A Good, Faithful & Sensible Servant

There is a story in bible told by Jesus that I couldn’t help but see in a medieval context of a movie.

Here is how I saw this passage. The master of a castle in the highlands appoints a servant to manage and be ruler of his household while he has to attend to urgent matters someplace else far away. In confidence, the lord of the castle tells the appointed servant that he doesn’t know when he will be back -hinting it could be many mouths and even years. The lord of the castle leaves and at first the servant does all that he is expected but slowly he starts to abuse his power. He starts oppressing the other servants and starts indulging himself as if he is master of the castle. He barrows and dresses in some of the master’s fur garments and jewelry. He begins to throw parties for him and his pals in the Lord’s magnificent dinning hall. They gorge from the master’s choice pantry and stock of meats. The now kooky indulgent servant sits in the master’s chair and drinks the master’s choice ale in one hand while a woman, open to whatever pleasures of men, sits in his lap. These occurrences become common place until one night the master of the castle returns unannounced and unexpected. Furious, the lord of the castle strips the man of his clothing and orders his armed men to take him to the dungeon where he personally cuts the man in two.

Jesus says “And ²⁵³² shall cut^{1371 0} him ⁸⁴⁶ asunder¹³⁷¹ , and ²⁵³² appoint ⁵⁰⁸⁷ [him] his ⁸⁴⁶ portion ³³¹³ with ³³²⁶ the hypocrites ⁵²⁷³: there ¹⁵⁶³ shall be ²⁰⁷¹ weeping ²⁸⁰⁵ and ²⁵³² gnashing ¹⁰³⁰ of teeth ³⁵⁹⁹” Mat 24:51

Be a good, faithful and sensible servant. You can read this illustration for yourself in Mathew 24:45-51

Another illustration that Jesus speaks of is of three servants who are given five bags of gold to invest for him while he is on a trip. It was divided in proportion to their abilities. Two of servants do well in investing the money but the third servant who hid the money in the ground because he was afraid to lose it - the Master was furious and he has servant thrown into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Reference: Matthew 25:14-30

This second passage can be confusing. What is Jesus talking about when he is speaking about gold? A better clarifying question is what has God given you?

God has given you faith. God has given you salvation through Jesus Christ. God has transformed your heart and given you a new Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who gives you power, knowledge, wisdom, encouragement, assurance and direction. He has also given you gifts and talents.

None of which are accidental or happen stance because Jesus created you to have those things.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

“But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.” 1 Corinthians 8:6

Still a bit confusing is this notion that if we don’t use what we are given we won’t only lose what we have but God will consider us unfaithful and throw us into hell (weeping and gnashing of teeth.)

We know we don’t go to heaven because of our good works but by faith yet this scripture makes it sound as if we are expected to do good works and if we don’t do good works we are going to hell.

I said, “Jesus this is confusing to me. You expect a person to do good deeds even if they don’t feel like it? So they grudgingly do the works? Or worse they do works to get human praise or think it saves them? That type of work is pointless because it isn’t based on faith or love. It is either based on puffing ones self up or some strained obligation. These works will burn and are not fruitful.”

This was his reply, “It’s not about the good deeds but the condition of the heart. How much do they love me? “

He then reminded me of two scriptures.

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

He then reminded me of what he said to Peter. “What did I ask Peter?”

“Do you love me?” you asked.

“Then what else did I say? “

“Feed my sheep.”

Reference: John 21:15-17

Read Matthew 25:31-46 (Jesus separating the sheep from the goats.)

Interesting. Jesus wants us to have an unapologetic, unreformed love for him, the kind of love that runs over with joy, appreciation, generosity and an enormous amount of trust. Through this trust we can do many things that we didn’t think were possible in our lives for others.

Remember the servant that put gold in the ground because he was afraid to lose it? He was trusting in is his own understanding. He was trusting in what he knew about himself, maybe even in what others had told him in the past. The Master knew his servant was capable of doing more then servant thought of himself. His doubt was causing him to be unfaithful and unwilling to take chances.

“God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11

Again be a good, faithful & sensible servant.

BE…Living & Building Pt4

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Believing in the gospel message is living in the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

What we need to ask ourselves is “What are we trying to build up in our lives when we are not living in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

What am I building on the amazing foundation of Jesus Christ that I might disregard the simple powerful truth of the life saving gospel?

Knowing the pressure is off of proving ourselves- seats us in a place where we can live in Spirit and truth- we can have the mind of Christ. We can "do" and humbly and wonderfully receive without feeding our flesh.

Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” John 4:34

Led by the Spirit, we do the will of God -not “do” to prove ourselves and we receive joy by doing the will of God. The will of God is not just in the big things but everyday small things.

Can you imagine the joy God has everyday doing his work? The creative mind God has …and He created us to share in that joy of his work. The work not just around us but for Him to do His work through us so we might experience the same joy.

That is an amazing thought! Think about what it says in the first book of the bible.

“Then God looked over all he had made and he saw that it was excellent in every way” Genesis 1:31

Excellent in every way…

To live and be free in Christ is to lay down all other devices of justification and worth and see how much Christ matters in our lives. God loves us and in the Holy Spirit “living” grows buds, flowers and fruits of tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Reference: Colossians 3:11)

"If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. James 3:13-15

"For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:16-17

Contentment in what the Lord has done brings temperance in our lives. We aren’t one extreme or the other. We aren’t walking in man made rules and understandings that may seem wise and require strong devotion, humility and server bodily discipline but do nothing when it comes to overcoming the wants and desires of the flesh and for vain glory. In this “living” understanding, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Reference: Colossians 2:23 & 2 Peter 1:8) And you aren’t lukewarm or indifferent either… if you get my drift? (Reference: Revelation 3:15-19)

Of course from time to time we might allow others and circumstances in life to stand in front of the Lord’s love but it doesn't mean it still isn't there. Just because the sun is being blocked out from the dark clouds doesn't mean the sun isn't there, right?

BUILDING

A house has a foundation. It is probably the most unappreciated and unnoticed part of a house even though it is the most important. Everything that is built on a foundation will be effected by that foundation. If the foundation is true and the builder builds with materials that are not true on it, the foundation will show the faultiness of those materials. If the foundation is faulty then the builder will have a difficult time constructing a structure on that foundation and the house will not be able withstand the stresses and pressures that come against it.

“Righteousness and justice [are] the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.” Psalm 89:14

God has placed us on Jesus Christ as our foundation.

"According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:9-11

“For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, [you are] God's building.
“What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God's standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.
But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.
Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.
God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." Romans 9:30-33

Intentionally or unintentionally be careful of what you build or allow others to build on your foundation. If it isn’t in deeply rooted and getting nourishment from the freeing message of the gospel- do some demolish work and tear it off.

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?
"Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:46-49

Everything that isn’t abiding in the saving truth and love of Christ will be destroyed and cause confusion within us.

People mean well but they aren’t God.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.“ Galatians 5:1

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation [with] gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on [it] endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and [that] the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which [temple] you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their [own] craftiness"; and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come--all are yours. And you [are] Christ's, and Christ [is] God's”. 1 Corinthians 3:11-23

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, [And] established my steps. Psalm 40:2

Be-living and build in the joy and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

CONT. W/ Efforts & Proving Ones Self Pt3

The Spirit incited more thought this morning about efforts and proving one’s self as he directed me to Romans 11. It was pretty thought provoking and stirring, as He gave Paul some examples of causes and effects of not emphasizing and trusting Christ but trying to “earn” favor with God by works.

When we trust in our works we are no longer trusting in Christ to save us. Trusting in works only leads to in fleshly perspectives and appetites. It leads and leaves us unsatisfied, religious, judgmental, and our souls to be at unrest.

The good things we do need to be driven by what Christ has done for us. For if we start to put on emphasis on works and outer appearances we will likely stumble and fall into trusting our appearances and works more then the saving grace of Christ Jesus. We will start serving our flesh and things of this world instead of God. Our hearts will become harden or indifferent and we will deceive ourselves and forgot it’s not by works that we are justified/saved but by faith alone. The peace, appreciation and gratitude we find in Christ will disappear if we serve works not God. (That doesn’t even mention what will happen in the church we attend and is already happening.) We will become blind and deaf to the Spirit of God and ensnared by human praise and temporary accolades and stumble over our true everlasting peace and blessing we have in Jesus Christ. We will even forget our fear towards God.

Join me in Romans 11:2-24.

“No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, “LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!” It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace- his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is- free and undeserved. So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have- the ones God has chosen- but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.” Likewise, David said, “Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessing cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.” Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it. I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle of the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want to somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy- just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree- some of the people of Israel- have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing of God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. “Well” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember- those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either. Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong. Romans 11:2-24

I hope this is clear for you.

Jesus says "I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Efforts & Proving Ones Self Pt3

Jesus says "The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63

Teach and do good acts but not under some kind of religious thinking. Let the peace of Christ seat you in a position to receive from the Spirit of God. There you may be able to teach, help, build up, and answer the cries of God’s people.

Doing things in the flesh is like trying to water a garden blind folded. People come to church not to be just educated but to be encouraged and uplifted and to see God meet their cries and needs. They come for nourishment. They come seeking direction. They come seeking how to apply the word to their life. The word of God is living and breathing but it means nothing if it does not pertain to the needs of His people. God’s word should always be administered in love or it means nothing. If I spout out scripture that doesn't address the needs of God's people, it is just as good as a dry stale cracker because the power of God isn't giving, instructing and directing them.

Examine these scriptures in their contexts in the bible.

“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit will give you what?

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.” John 14:10

Who is doing the work through you? You or God?

“For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.” 1Thessalonians 1:5

What you say by the power of the Holy Spirit will address and give assurance to God’s people.

When a person continually feels they have to prove themselves they are not free. Jesus says” So if the “Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36) but if we doubt or forget the life giving message of Christ and who we are in Christ then we are a slave to whatever comes.

Christ makes room for his peace in our heart and that peace allows us enter into fellowship with him and minister to the needs of others. Proving yourself and human justification only robs you of that peace. We become only hearers of the word and not genuine doers of the word.

If we are too busy doing and proving ourselves- then we don’t develop a relationship with Christ who allows us to have peace. Proving ourselves is based on us and because we don’t have peace within ourselves we don’t see or hear the needs of others - and even if we do see and hear the needs of others they tend to be pretty shallow in perspective. We may even hear God’s voice but teach and do with no real genuine love for others and their well-being.

When proving ones self to others -even going to church becomes some obligation. we go not to receive a message from God but to uphold some relational that you are a Christian.

If you are in a garage does that make you a boat or car? If you are in a library does that make you a book?

What makes this idea? What makes this idea that if you are in "church" you are a Christian. Further, what makes this idea that if you miss church you are sinning?

I have observed that you don’t go to church for a couple Sundays or Wednesdays, people start forming an opinion that you are slipping and it doesn’t matter what your actions are or not. You could have the most loving actions in the world but because you didn’t come to church you are judged and looked down upon. Hum? A person can be totally faithful to Jesus yet others perceive him/her has a hit and miss folk, church hopper, lazy, loner or hippie. I wonder if Jesus was ever perceived as any of these?

I don’t know if people know they do this or not but when people form prejudices in their mind they are forming a bias and in forming a bias they are making some form of judgment. This judgment makes them feel obligated to carry out some kind of form of punishment or prejudice. Most likely they will withdraw from that person, such as withdrawing fellowship with that person. The people being judged don’t carry out some standard in judger’s mind or in their little group so they disassociate themselves like Peter did with the Gentiles.

I am not going to go all apologetics on you but I want us to really think how much we are embracing the saving gift of the gospel.

The BASICS. Pt2

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“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who they are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. The sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.” Romans 3:22-27

I cover the basics because I am afraid we all to easily forget the assurance and confidence we only have in Jesus Christ. We will forget about God’s kindness and mercy and we do not do good out of the peace and hope we have in Christ but do out of some kind of human rational of obligation to prove ourselves.   In this type of thinking we go from being moved and directed by Spirit to moved and directed by the flesh.  This is no good!  This is us depending on us.  Can you earn Salvation?  No!  So why don't we just surrender to this fact?  God is to be the author and finisher of our faith not us.  Religion is all we have if we lean and depend on ourselves and our understanding. 

“But when God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teaching are good and beneficial for everyone. Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jew laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.” Titus 3:4-9

Foundation Pt1

How often do you think on or reflect on the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ? Not pulling a guilt trip or being religious but I believe the frequency in which we think on this gift will determine our mindset, reasoning, goals, intentions, behaviors and/ or the depth of our freedom in Jesus Christ. The greater understanding, we have of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice will help us and others around us avoid entangling religious thinking and reasoning, which we often wrestle while we try to make sense of this life.

“Religious” thinking and reasoning can rob you and I of what Christ has done and is doing for you and I. Religious thinking and action can leave you discontented where you continually seek your next religious thrill while always inches short of living the contented life in Christ.

Religious thinking and reasoning also has a tendency to have others who watch the religious thinker and doer- slip into the same type of thinking and action without any real consideration. Like a herd of bison going over a cliff people follow other people. All they consider is the idea. If it requires a bit of sacrifice and sounds “Christian” - they do it without even deeply considering the reasoning why. IF these acts and deeds are not solidly rooted in Christ Jesus, they can be used to puff one’s self up, bring about attention to one’s self and even grow weeds of comparison and prejudices towards others causing the recipient of such actions to feel pressured into joining such efforts -or not feel like they are measuring up in some way. This not only causes division in the body but these human judgments can cause individuals to withdraw, become resentful, and fall away.

“And the trees, they retreated so deep into themselves that they haven’t been heard from since.” Quote from Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis,

Churches can divide and fall apart with religious thinking.

Religious thinking denies what Jesus has done and thrives and corrupts in the principle of making themselves right or justified with God by works. It is destructive, arrogant, self-deceiving, and denies the Holy Spirit who wants to work in our lives.

Religious thinking brings about hypocrisy.

“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before [them] all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? "We [who are] Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, [is] Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! "For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. “ "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness [comes] through the law, then Christ died in vain." Galatians 2:11-21