Philippians 2 - 2006.08.26

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world… " Philippians 2:14-15

Evangelical Christians are great champions of the inspiration and authority of scripture. Is it not a strange thing, then, that we so often disregard it when it comes to particular texts or truths?

Here is a simple, unequivocal directive that seems too often to be ignored in our churches, to our shame. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings." How different the atmosphere would be in many a church if this single text were taken as a directive from God Himself, and assiduously applied by every believer in the congregation!

In fact, this is a word from God. And there is a counterpoint in I Cor. 10:31, where, in a somewhat different context, we are instructed "… whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." If we are indifferent to it, we are guilty of rebellion, and God is not glorified. In fact, not only is God not glorified, but we are susceptible to Paul's charge to the disobedient Jews, "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles [i.e., unbelievers] through you… [Rom. 2:24]."

Believers are here identified as "sons of God," which means that His reputation is linked to ours in the eyes of the world. It is the divine intention that there should be a radical contrast between the believer and the world. Believers are to be "blameless and harmless," in contrast to the world of the unsaved which is described as "crooked and perverse;" a condition that does not prevail if there is strife and contention among us.

The question has been often asked, "Why does God not take us to heaven as soon as we are converted?" While there are many aspects to the answer, here is one of them. We are left here to "shine as lights" in this sin benighted world. Along the Maine coast, where we used to live, there are a number of lighthouses. They are there to warn mariners of dangers to navigation along the coastline and to assist their journey to a safe harbor. Should the light fail, the traveler's danger in an already hazardous environment is greatly enhanced.

We are here to give warning to the world of the hazards of sin and the dangers of careless living. We are here to mark the way to safe haven for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. To that end, our lives both individually and collectively are to be lived in a contrast to the world as radical as that of light to darkness. When we fail to implement the principles of the inspired Word of God, we obscure the Light and increase the peril of the ungodly. Then the need for change is self evident.

There is an additional inference here. When the Spirit of God says, "that ye may be the sons of God without rebuke," there is the suggestion that if we fail to respond to the word, because we are "sons of God," we may expect His rebuke. It may come in different ways, but it will come. He may lay His hand heavy upon us (cf. Heb. 12:5-7), or He may withdraw His hand from us and let us "learn the hard way" the folly of disobedience (cf. Ps. 51:11-12). It is an option wisdom would avoid!

To paraphrase the words of another, "Churches don't change. Only individuals do." If you are in an assembly where "murmurings and disputings" prevail, you may not be able to change the church, but YOU can change. That will make a difference, and by the grace of God, it may be contagious.

Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Philippians 1 - 2006.08.19

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." — Philippians 1:9-11

The Lord Jesus said, "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint [Luke 8:1]." But what should we include in our praying? In His pattern prayer, popularly called "The Lord's prayer," (Mt. 6:9-13) the Savior indicated some of the content to be incorporated in prayer: worship of God (v.9-10); petition for our material necessities (v.11); forgiveness for our transgressions (v.12); moral reinforcement (v.13a); affirmation of God's sovereignty (v.13b). A careful study of other prayers, in both testaments, will increase our knowledge with respect to intelligent praying. Our text for today is one such example of Spirit directed prayer, as Paul discloses his concern for the saints at Philippi.

First is a request for the enlargement of their love. His petition suggests his appreciation for the love they have already exhibited, but he is never satisfied with status quo; always in the face of a commendable quality, the apostle longs to see increase "more and more." Whether in ourselves or in our fellow believers, we also should pray for continued growth. This side of heaven we are never finished.

With respect to his prayer for the enlargement of their love, however, it is noteworthy that he is not praying for mere sentimentalism. It is not the feeling love of human affection for which request is made, but what might be called the rational or intelligent love that is characteristic of God. The specific request is for love that increases in "knowledge and in all judgment." That is, for an informed love that finds its parameters in the word of God.

In Heb. 12:6 we are instructed, "for whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." And again, in Rev. 3:19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten… "This is a mature love that can forgive sin, but cannot ignore it. So in the church we need to pray for the manifestation of a love that is not without compassion, but that does not compromise divine principles, nor contradict holiness.

The second aspect of Paul's prayer is that they "may approve things that are excellent." Here the quest is for the development of their discernment to the point where they may recognize, endorse and follow, among the inevitable options in life, the best, as opposed to that which is merely good or acceptable. He seeks the cultivation in them of skill in evaluating spiritual options and endorsing only the noblest. Many professing Christians are willing to settle for "entry level" spirituality. The aim of the apostle's prayer is to see them pursue higher goals. We need that emphasis in the prayer life of the church today.

The third emphasis in this prayer is that they may be "sincere and without offence;" that is, that their love and spiritual discernment may be free from hypocrisy and vanity. There is the potential in all of us for putting on an outward appearance of love and piety that masks a divided heart. While we may fool others (and sometimes even ourselves,) we do not fool God, Who "looks on the heart." This is a petition, not for "sinless perfection,"but for genuineness and integrity.

As important as temporal security and good health may be, these items are not prominent in the prayers recorded in the word of God. Far more important in the life of the believer are these spiritual qualities, both for ourselves and for one another "until the day of Jesus Christ." It is in the cultivation of these, "the fruits of righteousness," wrought in us "by Jesus Christ," that Christ becomes evident in our lives and God is glorified. They should be predominant in our "prayer list" if we are concerned with the things that concern the heart of God. Insofar as such prayers are uttered and by the grace and power of God answered, the church will have a greater impact on the "watching world."

Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Ephesians 6 - 2006.08.12

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:10 -11

Though little recognized by the majority of professing Christians, the Christian life is a battle against impossible odds. In v. 12 of this chapter the Holy Spirit informs us that "we wrestle… against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

The forces arrayed against the believer, aiming to destroy him, or at least to neutralize his testimony, are supernatural and cannot be contained, let alone overcome, by anything less than supernatural power. To that end we are admonished to avail ourselves of divine resources, "the whole armor of God," so that we can stand firm in our testimony for the Lord. It is this "armor" that we want to consider today.

The first item is labeled "truth" Truth, taken to its zenith, is Christ Himself. He said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life…" Thus Truth is personified in Christ.

The second element in our armor is "the breastplate of righteousness." The scripture declares that it is Christ Himself who is "made unto us righteousness… [I Cor 1:30]," and that God "hath made Him to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him [II Cor. 5:21]." Righteousness is personified in Christ.

Again, we are advised to have our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." In Ephesians 2:14 we read explicitly, with reference to Christ, that "He is our peace… " Peace, here, is personified in Christ.

The next charge is that we carry "the shield of faith." The faith we need to withstand the foe is surely not ours, but His Who died for us and rose again. When the apostle stated in another place his identification with Christ he declared, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me [Gal. 2;20, my italics]." The implication here is reinforced in Ephesians 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God… " The faith by which we are saved, and by which we may be defended against supernatural foes, is "the faith of the Son of God." It is faith personified.

Then the believer/warrior is counseled to have on "the helmet of salvation." This, too, is found in Christ. The Psalmist declared by divine inspiration, long before, "The Lord is my strength and my song, and is become my salvation [Ps. 118:14]." The prophet Isaiah said, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation [Isa. 12:2]." And the apostle Paul defined "the salvation which is in Christ Jesus [II Tim. 2:10]." Christ does not dispense salvation as a commodity; He is our salvation!

Finally, we are to take "the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God." The book is invaluable, but the dynamic is in the Living Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God [John 1:1-2]." The word is personified and lifted to its zenith in the person of the Son of God.

Now our point is this: if we are to be equipped for the battle, we do not need to look for pieces of armor here and there. We need rather to heed the apostle's admonition, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ [cf Rom. 13:14]." The "whole armor of God" is not a shopping list of items to be solicited from God and exported by Him. Rather, it is Christ Himself. Seen from this perspective, and we say it reverently, "the whole armor of God" is a one piece suit!

Christ is our strong defense. It is He, and He alone who can overcome the foe we face in our spiritual warfare. In Him we are furnished with protection for head and heart, hands (our work), feet (our walk) and more. Apart from Him, in any area of our lives, at any time and in any place, we are utterly defenseless and bound for defeat.

Yours for victory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Ephesians 5 [p2] - 2006.08.05

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15-17

Whenever, these days, reference is made to keeping commandments, someone will immediately conclude that we are suggesting that we must keep the commandments in order to be saved. That is not the case. We are saved by God's grace alone, and that has nothing to do with our works or our walk. Our walk does not determine our destiny, but our salvation should define our walk, as is very clear from the New Testament. Many years ago one of my parishioners said, in essence, "We have been concerned that you may be preaching salvation by works." My response was, "I am not preaching salvation by works, but salvation that works." I will stand by that position today.

Disobedience to the revealed will of God got us into this mess. A salvation that gets us out of it should put us back on track and initiate a purpose of heart to learn "what the will of the Lord is," and by the power of His grace, to do it.

We observed last week that Enoch's walk distinguished him from all of his contemporaries and radically altered his destiny. In Christ we have obtained by faith a radically altered destiny, and should be found walking in contrast to this present evil world. In the chapter at hand we are instructed, as believers, to "walk in love." Other passages will indicate that love is the atmosphere of faith; love for God and Christ, love for our fellow believers, love for the lost of this world and even love for our enemies.

Our text for last week exhorted us to "walk as children of light," and I John 1:7 implies that we are to walk in the light, which is essential to our fellowship with Christ. We have observed that the "light" is especially associated with and derived from the Word of God. The prophet Isaiah declared, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them [Isa. 8:20, my italics]." If love is the Christian's atmosphere, light is his environment.

Today's text exhorts us to "walk circumspectly." I once heard that defined as 'the way a cat walks on a wall covered with broken glass.' It is to walk with the intellect, emotions and will all engaged and aligned with the will of God as revealed in His Word. It involves discernment and discipline. We will never walk consistently "as children of light" if we do not apply ourselves to the challenge of making Biblically informed choices, refusing the evil and choosing the good.

Knowing the right is one thing, and a necessary prerequisite; but, doing right is another. Adam knew the will of God, but chose to ignore it. It was not for lack of knowledge that he failed, but for the lack of the will to do it. Since that time the will of man has been in bondage to sin. The scripture says, "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: And these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would [Gal. 5:17]." Among other things, it was to liberate us from that bondage that Christ died for us.

Redemption—true redemption—includes the renovation of our intellect: "We have the mind of Christ [I Cor. 2:16];" our affection: "set your affection on things above… [Col. 3:2];" and our will: The believer is so equipped "That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God [I Pet. 4:2]." All of this is wrought in those who walk by faith in Jesus Christ; "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made [us] free from the law of sin and death [Rom. 8:3]." Hence we are exhorted "Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh [Gal. 5:16]," and assured, "There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit [Rom. 8:1],"

Those who walk accordingly— circumspectly— walk as wise. Those who walk contrary walk as fools. That is not my judgment, but the judgment of the scriptures. Which are you?

"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

Yours for our good,
"Pastor" Frasier