Everlasting Compassions

On my last post Faithfulness , I closed with Jeremiah’s words in Lamentations 3:21-23:

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

The magnificence of verse 21, specifically the latter portion has stood out to me as I have thought on it the last few days. It is something to consider that the compassion of God is what motivates Him to offer renewal to humanity time after time. Unfailing compassion that Jeremiah said was renewed every morning. The morning represents a new beginning, a second chance, a fresh start. And it is available to those who want to just “wake up” and behold the beauty of the Lord.

Compassion could be defined as sympathetic concern or a selfless act of assistance. God observes humanity and He understands us more than we understand ourselves. He knows what makes us afraid, angry, tired, as well as happy, peaceful and content. And He is willing to pour upon us the comfort of His Spirit and show compassion to us in our weaknesses.

As a misunderstood prophet, whose obedience to God was continually bringing earthly turmoil and resistance, Jeremiah had a secret he could use to encourage himself with. It was what Jeremiah said he could think about that brought him hope for tomorrow. In spite of the those who resisted his ministry and those who would imprision him for declaring God's word. It did not matter to him at this point what he was suffering, because he had hope in a brighter tomorrow. Mercy that flowed from God down channels of compassions was pouring down upon him. And it was this that brought wholeness and comfort to Jeremiah.

“If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Psalms 139:11-12

Faithfulness

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings…” - Proverbs 28:20

Genuine Christianity commands faithfulness. The Bible addresses directly and indirectly the principle of faithfulness in work and financial ethics, friendships, the family, church attendance, and the list could go on. The Bible promises rewards for faithfulness and in several Gospel passages, Jesus addressed faithfulness. In Matthew 24:45-47, Jesus spoke of the servant that worked while his master was gone and when he arrived the servant was still working. This servant was rewarded for his faithfulness. In Luke 19:12-26, Jesus spoke of a business man who gave 3 individuals a financial provision to build his worth by. Two of the three took their means and made a 50% gain; but one of them wasted his opportunity and gained nothing. The two were rewarded for their faithfulness and the unconcerned, unfaithful servant was condemned. Jesus also said in Luke 16:10:

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

How true those words are! If you can count on someone for things that seem insignificant and they not let you down; you know you can depend on them for the important stuff. There’s nothing like having someone in your life that no matter what, they are faithful and you can take them at their word. And then there are those folks that you couldn’t rely on to return an ink pen. They will say and act according to whatever is right at that moment, but nothing further than that moment. A person who struggles with being faithful will remain diminutive in their spiritual growth as a Christian.

Psalm 12:1-2 records David's complaint to God for the dearth of those counted faithful. One Bible version worded his statements in language you might relate to:

“Lord! Help! Godly men are fast disappearing. Where in all the world can dependable men be found? Everyone deceives and flatters and lies. There is no sincerity left.”

Unconcern and selfish preoccupation precede unfaithfulness. When one is unfaithful to church attendance, their spiritual well-being has lost priority and there is something they have chosen to be more important. Unfaithfulness in finances is a result of mixed up priorities; it’s amazing what some people spend their money on. When someone you call a friend behaves unfaithfully; you can’t help but wonder why they quit caring about you. Marital infidelity most always happens when preoccupation is placed on someone other than their husband or wife. It is to be expected that those of the world would display instability in these things; but God is displeased with folks that call themselves Christians and manifest unfaithfulness. Proverbs 25:19 says having confidence in someone unfaithful is like chewing with a broken tooth or running with a dislocated foot; there’s no way around the pain.

Thankfully, we serve a faithful God. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. When we are unfaithful, He still offers a hand of friendship to us when we come back home. He doesn’t waver from day to day in ability or availability to answer our prayers. There has never been a time that God’s faithfulness has not been evident in His dealing with mankind. How beautiful were Jeremiah’s words:

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23

Untouched by the wicked

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” - 1 John 5:18

John gave two vital directives to evade the Wicked One’s effort to ‘touch’ (eth) or attach himself to God’s people. One point is a supernatural endowment; the condition of being born of God. The other point is a conscious, deliberate effort put forth to ‘keep’ (eth) ourselves. The word ‘keepeth’ is derived from the Greek word tereo meaning to guard or protect by being mindful of any and all harmful circumstance. John said in essence: “Those born of God walking in the power of their Spiritual re-birth will rise above sin and the devil will have no authority over them.”

Casual observation of I John 5:18 might offer a false impression some that born-again people are no longer capable of sinning any more. That’s not what John was saying. The focus is not the ‘whosoever’ (Christians) but rather the condition of the ‘whosoever’ which is their being born of God. The Born of God, are in other words, spiritually recreated people having within themselves a power able to supercede their original human nature.

How does one become born of God? Jesus said being born of the water (baptism in Jesus’ name) and being born of the Spirit (filled with the Holy Ghost, confirmed by speaking in tongues) accomplished the New Birth experience. The Bible also says those born of God engage in righteousness (1 John 2:29), they understand the Sonship of Jesus Christ (1 John 5:1) and they love others (1 John 4:7).

If we are to remain untouched by the Wicked one (Satan), the means he utilizes to try us will have to be severed. His agenda calls for the testing and observation of us in many different areas to see if entrance into our lives is possible. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of one who was untouchable by Satan’s wickedness.

John recounted how Jesus looked at His disciples once and said: “…the prince of this world (Satan).... hath nothing in me.” (John 14:30). Jesus said in essence that though Satan was the prince of this world with corresponding authority, he still did not possess authority or power over Him. The Lord proved this when He refused the offer of the kingdoms of the world if He would just worship Satan. Satan also tested Jesus in relation to His ministry personally and abuse of the power thereof. But Jesus did not turn stones into bread or cast Himself down from the pinnacle.

Satan’s appeals were made to the Son of man, the human, physical nature of Jesus and He refused. He proved that He could not be bought. The Divinity of Jesus was not tested; the Son of God upheld the awareness that Satan only had authority over those who personally surrender it. (“…whosoever is born of God sinneth not… (but) keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not.”)

Remaining ‘untouched’ means there can be no secret life styles or sins willfully kept in our lives. We already understand that God knows if we are doing wrong. But the devil also will notice eventually and will seize his opportunity. Carnal priorities cannot supercede God’s will or govern our lives. Whatever you esteem higher than God, the devil will use to bring you down. As an ox may eventually find the weak part of the fence that keeps him corralled, Satan will also find where the fence of our protection is compromised and will enter therein.

If there ever was an hour that God’s people remove from the Wicked one’s vantage points to us, it is now. There’s never been a time that evil manifests in so many varied forms, methods, and circumstances than now. Today’s wickedness comes in ways inaccessible years ago, much less even known possible. The advancement of multimedia has far surpassed the days of the elders who preached against unwholesome radio programs or radio period.

Restrictive Internet usage and all TV/Video avoidance are good preventative measures; the right ones to take. But present day technology makes unwholesome multimedia reachable right on your cellular phone. The solution is not asceticism or run to the mountains and become hermits. It’s been said that temptations from without have no power unless there be corresponding desire within.

James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” A submission of will, soul, heart, and mind to God and a resistance of susceptibility to the devil’s influence will cause him to leave you. He’ll see he is unable to attach himself to you and he will go somewhere else. Peter said sobriety (responsibility) and vigilance (awareness, cognizance) serve as safeguards against the devil. He also said to firmly resist him in the faith and doctrine. (1 Peter 5:8,9) Then there is Paul’s easily memorized and often quoted verse in Ephesians 4:27 “Neither give place (opportunity, chance) to the devil”

We must endeavor to protect our thoughts, our words, our actions, what we hear and where we go; it is in these things that the devil will try to touch us. And if we are to flee from temptation, we can’t leave a forwarding address. I know all these words are distasteful to a world that is driven by unrestrained desire. It’s just too preachy. Yet those who resist Scriptural truths oppose themselves and are taken captive by the devil at his will (2 Timothy 2:25-26). The power to become the son’s of God is received when we are filled with the Holy Ghost; we are the begotten of God!

“To pray against temptation and yet rush into occasion is to thrust your fingers into the fire and then pray they might not be burnt” -Thomas Secker (1693-1768)

On Schedule

"And he must needs go through Samaria." - John 4:4

The English Standard Version says that Jesus "had to pass through" Samaria. Simplistic reasoning could say that the need to pass through was because it was en route to where His next stop would occur. However, there are obvious implications it was a scheduled stop on a Divine Itinerary.

He sat on the well waiting for her to arrive and she did. Initiating conversation with her, the discussion went without delay to spiritual things, her sin as well as doctrinal salvation. Her conviction and faith was confirmed by the Truth and this caused a chain reaction:

"The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him." - John 4:28-30

Two days of ministry and many new believers later, Jesus had proven the effectiveness of one-to-one evangelism. We must not neglect an opportunity to witness to any, even just one soul. You never know what one word of encouragement, a spoken Scripture, or Bible principled advice can do to someone's spirit. It was on the Divine schedule for Jesus to pass through Samaria because a revival was waiting to break out.

"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" - 1 Corinthians 9:16

Paul was well aware of his responsibility to the Commission. He wanted to transmit that same conviction to the Corinthian church; in 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 he said: "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

''Committed'' in verse 19 could be defined as being put in place, in an unchanging sense. We cannot abandon this call to reconcile a world the Creator it’s become separated from. It's not just the preacher's responsibility to witness to a single soul; it is every Christian's. It's also not just the preacher's job to occupy a place behind a pulpit. If a preacher can only deliver the gospel to an assembled group but can't find words to speak to an individual, their ministry does not reflect Christ's.

He reached for her and the results were worth the effort. Soon His disciples would hear:

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." - John 4:35

You and I are also on a schedule, potentially one Divinely inspired. So where is it that we ...must needs go through…?

Unmoved

“Great works are performed not by strength but rather by perseverance” - Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

Consider Paul's words to the church elders in the city of Ephesus:

Acts 20:22-25 "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more."

It had been a few years since Paul’s evangelism trip to Ephesus where he found disciples of John. The church of Ephesus was founded during that trip when 12 men believed the gospel, were re-baptized in Jesus' Name and received the Holy Ghost.

Now Paul stood before the established church's leadership and was bidding them farewell. Paul was on a course ordained of God and he was not going to be deterred. The elders hoped to dissuade him from making the trip to Jerusalem knowing the outcome would not be good. Prophetic declarations were being made at each church Paul stopped at and the message had a common thread…prison and afflictions awaited.

“…none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself…”

Determination and confidence in a God ordained ministry motivated Paul to not be affected by what the cost would be. There is not a price high enough to neglect the responsibility of fulfilling God’s will.

But what about the results and the rewards of what God wants you to do besides the resistance?

If you are focused on His will, resistance will bring courage, rewards will lose importance, and results no longer have to be your concern…you’re just doing His will and nothing will move you.

Who's driving?

"If you let the Devil ride...he's going to want to drive"

People do not walk away from God & their church over night. People don't leave their spouses and children on a sudden whim. You don't become chemically dependant with one taste, drink, etc...

The wide and accommodating pathway to perdition is easy to navigate, and the journey always commences in the mind. The Bible declares to us in 2 Corinthians 10 that we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are to remain vigilant at the threshold of our mind ready to capture the offensive thought or high minded wisdom (albeit earthly) and bring them into obedience to Christ.

The things I mentioned above are things that I have specifically heard happen this week. When people fail to give God more than just a Sunday commitment…they are setting themselves up for compromise. We must give all and withhold nothing. This means yielding to the Spirit of God and restraining the human nature. If you haven’t dealt with something…putting it off will not last forever.

We can try to be Christian robots and go through the motions but we will deconstruct eventually. Christ was not a robot crossing every T, dotting every I that related to the will of His Father. The Son of Man was driven to fulfill the will of God. Though He was the Eternal Spirit of God revealed in flesh, His humanity is what pursued the will & works of the Father (His Creator).

The humanity of Jesus knew restraint. That’s why He would not turn stones into bread. That’s why He left John in prison. That’s why He didn’t jump at the first request to help with provisions at the marriage supper in Cana. The ends do not always justify the means. Pursuing God’s desired purpose is better than following what we deem right at the moment. Selfishness is a cancerous sin that doesn’t always manifest as stinginess and miserliness. Selfish desires and unsanctified desires catch up in the long run and those who have to suffer because of it are left wondering what happened.

“… such an inconvenience restraint creates...”

Has anyone seen temperance lately? It seems to be missing or its deficiency has rendered it unidentified. Temperance is KJV wording for self-control and though not a hard concept to understand, human character naturally resists it's Law of Restraint.

I preached Sunday about Paul’s discourse in 1 Corinthians 6 concerning things Lawful and things expedient. What portion of Law was he talking about? Was it ceremonial, judicial, or moral perhaps? In context of what he was saying it pertained to moral which entailed dietary guidelines which is why he made the next statement. He said the belly was for the meats and the meats for the belly, but God would destroy or do away with them both. God purposefully designed them to be temporal.

What Paul said that sticks out to me is that he would not be brought under subjection to any or in other words controlled by things whether they were lawful or not. Under the guise of Bible non-specifics people do make allowances for things they want or don’t want to do, etc.

Jesus said to seek the Kingdom and the righteousness of God as priority and these things that are temporal and won’t mean anything 50 years from now can wait. Even if their lawful (permissible) and especially if they are not expedient (proper in time or in nature).