For Your Own Safety

Php 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Having told the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord, Paul now tells them something for their own safety. He says that he is not even grieved to have to warn them about false teachers. Such is the heart of the soul winner, church planter and faithful shepherd. The sheep come first. The feelings of sheep devourers he could care less about.

Beware of dogs - Isaiah (56:10) calls false prophets "dumb dogs". These are they who bring in false doctrines, damnable heresies. If their work results in just one soul spending eternity in hell, they must be called what they are, dogs! Their works must be made manifest and brought to light. Elsewhere, Paul reminds us that dogs return to their own vomit. These Judaizers profess faith in Christ but turn back to the old ways, preaching works and appearances for righteousness.

Beware of evil workers - Their evil works subvert the true gospel. Paul calls for them to be pronounced "anathema" that is, accursed. They are to be shunned, not even to be wished "god speed".

Beware of the concision - in the next verse, true believers are called the "circumcision", that is, they are made to be peculiar, a covenanted people in Christ. But these dogs and evil workers are merely called "the concision." It is kind of a play on words. “Katatome” means mutilation or amputation. In other words, there are those true believers whose hearts are marked by their faith in Christ, and then there are these false believers/teachers whose lives, messages and works are marked by mutilation. They tear down rather than build up, they cut rather than repair, they dissemble instead of gather together.

Believe me, these wolves are hopping from church to church in our day, leaving decimation and ruin in their wakes. They must be identified and challenged to repent or be exposed and run off.

David felt no compunction for the bear or the lion he slew to save his sheep. Paul felt no grief in warning his spiritual prodigy. Neither should we leaders be sheepish in exposing the dogs, evil workers and mutilators.

All of Me, Not a Part, but All of Me

Today's image: Lynn and Jeremiah under the Natural Bride at Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton, MO.

Philippians 2:20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

Paul makes this strong statement against the flesh. Sometimes it seems that nobody is truly sold out of the Lord.

As that great man of God, DL Moody, began his service for Christ, his mentor challenged him, "Dwight, the world has never seen what God can do with and for and through a man totally committed to Him." Moody responded, "By God's grace, I shall be that man." At the end of his life, even the great DL Moody, who shook two continents for God, said, "The world has yet to see what God can do what God can do with and through and for a man totally committed to Him."

As preachers, sometimes we feel as did Paul, as if there is no one likeminded, who really cares about the work of God. It seems as if everyone cares only for themselves and their own, not for the things of the Lord.

But then we are reminded that there are those Timothys and Epahrodituses who are truly sold out for the Lord, caring not for their own lives, but willing to serve no matter the cost. Aquilla and Priscilla was a fine example of a couple fully persuaded to serve Christ, no matter the consequences.

Epaphroditus forfeited his health and almost died in service to Christ and the apostle. Mercifully, God healed him and gave him additional opportunities to serve.

I suppose most of us have counted the cost of complete surrender and have found our spiritual bank accounts lacking to cover the expense. So we opt to refrain from total surrender. We cannot cede the reigns to Him for fear of having to give up some dear past time or occupation or possession, as if these things hold any import in the light of eternity.

I love the words of the song which say;
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

And another song which says;
I have decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me,
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
No turning back, not turning back.

If we were to estimate how much of our being we have given to Jesus and how much have we reserved for ourselves, I wonder what those percentages would be. Would you say that He has 10% of you? Maybe 20%? Could some say that God has 50%? God is looking to bless one who has surrendered all to Him, 100%.

Might you be that one? The World is yet to see what God can do with and through and for this type of person.

Blogging From the Ozarks

The picture is from the first night at Junior Camp (Beth Eden) in which two children gave their lives to Christ. It was a fantastic chapel service which included ventriloquism, prestidigitation, preaching, music and the Spirit moving. Here, Marin, Abby and G-ma are settling in for a fun week of camp. May many souls be saved and Christian kids surrender their lives to Christ!

My devotions today included perhaps my favorite verses in the entire Bible. I so look forward to Coronation Day! I recall the 90’s when I was really riding high in sports. My favorite teams were all in complete domination of their respective leagues. The Huskers were invincible, the Bulls won 6 championships and the Broncos were enjoying a peerless run. I felt euphoric during those years as my guys were boasting the very best sports had to offer.

But one day, it will be time for the greatest of all greats to reign supreme. He will dominate for all eternity. He will be proved on that day to be matchless and undefeated. His crown will never fade and His kingdom will never fall. His name will be prized as His praise will reverberate throughout the heavens for all time. On that day my Hero, and the Hero of Heaven will raise His arms in ultimate and eternal victory.

Every knee is going to bow in reverence. Every tongue: atheist tongues, Buddhist tongues, Hindu tongues, Muslim tongues, Christian tongues will all confess Him as Lord Sovereign over all the earth and heavens.

Read and rejoice:

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What are You Living For?

What turns your crank? It could be; working hard, playing hard, maybe even shopping hard. I particularly love to fish, hunt, shoot and watch sports. I love to travel and see historic things. I love seeing mountains, forests, lakes and streams. I like to watch the sunset, especially over the mountains or the sea. Sunrises are pretty cool too. Personally, I like to sing and listen to good southern gospel music.

But I really like what Paul told the Philippians, Phil. 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Does Christ turn your crank?

Prayer for Others

Phil 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in
every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your
fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

Philippi is the place where Paul and Silas were mistreated and jailed for the
cause of Christ. God sent an earthquake to lose their bonds a free the
missionaries. As a result, the jailer and his family became believers.

Not much fruit was evident during the days of Paul's time in Philippi, but
now he writes this letter to them expressing his deep feelings for them.

We notice that he remembered them:
*With thanks unto God
*Often
*In prayer
*With joy
*For ongoing fellowship
*For what God was continuing to do in them

I think the key here is that Paul prayed for them:
1) Each time they were mentioned.
2) Each time they occupied his thoughts.
If we would just be careful to pray for others upon these two occasions, we
could make sure they have adequate prayer cover.

Are we careful to remember our co-laborers before the Lord? Heaven will
reveal the importance of our prayers for one another.

Doing Good Has Its Reward

Eph 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

You have heard, one good turn deserves another. That is an immutable precept taught in the Word of the Lord. Here are some other interesting promises we find:

*Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.
*Give and it shall be given unto you.
*If a man would have friends, he must first show himself friendly.
*For if ye forgive not men their sins, neither shall your sins be forgiven you.
*Cast your bread upon the waters and after many days it shall return unto you.
*With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

These are just a few of the spiritual laws that God has set up in the Word. If we comport ourselves in a certain way, there is an expected consequence.

Today, we find another surefire precept that ought to get our attention and improve our life situation. Any good thing we do for others, God will do the same for us.

Recall the clear teaching of Jesus who said,
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

What greater motivation do we need to be a blessing to others than to know that God is taking note of all we do for others and will return those blessings upon us accordingly.

That promise motivates me to continue giving all I can give, encourage all I can encourage, show mercy to no end, help those in need, forgive, love, aid, instruct, be kind and generally keep the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Because, actually, what I do to them is going to come back on me.

Jacob Have I loved!

Romans 9:13 Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated.

A few thoughts here. The word “hated” here in Romans is the Greek word “miseō” which is a comparative word meaning “to despise” or “to love less”. In the context of the passage, God, through Paul, is showing how God chose Jacob over Esau as the one through whose seed the Messiah would come. There is no doubt that God loved Esau’s soul, but He despised his ways, i.e. selling his birthright for a bowl of soup. God was in no way pleased with the chicanery of Jacob either, but He looks beyond what we are and sees what we can become.

Because God is love, that does not mean He cannot hate. If we do a study of the things and even the people God hates in the Bible, it is a bit shocking for the weak of heart. But we find that perfect love demands a hatred toward that which is destructive toward the objects of His passion.

Fast forward a few millennium and look at the harm inflicted upon the apple of God’s eye, the chosen people, by the offspring of Esau (and Uncle Ishmael) and we can better understand how He “loves less” or even “despises” those who seek to annihilate them. Think: Nazis, Communists, mass murderers and their ilk. Think: Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot, Charles Manson, Lenin, etc.

God loves these abusers enough to save their souls, if they would but repent and trust in His Son. But when they continue in their bent to destroy God’s work and His people, they place themselves in the path of God’s despite.

But I digress. The passage in question deals more with God’s unconditional choice, that is, Jacob over Esau, than it does the acts and emotions of love and hatred.