Lincoln

I encourage you to build upon the certainty of faith

Certainty of faith gets challenged when life dishes up trouble, forcing us to live through circumstances we never dreamed would come our way. However, it’s during those times that genuine faith recognises the providence of God who oversees our lives, allowing us to focus on the Lord for determination to endure and strength for stability.

Faith, being “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1) looks past the present to focus on the God who rules over time and events. Faith in and of itself is not the end, but the means to engage with the one true God, who is the beginning and the end of all things (Isa 46:9-10; Rev 22:13). Faith recognises the enormity of God, trusting His purpose for our circumstances, knowing that He sets the boundaries for all things to work within.

Human limitations

While our limited human understanding often leads us to confusion, insecurity and fear, it’s God who administers our lives even in those dark times. Job, having lost everything, while suffering both physically and mentally, acknowledged that for God “even the darkness is not dark… the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you” (Psalms 139:12). The Lord sees and understands your darkest times with perfect clarity. Nothing escapes His loving and intimate knowledge of your life.

Through difficulties the Lord creates opportunities for us to honour Him in ways we could never have imagined and through circumstances we would never have planned. The Lord does this so “that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). Struggles awaken our senses to the most important and foundational truths which we should value most. Certainty of faith is cemented in gospel truth because “we have been justified by faith; we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). We cling to these rock solid truths by faith because they present the clarity of the unchangeable Lord Jesus Christ; in Him we trust, especially when our vision is blurred by struggles.

Our human interaction with faith is initiated by the Holy Spirit (Rom 12:3; Eph 2:8-9; 2Co 4:13), then “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). We are dependent upon God’s Word for our growth and certainty of faith. Stop spending personal time in God’s Word and the assurance that faith produces within you will reduce progressively. Despair will begin to set in with hopelessness soon to follow.

Faith’s foundation

Faith is the ground block of Christian reality, the first building block on which all other spiritual qualities are stacked. Therefore, “be watchful, stand firm in the faith …be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13), “…walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7). Grip faith tightly beloved, “that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:12). Be unashamed to share with your unsaved friends, those lost and entrapped by sin; “that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28).

Today, determine to build upon the certainty of faith. “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life…” (1 Timothy 6:11-12).

 

I encourage you to live visible faith that’s productive for Christ

It’s far too easy to arrive at the end of a day only to realise that you’ve not achieved anything productive as you intended. Likewise, it’s easy to live a decade only to wake up one morning realising that you’ve achieved very little for the Lord Jesus Christ. While there are many possible reasons for this common dilemma, only God has given us the spiritual resources that guarantee productivity for Christ that leaves no regrets.

In the final months of his life on earth, the apostle Peter spells out God’s many provisions for believers in Christ.
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). The Lord has left nothing to chance, no earthly priority can over-rule His purpose for His people, and no earthly excuse is good enough to deny Him.

A Divine Explanation

Peter explains that all divine resources are to be channelled by us so that we “…make every effort to supplement  faith with virtue, …knowledge, …self-control, …steadfastness, …godliness, …brotherly affection, and …love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). Peter understood from his life of walking with Christ, that “if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8).

What an amazing promise; a life that’s productive for Christ. The implications are that you will be kept, and preserved without being dragged back to the old life of self and sin. This is a positive promise for preventing the negative being true in your life as both ineffective and unfruitful character are removed from your spiritual lives.

First Steps

Now, it’s the prerequisite that we need to understand and apply in our lives so that the promise can be fulfilled; “if these qualities are yours and are increasing” (2 Peter 1:8). First, you must possess these qualities in some measure in Christ. Second, they need to be alive, not stagnant, not dormant, not in the back ground, but active. Third, they need to be growing, advancing, and increasing. These qualities are not intended to be theoretical information only. They are not simply a good topic for discussion at Home Group. These are the actual connections between belief and reality in your Christian walk. These qualities are what synchronise your security in Christ with your assurance in Christ.

The Warning

Peter continues, warning; “whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins” (2 Peter 1:9). Sadly, if these character qualities are not true in our lives, there becomes a spiritual disconnect. Consequently, our near-sightedness gives us smoky vision which leads us to shut our eyes so that we cannot see the Lord’s wonderful provisions.

I encourage you to daily, thoughtfully and prayerfully, seek the Lord to energise you to “make every effort to supplement faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.” This is how you “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). The Lord will be glorified and you will experience avenues of productive service for the Saviour you never imagined.

 

I encourage you to remember those who loved the Lord most through faith.

It may be a friend, a parent, an uncle or aunt, possibly a cousin or work place friend, but for most of us there will be someone who stands out from the crowd as one who loved the Lord more sincerely and passionately than others. Often they are the ones who live the love of God best, who sacrifice most for Christ, and are willing to take the greatest risks for the Saviour. They are the ones, who like Hebrews chapter 11 records, stand out because of the depth of their faith.

The 31^st October was the 500^th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the castle door of Wittenberg as a “protest” against the Pope and the selling of indulgences in 1517. It’s fitting for us to think of the heart that beat within those believers of the reformation. What they loved most was not their religion but their God. Through Christ their priorities were changed, their loyalties redirected, and their courage emboldened for the Lord and His written word, the Bible.

These believers in Christ living throughout the Reformation period often paid for their belief with their very lives. Their willingness to stand up and pay the price to spread the 5 Sola truths changed the direction of the worldwide church, and we live in the blessing of that today.

The Distinctives

Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Sola Gratia (Grace alone) “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).

Sola Fide (Faith alone)  “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Solo Christo (Christ alone) “Being justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone) “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Today, Christians are responsible to “let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9). These 5 Sola Truths are not only good, they are the very best that our Heavenly Father could gift us with. Therefore, “let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

The Legacy We Leave

Those who follow behind us will never hail us for indecisive disbelief on the day they stand before God. Nor will they benefit from our acceptance of all things pleasing to self. They will most likely evaluate the authenticity of our faith by the degree to which we emulated these five Sola truths found in God’s Word, even though they may not consciously think of the 5 Solas. Our next generation will look back at our lives, whether in belief or disbelief, looking to see if we were “doers of the word, and not hearers only”  (James 1:22).

Be encouraged to remember those who loved the Lord most, who left you a legacy of distinguishable faith; thank God for them and replicate such loving faith. May we fulfil Paul’s exhortation to young Timothy; “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

 

I encourage you to understand loves patience

In a world of such intolerance towards truth, you could be forgiven for losing sight of loves patience. By contrast, believers in Christ are to keep “in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation” (2 Peter 3:15 NIV). Our testimony of God is one of loving-kindness which stretched out over our lives to bring us to His Son Jesus Christ.

Sadly, impatience is so engrained in society’s attitudes and thinking that it has become indistinguishable to many. Put simply; we want what we want, and we want it now. From childish and impulsive appetites which seem harmless, to committing the worst of greed, crime and destructive behaviour, loveless impatience takes its toll on us as it plays out through our lives. 

The Connection

God’s Word shows the inexplicable connection between love and patience, one which demands that we always associate one with the other. Likewise, when we disconnect the two, we violate a divine imperative, opening our hearts to all kinds of wrong attitudes and behaviours. 

It’s as Jesus explained in the parable of the seed which fell on “the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Authentic faith has a long term view of living the truth of God’s Word with endurance. It does not give up regardless of obstacles or discouragements. Why, because it’s empowered by and motivated by Christ’s love (2Co 5:14).

You see, patience motivated by self-sacrificing love allows the time needed for God to soften our hearts while manoeuvring the events and circumstances in our lives to accomplish His will in His timing. Patience permits time for us to examine our heart’s, to check out God’s Word, and to pray. Loves inspiration stretches Christ’s grace in our thoughts and emotions which reduces the human tendency to act rashly or wrongly.

Love that Loves

Christian love which emulates God’s love is not selective or conditional upon fleshly requirements being met. No, personal preferences are put aside giving evidence that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience…” (Galatians 5:22).  For the most part, loves character is not reactionary, it does not lash out, nor does it retaliate because it feels justified in hurting another. Self-preservation is tempered, being redirected by patience which looks for the way to do what is necessary without attacking or damaging others. Vindication is low on loves list of priorities because it’s ‘agape’ by nature and energised by the Holy Spirit.

Loving patience goes the extra mile, without any reason other than Christ. Paul instructed the Ephesian Church to walk “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2). Patience applies the tenderness of love to relationships which we would normally have a short fuse with. Personal expectations of others are dissolved by the purposes of love which always works for the betterment of others in the hope of Christ winning the glory.

Loves patience can powerfully trigger our willing self-examination, because we realise our enormous capacity for being wrong. Our hearts can be so easily influenced by our past, our heritage, our experiences, but most of all by our desires. And human desires usually lead us away from truth and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, I encourage you to understand loves patience. Recognise the Lord’s loving patience with you, thank Him, and seek opportunities to pass it on to others. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalms 139:23-24 NIV).

 

I encourage you to avoid the many faces of being loveless

Just as love has a myriad of ways in which to express itself; so it is with the opposite, a loveless heart cannot hide for long. It may be able to masquerade for a while, but sooner or later it’ll show its true nature.

The heart is an extraordinary complex arena for battles between affections. However, in between love and hate exists many layers of affections which can easily become distorted? Sadly, with the heart’s deceptive nature (Jer 17:9) comes the ability for lovelessness to infiltrate emotions, values, actions and responses with such subtlety that it can be difficult to distinguish.

Measure the heart

A good measuring stick is to monitor the default reactions you have to things. That initial and spontaneous response within when anything happens, or news of another is heard, that’s the tell-tale of what truly lives within. Jesus rightly pulled the Pharisees up; “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). The tongue always betrays the heart.

It’s just as Jesus taught the disciples; “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mark 7:20-23). Our behaviour will always portray love, neutrality, or lovelessness. Indeed, our responses tell the world what lives within us.

The greatest of all

The apostle Paul explained the significance of ‘agape’ love this way; “So now faith, hope, and love abide, …but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). For the Christian, love cannot be over stated; it is the most accurate expression of God “because God is love” (1 John 4:8). By nature, faith and hope exist within and benefit their possessor, but love always benefits others. Love requires an “other” as its target; it can’t exist within itself, therefore love is the greatest gift given to us by God.

Often the world legitimizes loveless behaviour; society’s norm has shifted to a self-oriented affection that accommodates others as long as it suits self. Sooner or later, if left unchecked, self will demand the place of first priority, and others must oblige. From minor skirmishes to major upheavals, self will portray itself as the all-important one, with all else to be sacrificed in the pursuit of personal happiness.

So, if a God gifted love which is self-sacrificing is not present, if it’s not welling up from within, then the void will be accommodated by lovelessness which is neither neutral nor dormant.

The simplicity of faith

Scripture’s remedy is simple enough. First, ensure you have the love of God within you by the indwelling of God’s Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (2Co 13:5; Rom 5:5; Eph 1:13). Secondly; “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Today, I encourage you to make your mind active with the loving thoughts Paul speaks of in Philippians 4:8; your face will show it, the tone of your voice will resonate it, your body language will move with it, and your responses will echo it. Lovelessness will progressively be squeezed out as you increasingly die to self and live Christ, putting “on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10).