Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:3-14  This passage is about our positional truth (the things God has done for us). This is our calling.

Because of who we are (our positional truth), this is how we are to live. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1 Macarthur pointed out, “If this is our doctrine, this is how we should be living.” This bit of truth was experiential for me, but hearing it said made it almost an “ah-ha” moment. Has all of my life reflected who I am in Christ?

Macarthur continued, “Until we walk worthy, God is not glorified in our lives, the church can not fully function, and therefore the world can not see Jesus Christ.” Conviction was starting to do it’s work now. I realized I needed to make some changes in my life.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12: 1-2

Macarthur talked about how the word of God needs to be studied “so we can live it”. God brought this truth to me early in my recovery from the sin of alcoholism. Truth needs to become part of us so it becomes automatic in our responses to life around us. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119:11 This verse tells me that unless I know God’s word in my heart (His truth and precepts are a part of who I am), I can’t not sin. John really made it clear by saying; “being void of understanding means you are defenseless. If we do not know, we will be victimized.”

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, Colossians 1:9-10 Knowledge of God’s word is essential to praising God and good works.

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:10

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. II Peter 3:18

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16-17

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

Read Ephesians 1:3-14 (at the top of the page) again. Taking an honest look at yourself, does this high calling seem out of reach, maybe a bit unattainable? John said; “Our high position demands a lowly walk. Walk means daily conduct or lifestyle. Let your lifestyle be worthy of your calling.” “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 Has God been talking to you and have you have been resisting? Go to the cross, God is good all the time and He has promised to bring you from where ever you are to His truth gently.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:14-20

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

So, concerning this calling, what is it, and who called you to Christ? You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16

The following is another quote from John Macaurthur and I have inserted my name where he put his and ask you to do the same. It will give you a new perspective. “I am a Christian because the sovereign almighty God, creator and ruler of the universe, wrote my name in a book before the world was created and said; “Rich Ganzel, I the eternal, holy, righteous God of the universe, choose you to spend forever in my presence.” That adds a huge amount of response and commitment on my part.  A high calling, being a child of God – walk worthy. That’s all that matters.” Emphasis mine.

Vertical focus, not horizontal!

Are you familiar with that date? The date came up in our discussion after our Bible study on Sunday night. Brek said that someone had prophesied the return on Jesus on that date. Greg said that it is the date of the Fargo Marathon. If I have to choose, I’ll side with Greg.

So, I did my trusted research with the help of Google, and sure enough, May 21, 2011 is the guaranteed date of Jesus’ return. What do we make of that?

First, this is an example of bad hermeneutics. That is the seminary way of saying they twist the Bible to make it say what it never intended to say. Hermeneutics is the science of interpretation. Jesus said we wouldn’t know. When Jesus was on earth He didn’t know.

Second, this type of prediction (and this isn’t the first one) leaves spiritual pollution in its wake. The fact is that Jesus is coming again. This prediction makes a mockery of a solemn truth by falsely setting a certain date.

We laugh at the cartoon character standing on the sidewalk with a sandwich board saying that THE WORLD WILL END TOMORROW. Today we don’t do that. We use YouTube. But what we never think about is that Jesus may come on April 21. Or tomorrow.

Do we have some false idea that the world is eternal and it will never end? The eternal becomes our god and we live for it. Do you have some false idea that your life on earth will never end. History is filled with precidents that will prove you wrong. So why do we live like life will never end – or like the world will never end.

How does the Bible tell us to be prepared? Quit our jobs? Go on a vacation? Buy more Gospel tracts? Here’s what Peter says to do. You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. 2 Peter 3:11-12

It is wrong to abuse the truth of Christ’s coming. Just as it is wrong to ignore it. Come Lord Jesus. (next to last line of the Bible)

What has struck me to mention this book was the last paragraph of chapter 18. The author quoted a German woman’s thoughts on Dietrich Bonhoeffer. At this time he had started and was running a seminary in the country side at which, he also held and preached at Sunday services there.

I quote the last paragraph; “Bonhoeffer “always had some distance around him, some reserve,” said Ruth-Alice. But there was something compelling about him when he was preaching. “When you saw him preaching,” she said, “you saw a young man who was entirely in God’s grasp.” In some ways it was particularly difficult for the younger generations whose parents and grandparents were so adamantly opposed to the Nazis. Bonhoeffer and Finkenwalde made it easier for them. He was an encouragement. “In those days,” Ruth-Alice recalled, “the Nazis were always marching and saying, ‘The future belongs to us! We are the future!’ And we young ones who were against Hitler and the Nazis would hear this and we wondered, ‘Where is our future?’ But there in Finkenwalde, when I heard this man preaching, who had been captured by God, I thought: ‘Here. Here is our future.”‘

By this time Hitler had taken over the German church by requiring new pastors, upon ordination, to swear  an oath; “I swear before God that I will be true and obedient to the Fuhrer of the German people and state, Adolf Hitler.” The future Ruth-Alice talked about was the gospel being preached by Bonhoeffer from the bible, our future in Christ, our only hope. Little, by little these people saw their freedoms and things they took for granted taken from them. The Nazi’s even tried to take their faith, which in part they were partly successful at, as most of the German church went along with Hitler, thinking they could eventually get him to see the error of his ways.

Enough history, back to reality. Where is your hope today? Is it in the savings account you have built up or are working on? Is it the wonderful marriage and relationship you have with your spouse, the job that seems secure even in these uncertain times (or maybe the job that might not seem secure), the family you have, the church you attend? Maybe it’s your health, your boyfriend or girlfriend, the college degree you have been working on the last 2-4 years, the warm house or apartment you live in, or the volunteer work you do down at the homeless shelter? What happens if you lose just one of these in your life? Or what happens if the Lord allows all of these to be taken from you? But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:10 In the end, all of these things I mentioned and more will be taken from you.

One day, we will stand before God all by ourselves, nothing or no one will stand beside us. It will be just you, and the Lord God Almighty. The only thing that will matter at this time will be what you did while here on earth to glorify God, through faith in Jesus Christ. The gospel is our future, our hope; the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Peter, writing about the end of all things, wrote to the dispersed Christians in the out-lying areas of the Roman empire;  The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11

So………today, take another look – where is your hope?

Vertical focus – not horizontal!

Reader, are you unsaved? Have you experienced any noteworthy deliverances? Then adore and admire the free grace of God, and pray that it may lead you to repentance! Are you enquiring for the way of life? Remember the words DEI GRATIA, and never forget that by grace we are saved. Grace always pre-supposes unworthiness in its object. The province of grace ceases where merit begins: what a cheering word is this to those of you who have no worth, no merit, no goodness whatever! Crimes are forgiven, and follies are cured by our Redeemer out of mere free favour. The word grace has the same meaning as our common term gratis: Wickliffe’s prayer was, “Lord save me gratis” No works can purchase or procure salvation, but the heavenly Father giveth freely, and upbraideth not.

Grace comes to us through faith in Jesus. Whosoever believeth on Him is not condemned. O, sinner, may God give thee grace to look to Jesus and live. Looknow, for to-day is the accepted time!

From: The Sword and the Trowel, by C.H. Spurgeon

In the middle of working through these latest events in my life and researching materials for this article, I can’t help but relate to the Israelites and their wilderness experience.
Why did God “lead” the Israelites around in circles through the wilderness for forty years, when in fact it’s only an eleven day journey to Canaan?When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” Exodus 13:17 He didn’t want them to return to Egypt and the bonds of slavery. He wanted them to go to Canaan, the Promised Land.
Prior to entering the wilderness, God blessed the Israelites when they left Egypt with all the gold and silver they asked for Exodus 12:36. So too, have I been blessed with earthly favor from the Lord prior to my job loss. Is it possible I am going through a test, a time for reflection on where I put my faith? Have I been a slave to (have I put my faith in—idolatry) the material things God has blessed me with? Have I allowed the pride of what I can do on my own to replace my Lord on His throne? God sometimes brings us to the corner of the room so we can see only what He wants us to see. I needed to stop and take stock of where my heart was.
Earlier this week, when I came home with the bad news of missing out on a job opportunity, my wife Rosie and I got on our knees and prayed. The next day, she came home with a great devotional from Streams in the Desert which encouraged us both.
The End Of Our Strength by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 20:29

How strong is the snare of the things that are seen, and how necessary for God to keep us in the things that are unseen! If Peter is to walk on the water he must walk; if he is going to swim, he must swim, but he cannot do both. If the bird is going to fly it must keep away from fences and the trees, and trust to its buoyant wings. But if it tries to keep within easy reach of the ground, it will make poor work of flying.
God had to bring Abraham to the end of his own strength, and to let him see that in his own body he could do nothing. He had to consider his own body as good as dead, and then take God for the whole work; and when he looked away from himself, and trusted God alone, then he became fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able to perform. That is what God is teaching us, and He has to keep away encouraging results until we learn to trust without them, and then He loves to make His Word real in fact as well as faith. —A. B. Simpson
I do not ask that He must prove
His word is true to me,
And that before I can believe
He first must let me see.
It is enough for me to know
‘Tis true because He says ‘tis so;
On His unchanging Word I’ll stand
And trust till I can understand.
—E.M. Winter
———————————————-
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-12

My hope is in the unseen, my hope is in Christ and the future He has in store for me. It is for His praise and glory I should be living, not my own.

Vertical focus, not horizontal!

Hmmm….”dead faith.” It doesn’t sound like a kind of faith I would like to be attached to. How about you? Would you rather say that you have a faith that is alive or would you rather say; “ahhh, my faith is dead”?
This portion of scripture uses as an example Abraham, who God said his faith was complete because of what he did.
Now I’m not suggesting that we are saved by works. The bible is clear that it is only by our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved from the wrath of a just and holy God.
Lets say Abraham had dead faith. Lets say Abraham said, “O Sovereign Lord, I believe in you, I hear your voice, but, but I am so comfortable here where I am, and I’m afraid to go to the land of Canaan, I’m afraid of what others might think, or I’m afraid I can’t do it.” Whoa, what would the ramifications of that be? Not that God’s plan wouldn’t have been completed because of Abraham’s “dead faith.” God would have found someone else who was faithful to accomplish His work, or maybe he would have sent a big reptile with similar results like that of Jonah’s big fish. The point is, biblical faith is active, not passive. Are you involved in the work of the Lord? Are you willing to act on God’s truth? Are you willing to get involved in church (there is plenty to do), with your next door neighbor or with a co-worker?
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heir with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:8-10 Why didn’t Abraham take the land? He certainly had military might (Genesis 14). Why didn’t he just buy it up as he was a very wealthy man (see Genesis 13)? It’s because the God who told him to go to the land also told him that he would give him the land. The coin of faith has another side, one side is the side of our taking action, the other side is the willingness to allow God to perform His will through us, in His power, for His glory. We do not take matters into our own hands, but as we obey, we allow God to perform His will though us.
So, if you are hearing from God to get involved somewhere, don’t sit on your hands. Take a step forward in faith, knowing the Lord will give you everything you need to accomplish that which He has asked you to do, because you will be doing it in His strength, not yours, and He and only He will get the glory. Do we not want to glorify our God? Vertical focus, not horizontal!

A point was made that perked my attention. When we think about the word “blessing” we think about good things in our lives. But Jesus defined blessings as something bad that happens to us that reveals something good about God. The bible says blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are you when you are persecuted and rejected. How can that be good??

Are we so used to the good life that we expect, look forward to or anticipate nothing but straight, bump-free roads? Paul’s thinking was in the other direction. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death Philippians 3:10 ~ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Timothy 1:11-12 ~ If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us 2 Timothy 2:12 ~ In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted 2 Timothy 3:12 As Christians, in the life here on earth, we are promised grief, pain, suffering and death. Paul’s effort was to enter into sharing Christ’s sufferings. To the Corinthians, Paul wrote; But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Paul isn’t saying here that we should go out and look for situations that will bring suffering (emotional, physical or spiritual) into our lives, but he is saying that we can expect it, and when life gets hard for what ever reason, we should rejoice when it does, because it means that the strength that is in Christ is being manifested through the weaknesses that is in us. The word “delight” means to choose, to do willingly, or to think it good. It’s a choice we make, a matter of the will through the strength of God.

A point that finally brought me to the realization that I had to share this was the statement; “if it is allowed by a sovereign God, Paul says it has a sovereign purpose.” Suffering is a part of our sanctification and it’s ok to ask the Lord to take it away, but we need to realize that God may sometimes say no, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

When God gets the glory, we are blessed. Whether through loss or gain, only a close fellowship with a Living Savior can bring meaning to life’s afflictions, calamities and pressures. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

So we all are mentors as we walk this life with loved ones, neighbors, co-workers and fellow believers. Life is a constant state of mentoring, making decisions that affect ourselves and those around us.

Vertical focus, not horizontal!

My thoughts during a “down moment” brought me to the song My Hope Is In The Lord and I realized (again) that I was putting my hope in the future, on getting a job.

What a great hymn!

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Calvary.

My Lord is a God of hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

I was bought with a price. You were bought at a price I Cor 7:23a

For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life
And light He freely gives.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. II Cor. 5:21

No merit of my own
His anger to suppress
My only hope is found
In Jesus’ righteousness.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5

And now for me He stands
Before the Father’s throne
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own.

Christ Jesus is He who died, more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God, and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:15-17

His grace has planned it all
Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive.

Thank you Lord, I needed that reminder. You are in control, you are all I need.

Vertical focus, not horizontal!

“Covetousness” means desiring something other than God in the wrong way. But what does that mean—“in the wrong way”?

The reason this matters is both vertical and horizontal. Idolatry will destroy our relationship with God. And it will destroy our relationships with people.

All human relational problems—from marriage and family to friendship to neighbors to classmates to colleagues—all of them are rooted in various forms of idolatry, that is, wanting things other than God in wrong ways.

So here is my effort to think biblically about what those wrong ways are. What makes an enjoyment idolatrous? What turns a desire into covetousness, which is idolatry?

1. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is forbidden by God. For example, adultery and fornication and stealing and lying are forbidden by God. Some people at some times feel that these are pleasurable, or else we would not do them. No one sins out of duty. But such pleasure is a sign of idolatry.
2. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is disproportionate to the worth of what is desired. Great desire for non-great things is a sign that we are beginning to make those things idols.
3. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is not permeated with gratitude. When our enjoyment of something tends to make us not think of God, it is moving toward idolatry. But if the enjoyment gives rise to the feeling of gratefulness to God, we are being protected from idolatry. The grateful feeling that we don’t deserve this gift or this enjoyment, but have it freely from God’s grace, is evidence that idolatry is being checked.
4. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it does not see in God’s gift that God himself is more to be desired than the gift. If the gift is not awakening a sense that God, the Giver, is better than the gift, it is becoming an idol.
5. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is starting to feel like a right, and our delight is becoming a demand. It may be that the delight is right. It may be that another person ought to give you this delight. It may be right to tell them this. But when all this rises to the level of angry demands, idolatry is rising.
6. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it draws us away from our duties. When we find ourselves spending time pursuing an enjoyment, knowing that other things, or people, should be getting our attention, we are moving into idolatry.
7. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it awakens a sense of pride that we can experience this delight while others can’t. This is especially true of delights in religious things, like prayer and Bible reading and ministry. It is wonderful to enjoy holy things. It idolatrous to feel proud that we can.
8. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is oblivious or callous to the needs and desires of others. Holy enjoyment is aware of others’ needs and may temporarily leave a good pleasure to help another person have it. One might leave private prayer to be the answer to someone else’s.
9. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it does not desire that Christ be magnified as supremely desirable through the enjoyment. Enjoying anything but Christ (like his good gifts) runs the inevitable risk of magnifying the gift over the Giver. One evidence that idolatry is not happening is the earnest desire that this not happen.
10. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is not working a deeper capacity for holy delight. We are sinners still. It is idolatrous to be content with sin. So we desire transformation. Some enjoyments shrink our capacities of holy joy. Others enlarge them. Some go either way, depending on how we think about them. When we don’t care if an enjoyment is making us more holy, we are moving into idolatry.
11. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when its loss ruins our trust in the goodness of God. There can be sorrow at loss without being idolatrous. But when the sorrow threatens our confidence in God, it signals that the thing lost was becoming an idol.
12. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when its loss paralyzes us emotionally so that we can’t relate lovingly to other people. This is the horizontal effect of losing confidence in God. Again: Great sorrow is no sure sign of idolatry. Jesus had great sorrow. But when desire is denied, and the effect is the emotional inability to do what God calls us to do, the warning signs of idolatry are flashing.

For myself and for you, I pray the admonition of 1 John 5:21, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org