Perfecting Your Holiness

                Last week I preached on our responsibility, as children of God, to live a holy life before Him and before the world. The Apostle Peter (in 1 Peter 1:15-16), strongly urged us to be holy because 1. God’s very nature is holy and 2. because God, through the Holy Scriptures, commands us to be holy.

                Our new life verse for the month of July was chosen to focus our attention on living a holy life…

 

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all

filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

~2 Corinthians 7:1

                Here in 2 Corinthians, chapter 7, we have the Apostle Paul, this time, encouraging us to “perfect holiness.” He is writing to the members of the church in Corinth as well as to all the saints that lived in Achaia. Achaia is located in the south western part of Greece and is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula.  It included the cities of Corinth and Athens.

                The church members at Corinth were relatively new converts that were heavily influenced by the prevalent Greek culture of their day. There were problems in their church due to unrestrained sin. Paul addressed their sin-caused problems and corrected them in his first letter to them. Now in his second letter he is not desiring to correct them again, rather he is encouraging them to live a holy life.

                Think about our nation. In a few days we will be celebrating the 241^st birthday of the United States of America. From 1776 until 2017, there has been a shift in culture. We started out as a people who had a reverence and a respect for God. The Ten Commandments as well as other Scriptural references were found inscribed in many public buildings. Our founding documents and the early writings of the founding fathers reflected their faith in God and desire to operate this newly formed government in such a way as to please and honor Him.

“It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will,

to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

~ George Washington (1703– 1791)

“The government of the United States is acknowledged by the wise and good of other nations, to be the most free, impartial, and righteous government of the world; but all agree, that for such a government to be sustained many years, the principles of truth and righteousness, taught in the Holy  Scriptures, must be practiced.”

~Emma Willard (1787 – 1870)

                 Two hundred and forty-one years later, we find ourselves in a vastly different culture…not just a different culture of government, but in the moral fabric of our society, as a whole. What the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1 is true of our country today…

 

Romans 1:18-32

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
 

The Apostle Paul also hit the nail on the head in his second letter to Timothy, the young pastor of Ephesus.

 2 Timothy 3:1-7

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 

We live in an ever decaying society, which is one more reason why we should…and absolutely must live a holy life. The world has been creeping into the church, most noticeably since the 60’s and 70’s. We must be holy as He is holy and in so doing keep this church holy and free from the contamination of the world.

                 In 2 Corinthians 7:1, we are given a blueprint for living a holy life.

 First: We are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh.

                As children of God, saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are to put to death all areas of sin in our lives.

 

Colossians 3:4-8

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify (put to death) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication (all manner of forbidden sexual activity), uncleanness (immoral lifestyle), inordinate affection (depraved passions), evil concupiscence (desire for what is forbidden, lust), and covetousness (greedy desire to have more), which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

                We are to put these sinful behaviors to death in our lives, but there are times we don’t. There are sins, according to Hebrews 12, that easily beset us. What about one we consider to be trivial…so trivial that we do not consider it a sin…speeding. Is speeding a sin? Willfully disregarding the law…

Romans 13:1-5
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

               Why is it when a police car pulls up behind us, we automatically get nervous…even when we are not speeding? It is because we have gotten so used to breaking the speed limit that we feel guilty when we see an officer even when we are not speeding? We quickly look at the speedometer to make sure that this time we are not speeding.

                We live in a culture that excuses sin…in many instances renames sin to ease the conscience. There is a good book by John McArthur entitled, “Vanishing Conscience.” He correctly shows that our culture is working to remove the guilt of sin by renaming it. No longer is it the sin of drunkeness…now it is the sickness of alcoholism. No longer is it the sin of sodomy…it is an alternate lifestyle equal to marriage as God intended it between one man and one woman. No longer is sin called sin, it is called a mistake, an indiscretion.

                 We live in this culture and if we are not careful, we will fall prey to this line of thinking. It will invade our personal lives, then our families, then our church. We must not let this happen. If we are to live a holy life, when sin comes and we allow ourselves to engage in it, we must call it what God calls it…sin against The Holy God. We must cleanse ourselves, might I say, IMMEDIATELY!  How do we cleanse ourselves? The answer is in the Word of God…

Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

                 We cleanse ourselves by paying attention to what the word of God says. The Bible tells us to repent of our sin and confess it to the Lord.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all

                 unrighteousness.

                   By doing this, we will keep our flesh clean from our own sin…

 James 4:7-10

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

                    Here, James is telling us the same things Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 7:1. He wrote, “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners.” That is referring to cleansing yourself from all filthiness of the flesh. Then he went on to write, “purify your hearts, ye double minded.” This is the same as cleansing yourself from all filthiness of the spirit.

Second: We are to cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the spirit. The actual carrying out the act of a sin is the filthiness of the flesh. Entertaining the thought of sin is the filthiness of the spirit. Jesus clearly showed us that the thought of sin is considered by God to be the same as the actual physical carrying out of that sin.

                    We have to guard our minds and our thoughts and when a sinful thought comes our way, we must immediately confess it, resist the devil, the world and our flesh and seek the Lord’s forgiveness. We cannot allow ourselves to justify sin, even in our minds, though we would never actually do it. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…who can know it? We don’t know what sin we are capable of…

                    Were it not for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, we could carry out any sinful thought we allow in our minds.  We must guard our hearts and minds and not follow our culture and allow ourselves to think sin in the mind is ok as long as we don’t act on it.

                    When sin comes to the mind, seek the help of the Holy Spirit to remove it and not let it build and nest there, so to speak. If we find ourselves thinking on sin, really entertaining it, repent of that sin and confess it.

Ephesians 4:22-24 put off the old man, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, put on the new man.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

                      Cleansing the filthiness of the spirit comes by renewing your mind with the word of God.

 Finally:  If we are vigilant to keep our flesh and spirit cleansed, as Paul writes, we will be able to perfect (accomplish, execute) holiness in the fear of God. In this passage of Scripture, the word “fear” is translated from the Greek word, “phobos” from which we get the word phobia… which means being afraid of something.

                       Based on God’s just treatment of sin on the Cross of Calvary, and knowing His hatred for sin and His immeasurable holiness and power, we should be afraid when we make little of sin. Yes, our sins were judged and paid for on Calvary and we will not pay for them again, but we should still have fear of God’s strong, swift chastening hand. The Bible even mentions a sin unto death…

 1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life

                   for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

                        Because we have been saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and are kept in Him and no one can take us out of the Father’s hand, that does not give us a license to sin.

Hebrew 12:6-7

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

                          As our loving Heavenly Father, He will not allow us to continue on in sin unchastened. We are called by His name and He will correct us for His name’s sake.

Recap:

“Having these promises of God in mind:

1. He comforts us in our tribulations (2 Corinthians 1:4)
2. He delivered us from spiritual death (2 Corinthians 1:10)
3. We are sealed in Christ with Holy Spirit as down payment (2 Corinthians 1:22)
4. God causes us to triumph in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14)
5. God shined His light in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6) Psalm 119:130 the entrance of thy words giveth light.
6. Our afflictions are light when compared to the glory we will receive
     and momentary when compared to eternity. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
7. We will be given a new body and will be forever with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)
8. God is our Father and we are His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
 

Cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh… put to death the sins of the flesh, but when you fall, confess, seek forgiveness, repent.

Cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the spirit… do not entertain the thoughts of sin. When you fall, confess, seek forgiveness, repent.

Doing these things will help you to accomplish your goal of living a holy life in the fear of God!

Called To Live A Holy Life

                The Church, as we know, was started by the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry, which lasted 3 years. From the very beginning, the church has undergone persecution. The Devil, the world system, and the flesh (natural condition of people) all hate Jesus Christ and His church.

                Some churches have undergone intense persecution. Some have seen very little. But, as a whole, true Christians have suffered at the hands of the world.

                The Apostle Peter, in a letter to Jewish Christians, sought to edify (build up; encourage) them as they had been dispersed from Israel as a result of intense persecution. From his letter, we too gain encouragement.

                We know that 1 Peter is God-breathed; written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and is profitable to us today. It is the very word of God.

                In the first 14 verses, Peter shows us that those who have been saved were elected unto salvation by God in His foreknowledge, long before the foundation of the world. They also have been sanctified (set apart, consecrated) by the Holy Spirit.

                Peter knew and believed this truth because it had been revealed to him by the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, during His earthly ministry, of which Peter was a part (John 6:37-40; 44-47; 63-65) (John 15:16) (John 17:1-9).

                Not only were we, who are saved, elected (chosen) unto salvation by the Father, but we have been born again to an active, powerful and efficacious hope…a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation because Jesus Christ arose from the dead.  The confidence we have of eternal salvation is not based on our own merits or some decision we made. Our confidence is in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and what He accomplished on our behalf at Calvary, and when He arose.

A result of our salvation is an inheritance reserved for us in heaven. One that will never fade or be spent up or ruined. Peter continues his encouragement by telling us that our salvation is secure…that we are kept by the power of God through faith. Is He not the Author (beginner) and Finisher (completer) of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)? Of course He is! He which began the good work of faith in us will complete that work (Philippians 1:6).

              It was Christ, Himself, who said… “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)

                We are kept by the power of God and there is no power greater…Our God is omnipotent (All Powerful)! He will keep us all the way until our salvation is completed and our old sinful bodies are made new at the time of the resurrection/rapture…and beyond.

                Does that not cause you to greatly rejoice, O Christian? Of course it does! Furthermore, we can rejoice in that truth even during the hard times of trials, tribulations and persecutions.

                Peter then reminds us that the trying or testing of our faith through these many hard times is more precious, more important to us than gold, especially when we are tested, as it were by fire. Why are these difficult trials so precious? Because, our Heavenly Father uses them to perfect us which will bring Him praise, honor and glory when Christ returns the second time. Even though we have never seen Him with our own eyes, yet we love Him and believe in Him, and we rejoice with unspeakable joy.

                Peter also tells us that when the Lord finishes or completes our faith, we will receive the salvation of our souls. Our souls that have been born again will be freed from this sin cursed flesh and when He makes our bodies new, without sin, our souls will be rejoined to them. Forever we will be with Jesus Christ, in sinless perfection, worshipping Him as we ought.

                Peter informs us that the prophets of God, who had been given prophecies of Jesus Christ, diligently searched and inquired about His coming. They wrote of the suffering He would experience long before He ever came, and of the glory that would follow as a result.  He went on to tell us that God revealed to them that they would not see the coming of Christ in their lifetime, but the things they wrote of Christ were for those who walked with Christ when He came the first time.

                From that day until now, the Gospel has been preached and those who are effectually called unto salvation will hear it and believe. An interesting point is made by Peter that the angels desire to look into salvation and the gospel. By that he meant that they are curious about what it is like to be saved… I believe there are angels here this morning, listening to this message, looking on in awe at Jesus Christ and what He did for certain of the human race who deserve nothing but His Holy wrath for eternity. 

Because of these truths, Peter admonishes us to be sober or serious minded…thinking on those things that pure, honest, just, things that bring glory and honor to Christ. Not only are we to think on those things, but we are to have our hope…that joyfully confident expectation set on His second coming. Do you look forward with great anticipation to His coming again? I hope so!  I sure do!

                Until that time we, as children of God, are to be obedient to God’s commands, not living like we did before He saved us, when we lived according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our lifestyle in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others (Ephesians 2).

                One of the most important commands of God that we are to obey as His children is given to us in 1 Peter verses 15 and 16.

1 Peter 1:15-16

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

                We were called to salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Not only were we called to salvation, but also we were called to be holy. Holiness in the life of the believer is not a suggestion; it is not one option among many; it’s not just a good idea; it is a command. We are to be holy.

Some people believe, based on Romans 5:20, sin should abound in their lives so God’s grace could much more abound. They have misapplied the truth of that verse. Others are of the persuasion that since they are “once saved, always saved” they can live any way they want including a wanton, sinful, lascivious lifestyle. In those cases, the questioning of their salvation would be appropriate.  

I have known some who think God loves them even though they blatantly live a sinful, gay or lesbian lifestyle. They deceive themselves into believing that God made them that way. Yet, God tells His true believers to be holy. You cannot blatantly live in sin, without repentance, and be holy.

“I cannot see how any man deserves to be called "holy," who willfully allows himself in sins, and is not humbled and ashamed because of them.”

~J.C. Ryle ~

                What does it mean to be “holy?” The phrase, “be ye holy,” comes from the Greek word ἅγιος hágios, (hag'-ee-os) which means set apart to be sacred; physically pure, morally blameless, ceremonially consecrated for God’s use.

                We, as believers have a responsibility to strive for the development of a physically pure, morally blameless life set apart for God. That is what it means to “be ye holy.” That is what we are to do!

“Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God's judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we have a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~ J.C. Ryle ~

We cannot be holy, as we are commanded to be, if we neglect the Word of God; if we neglect prayer; if we neglect the assembling of the saints on the Lord’s Day.

“I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business who contented himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them till harvest, as expect a believer to attain much holiness who was not diligent about his Bible reading, his prayers, and the use of his Sundays.”

~ J.C. Ryle ~

                God, who called us to salvation, is Holy. He is transcendent above (set apart from) all that He created. He is most excellent in purity. The Bible tells us…

Job 15:15  Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

                Take all the saints of God and all the holy angels combined, and we still cannot hold a candle to the holiness of God. He is holy, holy, holy! Because He is holy, we (who were redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ) are to be holy in our lives with respect to God and to men.

                We are to imitate God, to follow after Him, though He is far from being equaled by us sinful creatures, or even the holiest of angels. We are to walk worthy of that calling and follow God as His dear children, obeying His will.

                We are to be “holy” because it was so written in the Scriptures…

Leviticus 11:44-45

44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Leviticus 20:7-8

7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.
 

                Peter, in his letter, is strongly encouraging believers to live a life of holiness. Though we can never attain holiness equal to that of God, yet it is desirable for us to strive to be as holy as we possibly can. That is agrees with both the nature and will of God. If you are His child…If you love His name…If you adore His perfections, then hold His goodness in awe, obey His will and…

Psalm 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Be holy because He who set you apart for Himself is holy.

Jesus Christ is the only One who gives true rest

Many of us, at some point, in the course of this life, have experienced physical labor…hard work that took energy, time, strength and strenuous exertion to complete. My most recent experience of physical labor came from trimming the trees on our property, hauling the limbs to the back of our property, stacking them in a pile,  then raking the leaves which covered 80% of the back yard filling large trash cans with the leaves and hauling those back to the brush pile and dumping them. I worked at that for a good 8 hours straight…stopping only to eat lunch. By the end of that day, I was physically exhausted. That night, after a good meal and a hot shower, it felt incredible to lay down on my bed and rest.

 

We all know the feeling of our bodies getting rest after having been physically active. It’s one of the greatest feelings imaginable. At the end of most days, I look forward to physical rest.

                We know how good physical rest feels, but what about the soul? Does the soul of a person get weary and tired? It can, and it often does.

               Is your soul distressed? Is it laboring under a heavy load?

Matthew 11:28-30

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

Consider Jesus Christ as the Giver of true rest.

Based on the context of the verses preceding our text, Jesus is not referring to physical labor…He is referring to the spiritual strain you feel as a result of the weight of your sin. He had been preaching in many of the towns throughout Judea as well as performing many mighty works in them, yet the people of those towns did not repent of their sin and turn to Christ in faith. They were still under the heavy weight of their sin…and Jesus said, “Come” “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.”   

Are you laboring under the heavy burden of your sin? Go to Jesus Christ…He said in John 6:37, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Not only will He not cast you out if you go to Him, but He will give you rest. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

                He will give your soul rest…rest from carrying the burden of your sin. Repent of your sin...turn away from your sin and turn to Jesus Christ. Seek His forgiveness…

 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all

                 unrighteousness.

                Place your trust in Him and only in His ability to satisfy the justice of God, which He did on Calvary. You will be saved…and the heavy burden of your sin will be lifted and you will find rest for your soul. The weight of sin is a heavy load on the soul. The person carrying that weight will be exhausted in many ways, but especially exhausted spiritually. When a person goes to Christ in repentance and faith, that heavy load is removed and the person is given rest…

Rest in this sense means to cause a person to cease from any strain or labour causing him to grow weary, tired, or exhausted so he may recover and collect his strength.

In Hebrews chapters 3 and 4, the author (who many believe to be the Apostle Paul) is writing to Jews, encouraging them to come to Christ in faith to find rest for their soul.

Hebrews 3:12-19

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:1-11

1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

             Strive hard so that you may enter into that rest. Seek ye the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts…turn to the Lord. He will have mercy and will abundantly pardon. For He shed His blood for your soul. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners.

            The case has been laid out for the lost sinner to come to Jesus to find rest for his soul. But what about the one who has already been saved by the grace of God?

Dear Christian, are you laboring under the strain of some trial? Has the sin which doth so easily beset you, gotten you down in spirit? Go to Jesus Christ…learn of Him and you will find rest to your soul. Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you (1 Peter 5:7).

I know some of you have been through some extremely difficult trials, and some of you right now are like the three Hebrew lads walking through the fiery furnace of a trial…Look around you and see the Lord Jesus Christ is with you.

 

Daniel 3:24-25

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Dear Believer, Jesus Christ is with you; the Spirit of the Living God is in you.

             Sometimes, as we struggle through some trial or persecution, we may look around at others who live ungodly lives, who deceive, lie and manipulate people and they seem to prosper. It appears as though nothing hard, bad ever happens to them. Don’t be angry because they seem to prosper…rather than focus your attention on them, rest in the Lord.

Psalm 37:7-10

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Do not become angry when people who bring evil plans to pass seem to prosper. Cease from anger and forsake wrath. Wait patiently on the Lord, you will inherit the earth.

Psalm 73:1-28

Vs. 3 I was envious of the lost when I saw the prosperity of the wicked…

Vs. 4-12 They are prideful and violent. They have more than their hearts could wish for. They are corrupt, oppressive and speak with arrogance. The words of their mouths are against God. They mock God and believers wondering if there is any value in knowing God. They prosper in this world and increase in riches.

Vs. 13-14 I confess my sins and live a pure life before God and feel that it is in vain because all day long I suffer under the weight of trials and I am chastened every morning.

Vs. 15-16  If I speak like the wicked do, I would offend this generation of believers. When I tried to understand all this, it was too painful for me.

Vs. 17 When I went into the sanctuary of God…the quiet time of meditation on the Lord, He gave me understanding concerning the wicked…I understood their end.

Vs. 18-20 Their end…total destruction!

Vs. 21-22 I was grieved because I was so foolish in my thinking.

Vs. 23-24 I am continually with Thee. You uphold me. You guide me with your counsel and at some point, you will receive me to glory…the only place of true rest!

Vs. 25 “Whom have I in heaven but you?” “There is none on earth that I desire beside you.”

Vs. 26 My sinful flesh fails, but You are my strength and my portion (inheritance) forever.

Vs. 27 Those who are far from you will perish…

Vs. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.

It is good for you to draw near to God (James 4:8) He will draw near to you…take His yoke upon you, learn of Him… you will find rest to your soul.

His yoke refers to His commands…they are pleasant, light and easy compared to the yoke of the commands of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. Even though light, they must be submitted to.

Learn of Jesus Christ… That word “Learn” means to learn by use and practice…that is why we have been studying about Jesus Christ for the last 3 months. We need to learn of Him things we didn’t know and remind ourselves of things we learned about him in times past. We should put into practice in our daily lives the things we learn about Christ. If He is the Wonderful Counsellor as Isaiah tells us, then we should go to Him for our counsel. If He is only way to God, then we should go on that way. If He really is the truth, then we should seek the truth in no other. If He is the Life, we should live in Him. If He is our Deliverer, then we should look to no one else to get us through our trials and tribulations.

Jesus Christ is “meek and lowly in heart” in His own words. He is gentle and mild. He is also humble in soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of His thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, and endeavours.

Take the time to learn of Him. We spend so much time learning of so many things…things that are of little or no eternal value. Learn of Jesus Christ…If you do, you will find rest to your soul.

With your focus firmly set on Christ, you will cease from those things that are causing you to grow weary and exhausted spiritually and you will recover and recollect your strength.

You will begin to see that, though your trial is painful and difficult, it is actually light when compared with the glory you will receive in heaven. You will realize that your trial, though seemingly endless, is but for a moment when compared to eternity. This trial you are going through is ordained by God for the purpose of working in your life, making you more like Christ…when you reach your real rest… heaven in the presence of Christ, the glory you receive will far exceed and outshine the pain you went through on this earth.

Do not look on the things which you can see…the pain, the suffering, the hardship of your trial. Look at the things which are not seen…the glory you will receive as you stand before Christ in His image, sinless. The things you see are temporary, but the things you cannot see on this side of heaven are eternal…they will last forever.

How do I know? 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 tells me so.

Learn of Jesus Christ and rest in Him…wait patiently for Him. He is coming! Even if not in your lifetime, and you are received unto Him in glory through death’s door… your first minute in heaven, looking upon the face of Jesus Christ will far outshine a lifetime of pain and tribulation on this earth.

Fought, Finished, Kept

        Three hundred and sixty-five days...that's the number of days my mother has been in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. In some ways it seems like a lifetime ago when she passed from this life into eternity. In other ways it seems like it was only yesterday when I had the privilege of being right there by her side holding one of her hands, while my dad held the other as she breathed her last breath.

       I will forever be grateful to the Lord who answered my request, allowing me to be there holding her hand as she passed through death's door into everlasting life. 

       I know we all react differently to the death of a loved one. I also know that no two people deal with grief the same way. Every one of God's elect has a different salvation experience, yet we are all saved the same way...by His grace alone. Similarly, we all deal with grief differently, yet we all experience comfort from whom Paul called, "the God of all comfort," in 2 Corinthians 1:3. Truly, He comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

       I have been a pastor for only two years, yet early on in my ministry I was asked to preach two funerals. I have been around death. I have lost all my grandparents. I lost my mother-in-law. I have lost church members. I have seen many people in various stages of grief. Knowing that losing loved one is part of this life and in an attempt to help those who have experienced it firsthand, I wrote a post  a couple of years ago entitled, "A Biblical Approach To Dealing With Grief." I researched all the stages of grief so when the time came, I would know what was experiencing. As best as I could, I prepared myself for my mother's death. 
       I truly believe the Lord has shown me something about grief that no one ever mentioned in all their research and study. Grief is a self-focused look at the loss of a loved one, or some other tragic event. The sadness and despair of grief comes from focusing on how the particular event you are going through will affect you. 
       In the case of my mother's death, I could have spent a lot of time thinking about how much I would miss her, and how life would never again be the same...how every September 17th, I would no longer be able to send her a birthday card, or how every September 28th I would not be able to wish her and my dad a "Happy Anniversary." I could spend time being sad that she would never know our youngest son who was born 5 months after she died. All these thoughts focused on me and how I would be affected. 
       Since July 9, 2010, the day my mother-in-law went to be with the Lord, Christ has focused my eyes more steadfastly on eternity. I don't see things the same as I once did. Instead of thinking about myself and how much I would miss my mother-in-law, the Lord caused me to think about her and what she was experiencing. This mindset stayed with me when my own mother went to be with the Lord. 
       I remember being there, three hundred and sixty-five days ago, as she drew in her last breath and exhaled for the final time. The tears I cried were more tears of joy than tears of grief. I knew that at that very second, she was in the presence of Jesus Christ who, according to Colossians 1:16, created everything. Not only were all things created by Him, but He stepped into His own creation took upon Himself human flesh. He became a man like we are and yet remained God. He went to the cross of Calvary where He suffered the greatest physical torture imaginable, shedding his own blood for the sins of His people. Even greater than that, He suffered the wrath of Almighty God for His people's sins. He was forsaken of God, so we would not have to be. The sins of His people were not pardoned, they were not over looked...they were dealt with on the cross of Calvary. They were paid for, and on January 21, 2016, my mother stood in the very presence of Jesus Christ. She saw Him face to face. Think about that!
       How could I ever be sad, knowing that the woman, whom God chose to use (along with my dad) to bring me into this world...who loved me with all her life and who (with my dad) taught me the word of God, showed me my sinful condition, and need of Christ, was standing in His very presence looking at Him face to face? The sadness stopped when my attention was drawn away from myself and was turned to her.
       What was it like when she saw Christ for the first time...the One who saved her soul? How did what she see compare with what John the Apostle saw on the Isle of Patmos when he was worshipping on the Lord's Day in Revelation 1:10-17? ...or what Isaiah saw in Isaiah 6:1-5? ...or what  Peter, James and John saw on the Mt. of Transfiguration when Christ was transfigured in all His glory in Matthew 17? 
       Paul was right...we see through a glass darkly, but one day we will see Christ face to face. Because God has chosen to reveal some things about heaven to us through His word, we have a very limited understanding of what it will be like...but one day all our limits will be taken away and we will see Him face to face. 
       My mother, the one who gave birth to me, who gave so much of her life to raise me, who to this very hour still loves me, is in the presence of Jesus Christ! How could I be sad about that?!! Sure I miss her, but my joy for her and what she is experiencing far exceeds any sadness I might have at not seeing her for the rest of such a short life as this. 
       She went through so much, battling cancer for 18 years. I can say this based on my observations of her throughout the 42 years I had the privilege of having her...she fought the good fight, she finished her course, and she most definitely kept the faith...and now the Author of her faith has finished it. Her soul, though absent from her body, is present with the Lord. 
       This life is so short. According to Scripture it is but a vapor. One day soon, I too, will be there...at the feet of Christ, looking up at Him, face to face. I have more confidence in that than I do in anything on this earth.
       One day, after having spent an eternity thanking Christ for His salvation and innumerable blessings in this life, I will be able to sit down with my mother-in-law and my mother and ask them what it was like when they first saw Christ. Unbelievable!!!!!
       I thank the Lord for the 42 years He allowed me to have with my mother. She will always be special to me in ways that only a mother can be. She was used of God to point me to Christ. She lived out her faith from the day the Lord saved her until the day she needed it no more, standing in His presence. 
       When I think of my mom, I don't think of her in the past tense. I think of her in the present tense. She is not forever gone. He soul is not on this earth right now, but she is more alive today than she ever has been. One day, according to Scripture, when Christ, who is the resurrection, steps out of glory and with a shout at the last trump, calls His people home, her grave will open and her body will be raised up and made new in sinless perfection. Her soul will be reunited with that body and she, as well as all believers, will be caught up to be forever with the Lord. 
       If I could say one thing to my Mom today, it would be... "Happy 1 Year Anniversary! Enjoy worshipping your Savior in sinless perfection!"