The world's oldest battle

The big battle of the Bible is the battle of idolatry.

That may seem like an overstatement, but consider for a moment: the trouble began in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve desired something else, instead of being content with all that God had for them, including himself. The battle continues through Israel's history: the golden calf at the exodus, the first three commandments relate to true worship vs. idolatry (as does the last), yet Israel quickly spurns God and his promise for the idols of the land. The OT concludes with prophet after prophet confronting the idolatry of the nations somewhat, but especially the idolatry of God's people.

In the Gospels, their religion itself had become the idol, and what should have so clearly pointed to Christ was chosen over Him. Nearly every epistle and the revelation specifically warns us against idolatry, with 1 John perhaps capturing the tension best of all. the book opens with an invitation to fellowship with God himself through confession and forgiveness, warns us in the middle about loving the world and its things, and the closing verse urges us to keep ourselves from idols.

Why? Do you have statues on your mantle, or do you bow before figurines? Probably not. But don't we, like those two in the Garden, look for some greater satisfaction or fulfillment in something else than in God himself, in Christ? The book of Hebrews, so long ago, seems to capture our contemporary conflict so well: Keep your life free from greed or materialism, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5.

We can be content because what we have is really more about Who has us. The ground of our contentment is Christ Himself.

the world to come meets the world that is

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2:11-14 ESV

God's grace has a lot to say about living in the present world while I wait for the world to come. I might prefer to just keep my head down and live by this world's rules as best I can until the next world comes, but grace calls for more. Instead of separating myself from the world, grace sends me out into it. It is interesting that the above verses are preceded and followed by instruction on how to live around others in ways that "adorn the gospel."

In Jeremiah chapter 29, God told his people to seek the peace and prosperity of the ungodly city of Babylon, which they found themselves in, while they waited for God's deliverance. What would that look like for us in our city or suburb? Does doing good display the gospel or get in the way of the gospel? Am I content to lay low, when God is saying, "Let's go!"

Rejoice in the Lord

Our real joy is not in our success or circumstances, but in Christ himself. That's why a Christian can have joy in the midst of hardship or suffering. it may be that in that in the hardship or trouble, and certainly in chosen sacrificial service that you choose for the good of others, you are actually drawn nearer to and know more deeply the heart of Christ.

Thinking about Joy caused me to do a word search. Here are the verses.

Matthew 2:10; 5:12; 28:8-9

Luke 1:28; 10:20; 15:6-10

John 16:22; 16:24

Acts 5:41; 8:39; 16:34

Romans 5:2; 12:12

2 Corinthians 7:5-16

Philippians 1:18; 2:2; 2:16-18; 2:28; 4:10

1 Timothy 2:19

Philemon 7

Hebrews 13:17

James 1:2-4 joy

1 Peter 1:3-8; 4:13

2 John 4

3 John 3-4

I categorized them under four headings: Joy in Christ, Joy in His salvation, Joy despite trouble , and Joy in experiencing relationship in Christ together. I was surprised by which category was the largest. I hope you enjoy the study to.

Have fun...or better...Joy!

Evans family Mission Commissioning Philippians 2:1-11

This morning we stepped into Philippians 2. It was more than a sermon: as a church we "lived out the Gospel," commissioning Rob and Laura Evans and their two kiddos, Hannah and Josiah, to serve in Mexico with WEC international. This is the kind of sermon illustration/application pastors only dream about. Rob and Laura are following Christ (2:5), leaving their home and loved ones for the salvation of others. What a blessing Rob and Laura are to our church!
May our Lord (2:11) bear much fruit through their sacrificial ministry!

Les Miserables and Philippians 1:21

Last Sunday I shared a scene from Victor Hugo's classic, Les Miserables.
Released from prison after 19 years (for stealing a loaf of bread) Jean Valjean is taken in by a bishop and given supper and lodging. Valjean steals his hosts silverware and slips away in the middle of the night only to be stopped by suspicious policemen, questioned and returned to the priests home to see if the silver they found him with was indeed stolen. Here is the dialogue from the musical, it reaches its pinnacle in the bishop's final lines.

[the police constables]

Tell his reverence your story
Let us see if he's impressed
You were lodging here last night
You were the honest Bishop's guest.
And then, out of Christian goodness
When he learned about your plight
You maintain he made a present of this silver.

[Bishop]

That is right.
But my friend you left so early
Surely something slipped your mind

[The bishop gives Valjean two silver candlesticks]

You forgot I gave these also
Would you leave the best behind?
So, Messieurs, you may release him
For this man has spoken true
I commend you for your duty
And God's blessing go with you

But remember this my brother
See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become an honest man.
By the witness of the martyrs
By the passion and the blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God.

My Lord, by His passion and His blood, has raised me out of darkness and has bought my soul for God! What will I do with the riches of inheritance He has given me?

Living as Part of Something Bigger

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain, Philippians 1:21.
In life I will seek not own intersts, but the interst of others. Like Him I will lay down my rigths for the sake of His rigtheousness to be given to others in the Gospel. My life shall be, as Robin Marks sings so well, All for Jesus.

What should I pray?

In the service we used a prayer I adapted from Philippians 1:9-11. Several of you have asked me for it, so here it is:

Father, I pray that __________’s love will grow and overflow to others. I ask that you will give ____________ understanding and discernment. Help ____________ to make the best choices and have right priorities, so that ____________ increase in purity and righteousness. Father, fill ___________ with the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, to bring you glory and praise. Adapted from Phil 1:9-11

As you pray this prayer for others, you may want to consider some other prayers that you can also make your own for those you pray for. Take a prayerful look at Ephesians 1:16-20, Ephesians 3:16-19, and Colossians 1:9-12.

Why should I pray for you?

We are supposed to pray--we know that. Yet, we don't...at least not so very much. Try keeping track, who do you pray for and how much, how often. Maybe we don't because we lose sight of the why. Phil 1:3-8 describes some of the reasons Paul kept praying for these believers.

1. He was personally connected to them, he had to pray for them. I pray for our kids, I have to, they're stuck with my prayers, cause I'm personally involved, connected, invested. If we're not praying for others, maybe we need to jump in a find ways to connect with others. Maybe...praying for someone is a first step toward a growing relationship with them...
2. These believers were participating together in the gospel. Their fellowship was like that diverse band of brothers in Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring. They were very different, but bound closely together in their partnership in a crucial mission.
3. Paul kept praying because he had God's promise. He had an eternal optimism for them, because he know that God would finish in them that good work He had begun. If I want my prayers answered, why not be praying for what I know God will do--His work in you.
4. Lastly, Paul prays, and we do, out of deep affection. If I love you, I will pray for you. And then again...if you love me, you will pray for me...

Excuse me, I gotta go. I need to pray.