The Obedience of Faith

I began studying the letter Paul wrote the Colossian Church yesterday. Though my first reading and subsequent study, dealt only with the first eight verses, which would be considered merely the greeting of the letter, I have already learned something new and vital to my understanding of the life of a Christian in respect to faith.

My newfound knowledge came in the area of the word faith.  In verse three, Paul is telling the Colossians how he thanks God for them, whenever he prays for them. He then explains why he thanks God for them, saying in verse four, it is “because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints.”

In my study I learned that the Greek word used for faith is pistis, which is derived from the Greek word peithō. A deeper study of the Greek word peithō tells us that one of the meanings it carries is to obey. So, when we define faith, we find that it involves a belief that the object of our faith is something that we can have so much confidence in, that we are compelled to obey its source. And what is the primary source of our faith? It is Jesus who we place our faith in. Thus, our faith, as defined in the scriptures, demands our obedience to the object of our faith. In simple terms, we are to have such a strong confidence in Jesus, that we are led to believe that what He says to us, is true and we can rest confidently in obedience to Him. We are to obey what Jesus has said to us.

The very reason that Paul opens his letter by telling the church at Colossae that he thanks God for them, is because they are obedient to Christ’s call on their lives and that is demonstrated to all by their love for each other. Remember that in the New Testament, every single Christian is called a saint. When Paul says they love the saints, he is speaking of the love they have for their brothers and sisters in Christ. Every single person who has entered into the family of God by their faith in Jesus, is called to love their fellow saints in the faith. 1 John 3:14 gives us the litmus test for true faith in Christ saying that “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.”

If we do not love our brothers and sisters in Christ, then our profession of faith is a farce and a lie. Unless that love exists, we are not Christians. This confirms the idea of faith demanding obedience to Jesus.

As I pondered this thought over the course of my day, the Holy Spirit began to work on me. By evening I had moved on to other thoughts and had as usual, went back to the everyday things of life. But at 3:00 a.m. this morning, I woke up with a bit of a headache. As someone who stumbles through with the struggles of what the shrinks call bi-polar manic depression, I often cannot sleep. What happens is my brain won’t turn off. It’s sort of a sensory overload, I guess, and it can be quite frustrating, as it just becomes impossible to rest.

So, here I am awake in the early hours of the morning. But rather than fight the battle to go back to sleep, this morning I could hear that quiet voice of God speaking. First of all, I took a few minutes in prayer just to praise and thank God for the blessings of my life. Then I simply let God speak and what I am hearing this morning is Jesus preaching the sermon we all know and call the Sermon on the Mount. As the Holy Spirit brought that sermon back to my mind, I began to ask myself questions. Questions that center on my faith. This morning I am sharing those questions with those of you reading this. The questions are to be answered in the context of faith, meaning that I am to obey my Lord, Jesus, for that is what saying I have placed my faith in Him means. It means I trust Him so much that I am willing to do the things He calls me to do. My prayer for each of you is that you will take some time to open your Bible and answer some of these questions in your own heart.

For me, this morning, my questions come straight from what we call the Beatitudes.

Am I poor in spirit? Do I mourn? Am I gentle? Do I hunger and thirst for righteousness? Am I merciful? Am I pure in heart? Am I a peacemaker? Have I been persecuted for the sake of righteousness? Have people insulted and persecuted me, saying false, evil things against me because of Jesus?

Those are powerful questions that honestly, bring strong conviction to my heart. I don’t think I can say yes to most of those questions, so in them I have a lot of soul searching to do.

The reward for living the life that Jesus describes there, which goes completely counter to the culture we live in, is that we will be blessed. Blessed here brings the connotation of happiness. Look at the rewards of such a life.

Matthew 5:3-12
 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.”

Even in the early morning, when my eyes are fuzzy and my brain tired, I can see clearly the power and blessings of an obedient life of faith.

How about you?

I hope and pray your faith and my faith will reveal itself to each other and, to the unsaved world, so that Christ will be glorified, and His love will be on display for all to see.

I’m tired now. But having spent time this morning in God’s Word, causes me to simply rest in Jesus. I hope you also will do the same.

  

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 141

If there is anything I am sure of in my personal quest to find God’s will for my life, it is that I am to be a man of prayer. I don’t know if everyone is called to intercessory prayer, but I have always believed that it is my call. But even if you are not called to that type of prayer, the Bible is clear that prayer must be a huge part of all believer’s lives. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands us to pray without ceasing. Psalm 141 is yet one more psalm in which we can see that David was a man of prayer.

Psalm 141:1-2

O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!  Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

David wanted his prayer to be as incense before God. As high priest, Aaron would sprinkle incense on the altar and this is the spirit in which David wanted to come before God in prayer and worship. We, too, can come before Him, in Christ’s name, and make the same offering. But Jesus explained that we need to come before God with obedient hearts if we desire God to answer us. Listen to Jesus, as He instructs us to ask but also to obey.

John 14:13-15
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

David sought an obedient life and his prayers reflect that.

Psalm 141:3-4
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!  Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

We must pray for the Holy Spirit to help us in our quest for obedience. As Christians, we need also to hold each other accountable. Most of us dislike rebuke, yet David knew that he needed men like Nathan, to call him out when he sinned.

Psalm 141:5a
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.

But we must choose carefully who we run with. We must stand against evil. We must pray for people to be saved, yet we must pray against the evil they perpetuate.

Psalm 141:5b-7
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.  When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.  As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

David finishes this prayer by calling on God to help him not fall into the traps and snares of the devil, who seeks to take us away from an obedient life. He knows he must keep his eyes upon Jesus.

Psalm 141:8-10
But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers!  Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.

I need to pray like David, for far too often I have let myself be trapped by the schemes of the devil. This morning I turn my eyes toward Jesus. In Him, and Him alone I seek refuge. How about you? Let us lift up our prayers to God. Let them be as incense to Him.

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 18

Seek First the Kingdom of God and All These Things Will Be Given To You As Well

If any, one verse in the scriptures describes Psalm 18, I believe it to be Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” David wrote this psalm out of love for God after He delivered David from his enemies. There is an important message for us here and it cannot be discounted. It is a psalm of worship and praise. David begins with that idea.

Psalm 18:1-3

I love you, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

When we come to Christ in faith and receive Him as our Savior, then God becomes our rock, our refuge, our shield, our stronghold, and our horn of salvation, just as He was David’s. We are saved by faith and faith alone, but our relationship with God does not stop there. Though our salvation is secured by Christ, we then have work to do. David begins by telling God he loves Him. Do you tell God you love Him? Listen to what Jesus says about loving Him.

John 14:15
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

Loving God means obedience to His commandments and they are found in His Word.

David describes the terrible situation that he was in in verses 4 and 5 of this psalm. Many of us can relate, as we too, have faced trials of our own, situations that look impossible. David knows the one who can do the impossible, for with God, all things are possible. He calls on God.

Psalm 18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

And God shows up in a mighty way.

Psalm 18:7
Then the earth shook and quaked; And the foundations of the mountains were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry.

God is in control of all things. Read through this psalm to read of the powers of God over the world. And He does come to help those who humble themselves before Him.

Psalm 18:16-19
He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.  He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.  They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my stay.  He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

Why did God show up in a such a mighty way in response to David’s prayers?

Psalm 18:20-24
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.  For all His ordinances were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me.  I was also blameless with Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity.  Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.

David is not bragging here about being sinless. He is talking about humility, a humility that says to God, “Your ways are right and my desire to submit to your law is what brings your hand of blessings.”

Our salvation is based on faith in Christ and that alone. But our blessings are tied to our love for God and that love is revealed in obedience. That is what Jesus means in Matthew 6:33. Seek first His kingdom and righteousness. In this psalm David is speaking about “all these things” that “will be given to you as well,” as Jesus speaks of. When we seek a life of submission to God’s ways, as the Bible tells us to, then the we can live a life without worry and anxiety.

Read the things God did for David as he praises God again in the end of this psalm.

Psalm 18:47-50
The God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me.  He delivers me from my enemies; Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man.  Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD, And I will sing praises to Your name.  He gives great deliverance to His king, And shows lovingkindness to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then all these things will be given to you as well.

Five Things To Do When Seeking God as Seen in the book of Ruth

The book of Ruth is picture of our relationship with Jesus and in it we can find lessons in how to get the best out of that relationship. Far too many Christians fail to find the blessings that come along with the free gift of salvation. Ruth chapter three gives us a lesson by showing us five things Ruth did in her preparation to offer herself to Boaz, her kinsmen-redeemer. These five things are things we too, should do when we seek to present ourselves to Christ.

Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, advises Ruth how to prepare herself as a bride would in preparing for her wedding. As the church, we are His bride and we should heed the advice of Naomi from Ruth, chapter 3, verse 3 in which she says, “Wash therefore…”

How often we Christians bemoan our own relationship with Jesus, wondering why we cannot feel His presence as we know we should. Paul repeats the call of Naomi in 2 Corinthians 7:1 saying, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

The simple truth is this; we maintain far too many holds upon things in our life we would be better off letting go of. We think that because we have freedom in Christ, it’s okay to do whatever we want. But if play in the dirt, we are going to get dirty. Look at 2 Corinthians 6:14 though 7:1. In it we find that we are the temple of the living God and we are no less responsible for keeping that temple clean as were the Old Testament priests. The temple is a holy and sacred place.  James 4:8 reminds us to “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Notice that James goes so far as to call us “double-minded.” We must ask ourselves this question, Is my relationship with God more important than my passions for the things of the world? Or am I double-minded?

The next thing Naomi instructs Ruth is to “anoint yourself.” In OT days, this spoke of using fragrant oils which not only made a person smell good to others, they also healed and protected people from sickness. As New Testament Christians anointing oil speaks of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 2:20 tells us that we “…have been anointed by the Holy One.” When we live our lives in our own strength we are missing out on accessing the anointing we’ve been given. When Jesus came to live life here on earth, He put aside His own power and did His work in the anointing of the Spirit as an example to us. Since we also have that anointing we are without excuse in serving God with power. To do this requires humility. It is through a humbling of self that we anoint ourselves. We let the Holy Spirit do the work.

The third act Ruth had to do in her preparation was to change clothes. Naomi told Ruth to “put on your best clothes” To Christians this speaks of our salvation as we see in several passages, but maybe best expressed in Isaiah 61:10 which says, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

When we come to God in our righteousness we fall short. Again, we are speaking of humility, which is expressed by admitting we are sinners and only through the cloak of righteousness bestowed upon us by the shedding of Christ’s blood can we ever enter into the presence of God. Isaiah 64:6 states it clearly saying that “…all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment." When we enter God’s presence we can only enter by putting on the cloak of Christ. Our best is not good enough.

The fourth thing Ruth had to do in her preparation to meet Boaz was to find out how to approach him. She needed to learn about Boaz. Listen to the advice of Naomi from Ruth 3:4 “But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”

Observe and then listen. That was how Ruth could learn what pleases Boaz. This is good counsel for all relationships. And for Christians observing and listening for Jesus to tell us what to do is a simple process. Read His Word. Obey His Word. The principles for Christian living have all been given to us in the scriptures and the Holy Spirit was given to us to be our teacher. The Bible also says that God has ordained teachers and preachers to guide us. But you must make a commitment to go and to observe. We must read His Word.

The fifth act of preparation Ruth needed to do in her presentation of herself to Boaz is to commit to do ALL that he would tell her to do. She wasn’t to do some or part of it or to do only the parts she liked or even understood, but to do ALL he commanded. The truth is that most of us just won’t make that commitment. We will do some. But we just won’t commit to a life of obedience and when we are preached this we cry out “legalism”. That is pure and simple baloney. It violates the very words of Christ, who said this in John 14:15, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” We keep looking back to the things of this world (which would cause Lot’s wife to become a pillar of salt) and playing with our sins and then we wonder why we don’t feel close to God.

We must look at the words of James and make them real in our lives.

James 1:22-25
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

Want a relationship with God? Be like Ruth. Wash and anoint yourself, change your clothes and go learn of Him and then promise to obey. If you sincerely present yourself to Christ as Ruth did to Boaz, you will be loved like no bride as ever been loved before. It’s that simple.