CHRISTMAS IS...PART 3

CHRISTMAS IS JESUS CHRIST

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said,

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid

to take Mary home as your wife,

because what is conceived in her

is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1.20

You are to give Him the name 'Jesus,'

because He will save His people from their sins.

Matthew 1.21

His people will call Him 'Emmanuel,'

which means 'God with us.'

Matthew 1.23

The prophet has written:

'Out of you (Bethlehem) will come a ruler

who will be the Shepherd of my people Israel.'

Matthew 2.6

A ruler ...whose origins are...

from everlasting...to everlasting.

Micah 5.2; Psalm 90.2

I bring you good news of great joy!

Today, in the town of David

a Savior has been born to you:

He is Christ, the Lord.

Luke 2.10-12

Glory to God in the highest

Peace on Earth

to men on whom His favor rests

(to men on with whom He i s well pleased)

Luke 2.14

Let us go and see this

and

the shepherds returned ,

glorifying and praising God

Luke 2.15, 20

The Christ of Christmas was conceived in the mind of the Father, Son,

and Holy Spirit before the creation of the world.

The Christ of Christmas, Jesus, came to save people from their sins.

Those who are forgiven and saved call Jesus "Emmanuel"

because He is still with us today.

Jesus is our Shepherd, our Good Shepherd,

Who seeks and saved His lost sheep.

Jesus, Christ, God the Son, Lord and Ruler of our lives

is the Everlasting Savior, the Savior whose origins are

from everlasting to everlasting.

For those who find Him to be Savior

there is Peace Wisdom, and Power

for a life that pleses God and gives favor to men.

Let us then, take time this Christmas

to go and see Jesus for ourselves.

If we do so, we will return glorifying and praising God.

"MESSING UP!"

WORDS FOR THE WISE

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight, O Lord."

Psalm 19.14

A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15.1

If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man(!).

James 3.2

King David, called "a man after God's own heart," messed up.

Badly! More than once!

The worst we are told about is found in 2 Samuel 11-19, nine chapters about two really bad messes he got into and created for himself and others.

He wrote Psalm 51 in his repenentance in order to move on with God.

This Psalm is a thorough look at how we "mess up" and what God does to "straighten up" behind us.

"MESSING UP"

David uses four words (combined total of 13) to describe what he had done. He used these words to describe what he had done. These four words enabled him to understand the awful attitudes and the tragic results in the lives of others.

They will help us see the attitudes and the consequences of what we say and do,

too.

(In order to follow the words as David uses them, I am using the NIV.)

V1--"Blot out my transgressions." Hebrew: "Peshah"

"Peshah" means that our consistent failures come from an unwillingness to take responsibility and make the effort to change. It is going wrong ways, "crossing boundaries where God has said, "No Trespassing." It is therefore, "rebellion" against the rightful order of the universe, God's Kingdom.

To make mistakes is part of who we are, saved or unsaved. To continue to make mistakes and justify them, however, is "foolish," according to Proverbs.

Rebellious, irresponsibe behavior brings many, many disastrous consequences. Such heedless selfishness brings trouble and downfall to others around us.

David paid dearly for his fooish choices.

Others suffered because of him.

We, too, pay dearly for our ignorance, selfishness, complacency, justification, rationalization, and all the rest that we use to take what we want with no regard to our future hopes and dreams and how are selfishness hurts and denies others.

V.2a--"Wash away all my iniquity." Hebrew: "Avon"

"Iniquity" is not your every day household word! This Hebrew word describes cruel pain that results from having a joint twisted out of place. When we rebel against God in our "transgressions," our selfish determination to get what we want no matter what it will cost us and others in the long run, we are twisting, and breaking every law of God into cruel whirlwinds of destruction, shame, pain, and death.

Think of the consequences of the selfishness of adults and the neglect of children; or, our world's greedy, corrupt pursuit of power, possessions, and positions and the wars, lies, and financial chaos and suffering of their victims.

Then consider James 3.13-4.8

Iniquity is about twisting, manipulating, deceiving, lying words and behaviors, and crushing people mercilessly in the process. It's about "me and mine," about doing and getting "what I want," no matter how much it hurts you or denies you the gifts of grace, truth, and love that you need deserve from me.

V.2b--"Cleanse me from my sin." Hebrew: "Chata"

This word is the basic word for "sin" in all the Old Testament. In one way or another, every form of wrong doing and its consequences is called "sin" in our translations. Its meaning is very commonplace, not as horrid as we generally think when we hear the term. The horror of the word is part of its meaning, but is starts with little thing--"to miss the mark," something we do all day long in many different ways. I "missed the mark" of a friend's coffee cup yesterday morning. I once missed the glass of a friend and poured ice water down the back of a lady I had never met before--she did not take well to my inaccuracy.

"Chata" is identical to the New Testament's basic word for sin which is explained in a famous phrase as to "come short." To miss and come short of what God wants for us, for our well-being and for our value to one another and our worth to His kingdom, for our happiness and peace, to miss the infinite love of God filling our hearts with grace and realization of His own gloriousness--to miss and come short of all this and of "great and mighty things which we know not," of things that "are exceedingly, aboundantly above all that we can ask or think--this is sin!

When we foolishly ignor all that God has made possible for us we are left with only the empty husks of the pigs' slop. I watched my grandfather "slop the hogs" and then went in and sat down to my grandmother's incredible breakfasts and suppers. Quite a difference! This is exactly God's point.

When Ezekiel saw the difference, he cried out to people, "The soul that sins will die! Turn from your sin and live! Why do you choose to die!"

v. 4b--The last word is Evil--"Against You and You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight." Hebrew: "Ra"

"Ra" focuses on the destructive consequences of the many ways we sin and fail. Proverbs lists about 1,000 consequences, immeidate and long range. To ourselves and to others who are carried down with us, or knocked down by us.

The Hebrew dictionaries define "Ra" as "destruction, damage, calamity; to cause bad things to happen ."

If we were in touch with Jesus, we would not ask, "Why does God let bad things happen to good people?" We would recognize the bad things are done and caused by people neglecting and hurting one another every day, not by God's indifference.

The Old Testament tells about the consequences of

1. consicous disobedience and rebellion,

2. of lying, cheating, deceiving, manipulating,

3. of even simple faults and failings that are not corrected, and

4. of the incredible suffering, pain, hardship, and heartache this world brings upon people.

We are all victims of Satan's malice, but we can become freed from his powers in, through, and with Jesus Christ. Then, we can be deliverers of hope and help.

Just as Jesus, our Great and Good Shelpherd, gets us through the hard places and valleys, with goodness and mercy to restore us day by day, so we can serve Him by bringing good and mercy to others as long as we live.

The House of the Lord will welcome us when we can longer go on here.

To be continued as "How God Straigthens us up."

TO WISE SONS AND DAUGHTERS, 1.

A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish son grief to his mother.

Proverbs 10.1

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction

and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

They will be a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

Proverbs 1.8-9

Honor your father and mother.

Exodus 20.12

1. To honor our father and mother, we must rethink their relationship to us.

We will need to forgive offenses, abuses, failures, the hurt and anger, bitterness, and even hatred that we carry against them. List these painful memories and choose to forgive them.

Don't try to "just forget," or "let the pass be forgotten." Don't be afraid of digging up the past. With forgiveness, you can "let go of the past," not just bury it alive within you. When you forgive the past, you let it die and rid yourself of the torment that has lived within you.

Make your list.

Forgive what you can right now.

Painful issues may take a little more time, but begin now.

2. With forgiveness, we clear our bitter, angry way of remembring and seeing our parents.

With forgiveness a new way of thinking about our parents opens us to consider the good things they did do, be they ever so small and few. As we begin to see some good in our parents, we will become compassionate in regard to some of their failings and sad about others. They were victimized, too. And they failed to take responsibility, were selfish, and complacent and much more. But...,

We can now look on them with compassion and mercy for what they missed out on in their lives.

3. As we forgive and change our outlook on our parents, we will free to honor them will genuine appreciation. We will be able to speak civilly and sincerely of the new way we see them.

4. With forgiveness and honor, we will be able to bring reconciliation and joyful relationships within our families.

CHRISTMAS IS...PART 2

GOD, OUR FATHER, SENDING JESUS TO BE OUR SHEPHERD.

Give Him the name Jesus,

because He will save His people from their sins.

They will call Him Emmanuel , which means "God with us."

A ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.

Matthew 1. 21, 23; 2.6

CHRISTMAS IS...

OUR SAVIOR.

Jesus, our Savior, has come to save us from our sins. This will include

1. Forgiveness for our past sins so we are no longer held accountable for them.

2. Acceptance into His presence for learning the ways of holiness and righteousnes. As Dispciples, we are to spend time with Him and other disciples in order to "learn to obey all that He has commanded us." Matthew 28.18-20. Discipline to spend time "in His Presence" results in the "fruit of the Spirit," such love, joy, and peace, the great gifts of Christmas.

CHRISTMAS IS...

OUR SHEPHERD.

Our Shepherd, the One Who saves us and accepts us, is our Teacher and Counselor, training, correcting, and watching over us as we learn.

Learning from our mistakes and failures is okay!

As our Shepherd, Jesus supplies us with great wisdom and strength to recognize, resist, and overcome all the "schemes od the Devil," temptations, pressures, and hardships that come against. In this life, we will always experience "tribulation," but we will always receive wisdom, strength, encouragement, and comfort, whereby we will then be able to provide the same for others.

Our responsibility is time in His presence for our "marching orders." We need to be like the seekers of Proverbs 8.34-35:

Blessed is the man who listens to me,

watching daily at my doors,

waiting at my doorway.

For whoever finds me finds life

and receives favor from the Lord.

CHRISTMAS IS...2009, PART 1

THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said to him, "Josoph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1.20-21

THIS SAVIOR SAVES US

1. FROM PERISHING BECAUSE OF OUR SINS.

"God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3.16.

Believing in Jesus moves us out of the death of sin and into the life of Jesus. John 5. 24 tells us, "Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.."

"Action" words emphasize that when we believe in Jesus we are "transferred" out of a state (realm, condition, place) of death and moved into a state (realm, condition, place) of life.

We are given life with God. Our present defective bodies will be changed when we die and we will recieve a new, eternal body for this new life with God for ever and ever. Eph. 2.7.

THIS SAVIOR SAVES US

2. FROM THE SINS WHICH CONTROL US.

"Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus...Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires...For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6.11-14

God's eternal kingdom is the ultimate destiny for which God creates us and saves us. But, this great salvation of Jesus Christ applies to every moment of this life.

We can now combat the powers of sin that controlled us before we began to trust and obey Jesus as our Lord.

Jesus by His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, works within us to correct and re-direct

us for our new life. As we pray and seek His will, listen to our conscience, by read, meditate, memorize Scripture, submit to teaching, counsel, and encouragement with one another, we will develop patience and faith, praise, worship, and thanksgiving in victories of love, joy, and peace.

Such growth in grace lets us bring strength, encouragement, hope, faith, and comfort to all we pass day after day.

We bring "salt" and "light" to the lives of all we meet and know. God's goodness and mercy flows to and through us all the days of this life, and then we dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

THIS SAVIOR SAVES US

3. FROM THE ADVERSITIES THAT SIN HAS BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD.

Jesus tells us clearly that we will continue to suffer "tribulation" so long as we are on earth. This "tribulation" comes in the form of "weaknesses, insults, persecution, hardships, and difficulties"--2 Corinthians 12.10.

Not to worry! Jesus says, "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." John 16.33.

The apostles tell us, "Thanks be to God who has given the victory" over sin, death, and the grave.

"Count it all joy because you know that the trial of your faith develops...its work so that you may become perfect and complete," because

"God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes," and

"We are created in Christ Jesus for good."

There is much, much more about God's day by day work in our lives in the face of adversity and affliction.

The grace we receive results in our being able to comfort and encourage others.

Jesus has come to save His people!!!

THE GOAL OF HARDSHIPS: PART 4

GETTING THROUGH

THE VALLEYS OF HARDSHIPS

"Since we have these promises,

dear friends,let us purify ourselves

from everything that contaminates

body and spirit,

perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

Our Creator perfects holiness

1. By the Holy Spirit.

"But we ought always to thank God for you brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginnning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth."

2 Thessalonians 2.13

"And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3.18

"Being confident o fthis, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1.6

"Being renewed in the image of God in true holiness and righteousness." Ephesians 4.22-24.

The changes that take place in us in the midst of hardships are worked in us by the Holy Spirit. The good God works in us in everything that happens to us brings us greater realization of God"s glory and moves us more toward Who He is.

Our Creator perfects holiness

2. By the Scriptures.

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You." Psalms 119.9-11.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is usefuly for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3.16-17.

"You are cleansed by the word which I have spoken to you." John 15.3

"Sanctify them through the truth; Your Work is truth." John 17.17

"If you continue in My Word, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. " John 8.31-32

"...God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth....So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." 2 Thessalonians 2. 13, 15

Scripture reading and meditation is a "must" for us. Perhaps begin with Psalm 119, eight verse units at a time, to meditate and begin to desire the 176 things God's Word does for us.

Our Creator perfects holiness

3. By faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11.5-6

So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10.17

"Faith and love spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you." Colossians 1. 5

Reading the Scriptures, especially in hardships, focuses our attention and thoughts on Who God is and what He does. The more clearly we see Him, the more hope, confidence, and faith we have in Him. The confidently and courageously we will obey His leadership. The more strength and power our lives will have. The more godly we will become. The more love, joy, and peace we will experience.

Our Creator perfects holiness

4. For present and eternal glory.

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1.6-7

"Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

2 Peter 3.18

"May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and y His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

2 Thessalonians 2. 16-17

Our Creator has created us to live with Him forever. He has created all things for us to enjoy with Him forever. He has planned a rich welcome for us as we enter His eternal Kingdom, where we will marvel at His gloriousness for the coming ages of eternity.

THE GOAL OF HARDSHIP--PART 3

"WHAT'S GOD DOING WITH ME!?"

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that

the testing of your faith

develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work

so that you may be mature andcomplete,

not lacking anything.

James. 2. 2-4

What's happening is

1. God is working in you to discover His will and way for your life. Trials and hardships expose our weaknesses and inadequacies, our selfishness, anger, fear, rebellion, ignorance, pride, greed, lust, and on and on. Galatians 5.17-21; Colossians 3. 5-8; and other places.

These behaviors and attiudes must be exposed at the heart level, as Mark 7.21-23 points out. This is the point of the reference to Murder and Anger in Matthew 5. Stress and pressure expose the anger issues in our hearts that must be recognized, confessed, and corrected for us to grow in grace and to become more Christlike.

What's happening is

2. God is providing grace to help us in our times of need--Hebvrews 4.16;

2 Corinthians 12.9-10.

This grace comes to us because we pray more honestly and earnestly in our need.

This grace comes to us when we read Scripture seeking for promises that give us hope that helps strengthen our faith.

What's happening is

3. Our need for Grace brings us more realization of God's compassion, wisdom, and power. Ephesians 1.18-19; 1 Corinthians 1.24; James 1.8.

Our need for Grace brings us more awareness of the overwhelming resources God has for us. 1 Corinthians 1.4-9; Ephesians 1.3, 3.20-21; Phil 4.19;

2 Peter 1.2-11.

What's happening is

4. God is using our hardships as the circumstances in which He carries out His purposes to make us holy and righteous for His eternal kingdom. Philippians 2.12-13; Ephesians 2.8-10; Ephesians 1.4; 4.22-24; Romans 6.17, 19, 22; and many others.

Romans 8.28-39 is the best statement of this concept; James 1.2-8 is the shortest.

What's required is

1. Realization that trials which test us reveal the goodness of God. Romans 12.2.

2. Realization that the Holy Spirit will identify and confirm His work as we search the Scriptures. John 8.31-32; 15.7; 17.17; Acts 17.11; 2 imothy 2.15, 3.16-17; Hebrews 2.1-4, 4.1-2, 12.1-3.

3. The sacrifice of our conveniences to seek the Lord our God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When the love of God fills our heart, soul, mind, and strength, that love will overflow to all we know and meet. Romans 5.1-5;

2 Peter 1.2-11.

A HEALTHY BODY

AN INCREDIBLE CONCEPT

Proverbs 13:25
The righteous eat to heir hearts’ content,
but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

If I desire to serve God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, my heart will desire that my body become healthy and strong. I will have energy to concentrate mentally and emotionally on the will of God. My heart will want my body to be healthy, energetic, and active in order to develop and carry out relationships with others.

As I discipline my heart, soul, mind, and body, I bring every thought into obedience to Your purposes for my life, now and forever. (2 Corinthians 12:1-3; Phil 2:5; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3)

Bringing my thoughts into obedience means changing the way I think to the way God thinks:

"Let this mind be in you as it is in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5

And, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” Romans 12:2.

If I bring my thoughts, ideas, motives, and desires in line with God's, my behaviors will line up, too. As my heart, mind and soul begins to think more and more like You, my body will become healthy. My heart’s desires will include a healthy body, and I will deny unhealthy foods. I will deny “Fat Body Foods” and lose my Fat Belly.

PSALM 102:3-11 lists the incredible effects of “distress.”

The Hebrew word translated “distress” in 102:2 (NIV) is given in Girdlestone’s Synonyms to mean “go around in circles,” “revolve,” “to writhe in pain or pangs,” leading to confusion, fear, anger, addictions, and much, much more.
The Psalm lists the following effects of “distress:”
1. “My bones burn”
2. “My heart is blighted and withered
3. “I forget to eat”—loss of appetite
4. “I as reduced to skin and bones”—I lose weight
5. “I am like a desert owl”—I withdraw from people
6. “I lie awake”—I do not sleep well
7. “My enemies taunt me…rail against me…as a curse”--

I am criticized and given lots of “advice”

8. “I eat ashes”—food tastes terrible, indigestion, heartburn
9. “Mingle my drink with tears”—I cry a lot

10. ”Your great wrath”—I blame God
11. “thrown aside”--I feel rejected, unwanted, unaccepted, unacceptable—I am lost
12. “I wither away”--My life loses value and meaning—I don’t feel like getting up and going to work—just sleep all day—I am very, very depressed!

Some of the other effects the “distress” of Psalm 102 (and many other places) creates are:
1. Imbalance in total body chemistry
2. Weakening of Immune system
3. Loss of energy and motivation
4. Numerous blood conditions
a. Increased cholesterol
b. Hardening of arteries
c. Strokes and heart disease
d. Inadequate kidney and liver functions
e. Not all poisons are removed from blood
f. Brain chemistry becomes unbalanced
g. Synapses of brain cells are hindered, slowing reactions and contributing to deterioration and aging of the brain

There is healing for all this!

Psalm 103.3 tells us to praise God from our soul (“from my inmost being”) for all His benefits. Among the several “benefits” for which we are to praise God is that He “heals all (our) diseases.”

Realizing we are “distressed” and seeking God’s grace by faith in His goodness and with obedience to His wise counsel (as directed in other Psalms and Proverbs) will lead to healing of these diseases and the effects they have in many other ways on our health—diabetes, allergies, arthritis, headaches, nervous disorders, panic attacks…. There is an almost endless number of “diseases of distress” that are healed by faith in the greatness and goodness of our Creator, Savior, and Lord.

Faith is created by the Holy Spirit as we read Scripture that exalts God’s greatness, goodness, grace, and glory. If we will focus on faith in God as He reveals Himself in Scripture and obey His directions for our life, He will rebuild our distressed soul, heal our body and bring peace to our whole body, soul, and spirit.

We will be renewed in heart, soul, mind, and body, in genuine holiness of character and righteousness in conduct.

With peace of heart, mind, and soul, we will become peaceful and peaceable in our reactions to one another, and we will become peacemakers for those who have conflicts within themselves. We will provide “comfort and encouragement” for others, as we have been comforted by our Lord Jesus. We will help others grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We will together grow wiser, stronger, and better, building up one another, as Christ makes all things work together for our good. Ephesians 4.16; Romans 8.28

THE PERSISTANT PURSUIT OF GOD’S PURPOSES

Psalm 5

Vv. 1-2—I “cry for help.”


BE SPECIFIC!


V. 3—I “wait.”


Wait in “Refuge”—Somewhere Alone to Listen


Twice in the Sermon on the Mount—Mt. 6.6, 18—Jesus says the Father will meet us in “secret.” As the Father looks upon us in some quiet, private place, He will speak loving, truthful, and empowering words to us.


Vv. 4-6—I confront “évil.”


“Evil” is the translation of the Hebrew word rashah, which means the confusion, anxiety, destructiveness, error, misunderstanding, etc., and therefore the troublesomeness of the circumstances that surrounds us.


Vv. 7-8—I “come.


God will lead us into His righteousness. (Ephesians 4.22-24; Ps. 4.4-5).


Vv. 9-10—I “resist.”


Oppositions, hardship, weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12.9-10; Romans 8.26-37) within and without will always be present and must be resisted with persistent, disciplined endurance to find and follow God’s directions for His purposes in through, and beyond the issue about which we are seeking His Grace and Peace.


Vv. 11-12—I Rejoice.”


Gladness, joy, protection, love, and favor abound and the love of God fills our hearts and overflows to others like a river of living water (John 7.37-39)

THE GOAL OF HARDSHIP--Part 2

"WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME!?"

Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1.2-4

What's happening is

1. We are facing trials. The word for trials means circumstances that drive or distract us away from our faith and faithfulness. There are "many kinds" of trials. One of the best lists of "trials" is in 2 Corinthians 12.9-10: "weaknesses, insults, persecutions, hardships, and difficulties." The Apostle insists that these are the circumstances in which God reveals Himself to us in extra-special ways, called "grace." He says that God's grace makes us strong when faced with "weaknesses." Difficult and hard "trials" are the times that God reveals the greatness of His goodness and glory, wisdom and strength, love, holiness, and righteousness.

"Enduring hardship" is part of being "good soldiers of Jesus Christ." 2 Tim. 2.3-4.

Trials perfect our faith and result in praise, honor and glory for the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1.6-7.

What's happening is

2. Trials are for "the testing of your faith." "Trials" demonstrate , the genuineness, the sincerity, the strength of our faith. They are public demonstrations of how much we trust in God's goodness at work in our lives. Trials demonstrate how much we believe Romans 8.28-39 that says that God makes all things work out for good in our lives. Do we believe that we will become "more than conquerors" even though we are oppressed and dismayed by what is happening? Do we trust that "God is for us" and is still our good Shepherd, watching over us through dark days of pain, shame and guilt? Do we believe that He cares for us with a love that is exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think? Romans 8.31, 35, 39; Ephesians 3.20-21; Psalm 23. Can we do what is good and right in the face of "evil" ( harmful, wrong treatment), confident of God's eventual justification of our obedience? Romans 8.29-30; 12.21.

1 Peter has a whole series of statements about how suffering is used by God to demonstrate His goodness and glory in the lives of those who trust and obey Him.

Jesus' instructs us to respond with good works and words to those who who mistreat us (Luke 6.27-28). Peter says that to rejoice as Jesus' glory is revealed to us in our suffering for Him. 1 Peter 4.12-13. Paul says that in suffering we come to know Jesus more deeply than in any other way. Phil. 3.7-14; 1 Timothy 1.12-17.

Using James' same word for "test" in Romans 12.2, Paul tells us the transforming work of God allows us to "experience" and therefore demonstrate God's work and way as beng good, pleasing, and perfect.

Peter says that the enduring of suffering "proves" that our faith is genuine.

When we experience hardships, we can come to God and He will work with us throughout the time we are enduring. Our faith is perfected and God's real presence is demonstrated to and through our responses.

As we grow wiser, stronger, and better, all we touch experience the love and power of God to save and deliver and transform the lives of those who believe, trust, and obey Him.

It is no wonder then that James says we can depend on this--

Great joy comes to us
when we remain faithful to Jesus

in the face of difficult difficulties.

To be continued.

THE GOAL OF HARDSHIP--Part 1

WHERE'S THE JOY IN THIS!?

"Consider it all joy, my brothers ,

whenever you face trials of many kind..."

James 1.2

One of the burger places once ran an add about other places with the little lady asking, "Where's the beef?"

This has to be the question about tials, pressures, hardships, suffering, etc.--"What's the point? What's the purpose?

Or, "Why!?" "Where's God in this?"

The Psalms have about 150 different way of asking this question, so the question is legit. But having asked this question, it leads immediately to the next one--"Where's the answer?"

What appears to be senseless suffering begs for an answer: "Why, God! Why?"

I am going to present a series of ideas for an answer to the many questions around this problems of suffering.

In this post we will look at what the words of the verse are saying to us. The key words are trials, testing, developes, perseverance, work, mature, complete, lacking.

In these words God gives us an answer to our the most basic issue of pain and suffering: "Why?" "It is all so senseless!" "How could a good God allow so much suffering?"

We can begin with an apparent "simplistic" answer--

"Suffering makes us better people."

There are some obvious, immedediate objections to such simplicity; but, on the other hand, learning what is wrong and what doesn't work through the school of hard knocks is a pretty well established principle of growth and development, allowing for a lot of "I told you so" comments after the fact. "Experience is the best teacher" and "No Pain, No Gain" are universally accepted proverbs. Suffering does often make us better people.

Here's how Paul puts it:

Since we have these promises, dear friends,

let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,

perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

2 Corinthians 7.1

"Purifying ourselves" and "perfecting holiness" are godly goals. "Perfecting" in 2 Corinthians 7.1 is the same Greek word that James uses as translated "mature." While we may think suffering "senseless" in some ways, James and Paul set forth a very specific, definable goal to be reached in and thorugh these times--"perfecting" our heart, soul, mind, and even body in God's own likeness or image, character, attitude, or qualities.

This would be the same as

Romans 8.28--working all things to produce good.

Ephesians 2.10--created in Christ for good works.

Psalm 23:4-Your rod and staff comfort, protect, and bring

goodness and love every day.

We are told how God uses the reality of suffering in this world. Suffering is a reality of this life. We can look to God for help to make us wiser, stronger and better. Growth and development, becoming a new and better person, being recreated in the image of God, is an incredible intervention of God.

God's intervention in suffering is a major part of the heart of the Gospel:

God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son

that whoever believes in HIm should not perish

but have everlasting life.

John 3.16

In summary, God enters the hardships that are common to this life and reveals His great love and compassion for us. He comforts and strengthens us in the face of everwhelming odds. We gain assurance that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

To be continued.

JOSHUA'S LAST MESSAGE

"Be very careful to love the Lord your God."

Joshua 23.11

Of all that Joshua said the the people, this was the most important:

"Love the Lord your God."

There is no greater Law. If we keep this one, we will keep everything else with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Our only concern this moment is, "Do I love the Lord my God?"

If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. And Jesus said that if we keep His commandments, He and the Father will reveal and do ever greater things for us.

Joshua points the people to what God has already done:

9 "The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised."

Then he says, "Be very careful...."

The problem we face (23.12-13) is that the ways of the nations are designed to turn us away from our God. It is so easy for us to become complacent with God and become attracted to the attractions of our culture.

Without the discipline of "Be very careful," we will find ourselves just as tempted as Adam and Eve to believe "one little bit won't hurt." But from Genesis through Revelation we are warned of the attractive distractions of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

When we do love the Lord, the command to love Him resonates within us as an affirmation of our love. As we love Him and keep all His commands, we are kept safe in Christ as the Holy Spirit empowers us:

1) to resist and overcome the temptations of the world;

2) to deny our selfishness and put to death the lusts of the flesh; and,

3) to follow Jesus and grow in grace and knowledge of His gloriousness.

Paul said, "I (We) can do this (all things) through Christ," because He empowers us to do His will--Phil. 4.13.

Paul tells us that Christ will make all things serve His good purposes and plans for our eternal glorification--Romans 8.28-39.

"Onward, Christian Soldiers!"

HARD WORK IN THESSALONICA!

THE WORK OF THE SERVANT OF THE GOSPEL

We continually remember before our God and Father

your work produced by faith,

your labor prompted by love,

and your endurance inspired by hope

in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1.3

The apostle to the Gentiles--to you and me--has 24 references to the "work...labor...endurance" of the minister of the Gospel in this little letter. Twenty-one of these references occur in the first three chapters. This is a very concentrated focus on the work of ministry!

This letter from the heart of God shows us that the work of faith is so others can know, believe and become established in faith in Christ.

The work requires labor in suffering and struggling against endless obstacles and oppositions.

The labor is endured because of the hope we know awaits those with whom we work.

Passionate love for Jesus produces passionate work for men.

"Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again."

2 Corinthians 5.14-15

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15.58

"As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." John 9.4

Our work is first with God for men and then with men for God.

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

THE MERCIFUL RECEIVE MERCY

MATTHEW 5.7

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."

Mercy ministers to misery.

The Good Samaritan "showed mercy" to the man who was beaten and robbed and left on the side of the road.

We know what it feels like to be beaten, robbed, and left to die. The Sermon on the Mount assures us of the mercy of God being extended to the poor in spirit, to our spiritual poverty, to our personal inadequacy and failure, our misery, guilt, shame, pain, depression, discouragement, etc. etc. etc.

We know failure and its consequences.

We know we need mercy.

We know we need help.

The first Beatitude assures us that God will draw from His infiinte resources in Heaven to rebuild, renew, and restore us to the person He desires and designs us to be. The kingdom of Heaven is near, with all the King's power, wisdom, truth, and grace to save, deliver and restore to His image with love, joy, and peace with Him in His glory for the coming ages of eternity.

When we call out to God, He responds with compassion and mercy. Paul cried out, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me....?"

God's answer: "Jesus Christ, our Lord."

Jesus Christ will come to us in our poverty and wretchedness. He will set us free from the law of sin and death by the power of the law of the Spirit of Life.

But, we are not to be just recipients of mercy and grace

We are to be ministers of mercy to the poor, wretched, miserable, needy all around us.

Mercy in the Old Testament is directed to the poor and needy, to the orphans and widows, to those who cannot help themselves.

Like the man robbed, beaten, and left to die.

Like the burdened and weary, the troubled and helpless.

Like the sheep without a shepherd.

To those who have received mercy, Jesus says, "Lift up your eyes. Look at people. See their suffering? Care about them! Speak to them. Do something for them."

Jesus means it.

We have received mercy. We must now be merciful to others.

Only if we extend mercy to others will we continue to receive mercy.

Selfishness presumes God is here to make us happy so we can indulge in our personal pleasures with disregard for others.

The Pharisee and Levite were so busy with their own importance that they were willing to walk right past a dying man. He was probably on drugs, anyway, don't you think?

Ignorant, dirty; maybe dangerous?

No! Poor and needy!

How can Pharisees and Levites, "spiritual leaders," not be moved to do something to help a man?

Too busy with their own affairs!

When we are unmerciful, we are cut off from mercy.

Without mercy, we fall back into spiritual poverty and become more wretched and miserable than ever.

Poor, needy, weak, miserable, beaten, robbed, dying people are everywhere.

Do something. Help someone.

JONAH

WE CREATE OUR OWN STORMS!

Jonah ran away from God!

We are so like Jonah!!

God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to them about their "wickedness," about how they were destroying their lives and each in the process. 120,000 people living self-destructive lives, and hurting one another in the process--"wicked."

And Jonah said, "No!" And ran away. Straight into the teeth of a storm.

Seeking to avoid God and His specificly stated will, Jonah ignored the people of Nineveh. But in running away, he took a shipload of people into his own storm.

Jonah's refusal to carry out God's purpose for his life resulted in dragging others into his problems, to say nothing of the people he could have been helping.

We, too, say "No!" to God, go our own way, create and add to the problems of our families, friends, and associates. We, too, deny the strangers in our lives and all who we will meet in the future from receiving the grace that God wants us to have and give to the troubled, poor, and needy of our generation.

Jonah is shown as blatantly rebellious.

We would never do anything that bad. Just worse!

We run from God and His purpose for our lives in this generation of this nation by "praying" for people.

We pray, "God bless the people. Save them. Send them missionaires and witnesses. We commit them to You. In Jesus Name. Amen."

And we then go on our merry way, having done our job and "left it at Jesus' feet."

Jonah was filled with anger, resentment, and bitterness; probably a lot of fear of what people thought about him; a consuming desire for personal, selfish pleasure; and, the stupid, foolish audacity to rebel against God and His direct commands.

The strength of our selfish, sinful nature and desires for personal pleasure and self-will is incredible!

How hard is it to "Deny yourslef, take up your cross daily, and follow Me"?

Luke 9.23

In runnning away from God and the people of his life, Jonah ignored and disregarded the hardship, difficulty, pain, shame, lostness, and destructiveness of the Ninevites.

He callously led a shipload of sailors into a storm and saw them throw the treasures of their cargo "out the window."

He hid out in the bottom of the ship, wishing he could die and blaming God for it all.

Amazing.

But we do exactly the same thing.

We know we are not following Christ's will for our lives.

We know we are not seeking His will and way for us.

We know we do not love Him with our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And we certainly don't love our neighbors, the strangers, or even our families more than we love ourselves.

We want to "trust God" to take care of and "fix" their problems so we don't have to be troubled about anything.

To "go" to the people Jesus has put us here to take care of is not in our "play book."

To "Lift up our eyes, look at the fields and pray to go seek lost sheep who are weary and burdened, helpless and hopeless, lost and undone," as Jesus directly commands us (Matt. 9, 11, 28; Luke 15) is something we avoid and run from and rebel against.

We become angry when things don't go our way.

We panic when people we do care about get into trouble and need help.

We know we are failing God and the people about us are failing and falling into great and awful trouble every day.

We wring our hands in dispair while our hearts turn way from God would have us do.

We say "No" to God and turn our eyes away from people all around us who are hurting themselves and each other.

We say "No" to God so we can avoid the problems of others and do what we want, without regand for what is happening to the people all about us.

Like Jonah, we know we are to do something. And this "something" is not hard.

God asks us to love Him so we can love others.

It is so simple.

With all His heart, Jesus says, "Come. Follow Me."

The Words of the Lord--Psalm 119.97-104

When I Meditate on Your Words

Psalm 119.97

Jesus came full of Grace and Truth--John 1.16-17


In His prayer in the Garden, He asked the Father for our "sanctification" through this same Truth, which He then affirmed to be found in Scripture:



John 17.17 "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. "



We find this Grace and Truth for our hearts and lives by the very simple process of just reading Scripture thoughtfully. "Thoughtful" reading is called "consider" in Psalm 119.6:



"..I consider all Your commands."



We can "consider--thoughtfully, prayerfully--read " all the Scripture.

This is often called "meditation," as in Ps. 119.97--



"I will meditate on (Your Law) all day long."



We can do this! Memorize or carry a card with a verse of Truth that God the Holy Spirit wants to put into your heart and life and relationships.



As we read, with prayerful consideration, we learn with understanding and "light" what God is saying to us about specific areas of life and relationships, with Him and those we are with day by day.



"I will praise You with an upright heart as I learn Your righteous laws."

Ps. 119.6



With peace, hope, encouragement, and confidence, we will begin to believe and trust our God, Savior, and Lord. We will recognize and obey His leadership and directions for our daily needs and issues.



119. 8--"I will obey Your decrees."



This will lead us through Psalm 119.97-104 which tells us that we come to love the Law of the Lord because it gives us His

wisdom

insight

understanding

freedom from evil

sweet words

and avoidance of every wrong path.



For this working of Grace we are to

meditate all day long

keep commands with us

obey precepts (specific words for specific issues in our lives)

and learn as He teaches.



The time and place that all this takes place is called "Abide in Me," or "refuge," or "rest," or simple "think about things above where Christ sits on the right hand of the Father"--Col. 3.1-2. Or, in the words of the Palms a quiet place to be alone with God, without distractions, where we can read, consider, meditate, learn, find grace to help in time of need from the truth the Holy Spirit reveals to us.