The Servant of Christ

God hath Chosen the Foolish Things of the World to Confound the Wise

noreply@blogger.com (Words Of Life) — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 00:42:00 +0000

God uses Clay Pots – so He Gets all the Glory - The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is totally by God’s sovereign grace, love and mercy; and those three elements – along with everything else associated with salvation – are unearned gifts from God to His people. God must draw the elect to Himself and grant them repentance, spiritual understanding, faith to trust Him, and a capacity to love and obey Him. Only God can create a new eternal soul, or “heart”, and make a “new creature” of a person (Eze 36:26-27). We also read this in 2 Cor 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. God commands all of His people to “go ye into all the world” and to “shew mercy” to the lost by being “ambassadors for Christ” and proclaiming the “Gospel of Christ”. The Gospel is a two-edged sword (Rev 1:16) that cuts one way to eternal life (Acts 2:37) and the other way to eternal damnation (Acts 7:54) and God uses it to accomplish His purposes in the lives of those who come in contact with it. As believers bring the Gospel they are a “sweet savour of Christ” to the people of the world, as stated in 2 Cor 2:15-16, “savour of life unto life” to the “vessels of mercy”, “savour of death unto death” to the “vessels of wrath”. We marvel that God uses sinful, weak human beings as His vessels to carry the glorious message of the Gospel to a world that is spiritually lost and shrouded in sin. Why does God use imperfect men to evangelize the world? It is to show His power to save, so that He gets all the honor and glory: “But we have this treasure [Gospel] in earthen vessels [men], that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Cor 4:7). This same reason is also summed up in the eight words of 1 Cor 1:29, “That no flesh should glory in his presence”.

2 Cor 2:15-16 “For we [believers] are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

Isa 43:10-12 “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.”

1 Cor 1:26-29 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

God hath Chosen the Foolish Things of the World to Confound the Wise - 1 Cor 1:26 says, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called”. Eph 1:18 also speaks about this calling: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…” And 2 Tim 1:9 adds, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”. 2 Cor 1:12 further explains that “fleshly wisdom” plays no part either before or after salvation: “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation [lifestyle] in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward”. 1 Cor 1:17-21 clearly differentiates between the bankruptcy of human wisdom and the undeniable perfection of God’s infinite wisdom as expressed through His Word – the Bible. Not only has the world rejected God's wisdom but Jer 8:5-9 painfully illustrates the careless disregard and open defiance of the institutional churches of our day against the Word of God that has resulted in God’s judgment upon them. Isa 8:20 makes this solemn pronouncement: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them”. Luke 10:21-24 describes God’s will in saving those of His choosing: “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight ...”.

Jer 8:5-9 “... but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?”

2 Cor 3:5-6 and 12: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers [or servants] of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life… Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech”

1 Cor 1:17-21 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

God hath Chosen the Weak Things of the World to confound the Things which are Mighty - In the phrase, “God hath chosen the weak things of the world”, we notice that the Greek word for “weak” is derived from two other root words signifying “no strength”. The Bible is a spiritual book, and God frequently conceals His Truth in figurative, or symbolic, language. When God uses examples of people in the Bible who are weak, sick, half-dead, or even physically dead, it is to emphasize man’s sinful spiritual condition, as Eph 2:1-3 portrays: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins ...”. Wonderfully, Christ’s mission was to redeem those who are spiritually diseased, as Mark 2:17 so beautifully affirms: “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”. Everyone in the categories “mighty”, “whole”, “righteous” are merely “self-righteous” and have not been saved: “which trusted in themselves that they were righteous” (Luke 18:9). It is the deluded, prideful expression of the Pharisee in Luke 18:11 as well. They do not understand their own sinfulness. Sadly, this is the essence of mankind’s fallen nature. Mat 25:34-39 also describes the efforts of Christians (by God’s empowering and motivation) to send forth the Gospel to those (among others) who are spiritually sick: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: ...”. Rom 5:6 pictures our hopeless and helpless state, apart from God’s gracious salvation: “For when we were yet without strength [sick] in due time Christ died for the ungodly”. However, if one is to be completely candid, we must admit our moment-by-moment dependence on God for everything – every single day! Such reliance is what we truly need, and what God expects, and where one finds ultimate security, as 2 Cor 12:9-10 teaches, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. 2 Cor 13:4 further adds: “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.”

Luke 18:9-14 “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

1 Cor 2:1-8 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are - Let us now briefly look at the phrase, “to bring to nought [nothing] things that are”. 1 Cor 2:1-8 above can help us gain further insight: “... Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery ...”. 1 John 2:15-17 reveals the truth about this world, and what it signifies spiritually: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”. The term “bring to nought” appears in a variety of places, and is rendered as “make void”, “of none effect”, “destroyed”, “delivered”, “fail”, “vanish away” and “passeth away”. Not only it referred to “princes of the world” and “the world” but we see it also expressed in the language of Deu 28:63 referring to rebellion of God's people: “And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it”. Not only are the unsaved in complete rebellion against God and His Law, the Bible, unsaved man is under Satan’s spiritual control and is a prisoner in his kingdom. 2 Cor 4:3-4 states: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”. Those who have been placed in God’s family or kingdom can certainly identify with the words of Gal 1:4: “Who [speaking of the Lord Jesus] gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father”. This amazing passage Rom 4:17-21, in which God is speaking of Abraham, reveals God’s infinite power, which is described in two ways: First, God’s power that is able to raise the dead (whether physically or spiritually). Secondly, God is able to create something out of nothing. Genesis 17 which Rom 4:17 quotes, is all about this, as it frequently repeats this magnificent theme some 24 times in the context of Isaac being born to Abraham and Sarah, which was physically impossible. 2 Cor 5:17 declares, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. Only God can resurrect a person and give new-birth – eternal life. Only God can create a new eternal soul, or “heart”, and make a “new creature” of a person, as we read in Eze 36:26-27. Col 3:9-10 reiterates that indeed, the child of God has been clothed with the very righteousness and holiness of Christ Himself: “... seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”. This is an astounding concept that mortal, sinful, depraved man could become as holy and pure as His Creator; and yet God has instituted this requirement in order for man to inhabit Heaven. Let me leave you with this parting thought. Those of us who are saved, by God’s grace have the amazing privilege to live out our lives in this world, as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 12:1-2 succinctly proclaims: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Rom 4:17-21 “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Heb 11:17-19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

2 Cor 5:17-20 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

2 Cor 4:5-7 “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

The Qualities of a Servant

noreply@blogger.com (Words Of Life) — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 00:47:00 +0000

The Servant of the Lord Must Not Strive but be Gentle unto All Men - Today we will consider “The Qualities of a Servant” as set forth in 2 Tim 2:24-25: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”. The Greek word for “strive” in 2 Tim 2:24 is used in three other places where contention and fighting are in view. 2 Tim 3 highlights the truth of words that are not profitable – that is, they are the exact opposite of the purpose God intended for the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16-17). The end result of such senseless bickering regarding that which is not truth results in “… the subverting of the hearers”. The Greek word for “subverting” (G2692) is a strong word that not only underscores the futility of such discussions, but leads to eternal damnation. 2 Timothy verse 16 teaches: “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness”. The phrase “profane and vain babblings” is also found in 1 Tim 6:20, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:”. Similarly, 1 Tim 4:7 states, “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness”. Verse 18 furnishes more information about these two men, Hymenaeus and Philetus: “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some”. 1 Tim 1:19-20 gives further information concerning Hymenaeus: “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme”. Consider also the caution offered in 1 Tim 1:4, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do”. And verse 23 affirms: “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes”. Now let's consider second part of verse “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men”. Jam 3:17 reveals, “But the wisdom that is from above [anothen] is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy”. After salvation, following the pattern of their Master, those who are part of the eternal church are equipped with the fruit of “gentleness” along with the other eight fruit (or “products”) of the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives, according to Gal 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”.

1 Tim 1:5-7 “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling [that is “empty talking”]; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm”

Tit 3:8-11 “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

1 The 2:7:4-11 “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.”

Apt to Teach, Patient, In Meekness Instructing Those That Oppose Themselves - Today we are looking at “The Qualities of a Servant” as set forth in 2 Tim 2:24-25: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”. 2 Tim 3:16-17 announces: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ....”. Verse 14 states: “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers”. This verse precedes 2 Tim 2:15 that, as we shall see in our future lessons, focuses our attention on accurately interpreting and teaching the Word of God after someone has become a child of God – the result of God’s unfathomable grace. Although not all believers are qualified to be Bible teachers, all believers should “… be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”, according to 1 Pet 3:15b. In order to give a correct answer we must glean truth from the Word of God by “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” – that is, comparing Scripture with Scripture by using the whole Bible: “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor 2:13). Incidentally, God commended the Bereans in Acts 17:11 for examining the Scriptures in this manner: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”. We now want to consider the trait of patience. Notice how the word “meekness” in 2 Tim 2:25 can result from God’s granting repentance (or a change of mind) as a result of salvation, “… if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth”. The child of God is to exhibit the attitude described in Eph 4:2, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”. Col 3:12 further maintains: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” As we ponder this word “meekness”,we are reminded of the Lord Jesus, the Ultimate Servant, who uttered these words in Mat 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”. May it be that God will use us as His humble servants to proclaim His glorious Gospel that others might indeed find Eternal Rest in Him.

1 Cor 2:1 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Study to Shew Thyself Approved unto God - 2 Tim 2:15 states, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. The Greek word for “study” (spoudazo:G4704) is used 11 times in the New Testament, and is translated into English as “endeavour”, “do diligence”, “be diligent”, “give diligence”, “be forward”, “labour” , and “study”. But in what way are we to be diligent? Consider how the passage reads literally in Greek: “Be eager to present yourself approved to show to God, a workman unashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. This verse speaks of the Christian’s duty of “presenting” both his members as well as his “body” (his whole life that is) for the service of God: Rom 6:19 affirms, “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded [G3936] your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield [G3936] your members servants to righteousness unto holiness”. And Rom 12:1 declares, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present [G3936] your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”. However, the object of a person’s “diligence”, or “eagerness”, is to be “approved”, or “saved”, as we will discover shortly. Three other passages which utilize the same word “spoudazo” G4704 (that is, “study” or “be diligent”) help us to see this truth: Heb 4:11 teaches, “Let us labour [G4704] therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief”. 2 Pet 1:10 states “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence [G4704] to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” And 2 Pet 3:14 reveals, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent [G4704] that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless”. These and other similar verses in the Bible highlight the enormous importance of honestly assessing the spiritual condition of our souls, as we learn from 2 Cor 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” As I mentioned earlier, to be “approved” by God is to be saved. We do not have the time to investigate the passage, 2 Cor 10:12-18 in great detail, but we can touch on a few relevant ideas. For example, verse 12 indicates that one is to measure himself against the “rule”, or kanon (G2583) in Greek from which our English word “canon” (as the canon of Scripture) is derived. In other words, the “ruler” or “yardstick” is the Bible itself. Verse 18 also proclaims: “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth”. Pro 21:2 declares, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts”. Furthermore, Luke 16:15 adds, “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God”. And whom does the Lord commend? Rom 5:8 reminds us, “But God commendeth [G4921] his love toward us [believers], in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. The only ones whom God approves, or commends, are the true believers. “Salvation is of the Lord”, as Jon 2:9 insists.

2 Cor 10:12-18 “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure [G3358] of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure [G3358] to reach even unto you. 14For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. 17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18For not he that commendeth himself is approved [G1384], but whom the Lord commendeth.”

Jam 1:22-25 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, [or the Bible] and continueth [or obeys] therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

A Workman That Needeth Not to be Ashamed - Who is this “workman” or “laborer” (ergates:G2040) this verse speaks about? Luke 10:2 asserts, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest”. In actuality, the “laborers” are the ones whom God has redeemed and set apart to be His ambassadors, according to 2 Cor 5:17-20. Sadly, there have always been those who masquerade as God’s servants. This phenomenon is even more pernicious in our day, as we find ourselves in “Great Tribulation”. They are now under His divine wrath, as the following verses testify: 2 Cor 11:13-15 warns, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works”. With respect to genuine believers 2 Cor 4:2 maintains, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”. We must bear in mind that both the motivation as well as the performance can only be attributed to the marvelous intervention of God Himself, as 1 Cor 15:10 reveals: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”. Php 2:13 also verifies this, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”. There is another kind of “work” – namely to “labor” in the Scriptures, as 1 Tim 5:17 relates, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour [G2872] in the word and doctrine”. We now must turn our attention to the phrase in the second half of 2 Tim 2:15, which states, “… that needeth not to be ashamed [G153], rightly dividing the word of truth”. To be “ashamed” ultimately is to be unsaved as Jer 17:13 instructs: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters”. Joel 2:27 adds, “And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed”. The same truth is expressed in 1 John 2:28: “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming”. Php 1:20 also affirms: “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death”. 1 Pet 4:16 also asserts, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf”. The result of a true child of God needing “not to be ashamed” is that he will, among many qualities, be “rightly dividing the word of truth”. This involves the overwhelmingly important task of correctly interpreting the Bible by comparing “spiritual things with spiritual”(or “Scripture with Scripture”), as defined in 2 Cor 2:10-13.

2 Cor 5:17-20 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

1 Cor 2:10-13 “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Whose Servant are You? The Servant is Not Greater than his Lord

noreply@blogger.com (Words Of Life) — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 03:06:00 +0000

You Cannot Serve Two Masters - Luke 16:13 lays down an important biblical axiom: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. This verse along with its counterpart in Mat 6:24 highlight the gigantic fact that every human being is in one of two spiritual kingdoms – the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ or the kingdom of Satan. There is no middle ground! Notice the opposites – love and hate. Luke 9:50 adds, “And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us”. And Jam 4:4 fearfully warns: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity [or hatred] with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”. The “world” is well-defined in 1 John 2:15-17: “... the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life ...”. The kingdom that a person is in actually dominates, or drives, his life with unyielding force. It is rooted in his soul and influences his every thought, word, and action, as Pro 23:7 proclaims, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …”.

1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”

Luke 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh”.

The Servant of Sin - Every human being begins his life in Satan’s kingdom as one of the Devil’s unwitting dupes. John 8:34 underscores this: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” and is also affirmed in Eph 2:1-6. 2 Pet 2:19 adds, “… they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage”. All sin is 100 percent destructive and results in eternal death – or Hell – as Jam 1:14-15 instructs, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. In the incisive passage Rom 8:5-8, God is making the distinction between the two kingdoms we have been discussing. The phrases “after the flesh” and “carnally minded” describe the nature of one who is unsaved and in the kingdom of Satan. On the other hand, the language “after the Spirit” and “spiritually minded” illustrate the nature of a true Christian – one who has become a citizen of God’s kingdom. True believers have been raised from spiritual death to life and have an insatiable desire to be obedient to the Word of God, as John 15:10 expresses:“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love”.

Rom 8:5-8 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Eph 2:1-6 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

The Servant of Christ - Acts 26:18 pictures the transfer of power and spiritual metamorphosis that occurs when one experiences birth from above to become a servant of Christ: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me”. Col 1:13 adds, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son…”. Rom 6:12-13 becomes part of the new “marching orders” (the whole Bible) the believer now follows: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God”. The words of 2 Cor 5:17-21 depict the wonderful salvation that God has provided by His infinite mercy and grace. A fundamental principle of the Bible is expressed in the words of 1 Cor 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”. The price Christ had to pay was equivalent to eternal damnation in Hell for each of His elect children. In the face of such incomprehensible sacrificial love, the true believer exclaims along with the Psalmist in Psa 116:16, “O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds”. We are reminded of the admonition in Col 3:23-24 that all of us who are true Christians need to heed: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ”.

2 Cor 5:17-20 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

The Servant is Not Greater than his Lord - The greatest example of a servant is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He stated the very principle He embodied in Mark 9:35, “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all”. It is utterly impossible for us – even if we are saved – to grasp the awesome reality of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible outlines for us the profound truths that Christ, Who is Eternal God, had to empty Himself of His glory to take on human flesh. He had to become sin and then – the greatest mystery of all – He had to suffer the unimaginable agony of everlasting Hell for His elect people to procure their eternal salvation (Php 2:5-7). 2 Cor 4:5-7 affirms: “... ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ... we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”. We know that God’s grace is the sole basis for salvation and the Christian’s life while on this earth. God must indeed receive all the credit, glory, and honor because He is the source of all blessing. 2 Tim 3:12 adds, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. John 15:20 asserts, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also”. Furthermore, Rom 8:17b reminds us: “… if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together”. We read this in 2 Cor 3:5-6 and 12: “... our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers [or servants] of the new testament; … Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech”. The phrase “plainness of speech” is actually one Greek word, and in Eph 6:19 it is rendered as “boldly”: “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel”. In what way are God’s elect “able ministers [or servants] of the new testament… of the spirit: for…the spirit giveth life”? We will be aided in our understanding by recalling that the Bible is a “twoedged sword” (Rev 1:16). As the Sword of the Spirit, the Bible can “cut” to either salvation (Acts 2:5) or damnation (Acts 7:54).

Isa 42:1-4 “Behold my servant [Lord Jesus], whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”

Php 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

2 Cor 4:5-7 “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”

2 Cor 3:5-6 and 12: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers [or servants] of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life… Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech”

If Any Man Serve Me, Let Him Follow Me, Him Will My Father Honour - In our lesson today we want to focus on John 12:26, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour”. Mat 20:28 lays down a crucial axiom: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”. Psa 49:7-9 sadly declares: “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption”. The mission of the Lord Jesus Christ was not only to preach the Gospel but to be the Gospel. Jesus said in John 13:15-17: “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them”. Mat 16:24 says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” From this penetrating verse one learns that in order to follow Him we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross, as Rom 6:11 exhorts, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord”. John 8:12 assures the Christian that his path will be well lit: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,but shall have the light of life”. Psa 119:105 adds: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. Let us look at John 12:26 again, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour”. The only way one can be “honoured” by the Father is to first be saved by God’s marvelous grace, as God so clearly sets forth in Neh 1:10: “Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.”

Php 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”

Except the LORD Build the House, They Labour in Vain that Build it

noreply@blogger.com (Words Of Life) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 02:24:00 +0000

When Human Diligence and Vigilance are Useless - Psalm 127, Verse 1 is a clear reminder that all human effort apart from God’s intervention is “in vain”, or futile. The desires and pursuits of unsaved man are typified by man’s construction of the tower of Babel in order to make a “name” for themselves, as Gen 11:4-9 describes. We learn from these passages that unsaved man in his pride wants to be just like God, and he wants to get the glory that belongs only to God Himself. This same sinful attitude is eminiscent of Satan, who is the spiritual father of all who are unsaved, as Isa 14:12-13 underscores. Those who are lost are unable to recognize the truth of Psa 108:12: “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man” and Pro 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”. Man’s pride and arrogance are not confined to the unsaved heathens of the world, but are also characteristics of those in the institutional churches and denominations, as typified by religious Israel in the Old Testament, as declared in Oba 1:3. In God’s earthly, institutional churches, the proliferation of today’s worldly false gospels tends to increase the percentage of false brethren, or nominal Christians, within the various congregations. This expands the worldly influence in the churches and accelerates the worldwide “falling away” from the True Gospel, or apostasy, that is so much in evidence at the present time (2 The 2:3). The popularity of most false gospels can generally be attributed to their appeals to man’s pride and basic sensual desires for political freedom, economic security and good health. God describes this natural, materialistic focus as man’s love of the world in 1 John 2:15-17. Psa 127:1 is a magnificent tribute to God’s constant faithfulness, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain”.

Gen 11:4-9 “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

Luke 1:51 “He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”

Isa 14:12-13 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:”

Oba 1:3 “The pride of thine [institutional churches and denominations, as typified by religious Israel in OT] heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock [naming the name of Christ], whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?”

Psalm 127:1-2 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”

The Futility of Human Effort - The real desire of natural or unsaved man is to achieve the maximum level of economic prosperity, physical well-being, and political freedom in order to satisfy “the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life…” according to 1 John 2:16, which is “not of the Father, but is of the world”. Notice also the warning in verse 17: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”. The book of Ecclesiastes has much to say about this striving after “wind”, or vanity (Ecc 5:16). Consider the admonition of Ecc 2:11, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun”. Those who put their trust in material goods –in the things of this world – are guaranteed to reap what they have sown, as Jam 5:1-5 sets forth. In our previous passages we looked at the pride of man to make a “name” for himself at the Tower of Babel and gain access into Heaven through his own presumptuous efforts. Man’s works are at best “filthy rags”, according to Isa 64:6. Ecc 2:22-23 is a vivid picture of the fallen human condition. Ecc 6:7 makes this point: “All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled”. Perhaps this is related to John 6:27, where we learn: “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

Jam 5:1-3 “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.”

Ecc 2:22-23 “For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.”

Isa 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Psa 33:16-17 “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.”

The Necessity for God’s Intervention - Psa 147:10 declares “He [God] delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man” and in Zec 4:6 “...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”. Deu 6:10 explains that the land Israel inherited (that ultimately points to the kingdom of God) was a gift for which they did not work: “And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not”. This concept is also evident in the construction of the Temple, according to 1 Kin 6:7: “And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building”. Notice what God looks for and what He, in turn, has initiated in Psa 33:18: “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;” and Eph 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”. The reason God has to take the initiative by His redemption is because man by nature is spiritually dead, and spurns God and the Bible, as Jer 6:16 indicates. Of course, God’s greatest gift to man is salvation, or eternal life, as Eph 2:8-9 insists. Not only has God done all the work of salvation, but He reminds us of His faithful and constant love for His people throughout the pages of Scripture.

Jos 24:17 “For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:”

Psa 37:28 “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints [born-again believers]; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”

Psa 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

Jer 6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

Psa 44:3-7 “For they got not the land [points to the kingdom of God] in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.”

Resting in God - Psa 121 is a marvelous portrait of God’s providential care for His beloved children. The language that God neither slumbers nor sleeps illustrates His eternal vigilance over the sheep of His pasture. A comforting verse for the believer is also found in Deu 31:6, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”. This verse is a beautiful declaration of God’s sovereign faithfulness and perfect integrity in not only guiding the child of God through this life but all the way to glory. This same idea of God’s providential care is also expressed in the New Testament in Php 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”. Isn’t it amazing how God has obligated Himself to finish what He has begun by His eternal grace and love? Psa 127:2, highlights physical sleep, which symbolizes the spiritual rest that is the result of salvation, according to Mat 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Pro 3:21-26 also states: “... thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet... the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken”. Let me hasten to add that this only applies to his beloved sleep -- the believer in Jesus Christ, as 1 Pet 1:3-5 and Jude 1:24-25 affirms. Rom 8:38-39 assures the true child of God that absolutely nothing can separate him from His faithful Savior: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Psa 66:8-9 declares, “O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.”

Psa 121:3-5 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel [God's Elect] shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”

Psa 127:1-2 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”

Pro 3:21-26 “My son, let not them [God’s commands in the Bible] depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

Eze 34:23-26 “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David [typifying Christ] a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing [spiritual blessing].”

Matt 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

1 Pet 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Jude 1:24-25 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

Your Labour is NOT in Vain in the Lord - 1 Cor 15:58 admonishes believers, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”. The “labour” in this verse is pointing to the utmost importance of the task of spreading the Gospel and spiritual growth in God’s grace by labouring in His Word. 2 Cor 5:8-9 declares: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him”. And who is this “workman” or “laborer” these verses speak about? Luke 10:2 asserts, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest”. In actuality, the “laborers” are the ones whom God has redeemed and set apart to be His ambassadors, according to 2 Cor 5:17-20. Sadly, there have always been those who masquerade as God’s servants. This phenomenon is even more pernicious in these last days. 2 Cor 11:13-15 warns, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ”. With respect to genuine believers 2 Cor 4:2 maintains, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”. We must bear in mind that both the motivation as well as the performance can only be attributed to the marvelous intervention of God Himself, as 1 Cor 15:10 reveals: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”. Php 2:13 also verifies this, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”.

2 Cor 5:17-20 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
1 Tim 5:17 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

2 Tim 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Ecc 5:12 “The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”

1 The 2:4-11 “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.”

We are Laborers Together with God

noreply@blogger.com (Words Of Life) — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:52:00 +0000

Labor is Required in Every Human Enterprise - God gave mankind the duty of working to live, as a result of Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, as we read in Gen 3. All who are physically and mentally capable of doing so are responsible to God and to the society into which God has placed them to earn a living by their own labor, as 2 The 3:10 declares. Thus, work is an important aspect in the life of every human being, according to Psa 104:23. Col 3:22-23 make the point that we should say and do everything to the glory of God.

Gen 3:19 “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

2 The 3:10 “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

Psa 104:23 “Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.”

Psa 90:10 “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

Col 3:22-23 “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

Not the Labors of my Hands can Fulfill Thy Law's Demands - Because man is so conditioned to working to satisfy his physical and emotional needs, he naturally believes that he can also obtain spiritual benefits through his own efforts. Therefore, one common aspect of all the pagan religions and false gospels of the world is the notion that man must do something to gain favor with whomever or whatever they worship. However, the Bible says there is no work that we can do to get ourselves saved. We cannot contribute in any way to obtain salvation – no church, no religious ritual, no person, and no human effort can save us. God considers all of “unclean” man's attempts at becoming righteous to be like “filthy rags” in His sight, because they are tainted with sin, according to Isa 64:6. Only the work done by the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross and by the Holy Spirit in our hearts can save us.

Isa 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Jam 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Rom 3:19-20 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Gal 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

Only Christ’s Labor Fulfilled the Demands of the Law of God - The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is totally by God’s sovereign grace, love and mercy; and those three elements – along with everything else associated with salvation – are unearned gifts from God to His people. Only God can “forgive” sins so they no longer count against a person. However, since God is bound by His Law that requires a payment for sin, His “forgiveness” is not based on a whim but on the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross for His people, the eternal Israel of God. Thus, God Himself, in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, had to make the ultimate payment – the equivalent of eternal punishment in Hell – for the sins of His people to obtain eternal forgiveness. God’s salvation mercy is an infinitely precious gift because Christ had to “give His life”, or soul, as a “ransom” to pay for His people’s sins, as we read in Mark 10:45. It is only because Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man that salvation is possible for mankind, as explained in 2 Tim 1:9. In Acts 13:41 God refers this message from Hab 1:5 to those who refuse to acknowledge that He does ALL the work of salvation.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man [Lord Jesus Christ] came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Acts 13:41 [quoting Hab 1:5] “Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I [God] work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man [Jesus Christ] declare it unto you.”

Isa 53:11-12 “He [God the Father] shall see of the travail [work] of his [Lord Jesus Christ] soul, and shall be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Tit 3:4-5 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

2 Tim 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

Come unto Me [Jesus Christ], All ye that Labour, I will Give you Rest - Isa 55:1-3 beautifully describes the free gift of “everlasting life” and the “rest” of God’s salvation. The “rest” for our souls is something only God can give to us – we cannot attain it through any of our own efforts, as Heb 4:10-12 clearly states. The Greek word for “labour” in verse 11 means “to be diligent” with reference to feeding on the Word of God as is pointed out in verse 12. It is translated as “study” in 2 Tim 2:15.

Mat 11:28-30 “Come unto me [Jesus Christ], all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Heb 4:10-12 “For he that is entered into his [that is, God’s] rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour [spoudazo:G4704: diligent or study] therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

2 Tim 2:15 “Study [spoudazo:G4704] to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

John 6:27 “Labour not for the meat [material things] which perisheth, but for that meat [Word of God] which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

Isa 55:1-3 “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters [Gospel], and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat [the bread of life]; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good [the bread of life], and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant [or Gospel] with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

We [believers] are Laborers Together with God - God commands all of His saints to “go ye into all the world” and to “shew mercy” to the lost by being “ambassadors for Christ” and proclaiming the “Gospel of Christ”. God’s “saints” (born-again believers) shall praise and bless the Lord for His grace, love, and mercy upon them and shall tell others about His glorious salvation, as Psa 145:10-12 declares. As believers bring the Gospel they are a “sweet savour of Christ” to the people of the world, as stated in 2 Cor 2:15-16. The Gospel is a two-edged sword that cuts one way to eternal life and the other way to eternal damnation, and God uses it to accomplish His purposes in the lives of those who come in contact with it. In other words, God is the builder of the house, or the eternal church that is the invisible body of true believers. We believers, are co-workers with God in building this house.

2 Cor 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Psa 145:10-12 “All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.”

2 Cor 2:15-16 “For we [believers] are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

1 Cor 3:9-15 “For we [believers] are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Psa 127:1 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”