Love is Kind… Yes, Beloved, Love is Kind (1Cor 13:4; Rom 12:1)

Love is kind…  Yes, beloved, love is kind in every way.  Even, or especially, when administered with and by mercy.  (1Cor 13:4; Rom 12:1)

“...the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience…” it is “…God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance…” Romans 2:4

That I, that we, have received this gift, this grace, when we least deserved it - while we were at enmity with God, the Giver of this grace, He showed His love for us. 

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…, …while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son…” and by Jesus’ loving work “...have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:6,8,10-11 

And why?  Why would God do such a thing as this?

“For God SO loved the world that He gave…” John 3:16-18   

And so 

“...it is by grace we have been saved…” Ephesians 2:8

God’s loving and merciful grace.  And what is God’s grace?  Is it not the gift of His kindness?

If this is true of our Father toward us, those who He has made His children, should this not be true of us, filled with that very God, toward others?

• Riches: wealth, abundance - materially or spiritually - much in number and quality, of many kinds.

  • Flowing, poured

  • Fullness, plentitude: with excellence in which one abounds - that is the recipient, the person enriched with that of the highest value

  • Rom 11:11:12, 33 “the riches of God in salvation and wisdom as well as Eph 1:7 “the riches of His grace”  vs. Matt 13:22 “the deceitfulness of riches” or Luke 8:14 of the same.

• Kindness: goodness, uprightness, gentleness.

  • Well-fit for use for what is really needed - that serves the need of the needy.

  • A useful kindness - meeting real needs, in God’s way, in His timing and fashion - and is provided to us by God (the Holy Spirit) and acted in and through us by God the Holy Spirit. 

  • The Spirit-produced goodness which meets the need - and - avoids human harshness or cruelty.

  • Kind and good - moral excellence, gentleness, goodness

    • God toward us: Titus 3:4 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. 

    • Us toward others: Col 3:12 “clothe yourselves with…”

• Forbearance or tolerance - suspense or delay of punishment, patience

  • Patient endurance - love is patient, God is love, God’s love is patient patience 

  • God’s mercy holds up, holding back judgment 

• Patience - long-suffering, long-passion - waiting sufficient time before expressing anger 

  • Slowness in avenging wrongs. Matt 5:39 “if someone slaps you on the…”; 1Cor 6:7  “...why not rather be wronged…?

    • Premature use of force or retribution that rises out of improper anger - personal reaction (being offended or wanting revenge or to avenge)

  • Divinely regulated patience - this is used of God toward man (1Pet 3:20; 2Pet 3:15)

  • Produced by God the Holy Spirit in and through us toward God, self, and others 

  • Staying-power, “long-tempered”

• Repentance: a change of mind, change in the inner man.

  • To cause me to repent or turn away and to 

  • The ability to repent - as one who could see and now can see (a light has dawned” (Isa: 9:2; Matt 4:16; Luke 1:79; Eph 5:8) and revealed to mankind his sin and impending judgment in a merciful and gracious attempt to warn and save - to call us off our current path (of understanding) into a new path of life. (John 1)

  • A change of mind by which we turn from, desist from what and the way we were, to… (2Pet 3:9; 2Cor 7:9 “…your sorrow led you to repentance” our sin in the face of God’s kindness brings a godly sorrow that bears in us a desire to turn and bring Him joy with a grateful response) 

1Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God has been kind, allowing his long-suffering - His patience and tolerance - to do its work.  God’s timing can seem slow and unkind.  When in fact it is perfectly timed and mercifully kind - patient in the waiting as it, that kindly patience, accomplishes His perfect and loving will.  

Preparing the entire world for What, for Who, is to come.  And not only the “entire world”, but in each of our own worlds, He worked and works His kindly work.  

And then, not only ours, but each and every world He has prepared in advance for our world to meet, intersect, encounter, and impact with the love He has poured into us, that their world might now be changed, transformed, saved by the gift of God’s loving-kindness. 

Israel had waited… The Messiah had been promised and prophesied for thousands of years, and now, God had been quiet for the last 400 years.  In the meantime, the Israelites prayed, waited, looked for, and been hopeful and fooled, for how many generations.?!  

God, what are you doing?  What is taking so long?  Why are you so slow in fulfilling your promise?!

What we, as humans, sometimes do not understand is God’s slowness, His waiting, for what seems, a lifetime, to do what He has promised to do.  Maaaaannnn!!!

But, we must come to understand, believe, and trust, is that God’s “slowness” is not slow as we understand slowness, but this “slowness” is God waiting and working and allowing His patience and perseverance - to its work (James 1) in the life of Israel, as He lovingly prepared not only Israel, but the world, for his coming grace. Jesus.

Luke 2:26,46,76-79; Matthew 1:18-25

Elizabeth and Zechariah 

• Israel's prayers

• Israel’s suffering

• Israel’s being 

• Elizabeth and Zechariah’s long life of service mingled with grief and disgrace, wondering and now, waiting…

Joseph and Mary

• The announcement 

• The Holy Spirit’s work

• The 9 months - anticipating His arrival

• The 30 years waiting to see it all come to fruition…

• The 3 years of wondering what all of this meant

• The hours through the trial, the beating, the conviction

• The walk to the hill

• The seeming lifetime watching Him on the cross…

• The grave, the Spirit’s arrival

• The wait goes on

And now, the wait goes on… how will we wait?

What must we do…? Luke 3; Matthew 3; 5

What must we do…?  A sincere heart, does the sincere things it does, sincerely.  It cannot help but do the thing it is led, prompted, to do, sincerely, naturally.

• First: see and fear God “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Prov 9:10 (Pr; 1:7)

• Next: Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29

• And then: live this out… sincerely, naturally, as a matter of the fact that you and I have been set apart by God for this very purpose - having been loved by God, we now know and love God and desire to make Him known to those we love that they may love Him Who loves, too... 

Luke 3:7-15 John the Baptist’s answer to the sincerely repentant, if what they have professed to be so, as to how they should now live as a natural response to that repentant heart.  (Matthew 5-7 Jesus’ parallel teaching to any and all who have followed Him and are not only sincerely repentant, but now, believing and following Him, born again, baptized not just with water, but the Spirit.) 

Matthew 3:13-17 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.  16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him, I am well pleased.”

This Spirit that anoints Jesus and declares the Father’s love, pleasure and intentions, is that same Spirit is now in us who believe.

• Ephesians 1:13-14 “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

And, now, what must we do?  Or, what do we get to do?

We now get to join Jesus in the good works of the kingdom.

• Ephesians 2:10 “...we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works prepared in advance for us to do.”

What are those good works we are to do?

• James 4:17 (Ja 1:19-27; 2:14-26: Prov 21:13) “...the one who sees and knows the good, the good work they should do and does not do it, sins.”  

  • They have missed the target, to miss the mark.  What is the target, what is that mark?  To be like Jesus, to exercise the righteousness we have been given and made, to do good - the good works God has prepared for us and prompts us to do.

• 1John 3:17; (1Tim 6:17-18) “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

  • He’s not necessarily saying the love of God is not in them, but “how can it be that you have the love of God in you and not…?!”  in essence “God, forbid that be so”

• Luke 3:7-15 “what must we do…?  Do this…” we do the things that we would naturally do - the things we do every day - we do as if we were doing it with and for Jesus - because - we are.  The very things we do because that’s what we do, but now with God and others in mind, the sincere desire to bless others according to their need.

• Matthew 5:14-16; 43-48 “Let your light, the advent of Jesus (in you), shine before men… Let them see your good works that they may glorify your Father in heaven (1Pe 2:12)

  • To whom?  To all.  

  • Matthew 5:7; Luke “Be merciful just as your heavenly Father is merciful”

    • 14“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

    • 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor i and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

      • Perfect: lacking nothing to completeness; mind and character of one who has reached their proper height of virtue and character (in an absolute sense, God) as respects understanding and goodness

        • Therefore God can say to us, being in us (Gal 5:22) and our being His workmanship (Eph 2), working in us (Rom 5; Eph 1) to will and desire His good purposes (Phil 2) and then indwelling and empowering us to do so - prompting us, enabling us to see and giving us both the example of compassion (having experienced His 2Co 1) and a heart of compassion, to be, in essence, “perfect, as He is perfect”, or “holy, as He is holy” (1Peter 3)

        • As it has been done to us, how we would want it done to us, now we are to go do… keeping “the royal law” (Mat 7:21; Ro 13:8; Ga 5:6; Ja 2:28)

  • Luke 6:27-38 

27“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Remembering that in all of this, the good that we do is, the expression of the good that we are, having been made good in Jesus - we are truly being God’s workmanship, as God works in, on, and through us, to desire to accomplish His will and purposes, and that is to express Him and His love by doing the good works - of the kingdom - which He has graciously prepared in advance for us to have the privilege to do - of joining Him, our Father, in His doing (John 5:19; 14:10)

“So Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

And so we now do the same - that we might shed light (back) on Him to bring Him glory. (John 14:12)

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

As Jesus pleased the Father, so we now please the Father, by the Son and the Spirit that resides in us. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

20Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

There is an inherent good that expresses itself naturally from the sincerely repentant heart

There is an inherent good that expresses itself naturally from the sincerely repentant heart. That the good that this repentant heart does is the fruit of having seen in its own sinfulness and the actions that arise from it and humbly admit and submit to God’s goodness and righteousness, His mercy and grace.

Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-20 (3:10) (Is 43; 65; Ez 11:19; 18:31; 36:26) John the Baptist and those who would respond to his call. Now that we have repented, “what then must we do?”

A life changed, repented, going a new way, it will act naturally. (Matt 3:8; Luke 3:10-14)

Then, there is a power that makes one truly righteous, that the sincerity of one’s love is even more profound than the repentant heart, and that is the love of the humble and empowered heart that has not only been repentant, but transformed at the humble and gentle hands of Jesus - having been loved, we now love, and we love with a power of the Spirit of Love that has poured into each and every, all, who have received, Jesus. 

The humility of Jesus, submitting Himself to a repentant act, and this, the the hands of one of His own (sinful) creatures, was not concerned about how the masses would perceive Him, but in fact, would see it as more important to demonstrate the nature of the Kingdom, and the King of kings, Himself, humility - humble obedience, even at the expense of His reputation as sinless.

Matthew 3:13-17 ; Luke 3:21-22 – and Jesus, came too, to be baptized…

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.  16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

There is a love that comes from that power, empowered to love as Jesus loves.  That now natural expression of love is Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, in us, working in, on, and through us

Romans 5:1-5 - the humble and submissive heart, loved, now empowered to love, naturally.

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Galatians 5:13-14,16,18,22-25 “13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  ...…22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

This is the season to express these truths, to be what we have been made to me, now, naturally, as we have been “born again” (John 3:1-21) and therefore a “new creations” (Ro 6:4; Gal 6:15; Eph 2:10 “creatures” (2Co 5:17), not what we were, but now what and who we are, because of whose we are.

Therefore, we love deeply, with a sincere love, that does good, because have been made good and therefore are good - that is - righteous in Jesus, by His Spirit.

And therefore - can - love, and love, this way, the Way of Jesus.

Cultivating Contentment & Advent Hope in the Noise of this Season | 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Cultivating Contentment & Advent Hope in the Noise of this Season

1 Timothy 6:6-19

Good morning once again! If you’re new here, I’m Aaron - one of the guys mostly working behind the scenes these days and teaching as needed. Tony is on the mend and since I love this season and I was already introducing Advent, I volunteered to preach in his stead this morning. My sermon for this morning is called: “Cultivating Contentment & Advent Hope in the Noise of this Season.” 

And my aim this morning is to exhort and encourage us all to build our muscles of contentment and hope in Christ to the glory of God this morning. It can be so easy for us to get caught up in the cultural traditions, the great bargains on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the meals, and a dozen family events during Advent, and in so doing miss out on the glory of Christ in this season and it’s my hope that this morning, we could all take a collective deep breath and align our hearts towards Christ together before we dive into the season headfirst. That we might drink deeply and prepare ourselves to make much of Him in our lives this Holiday season. That we might find true rest and peace in Him. 

How does that sound? Does that sound good? Then let’s dive in, open your Bibles to 1 Timothy 6:6-19. I’m going to read the whole passage, break it down, and tie it into an Advent exhortation for us all this morning.

Vs. 6 Godliness w/ contentment is great gain. Contentment comes to those who know the full story - that Christ has come, that he was crucified, and that he was raised and through that act has reconciled us fully to God forever. The Christian has an untouchable hope and therefore an untouchable peace. Peace comes from confident hope and there is no greater hope than the Christian hope bought by the precious blood of Christ who freely came in the flesh to gladly take away the sins of the world.

Did you catch that? Contentment is not for sale. It’s not on a shelf or a car lot. It’s not found in memories with family or friends or under the tree. But everything around you for the next 30 days will be telling you that it is. Don’t believe the lie. Fight for contentment and cling to Christ. 

Let’s read on

Vs 7 -10 Why are we content? Because our ultimate and truest and most real hope is in found Christ’s finished work. If you believe that with me, say Amen. Amen.

Our deepest hope is not in a spouse, a house, a gift, or a job. If you believe that, say Amen. Amen.

It’s not in being the best father, or mother, son or daughter, brother or sister. Amen church? 

It’s not found in any earthly accomplishment or the praise and approval of the people around us. Amen, Church?  We’d give those things up in a moment to cling to Christ, Amen?

If we’re honest that’s not an easy Amen in practice.

Comfort is nice.

Being well-liked, and being highly regarded feels good. Watching our children’s faces glow on Christmas morning is sweet and precious. Memories we carry for a lifetime. Seeing our living rooms and dining rooms full of those we love and who love us is such a wonderful gift. And these are all good, godly, and wonderful things! But they are not the ultimate thing. And that is why Paul exhorts us - those of us who desire to be rich in anything but Christ - to keep our minds fixated on Christ.

Jesus said that we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and all else will be given to us even if following Christ means we suffer the temporary loss of all those things. Right now there are Christians who are celebrating the advent of Christ in secret. Hushed tones and quiet hymns, in illegal gatherings in the midst of COVID with minimal access to medicine, and in some cases food and water, because of their status as cultural pariahs. To them, it is better to worship Christ and celebrate his coming than to enjoy any other earthly blessing.

For us, right now, it’s easy to forget that we are those very people being challenged here.

We don’t find ourselves in such harsh conditions where the choice to be faithful to Christ could cost us anything. And we think because most of us don’t make much money, we aren’t tempted to desire riches. We figure we won’t ever be rich. But having riches isn’t the warning here, it’s being possessed by the desire for wealth. In other words, it’s the desiring comfort above Christ that we are exhorted to watch out for. We seek wealth because we seek power - or stability - or put another way, we seek riches because we think we’ll find true comfort and true life in them.

Our culture is so intoxicated by comfort - as was the case in the early church - that unless we actively fight for contentment and godliness, we will find ourselves caught up in seeking comfort (riches) above Christ. This is why we are given the following commands in verses 11-16.

Read Vs 11-16.

Contentment is something you must fight for.

“Flee” “Pursue” “Fight” “Take hold” “Keep”

Listen to those active words. We are told here that acquiring Godliness and Contentment takes work. It’s a muscle that we need to exercise. If we don’t, we’ll become soft and comfortable and we’ll be prone to trade Christ for comfort. This holiday season, you’re being tempted to choose comfort over Christ.

To think “Ahh, THIS is the life” instead of “Ahh, how wonderful will those days be when we are all together with Christ.” Or If this is THIS sweet, how much more sweet will life with Christ be? I can’t wait.”

Advent is God’s active war on Satan, sin, death, and Hell itself. And it is his grace and mercy showering over us through the lived life and freely given life of Christ. It was purchased for us.

Because God has been so gracious, because his Kingdom is coming and his will, will be done, because Christ has come - therefore we should fight hard to not be lulled into sleep, to be caught unaware, to drift peacefully into the kingdom of comfort and there find it ultimately empty. We should see through the good gifts and see our Lord behind them. We should be fueled in righteous desiring of his kingdom as we have an anticipatory taste of the Kingdom to come!

This is Paul’s argument. Not that good things on earth are bad, but that good things on earth should cultivate in us a desire for the better things that are surely coming. They should fuel our hope in Christ, stoking the flames of the fires of our faith. And we should be active participants in building that fire of faith so that when the temptation to choose comfort or convenience of Christ comes our way, we don’t fall prey to it.

That’s why he gives practical suggestions in verses 17 & 18. Active ways we can practice our faith in Christ and exercise that muscle, seeing the gift of life and the hope of the life to come clearly. Ways we can flee the tempting call of comfort and ease that wealth affords us, so we can see clearly Christ and then use the wealth he allows us to cultivate to build his kingdom and spread his joy.

So what can we do this Holiday season to savor Christ more than Christmas?

Well, today as a church we will take communion, confessing our sins, repenting of those sins, and reminding ourselves of the depth of the love of God for us in Christ Jesus, that we’ve been bought with a price and should glorify God with our bodies. And every week through Christmas, we will be reflecting on an aspect of Advent and the arrival of Christmas.

What else can do you do?

• Pray, daily for God to work in your heart to reveal where you might not be living as if his son really did come to earth and reconcile all things to himself.
  

• Seek ways to glorify God in action this season.
  

• Remind yourself of the true Kingdom coming and the lengths to which God was willing to go to establish that Kingdom with us in the sending of his Son by reading scripture and books on the topic.
  

• Find ways to bless others within your means this season.
  
  

What are we (my family) doing?

This year our family is doing a weekly devotional, lighting our own advent candles, and singing advent songs together every week. Jasmine also does a TON of extra baking with the girls, celebrating Jesus and the gift God gave us in sending him. We look for excuses to bless our kids with a little extra and direct them to the blessing that is God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. Christmas morning we delay giving gifts until we enjoy a meal together and reflect on the greater gift that is Christ. You don’t have to do all or even any of these things. But this is what we’re doing.

But for now, today, we can practice our faith in communion. As the worship team leads us in worship, I encourage you to reflect on this sermon, confess to God any sins exposed today or earlier that you ahve yet to repent of, and prepare your heart to receive communion. Ponder the mercy and goodness of God the Father, the love and faithfulness of the Son, and abiding help and grace of the Spirit given to us because of the coming of Christ. And then as you’re ready, come and take the elements back to your seat. Once everyone has had opportunity to come up, we will take communion together.

….

At the last supper, Jesus took a loaf of bread and broke it and said, “this is my body, broken for you. Whenever you eat it, remember me.” Then he took a glass and raise it saying, “this is my blood, poured out for you, whenever you drink it, remember me.”

The disciples concluded the meal with a song, so lets join them in that. Would you stand and sing with me?

The Answer to Division: The Gospel

Divisions in the Church

Factions and Quarreling 1 Corinthians 10:10-13

Where Divisions Come From

“The Flesh” = Pride & Jealousy 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Two Reactions to the Gospel

• That’s Dumb!

  • The Greeks respected the philosophies of their day.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 & Acts 17:22-32

The crucifixion reveals God’s wisdom by uniting justice and grace and bringing righteousness.

• That’s Weak!

  • The Jewish people respected victory.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:22 & Matthew 12:38-42

The crucifixion reveals God’s power by defeating death through death.

Summation:

Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God

1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Therefore, walk the way of Christ and put Pride & quarreling to death.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

How is your balance?

Luke 10: 38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”Two questions to reflect upon ……

Are you so busy doing things FOR Jesus that you are not spending any time WITH Jesus?

What kind of hospitality does Jesus receive in your life?

Focus on what’s of greatest importance …… trust God, use your gifts wisely, and keep your eyes focused on what is important – JESUS.

Always remember, Jesus wants you to come to Him ….
screaming or crying - but come to Him. GOD LOVES YOU

Goin the way of the wise: life Psalm 19; Prov 7; PS 1; Gal 5

Psalm 19:1-6 God’s revealed glory in what has been made

Psalm 19:7-11The heart of God toward His children in their instruction and guidance

19:7a the instruction, the direction of the Lord - is perfect - renewing or redirecting or setting aright as to turn us back to what is right - that we might return to righteousness

The Lord’s instruction, the words of His loving heart are given to us in statues, a testimony of what is good (James)

19:8b the statutes, or testimony of the Lord are trustworthy - your God’s commands are the story of God, and make wise the simple and inexperienced (Proverbs 1)

19:8a the precepts, commandments of the Lord - God’s mandates - are right, making the heart glad, bringing joy to the heart

19:8b  and these decrees, commands are clear, radiant, pure, and clean; choice - sincere without muddiness of shadow - guiding rightly - giving insight for living, making the eyes light up “ah-ha!!

19:9a fear of the Lord and His commands - reverent awe, respect - is pure - that are intermingled, not swayed by others, resisting the enticements of, or not prone to being enticed by others - their effect lasting forever. 

19:9b The laws of the Lord - that which governs, by which God governs - are true (right, just, and fair; Prov 2) 

And because of these truths regarding God’s truth…

10They are more desirable, more precious, than gold,

even the finest, the purest gold.

They are sweeter than honey,

even honey dripping from the comb.

All of this is God’s provision for us, who, prone to sin, need God’s good and wise leading in life.  What do they do?  Why are they so important?

Psalm 19:11-13

11By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 

12But who can discern their own errors?  Forgive my hidden faults.

13Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.

With all of this, how am I to live?  According to your word in light of your glory, to live in such a way that reveres - honors and respects -  You and your way and ways and not go according to what I/we/feel think is right or the desires of my flesh and the feelings of my flesh…

Being reminded that my heart - its feelings and desires, what it wants and thinks is right - is deceitful and cannot be trusted...

That - The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? It is beyond understanding.  Jeremiah 17:9

That - There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end,  it leads to death.  Proverbs 14:12

· Pr 12:15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

· Pr 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

· Pr 16:2 All a man's ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

· Pr 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

· Pr 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

· Pr 21:2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart

· Pr 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

· Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.

· Luke 12 you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well

That, in all of this, i can trust God, and His word, His Spirit

That - God - His word and Spirit - searches my heart 

· Jer 17:10. “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.

· Ps 139:1, 23 O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts

· Rom 8:27 “…And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit”

· Hebrews 12 12For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

That - My flesh naturally desires what is contrary to God and is in conflict with Him, therefore I cannot do just anything I want

Galatians 5:13-17

That - I must then be careful how I live, not as unwise but as wise - Eph 5:5

That - Therefore, I must guard my way – (Proverbs 4:23; 1John 5:21; Matt 16:6; 24:42)

1Cor 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

Psalm 1

Proverbs 7

That - I am not just avoid the way of sin, but in fact, go in the way of the Spirit and righteousness

·  So I say, walk in the Spirit and you will not gratify the flesh - Galatians 5

·  Having put off the old way “clothe yourselves with…”

Colossians 3:12 12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

·  Flee and/or shun the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. - 2Tim 2:22

Psalm 19:14 having been loved by God, receiving that love, having experienced that love, and being guided by that love to live a life of love, this is our heart’s renewed, redeemed plea

14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

That – this might be so - that this, would be the cry of my heart, our hearts, according to your word, O Lord, would be the expression of your heart, O Lord – in me – and my heart in response to yours and your truth, according to your word

Matthew 4:4; Deut 8:3 ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

As Jesus said “what comes out of one’s mouth is stored up in the heart”

Matthew 12:34-35 “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him”

Therefore, if God is love, then His words are love

1John 4  take time to read all of it…

6God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Jesus: our merciful high priest loves us with a love we do not deserve.

Add to your faith goodness, and add to goodness, knowledge - God - His person and attributes, His manner and way, His commands and instructions, discipline and correction.  Loved well, loving well, loving one and doing good to another.

The first thing I want to do is bring our focus to Jesus and Jesus’ heart for the suffering and sinful

• John 3:16-18 - He, God, so loved the world, the sinful, rebellious, broken world… that He sent His Son, not to condemn, but to save (Romans 5:6-11)

• John 4:4-30, 39-42 - Jesus’ love compels Him to graciously engage the woman, shrewdly alluding to her life’s choices and predicament, graciously and patiently walks her through her attempts to evade the subject of her life’s choices, squirm out from under the mounting pressure, justify or at least deflect - with religion - her person, only to succumb to His grace - when she runs back to the village to tell the people who knew, the very people she had tried to avoid, and tell them about this gracious and kind man who, in His kindness, told her everything about her.

• John 8:2-11 - Jesus protects the life and dignity of the woman, confronts (lovingly and kindly) her accusers, and grants mercy to her in spite of her sin, and then speaks a loving truth to her in regard to her sin.

• John 21:15-19 - Jesus, having suffered an offense at the hand of one He loved, sinned against, in due time, at the right time, Jesus isolates Peter and walks him through the process of reconciliation and restoration.

Then I want to turn our attention to ourselves …

In each one of these encounters, the person Jesus is with has committed a sin and has had it known - in each case, the person with whom Jesus is - is us - we are each of these broken pieces.

How, how do we love in the midst of sin and hurt, what do we do to walk with someone into repentance and restoration, how would we hope to be treated ourselves - when we stumble, and fall, walk wobbly this road, or even choose to rebel?

Jesus’ merciful and gracious restorative process - His to us, His commands to us for others:

• Matthew 18:30-32 Forget not where you come from - the wicked servant - or we place ourselves in peril 

As we see another’s sin and look to intervene

• Luke 6:36-42 Examine one’s self - plank and speck

• Matthew 5:3-4 This self-examination ought to lead us to God’s mercy seat, the remembrance of our own desperate need for mercy and grace

  • Mercy; merciful: visceral feelings; compassionate, experiencing deep pity (lamentation) as God has for people who look to Him for help in their difficult situations; to help or assist the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched

Which in turn should condition our heart, my heart, to a knowing humility, born from the humiliation of being so greatly loved, when I so obviously did not and do not deserve to be loved so and this realization should produce in us, in me, a desire to express, to extend that same mercy and grace to others - not judging them (Luke 6:36-38), but seeing me in them, and knowing, at least imagining, how I would want someone to treat me if this were me - and, if I’m honest, it is, and will be, me. (Lev 19:18; Mat 7:12; 22:39; Mk 12:31; Luke 6:31; Ja 2:8)

Then, and only then, do I turn my attention to them… and when I do so, I do so in the manner that God has approached and treated me, and that is, mercifully. (Mat 5:5-9, 44-45, 48; Luke 6:35-36; James 3:17)

• Love deeply and sincerely - Proverbs 10:12; 1Peter 4:7-8; Romans 12:3, 9-13

• Bring truth with great care and affection - Galatians 6:1a

  • Brother - a fellow-believer, united to another by the bond of affection; so most frequently of Christians, constituting as it were but a single family

  • Someone - with the added notion of weakness, by which man is led into a mistake or prompted to sin

  • Spiritual - one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God

• Restore gently - Galatians 6:1b

  • Restore -  ethically, to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be - according to truth and righteousness, not one’s own feelings, desires, or opinion

  • Gently, or with a gentle spirit - meekness ("gentle strength") which expresses power with reserve and gentleness; "gentle-force") begins with the Lord's inspiration and finishes by His direction and empowerment. It is a divinely-balanced virtue that can only operate through faith - humility 

• Approach humbly - Galatians 6:1c-2

Feelings and truth - God, through the prophet, warns that “the heart is…” our hearts (the seat of our feelings) are  “...deceitful above all things” (Jer 17:5-10) and therefore, we must be very careful regarding the feelings of our heart and how we respond to them, we allow them to rule and guide us.  

The truth is, our feelings though real, can say things to us that can actually lead us astray as they often do not well-represent the truth of God.  With that in mind, we need to understand the importance of subjecting our feelings to truth, God’s lasting and enduring, never-changing truth, that we might examine the source of those feelings and discern the nature of our feelings as to not be deceived and potentially led astray.

With this, ironically, God also calls us to guard our hearts, that “above all else,” we are to “…guard our hearts for it is the wellspring of life”.  (Proverbs 4:23)

What? Why? How so, if it is so deceitful?  

Because, our heart, that seat of our feelings, is where we are called to store truth, so that, that deceiving and easily deceived heart, might be well governed, informed of what is true, anchored when swayed, made true when assailed, rightly and goodly guided and led according to God’s truth - Jesus, His teachings and commands, His manner and way, His character and nature - which is life and freedom.

...and God, through the pen of Paul, implores us to come to God - the God of truth - with all that makes our minds and hearts feel anxious, that doubts God’s presence, caring, or understanding, that feels for whatever that its feeling is true and right reflecting or telling us the truth - and He promises, His descending “...transcendent peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:4-8) - who is the Truth and the wisdom of God.

And we are commended, even commanded, to do this by recognizing that we have weapons of destruction to use in the face of anything that stands up against the knowledge, or truth, of God, to take these thoughts and feelings captive and make them obedient to Christ - or - truth. (2Cor 10:3-5) 

You see, we all have feelings, feelings that lead us from here to there, into and out of places, feelings that drive us, move us, stop us in our tracks - feelings are real, they might be true, but that does not make them the truth, neither do they, if followed, guarantee our safety or righteousness - in fact, it is usually, and unfortunately the opposite. 

If fact feelings are very often misleading, or at least incomplete in their ability to lead and guide - they are subjective, they are a creature born in the moment, they are our reaction to what is seen, heard, and/or experienced, they too often lack insight, discernment, wisdom, or prudence.

The truth is real, it is true, and it speaks to us the truth.  It gives us guidance and leads us a path of righteousness, it illumines our way.  Truth is what we subject our circumstances, thoughts, and feelings to, to make sense of them, to inform of their meaning, to rein them, that the truth may reign in our lives. 

Adding knowledge - wisdom, insight, and discernment - the goodness of God in me

Adding knowledge - wisdom, insight, and discernment - to the goodness of God in me (2Peter 1:1-5). That goodness, which is the nature of Jesus in me (Rom 3:22; 2Cor 5:21), through faith in Jesus, and God’s continued and continual gracious working in me/us (Luke 12:32; Ro 9:11,16; Eph 1:5,9,11; Phil 2:13).

Since God has given us EVERYTHING we need… It is ours now to make every effort to engage with God, daily, in a consistent, persistent ongoing set of encounters that lead to greater and deeper engagement - knowing (gnosis) more of and about God, to know (epignosis) and understand Him and our experiences with Him, better.  

These ongoing and repeated encournters add bits of knowledge (gnosis) of God that strengthen our faith, add to our understanding, affirm our position with God, and instruct us to live our lives with and for God, as we sojourn here with God (epignosis).

To gain this (added) knowledge, we must not just read to read (James 1:19-27), but earnestly seek Him in and by His provided word to give understanding and to our experience – even our first experience (epignosis). 

To do this, we must add knowledge, that of knowing more about Him through His Self-revelation - as to gain more from Him that we might know Him better, love and trust Him more, and be more and more transformed in mind, and conformed in our likeness, to His Son - to Jesus and His life in us - that we might love as Jesus loves, as we have been loved. 

Where do we get this knowledge? 

1. Creation - first and most general Psalm 19:1-6 (Job 38-40; Ps 138; Isa 40; Romans 1:19-20,22)

2. God’s word. (...and Spirit - the Spirit of Truth 1John ) Ps 19:7-13;

2Timothy 3:16  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” NIV 

Romans 1 the transition… from creation to word, general to specific