_David Jeffers

There is a story of a man who was stranded on an isolated island. He was alone on this island for many years so he made himself shelter and did the best he could. Eventually the island was discovered and the man was rescued. Before they left, the man decided to give a tour of his island.

He showed the people his hut, proudly saying, “This is the home I built with my own two hands.”

He then showed them another building and said, “This is the church I built with my own two hands.”

On the way one of the people noticed another building and inquired of the man, “Hey, what’s that building over there?”

The man answered, “Oh, that’s where I used to go to church.”

As funny as the story is, just how far from the truth is it? We’ve heard of the stories of churches splitting for the color of the carpet, piano, piano benches, even a peg for a pastor to hang up his hat. Church divisions unfortunately are nothing new and Paul had to deal with it with the Philippian Church:

“I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” (Philippians 4:2-3)

As long as churches are made up of fallen humans, and after all churches are made up of people, there will be strife. We don’t know the cause of Euodia and Syntyche’s contention, but it was enough to cause problems in the little church at Philippi to the point Paul had to intervene. It seems Paul had to do that quite a bit.

“For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.” (1 Corinthians 1:11)

Fleshly pride had come to the Corinthian church in the form of who was the better preacher, Apollos, Cephas, or Paul. Paul half-jokingly said he was glad he only baptized two men and another man’s household, “lest anyone should say that I baptized in my own name.”

Why are there so many churches entangled in strife? Paul answers it later in his first letter to the Corinthian church:

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)

When we remain in our carnal natures, that is sinful, then we will succumb to fleshly emotions. We begin believing we have spiritual rights when we are called to be bondslaves to Christ. And the saddest part of it is if everyone is looking out for everyone else, then every need is being met.

I understand that sometimes things happen that our beyond our control. Some people just want to be mad and fight and they can destroy a church, but too often we play a part in the contentions not only in our churches, but also in our homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces. Paul again gives us the recipe for avoiding strife:

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:9-18)

Oh my goodness! There is so much to take in from that passage. You might want to read over that jewel a few times and soak in it. The subtitle to this passage in my Bible is aptly “Behave Like a Christian.” OUCH!

Verse 16c left a mark on me: “Do not be wise in your own opinion.”

Beloved, we must be so careful in the coming year as to not lose sight of to Whom we belong. The year 2012 is going to bring much strife and possible tribulation, but we have the blessed hope that is found in Christ Jesus.

Well darn Bro Dave I know we have the blessed hope but you just said we’re going to have strife and tribulation and that makes me anxious!

I know...we’ll deal with that tomorrow.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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_David Jeffers

I woke up with a song in my head that I was listening to yesterday. It is Chris Tomlin’s “My Soul Magnifies The Lord.” Here is a YouTube video of the song with the lyrics:
_This weekend many families will gather around the family Bible and Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, or whomever gets the honor of reading the Christmas story from Luke 2, will read of that amazing night in Bethlehem. As I said yesterday I’ve written an article that gives insight on why the shepherds living out in the fields were used as the first witnesses of the birth of Christ.

This morning I want us to go back nine months from the manger scene, which means we need to go back one chapter in Luke to the little city of Nazareth where the great archangel Gabriel visited a very blessed and yet insignificant young woman named Mary:

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women’ But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’ Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.’ Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:26-38)

In a word, young Mary was perplexed by the appearance of an angel and his words. Even more confusing was the news that she was going to give birth to baby, even though she was a virgin. Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that through her the Messiah would finally come to earth. Mary said yes Lord, “Let it be to me according to your word.”

And then she must have sat for at least a moment and thought, “My goodness, what just happened?!” And then she must have remembered what Gabriel had said about his cousin Elizabeth. She made haste to Elizabeth’s house in some unnamed city in Judah. Elizabeth, through the Holy Spirit, immediately knew that her young cousin was carrying the Messiah. And then Mary broke out in spontaneous, Holy Spirit inspired, singing:

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” (Luke 1:46-55)

The Greek transliterated to “magnifies” is megalyno and it means “to glorify, regard highly, praise, exalt; to hold in high honor.” Mary wanted to give the highest honor and praise to God her Savior because He “has done great things for me.”

Think back nine months ago, around March 25; was your soul magnifying the Lord because He had done great things for you? Or was the thought of Baby Jesus the farthest thing from your mind? Four years ago Christmas Eve I wrote a devotional titled “An Invasion from Heaven” (http://tinyurl.com/75jkrtt) and said that heaven had come to earth.

Christmas is much more than the virgin birth, the shepherds lying in the field, a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, presents and family and wonderful fellowship. All those are heavenly blessings indeed.

But this Christmas weekend, I pray that my soul will magnify the Lord because He has done great things for me. He has saved me because He left His throne and came to earth to pay the price for my sin.

The angel of the Lord brought “good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” What were those good tidings?

A Savior had been born. Christ the Lord, the long awaited for Messiah had finally come. And the shepherds could not wait to see the Baby Jesus nor could they keep the splendid news to themselves.

Will you? When you are among family and friends this weekend, those you know have not received the greatest Christmas gift ever, will you keep the good tidings of great joy to yourself?

Or like the socially-scorned shepherds, will you care not who you are or what others will say about you, and share the good news, the precious gospel of Jesus Christ to those you love?

The value of a gift is not the price; it is the personal cost to you. A rich man buying his son a new car for Christmas is no great sacrifice.

A frightened brother telling his lost sister about Jesus on Christmas morning, knowing he will upset her, and yet takes the chance, now that is a valuable gift. A scared niece telling her beloved but lost aunt about Jesus is worth more than anything she could otherwise give. A terrified son once again trying to tell his angry father about how the Heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son to earth to save his lost soul, that is sharing good tidings of great joy.

Do you want your soul to magnify the Lord this Christmas because He has done great things for you? Then share those great things with someone who knows not personally of what you speak.

Karen and I want to wish all of you a Very Blessed and Merry Christmas. The Lord willing, we will finish up Philippians 4 beginning next Tuesday.

Remember, even though it’s Christmas on Sunday morning, especially because it is, please remember to go to church.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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_David Jeffers

Yesterday we asked why and how Paul could look at all the achievements of his life and comparing them to Jesus, consider them all garbage. The answer is found in today’s passage:

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8-11)

Paul realized, once he met the Lord Jesus, that all he had been striving for in his spiritual life and religious endeavors mattered nothing. Why? Because through them he was trying to attain an unattainable righteousness. But when he met Messiah Jesus he knew he had met his true righteousness. Remember, Paul was a very learned Pharisee and knew the scriptures well. No doubt he remembered David’s psalm about the Messiah:

“He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalm 24:5)

The initial shame Paul must have felt when he looked at his filthy rags of works, and he no doubt harkened back to the Prophet Isaiah’s declaration of the only true Savior:

“He shall say, ‘Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him.’” (Isaiah 45:24)

I say that with great confidence because Paul had quoted the preceding verse of Isaiah 45:24 in Philippians 2:10...

“I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” (Isaiah 45:23)

Paul had written ofthis righteousness that exceeded the law in his letter to the Roman Church:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4)

Paul looked at his life and realized he had been pursuing worldly things. And he threw them all away to gain Christ.

Warren Wiersbe puts it this way:

“Yes, Paul gained far more than he lost. In fact, the gains were so thrilling that Paul considered all other ‘things’ nothing but garbage in comparison! No wonder he had joy in his life—his life did not depend on the cheap ‘things’ of the world but on the eternal values found in Christ. Paul had the ‘spiritual mind’ and looked at the ‘things’ of earth from heaven’s point of view. People who live for ‘things’ are never really happy, because they must constantly protect their treasures and worry lest they lose their value. Not so the believer with the spiritual mind; his treasures in Christ can never be stolen and they never lose their value.”

What about you dear friend? Are you striving for the riches of this world, depending on the cheap “things” in life?

Have you tried to attain a worthless righteousness through your good works?

Why not surrender your life to the Righteous One Jesus Christ? Lose this world of filthy rags and gain the eternal beauty and righteousness of Jesus Christ. He is so lovely, our Messiah. He is wonderful. We read and sing about Him every Christmas:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Do you see Jesus as Wonderful? So many things in life today are horrible; wouldn’t you like something wonderful?

Is He your Counselor? Have you spent hours on the couch of some limited human being trying to help you cope with life? Wouldn’t you rather “mount up with wings like eagles”?

Do you know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father? He is one in the same!

The threat of war has many frightened today; wouldn’t you like to face these fears in the security of the Prince of Peace?

Oh I pray that you will receive Christ this Christmas season! What gift could be greater than one that is eternal?

Beloved, I have an early day tomorrow so the Lord willing we will meet on Friday. The Lord bless you.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

If you’re receiving these devotionals for the first time and would like to receive them on a regular basis, please email me at jeffers221@bellsouth.netand use “Please add to Devotional List” as the subject.

Copyright © 2011 David Jeffers



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_David Jeffers

I’m not sure that saying is “hip” anymore. I know for a while that if someone was bragging hard on themselves, another person would eventually say, “You ain’t all that!”

I think many times the Holy Spirit would like to say that to us, albeit in a heavenly way. Whether it be our bragging of why we think we’re going to heaven or if we as Christians try to portray ourselves as something we really aren’t.

Some of us like to wear our badges of humility with great pride.  If you’re telling people how humble of a person you are, you’re probably not. That’s not saying that if you speak of a need of seeking greater humility that you’re bragging. You’re not. I’m talking of the person who uses the word humble to describe him or herself. For example; “Your Humble Correspondent.” Not so much!

There are some who like to portray a sense of perpetual brokenness, believing all is lost and I just need to tear my clothes and pour ashes on my head and say woe be the world. Somehow I don’t get visions of being salt and light with that attitude.

Paul had to battle against those who put their confidence in their flesh, specifically the sect of Judaizers who demanded the rite of circumcision. The Philippian Church had such a controversy and Paul addresses it directly in his letter to this small church:

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:1-7)

There are many today who are bragging about and trusting in their money to bring them joy and happiness, and perhaps secure them eternity. Paul instructed his young son Timothy earlier in a letter to warn against this:

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Paul battled the Pharisees in his day, of which he was once one, and today we have Pharisees in American Christendom of whom we must battle. The Pharisees of the Jesus’ time had developed such a burdensome system of works that very few could attain this false holiness. These men considered themselves super pious and would have nothing to do with the common people, other than to show off for them. Jesus had harsh words for them:

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, “Rabbi, Rabbi.” But you, do not be called “Rabbi”; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.’” (Matthew 23:1-15)

That was a somewhat long passage of Scripture but Jesus is denouncing much in this passage. Read back through it to see if anything rings true for you. For me, Jesus’ warning about exalting myself and being humbled for it is a reminder that I must constantly check my pride at the door.

And if any of us really thought we had a reason to brag about our religiosity, Paul had all the more reason. He was born of the tribe of Benjamin, circumcised on the eighth day, trained under the tutelage of Gamaliel and taught the perfect law of the Jewish fathers, and no one was more zealous than Paul.

And what did he equate all these works to? Garbage!

Why? Because of Jesus.

Again, why...and how?

We’ll look at that tomorrow...

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

If you’re receiving these devotionals for the first time and would like to receive them on a regular basis, please email me at jeffers221@bellsouth.netand use “Please add to Devotional List” as the subject.

Copyright © 2011 David Jeffers



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_David Jeffers

Why do you serve in your church? Or perhaps a better question is: why don’t you serve in your church? Paul gave us the example of Christian service in his spiritual son Timothy and today we look at his dear brother Epaphroditus:

“Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.” (Philippians 2:25-30)

Last time we met I said it was not natural to be a servant. Why? Because it is in our nature to seek self first. You don’t have to teach a child to be selfish; he or she is quite capable and one of the first words they add to their vocabulary and overuse is “mine.” So by nature we are selfish.

But what about after we become a Christian? What then? Is it no longer natural to be a servant? Not if you’re truly saved; being a servant becomes part of your nature because you are now part of the family of God. Oswald Chambers explains it this way:

“Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and out of devotion to Him service becomes my everyday way of life.”

If you’re waiting to be called to serve in your church, it’s going to be a long wait. To serve God is to love God and both should come naturally. It is an outward expression of your love for Christ and His Church. Remember Paul’s admonition earlier from this chapter?

“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

Paul warned the Galatian church against quarreling amongst themselves (seems like there was a lot of that going on in the church back then):

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” (Galatians 5:13-15)

Can you imagine your church receiving that type of admonition? Does it deserve one?

Beloved, if the needs of your church and the outpouring of love to your community are lacking and not being met, it is because your church is not giving the deliberate love-gift of service. If that is so, then I pray you will first examine yourself and see where you have been lacking in your service to God. And once you begin serving, I pray that it will serve as an example unto others who will follow your lead.

Let us be a blessing and not a burden; and let our service be an offering and not an obligation.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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_David Jeffers

Jesus Christ gave us the ultimate example of servanthood when He washed His disciples’ feet. They were aghast at the thought of their Messiah washing their feet. It was the job of a faceless and nameless servant to wash a guest’s feet. Why did Christ leave us this example? Christ even said it would not be something they would comprehend for awhile:

“Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.’” (John 13:6-7)

Peter objected and told Christ that He would never wash his feet, to which Jesus answered that Peter could have no part of Christ if He refused. Of course Peter overreacted and wanted Jesus to practically bathe him. The lesson was about servanthood. And Jesus did so to show us that although it is not natural for us, it is required. That is why our Lord set the example.

The Apostle Paul wrote often of servanthood and along side that he taught about having the mind of Christ. He did so with the Philippian church as he was sending them his beloved Timothy:

“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.” (Philippians 2:19-24)

The more things change; the more they stay the same!

Paul knew that he had no one like Timothy that he could rely upon to serve the church in a sincere and caring manner. Why? Because Paul had raised Timothy up in the ministry and knew he had the mind of Christ, like a father knows his own son.

There is an old adage that 80% of the work in the church is done by 20% of the people, and that includes all areas of ministry: tithing, teaching, daycare, etc.

Too many people come to church to have their needs filled. When I say this to Christians, many give me the “What’s wrong with that look?” If you are wondering the same thing, please find me in the Bible where it says we are to go to church to have our needs filled. I’ll be right here.

I don’t want to sound too hard on those who seek churches that are friendly to their emotions and perceived needs because I know personally how natural it is to put ourselves first. As Paul says in Philippians 2:21:

“For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.”

Jesus’ brother James wrote about a dead faith because it lacked works:

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14-17)

What James is describing here is just good old fashioned carnal selfishness. This is the opposite of spiritual selflessness or a Christlike servanthood attitude. Although Paul uses Timothy as an example of a servant’s heart, no doubt Timothy—like the rest of us—had to work at this. Warren Wiersbe writes:

“In Timothy’s experience, we learn that the submissive mind is not something that suddenly, automatically appears in the life of the believer. Timothy had to develop and cultivate the ‘mind of Christ.’ It was not natural for him to be a servant; but, as he walked with the Lord and worked with Paul, he became the kind of servant that Paul could trust and God could bless.”

For those of us who live in the “I want it now microwave” world; that is not good news. You’re telling my I can’t just go to the iTunes store and download the servanthood app?!! Geez!

That’s right, we have to work for it and for that to happen you have to want it. We work for those things we want.

So, are you being served or do you serve? If the former, is it because you don’t want to serve? I think if each of us were to search our hearts we would see that when we refuse to serve it is because we refuse to deny ourselves. This is antithetical to Jesus teaching us to die to ourselves daily:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

So as far as I can tell, we have a choice to make. We can be like Timothy and choose to serve the Lord by walking with Him and working with others (specifically a mentor), or we can be like the majority of Christians that Paul knew in his day he could not rely upon and choose to serve ourselves.

It is up to us. It always has been:

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

Choose well.

Beloved, I will be out of town tomorrow so I wish you a blessed early weekend and remind you to please go to church on Sunday.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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_David Jeffers

In February 2007, The Barna Group did a fascinating study titled “American Lifestyles Mix Compassion and Self-Oriented Behavior” which revealed mixed traits of Americans that showed a “willingness to sacrifice and impulses toward self-oriented behaviors.” We as a nation, according to this study, display a strange dichotomy of beliefs and behaviors. (see study: http://tinyurl.com/792ptqe)

I have seen this mix in the church as well. It is a struggle, at least in my own life, to walk the talk as well as talk the walk. I could probably blame a number of reasons on my inconsistent Christian life, but as Karen and I were talking about with friends yesterday at lunch, my own flesh can be all the enemy I need. I too often grumble and mumble about things I should be praising God for, because they are blessings in my life. Paul warned against grumbling and mumbling:

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” (Philippians 2:14-16)
What is the most challenging word in the above passage? Yep... “all.” That means everything. As in whatever you’re doing, you can’t complain, gripe, or fight. No matter what; no matter when. Never. Ever. At all. Period. Geez!

He had to say “all”, didn’t he?

Yep, because that is what distinguishes us from the world. Back to our Barna study: David Kinnaman, who directed the study said this about we who call ourselves Christians:

“The respect, patience, self-control and kindness of born again Christians should astound people, but the lifestyles and relationships of born again believers are not much different than others.”

Ouch!

It is that respect, patience, self-control, and kindness of we believers that should be a lighthouse to “a crooked and perverse generation.” Please don’t misunderstand me; I’m not cursing the darkness or trying to broad-brush condemn the church. What I am trying to do is share with you what God puts on my heart and I think an honest assessment of my life individually and my church family corporately will reveal much room for improvement in our being salt and light.

I do praise God that I am a member of a church that does not “fight like hyenas” (as our pastor describes it) because that is not at all what Christ has in mind for the church. Paul gave the Corinthian church the same admonition as he did the Philippian church by referring to the Old Testament:

“... nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:10-11)

It is astounding to me how innocent my griping can seem at the time and yet the Bible gives such strong admonition against it. Why is that? Well, Mr. Kinnaman’s answer above gives some light, but let’s look to our old friend Matthew Henry for more:

“Do your duty without murmuring. Do it, and do not find fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it. By peaceableness; give no just occasion of offense. The children of God should differ from the sons of men. The more perverse others are, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless. The doctrine and example of consistent believers will enlighten others, and direct their way to Christ and holiness, even as the lighthouse directs their course into the harbor.”

“Lord Jesus, admonish me through the Holy Spirit every time I complain, gripe, or murmur. Remind me Lord that I am to be a lighthouse in this dark world, that my example should draw the lost to You. Help me to live a consistently blameless and harmless life, all to Your glory and in Your name, amen.”

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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David Jeffers

Talk about presuming upon tomorrow! I had intended to write this yesterday, however the Lord had other plans for me. Perhaps one day I will learn! The best way I can learn is to stop presuming and start preparing myself spiritually for the future. These will not be the 10 easy steps to holiness or whatever your local Christian bookstore is selling. These are going to be four solid scriptural steps we can take beginning immediately. And as God always seems to have it, the most difficult step is first so we will rely upon His grace. Following the outline in my Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, let’s begin.

Step One: Abandonment of Idols

Oh shucks Bro Dave,  that’s easy...I don’t have any idols. Goody for you; we’ll see you tomorrow, or you can just stick around and eavesdrop on the rest of us. You just might identify an idol you overlooked. Idolatry has been around since Adam and Eve left the Garden. The Prophet Samuel informed Israel:

“Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, ‘If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.’” (1 Samuel 7:3)

If we want to spiritually prepares ourselves for revival, which is the Lord visiting us to bring us back to life, then we must remove all objects of worship that steal from our devotion to God. This list of possible idols is endless, but it can include fame, fortune, power, politics, pornography, family, friends, work, recreation, sports, music, television, Hollywood, just to name a few.

What gets your attention? On what does your mind dwell during the day? Are you at the point in your Christian walk that all you do, you do for the glory of God? Do you measure yourself by the light of Scripture or by the world’s standards?

Whenever we dwell on the things of this world, we forget how it is we obtained anything we describe as “blessings from God.” it is important that we be reminded that regardless our possessions or even amongst them, we have to remember that God is in control and not us. Again Samuel reminds Israel of such at no less a place than Saul’s coronation as king:

“Then Samuel said to the people, ‘It is the LORD who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did to you and your fathers: When Jacob had gone into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. And when they forgot the LORD their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. Then they cried out to the LORD, and said, “We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.” And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, “No, but a king shall reign over us,” when the LORD your God was your king. Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the LORD has set a king over you. If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God. However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers.’” (1 Samuel 12:6-15)

Uh, uh, uh! Go back and read that again, slowly this time and let it soak in. There’s way too much happening there to skim over.

I could develop a college course in American History comparing this Bible passage with our country. God sent America, not perfect men, but men no greater than Moses and Aaron, fallible men who nevertheless acknowledged their dependence upon God. Read the words of George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, and George Mason to name just a few, but our founders knew we were blessed by God and had been rescued from Britain’s tyranny by the Lord’s providential hand.

This is the reminder Samuel is giving his people. He also reminds them that God brought a revival to them after they repented of their idolatry and cried out to God to rescue them. The American Church is constantly claiming God’s promise found 2 Chronicles 7:14, but we need to turn our Bibles to the preceding chapter and also remember Solomon’s prayer of dedication to God for the newly built temple:

“Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers. When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.” (2 Chronicles 6:24-27)

Go back and read the entire sixth chapter of 2 Chronicles and see what a true leader of a nation looks like. Would to God that our elected leaders and pastors would pray this prayer! Instead, we sling 2 Chronicles 7:14 around like some magic incantation without ever considering tearing down our Ashoreth poles and Baal statues. We approach the throne of grace with our filthy rags and almost demand that God bless what we’ve so graciously done for Him. Shame on us!

Oh that we would cry out to the Lord and confess to and petition God: “We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.”

Beloved, you and I had better get on our faces before Jesus and ask Him to show us our Ashoreth poles and Baal statues so that we can not only abandon them, but also we can destroy them so that they return to us nevermore.

Once we get them out of our homes, then we can began by clearing out our churches.

More on that tomorrow...

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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David Jeffers

I began reading the Proverb of the day and got stuck on verse 1:

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1)

The Holy Spirit inquired of me if I could remember a day in recent history where I did not boast about tomorrow.

I think we get confused by what Solomon means here. Does it mean we should not prepare for the future? Of course not. Our old friend Matthew Henry sums it up for us simply and succinctly:

We know not a day may bring forth. This does not forbid preparing for tomorrow, but presuming upon tomorrow.

So what’s the difference between preparing and presuming? Let’s look at the latter first.

Presuming upon tomorrow is boasting about what you will do and how it’s all going to turn out. Why is this so bad? It’s all in the delivery!

“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!” (James 3:5)

Oh to have back the multitude of foolish words I have spoken! Why do I say some of the things that I say? Because too often I play the fool believing I can predict the future. King Solomon knew a little something about that:

“As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?” (Ecclesiastes 7:24)

While we all acknowledge that the future is unknown we go about our workaday world as though we can see the future. Solomon learned a little something about that too:

“So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?” (Ecclesiastes 3:22)

We remember the parable Jesus taught of the man who thought he had all he needed in life and that his future was set:

“Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?” So he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” ‘So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’” (Luke 12:16-21)

Well Bro Dave that seems like good financial planning. It might seem that way but it is horrible spiritual preparation. Read the rest of Matthew Henry’s commentary on Proverbs 27:1:

We must not put off the great work of conversion, that one thing needful.

Pastor Henry is speaking of spiritual preparation, the most important investment you can make for the future. Perhaps that is too vague for you. How about an aiming point? Jesus left us the clearest target to set upon our eyes of future:

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44)

Knowing that Jesus could return at any time should be all we need to know about the future to help us prepare for it.

What about you?

Are you planning for a future over which you have no control?

Do you boast about what tomorrow may bring or will bring?

Join the crowd!

What is needed is some steps we can take to spiritually prepare ourselves for the future. I feel led to look further into that.

We’ll begin that tomorrow...

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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David Jeffers

The American Church does not understand the concept of faith. What so many Christians today consider faith is nothing more than common sense. What’s wrong with that you ask?

Plenty!

Faith is from the spiritual world and common sense is from the natural world.

Now don’t get me wrong; if more people would use common sense today we wouldn’t have the economic mess we have today. Nevertheless, we Christians rely on common sense over faith and the former normally will contradict the latter.  Most times it does not make sense to trust Jesus Christ, first for salvation and then for sanctification. But trust is the bedrock of faith; when we trust God we obey Him.

Do you think those around the tomb of Lazarus actually believe Jesus would bring him back from the dead? Lazarus’ sister Martha was a woman of great faith but her common sense made her respond to Christ that rolling away the stone would cause a terrible smell. Why? Because he had already begun to decompose. Jesus response?

“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

Let’s be honest with ourselves. If we were standing where Martha and the others were, we would not have believed Jesus was going to literally raise Lazarus from the dead. How can I say that with all confidence? We the American Church do not even believe God can raise godly men and women to represent us if we stop compromising on abortion. Our common sense makes us believe we have to vote for the lesser of two evils and incrementally purify our nation.

How about you incrementally bathe this week, only attending one part of your body each day and get back to me on Saturday? Just don’t do it in person.

A person who will compromise on life and support abortion with exceptions, be it rape, incest, mother’s life in danger, sonograms, heart beats, whatever...that person will definitely compromise on taxes, raising the debt ceiling, unnecessary government spending. You see, if you can compromise on the life of an unborn baby you can compromise on anything.

How about we stop compromising on issues of principle? Do you think God might just bless us if we for once trusted Him?

Just sayin...

That will never work Bro Dave. That is an unfounded and untested statement. We have never tried that approach and stuck to our guns, we always give in. Oswald Chambers puts it best:

Can you venture heroically on Jesus Christ's statements when the facts of your common-sense life shout - "It's a lie?" On the mount it is easy to say - 'Oh, yes, I believe God can do it'; but you have to come down into the demon-possessed valley and meet with facts that laugh ironically at the whole of your mount-of-transfiguration belief. Every time my program of belief is clear to my own mind, I come across something that contradicts it. Let me say I believe God will supply all my need, and then let me run dry, with no outlook, and see whether I will go through the trial of faith, or whether I will sink back to something lower.

As Christians, as the Body of Christ, as a voting bloc, as a movement across America, we always sink back to something lower. Would to God we would once in our history willingly go through the trial of faith.

You do realize there is no other hope for America? Will we stop worrying about our 401k and start worrying about the salvation of Aunt Kay? Will we stop concentrating only on Washington DC and start witnessing to our Uncle Billy? Would not turning the hearts of lost Americans to Jesus and demanding of Christians fidelity to Christ bring what we so desperately need in America?

My Bible says yes but my common sense tells me no. Which will I choose?

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4


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