“Freedom Begins in the Mind” Romans 8

This Sunday we’re starting a series titled “Free for Real.” We want to consider the truths of our freedom in Christ.

We will start off by considering the nature of the battle for freedom (lies vs. truth) and the location of the battle for freedom (the mind).  As far as the mind is concerned, notice how often the word mind is used in the following passage:

^“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8).

The battle between our flesh and the Spirit takes place in the mind.  Thought precedes action.  We act consistently with what we first believe in our minds and hearts to be true.  Of course, our hearts can deceive us.  We are infinitely capable of self deceit, which is why it is so good that we have the Word of God and the Spirit of God. A major aspect of living in the freedom which God has purchased for us through Jesus is believing the truth of what the Spirit says in the Word.

There is a difference between knowing and believing.  Most of us know the lyrics to the song, “Jesus Loves Me.”  We’ve heard them a million times.  We know that God loves us…but do we believe it?  Do we trust it?

One author tried to get at it this way: “You know that God loves you, but do you think he likes you?”  Many who know that God loves them don’t really believe he likes them.  This shows a double-mindedness about the truth–a sure sign of a battle going on in the head, which will play out in real, live choices.

We’ll talk more about truth this week.

Kip

“It’s What Is Good For Your Faith” Philemon

Philemon is not a book one reads every day, although it would be easy to do, since it is so short.  Anyway, I had forgotten about this statement of Paul’s in verse 6: “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”  

We so often think of obedience as selfless sacrifice, which somehow makes it sound difficult and boring at best or impossible at worst.  Truth is, we generally benefit from obedience.   God has our best interest in mind when he commands us to do something.  Notice how even sharing our faith, which can sometimes seem like such an intimidating and risky venture, benefits us.  It is through sharing our faith that we remember and deepen our understanding of the Gospel.

I sometimes wonder how people who have been Christians for decades can seem so clueless about the truth of their identity in Christ.  It’s as if they never got the whole message, and, as a result, struggle to live a victorious Christian life.  Maybe part of the reason is because they have rarely, if ever, shared their faith. 

It turns out that sharing our faith isn’t just good for helping others come to faith, it is also good for helping us grow in faith. 

Let’s make the most of any opportunity God gives us today, not just because we’re “supposed to” but because it is the best thing for us.  Of course, gratitude to God for his grace and love should run deep through all of this.

Kip

“wise” Col. 4:5; Eph. 5:15-16; Col. 4:7; Eph. 6:21

What do you suppose Paul means when he tells the believers in Colosse to be “wise” in how they acted toward those who were not part of the church?

I think the parallel statement in Ephesians gives some clues.  He tells the Ephesians to be “careful” as they make the most of every opportunity because the days are “evil.”

The wisdom that Paul encourages them to use is the wisdom from the Spirit that helps them to be in the world but not of it.  “Making the most of every opportunity” is not talking about opportunities to separate ourselves from the people of the world but rather opportunities to share meaningfully with people about God’s grace.  However, in making the most of every opportunity to share with people, Paul warns them to be careful, for there is real evil out there.

It seems that being “wise” denotes a kind of alert intentionality.  Wise people don’t just live.  They live intentionally.  They are alert to the reality that at any given moment the Spirit could provide an opportunity for them to demonstrate grace and speak truth.  They look for these opportunities, and they are ready for them.  At the same time, wise people know that at any given moment the evil one could throw a flaming dart of temptation in the direction of their minds.  So, they keep their shields of faith up.

This kind of wisdom only comes from living in dependence on the Spirit.

Kip

“A prayer for a voice” Colossians 4:3; Ephesians 6:19

I have heard it said in the last few months that a primary motivation for the gift of language was the communication of the Gospel.  As we stop to think of it, we find that when God communicates with His creation it is for the purpose of revealing Himself.  If this is God’s example for the use of language, how then should we use this gift we’ve been given?  What better way than to plant seeds of truth about God’s love for us as demonstrated in the Gospel?

Paul recognized the importance of making the most out of every opportunity to speak the truth of the Gospel into people’s lives.  Paul asks for opportunity and boldness asking his friends to pray, “praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ,” and “ pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”

I know that I use my voice and language for many things that are not of eternal significance and reveal more about me than about God and His love for us. Am I willing to stop and meditate on Paul’s requests?  To use the voice given to me in such a way that God is glorified is wonderful way to worship.  To use language for planting seeds of the gospel is to use it for God’s purposes.  What’s keeping us from asking for boldness and opportunity like Paul? We pass by the world every day.  Let’s pray for one another to be bold, stopping and talking to the world today.

Pat

“Verbalizing Faith” Colossians 4:2-6; 1 Peter 3:8-22

I think Peter gives a great summary of the whole book of Colossians with this sentence: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:15a).  If we consciously, intentionally, willfully, seriously exalt Jesus as Lord in our hearts, then we can say “He’s It!”  What in our hearts has to bend its knee in submission in order for Jesus to be Lord in our inner place of desires, dreams, and identity?

Peter’s next sentence gives an example of what it looks like when Jesus is set apart as Lord in our hearts.  “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…”

Isn’t it interesting that Peter immediately connects Christ’s lordship in our hearts with a readiness to profess him to others?  I guess our faith is not supposed to be a private, secret relationship.  In fact, Paul connects public confession with salvation when he said, “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Ever wonder how to measure the health of your faith?  There are several indicators.  However, it is clear that one of them is our willingness to verbalize our faith at the right time and in the appropriate way as the Holy Spirit leads.

What opportunity can you make the most of this week?

Kip

“Praying with a Spiritual Worldview” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

It is clear from Paul’s parallel statements that “wicked and evil men” are energized by “the evil one.” Our battle is not against flesh and blood but rather against the one who works evil in and through people.  Paul’s worldview included a robust understanding of  spiritual activity.

Sadly, our faith is sometimes more defined by our culture’s secular, materialistic, naturalistic worldview than by the Bible’s spiritual worldview.  Paul recognized that attacks against the truth and believers were spiritual in nature, finding their ultimate source in the evil one.  He had no problem asking God for strength to stand firm against these real, spiritual forces.  We shouldn’t have a problem asking the same for ourselves and others.

Maybe you can think of someone right now who could use just this kind of spiritual covering against the onslought of the evil one.  Take a minute a pray that he or she will be strengthened in faith and be protected from the evil one.

Kip

“Prayer Matters” Philippians 1:18-20

Often we ask for prayer from others regarding events in lives. At the moment I rarely walk away from a conversation without asking the person to pray for and with my family regarding our future as seminary graduation is now quickly approaching. As often as we ask, you would think we are confident that the intercession of others makes a difference. Are we really, or has it just become habit for us to ask? Look at the Apostle Paul’s statement in this letter to the believers in Philippi.

“…for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:19 ).

 A prisoner of the empire and awaiting trial, Paul’s confidence is in God and the intercession of his friends. His deliverance will come from God in the power of the Holy Spirit. The conduit through which Paul confidently expects this help is the prayer of his friends.

Take confidence in your friends’ prayers and pray with the same confidence. Our passage today urges us on toward engaging in the lives of others and engaging others in our lives through prayer. Yes, prayer matters!

Pat

“Waiting for Answers”

“Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed”  Romans 15:31-32.

Paul asks the Romans to pray specifically for several things.  It is interesting to see how they were answered. 

The believers in Jerusalem welcomed Paul.  However, as suspected, the Jews in Jerusalem did try to kill Paul.  In fact, some vowed not to eat or drink until he was dead.  Paul was rescued from this threat by his own arrest and two-year imprisonment.  He did come to the Roman believers, but it was through appealing to Ceasar as a prisoner seeking justice.  Paul came with joy but he also came via a dreadful storm, shipwreck, snake bite, and any number of other hardships.

Here’s what I notice.  God answered the prayers of the believers in Rome, as well as Paul’s own prayers.  Paul was rescued, and he made it to Rome.  However, the path was not predictable, fast, or easy.  

We, the fast-food generation, want–no–EXPECT predictable, fast, and easy.  And if we don’t get it that way, we are speedily tempted to find fault with God.  We don’t have the time or the stomach for suffering on the way to answered prayers.  We’re into results rather than the refinement of faith.  Answered prayers can certainly strengthen faith, it is true.  However, God’s grace might also want to do something good in us on the way there.  God, you see, ”answers” more than what we pray for; he also ”answers” what we need, because he knows that better than we do.

So, keep believing that God is working as you wait for answers.

Kip

“Time is Short”

Among all of our readings about relationships this week, I was intrigued by this short paragraph:

“What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:29-31).

The thought crosses my mind that Paul was wrong.  Here we are 2000 years later.  Was the time really short?

The answer is Yes!

First of all, time is short for each one of us.  Our lives are like a vapor, here one moment and then gone the next.  Our lives are too short to live engrossed by the world.

Secondly, each generation should live with this expectation of the imminent return of Jesus.  We don’t want to be caught neglecting the work with which Jesus has entrusted us.

The clock of this world is ticking.  It will one day be judged.  In the light of eternity its time is short.

So what’s the point of Paul’s paragraph?  We should not be so attached and consumed and engrossed by the things of this world that we are not prepared for the next.  It is a good corrective for us, as we are far too attached to this world and not nearly concerned enough about the next.

Kip

“It come down to Relationships”

At its heart, the Christian faith is relational.

Why?  Because God at his heart is about relationship.  He is, after all, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  There is relationship in the Trinity.  God created us in his image so that we could know him.  He incarnated himself in Jesus, who had real relationships with real people.  Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead in order to reconcile us to his Father so that we could enter back into relationship with God.  The whole story ends with God living among his people as their God.

So, it is no wonder that the reality of our faith is revealed most clearly in our relationships.  In fact our love for God is only as good as our love for others. “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21).

Whoever loves God must also love his wife, his children, etc.

The faith was never meant to be just intellectual or theoretical.  Jesus shed real blood in order to make real peace with us.  The reality of his presence in our lives is seen in our choices to live in peace with each other.

Kip