God designed a "sprinkler system" that made earth a lush paradise when He fashioned the world. "No shrub of the field had yet [grown] on the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground. But water would come out of the ground and water the entire surface of the land." (Genesis 2:5, 6 HCSB) God broke up this gardening marvel, unleashing the vast reservoirs of subterranean water, which was as much responsible for the flood as the deluge that poured down from the sky, "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the sources of the watery depths burst open, the floodgates of the sky were opened" (Genesis 7:11 HCSB).

When Noah emerged from the ark, God revealed the rainbow as a symbol of His faithful love--His covenant of grace--the promise to never send a global flood again. But, the rainbow required the rain.

So, are you in a storm in your life today? Maybe the winds are strong and the waves are surging. Adversity, affliction, antagonism--other difficult circumstances--are surrounding you. We wish the storm would have never come. Why did God allow it?

God didn't prevent Noah from experiencing the storm, but preserved him through the storm! A person of faith--and Noah was a great and godly man--isn't granted immunity from storms. The difference is that the same circumstances that drowned the sinners, delivered the saints. The wicked went under the same flood that lifted up the ark!

If God brought you to it, He will bring you through it. Rainbows require rain--but they also demand something else--sunshine on the other side! God is faithful to His promise. In the dark days, wait on Him, secure in His love. You may be shut into a tempestuous time, but you are shut up in Christ--our ark of safety. He has a purpose. The storm which rose so suddenly will one day be over. The peals of thunder will be replaced by the singing of birds! May God give us eyes of faith to trace the rainbow through the rain.

AGAINST THE TIDE

"These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God. ...Then the Lord said to Noah, 'Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you [alone] are righteous before Me in this generation.'" (Genesis 6:9, 7:1 HCSB)

You think you have it rough!

What about Noah? How hard was it for him to stand for God? He had to stand alone! He had no church where he could meet with other believers for encouragement. There was no Christian radio to listen to, no internet where he might read a daily devotional--none of the resources we have at our disposal to buttress our faith. Yet, he stood against the tide. Before the flood came in judgment, and God scoured the earth clean of its spiritual and moral filth, a tide of utter depravity had already swept across the planet. Every waking moment of every day, Noah had to stand against the tide.

It wasn't easy. It never has been. If you purpose to live holy in this ungodly age, you are going to face great pressure--increasingly so. Jesus warned that one sign which would mark the nearness of His return and the judgment to follow would be conditions as those Noah endured. Isn't that what our world is looking like, more and more? A tsunami of evil is surging around us. But, we can stand against the tide. We must. Noah did!

All Noah had was God--but, He is enough! As the Apostle John declared, "You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4 HCSB). There was an inner strength that flowed from the grace of God within Noah, unleashed by faith, built by a daily walk with God. If you walk with God, you are going against the tide.

It was a difficult path, but it brought him into the ark--and Noah brought his family with him--all of them! You think it tough to raise godly kids today? Imagine the challenges Mr. and Mrs. Noah faced! But they did it--and God will help us. He will stand by us, if we stand with him. When the screams of those outside the ark were only silenced by the rushing water and rumbling thunder, Noah looked around at his family huddled near him--warm, dry, secure--and was thankful to God that by His grace he had stood against the tide.

NOT JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

"He drove man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life." (Genesis 3:24 HCSB)

It began like any other day--a perfect day--with sun shining through the cool morning mist, making the drops of dew that dotted every blade of grass sparkle like diamonds. The birds that filled the trees, burst into a chorus of praise to announce the arrival of this wondrous day--and they all were. The fragrance of every variety of flower imaginable--all in brilliant bloom--pervaded the garden with their perfume. The bees drew out their sweet nectar--but they never felt the need to sting anyone. There were no thorns on the roses--no weeds intertwining the delicate stems of nature's bouquet choking them. The king of beasts shook his majestic mane, yawned, blinked at the sun beaming through the lush limbs of the branches above, sought more shade, rolled over and drifted back to sleep while two lambs frolicked nearby. One of them, drew close and playfully nudged the lion with his cold, wet nose. There was no fear--there never was--in this garden of absolute harmony. Eden! It was just another day in paradise.

Adam opened his eyes. He stretched, sat up and looked around. Smiling, he reached over and gently stroked the face of a stunning beauty--her whose face had not a blemish nor wrinkle. It was the dawn of another glorious day--each one remarkable--and now time to rise because they had an appointment. In the coolness of the morning, the Creator would come to walk with them in the garden. That was the joy of joys as they listened, learned and laughed with the Lord God strolling along. It was just another day in paradise!

That is what Adam and Eve expected. But, not this day. There was another creature--a serpent with skin brightly painted, his voice melodious, walking near the tree of forbidden fruit. Yes--walking--because that's what serpents did in paradise. But this serpent was dangerous--filled with a malignant spirit; its body housing the hater of God--the rebel, Satan. It was time for him to strike. He coiled with anticipation, mind whirling, plot forming. It was not just another day in paradise.

You know how it turned out. Adam and Eve were turned out. They turned from God and to their own way. Everything changed that day. The foulness of evil brought consequences immediately and the effects like an evil epidemic have now ravaged the planet--paradise lost. Now, each day brings sweat, suffering, strife and sorrow. Death reigns; judgment looms. Guilt, shame, the blame game--paradise lost.

But, where sin abounds, grace does much more abound! Paradise taken; promise given. The Seed of woman would crush the serpent's head one day. The tree of life removed would be restored and the terror of death overcome by His death--and resurrection!

So, this Seed of woman--Mary's virgin born Son, the Son of God, would walk into another garden, bow in submission, take upon His shoulders all the sins of all the sons of men across the sweep of time, carry them to the pinnacle of a skull-shaped hill where there would be another tree. On that tree Jesus would hang, pay the price for our sin and in His pain take away the sting of death.

A blood-drenched cross, an empty tomb--and through faith in Christ, once more everything changes! There is coming another golden daybreak--all shadows forever banished, tears forever gone--where into that eternal day, the children of God will be welcomed back to walk with our Maker in unbridled joy, unbroken peace and unfathomable love! The lion lies down with the lamb. It's always that way. Just another day in paradise
.

Just another day in paradise? What a day that will be--and it never ends--a truly perfect day!

HISTORY: HIS STORY, GOD'S GLORY

"May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works." (Psalm 104:31)

History is His story--the story of God. George Guthrie in "Reader's Guide to the Bible" suggests that "God is the hero of the story." The Bible is a Book about God. While it is true that we can see the hand of God in all the events of human history--it is when we view them through the lens of Scripture that we see the story behind the story. We can, as it were, "read between the lines." But, when we come to the sacred history of the Word of God, all we need to do is read the lines! There is no cryptic code to break--God is clearly seen!

God is a God of revelation. He desires to communicate with us and has designed us with the capacity to commune with Him. All of His creatures were fashioned with the intent of bringing Him glory, but of all His artistry, men and women are His masterpiece! We are for His glory and more--we can share His glory! How awesome is that!

Such a thrill stirred the heart of the psalmist to burst into praise in the lyrics of Psalm 104. He gazes back through the corridor of time, to the time when time began and the golden dawn of earth's history, as God spoke all things into existence--and it is not the existence of the marvels of creation that captivates him, but the Creator who is the object of his attention and affection. So it should be for us.

Do not look at creation and miss the Creator. Do not look at history and fail to see it as His story. Do not read the Bible routinely, but expect to meet God in its pages. To God be the glory!

A NEW YEAR: A NEW YOU

As we encounter God in the opening chapters of the Bible, we see Him moving systematically, purposefully and creatively. Each day of that first incredible week builds one on top of the other, until it is capped off with the pinnacle of His creation--humanity. Each day commences with God saying, "Let there be" and the power of His Word is unleashed to do a new thing--a glorious thing! Each day concludes with God's assessment, "God saw that it was good." There is one notable exception--a superlative is added with the fashioning of the man and woman and the completion of God's creative activity: "it was very good."

All was intended to get to that point--to prepare air for man to breathe, water to drink, material to build with, food to consume, a mate to share it all with as they would fill the earth with their kind, to the glory of God!

So, God has a purpose for your life--a master plan He has prepared. His Word, spoken into your life can powerfully bring it about. Every resource needed to be all God wants you to be is yours in Christ--the One engaged in that beginning, beginning a fresh work in you--and it will be a good work--a very good work indeed! As you daily come in humble submission to His Word, the same Spirit which hovered over creation will teach you and form you into God's image. This will be a new year and bring a new you! How exciting!

Here is the promise: "I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

THE DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

“Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud and one the stars.”
(Frank Langbridge)

So, what makes the difference? Certainly not their position—for both men are locked up in a prison. They peer beyond the bars—and see something totally different. The difference isn’t in position, but perspective.

Solomon described life viewed without the eternal reference point: “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:3). Now, he wasn’t a man in a prison, but a palace. The king knew pleasure, power and possessions which would mark him as the richest man in the world. But his soul was completely bankrupt and when he viewed all the “stuff” from a carnal perspective concluded it to all be “vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). It is the recurring discordant note of despair sung in this dirge of Solomon.

Surely it was a similar point of view which washed over Hamlet like a tsunami of disillusionment when he moaned, “To be or not to be: that is the question” (Shakespeare). Essentially he looks out of his prison bars of problems and sees mud. He concludes that life is misery and death is mystery. Life is relentless in its difficulties as waves constantly rolling in—and death might even be worse—particularly if one ends his own life and might face eternal condemnation. Who knows? He is torn between two options and neither one good.

Compare that with the perspective of another man who writes—quite literally—from a prison. He states with incredible confidence—even celebration,

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account…for your progress and joy in the faith.” (Philippians 1:21-25, ESV).

The Apostle Paul concludes that life is ministry and death is majesty. Life is relentless to be sure, but when viewed from an eternal perspective, those same tides that sweep over one and drown him, are seen to also roll out and bear the other man on a voyage of great adventure—ultimately to the most exotic destination! He is torn between two options and both are glorious!

What makes the difference? Perspective—oh yes—but that only leads us to question why the two viewpoints are so radically opposed. The old general of the faith, Paul, joyfully puts his finger on it. (That finger, by the way, is attached to a hand, and the hand to a wrist, and the wrist to a manacle and the manacle to a chain and the chain to a stone wall, yet he is irrepressibly free in his spirit to see the stars and soar to them!) What makes the difference? He tells us in one word—one name—and it is: “Christ.” Because he can state that Jesus is the source, substance and sum of his life, then he can add that death is great gain: “far better.”

Centuries later, C.S. Lewis stated it this way, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” That is the difference that makes the difference—all these words to get to the living Word: CHRIST. He is our fixed point of reference by which we can sail safely across turbulent tides and arrive home. Knowing Him as Lord and Savior is the difference that makes all the difference.

(With thanks to Stuart Briscoe who in his memoir, “Flowing Streams” discusses a sermon by Paul Rees on pages 88-89 that was a magnificent message on a Monday morning!)

WHAT THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING NEEDS

There is a Scandinavian fable about a young spider that made his way into a barn one day. From a slender thread he descended from a rafter high aloft. He began to spin his intricate web and as time went on he grew fat and prospered. It was a very productive corner of the barn with an ample supply of juicy flies—as you might imagine. One day, he looked admiringly around his wondrous web, and yet was taken aback when he saw a stray thread—one that reached up into the darkness high above him—disappearing into nothingness. “What use is that?” he thought, and reached out and snipped the thread—and when he did, his entire world collapsed!

That is what happened to Solomon! He was a wise young king who became a foolish old ruler. In his early days, the slender thread that bound him to heaven reached into the sky and the blessings of God flowed down, as Solomon’s worship flowed up. He prospered more than any before him—or since. His wealth was staggering, his power immense, his fame renowned—he had it all! Until the day he forgot about God, severed the connection to heaven and his world caved in.

The bitter, depressing record of that era is found in Ecclesiastes. The tone is set immediately:

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? (1:1-3 ESV)

The phrases, “Vanity of vanities” and “under the sun” are sprinkled throughout the book. Life is vain—futile—empty and devoid of meaning when it is viewed merely from a natural perspective. If anyone might have found satisfaction from the things of the world, it should have been Solomon. He had it all! Wine—the best and much of it, women—a harem of a thousand beauties, and song—not a CD, but live performers! He had magnificent estates and much education—lands and libraries. He sought fulfillment in his work and wealth.

But, it was all vanity!

It would not be a stretch to say that he actually considered suicide—what did he have to live for?

What is it that the man that has everything needs? God!

There is a hole in our soul that only God can fill. Nothing else fits—only Jesus satisfies.

But, the old backslider found the way back as he sifted through the rubble of his ruinous rebellion. Among the ashes, he finds the treasure of truth. At the end of Ecclesiastes the light of wisdom breaks through:

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. (12:13-14 NKJV)

Dear reader—do you have Jesus? If not, you need Him—desperately. Don’t wait too late! If you have received Him, then keep the cord of communion intact lest you fall like Solomon! If one who had such encounters with God, had a superb upbringing by a great champion of faith named David, and was blessed with such wisdom could fall, then any of us can! Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God—trust in His grace.

This is what the man who has everything needs!

THE BITTER COLD

This morning I went and stood for an hour on the sidewalk outside the abortion clinic--to keep a vigil on behalf of those tiny ones whose little eyes will never see the light of day. I was there to give voice to the voiceless--whose silent screams will be unheard as the cruel instruments of death invade the sanctuary of their mother's womb. Of course, God hears--and that should put a chill down the spine of us all.

It was a bitterly cold day, in the lower 20's--and matched the icy hearts of those who would butcher a baby for a few bucks. My fingers and toes got so cold, that they began to sting with pain--a pain that persisted for fifteen minutes after departing in the warmth of my car. But, as I rubbed my hands together and patted my feet on the pavement, it led me to think how this pain was nothing compared to the suffering which the unborn go through before their brief sojourn on earth is terminated. The pain in my extremities is nothing compared to the extreme pain in the hearts of mothers as they weigh the harsh reality of their choice in days to come--haunted by the grim specter of doing that which is so contrary to every maternal impulse. Of course, no pain will be like that of eternal torment for unrepentant butchers who brutalize these innocents. Maybe they are desensitized to it. All I know is that the murderer who faces God with blood on their hands and without the blood of Christ on their hearts will have an awakening of the senses beyond anything they have ever known--and wish for endless ages it were not so.

For all involved we offer our pity and our prayers.

We pray for a nation and wonder how much longer God can resist roaring from heaven to answer the cry for vengeance that pleads with Him from a blood-soaked soil. May God have mercy on us all!

If we had more hot tears, more fervent pleas, might it melt the cold hearts that conspire in this tragedy of cosmic proportions?

THE DISQUIETING MESSAGE FROM BETHLEHEM'S STABLE

The world tolerates the Baby in the manger--to some degree. Oh, they would do away with Him altogether, if they could--maybe gradually phasing Him out by placing a creche in the middle of a holiday display from various religions and secular traditions--but being rid of Him entirely, eventually, or altered so much as to be unrecognizable. Yet, if the world must recognize Him at all, they will consign Him to a cradle of straw as a cherubic infant. That is not particularly threatening, nor intimidating.

The problem rises when they consider what the Baby grew up to be! The life that He lived, the words that He spoke, the death that He died, the resurrection He experienced, the authority He claims, and the judgment He will decree--that is the disquieting message from Bethlehem's stable. The world would ignore or be slightly amused if only He only came as the Babe of Bethlehem, but they are not very happy with One who is coming again as King of kings and Lord of lords!

When Jesus came the first time, the world shoved Him off into a stable and shoved His crucified corpse into a sepulchre sealed with a stone. But, He wouldn't stay dead, so that when He comes the second time, He will do the shoving--into the Lake of Fire--the judgment of all who reject Him. That's what the world hates about Him. They just want to be left alone, and He will not permit it. If they could just stow Him away as an Infant in a manger scene, along with all the other decorations hidden in a box in the attic, only to drag out on special occasions!

That cannot be done. It isn't an option. One day every eye shall see Him, every knee will bow to Him and every tongue confess He is Lord. He has conquered. He will reign. That is the disquieting message from Bethlehem's stable.

HARVEST TIME

It’s that wonderful time of year when the harvest is gathered. Summer has come to an end and fall has begun. The last of the crops must be claimed or they will be lost when the first blast of cold air comes to the mountains. There is no time to delay—it’s harvest time!

That is true in the spiritual realm also. Listen to these sad words:
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” (Jeremiah 8:20)

How tragic—the horror of missed opportunity! Jesus intimated that one soul is more valuable than the entire world--and some of those lost souls are our family, friends, fellow workers and classmates.

It’s harvest time!

This verse from the prophet Jeremiah, reminds us of:

• THE PRIORITY OF THE HARVEST “The harvest is past…” It’s all about the harvest! There are many things we do on earth that are important—singing God’s praises; communicating with Him; being with His people; serving Him, and the like. While not minimizing any of those activities, we will be able to do those in heaven. Something we won’t be able to do is to lead a lost soul to faith in Christ. Shouldn’t we make this a priority while we have opportunity?
• THE PRESERVATION OF THE HARVEST “the summer is ended…” There is a deadline and if the harvest of souls is not completed, they are lost—forever. We must gather them while we can. Is there someone you know who needs Christ? What are you doing to reach them?
• THE PERIL TO THE HARVEST “we are not saved!” Not saved! Not saved! Not saved! Too late! There is no second chance beyond this world. When we are called out to meet God—and that call can come without warning—we must be ready to meet Him. Heaven or hell—eternal joy or everlasting judgment—await that decision.

Sunday, November 7, is “Harvest Time” at Pole Creek! It is the Sunday the time changes and we roll the clock back an hour, for an extra hour of sleep. Statistics show that other than Easter it is the Sunday of the year with the highest attendance. It is a great Sunday for you to invite lost souls you know to come, pray for them, cultivate them, and bring them in to hear the Gospel. Jesus is still mighty to save! Now is the time to get to work in the field!

It’s HARVEST TIME!

STARVING THE FLESH
SHAPE UP!

Listen to the Apostle Paul’s demand to get in shape, “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy” (Romans 10:13). There are things that will be detrimental to your physical health, and the things listed here will be deleterious to your spiritual health.

Revelry is a word for a wild party. Sadly, some folks don’t make it to the celebration of worship with the saints on Sunday morning because of the carousing in wantonness with the sinful on Saturday night! It’s hard to focus on God Sunday morning if your eyes are bloodshot from the night before.

Drunkenness is another danger Paul warns about. Alcohol will make you see double and think half! It is easy for liquor to become your lord. It mastered me at one time, but I don’t need it; I’ve found Jesus to give boundless joy—and you don’t have a hangover the next day!

Then there is lewdness and lust—nakedness and nastiness. The first term has to do with sexual acts and the latter with sensual attitudes. Sex within marriage is a wonderful gift of God, but outside it become defiling and destructive. Hollywood doesn’t set the standard for the child of God—heaven does! We are called to holiness!

Then there is strife and envy. Some of us who may not consume alcohol and commit adultery may excuse our failure to control anger! We may not be a drunk, or debauched, but if we are divisive that is defiling too! And what about envy? What about wanting what others have—jealousy and covetousness—vile vices of the heart!

I hope for the sake of your physical health that you are in good condition. It is beneficial. But, above all, listen to this, “exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having a promise of the life that now is and that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:7b-8).

Shape up!

STARVING THE FLESH
DRESS UP!

Once you get up, you don’t go out until you dress up. It’s time to get out of your pajamas and put on your uniform. Paul says in Romans 13:12b, “cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” You’re going to war! You’re headed into hostile territory and you need to be clothed for combat.

What is this armor of light? It is being clothed with Christ, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,” (v.14a).

Clothes adorn us—they are visible. Everywhere we go, we have them on. So, others should see Christ on display as we move through the world. When people look at you and me, do they see Jesus?

Dress up!

STARVING THE FLESH
GET UP!

You can wake up, but then reach over, hit the snooze alarm and go back to sleep! It’s important to wake up, but then you need to get up! “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” So, Paul wrote with urgency in Romans 13:12.

There are some days that it’s exciting to get up and get with it, but some others it’s a chore. It can be that way on Sunday morning. There was a fellow whose wife called to him, “Sweetheart, time to get up and get ready for church.” He grunted and said, “I don’t feel like it.” She said, “Come on now, you’ve got to get ready.” He groaned and pulled the blanket over his head, “Tell me one reason why!” She said, “Because you’re the pastor!”

I believe we have had some members lose the battle of the blankets and have been mastered by the mattress on Sunday mornings! You won’t get up because you feel like it, but it is an act of the will. It is a discipline. Time to go to work!

Old Vance Havner said, “There is anarchy in the world, apostasy in the church and apathy in the pew.” How true! I’ve had to shake my kids to get them up. I’m trying to do that to you today.

GET UP! NOW!

STARVING THE FLESH
WAKE UP!

In 1775, the British troops intended to board boats and under cover of darkness slip across the river and attack Concord and Lexington. But someone was awake and alert—Paul Revere! Away he sped on horseback, sounding the alarm, “The regulars are coming out!” meaning that the regular British army was on the march. The colonial militia turned back the Redcoats. It was a critical moment in America’s march to freedom.

We are in such a critical hour today. The battle we face is spiritual in nature and against the forces of hell. I want to be a spiritual Paul Revere, calling you to wake up! That’s what another Paul, the Apostle said in Romans 13:11, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”

He says, “knowing the time” that is, to have spiritual perception. When I was a teenager, the pop music group, Chicago had a hit song that asked the question, “Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?” Well, we better know and we better care that, “now it is high time to awake out of sleep!”

There was an old farm couple, that went to sleep one night and something went wrong with the grandfather clock. It chimed thirteen! The old fellow yelled, “Get up Martha, it’s later than it’s ever been before!” It is! That’s what Paul says, “for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.”

He’s talking about the consummation of salvation—when we all get to heaven. I believe things are winding up in this world and what we do for Christ is an urgent matter! But even if Christ doesn’t return in our lifetime, we have a limited allotment of days and we can’t afford to be sleeping when we out to be serving! We’ve snuggled down in our padded pews and the devil has sung us a lullaby of deception.

I heard of a man called on to pray at the end of the service. He was a shy guy and he panicked. It seemed an eternity and he couldn’t say a word—just petrified. His wife whispered, “Just pray something” and he said, “Now, I lay me down to sleep.” Apparently the church has got that prayer down pat!

Wake up!

STARVING THE FLESH

Several months ago, my wife Marilyn and I decided it was time to modify our lifestyle. We went on the South Beach diet. Over a period of time, the excess pounds went away. But, we’ve lost weight on diets before, only to go back to eating and putting the pounds back on.

This time, we’ve learned a discipline of three things: we weigh regularly so the pounds don’t creep back, adjust by cutting back when needed and keeping track of carbohydrates. If a food is high in carbs, we either don’t eat it, or take a small portion. We watch sugar intake—no sweet drinks—and I used to insist that my tea would ooze out of the pitcher like syrup!

But, this message isn’t about that kind of weight loss—it’s about the spiritual disciplines needed to live the transformed life; not about high impact aerobics, but high-impact spirituality. It’s about starving the fleshly, sinful appetites, so as not to become spiritually flabby. What kinds of disciplines are needed for that?

These are suggested in Paul’s thirteenth chapter of his letter to the Romans, verses eight through fourteen:

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in
lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

That will be our formula for starving the flesh and nourishing the spirit within, which we will set on the table before you, God willing, this week.

GOD AND GOVERNMENT
THE REASON FOR GOVERNMENT

God has instituted human government for two primary reasons: to restrain the wicked and to reward the worthy. Paul has written:

2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. (Romans 13:2-4)

The negative dimension for God ordained government is TO RESTRAIN THE WICKED. There is an argument over whether you can or cannot legislate morality. There are points to be made on each side. Every law is a legislation of morality in the sense that it says there is a conduct that is bad, and therefore, a conduct that is good. But the other side is, that such laws cannot impose morality, but really are legislation against immorality. Law cannot make us good—only God can make us good, but law can help restrain the evil. A law can’t make you love your neighbor, but it can tell you not to kill them. A law can’t make you honest, but it can tell you not to steal. The government authority has powers of punishment to enforce those laws. Sadly, our legal system has become a place for coddling criminals rather than convicting them! Such government has abandoned the reason it exists!

The positive dimension of God appointed government is TO REWARD THE WORTHY. While it is true that government can’t make us good, it can provide motivation for good behavior by rewarding it. Our military gives medals for those who distinguish themselves in service. The Congress has special citations for those who contribute much to the well-being of society. One of the ways government rewards productivity is financial incentive. But ours is doing just the opposite, punishing the successful and bailing out the failing!

Government works best when it does these two things—when it is limited in scope and laser-like in focus. When it goes beyond those bounds, it becomes an oppressive system. Our founders said it well in the preamble to the United States Constitution, that government exists to, “provide for the common defense” and to “promote the general Welfare.” The founding fathers were so wise—they didn’t say, to “provide the general welfare” but to “promote” it. We have become a nation bogged down and bankrupted by bureaucracy in the attempt to provide welfare for every citizen—an impossibility! The common defense is provided by restraining those who do wickedly and the general welfare is promoted by rewarding those who do well. That’s reasonable—and it’s biblical! Too bad most politicians don’t understand that today, and the tragedy is that too few American voters know enough to vote those in who do understand and vote out those who don’t.

GOD AND GOVERNMENT
THE ROOT OF GOVERNMENT

Clearly, human government is rooted in God’s design and decree. This is taught from Genesis to Revelation in direct precept and implied principle. One such instance is Romans 13:1, which states, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” So, God has appointed human government. As I have been appointed by God to direct the affairs of this church as your minister, so government has been ordained by God to direct the affairs of state as your minister. Three times in Romans 13:4-6, the Apostle declares that government is our minister for good.

Even though there are various kinds of government, and some of these are better than others, any government is better than no government, for that is anarchy! Anarchy is the most horrible condition—no rules, no restraint, utter chaos—a catastrophe beyond all description. The government Paul called on Christians to submit to was led by the depraved despot Nero, seated upon the throne of world empire, and yet, the Apostle commanded Christians to honor him as one appointed to his place by God. In fact, we are told that there is none in power except by the sovereign choice of God. He raises rulers, replaces rulers, reforms rulers, and rejects rulers. God rules the rulers!

Consider what the Bible says concerning the Pharaoh of Egypt during Moses’ day, “For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.’ ” (Romans 9:17). Then, we have these statements concerning Nebuchadnezzar, the tyrant of Babylon,

37 You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power,strength, and glory;
38 and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all— you are this head of gold.
39 But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.
41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes,partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” (Daniel 2:37-45)

Further, we have the case of Christ on trial before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. As you recall, the ruler is baffled that Jesus refuses to defend himself, and the accusations are met only with silence. Exasperated, Pilate cries, “Do you not know that I have the power to crucify You, and power to release You?” (John 19:10), but Christ answers, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” (John 19:11).

Sin in its basic and basest form is a rejection of authority and embracing of autonomy. In the garden, Adam rejected the authority placed over him because he wanted to be a god himself. In the first empire, Babel, the people sought to bring themselves up to heaven by building a tower. This spirit marks the sinful heart of man. But, the child of God has repented of this and shows it by subjection to authority. A Christian is to be a model citizen. Even government leaders are under God’s authority and better not forget!

GOD AND GOVERNMENT

A Christian is a citizen of two kingdoms. Our ultimate allegiance is to Christ as our Lord, but as an expression of that we give allegiance to our country and its laws. We are in the world, but not of the world. That is, we are not to be corrupted by the world through living according to the warped views of sinful man, but we are to be connected to the world to impact the culture with the righteous Word of God. All humanity needs the salt and light which believers are to bring to bear on life—permeating the society, touching every realm of experience.

Jesus told us to, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God, the things that are God’s.” Be careful how you read that. We tend to compartmentalize life—to separate the secular and the sacred—when these two are integrated. All of life for the child of God is sacred—and this would include the political. Paul tells us the relationship of God and government in his teaching found in the opening verses of the thirteenth chapter of Romans. Here’s what he wrote:

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. (Romans 13:1-7)

We will explore these truths further throughout this week, God willing.

GETTING ALONG WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD ALL HUMANITY AND OUR RESTRAINT THROUGH OUR HOPE

It has been said,

“To live up above with saints that we love—that will be glory;
But to dwell here below, with saints that we know—that’s another story!”

That is so true. In fact, the Christian life is even more difficult that that—as hard as that may seem. We have a responsibility to get along with even the wicked of the world! Look at Paul’s words in Romans 12:18-21,

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a
drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

There is then, OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD ALL HUMANITY (v.18)

Make every effort to get along with others—whether in the church or in the community, among the Christian or the carnal. The reality is that you cannot guarantee others will respond peaceably to you. But, you can do all that you can do. This doesn’t mean we compromise our standards or doctrines, but even when we must take a stand we speak the truth in love. Too many church folk are “pugnacious.” They are always looking for a fight.

Further, we find, OUR RESTRAINT THROUGH OUR HOPE (v.19-21)

Have you ever heard this, “Don’t get mad—get even!”? That appeals to our flesh. It is not the way of God. There is to be restraint rather than retaliation. Such restraint rests in the hope that God sees all, is in control and will take care of it.

This is:

• HOPE IN THE VENGEANCE OF GOD (v.19) God can handle it better than you—and He will—because He is a just God.
• HOPE IN THE VIRTUE OF GRACE (v.20) God gives us grace. We don’t get what we deserve. That’s the same virtue we are to display.
• HOPE IN THE VICTORY OF GOOD (v.21) We may choose to compromise with evil and become part of it; or contend with evil and act like the world; or—and here’s the Christian response—conquer it with good!

There are some difficult problems coming your way—and, some difficult people! But God has promised His grace is sufficient for us.