In your place...

Before beginning the thoughts in my heart today, may I point out what the Apostle said of those who penned the Holy Writ before him?  I believe this also applies to the writers of New Testament scripture.  The Apostle Peter said, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet 1.21) With these words in view, my prayer is that the reader of this blog will heed the other words penned by the preacher to the Jews.

Humility has been the theme recently in things heard from the pulpit as well as current devotional readings.

First, the definition of "humility" from Webster's 1828 Dictionary;

HUMIL'ITY, noun [Latin humilitas.] 1. In ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will.  Before honor is humility (Prov 15:33).  Serving the Lord with all humility of mind. (Acts 20:19).  2. Act of submission.

Second, scripture containing the word, "humility." 

• The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. (Prov 15.33)
• Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. (Prov 18.12)
• By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life. (Prov 22.4)
• Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, ... (Acts 20.19) 
• Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (Col 2.18)
• Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body:  (Col 2.23)
• Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1 Pet 5.5)

Scriptures highlighting the very word that means "freedom from pride and arrogance," are necessary to the understanding of just what is expected for one to stay "...in your place." It is also necessary to give the verses regarding false humilty for contrast to what is true and real.  The title of this entry comes from a recent message preached from I Samuel 3.1-10.  Little Samuel, in the care of the priest, heard his name called three times.  We, of course, know this was the Lord "calling" Samuel to His service but little Samuel didn't realize it until the wise old man of God pointed the truth out to him.  The focus of this thought is that if Samuel had not been "in his place," as noted in verse nine of the passage, he would not have heard the Lord.  So it is with every believer.  One must be walking in the will of God, as much as possible, in order to hear Him.

There is a divine order in the life of a believer.  Staying in "one's place," is so much better and easier when one practices this order.  Regardless of where one is in life, that order is this, "God first, the man/husband second, the woman/wife third, last are the kids/children."  Further to this order is in I Pet 5.5, "ye younger submit yourselves unto the elder...be subject one to another... (Why?) for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble."  

The Apostle Peter also explains that if we will do this, "Humble (ourselves) therefore under the mighty hand of God...HE may exalt you in due time."  The hardest thing for this proud flesh to do is to stay humble.  This doesn't mean to be a doormat necessarily and let others walk all over you, unless the Lord has warned or instructed the believer to stay still and quiet while He moves on their behalf.  Remember, the Lord Jesus in Matthew 27.12, 14 never answered His accusers.  The Lord Jesus didn't need to defend His position because He was fulfilling the will of God and He knew it.  That truth alone will help a believer to "hold their tongue" while God fights your battle(s).  Remember also, what David said to the might army of the Philistines as well as the giant Goliath, "...the battle is the Lord's."

The shepherd boy was indeed "exalted" in due time.  As you know it was said that this young man was the greatest King Israel ever had.  He was not perfect and neither are we but when waiting and following the Lord's will in "humility" we will see and marvel at what He does in our lives IF we stay "in our place."

More could be said in many other areas of this truth but we will end here and ask the Lord's blessings on all who consider His will to "stay in your place."

God bless is this bloggers prayer.  Amen Ps 57.7

MORE than "meek and quiet"

The Lord has opened up a fresh look at the life of a believer for this blogger from First Peter.
We are reminded just how unique a Christ centered life should be.  We are told in 1 Peter 2.9 that we are "a chosen...peculiar people" who are to "abstain from fleshly lusts." (1.11)  Thus, it is established that believers are set apart from this world. A glorious study in itself - sanctification. But let us digress. What else sets the believer apart in manner and behavior so that we are not merely just "another religion?" 

For women, particularly, who are the "glory of the man," (I Cor 11.7) our "outward adorning" is not "plaiting the hair...gold...apparel. We are to exhibit...a meek and quiet spirit...which is in the sight of God of great price." (I Pet 3.3, 4)  This description is the complete opposite of what the world holds as beautiful.  In a word, a woman's most 'stunning adornment?' A "meek and quiet spirit."  For some, this is natural. However, for most of us, it takes work!

What are characteristics of this gentle spirit?  Let's look at the following verses. (1 Pet 3.8-21)

• she is compassionate which is one of the highest attributes of our Lord (Jude 1.22, Lam 3.22, 23)
• she is courteous - she believes completely in "preferring others" above herself - always letting others go first (Rom 12.10, Eph 4.32, Phil 2.3)
• she is fair-minded by virtue of being "pitiful" which is another word for tenderhearted -
• she does not gossip because she is more ready to hear than speak (James 1.19) - i.e. she gets her facts straight and even then exercises good judgment because she doesn't want to hurt anyone, before speaking to a matter
• she is interested in peace, even "pursues" it - she thoroughly believes (Rom 12.18)
• she is a prayer warrior - this is how she keeps such a "meek and quite" spirit
• she study's the scripture daily - this is how she is "ready to give an answer...(for) the hope" (she has in Christ when asked
• she exercises "good conversation" - her speech is above reproach because it is without ugly words or implications of others
• she is faithful to any directive of scripture - if we are identified with Christ's resurrection by baptism, then she is baptized in obedience to that directive

Is she always successful in obtaining a "meek and quiet spirit?" Probably not. But she does her best to obey        1 Peter 4.1, 2 because of her love for her Lord. "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the SAME mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin: (living) ...to the will of God."  It's pretty hard to deliberately sin when one is "suffering in the flesh."  

It's true this flesh bucks and kicks against any unpleasant feeling physically, emotionally or spiritually.  But given the lesson regarding the potter and the clay, at times, such squeezing, molding and shaping, no matter how hard or painful, IS necessary. (Isa 64.8, Jer 18.4)

Although the directive of a "meek and quiet spirit" is given to women, it is a lesson to every believer who would be a godly witness for our Lord.

The Lord bless you as you seek His will and way.  Amen

Post Service meditations...

A visiting preacher, Bro. Keith Allison "dovetailed" a message this morning from a series preached during our October Camp Meeting.  The title was "A Servant's Confusion."  One point seemed to rise above the others; "You can be discouraged and not confused. But you can not be confused and not be discouraged."  This message was taken from I Kings 19.
The prophet, Elijah, had come to a point, after many wondrous miracles and acts by the Lord on his behalf, where he wanted to die.  He thought God had forgotten him and there was no one else left who felt as alone as he did regarding the things of God.
We know this isn't so because the Lord told him, "...I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal,..." (I Kin 19.18) And there are times when the Lord speaks "in a still small voice," (I Kin 19.12) rather than thundering's and earthquakes.

The prophet had been brought to this low point of discouragement because he was confused.  He didn't trust that God knows what He's doing, even if we do not.  It confounds the mind when circumstances or expectations don't go as planned.  Often, the flesh gets puffed up when things are going well and the Lord seems to be answering prayer after prayer.  Somehow,  a believer is inclined to think its because "we" have orchestrated the good outcome.

Sadly, this is when the Lord reminds us, it's all of Him, by Him and for His glory if things don't go as planned in our view.

I don't feel I'm explaining this very well but I will try to get the message on the church website and you may listen to it there.  In any case, let this blogger close by saying a visitor stood up at the end of this message during the Pastor's closing remarks and said, "that was for me, I thought God had forgotten me."  What a blessing to hear a weary saint thank the Lord for the encouragement.

God bless you is my prayer.

Context is everything!!!

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5.19, 20)

It is no small thing to take scripture out of context.  Great error, injustice and harm is done to the Holy Word when this happens.  Rest assured it is done regularly and intentionally by the wicked one who would "exalt himself above the most High..." (Isa 14.14)  It is also a stumbling block to the unlearned, ignorant and babes in Christ.

For the sake of the "straight and narrow way," let us examine the closing passage in James 5.

All dissension would cease if one would focus on the first word in verse 19, "Brethren..." This passage flows from "Brethren," to "the sinner."  All "brethren" agree that we are "sinners saved by grace." (Eph 2.8, 9)
One would think it should be no hard thing to keep "brethren" in context with "sinner," rather than "sinner" OUT of context with a lost person.
Yet, there is one school of thought which does just that.  It allows that "sinner" is the lost person and we (the saints) are to buttonhole a "sinner" every time an unbeliever crosses our path.  If this is done, outside of the leadership of the Holy Spirit and without a believer who has been with the Lord and walking as upright as possible, it is disaster.  The unbeliever will scoff, mock or worse, believe to his/her on damnation in a truth that has not been placed in their heart by the awakening power of the Holy Ghost.  (Rom 6.11) That is, the have not been "awakened" by the Holy Spirit to their lost condition and will walk on just that way because the ignorant, unlearned believer has misread the scripture.  (vain religion, Jms 1.26)
Back to point.  Correctly read, "sinner" in this passage refers to a believer.  Note again, "Brethren, if any of you ERR from the truth, and one convert him, Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the ERROR OF HIS WAY...  How could one know their way is in error if that one is lost and dead to Christ?  The truth is that believers are to guide other believers when they see their brother/sister is in error.  In this way, the body of Christ stays as clean and pure as possible "until the coming of the Lord." (I Thes 4.15, 5.23)
Maybe this explanation is a bit scattered or muddled but if every believer will take the time to pray and meditate on this passage, this blogger is in full assurance the truth will be made very clear.
Amen and blessings to each reader.

Prayer in James 5

This blogger will attempt a simple alliteration regarding prayer.  Please note:

1. Riches Rebuked (1-6): "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.  Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you."
2. Patience Rewarded (7-9): "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door."
3. Perseverance Recompensed (11-14): " Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:"
4. Prayer Regarded (15-18): "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Before prayer, the other points above would buffet a believer. Riches and heavy labor, physical or mental, take a toll on the human condition. When praying as noted in points 2 and 3 and verses 7-14, one must exercise patience and extreme faith, all the while maintaining civility and a meek spirit. After diligent prayer shown in verses 15-18, answers are given, even when the wait for the answer is sometimes long.  

The term "prayer warrior" has been given to those labeled "righteous"(folks) who are fervent in their praying as described in verse 16.  The meaning of this word "fervent" in the NT is to "put forth power, display one's activity."  In other words, there is a physical, mental and spiritual effort going on in the prayer closet.

Quite simply, real prayer, isn't for the faint of heart. It is "work!" Yet, when we pray this way, we know the Father hears and answers in His time.  It is also a time of sweet communion and fellowship with our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ by way of the Holy Spirit.

So much has been preached and more could be said about this subject but this blogger prefers to let His Word speak for itself. (Isa 55.11)

Amen and blessings to those believers who "pray without ceasing." (I Thes 5.17)