"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid." Proverbs 12:1
Stupid? Does the Bible really use such harsh language? If you read the original language of the Bible I think you would be surprised at its vulgarity. But, yes, the Bible calls those who hate reproof, stupid! It is hard for me to say that I love discipline, but I would rather be known for that than be known as stupid.
Hebrews 12:3-11 gives us great insight into discipline.
"It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?...For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:7 & 11)
It is God who disciplines us. That is why those who do not love being disciplined are stupid. Because it is God who is working on us (Philippians 2:13). This discipline produces righteousness in us. I know from experience (and I am sure you do too) that being disciplined by God can be a painful process. Have you ever asked God to make you more patient? Or to break you or humble you? Be careful, you may receive what you ask for. I have prayed those prayers before and the process of getting those things is never the plan I had mapped out in my mind. God's plan for our sanctification (spiritual growth) is usually tougher than we may desire. But the hope lies in the fact that this discipline produces good fruit in us and is to our benefit. As Hebrews explains, our earthly fathers discipline us for our own good and we know that it can be painful sometimes. Has your dad ever spanked you? Not fun? I didn't enjoy it myself either. But as I reflect on the discipline I received from my parents, it only allowed me to make wiser decisions in the future. Our Father in heaven does the same. He disciplines us to make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ. Being disciplined by God also shows us that God loves us. Hebrews 12:8 tells us that if we are not disciplined then we are not sons of God, because God disciplines His children.
One of the tough ideas that goes along with God's discipline is discerning whether we are being disciplined by God or attacked by Satan. If you look at the life of Job you can see that Satan was God's instrument (yes, Satan is a tool) in the discipline of Job. We know this because Satan's attacks on Job (which first had to be passed by God) produced a sanctifying praise of God from Job. Satan was God's instrument of sanctification in Job's life and he can be in ours too. Though Satan's plan is for our destruction, God's plan is for our growth and love for Him.
So are you stupid? I know that sounds harsh. I must admit that I certainly have been stupid in my life. Reproof is another word for correction. There have been many times when I have been given correction (mostly from my Dad) and did not heed to it and suffered the consequences of my own stupidity. We need to be more open to correction from others and most importantly open to correction from God.
We need to be in love with the idea that God works on us. And though it may be painful, we have not suffered to the point of shedding blood, even blood on a cross (Hebrews 12:4). Jesus Christ has suffered more than any of us on OUR BEHALF. Who are we to say, "but why me God". We should be saying, "thank You for treating me as you treated Your son". The Apostles had this attitude in Acts 5:41 when they rejoiced at being beaten for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Yes, discipline is painful, but it produces in us the character of Jesus Christ. We must love the discipline of the Lord!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Biblical Theology for Transformation - 12th Posting
"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you-that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine." Romans 1:11-12
Paul begins his letter to the Romans as he does in most of his letters. He approaches the original readers not with judgment but with encouragment. Paul has the authority to slam the church in Rome but he chooses, by the will of Jesus, not to begin that way. He shows this also in 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 and Philemon 8-9. Paul's heart is set on encouraging the believers before bringing to them the hard truths in which they folly.
Paul shows his love for the church as he says "for I long to see you". He continues this idea in verse 13. Pauls desire for visiting the believers in Rome is to use his spiritual gifts to strengthen the church. So I begin the questioning with this; why do you go to church? I think that many people attend church Sunday mornings as a weekly event to show up and leave once the service is over. But scripture paints for us a clear picture of the purpose of church. First of all it is a place of magnifying the glory of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:9-11). Second it is a place for us to come and be fed the word of God (2 Timothy 4:2). Third it is place where we go to fellowship with other believers in Christ and to edify and be edified through the use of our spiritual gifts. I will focus on the third purpose. What is your spiritual gift? How do you use it in your church? These are important questions. They will help us better understand our place in the church as a whole and in your local congregation. We need to carry with us the attitude of the apostle Paul and desire to use our gifting of the Holy Spirit to build up and strengthen the believers with whom we have fellowship.
Not only are we to focus on edifying the body with our gifts but also to be edified by others. Paul shows us again that he is not lording over the Romans his authority but is counting himself equal in the fact that he too can be edified by the believers. Verse 8 tells us he is thankful for the believers in Rome for their faith because it is known throughout the world. Verse 9 tells us that he is a gospel-centered man who realizes that the core agreement amongst believers is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Verse 10 tells us that Paul loves to pray for the believers. Verse 11 shows us that he is excited to see them so that he may use his gifts to strengthen the body in Rome. And verse 12 shows us that Paul is not using his authority to slam the believers but to use it as an encouragement to them. Also that he too, may be encouraged by them. So we see that another purpose for the church is not just to feed with our gifts but to be fed by the gifts of others. Paul says he wants to be "mutually encouraged". So I ask you, how are you encouraged in your church? Are we building relationships in the church that are effectively using our spiritual gifts to the edification of the saints? If not, then we need to seek and find a place for ourselves in the church where our gifts can be used, to the glory of Jesus and not ourselves, and a place where we can be strengthened, not to the glory of others but to the glory of Jesus Christ. This is the reason we are called a "body". There is one body but many parts. We, as individuals, are the many parts. The Holy Spirit has given to each of us a gift, or gifts, that will be supernaturally effective for the strengthening and building up of the body as a whole. It is time we become EFFECTIVE! We must seek to find a place for our gifts to be effective. One practical way of knowing your spiritual gift or gifts is to ask a Christian friend. This may not be the most accurate way to understand what our gifts may be, but it will be a good guide into seeing how others may see our gifting. Also, pray to the Lord to reveal to you what your gifts may be. How are we to be effective if we are unsure of our gifting. You may be a teacher, an evangelist, a prophet or have the gifts of service or administration or many other gifts. But we need to know what God has equiped us with before we begin to use what we may not have. Don't get me wrong, just because you don't have the gift of evangelism doesn't mean you shouldn't evagelize. Just because you don't have the gift of service doesn't mean you can't serve. But we have all been uniquely equiped with a gift that God wants to use in and through you.
We need to have a desire to see the Church of Jesus Christ strengthened and built up by the proper use of our spiritual gifts. We need to be an encouragement to each other. Satan loves a divided and discouraged church and he will do all he can to keep or make things that way in your congregation. But the God we serve is greater that the one of this world (Satan). So let us be stong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10) and use our gifts to strengthen, build up and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus!
Paul begins his letter to the Romans as he does in most of his letters. He approaches the original readers not with judgment but with encouragment. Paul has the authority to slam the church in Rome but he chooses, by the will of Jesus, not to begin that way. He shows this also in 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 and Philemon 8-9. Paul's heart is set on encouraging the believers before bringing to them the hard truths in which they folly.
Paul shows his love for the church as he says "for I long to see you". He continues this idea in verse 13. Pauls desire for visiting the believers in Rome is to use his spiritual gifts to strengthen the church. So I begin the questioning with this; why do you go to church? I think that many people attend church Sunday mornings as a weekly event to show up and leave once the service is over. But scripture paints for us a clear picture of the purpose of church. First of all it is a place of magnifying the glory of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:9-11). Second it is a place for us to come and be fed the word of God (2 Timothy 4:2). Third it is place where we go to fellowship with other believers in Christ and to edify and be edified through the use of our spiritual gifts. I will focus on the third purpose. What is your spiritual gift? How do you use it in your church? These are important questions. They will help us better understand our place in the church as a whole and in your local congregation. We need to carry with us the attitude of the apostle Paul and desire to use our gifting of the Holy Spirit to build up and strengthen the believers with whom we have fellowship.
Not only are we to focus on edifying the body with our gifts but also to be edified by others. Paul shows us again that he is not lording over the Romans his authority but is counting himself equal in the fact that he too can be edified by the believers. Verse 8 tells us he is thankful for the believers in Rome for their faith because it is known throughout the world. Verse 9 tells us that he is a gospel-centered man who realizes that the core agreement amongst believers is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Verse 10 tells us that Paul loves to pray for the believers. Verse 11 shows us that he is excited to see them so that he may use his gifts to strengthen the body in Rome. And verse 12 shows us that Paul is not using his authority to slam the believers but to use it as an encouragement to them. Also that he too, may be encouraged by them. So we see that another purpose for the church is not just to feed with our gifts but to be fed by the gifts of others. Paul says he wants to be "mutually encouraged". So I ask you, how are you encouraged in your church? Are we building relationships in the church that are effectively using our spiritual gifts to the edification of the saints? If not, then we need to seek and find a place for ourselves in the church where our gifts can be used, to the glory of Jesus and not ourselves, and a place where we can be strengthened, not to the glory of others but to the glory of Jesus Christ. This is the reason we are called a "body". There is one body but many parts. We, as individuals, are the many parts. The Holy Spirit has given to each of us a gift, or gifts, that will be supernaturally effective for the strengthening and building up of the body as a whole. It is time we become EFFECTIVE! We must seek to find a place for our gifts to be effective. One practical way of knowing your spiritual gift or gifts is to ask a Christian friend. This may not be the most accurate way to understand what our gifts may be, but it will be a good guide into seeing how others may see our gifting. Also, pray to the Lord to reveal to you what your gifts may be. How are we to be effective if we are unsure of our gifting. You may be a teacher, an evangelist, a prophet or have the gifts of service or administration or many other gifts. But we need to know what God has equiped us with before we begin to use what we may not have. Don't get me wrong, just because you don't have the gift of evangelism doesn't mean you shouldn't evagelize. Just because you don't have the gift of service doesn't mean you can't serve. But we have all been uniquely equiped with a gift that God wants to use in and through you.
We need to have a desire to see the Church of Jesus Christ strengthened and built up by the proper use of our spiritual gifts. We need to be an encouragement to each other. Satan loves a divided and discouraged church and he will do all he can to keep or make things that way in your congregation. But the God we serve is greater that the one of this world (Satan). So let us be stong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10) and use our gifts to strengthen, build up and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Biblical Theology for Transformation - 11th Posting
"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." Ephesians 5:11
When I first read this text I immediately thought that it was my Christian duty to go around and point fingers at as many unbelievers as I could and "expose" their sin. Though that did not seem the most tactful way to make sinners aware of their sin, I thought that is what the Bible was telling me to do. I, of course, did not do that, but instead took a closer look at this text. The idea behind exposing the sin of the unbeliever has more to do with "imitating Christ" than anything else. Look at Ephesians 5:1, just a few verses prior, and you see that we are called to imitate God who is best portrayed in Christ(5:2). We are called to imitate Christ as believers. So my first question to you is this; do you imitate Christ? I could spend a lot of time explaining what it means and what it looks like to imitate Christ in many ways. But I will focus on what Paul focused on in Ephesians chapter 5.
As imitators of Christ we are to "take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness". One may argue that Jesus came to save sinners, and that one of the pharisees problems with Jesus was that He hung around sinners. Also that we should always be involved with the unrepentant sinner. I would agree with that. But this text does not tell us to not relate to the unrepentant, it tells us not to participate in their acts of evil or sin. The verse goes on to say "but instead expose them". This is exactly what Jesus did in His relationships with unbelievers. He exposed the reality of their sinful hearts to them to make it more clear and visible their need for a Savior. So our role as Christ imitators is to expose the sins of those who are lost in the dark. Think about being in a room that is pitch dark. That room represents the lost world. We, as Jesus did, are to go into that room and turn on our flashlight. This light we shine is our way of exposing the darkness with the light of Jesus Christ. This is what it means to "expose them". Just as someone would be lost in a dark room, there are people lost in this dark world. And we are the light of Jesus Christ in the midst of the darkness. That is why Jesus tells us not to hide our light under a bushel.
So we do not expose the sins of the lost in order to condemn them. Rather we are to be Christ imitators and expose the darkened hearts of the lost with the light of Jesus Christ which is His perfect gospel. So I ask again, are you an imitator of Jesus Christ in the midst of this dark world? Or do we enter the dark room shouting claims of salvation without ever turning on our light and never exposing their sins that enables them to see their need for Jesus. I must admit that I struggle with this myself and I need to, for the glory of Jesus Christ, turn on my light. We must be the light of this world in the midst of darkness and expose the sins of the wicked by being imitators of our King and Lord, Jesus Christ.
We must be imitators of God through Jesus Christ!
When I first read this text I immediately thought that it was my Christian duty to go around and point fingers at as many unbelievers as I could and "expose" their sin. Though that did not seem the most tactful way to make sinners aware of their sin, I thought that is what the Bible was telling me to do. I, of course, did not do that, but instead took a closer look at this text. The idea behind exposing the sin of the unbeliever has more to do with "imitating Christ" than anything else. Look at Ephesians 5:1, just a few verses prior, and you see that we are called to imitate God who is best portrayed in Christ(5:2). We are called to imitate Christ as believers. So my first question to you is this; do you imitate Christ? I could spend a lot of time explaining what it means and what it looks like to imitate Christ in many ways. But I will focus on what Paul focused on in Ephesians chapter 5.
As imitators of Christ we are to "take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness". One may argue that Jesus came to save sinners, and that one of the pharisees problems with Jesus was that He hung around sinners. Also that we should always be involved with the unrepentant sinner. I would agree with that. But this text does not tell us to not relate to the unrepentant, it tells us not to participate in their acts of evil or sin. The verse goes on to say "but instead expose them". This is exactly what Jesus did in His relationships with unbelievers. He exposed the reality of their sinful hearts to them to make it more clear and visible their need for a Savior. So our role as Christ imitators is to expose the sins of those who are lost in the dark. Think about being in a room that is pitch dark. That room represents the lost world. We, as Jesus did, are to go into that room and turn on our flashlight. This light we shine is our way of exposing the darkness with the light of Jesus Christ. This is what it means to "expose them". Just as someone would be lost in a dark room, there are people lost in this dark world. And we are the light of Jesus Christ in the midst of the darkness. That is why Jesus tells us not to hide our light under a bushel.
So we do not expose the sins of the lost in order to condemn them. Rather we are to be Christ imitators and expose the darkened hearts of the lost with the light of Jesus Christ which is His perfect gospel. So I ask again, are you an imitator of Jesus Christ in the midst of this dark world? Or do we enter the dark room shouting claims of salvation without ever turning on our light and never exposing their sins that enables them to see their need for Jesus. I must admit that I struggle with this myself and I need to, for the glory of Jesus Christ, turn on my light. We must be the light of this world in the midst of darkness and expose the sins of the wicked by being imitators of our King and Lord, Jesus Christ.
We must be imitators of God through Jesus Christ!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Biblical Theology for Transformation - 10th Posting
“and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15)
Remember Sunday school as a kid? All those old Bible stories that seemed to be, at best, slightly interesting. Now that I have grown and had time to actually read and understand those stories again (without the felt board), they have come to give me a fresh understanding of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Paul reminds Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 that the “sacred writings” are able to give Him understanding about salvation. The “sacred writings” used in this text is the Old Testament. We’ve read the stories, sang the songs and recited the verses. We all know the stories about Abraham, Noah and the ark, Moses, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lion’s den and many more. When we look back on these stories we see something deeper than our old Sunday school teachers taught us…we see Jesus.
My students asked me how the people from the Old Testament got saved. Some thought that it was just a matter of behaving and loving God. That can’t be true! Look at the lives of some of our OT Bible heroes. David was an adulterer, Noah got drunk, Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (put’s Wilt Chamberlain to shame), and Abraham slept with his wife's servant because he didn’t think God would follow through on giving him a true heir through Sarah. I answered my students with the truth…they were saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. God made a promise that He would provide an heir that would do away with all sin once and for all. We look back to the cross and believe in Jesus, in the same way they looked forward and believed in Christ. We see this in Genesis 15 when God grants righteousness (salvation) to Abraham for believing in the coming heir (Christ).
Also, in all these wonderful Bible stories (not made up stories, but actual historical accounts of God’s work and plan for salvation) we see more than just men who God used, we see Jesus. Every word from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is ALL ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. To give you one example, Moses and his leading the people out of Egyptian slavery into the desert and Joshua’s leading into the Promised Land is a PICTURE. Yes, it really happened and the Bible’s account of the events are accurate. But this is a “physical picture” of a “spiritual truth” that was later accomplished by Christ. Just as God redeemed His people (national Israel) from physical slavery, Jesus redeems His people (true Israel) from slavery to sin (Romans 6). Just as God led His people (national Israel) into a physical Promised Land, Jesus leads us (true Israel) into a spiritual Promised Land (eternal life).
So when Paul tells Timothy that the Old Testament is able to make him wise unto salvation through Jesus Christ, we see that God has Jesus Christ laced all throughout scripture. Let us not neglect the Old Testament. Let’s dive into it and “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). When you study and read God’s Word through the lens of Jesus Christ you will begin to see that God has salvation mapped out for His chosen people from before the beginning of time (Ephesians 1:3-14). Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that all of God’s redemptive plan from before the beginning of time was to glorify Jesus Christ. As Greg Laurie says, “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” If Jesus is the whole centrality of the Bible and the Bible is our guide and source of Truth, then we must see that Jesus NEEDS to be the centrality of our lives. So I end by posing these questions; is Jesus at the center of your life? Is Jesus the main thing in your life? Do you live life looking through the lens of Jesus Christ?
Are you all about Jesus Christ?
Remember Sunday school as a kid? All those old Bible stories that seemed to be, at best, slightly interesting. Now that I have grown and had time to actually read and understand those stories again (without the felt board), they have come to give me a fresh understanding of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Paul reminds Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 that the “sacred writings” are able to give Him understanding about salvation. The “sacred writings” used in this text is the Old Testament. We’ve read the stories, sang the songs and recited the verses. We all know the stories about Abraham, Noah and the ark, Moses, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lion’s den and many more. When we look back on these stories we see something deeper than our old Sunday school teachers taught us…we see Jesus.
My students asked me how the people from the Old Testament got saved. Some thought that it was just a matter of behaving and loving God. That can’t be true! Look at the lives of some of our OT Bible heroes. David was an adulterer, Noah got drunk, Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (put’s Wilt Chamberlain to shame), and Abraham slept with his wife's servant because he didn’t think God would follow through on giving him a true heir through Sarah. I answered my students with the truth…they were saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. God made a promise that He would provide an heir that would do away with all sin once and for all. We look back to the cross and believe in Jesus, in the same way they looked forward and believed in Christ. We see this in Genesis 15 when God grants righteousness (salvation) to Abraham for believing in the coming heir (Christ).
Also, in all these wonderful Bible stories (not made up stories, but actual historical accounts of God’s work and plan for salvation) we see more than just men who God used, we see Jesus. Every word from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is ALL ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. To give you one example, Moses and his leading the people out of Egyptian slavery into the desert and Joshua’s leading into the Promised Land is a PICTURE. Yes, it really happened and the Bible’s account of the events are accurate. But this is a “physical picture” of a “spiritual truth” that was later accomplished by Christ. Just as God redeemed His people (national Israel) from physical slavery, Jesus redeems His people (true Israel) from slavery to sin (Romans 6). Just as God led His people (national Israel) into a physical Promised Land, Jesus leads us (true Israel) into a spiritual Promised Land (eternal life).
So when Paul tells Timothy that the Old Testament is able to make him wise unto salvation through Jesus Christ, we see that God has Jesus Christ laced all throughout scripture. Let us not neglect the Old Testament. Let’s dive into it and “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). When you study and read God’s Word through the lens of Jesus Christ you will begin to see that God has salvation mapped out for His chosen people from before the beginning of time (Ephesians 1:3-14). Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that all of God’s redemptive plan from before the beginning of time was to glorify Jesus Christ. As Greg Laurie says, “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” If Jesus is the whole centrality of the Bible and the Bible is our guide and source of Truth, then we must see that Jesus NEEDS to be the centrality of our lives. So I end by posing these questions; is Jesus at the center of your life? Is Jesus the main thing in your life? Do you live life looking through the lens of Jesus Christ?
Are you all about Jesus Christ?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)