Let There Be Light

 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” -Genesis 1:3-4

Nearing the end of World War II, nearly two dozen navy pilots were on a return trip to their aircraft from a successful bombing raid on two Japanese ships.  Flying in the dead of night, running low on fuel, the pilots could not locate the aircraft carrier. Fearing the loss of his men to the Pacific, Admiral Mitscher of the United States Navy ordered the fleet to turn on the lights; thereby risking their exposure to attack.  The bold move that saved many.  If you're lost in the sea of sin and darkness, trying frantically to find salvation. Jesus can save you; Jesus can turn on the lights.    

The scripture tells us in Matthew 6:22 that if thine eye be single thy whole body shall be full of light.  Paul desired that Christ would open the eyes of the lost and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.  He also wrote to the Corinthians for God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Peter wrote of the daystar, which was Christ, which should arise in our hearts. John told of Christ being the light and the life of men.  From the beginning, God divided the light from dark.  In a natural sense, we need light to exist, to survive, and to prosper. People are naturally drawn to light.  It is evident that we were not meant to live in darkness.  God’s creation is a creation of light. We need light in a natural sense, and we need the light in a spiritual sense. Darkness is not God’s intention.  Darkness is synonymous in the Word of God with sin. When you have sin in your heart, you have sin in your life. Therefore, you have darkness in your life. Sin will cause you to be lost in that darkness.  Stumbling about from one thing to the next, groping blindly for that which cannot save. The only thing that can save us is the light. The light will banish all darkness, because darkness and light have been divided from the beginning. Jesus is the light, he is the Savior.  When Christ comes into your heart, he will drive out the darkness.  He will drive out all sin. Just as you cannot mix light and dark, so you cannot mix sin and righteousness. One must go. When Christ comes into your heart, you are turned from darkness to light.

From the beginning, God has put division between light and dark.  As in nature, so it is in our own hearts, God wants light and darkness separate; sin and holiness,unrighteousness and righteousness.  They cannot co-exist, so let there be light.

Wednesday Weekly: Stephen Copeland

 Hey Wednesday Weekly friends,

I'm Bro. Stephen Copeland, filling in for Bro. Patrick while he's serving at Kids Camp this week. I may not have met each one of you, but know that I love you and want to see every one of you in Heaven someday!

I asked Bro. Patrick if it would be cheating for me to simply submit Psalm 34 for the weekly devotional.....It's SO good. If you haven't read it lately, I would encourage you to get your Bible out and read it verse by verse. I'll add a few of my meager thoughts, but the Scripture truly speaks for itself.

It starts with:

"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad." (Psalm 34:1-2)

In a world that loves the latest gossip and hot takes, Lord help me to be speaking His praises and boasting only in Him at all times! This alone would solve a ton of problems people go through. I don't think it's a mistake that David says his soul will make her boast in the Lord. This is something that comes from deep within and it's not just surface level. It reminds me of another Scripture: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8) Our mindset matters! Do we constantly think negatively of others, or criticize? Lord help me to boast only in him and to keep my thoughts on good things.

"O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." (Psalm 34:3)

I love the invitation this Psalm gives—we aren't in this race alone! I enjoy hearing someone sing a solo just like anyone else, but have you ever been in a church service with congregational singing where the Spirit just takes over? There is something powerful and unifying about worshiping together. Worship doesn't exclude; it's freely available to anyone and everyone. Beautiful congregational worship from Christ's Sanctified Holy Church Campmeeting from 1998.

"I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." (Psalm 34:4-6)

These verses encapsulate my testimony in such a simple but beautiful way. What a blessing it is to call upon the Lord and know that he hears you! And not only does he hear, but he delivers and saves. He cares, and there is no sin, burden, or problem too great for him to handle.

The chapter goes on for sixteen more verses, and once again, I encourage you to take a few moments to read it when you can. I hope it encourages you as much as it encouraged me. 

Blessings,

Bro. Stephen Copeland

What Is Sanctification? It Makes And Keeps You Holy

     Holiness by definition is sanctification, and sanctification is holiness.  To be holy is to be consecrated and set apart to the glory of God.  It implies perfection, purity, and godliness.  Yet, used in our common vernacular it engenders thoughts of grand cathedrals, ornate priests, or saints of old.  You wouldn't think the common man could be holy, would you?  Yet, the very purpose of Christ’s mission was to make us holy.  To sanctify us.  What is sanctification?  It makes you and keeps you holy. 

Colossians 1:21-22: “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

We have forgiveness from sins because of the blood of Christ.  We have justification for sin because of the sacrifice of Christ.  We have the Holy Spirit because of the resurrection, and ascension of Christ.  We have sanctification, because Christ sent the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, if you are sinning you are an enemy of Christ and crucifying the son of God afresh.  You are alienated and made yourself an enemy by your wicked works.  If you are still sinning you are not redeemed, if you are redeemed you are no longer sinning; because the sins of your past are gone and the nature that you have in you to sin has been changed.  The daily practice of sinning is done away with, and the newness of life without sin has begun.  

 This is not by works that we/you have done (the scripture says), but because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that makes you holy and keeps you holy.  This was God’s intention from the beginning.  That we should be sanctified, that we should be holy. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1:4)

1 Corinthians 3:17: “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 

When God loosed Zacharias (John the Baptist father) tongue, he began to prophesy over his son John and spoke of Jesus’s mission.  In that sermon he said: “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:74-75)

 How? How can we serve him without fear in holiness?  The Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit dwelling within us makes us holy and makes us a temple of the living God.  We become God’s habitation because of Christ.  He nailed himself to the cross, sanctifying himself for the glory of God, that we might be sanctified (so says John 17).  This makes us holy; holy in deeds and truth.  No sin.  No sin within, and no sinning without.  It’s gone, it’s all gone, and it can stay gone by the power of the Holy Ghost.  Today can be the last lie you ever tell.  The last look of lust towards a woman, the last hangover, the last look of condemnation from God the Father.  Today can be your last day as a sinner.  It can be gone, you are loved, you are wanted, Christ died for you to be sanctified and made holy.  Repent and believe, take Christ at his word.     

2 Timothy 1:14: “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” 

Holiness doesn’t put you in a bubble where you will never be tempted.  It doesn't make you into this spiritual superman where the devil ignores you.  Satan still comes knocking, tribulation happens and yet you find a power within to keep you from sinning.  This is the Holy Ghost.  Sanctification.  The “keeping” power.  The Holy Ghost makes and keeps you holy.  Your hand does not reach, the eyes don't linger, and the feet don’t follow after mischief because the Holy Ghost is powerful enough to change us, keep us, and direct us.  Our role is to yield and be obedient.  As the Apostle Peter writes: “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

What Is Sanctification? The Second Blessing; Indwelling, and Witness Of The Spirit

 What is Sanctification?  It is the second blessing, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the witness of the Spirit. 

Matthew 3:11: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

Sanctification is the second blessing.  John came first, preaching repentance and baptizing those who believe in water.  The water was an outward symbol for an inward cleansing.  A cleansing of sins committed.  Jesus came preaching repentance, and telling the people of the bread of life (John 6:35), of living water (John 7:38), of the Holy Ghost (John 14:26), and power after the Holy Ghost has come (Acts 1:8).  This baptism of the Holy Ghost would follow after repentance.  It is not a natural  consequence of repentance, it is not coupled with repentance.  It does not begin at repentance.  It is a second, distinct blessing that must follow repentance.  It must be sought after you have repented, sought as a necessary work of God in your life that will save you from sin and hell.  For no one is truly saved at repentance, you are only saved when you are sanctified, and you are sanctified when you are baptized by the Holy Ghost.  Jesus said that ye must be born again, and to be born again takes the water (repentance), and the Spirit (sanctification).  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5). 

2 Timothy 1:13-14: “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”

The Holy Spirit dwells within a believer that has repented, surrendered, and invited the Holy Spirit to come in.  The Holy Ghost dwelling within is the power of Christ dwelling within, and that power can keep you from sin.  Repenting and living without the Holy Spirit will yield only more repenting.  Sinning and repenting, condemnation and recommitting.  Repenting and being sanctified by the Holy Ghost will yield holiness of heart, and holiness of life.  It will free you from all sin; namely the will to, want to, and practice of sinning.  It will keep you free from sin. 

Hebrews 10:14-17: “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

The Word and the Witness guide the life of a sanctified person.  It is no longer what I say, or my family says, or even what my church says; but what does Christ say?  The law is no longer on tables of stone, but it is written on our hearts.  Spoken to us by the Word and the Witness.  The Holy Ghost dwelling on the inside, testifying to us that we are children of God, joint heirs with Christ.  That we have been redeemed, and are walking in the light of the truth of the gospel.  That we are citizens of heaven, and pilgrims on earth.  It is our evidence of fellowship, unity with Christ, and assurance of a home in heaven.     

What Is Sanctification? It Is Christ

 Picking up from last week, endeavoring to unpack this topic of sanctification, and answer the question: What is Sanctification?  

It is Christ.  It is important to understand that the blessing of sanctification is the manifestation of Jesus Christ in the heart and lives of the Christian.  Listed below, I add a few verses to illustrate this, with accompanying comments.  

John 17:17-19: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

                    Mankind is sinful, God is holy, therefore we need a Savior.  Someone, or something, to bring us back to God.  Christ is/was that Savior.  Our salvation had to come through sacrifice.  Christ separated himself, sacrificed himself on the cross, so that we might be sanctified.  To be sanctified is to be separated unto God for a holy purpose.  Christ is the way, the truth and the life no man can come to the Father but by me (John 14:6).  He was sanctified, so that we might be sanctified, and we are sanctified through Him.  

Acts 26:18:  “ To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

To obtain an inheritance you need three things: first, the death of the testator (writer of the will and testament).  Second, you must be an heir (one who has the legal means to obtain the estate/inheritance), and finally, the executor (one who is responsible for following through on the terms of the testament).  Christ the author of the testament being the Word himself.  He is the death of the testator, dying on the cross of our sins.  He is the executor of the testament by the person of the Holy Spirit living in our hearts by faith.  Who grants unto us that we are heirs of God and joint heir through Christ.  All of this gives us an inheritance of the saints in light.  This is not possessed in part, but the whole when you possess the Holy Ghost.  It cannot be said that we are a child of God, and yet still sinning (Hebrews 10:26).  It cannot be said that we have the Holy Spirit and are committing sin (1 John 3:8).  It’s all or nothing.  Now or never.  If you hear his voice harden not your heart (Hebrews 3:15).  Unity with the Father comes through the Son, unity with the Son comes through the Holy Spirit, and the indwelling of the Spirit frees from all sin. Holiness within will produce holiness lived out, and this is sanctification.  Sanctification will set you apart for the service of God.  

Ephesians 3:16-17: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”

 Christ did the work, now we must place our faith in Him.  Faith is the currency of heaven.  The same faith that a child has, so must we.  Do you believe Christ is the Son of God?  Do you believe that he died for you?  That he was resurrected by the power of God?  That he ascended on high, and is at the right hand of the Father?  That he is ready to send the Holy Spirit to sanctify and dwell within your heart?  Repentance leads to forgiveness, and forgiveness prepares the inner man for the Holy Spirit.  By believing in Christ, you believe all that he said he is, and he said he is the spirit of truth, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost (John 14:16,26 & John 15:26).  Do you believe that he will dwell within to make you holy and keep you holy?   Holiness is taking Christ at his word. 

Colossians 1:27: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

                     A sanctified person's hope shifts from the seen to the unseen.  From their strength to Christ’s strength.  They no longer "think" they are saved, but they know they are saved.  They have a hope that is secure, a confidence that is grounded in the risen Christ who is manifested by the Holy Spirit. A part of what is up there, abounding in your heart down here, which affirms that you're going there.  Jesus Christ on the inside to show us the way.  A Savior who teaches, guides, strengthens, and leads.  Who calls us to: "follow me."  Our hope of glory, and in this hope we trust.  

What is Sanctification?  It is Christ.  Christ in you the hope of glory.

Sanctification Unpacked

  What is Sanctification?  Over the next few weeks (with God’s help), I hope to address this question and expound on that magnificent word: Sanctification.  A word that holds so much meaning, so much power, and is no less than salvation itself.  A doctrine that can abolish sin, transform lives, and make holy that which was unholy.  A blessed hope, enduring peace, and divine power that is available for every man who places their faith and trust in Christ.  

My prayer is that in unpacking some of what it is, it might prove to be a help to some soul, somewhere.  Furthermore, striving to address what it is not might illuminate a pathway to that weary one who is tired of sinning and repenting.  Might there be someone who desires to be sanctified wholly?  Could there be one who wants to be free from all sin?  Who wants to know and experience more than just living in bondage to sin and the flesh?  My prayer is that the Word of God will reach out, and the truth of God will ring out to that soul.   

Listed below are some foundational points that I would like to address.  I do not claim that this is all it is, or all it is not, simply saying that these points should be addressed if you are to understand what sanctification is.  

What it is:

It is Christ. (Colossians 1:27)

It is the second blessing. (Acts 26:18)

It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 1:14)

It is the witness of the Spirit. (Hebrews 10:15) 

It makes you and keeps you holy. (Colossians 1:21-22, Ephesians 1:3-14, 1 Peter 1:2-5) 

It is spiritual perfection. (Hebrews 10:14)

It is presently available for you. (Titus 2:11-14)

What it is not:

It is not the will of man. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

It is not repentance. (Acts 19:2)

It is not progressive. (Acts 2:1-4)

It is not optional. (Hebrews 2:3)

It is not positional. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

It is not weak. (Romans 8:1-9)

Humility

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” – John 5:30

Humility is a defense against the sin of pride.  The carnal heart is infected with pride, it is the pillar of carnality.  A man’s pride chains him to sin, it exalts him above God, and it keeps him from repentance, which will lead to sanctification.  Furthermore, pride creates a great chasm between himself and humility.  Humility that would birth righteousness, devotion, reverence, and the hand of God on his life.  

Jesus Christ said, “I can of mine own self do nothing.”  This statement staggers me.  It is totally contrary to the way the world and Satan would have us operate.  They would have the sanctified, Christian believer, do everything of themselves.  Necessities must be met.  The tribulations, and challenges of life must be met.  Most of us have creature comforts that we feel we must maintain.  In addition, there are goals, ambitions, and wishes that we feel compelled to perform.  In all of this there is care, stress, and anxiety.  Take something as simple as cutting the grass for example.  Apparently, it is unbecoming of a neighbor to have an untidy lawn, so we labor to keep it tidy.  In that process we procure a mower, weed eater, fertilizer, hose, sprinkler, edger, and leaf blower; all of this just to keep the grass cut.  Or we simply pay someone who has all that already.  Regardless, we are then in need of gainful employment that will provide the money to pay or procure tools to cut the grass.  Grass is a luxury item, it provides no real value or profit to our lives., yet it is something (most of us) maintain.  Now, is cutting the grass a source of anxiety in our life?  Most likely not, however, it is a stressor.  It brings care to our little kingdom.  Depending on the size of your kingdom it may be one of a hundred things that cause care and worry.  You may feel like you are adequately managing the kingdom, or totally failing.  In either case, if we have the mindset that we are doing it, that we are in charge, if  that is our mindset you/we are  setting ourselves up for failure in the end.  The devil is moving us into the danger zone, setting up pride as an idol in our own hearts and letting us believe “you got this.”  True, it may all be “under control” today, but there is coming a day when it’s not.  There is a day when you need a Savior.  To some this realization may come sooner rather than later, but to all it will come.  The show may go on with a confident smile; but when death comes, nobody can pass judgment without Jesus.  If pride is cemented in your heart, you will not pass judgment.  Therefore, in all things we must “do nothing of ourselves.”  We must humble and cast.  The man of pride can be destroyed in the human heart as surely as the man of sin can, but the world, flesh, and the devil will constantly try to resurrect him.  Therefore, we must die daily and cast it all on Jesus.  Humble ourselves and let him lift us up. 

Humility is the silver bullet to the temptation of pride.  Humility firmly puts Jesus Christ in the driver seat.  You don’t have to have it all figured out.  You don’t have to have to be “owning life”; but you do have to cast all your care upon him.  We must humble ourselves, this is not a recommendation but a commandment.  When we do, God will lift us up and take care of us; he will keep that which is committed unto him “against that day.”

Condition Of The Covenant

 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” -Isaiah 29:13

If you have ever been around a God fearing, Christ obeying married couple, then you are blessed.  Not just two people who bury the issues to fend off divorce, but really love God, and love each.  Yoked in perfect fellowship with Christ and one another.  United under the banner of holiness and fighting alongside one another to advance the cause of Christ. These marriages are Christ centered and exemplify communication, love, commitment, sacrifice, devotion, fulfillment, servanthood, submission.  They begin at the covenant.  They begin with the vow.

As a good marriage shows us how our relationship with Jesus ought to be; so, a glamorized wedding reminds us of the lip service that we once, or are presently, feeding to God.  Before marriage you typically have a wedding.  Typically.  A wedding is an occasion where friends and family gather to celebrate the union between a man and women, before God.  At some point the bride and groom will make a vow to one another to be faithful, to serve one another, and to love until death.  The sad reality is that sometimes marriages are aborted before the debt from the wedding is paid off.  If you do not enter into a marriage totally committed to God first, and your spouse second, then you are doing both a disservice.  You can dress it up, but if you don’t wholly commit to one another, it’s all in vain.  Sure, the service was beautiful, the bride was beautiful, everything looked and sounded wonderful; but what of the condition of the covenant?  The same question looms in front of every sinner that comes to God and every sanctified soul that is currently serving God.  What of the condition of the covenant?  Is it genuine?  Is it continuous?  Do you know Christ died for you?  Have you repented of your sin, confessed Jesus as Lord, surrendered to Him, and filled with the Holy Spirit?  Are you walking in holiness, delivered from all sin?  Are you free from the want and will to commit sin?  Are you still wholly devoted and dedicated to Christ and Him alone?  Or are you just going to church?  Going through the motions, and making it by?  The Pharisee’s of Jesus' time are a prime example of glamorization without commitment.  Ceremony without sacrifice.  Devotion without doctrine.  They looked the part, acted the part, but their life was an outward spiritual extravagance while their heart was far from Him.  They were not committed to God, so much as they were committed to the benefits that they received.  They did not love Him or His Son.  The wedding ceremony was worthy of the tabloids, but the marriage was worthless.  

Jesus doesn’t want a beautiful wedding; he wants a beautiful marriage.  He wants a relationship with us.  One that is filled with love, devotion, commitment, sacrifice, communication, and all the attributes of a holy life.  One that glorifies the Father.  That promotes love instead of lust, devotion over extravagance, commitment above excitement.  This begins and abides within the covenant.  The promise to love God with your all every day until your dying breath. 

The Work...Works

 “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – Hebrews 13:21

There is something fulfilling in understanding, implementing, and finishing a project.  Add to that the gratification that in each stage of the project you have the exact tool ready, organized, and at hand.  Finally when the tool is implemented by the hands of a master and the final project reflects the experience it brings satisfaction to those who witness and/or take part.  The work…works. 

The book of Hebrews is all about better things: a better word of promise, a better priest, a better sacrifice, and a better covenant.  The reason for all the better is Jesus.  Jesus was the redemption consolidator.  In the old covenant you needed a priest, fire, an altar, and a sacrifice to obtain redemption.  Jesus consolidated all that.  He was the great high priest; he was the sacrifice, he sent the fire, and because of all that you can make an altar and call on God.  Jesus took the plan of salvation and finished it.  In doing so, Jesus was given authority over sin and death.  If you wish to be justified and sanctified; to accomplish this you must come through Christ and follow His will.   “Thy will be done.”  This is sanctification.  The Holy Ghost, within a cleansed heart, leads it to do the will of the Father and his son Jesus Christ.  All other things in life fall secondary to this primary focus.  The inward work on the heart is good, right, and perfect.  Yet, Ezekiel prophesied to Israel “Hath not the potter power over the clay?……behold I will work a work on a wheel.”  While the work within is a complete work, the walk is not a complete walk.  The Christian must live a life pleasing to God.  This will mean shortcomings, misunderstandings, mistakes, and chastisement from God; but it does not have to mean sin.  Jesus Christ perfects the heart, and by the working of the Holy Ghost perfects us to do his will.  Like a potter, within himself are the tools to fashion the clay.  The potter molding us into that which he would have us to be.  He looks down at the clay and sees the end result; while all others look and see only a lump.  If we are obedient, then he is ever “working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight.”   The purpose of conviction is to draw you to a place of repentance, and ultimately into sanctification.  The purpose of chastisement, exhortation, reprove, rebuke, etc.  Is to fashion you into the total image of what Christ would have you to be.  Sometimes, we move with benevolent ambition, only to understand later the ambition was well placed, but the movement was not.  Sometimes we don’t move at all claiming we are “waiting on the Lord.”  Only to understand that we were really bound by fear “blaming it on the Lord.”  Our inaction is a consequence of our lack of devotion.  Sometimes we become apathetic, indifferent, cold, or misguided.  Sometimes we encounter situations we have never seen, and see things through a different lens which we never saw before.  Through it all we need grace, and God comes from God.  Through it all we need the working of Christ the Holy Ghost  in our lives; being constantly perfected by the working, to do His will.

Jesus is a wise master builder, and even he submitted himself to the same perfecting by the Father.  Even the sinless Christ “learned obedience through the things which he suffered.”  There was a work that was yet incomplete, and needed pressure, persistence, and sacrifice.  Jesus is working in us by the power of the Holy Ghost to the same ends.  The work, works; if we let it. 

Unrighteous Mammon

 

“And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.”-Luke 16:9 

God is not clamoring for our wealth, and His means are not limited to ours.  However, since this world is governed with money.  Debtors and creditors.  Wealth and means.  How might the disciple of Christ navigate this relationship between wealth and God?  Is the answer living in voluntary poverty?  Leave it all, owning nothing?  Or, rather, “make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness.”

  In verses one through eighth of this chapter Jesus talks of an unjust steward who was to be put out of his stewardship because he wasted his lord's goods.  When faced with poverty he resolved to use his influence to bridge the gap between two parties.  His lord and his lord's creditors.  He called the ones that owed his lord money and agreed with them for a part of the whole: “take a bill and write down fifty”. This served two purposes, it endeared him to his lord, and won favor with the creditors.  That way once he was fired from stewardship, he would have many friends (creditors) who would return the favor (job offers, lodging, etc.).  I mean, who doesn't love a good deal right?  Who isn't happy to see the guy who got you the deal?  If someone convinced your bank to reduce your mortgage by half, wouldn’t you be glad to see them?  He took this action because he failed, because he knew his time was up and found common ground amidst two opposing parties.  Herein is the lesson for us; faithfulness to God’s Word is the best action to take when dealing with money.  We are judged by God on how we handle money.  I believe Jesus put forth this lesson to the disciples because very soon they would lead the greatest spiritual awaking the world would ever know.  In that, hundreds would sell their possessions and lay the sum at the Apostle’s feet.  These men with nothing, would very quickly be responsible for fortunes.  How are they to deal with that money?  By recognizing that they cannot serve it, but they must serve God with it.  So they did, by financing missions, by caring for widows, orphans, the poor, sick, and needy.  Feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.  Where they couldn’t go the money did.  What they couldn't do with the money helped.  They realized that it was never meant to stay stagnant or sit in an account somewhere, but it was to be used!  To be bridled, saddled, and driven for God’s purposes.  Received, and given.  Distributing to the necessity of the saints.  This track record cemented a relationship with God, and caused them to be received into “everlasting habitations” for the work lives on, as does the example.  

Faithfulness in our finances is a reflection of our relationship with God.  It goes far beyond cheating and stealing, but down to the how, where, and what we put our money into.  This is a reflection on where our hearts truly are.  If we cannot be "faithful in unrighteous mammon,” how can God “commit to our trust the true riches?”  The Apostles understood this.  They coveted the Spirit and gave away the money.  Can it be said of the church today that we covet the money and give away the Spirit?   God is looking for faithfulness, not frivolity.  For sobriety, not surfeiting.  Generosity is the bridge between two opposing parties; the mammon of unrighteousness and the righteousness of God.  Since we are reluctant to give away what we love, generosity demonstrates what you love.  For if you cannot let it go, you can covet it.  Charity trusts, and faithfulness goes beyond accounting for every dollar and reaches into accounting for every dollar; while we let “our moderation be known unto all men for the Lord is at hand.”  Namely, what did you do with what God gave you? 

Our pursuit of good works must surpass our pursuit of much wealth lest the church find itself plagued with affluence, apathy, and indifference.  Lest we find our “church” culture exalted above the ones who Christ died for.  Deceived into thinking that gain is godliness from such withdraw thyself.  Let us rather spend and be spent for the gospel.

They Glorified God In Me

“But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.  And they glorified God in me.”-Galatians 1: 23 & 24

It has been said, reputation is what you’re perceived to be, and your character is what you really are.  While we hope our reputation and character is always positive, that may not always be the case.  Paul the Apostle was one such a case, he found that it took time for his reputation to catch up to his character.  No matter, because the end result was “they glorified God in me.”   In all things we want to glorify God.  The whole of humanity is meant for one purpose, to glorify God.   

Genesis, chapter one, tells us that God created: land and sea, space and sky, plants and animals; then he created man to inhabit his creation and he desired that God himself would inhabit mankind.  The sun will rise over the Atlantic each morning to bring light to the earth and people will be in awe of its beauty.  The blue sky and misty mountains will testify to the magnificence and might of the Almighty.  The vastness of space will promote the awesome power of the Alpha and Omega.  Yet, in all this; there is no choice or free will.  There is only creation.  We are the inhabitants of his creation and creation itself but we are different in that we can choose to deny God.  We can choose to deny his grace, his mercy, his power; we can even choose to deny his existence.  We have this choice while here on Earth, at times without punishment or retribution (however once we die we face judgment).  It was gifted to us just the same as the gift of life.  The sun cannot choose to shine, nor the tide to change, even the angels are subject to his authority, but God in his grace and mercy gave us choice, and loved us enough to subject himself to ridicule and mocking from the very creation which he made out of dust.  He wanted us to experience holiness, he wanted us to know Him, and he wanted this so passionately that he willingly gave his only Son so that we might find redemption and true life.  Think back, what brought you to Christ?  What convinced you that you could be saved?  Was it pictures of the Rocky Mountains or a visit to the Grand Canyon?  Perhaps, but far more likely it was the love of a Christian brother, it was a righteous life lived before you.  It was the preaching (and living) of the cross by a pastor or layman.  They glorified God and that glory drew you, it drew me.  They shined the light of Jesus in their life and it attracted us; it made you want to serve God and glorify Him over yourself.  God drew you to do His will over your own.  God was glorified within them, and his Holy Spirit called out to you.  Saul the Jew had the reputation and character of a man who persecuted the Christian church.  He believed in what he was doing, but it did not glorify God.  We may believe in what we are doing, and we may have a reputation and character that is acceptable, maybe even exalted but does it glorify God?  Does your life exalt Christ?  

Saul the prosecutor was soon struck down on the road and converted to Paul the apostle, and they "glorified God in him.”  The power of God  through Christ changed that man, and Christ can change your life.   If God can command the oceans, he can change your life.  If God can move the mountains, he can change your life.  If God can set the sun in the sky, he can change your life.  These things have to obey him, but you must choose to obey him, and in choosing you can be a vessel unto honor so that your reputation and character can be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  That it may be said: “they glorified God in me.” 

Holy Ghost Baptism

 

“I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” - Mark 1:8

 

To be baptized in water, is to take on the nature of water. If something is baptized in fire it takes on the nature of fire. Immersion inherently makes you part of the nature in which you are immersed.  It is said that the best way to learn a new language is to immerse yourself in the culture where it is spoken.  You become it, it does not become you.  This is the essence of baptism.

The Jews understood water being a symbol for ritual cleansing, and they would recognize the use of water in rite and ceremony.  When John came preaching repentance, baptizing in water. It would not have been a great leap for them to recognize the significance of this. John’s baptism of repentance was a turning away from sin.  Water baptism represented the cleansing of the old and the immersion into the new.  The religious leaders of that day had access to Almighty God, yet they used their knowledge and position to exalt themselves. When John the Baptist came preaching repentance from sin, the people were hungry to hear it; and did hear it. Yet John did not exalt himself but confessed that “he must increase(talking about Jesus), and I must decrease.” How much better off would we all be if we confessed the same? The baptism that we were ultimately to be baptized with, the entire message, the hallmark of God’s glorious plan of salvation to fallen man, was and always will be the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This baptism is meant to be the primary baptism that we all were to be baptized with.  It was coupled with the use of water, but not subject to it.  Consider the act of baptizing in water. First, the person to be baptized must commit themselves to the waters keeping.  Then they are destined to put on the very nature of the water itself. The immersion is a manifest change. This is the allegory to everyone that would be, and should be baptized by the Holy Ghost.  A complete surrender to the call of Christ, total abandonment of yourself, and full immersion into the belief of Jesus Christ. By which you take on the very nature of Christ through the Holy Spirit. As Paul says in Galatians 3:27 “for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Water is not necessary to this change.  The Bible tells us that there is one Lord, one Faith, and one Baptism.  The Lord is Jesus, the Faith is His faith, and the Baptism is His baptism; which is the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The baptism that makes Holy, and will keep you holy if you keep yourself “committed unto Him against that day.”  Have you received this baptism?

Strong Meat

 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”-Hebrew 5:14

 

It is not in the nature of man to deny themselves.  Once all of our needs are provided for, we should be content and yet contentment evades us.  We search for more.  More security, more comfort, more entertainment, more social, more pleasure, more excitement.  Our appetites and passions drive us to more.  The majority of our intelligence and skill employed to fill our carnal appetites.   The desire to want more ever present. 

  Between thirty four and thirty seven weeks gestation a baby learns to suck, swallow, and breath.  Babies come into the world hardwired to accomplish these things.  Within two hours they crave milk and should be fed.  The appetite is there and longing to be filled.  As the months pass it is part of the mothers role to satisfy this incredible craving.  This needy child.  However, there comes a time when the milk isn’t enough and the baby requires more to grow and in order to grow it must leave the milk and consume solid food.  This period of “weaning” off the milk to the meat can be hard as the child revolts against change.  Against the perception of lack.  The first of many lessons of self denial begin, and they must quiet themselves.  The new born Christian will be born with the desire to read God’s Word.  The old appetites of the world pass away and the new appetites of righteousness take hold.  When you feed that appetite you grow.  Grow in faith, and in the knowledge of God.  As the authority of the scriptures takes hold, obedience and self denial feed the maturating Christian.  Not a maturing out of sin, that comes instantaneously when you are born again by the Spirit, but a maturing into the measure and stature and fullness of Christ.  The scriptures give the distinction of “full age” to those who by “reason of use” have their sense exercised.  The skilled and unskilled are separated by practice.  A practiced hand is self-evident.  You recognize experience right away.  The carpenter, surgeon, logger, mechanic, whatever it might be, it is not hard to recognize a practiced hand.  Confidence, grounded in experience, which was hard earned by consistent use.  The path to this tracks through self denial.  A man of the world might say: “I want to be great.  I want to be esteemed. I want to be comfortable.  I want to be wealthy.”  These wants have costs, and that cost looks like self denial.  Many are willing to pay the price for selfish ambition in order to satiate carnal appetites; however it fails to produce everlasting peace.  Yet, how many are willing to pay the same price to know Christ?  The scripture searches this out with one simple question: “What is your life?”  Is it the habitual satisfying of natural impulses?  Are you only a body?  Or is there something more?  Something deeper, something spiritual?  What purpose does sacrifice serve if every minute you still march closer to death?  What good is all the things of this life if they only protect your mortal body (and hardly do that)?  God instructed us to put away our lust and embrace the cross.  We gain a far more enduring life.  We gain a far better confidence and companionship while here.  We gain a peace that passes all understanding. 

 The Christian that has been weaned off the milk, and is daily on a diet of meat will understand these things.  They will see what other mortals cannot see.  They will wait on the Lord in times of hurry.  They will be at peace in times of war.  Content in times of poverty.  Confident in times of scarcity.  They have a source of strength that nourishes the innermost depths of man.  This quickening sets them apart from the world.  It is settled in self denial.   

Send The Rain

 “Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” –Jeremiah 5:24

Concerning rain, timing is everything.  You may have a lot of rain at planting, nothing during growing, and you will have a lousy crop at harvest.  You may have nothing at planting, and then a lot at harvest; you will not be able to get to your crop.  The blessing of rain walks hand in hand with the timing of it.  God controls both the rain and when it falls.

In planting, you want a former rain, a rain that comes in swiftly after you plant.   This supercharges your crop and gives you strong germination.  Right before harvest, you want a latter rain.  A rain that drenches your crop and gives it that last drink to boost it up some more before you have to bring it in.  Obviously, you need rain in between, but the former and the latter rain at the perfect time gives you an abundant harvest.  In the above text, Jeremiah speaks to a people who have a “revolting and rebellious heart.”  They do not fear God, that is to say, they do not respect or revere him.  They do not recognize that God gives the rain, and reserves the harvest.  Imagine if you will, a place where there is no grocery store, no Wal-Mart, no fast food chains; a place where the food you eat is solely provided by the land you own.  This is the reality of much of the world today, and this is the reality that the people in Jeremiah’s day lived.  They were totally dependent on the rain, and on the timing of the rain.  They were relying on something that was far beyond their control.  Who on earth can command the rain?  What can we do to stop the rain from falling?  The nutrients and abundance of a field is reserved by God for man, and given by His hand.  These people in Jeremiah’s day are reaping the fruits of bounty on the back of the Almighty, and they have no humility or thankfulness in their heart.  There is only open rebellion and a false belief that they are the giver of life.  Do you see yourself in this text?  Our lives are our field, and in it we work and labor.  We sow what little seeds of time we have and earnestly expect a return on our investment.  We hope for a harvest, and rejoice when there is one; but to whom is the glory given?  What do you have that God did not give?  What did we gain that God did not first provide?  “Ye are not your own but bought with a price.”  One of the greatest tragedies that ever befell this country is the acceptance of evolution and anti-creationism.  Under the cloak of this theory the devil crept in and sowed a seed of doubt that would undermine Christianity entirely; and that seed is this.  God is not the creator.  When the people accept that there is no creator, then they believe that there is no governor of the rain; and if we believe that, then we accept that we are lords over our lives.

If God chooses to send the former and latter rain, then we must praise Him for it.  If he chooses to withhold the rain, that is in His providence and we must bless His name.   God knows when to send the rain and he knows when the blessing is needed.  The righteous trust God and praise God in the dry season and the rainy season.  The wicked trust themselves in all seasons, and “neither say they in their hearts let us now fear God”.  When we refuse to accept a God that sends the rain, then we break the first commandment; and though we have all the goods this world can offer, we will want it on the Day of Judgment. “Fear ye the Lord all ye his saints, for there is no want to them that fear him.”

A Place Of Humility

 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13

When you examine the character of Christ you will find every desirable virtue.  Love, compassion, courage, discernment, and of course humility.  Humility is essential to the Christian.  We must have it to be converted, and to be sanctified.  We must keep it in our walk with Christ, all the way to heaven.  At some point, in order to make it to heaven, one must say “I am wrong.”  

The scripture says that “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2 Cor 7:10) When the Holy Ghost convicts and convinces you that you are a sinner, it is an act of grace.  God’s grace has led you to the point where you understand that you are wrong and must change.  You have reached a wonderful revelation; a revelation that you are lost.  For certain, many have felt conviction from God, and reasoned themselves away from it.  Perhaps it is because they were unwilling to admit that they were wrong. Herein is the ugliness of pride revealed.  When you are so confident in your strength and the reasoning of your own mind that you are unwilling to listen to the counsel of God; the work of repentance will be forever lost to you.  There are far more who will go to hell because of pride than because of drinking, rioting, and such like.  There are many who sit in a church dressed in the finest clothes, driving the best cars, convinced they are righteous; and  because of pride they cannot see, or rather are unwilling to look, at the true state of their soul.  Unwilling or unable to “examine themselves to see if they are in the faith or not.”  Pride will blind the eyes to the path of God and blind the mind to the counsel of God; pride will condemn the soul in sin.  The scripture says “let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.”  That tells me, all you have to do to be wicked is want your way over God’s.  Friend, we stand in constant need of humility.  The publican did not know much, but he knew humility.  Humility carried him closer to the heart of Christ than learning or lineage.  Humility met with mercy brought pardon.  Pardon for sin, pardon from the Savior.   

When you decide to follow Jesus,  repent and are sanctified by the Holy Ghost it does not leave a bitter taste in your mouth.  It does not bring turmoil or bondage.  Far from it; it brings liberty.  It takes the pressure off of you and allows you to live in fellowship with God the Father.  Christ will cleanse you from sin, and sanctify you whole.  He can change your heart and life.  He can bring you into every desirable virtue he himself embodied.  This cannot begin unless one finds a place of humility and turns from their way.

Deceitfulness Of Riches

 “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”-Mark 4:19

Some time back I had a conversation with a young man who had just received a big promotion at work.  He told me, “Patrick, I am making more money than I ever dreamed.”  As we stood there and talked about his new job I observed the brand new Chevrolet he bought, the luxurious boat that he was trailering, and the new clothes he was wearing.  He then proceeded to tell me about all the upgrades he added to his house and hobbies.  As time went by the conversation got around to God and church, I asked him if he was coming back to church.  His reply was: “I would but I got to work.”  This scripture came to me later “cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of  other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”

The riches of this world purchase us a degree of safety, opportunity, efficiency, entertainment and access.  We cannot buy time, but we can pay others to do the things that we would have to do.  We cannot buy friendship, but we can purchase things that others want to be surrounded by.  We cannot buy safety but we can purchase the means to help us stay safe.  Riches can be used to lift man out of struggle, to make merry the heart, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry.  You can pay the maid to clean your house, the nanny to raise your children, and the mechanic to fix your car (or just buy a new one).  Riches can stand in the place of toil and sweat, knowledge and expertise.  They bring comfort to the flesh.  You sleep in better homes, better hotels, and you travel in better cars or planes.  If you are cold you buy warm clothes, if it's hot you put in air conditioning.  You are hardly ever without the ways and means to accomplish your ways and means.  Riches can accomplish many things, perhaps that is why people love them so deeply, and devote themselves to them so fully.  However in the most important things, riches fall woefully short.  Riches increase pride, and lust.  They become a snare and a trap, especially when coupled with the accumulation of debt to leverage risk in hopes of greater and greater riches.  They entangle and tether you to this world, corrupting the simplicity of the gospel.  The scripture says: “but I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”   A simple gospel produces a simple life, and in simplicity there is freedom (as well as unity).  As Ed Miller said in 1952: “the more we expand in our greatest and our wealth the more division we will have.”  He was right then and he is right now.  The deceitfulness of riches enhance good intentions but they can erode the spiritual senses, because the only way to know the will of the Lord is to spend time with him, and rely on Him.  Riches employed by the will of man, can counterfeit the will of God.  I have often wondered how many schemes, programs, and evangelical initiatives exist today in the church as a direct function of man's will, mixed with man's money, propagated in God’s name.  Instead of God’s will, mixed with man’s faith, manifested by the power of the Holy Ghost.. One is born in a board room, the other in a prayer room.  Not to mention the fact that there are some things that riches cannot do.  Psalms tell us: “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:”  No amount of money ever converted a sinner.  No amount of money ever brought a second of conviction.  Riches won’t preach.  The ministry is messy and you cannot “hire out” the Lord’s calling on your life.  You must take up your cross and follow Him.  Wisdom from above is not gained by wealth, and you cannot purchase the doctrine with dollars.  The currency to purchase these is gained through communion with God and Christ.  Thankfully, when riches fail us, and they certainly will, prayer will not fail.  If the church believed in prayer the way they believed in money we would need less of the latter.  Riches access all the means of man, but prayer access all the means of God.  

Prayer can do what money could never do.  Prayer can change hearts, convict sinners, comfort the broken, deliver the just, and much more.  Jesus did not teach the disciples to fund raise, he taught them to pray.  He didn't teach them to organize or strategize, he taught them to pray.  These things may be birthed from prayer, but they should not supersede prayer.  Prayer is the medium which promotes change in the believer, the church, and the world.  Prayer brings revival.  Prayer abases the flesh.  Prayer casts down the pride or man and leaves only the will of God.  “Pray in secret and the father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”  The Lord teach us to pray, to rely on you, and recognize the deceitfulness of riches.