DAY EIGHTY-SIX: 

Elders and Deacons 

1 Timothy 3:1-16 

The Ordination of Elders in a Scottish Kirk, by John Henry Lorimer, 1891

Last week we looked at some passages from Paul's letters to churches. This week we'll consider Paul's "pastoral epistles." He wrote two letters to Timothy and one to Titus. These letters give valuable advice to pastors and the other leaders of the church. Our passage today deals with the qualifications for church leaders, and is basic to understanding Presbyterian church governance.

Let's look at these two words, elder and deacon. The Greek word for elder is presbuteros  the comparative of presbus  which simply means old (literally greybeard). Recognize the root from which the word Presbyterian is derived? Thus an elder is relatively older (or better, more mature) than others. It parallels the Hebrew word zaqen which also mean older. The concept of rule by elders goes back to the earliest civilizations. People with maturity, character and leadership qualities attract the attention of the community and they are chosen as leaders. That's kind of the way it is in our time with local governance- school boards, village councils, township trustees, etc. We choose these leaders through elections, but most will tell you that they got involved in the first place because people came to them and urged them to run. Others saw the right qualities in them. Acts 14:23 says, "And when they [Paul and Barnabas] had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed." This was during the first missionary journey and reflects Paul's practice in every church he founded. Once the church was established he left it in the hands of elders who would govern and teach the congregation. The word "appoint" gives the impression that Paul and Barnabas chose the elders. The Greek word, though, means to "vote by stretching out the hand." These elders were chosen by the people, and Paul ordained them to their task. We read a couple of weeks ago that the apostles and elders gathered for the Jerusalem Council, so the office of elder was already in use among the churches of Judea. 

The word for deacon is diakonos which means literally to run errands. In Acts 6 we read that the apostles realized that they didn't have the time to provide pastoral care and support to the rapidly growing church. They told the people to choose deacons who would handle the peoples' contributions and distribute them to those in need. Deacons, then, are servants who serve the Lord by serving others.

With this introduction out of the way, let's dig into our passage. "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task." The word for overseer is episcopos, which means literally to see over, or to lead and administer. It's the root from which our word bishop comes. Many denominations are governed by bishops (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Episcopalian, Lutheran and Methodist). These bishops have considerable authority within the areas they govern and while they may have advisors they make most decisions unilaterally. Is this passage talking about bishops or elders? I believe the latter. Paul used the terms interchangeably in his letter to Titus: "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you- if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain..." (Titus 1:5-8). Elders oversee the church. Paul said that anyone who would aspire to be an elder is seeking a good thing. He called it a "noble task."

Paul then laid out the qualifications for the office of elder or overseer: "Therefore an overseer must be

• above reproach- someone who lives an upright life with no shady dealings;
• the husband of one wife- literally a "one woman man," not an adulterer or polygamist;
• sober-minded- literally sane, a clear-thinker;
• self-controlled- someone whose life is in order;
• respectable- lives a life that others admire;
• hospitable- literally "loves strangers," is willing to host and care for others, especially travelers;
• able to teach- to be able to share with others the truths taught in the Bible;
• not a drunkard- not an alcoholic or a binge drinker but a person who is not controlled by drugs or alcohol; 
• not violent but gentle- literally a hitter, someone who is prone to violence;
• not quarrelsome- literally someone who thinks he's never wrong and will never give up arguing over a point;
• not a lover of money- literally "dirty profit," someone who is so greedy that they don't care if their dealings are always honest as long as they gain from it;
• He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?- the word manage has more of a sense of to guard or protect. If a prospective elder never disciplines his children but lets them do whatever they want, he's not acting as their protector and would very likely do no better at protecting the church;
• He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil- Spiritual maturity takes time. Someone may show great promise and learn quickly, but some lessons only come with experience;
• Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil- An elder must have the respect of non-Christians in the community.

Paul then gives a list of qualifications for deacons. The qualifications for elder apply to deacons as well, and Paul amplified them in this second list: "Deacons likewise must be 

• dignified- honest and respectable;
• not double-tongued- literally not having two tongues, not saying one thing to one person and another thing to another;
• not addicted to much wine- knows when to quit drinking;
• not greedy for dishonest gain- same word lover of money above;
• They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience- a mystery is a deep or hidden thing, not really secret but beyond understanding and worthy of further study and meditation. The deacon (and elder) must be a lifelong learner, continually growing in knowledge and faith. We'll discuss the mystery of our faith in more detail below;
• And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless- give people little jobs with a little bit of responsibility and watch them. If they do well they might be elder or deacon material.
• Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things- I'll discuss this in more detail below;
• Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well- as with an elder, a deacon's home life is an important indicator of how that person will govern and serve the church.

"For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." The word for gain is literally purchase. Deacons (and elders) receive a reward from God for their faithful and diligent service.

Let's go back to verse 11: "Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things." Another translation would be "The women likewise must be..." The word for woman is often used for a wife. Does this passage allow for women to serve as elders and deacons? I believe so. There are several examples of women as leaders in the church in the New Testament. I encourage you to go back and read the discussion of women in leadership from Day 27.

Paul concluded this chapter with these words: "I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth." Paul is still teaching Timothy and further preparing him for his work as pastor. The word for behave comes from a word that means to go the right direction, to make the right choice. The church is the household, the family, of God. It is a "pillar and a buttress of the truth." Pillars support the weight of a structure, and buttresses (like the steel beams that extend outside our building) prop up and support the walls and roof. The church has a sacred calling to proclaim the truth of the Gospel and to live it out before a watching world. The truth is sometimes distasteful and we are constantly tempted to compromise and make it more palatable. But we must resist that temptation and stand for the truth that God has revealed to us.

Paul reflected on the mystery of the faith: "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

• He was manifested in the flesh- Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and God became man;
• vindicated by the Spirit- when John baptized Jesus the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove, and the Father said from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased";
• seen by angels- angels ministered to Him in His human weakness, after the temptation and in the Garden of Gethsemane;
• proclaimed among the nations- by this time there were thriving churches throughout the Roman Empire and beyond;
• believed on in the world- as John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"; and
• taken up in glory- Christ ascended into heaven and reigns at the right hand of the Father.

This certainly IS a great mystery, one which we'll never totally understand in this life!

After reading those qualifications, is there ANYONE who is fit to be an elder or deacon in Christ's Church? We're sinners saved by grace through faith, but sinners nonetheless. Quite rightly, this should give us pause. It is indeed an awesome responsibility to serve in these capacities. But those whom God calls He also equips and empowers. If someone suggests (or if the Nominating Committee should ask) that you'd make a good elder or deacon, give the matter prayerful consideration and say no only after discerning that God has other plans for you at this time.

We need to be careful in choosing our leaders. Throughout the years of my ministry and my observations before I've seen how difficult it is to get people to serve. After while Nominating Committees get desperate and are tempted to look for warm bodies to put into these important positions. This is another temptation we must resist. We need to be prayerful as we seek out those whom God has chosen as our leaders.

All of this applies to pastors as well. Presbyterians recognize two types of elders, based on 1 Timothy 5:17, "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching." I'm a "Teaching Elder." My responsibility is to teach you how to apply God's Word in your lives. I also preside over the Session, the Board of Elders. The other elders are "Ruling Elders," and together we oversee the church. When we work together to seek God's will for our church we reap great blessings!

Here's a children's choir to remind us that "I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Weugc4TPwrM

DAY EIGHTY-FIVE: 

The Supremacy of Christ 

Colossians 1:15-23 

  Christos Pantokrator (Christ Almighty), 12th Century Byzantine Mosaic

As the first century AD came to a close and the last of the apostles died, the church faced serious challenges. The Roman Empire began to persecute Christians in earnest. Over 300,000 died for their faith from the mid-first century until 313 AD when Constantine ended persecution. In addition, a wide variety of false teachings competed with what Jude called "...the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3) Some melded Christianity with Greek philosophy and the eastern mystery religions. The Book of Revelation mentions the Nicolaitans. In my theology class in seminary we learned about a whole host of these heresies: arianism, marcionism, ebionism, gnosticism, monophysitism, monothelism- you get the idea. Emperor Constantine, a convert to Christianity, wanted to see these issues settled. He called for the church leaders to gather at Nicea and hash things out. They came up with the Nicene Creed, which has become the standard brief statement of the true Christian faith. They reached the conclusions that they did through careful study of Scripture, and today's passage was one that played a very important role in those discussions.

Paul taught that Jesus was more than a man. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." The Greek word for image is eikon, from which we get our word icon. Our computers have all sorts of icons. An icon is a picture that represents the program or file we want to access. An icon puts a face to those countless pages of code that make up digital content. In the same way Jesus puts a face on the invisible God. When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father He replied, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" (John 14:9)

Jesus existed before the "in the beginning" of Genesis 1:1. "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Everything that exists owes that existence to Christ. He didn't just create everything. He created everything for Himself. He is the rightful ruler of the universe and by His sovereign providence He holds everything together. A few days ago we read Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." That's what God says to us, and He backs it up!

"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning,the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." The Roman Catholic Church holds that Jesus delegated His authority to Peter when He ascended, and that authority was delegated to a successor from the next generation until today, when Pope Francis sits in Peter's seat. Protestants, and especially Presbyterians, believe that Jesus never delegated His authority. He still governs His Church. Presbyterian governance looks like a representative democracy as we elect elders. The truth is that Jesus Himself rules us. The Session's task is to pray and seek His will concerning the church. I like what Graham Standish, the pastor of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, PA says about how we should vote on issues. Instead of saying "all in favor" or "all opposed," he puts the question in this way: "all who believe this is God's will for us say yes" and "all who don't believe this is God's will for us say no." This reminds us that we gather as a Session not to do our own will but God's.

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell..." The word fullness here is pleroma, which means all, everything, completely, totally. Jesus isn't just one-third God because He shares His divinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. There is just one God, who exists in three Persons. Each Person is fully God, and yet each Person is distinct from the others. This is heavy stuff. The doctrine of the Trinity can be defined from Scripture but not explained so that our human minds can comprehend it. If you want to read more, I recommend this article from Theopedia.com.

"...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." The word for reconcile here is the same as we saw in 2 Corinthians 5, except for the addition of the prefix apo. With this added part it means to restore something to its original condition. When we trust in Christ we're reconciled to God, but we're not put back into our original state before Adam and Eve sinned- not yet. This verse is looking to the conclusion of God's plan to put back in place what we ruined through sin. Through the blood of His cross He will lift the curse on creation that we saw in Romans 8. We've got a great future ahead of us!

"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him..." Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins. He will present us to His Father in mint condition, holy, blameless and above reproach. I love to read and hear conversion stories. God's ways of calling us to Himself are so varied, but lead us to the same place. The Body of Christ is a wonderful collection of people from many backgrounds, but we're one in Him!

"...if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister." The race we run as Christians is not a sprint. It's a marathon, a long run with many dangers along the way. Satan lies in wait. Sometimes he's a serpent, nipping at our heels. Other times he's a roaring lion who threatens to tear us apart. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Don't let weariness or despair stop you! Put one foot in front of the other and keep going. It will be so worth it when we see Jesus face to face!

We read in 3 John 1:9, "I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority." The King James Version translates it more accurately: "...who loveth to have the preeminence." Diotrephes put himself first, ahead of anyone else, even Christ Himself. But we read in today's passage that in all things Christ has the preeminence. A lot of our problems in the church today stem from our desire to be first, to have our own way. It goes back to the big lie Satan told Eve in the Garden- you will be like God. I love the first line of Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life: "It's not about you." Seldom have so few words said so much! It's not about you and me. It's about Jesus! It becomes us as Christians to love one another, to esteem others over ourselves and to be a servant.

Here's a wonderful song that sums up what we read today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fQJPsnhZwA

DAY EIGHTY-FOUR: 

Rejoice in the Lord 

Philippians 4:4-9 

Those of you who are parents with more than one child know that some children are easier to rear than others. Paul loved the churches and their people as if they were his own children. He wrote in Galatians 4:19, ..."my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!" We saw how the Galatians broke Paul's heart by following false teachings. The Corinthians gave Paul lots of heartburn with their immorality. But the Philippians are Paul's pride and joy. They took hold of the Gospel from the very first day and were constant in their prayer and support for Paul. So even though Paul is writing from prison, he is full of joy.

Philippi was named for Phillip of Macedonia, Alexander the Great's father. It was an important center for commerce and many Romans lived in this Greek city. Paul went to Philippi on his second missionary journey after he dreamed of a man saying "Come to Macedonia and help us." There he found Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, who believed the Good News and let Paul use her home as his base. While in Philippi Paul ran afoul of the local authorities. He and his companion Silas were whipped and placed in stocks. When an earthquake leveled the jail not one prisoner escaped. This prompted the jailer to trust in Christ and his whole household believed as well. Paul left a robust church behind when he left for Thessalonica. They didn't forget Paul. In addition to praying for him they also supported him financially. Their contributions (which weren't easy to deliver in those days before banks, checks and post offices) enabled Paul to work full-time at preaching and teaching and later paid the expenses of his house arrest.

The theme of the book can be summed up in one word: rejoice. Paul uses the word nine times in this four-chapter epistle. The Greek word, chairo, means to be cheerful or happy. What reason did Paul have to be happy? He would have thought this a dumb question. "What reason do I have NOT to be happy?" is how he would have phrased the question. Yes, he's in jail, yes, he's suffered more than we can begin to imagine. He's happy because God is in control and He is working in all circumstances to bless us and bring glory to His name.

Let's look at the three verses that begin chapter 4 before we get into today's reading. "Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved." The Philippians are a joy to him because they understand the Gospel and live by it. Their generosity has blessed him and many others. Their acts of service are an example to all. Paul urges them to hang in there, to keep on keeping on. Unlike the Galatians and Corinthians, Paul has no major problems to address with the Philippians.

"I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." I love these two verses. They show us how we should handle disagreements in the church. Euodia and Syntiche, for some reason were on the outs. Both had done much for the Lord and His church. If not addressed promptly little issues grow and start to fracture the church. Paul urged the pastor to work with them to resolve the problem.

Now on to our passage. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." This is in the imperative and thus a command. He strengthened that command by repeating it. Rejoice (be cheerful and happy) when? When everything is going right in our lives? No. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. That includes when things aren't going well. If the circumstances don't lend themselves to cheerfulness, be happy anyway. The same God who blesses us in the good times doesn't all of a sudden desert us in the bad times.

"Let your reasonableness be known to everyone." When we exhibit the joy of the Lord, people notice. Thank the waitress when she refills your coffee. Wish the cashier a good day as you leave. Show respect and kindness to everyone you meet.

"The Lord is at hand;" Our natural inclination is to see this as an affirmation that Jesus is returning soon. The Greek word does carry that meaning. But it also can mean close by, near physically. Jesus promised that He would be with us always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20) Jesus is with us always, even in our darkest times. This gives us comfort and encouragement.

"...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." The word anxious in Greek comes from a root that means to divide. When we're anxious our attention is divided. While we should be thinking of the things of God we end up dividing our thoughts between Him and our problems. Paul said don't stew over your problems. Pray instead. Give the matter to God, and let Him handle it. Wait for His answer and His perfect provision. Someone once told me that God is never late, but is seldom early. He likes to wait till the last minute sometimes in answering our prayers. Trust in Him and wait. The next verse tells us the benefits for us:

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." God's peace is His gift to us, and it's something we just can't comprehend or create for ourselves. Jesus told His disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." God's peace doesn't depend on outward circumstances. Paul was at peace no matter what. He wrote a few verses after our passage, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (4:11-13)

Paul ended with an encouragement to right thinking. "Finally, brothers,

• whatever is true: Embrace the truth of God as revealed in His Word and think of those things that are in accord with His truth.
• whatever is honorable: Dwell on things that are respectable and honored by all.
• whatever is just: Meditate upon what is right and fair.
• whatever is pure: Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit rather than the lusts of the flesh
• whatever is lovely: Literally, pleasant. Fill your mind with the beauty that God has placed all around us, and the beauty that artists bring forth 
• whatever is commendable: Literally well-spoken. When something is good and right in the sight of God and man, let that form your thoughts.
• if there is any excellence: This is excellence in a moral sense. Not just doing the right thing, but doing it very well, to the glory of God. Think of people you know who fit this description and consider their examples.
• if there is anything worthy of praise: There's nothing and no one more worthy of praise than God Himself.

"Think about these things." Don't fill your mind with the garbage our culture spews out. Be discerning and discriminating when you turn on the TV, when you go to the movies, when you pick out a book to read. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

"What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Paul held himself up as an example to be copied. Do the things you see me doing, and you'll be on the right track. He said earlier in the letter, "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." (3:17) Pay attention to those who live for Christ and do what they do. It's easy to talk the talk, but the ones who walk the walk are examples for us all. This is especially important as we teach our children about our faith. They have an uncanny way of seeing through our pretenses to what we really value.

Abraham Lincoln said, "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be." Paul would add his hearty Amen to that. When you think about it, is there any reason for us to be gloomy? God is in control and nothing can separate us from Him. Knowing that, we can obey the command to rejoice in the Lord always. "God is good all the time. All the time God is good."

There ought to be at least one holy earworm for you in this medley of praise songs from Keith Green:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjebD7H69r0

DAY EIGHTY-THREE: 

The Armor of God 

Ephesians 6:10-20 

Jesus taught in parables, word pictures using things from everyday life, to teach the truths of God. The old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words," is true. Paul also used illustrations from life to teach spiritual truths. In today's reading he uses the armament of the Roman soldier to teach us how to fight against the devil.

Paul begins this passage with the word "finally." My homiletics (preaching) instructor in seminary told us never to use that word in a sermon. When people hear it they turn their attention away from the sermon toward what comes next. He also said that if we do use it, make sure finally really means finally! As you can see Paul didn't study under my professor! Furthermore, he often uses the word and then goes on for two or three more chapters. But in this case he is wrapping up the book. This "finally" comes after teaching us about our identity in Christ and our relationships with one another in relation to who we are in Christ. 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." Paul uses two words for strength. The first is endunamoo, which means to be filled with strength. You can see the root for our words dynamo and dynamite. This is power that comes from Christ that is part of our birthright as believers. The second is kratos which means strength and authority to rule (you can see the a root that we use in words like bureaucrat or autocrat. This is God's authority to rule, which He shares with us. We will reign with Him one day, and even now we exercise His authority, as we'll see below.

We need to suit up, Paul said, in the whole armor of God. Soldiers don't go into battle without the proper equipment. The picture above is of an American soldier in full combat gear. Everything together weighs between 70 and 80 pounds! All of this is well and good, if you're fighting a war. But as I look out my office window now, I don't see any signs of a battle. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and all is well with the world. Nothing to worry about here.

Wrong! "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." We're in the midst of the war of the ages, a war that began before the foundation of the earth. We face an unseen enemy who works behind the scenes to harass us and keep us from advancing God's Kingdom. We read in Daniel 10 how Daniel fasted and prayed for three weeks to understand a vision God had given him. Finally an angel showed up with the answer, but listen to what the angel told Daniel: "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come." (Daniel 10:12-14) The prince of Persia is not King Cyrus, who sat on the throne, but rather a demon in charge of Satan's work in Persia. This prince of Persia prevented the angel from reaching Daniel, and he required the help of Michael,  a high-ranking angel, to come and help him. Daniel didn't see this war, but it was very, very real nonetheless. Is there a "prince of Sebring?" who opposes our efforts to win others for Christ?  I think it's quite likely. Does spiritual warfare go on all around us? I'm certain of it. Paul wrote, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." Let's look at the pieces of this armor: Stand therefore,

• "having fastened on the belt of truth"- the belt here is not to hold your pants up, but is actually a type of armor that protects the hips and abdomen, and especially the vulnerable groin area. This belt goes on first because the rest of the armor attaches to it. This belt is truth. This truth is God's revelation of Himself to us which enables us to discern truth from falsehood. Psalm 51:6 says, "Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart." Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17:17, "Sanctify them in the truth;your word is truth." Let the truth of God's Word protect you from the devil's attempts to deceive you. Read the Bible daily and internalize its truths.
• "and having put on the breastplate of righteousness"- The soldier's breastplate covered his heart and protected it from swords, spears and arrows. Our heart is just that fist-sized organ pumping blood through your body. It's a metaphor who who we are at the very core of our beings. It is at this deep level that Satan loves to attack us. He tries to remind us of our sins and weaknesses so that we will dwell on them rather than on the things of God. But remember the great trade that Jesus made with us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus took our sins and gave us His righteousness in their place! Therefore you and I are the very righteousness of God. I heard a preacher say once that we should start every day by repeating "I am the righteousness of God in Christ." That's a reminder of who we really are.
• "and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace"- Our shoes protect our feet from things like broken glass, sharp stones, bees and hot pavement. This part of the armor of God enables us to walk for God. Jesus said in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you." These shoes enable us to share the gospel (good news) of peace in this strife-torn world. These shoes enable us to be heralds of peace. Isaiah 52:7 says, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation,
  who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'" The devil can't stop us from carrying the wonderful message of peace with God through Christ unless we let him.
• "In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one"- The shields the Romans used were large and rectangular. They could interlock with other soldiers' shield and serve as a strong barrier. These shields were made of wood and metal covered with leather. The soldiers would soak the leather in water, which would put out any flaming arrows that hit them. Our shield is made of faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Abraham left all he had to follow God to a new land, and God protected him. David faced Goliath without a shield or armor, but the Lord protected him and gave the giant into his hands. Our faith is our protection and it enables us to move forward even when it appears that all is lost.
• "and take the helmet of salvation"- A helmet protects our heads. I wear one when I ride my bike. Motorcyclists wear them (or at least should wear them). And soldiers rely on them to protect their heads. Our helmet is made out of salvation. There are a lot of forces in our world that seek to shape our thinking. Colossians 2:8 says, "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." The education we receive, the music we listen to, the books we read, the TV shows we watch, all try to shape us in some way or another. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." The Holy Spirit will renew our minds and help us to think clearly.
• "and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"- Up to now all of the armor has been protective. The sword is an offensive weapon, used to attack the enemy. Our sword is the Word of God, the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Emile Caillet, a professor at Princeton Seminary discovered that the Bible is "the book that understands me." The Word of God pierces through our defenses and speaks directly to our hearts. Jesus defeated Satan with Scripture, and so can we. Read the Bible, memorize it, internalize it. And then use it!

Paul concludes, "...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." It's impossible to overstate how important prayer is! Prayer activates the armor and makes it work. Prayer accomplishes amazing things, many of which we may never know until we get to heaven.

Iron Man has captured my imagination since childhood. I read the comics and watched the animated versions. And of course I've seen all the movies. You can find the Gospel message hidden in many movies and TV shows (I heard that the Gospel According to Mayberry, which uses clips from the Andy Griffith Show, was a hit with one of the Sunday School classes). This clip from Iron Man, narrated  with the words of our passage today, reinforces what we've learned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RwiXHRZoF0

GSBC VBS 2013 - Fruit of the Spirit

DAY EIGHTY-TWO: 

The Fruit of the Spirit 

Galatians 5:1-26 

The Fruit of the Spirit, Windswept, by Kelly Watts, 2013

The Apostle Paul was always careful to balance his teaching of God's truth with its practical application for everyday life. Sometimes we preachers aren't so careful. We can stress the theological concepts the the exclusion of their application. Or we can fall off the other side of the log and put the exposition of Scripture on the back burner in favor of the practical. Faith and practice are both important. 

Paul carried the Gospel to the region of Galatia on his first missionary journey. He preached and founded churches in the cities of Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and Antioch of Pisidia. Scholars believe that Paul wrote this letter while he was in Corinth, around 57 or 58 AD, some ten years after the first missionary journey.

This letter is perhaps the harshest of Paul's letters. He hit the Galatians right between the eyes: "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ." (1:6-7) This "different gospel" was the teaching of some Jewish Christians that Gentile converts must fully convert to Judaism in order to be saved. This issue was settled at the Council of Jerusalem over ten years earlier (see Day 78). There were some, however, who would not accept that decision. Some of them followed Paul's trail and contradicted his message. Many of the Galatians followed their teaching, which in effect nullified the Gospel message in favor of the Law. Paul wrote, "We ourselves are Jews by birth and notGentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." (2:15-16) Then he went on blast them: "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (3:1-3) The word for foolish is the strongest of several Greek words Paul could have chosen. It conveys a sense of utter ignorance of a type that can't be remedied. They're terminally foolish for listening to those who "bewitched" them. They want to mix grace with law and thus be able to earn part of their salvation. They'd better come to their senses and turn back to Christ!

With this background, let's dig into today's text. "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." When Jesus died on the cross the Law was nailed there with Him. He took its curses for disobedience, which should rightfully have fallen on us, upon Himself. In exchange He gave us the blessings of His perfect obedience. We're free! But like slaves who are suddenly freed from bondage, we don't always know how to handle that freedom. We can go hog-wild and indulge the flesh, which is in fact another form of slavery. Or we can climb back into those familiar surroundings and submit ourselves to lists of rules and regulations. Paul told the Galatians to do neither. Resist those who want you to be circumcised, Paul wrote. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love." (5:6) He went on, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (5:13-14)

Paul told the Galatians (and us) that we must rely on the Holy Spirit who lives within us rather than on our flesh (our human nature with all its reasonings and passions). "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Paul then went on to list the evidences of living in the flesh and of living in the Spirit.

In verses 19-21 he lists the works of the flesh: "Now the works of the flesh are evident:

• sexual immorality- the translators of the ESV have chosen to use this term for two distinct Greek words. The first is moicheia, which refers to adultery, or sexual relations with someone other than one's spouse after marriage. As its English counterpart indicates, the word means to dilute something with another substance, like putting water into gasoline. Adultery adulterates the marriage bond. The second word is porneia, from which we get our word pornography. It refers to a wide range of sexual acts outside of what God has ordained.
• impurity- cultivating unclean thoughts that lead to unclean actions.
• sensuality- in Greek aselgeia, or not in control of one's sexual desires.
• idolatry- the worship of anything other than the one true God.
• sorcery- pharmakeia, the word from which we get pharmacy. It had more to do with compounding drugs to get high than it did with what we call witchcraft today.
• enmity- from the word for enemy. It means hating others.
• strife- contention, arguing for no reason other than to win the argument.
• jealousy- jealous comes from the same Greek word as zealous. Jealousy is zeal turned toward wanting what others have and away from wanting the things of God.
• fits of anger- one of two words for anger in Greek, this one refers to the type of anger that blows up suddenly and then subsides. 
• rivalries- literally politicking. It's seeking to advance your interests over those of others by gaining the favor of others.
• dissensions- literally a cutting in two. It refers to rebellion against rightful authority and the attempt to draw one faction away from the body.
• divisions- the word from which we get heresy. It means to capture something or someone. Heresy- wrong belief- captures those who fall for it and separates them from Christ's church.
• envy- literally corruption, anything that defiles a person or a place. Envy brings with it a corruption of the person who harbors it.
• drunkenness- intoxication, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• orgies- wild parties that went on all night with lots of drinking and sex.
• and things like these- this list is not all-inclusive. There are many more evidences of the works of the flesh- they are too numerous to list.

These are some very ugly words! They also come with some ugly consequences: "I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Yes, we're saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. But that doesn't mean we can live just any old way we please. If we a truly converted, the Holy Spirit will live within us and teach us to shun the flesh and its vices. Anyone who says that they know and love Jesus but whose life exhibits things on the list above is in for a rude awakening. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." It's not enough to talk the talk. We have to walk the walk too.

Paul then goes on to contrast the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. The word fruit is singular. Unlike the gifts of the Spirit, which God bestows on believers in different ways for the benefit of the whole body, every believer should have all of these things evident in their lives: "But the fruit of the Spirit is 

• love- Our English word love is very broad and vague. We love pizza, our pets, our spouses and God. Greek has four words for love. This word is agape, which is a self-giving love, seeking the best for others rather than self. This is the kind of love God has for us and that Jesus commanded us to have for one another. (John 13:34-35)
• joy- gladness, happiness, rejoicing. Knowing that we belong to God and that He loves us overcomes any grumpiness we might feel.
• peace- a restful tranquility. God is in control and I don't have to worry. 
• patience- literally long-suffering. It means putting up with what others throw our way for the sake of Christ.
• kindness- literally pleasant, eager to help.
• goodness- an uprightness and honesty that others see in us.
• faithfulness- God and others can rely on us.
• gentleness- meekness or humility. Jesus said that the meek are blessed because they will inherit the earth.
• self-control- being strong enough to control yourself and your desires.

These words, in contrast to the ones before, are beautiful words. An elderly woman in my last church liked to talk about the beautiful words of the Bible, and there's a good collection of them right here! Paul said, "...against such things there is no law." There are plenty of laws against the works of the flesh: drunk and disorderly conduct, pandering, assault and battery, etc. The Ohio Revised Code is full of laws aimed at curbing these bad outcomes of our fleshly desires. But you won't find one law telling you that you can't be loving, kind, faithful or self-controlled! Paul reminded the Galatians (and us) "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." But just like in a grade b horror film, that dead flesh won't stay dead! It keeps coming back and giving us trouble. We won't always be able to resist temptation. But our God is faithful and will forgive us if we repent and turn back to Him. 

Paul concluded, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Our individual lives as disciples of Jesus Christ and the lives of our churches, the Body of Christ, should be marked by the fruit of the Spirit, with no room for the works of the flesh to emerge.

I remember the first congregational meeting I attended as a child. I remember a heated discussion, raised voices and lots of side conversations. I couldn't tell you what it was all about, but it disturbed me. Since then I've seen a lot of that kind of thing in the church. Our enemy the devil works his way into our honest disagreements and convinces us that our opinions must prevail at any cost. The ugliest, meanest and cruelest behavior I've seen wasn't in bars or out on the streets. It's been in churches. I've witnessed it in my own churches and in other churches through working with the presbytery's Committee on Ministry. Presbyterians haven't cornered the market on depravity. I've seen the same thing in other denominations as well. A Baptist pastor once told me of another pastor who learned to hold the lid on his congregational meetings by asking a Deputy Sheriff to park outside! I don't have to tell you that it shouldn't be this way, that this is a terrible witness to give to a watching world. If we'll just learn to step back, take a deep breath and say a prayer before we open our mouths we wouldn't say and do nearly as many fleshly things that hurt others in the church. We don't have to let an offense get under our skin. We don't have to hear and then pass on gossip. We don't have to demonize the people with whom we disagree. We can be peacemakers. We can model kind and respectful behavior in the midst of conflict. Most important of all, we can pray!

Here's a fun song that will help you to memorize the fruit of the Spirit. It wouldn't come up in Blogspot's search engine, so I'm going to try to post it separately. Here's the link in case it doesn't work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxpbThVMdlg

DAY EIGHTY-ONE: 

More Than Conquerors 

Romans 8:1-39 

Things change, and, alas, not always for the better. We don't write letters much any more. It's so easy to make a phone call or send an email or text. Now video chatting allows us to visit as if we're face to face even when we're on opposite sides of the world. I think we've lost something very precious. John Adams, our second president, and his wife Abigail exchanged over 1,100 letters between 1762 (the beginning of their courtship) and 1801 (when John left office and public life). Here is just one of those letters, from Abigail to John. This was at a time when there wasn't a mailbox on the corner and a well-organized post office to deliver them. Letters could take months to reach the recipients. Letters didn't just share information. The writer's heart was also in that envelope. That's something emails don't do very well.

Paul was perhaps the greatest letter-writer of all time. He wrote letters to keep in touch with the churches he had founded and with individuals who meant a lot to him. Thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are his letters. Nine of them were to churches (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians Philippians, Colossians 1 and 2 Thessalonians) and four to individuals (1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon). Some scholars believe that Paul also authored the Letter to the Hebrews. This week we'll look at letters to churches and next week we'll look at the letters to individuals.

Today we look at chapter 8 of Paul's letter to the Romans. It's virtually certain that Jews from Rome were in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost and that some of them were among the 3,000 new believers born that day. The Gospel message went home with them. A common expression of the day, "All roads lead to Rome," was not much of an exaggeration. Commerce and governance brought people from all over the Empire to Rome. A vibrant church grew up very quickly. Paul heard the reports and wanted to check it out. He was providentially delayed from visiting Rome, so he wrote this letter.  This 16-chapter letter divides neatly into two parts. Chapters 1-7 deal theological subjects, most notably the doctrine of justification (how we are saved from our sins by grace through faith in Jesus Christ). Chapters 8 through 16 deal with how we live our lives based on what we learn in the first 7 chapters. 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." The word "therefore" marks a transition, a shifting of gears. The great and lofty theological lectures have very practical applications for everyday life. Let's follow Paul's logic in these first verses:

• It wasn't our own efforts that delivered us from sin and death;
• It was in fact Christ, who was born in the likeness of sinful flesh, who redeemed us through His death for us on the cross;
• Since our own efforts in the flesh did not justify us, we must live by the Spirit;
• If you are in the Spirit, you have died to the things of the flesh;
• "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." (8:11)

Our redemption goes far beyond justification. Yes, our sins are forgiven and we bear the very righteousness of Christ. God also adopts us as His children. We are His heirs, named as beneficiaries in the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ. "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." (8:16-17) Welcome to God's great big family!!!! We've already received part of the estate that Jesus left us, and there's more to come. 

Ultimately God will set everything right that was ruined in the Garden of Eden. The whole creation was a victim of Adam and Eve's sin. "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." In fact the creation "groans," waiting for its own deliverance from death. We think of heaven as some place up in the sky, with its residents walking on clouds. The Bible gives us a very different picture of heaven. In fact, the day will come when heaven and earth will be one, and we'll enjoy eternity on a restored planet. (Revelation 21)

What do we do in the meantime? We live in a world where the curse of sin and death is very much in evidence. We suffer from illness, injury and violence, things that are beyond our control. God is always in control, and He helps us in our weakness. When we don't know how we should pray, the Holy Spirit prays for us "with groanings too deep for words." And God brings good out of our ills. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." What an inexpressible comfort! God makes all the bad things work out for good- for our blessing or the blessing of others, and above all the glory of God. 

Paul shows how our salvation comes to us in stages in verses 29-30:

• For those whom he foreknew- God knew us not just before we were born but before He created anything! 
• he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.- He predestined, chose us to be His, before the foundation of the world, before we did anything.
• And those whom he predestined he also called,- there came a day when the Holy Spirit spoke to our hearts and irresistibly drew us to our Lord
• and those whom he called he also justified,- think of justified as "just as if" I'd never sinned. Jesus pleads for us before the Father's judgment, and we've been found not just not guilty (which merely means that the case wasn't proven) but innocent (absolutely cleared of any wrongdoing whatsoever)
• and those whom he justified he also glorified.- When we go to be with the Lord we'll be like Jesus in His resurrected state. The Book of Revelation tells us that the saints are dressed in white garments which signify their purity and perfection. 

Our redemption, then, is a past, present and future thing. God foreknew and predestined us before the foundation of the world; He calls and justifies us in the present; and we look forward in the future to being glorified in Christ.

Paul ties it all together in the last verses of this chapter. Since we live and walk in the Spirit, and since God promises great things in the future, and since God helps us in our weaknesses, what more do we need? "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (31-32) No one has a right to accuse us, especially not Satan, because Jesus died for us and lives to intercede for us. In fact, nothing can separate us from our Savior. Nothing on or beyond this earth can sever our bond with Christ. They may take away our things, they may torture and even kill us, but no one can ever take our real treasure from us because it's stored in heaven. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." The phrase more than conquerors is just one word in Greek, hupernikao. You recognized a couple of English words in the first part- hyper and super. We are super-conquerors through Christ! We don't just win, we win BIG!!! We can handle anything that comes our way because Christ is in us. This picture sums it up beautifully:

Satan's greatest deception is to make us think that we're alone in our times of trials and temptations. Nothing could be further from the truth! Christ is with us always. More than that, the Body of Christ ministers to its hurting members. There's someone in the Body who has gone through what you're experiencing, whose experiences can help you in your time of need. 

After you listen to this jaunty number from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir you'll be ready to take on the whole world!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQRCnhoFOCY