Holy Spirit Unity

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. (Acts 21:17–26)

A commentary says Paul is making a compromise here by allowing the Jews to have their desire to follow ceremonial law and encouraging them to be content without putting their practices on Gentile believers. In our day, this would be like encouraging peace between those who worship on the sixth day with those who insist on the seventh day.

It seems to me that compromise is not the point. I’ve had conversations with those who claim to be Christians and have ideas about how to practice their ‘faith’ that are different from others. The issue is not that they worship a different day, but that they insist if others do not do the same, they cannot be saved. That is, if I am guided by the Holy Spirit and someone else is, we will agree. If not, either one or both of us are ‘doing our own thing’ and not listening to the Lord. The Spirit is not the author of contrary commands but unity.

What then was Paul doing when he told the Gentiles to refrain from certain sins? Could it be that these sins governed their old life before they were redeemed and could easily be stumbling blocks of temptation? As for the Jews, rule-keeping is not wrong, but basing salvation on it instead of faith in Jesus Christ is, just read Galatians!

At the same time, there are conflicts like faith being a gift that the Spirit does for us vs. the need for us to believe in Christ, as if we do that without help. I tend to go with what God does, for when I do, He gets the glory. When I base my redemption on my decision, then I tend to fall into boasting. Jesus explained it with this parable:

(Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

Human pride too often confuses truth with the strength of my ego and being ‘certain’ that I know what I’m talking about. Only can God's Word and His Spirit keep my heart holding to the truth and living it.  

And, Lord Jesus, You know who is saved and who thinks they are but are not, and those who base their salvation on You, and those who say, “I did it” and pat themselves on the back. Sometimes it is easy to tell the difference, but not always. Genuine Christians can boast “I accepted Christ” or can say, “Christ drew me to Himself” but those who think they are saved by their own doing honor their way rather than Your way. Even those who truly believe can fall into the trap of self-glory and pride. Lord, have mercy. I need You to block my pride and keep my heart yielded to  You. Proof of salvation is a changed life!

 

Proof of eternal life…

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:4–9)

All through the OT God told His people how to live, and even though some of them trusted Him and were faithful, most of them could not do it. Trusting Abraham was not adequate to produce the lives God wanted. So the Lord had to do something drastic.

Yesterday I heard an expose on ten large churches that teach error regarding how to live for God. Almost all of them were encouraged to use “faith” to live for themselves. “Be healthy, wealthy, and wise, and God will bless you.” Earn it. The sad part is that for many this prosperity gospel works, particularly the leaders of those churches, but for this life only.

However, as John the Baptist, and Jesus, and the disciples, and millions of later followers preached, living the rules does not produce evidence of new life.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22–24)

Joy that does not depend on external circumstances. Peace that deeply comforts no matter what. Patience in trials, kindness to all, even enemies… and death to selfishness and greed. This is Holy Spirit fruit and without Him in my life, I simply cannot live that way. Some can look good on the surface (I cannot) but the heart is all about self.

Since I’m not supposed to judge others, discerning false faith is a challenge. But out of the heart comes words that show me what to say and how to pray for those who are trying to earn their salvation, or are using religious practices with the hope of being “good enough” to earn God’s blessing. This passage is both helpful and a warning:

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

It is easy to exalt myself and rob Jesus of the glory He alone deserves. Pride is a big enemy of truth.

Lord, You alone save. I cannot bear fruit, or talk right, or think godly thoughts apart from You and the grace You give. Every day You remind me and I’m thankful that You patiently put up with my lapses — sins that You died for yet You forgive. More than that, You keep cleansing my heart and drawing me into humility and living for You. Protect me and help me to be grateful every day for Your incredible mercy.

Overcoming false prophets

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. (Micah 3:5–8)

In the OT, false prophets were identified by what motivated them. In this passage, it was not spiritual illumination from the Lord, but personal desires. Micah calls it food, yet it could be anything that makes them feel good, satisfied, taken care of. They were more interested in their own comfort than in truth.

Today, there are some involved in ‘Christian’ ministry that are preaching a similar message. They say that God wants us healthy, wealthy, and wise and the more generously we give, the greater the blessing. While God blesses generosity, that motive for giving is self-centered and fleshy. 

Other false prophets are those in the cults. They call themselves true Christians and sincerely believe their way is the right way. However, they interpret the Word of God with their own way of thinking and not relying on the Holy Spirit to enlighten them. One of these cults says Jesus is “a god” and insert that “a” in this verse:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

They do not know or ignore that the original language this was translated from does not have a word for “a” — and they ignore all other references to the deity of Jesus Christ. 

They also claim that faith means Jesus “died to give us the right to earn our salvation” — an idea that is nowhere in the Bible. Yet they boast that they are the only right ones who please God. They ignore this::

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

In this verse and all others, faith is about believing in and trusting the Lord, not ourselves or any ability to earn salvation. It is also a gift, not earned. 

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

Humility is vital. If I am proud of myself and brag about how godly I am and give no credit to the power of God and the Person of Jesus Christ, then I am deceived at best and teaching lies at worst.

Lord Jesus, only You can change lives. The best we can do becomes a boast, a personal ego trip into darkness. Micah was filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare truth to the false prophets of his day and to the people who had been deceived by them. Oh Lord, we need more people like Micah in our day too. 

 

Let Jesus back in…

The book of Revelation begins with letters to seven churches. While there is much debate about their interpretation, the content is obvious: they were not written for unsaved people. Yet one verse is often thought to be a salvation invitation:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

The context shows the recipients are in a church where members have become lukewarm in their relationship with the Lord:

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:15–19)

These believers have become dangerously content. They have all they need and do not rely on the Lord. Since self-sufficiency is part of the Bible’s definition of sin (see Isaiah 53:6), these church members have forgotten why their lives have been blessed and fallen into trusting themselves. It reminds me of something Jesus said:

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

While this vain fellow was not a believer, I need to beware that I do not fall into the same attitude and look down my nose at others who are not living for Jesus or who claim to be, but their lives are sub-standard — at least in my opinion. However, I can see both similarities and differences in this parable and the church spoken to in Revelation. The parable reveals a self-righteous person looking down his nose, and the letter in revelation reveals a lack of concern about being righteous. The parable reveals the need for recognizing sinful pride and a need for humility. The letter reveals a need for recognizing their sin of complacency and their need to repent and regain their zeal. 

Because of the context, Jesus is not making an invitation to sinners and asking them to open the door to be saved. Instead, He is asking those who believe to listen for Him because He has been pushed out of their lives and He wants back in.

Some believers might claim that is impossible, but is it? Can we become oblivious to who and what we are trusting? Not so much for eternal life but for the good life? Has no Christian thought or said, “Look what I did” and gave no glory to God? How much in life do we do according to our own ideas without asking God for wisdom? How easy is it to be lukewarm and comfortable?

Jesus also says that He reproves and disciplines those He loves. He comes to me when my heart is not right and I have shut Him out, knocking and wanting back in. The challenge for me when I am on the other side of the door is to recognize my helplessness and need, to be humble, want my sins covered, and am eager to abandon my pride-filled self-righteousness. I’m to repent, turn from being lax, and remember what He has done for me. 

Are those behind that closed door back-sliding, or committing apostasy, or prodigals? How many Christians admit times of shutting the door on Jesus? And how many say this describes how to be saved, making it their choice instead of Jesus choosing them? 

PRAY: Rather than pointing fingers, I need to remember that You know who is Yours, and who is still lost in sin. You promise to save, to finish what You start, and that eternal life is eternal yet I’m still learning to pay attention to You and trust You with all details in MY life. I’m not to point fingers at others in judgment, but listen for You and keep the door open by recognizing my sin, then confessing, repenting, and yielding once more to You.  

Does God need me to make Him happy?

Today’s devotional reading says that every Christian wants to please and honor God. While honoring Him is fitting, I’m wondering if the idea of pleasing God is a fleshy one based on human pride. Does God need anything from me? Can I do anything that I can pat myself on the back for and say that I’ve made God happy? This passage comes to mind:

Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

As the devotional writer says, self-disciplined people can obey laws, fast, give tithes, and do all sorts of good things, but that does not mean much. We can physically separate ourselves from the world, alter our dress code, change our outward habits and live in seclusion from the world and be distinct, but those things take only self-discipline, not grace. Consider moralists and monks, or some of the cults.

Some say we please God by keeping God's laws, but the Bible says the law was given to show us how far short we fall. No one can do it. Sincerity does not make it so. Only Jesus did this and lived a sinless life.

I remember one elderly man who claimed that he never sinned. He must have skipped reading this:

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8–9)

This man was sincere. He claimed that sin dishonored the power of the gospel, yet as John wrote, self-deception does the same thing. The truth is, our old nature may be dead to God but it is still able to affect my thinking and ruin my behavior.

The only true standard of holiness is the Lord Jesus Christ. When I look at His life, I’m fully aware of the futility of trying to live a holy life myself. The Bible is clear; Jesus is my holiness. All who believe in Him and trust His righteousness, his blood, his grace and his intercession are honoring God. If I think I can please Him apart from faith in Christ, then I am pridefully putting myself on a pedestal and speaking from flesh not faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

PRAY: Jesus, You are my righteousness and holiness. You grant faith and all the rewards of trusting You. That means any goodness in me is from You. Not only that, You are complete and need no one to perfect Your joy or anything about You. Even if I obey You and feel pleasure, it is You being glad that I have done it — glad for my sake. You want me to trust You. Faith is how You want me to live and how You enable me through the power of Your Spirit to fit into Your plan for my life. You also allow me to feel Your joy — because You have even given me Your mind. All who believe You, all who trust Your righteousness and Your promises please and honor You for God is pleased with You and You are pleased to live in me. How amazing!

How to be transformed...

 

Yesterday was filled with emotions. Unexpected help came regarding family reunion plans that thrilled me. Not only new ideas to help people enjoy one another, but a great deal of thoughtful and encouraging motivation expressed with it. Then our team nearly won a soccer match only to have it tied in the last minutes and lost in a shoot-out. And after that, a different kind of shooting with an attempt to assassinate the former US president. Then I had a long dream in which a false teacher, filled with nonsense ideas about the way people think, led two church services filled with thousands of people who thought she was wonderful. I woke up distressed at this depiction of the way our world is going. My emotions threatened to take my focus off Jesus.

Today’s devotional reading echoed some of the low points of the previous twenty-four hours. It speaks of self-centeredness saying again that the great sin that plagues us is our focus on me, myself, and I. To be calmer, more level, I needed to focus on Jesus, not think about me.

However, the Bible does say to examine ourselves. Like emotions, this can also get out of hand. Too much looking at me is not good either. Those emotions did that while biblical self-examination should be motivated by a desire to find and root out sin. Yet today’s reading warned that too much of it, or having a me-focus can lead to making excuses, feeling sorry for me, comparing myself to others less fortunate, or even pride that I am better than so-and-so.

(Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

Even reading this story and thinking I am humble can turn into pride that thinks, “At least I am not like that self-righteous Pharisee.” While emotions can put my focus on me, so can pride. I’m supposed to view life in humility.

Not easy. Rare is the truly humble person. Today’s devotional offers this spiritual discipline to push out those sneaky personal pronouns: “The commands to look to Jesus, to behold His glory, to have our eyes ever toward Him, are literal. When we are looking to Jesus, we cannot see ourselves, for if our faces are to Him, our backs will necessarily be to one another.” The Bible says:

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Looking at Jesus not only takes my eyes off myself, my emotions, and my performance, but as this verse says, it is a transforming process. We are affected by what captures our attention. For instance, our family spent a couple years in a southern state around people with a drawl that produced a ‘you all’ accent in our children. What is fed into our minds does have an effect  on our lives. No wonder Jesus said,

I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:48–51)

He was illustrating the importance of relying on Him as sustenance for life. Relying on me only leads to more hunger and even starvation. Focus on Jesus feeds me well.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, looking at You instead of at myself changes my days and my dreams. Your will and responses affect me, even bring great joy at the good ideas of others instead of envy, and glad for fair play instead of being a sore loser fan, also upset at violence instead of thinking a victim gets what they deserve (as some do), and make me upset with false teaching and the harm it does rather than dismissing a dream as only a dream. Keep my eyes and thoughts on You. Only You can transform my selfishness into clear thinking — and help me with humility.

Recognizing Love

 

NOTE: My apologies to all who read this and see the typos before I fix them. An artist learns that the mind fills in what the eyes do not see so never paint every leaf. In the same way, a writer sees ideas not errors and must let their piece ‘grow cold’ before submitting it for publication. My writing is still too ‘warm’ when I post these devotions and my mind fills in what my eyes do not see. If nothing else, this illustrates how easy I can be blind to my mistakes. For that, I need God’s help to see clearly!

Today’s words from John MacArthur are along the same line. He says, “Love is characterized by self-sacrifice, but not all self-sacrifice is an act of love.” That requires discernment. An action can see and feel like a sacrifice when it covers a selfish grab for personal gain.

One example is giving to gain tax receipts so they can be deducted on a tax form. This is a gain of sorts rather than a sacrifice. This is the same if my giving was motivated by obligation, peer pressure, legalism, guilt, or a desire for recognition. However, the Bible says those gains are worthless in the mind of God:

If I give away all I have . . . but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3)

There are many needs all around me. Fund-raisers appeal to every conceivable motive. I’ve always considered myself a ‘hard sell’ because the greater the persuasion the greater my tendency to run the other way. For that reason, I’m glad that sharing God’s love includes obedience. If I’m to give, God lets me know — apart from a sales pitch or any emotional appeal. Besides, I’m fully aware that I cannot give to every need. If I see them, prayer about them is primary, and in praying, God tells me what I’m supposed to do about what He showed me.

As MacArthur says, giving can be about personal gain unless it is motivated by the love of God. What does He gain by loving me? He is complete and perfect without me so I am the one who gains from His giving. That is what it means to give as an act of self-sacrifice; it is not about me or my gain, but about doing good for others.

Yet Jesus also said that giving in love is rewarded:

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:1–4)

A quick word search shows me that these rewards are not clearly defined, only that the recipient is blessed. I’m delighted when I know I’ve done the right thing. Does my obedience please God? I know He is joyful without me doing anything, yet He usually gives me His joy when I obey, but He also gives joy at other times so that reward for giving is a mystery. I do know that the love He blesses is not focused on me, my needs, my wants, or to gain anything at all.

 PRAY: When I give to others, I realize all I have is from You, so all giving is a matter of being a good steward of Your generosity. Even the desire to help others is not my doing. That You reward me with joy is Your doing also, for that joy is Your joy from Your Spirit. It is nothing about me. Your love is like that —  all about You — yet it blesses me and those around me. Again, I am in awe of You.

PONDER: Luke 18:9–14 reveals two attitudes. How did the Pharisee’s prayer differ from the tax-gatherer’s? Which of these two men demonstrates a heart prepared to really love others and why do I think that?