Sanctification Through the Promises

According to Your Faith

Ken

“Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29 KJV). Why did Jesus have to say anything? Because His purpose is to encourage our faith, since our relationship is based on trusting Him. It is not ours to object why we are so limited, but to believe He is not. Jesus does not mind our questions, so long as we ask them in faith. Willingness to obey Christ is to be a Christian, so obedience comes from a willing heart, doing what we know to do, until He shows us differently. Faith is trusting in the Living God to do as He said. OT Jōb was reduced to the barest, meanest circumstances, so low, even his friends had to conclude, Jōb had to have done something wrong to be treated so badly. Even Jōb finally broke under the strain, but God knew He was not putting Jōb under more stress than he could handle. Proof? “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13). That was true when Paul penned it, and it was true earlier with Jōb. Why’d God treat Jōb so? Because God is sovereign and can do as He knows is best for Himself and His Kingdom. Job actually had it right, when he said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15); but, then he broke, when he thought he was pushed too far. Of course, he finally repented.

We see ourselves and all around us examples of people everywhere objecting to what God has dealt to them. We know we should trust God, but for any number of reasons, we can’t see how we can possibly do or be what God is requiring of us. What to do? Trust God and see where that takes us. Trust Him, even if it looks difficult or grim. Ask Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, if the Burning Fiery Furnace was fair of God to expect them to endure. Ask Daniel, if the Lion’s Den was fair of God to expect him to endure. “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2Corinthians 12:9). God will give us the grace according to our faith for whatever circumstance we face. If we believe there is no such thing as a situation in which God places us that we cannot endure, then our faith would do well in Jōb’s situation. Father, grant to us the grace to accompany our trust in You. It is not our place to tell You what is best for You or Your Kingdom. Only help us to be faithful. Magnify Yourself by what You accomplish through us. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen.

Not Sin Against Thee (Psalm 119:11)

Ken

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11 KJV). Perfect sentiment. Not just rule keeping — Thou shalt, Thou shalt not — but maintaining our sacred relationship with God. We often confuse rote memory of Scripture with hiding God’s Word in our heart because it helped us to encourage our children to memorize Scripture — which is still important. But, we always knew hiding God’s Word in our heart meant more. Our relationship to the person of God is our relationship with the Word of God. A physical Bible is not our relationship. An intellectual Bible is not the goal. A living relationship with the One Who Is the Word is our quest (John 1:1; Revelation 19:13). Only then can we achieve the Psalmist’s goal — “that I might not sin against Thee” (119:11). Sin prevention is only possible through absolute dependence upon God Himself. “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Father, You are worthy of our deepest love, for You care for us. You gave us Your Son. You know our relationship to You must be protected from the corrosiveness of sin. May we learn to cling to You harder than any abstract attempt of memorizing Scripture, hoping that will be enough to prevent sin. Break through the false assumptions of sin prevention by merely reading or memorizing Scripture. Cause us to have a living, vibrant relationship with You that prevents the presence of sin. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen. 

Love Is Patient

Ken

“Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NET). God is love (1John 4:8, 16), and it is possibly the first concept we try to impress upon the young minds of our children. But, we need to continually remind ourselves of that, as well. That takes patience. The kind of patience that comes from the love God’s Spirit puts in our heart, when we realize all the things He has done, is doing, and will do for our good. How can we not love Him and do it patiently forever? 

“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

36 As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. 

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Romans 8:35-39

Father, You are the God of All Patience to deal with all we’ve put You through. We thank You and are grateful You have not given up on us, even though we have been so slow to realize all the good You are and what You are doing for us. Glorify Your name. Take away our blindness that You would get the praise, honor, and glory for what You have done. Cause us to grow in our love and appreciation of You that we would not simply be a noisy, clanging cymbal without understanding of You. Lord Jesus, return quickly, we need You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Resist the Devil

Ken

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 KJV). Submission to God gains His protection. Only then we can carry out any strategy to resist the wicked one. Since Christ’s shed blood on the Cross gains us the forgiveness of our sins, then it alone can defeat the power of Satan over us. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11). Satan counts upon us being overcome by the allurement of the world. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1John 2:16).
He knows, if he can only get us to commit one sin, then we have already begun the destructive practice of sin. And, “whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34 NKJV). What breaks the cycle of sin? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9 KJV). Based upon Christ substituting His suffering on the Cross for our sins, He paid the “wages of sin” (Romans 6:23), which is “death” (6:23), and He can then forgive us, if we repent. By faith, we accept His payment for ourselves, repent of our sins, and proclaim our loyalty to Christ before the world, which is done at baptism, then we are raised in faith as newborn members of Christ’s Body, which is the Church. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). So, resisting the devil begins our victory, but the Holy Spirit given to us is the real source of our overcoming the devil and sin. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Father, You have made faith so simple, a child can believe. May our childlike confidence in You cause us to resist the devil, that he would flee from even us. Make it to be so. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.

Everything Works Out

Ken

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 KJV). How can anyone make such an extravagant, outrageous, Pollyanna statement? Just look around at all the inequities and injustices in the world, how could Romans 8:28 be true? I remember when my children were very young, but could speak their minds. They saw me struggling with a difficult, overpowering situation, and remembered being taught, All things work together for good, so their little minds told me, Don’t worry, Dad, everything works out! Bless their little hearts, I still cherish that memory! But, how can such an impossible statement be true? First, it is an inspired statement from God, whose words establish what truth is, i.e., “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Second, our Creator was able to speak into existence all the heavens and earth ex nihilo (out of nothing), so He has the power, i.e., “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so” (Genesis 1:9). Third, if anything in this world is good, it is only because it came from God, i.e., “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God” (Mark 10:18). Father, we know that faith alone takes You at Your word. We have greatest confidence You are bringing into existence in this world all the good our unbelieving, humanistic, scoffing neighbors believe only comes from their hands. Use our minds and hands as instruments for good in this world. And, may Your name be glorified for all that good. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your wonderful name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Not Leave You Comfortless

Ken

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18 KJV). Jesus was about to fulfill His earthly mission of dying for our sins upon the Cross. He would rise from the dead and ascend back into Heaven, then He would send us His Spirit — the Paraklete or Comforter. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you” (16:7). What is this Comforter?   “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another [Greek, allos, another of the same kind] Comforter [Greek, paraklētos, advocate], that He may abide with you for ever” (14:16). Jesus was assuring us He would send us His Spirit to advocate for us, just as He did and does for us before the Father. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1John 2:1). A Paraclete or Advocate for the Christian is the direct opposite of our adversary the devil, who is the “accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10). 

We need to get it into our understanding, “The LORD is on my [our] side” (Psalm 118:6). He is a holy God, who has chosen us to be His people, “because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2Thessalonians 2:13). And, if you are not convinced you are chosen, then read this description of yourself here: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1Corinthians 1:27). There! God has chosen you. If the Spirit of God can persuade us of that truth, then the wicked one cannot succeed in his prosecution against us. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). We have Jesus’ promise, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18),  which gives us His Indwelling Spirit. Ever wonder why the NT makes such a big thing out of “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38)? Because that baptismal declaration to “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus” (Romans 10:9) declares your loyalty to Christ in front of humanity (not just the angels), for which He grants you the “gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). 

The Holy Spirit is not simply a ghostly presence, but the active source of all God’s gifts to us, as His children. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke 11:13). (1) All of the Spiritual Gifts given for the ministry of the Church, are given through the Holy Spirit, i.e., “It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as He decides to each person, who produces all these things” (1 Corinthians 12:1 NET). (2) The Holy Spirit must guide our praying, since we really don’t know how to pray as we ought — just get your prayer started and trust the Holy Spirit is making suggestions to your mind, i.e., “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit [Himself] maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27). This only introduces a small part of the comfort, which we are given through the Holy Spirit. 

Father, cause us to be encouraged that You are advocating for us and not simply plotting against us to catch us in our too often sins. May we give you the credit for the Comfort You Are to us. May we volunteer to be on Your side, since You are doing so much to be on our side. We love You, and ask that You would cause us to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2Peter 3:18). Glorify Your name. And, Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.

Tomorrow Ready, Today Prepare

Ken

“The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:1 KJV). God looks not at the outward, but the heart. We take strides to be prepared for emergencies, only to find our attempts often fall short. Yet, when Jesus rallies us, “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44), it is only because readiness is a command not optional. And, God’s commands are never impossible (1John 5:3). If we are in preparation for tomorrow, already we are in a right state of heart. Only God’s Spirit is able to make us walk in obedience today and keep us ready tomorrow. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Father, may we aspire to walk in a right hearted state, ready for Your Son’s soon appearing. Cause our understanding and appreciation of You to grow that it may answer all the practical needs for our walk and holiness. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen and amen.

Intimacy With God Through Obedience

Ken

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13 KJV). God’s promises reveal God to us, sanctify us, and make us more like Christ. For God’s enemies, God’s promises mystify them, threaten them, and harden them against Christ, unless the Spirit can reach them. A “temptation [Greek, peirasmos, putting to proof]” (10:13) is God allowing you to be put to proof, in order that you might have the intimate experience of obeying God. Obviously, God already knows how we will respond, but He knows our correct response will draw us closer to Himself and make us more like Him. Even Jesus, when He was tempted, became more like the Father. “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Temptations may be directed against us from our adversary the devil to destroy us, but “God is faithful” (1Corinthians 10:13) in using that to build us. “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:20). God knows our breaking point — how much we can take before we sin — and will not “suffer [Greek, eaō, permit]” (1Corinthians 10:13) us to be tempted above or beyond what “ye are able” (10:13). That is the faithfulness of God. “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (1Thessalonians 5:24). Our confidence is God will always give us “a way to escape [Greek, ekbasis, exit, way out], that ye may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13) to keep us from sinning; after all, He is a Holy God. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). Satan tempts to our destruction, but God tests for our sanctification. Finally, we need to be careful not to despise God for testing us (Exodus 20:20), allowing us to be tempted (James 1:13), reproving us (Hebrews 12:5), or chastening us (Proverbs 3:11), since He means it for our good. Do we trust Him for that? Most certainly, we will have our opportunity to prove the faithfulness of God! Father, You are the Faithful God, who will exercise us for Your glory; and, we know You will draw us to Yourself by demonstrating how we will obey You, for when You are happy, we are happy. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

What Can Your Living Jesus Do?

Ken

That our dead Mohammad can’t? (1948). Spoken to Paris Reidhead, Jr., a Christian missionary in Northern Africa among the adherents of Islam. Legitimate question. My answer: Righteousness. Islam may reply: Anyone can claim to have righteousness. I would respond: That is true, but since the Living God is the only Source of True Righteousness —  “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee” (Daniel 9:7 KJV) — righteousness can only be found in a right relationship with Him. 

It is true of any religion, any attempt to establish righteousness simply by means of keeping commandments is self-righteousness. When anyone attempts to prove to themselves their righteousness based upon the keeping of commandments and not their love, devotion, and attachment to the Living God, then we are self-righteous. “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3). If the Jews, who had the Law, could be found guilty of unrighteousness, then that is a demonstration that righteousness is not a devotion to keeping commandments, but a devotion to the person of the Living God. 

Not simply the Jew or follower of Islam, but we who name the name of Christ fall into the deception of heart to judge our righteousness as rule keeping. Foremost, we need to return to love and devotion of God with a continual heart seeking of Christ. “Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:7).

All religious philosophies and personal practices must stand to be judged by God for valuing even the keeping of commandments more highly than God and a right relationship to Himself. But, how does this convince the Islamic questioner of Paris Reidhead (1948)? That is the job of the Holy Spirit. “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). If anyone is to be converted to the righteousness of Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit must do the convincing. Preach and teach the Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ and a right relationship with Him, and let the Spirit of God be let loose to do His convincing work, His wonderful work, His awesome work, His soul cleansing, world changing work, bring in the Kingdom of God work. He has been waiting all this time for us to understand and ask Him to do it! 

LORD, You are righteous in all Your ways and holy in all Your works (Psalm 145:17). Convert whomsoever You will, for unto You belongs all the glory, power, and honor. Magnify Your name. Transform this world. Bring to pass Your Kingdom on this Earth. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen and amen.