As you recall, we talked about the sinful, deceitful heart of man last week and I’d like to continue looking at the solution to this problem.  As we’ve talked about week after week, the only real solution to SIN is Jesus- “the blood of Jesus Christ his son, that cleanseth us from all sin…” 1 John 1:7.   I am so grateful for the grace and love of God that delivers us from the penalty, the power, and eventually from the very presence of sin.  But I’d like to look a little deeper into our walk in that grace and love of Christ when he delivers us from sin.   As Romans 3:23 tells us “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and Romans 6:23 , “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

When does ‘Eternal Life’ begin?  Well, I believe that eternal life begins the moment we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Our eternal life is not “pie in the sky” but it is the empowerment to live with God’s presence and power ruling and leading in our hearts and should be seen in our living.  As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”   And of course one of our favorites , Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   Let’s look at some very practical help as we “walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful unto every good work.” Col 1:10 (also check out Eph 2:10)

One of my favorite passages that show us the “walk” is Psalm 37:3-7

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: ….”  I see 4 distinct principles here that are certain to help us “walk worthy” of the Lord’s call upon us.  The first is to “trust” in the Lord and that requires a knowledge of God—I can’t trust someone that I don’t know, and the more intimately I know Him, the more I will come to trust Him.  Pro. 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”  Trusting God means that I know He will provide and I yield to His ways for me.

As Abraham offered Isaac in Genesis 22, knowing God had promised that Isaac was the seed….”, Hebrews 11:17-19 confirms that “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”  Abraham knew that if he offered Isaac on the altar of sacrifice God would raise him up—because God keeps HIS word.  That is real faith/trust.  Knowing that God keeps His word is the basis of trust.  Ro 4:21 “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”   Ro 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” God is faithful and I can trust HIM.   Do we live as if we trust HIM?  Have you allowed God to reveal HIS faithfulness to you?

When we come to know Jesus and trust Him for salvation, we can trust Him for living it out.  Back to Psalm 37—Trust and do good.  My faith is seen in my actions.  James says in  2:18b “…I will shew thee my faith by my works…”  The Psalmist calls us not only to “trust” him, but to do good and dwell in the land=LIVE FOR GOD  and HE WILL PROVIDE…  The next step is to “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” 

Contrary to popular practice this isn’t a magic formula for self-indulgence but a call to “delight” in the Lord.  To be so focused on God that my heart longs for, and follows Him in all.  As David was called a “man after God’s own heart”,  it didn’t mean that David was perfect,  but that his heart was committed to know and yield to God.  In only a few instances did David commit blatant sin, but even then he sought God’s face in repentance for restoration.   Psalm 51:10-13 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”  I am to keep God first.  Matt 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  As simply put as Jesus Himself said it here– God first, then He will give us the desires of our heart—a heart set on HIM.  Then, and only then, can we can teach others and see souls converted.

The last 2 principles are very closely connected.  Commit and Rest.  As I learn to walk with God and in His ways then I can commit (devote) my ways unto God and,  “He will bring it to pass…..”  I can learn to “rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”  This I think is the hardest of all the principles to live—to commit it to God and rest in the Lord and not try to carry the load myself.  I know how hard this is for me—I seem to lay the burden down and then before I know it I’ve picked it back up again.  Jesus reminds us “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? “  Matt 6:31, and Prov 27:1 “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”  1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”.  Learning to trust God is a lifetime endeavor and I call us all to seek God’s face day by day and moment by moment.  To trust HIM, to delight in HIM, to commit to HIM and to rest in HIM—not easy but worth every effort we put into it.  Remember those verses we learned about the mind –Phil 4:8 and 2 Cor 10:3-5, they are a great help to check our way continually.

If you’ve been listening to any news outlet lately you are aware of the uproar over “violence”.  I can’t help but wonder how we seem to have missed the obvious—Jer. 17:8-10, speaking of the contrast between the righteous & the wicked, says  “For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”  We are sinful, fallen people and God has told us that our hearts are deceitful and wicked.  And sinful and wicked people do wicked things.

Psalm 1 also tells us that the righteous will be like a “….tree planted by the rivers of water, which bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so…..the ungodly shall perish.”  How is it that we have missed the point?  Man is wicked, not the tools of our humanity, whatever they may be.  Cain killed Abel and we don’t know what “tool” he used, but — “… Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” Gen 3:8.  Cain let the sin in his own heart drive him to  murder.  What can we learn from this?  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23.  Sin is the issue!!!

I’ve been reading in Jeremiah the last few weeks and it’s almost like reading the newspaper.  Let’s look at some of the “Biblical Headlines”.   Jer 8:20-22  “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”  Jer 6:14 “ They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”    Where are we looking for the “Balm of Gilead”?  In legislation instead of “salvation”?  In government instead of the Prince of Peace?  The cost of our peace was 3 nails and 2 pieces of wood.   The “Balm of Gilead” is offered only at Calvary in the blood of Christ, that “cleanses us from all sin”, that is “…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus….” Ro 6:23

But that blood not only cleanses, it brings “real peace”—peace with God and the opportunity to offer peace to the world.  Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”  These words of Paul remind us that we can only have real “peace” with God (and therefore peace with others), and the love of God within us, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s our disharmonious, deceitful hearts that cause all the trouble, and Jesus alone brings the peace of God when we are born again.  How?  John 1:12-13 tells us that “ … as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  It is Jesus that restores that “in the image of God” part of us that died in Eden—when he imparts the Holy Spirit to us — salvation, the new birth.  Praise the Lord I can be righteous by the power of God in me!!!!   2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  It’s all JESUS!! “Christ in you, the hope of glory…” Col 1:27

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Rom 3:23.   We all have to choose. The gift or the payday?  Who will we follow?   As Christ’s we are to “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”. Gal 5:16, and Col 3:12-15 says “ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering…….forgiving one another,….: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called…..”  Am I walking in sin or in the Spirit? Spreading peace or disharmony?

We are accountable.  Only when we as believers hold ourselves accountable, will we be real salt and light in this world of darkness.  Only when the peace of God rules in us will we affect our world.  Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”   Am I allowing Christ to keep me in peace, that I might be a “peace maker”—bringing the lost world to my Lord for real peace?

I’d like to leave you with this thought that we’ll explore in more detail next week, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. “   Psalm 37:3  I am to trust GOD and do good.  John 15:5 reminds us “without me, you can do nothing”.  May we all ponder our part in bringing real peace to the world around us as we share Christ and pursue righteousness.

As we have the first few weeks of the new year under our belts, it has brought to mind how quickly things change—the calendar, the weather, our plans, politics, the daily news.  So much going on around us and changing continually.

I was just sitting here reading something that a friend sent me about our obligation to be light in the darkness around us.  It reinforced the message we heard this morning in our church, about the difference that one faithful person can make.  The Ananias who was sent to touch Saul and restore his sight, is a man of virtual anonymity and obscurity but his obedience to God’s call helped change the world of his day and ours.

Can I make a difference?   As this same Saul, later called Paul, tells us in his letter to the Philippians 4:12-13 “12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  In Christ I can do ALL that God asks me to do.  I think we often forget the qualifier of “Not my will but thine be done” Luke 22:42.  It is God who strengthens me to do HIS work and I can trust to His provision every step of the way.  I truly want to make a difference but it’s not easy.

One of the things that haunt us, I think, is the inconvenience of serving God.  We have grown accustomed to “convenience”—Convenience stores, convenience foods, convenience tools that order our lives.  But I have found through scripture and experience that God most often works in unexpected ways, times and circumstances, using ordinary people—in that interruption of our plans and schedules.  Most people don’t schedule time for the flu that is rampaging around us, or for blizzards, scorching heat, floods or accidents.  As a people governed by the clock and the calendar are we ready to hear from the God, who, on the other hand, is concerned with “eternity” not time?

Some scriptures that give us parameters for walking successfully by faith and availability to God include 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Such powerful verses remind us that we are walking in this world, yet we have supernatural  power to do God’s work, God’s way.  We must remember, as we have talked about the last few weeks, that we are in a battle once we come to Jesus.   But God tells us here, that our weapons are empowered by God –Mighty through GOD– to pull down, cast down, and bring captive the things that plague our minds.

And that, my friends is the point I’d like to focus on this week.  The battle is most often in our minds.  Our thoughts become desires, desires become actions, actions become habits, and habits shape and produce character, which determines our destiny.  If we can learn to recognize the importance of our thought life, it will result in our spiritual growth this year and beyond for Jesus.  How to accomplish this hinges on whether I will bring every thought into the  ‘obedience of Jesus Christ’?  To do this, I must develop a Biblical mindset.  I must read and study the Word of God regularly and consistently, at all costs.  I know how easy it is to neglect time devoted to God’s Word but we must make it a priority!!!

Another helpful verse is Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  I must check the “enemy” at the door of my mind.  When those thoughts come—all thoughts—I simply run them through the checklist of Phil. 4:8.  Is this thought true? Honest? Just? Pure? ….  If not, then I must reject that thought and think on the things of God instead.   Memorizing these 2 passages will be invaluable to you as you deal with your thought life moment by moment.  And I know it’s a moment-by-moment battle!

I’d like to wrap up with parts of 2 verses from 2 Timothy (2:15 & 3:16-17) “Study to show yourself approved unto God…”  To find God’s approval I must study HIS word, because  “all scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness….”  God’s word will do its work in me as I spend time in it, and seek God’s face through it.  James 1:25 says “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”  I hope this will encourage us all to make God’s Word a priority in our lives each and every day.  May His blessings rest on you and grow you in grace and truth through His Spirit and His Word. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11

We’ve heard a lot lately about “cliffs” and it brought to mind the Biblical perspective of separation, or dividing.   The dictionary defines division as “the act or process of dividing anything into parts, or the state of being so divided; separation”.   As we think about our country and the divided state of things—right-vs-left; Christians-vs-Muslims;  liberals-vs-conservatives:  fiscal soundness-vs-irresponsibility– there are things that divide us on a regular basis.  Let’s look a few minutes at a Biblical perspective of division.

We usually think of division as bad, a lessening or diminishing of something, and that can be true,  but not always.  Division can be good or bad, let’s look at some examples and see what we can learn about division/separation, the good and the bad of it.   There are many examples in the scripture and the first is seen in Genesis 3, when mankind, in the person of Adam and Eve, was separated from the very presence of God.  But we’ll deal with that major topic at a later time.  Let’s look at Abram and Lot.  Prosperity caused them to separate and that was a not a bad thing, yet as Abram extended grace and generosity in allowing Lot to chose his place first, two different consequences were manifest.  In Genesis 13:14 “And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.”

God reconfirmed His covenant promise to Abram, and in verse 18 Abram responds to God …” Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.”  Lot on the other hand, was drawn to Sodom,  a place that God tells us,   “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly”,  and his life affected by his choice.  1 Peter 2:7-9 says “And (God) delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;):” Although Lot didn’t partake of their wickedness, he was ‘vexed’ by it, and apparently, according to Gen. 19, he had not been a vocal testimony to God’s righteous ways.  He lost his wife and his family that stayed in Sodom, and his 2 daughters who went with him, committed incest with their own father.  And the offspring of this incest,  grew into 2 nations that later became bitter enemies of Israel and of God.  Note that one division produced most dire consequences for one and blessings for the other.

Abram drew nearer and nearer to God and was blessed to be called the ‘friend of God’.  Paul tells us in Romans 4:17-24 “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, ……18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, …He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness….;”.     Abram, later called Abraham, walked with God and although divided/separated from his family knew and lived in the power of God.  How are we to live?  What do my choices have to do with my consequence?  Everything!!!

There are many other examples that I wanted to share this week, but for time and space I’ll list but a few.  Solomon’s kingdom was divided because of his choices.  1 Kings 3:3 “And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.”  Solomon had a divided heart and it led him into idolatry in his later life, 1 Kings 11:4 “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.” Because he had a divided heart, his kingdom was divided in judgment because of his sin.   A divided heart-A divided nation!

Paul and Barnabas were divided over young Mark; hence the Gospel was taken out by 2 teams rather than 1(Acts 15:39.  The Father and the Son were separated at Calvary—for you and me.  Mark 15:34b “My God, my God,, why hast thou forsaken me?”   The most difficult separation of the ages—for our salvation.   We are called in Rev. 18 to “come out of her my people…..” to be separate from the world’s ways, but ready to share the Good News with those without Christ.

So is division good or bad?   I think the Psalmist has the answer—Ps 37:23 “ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”  So I don’t need to worry about “cliffs”, or separations, or divisions I just have to live Psalm 119:133 “Order my steps in Thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”  What choices are facing you this week?  Are there “divisions” facing you?  So what do you or I do?  Well, very simply we are to do what Paul tells us in Galatians 5:16 & 25…”This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  v 25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” 

I pray that each of us will walk in God’s spirit, being and doing that which is pleasing to the Father.  Sometimes that will bring separation, sometimes not…..  Watch, listen and obey, and God will be glorified in our lives.  Blessings on your week as you watch for God working around YOU!!!  Join Him in His work—You will be blessed and He will be glorified.