LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH

I was sharing the Gospel with an acquaintance and another (I suppose) Christian kept cutting me off in mid conversation to tell me how important it is to love, but to be honest their words and actions just got in the way and made it awkward. I found myself having to re-circle their comments and try to draw them (their words) in to what I was saying. I achieved my goal and later as I thought about the conversation I realized they were disputing and contending with the word not because what I was staying was wrong, but because they wanted to be seen as important and knowledgeable. Now do not misunderstand me here I like the word love. Did you know the word "love" is used 280 times in the New Testament? And did you know the Greeks use eight words (some say 12 words) for what we use one word to mean. For example the word "philia" to have attachment for with a friend, "eros" where we get the word erotica (not a good word for love), "stogy" an attachment as a mother has for a son, or "agape" which means dedicated. In John we read, "For God so loved (dedicated) the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Jesus dedicated Himself towards the world, He did not love it. There is a big difference between loving someone (you cannot really love a thing) and dedicating yourself towards them. Karen my wonderful wife gave me four wonderful kids, stuck with me as we have romped around the world, and has faithfully served me for almost 37 years. If I only loved her "eros" or "philia" because of her strength and beauty and when it fades as grass (we all like grass will wither and fade) then I too would fade away, but how could I do this? She has dedicated "agape" herself towards me, oh no my friend it is much more than love. Love is never enough. It takes more than love or even loving someone for someone to go to heaven. We can love someone with all that is within us and they still will go to hell unless they understand what sin has wrought in their lives, confess, and repent. Would it not be nice if all we had to do was love someone? Oh no, God has laid out a plan (His big idea) for us to follow (understand what sin has wrought in their lives, confess, and repent) and we cannot change that plan no matter how we try or want too. When we try to change it we are moving outside the fame work of God's plan for salvation, moving in direct rebellion (even in love) to what God has said and done. Christians that dispute the word and try to do things their way do so because of their immature thinking and strong doctrinal beliefs. They cannot cut through all of their religion and presumption and just let the Holy Spirit minister to the person. I am waiting on the right time to let my Christian (she says she is) friend know, but for now I know she cannot handle my words of correction so instead of losing her I will be long suffering and try to include her in things without losing sight of what God is doing. You know our love is a reflection of our emotions and feelings not an expression of one's need for salvation. To say you love someone yet do not tell them the truth of their need to understand what sin has wrought in their lives, confess, and repent is all about your need to be exalted and stroked and not the person's need for salvation. We must love them enough to put up with and endure the scorn, ridicule, and even the loss of their friendship. Paul told the Church at Ephesus, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" (Ephesians 4:14-15) One can only imagine what was going here there. He did not tell them to just love them, "but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things." Love without truth is useless and destructive, it is selfish, and carnal wanting its way without confronting the sin that is at hand. Sin must be dealt with by us. God has done His part He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place for our sin, but before we can receive our salvation we must "confess" or agree with what God is saying about us is true and that is "for we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) And make no mistake my friend if you agree with "speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things" you will hated by acquaintances, neighbors, friends, and most of all family. I have seen this in my immediate family still to this day we have been excluded in family outings and not made a part of family plans because of our stance on the standards of God's word and the Gospel. Oh my family would say just love them (do not judge me) and everything will take care of its self, wrong. My dear and precious mother (who I believe to be in heaven now) whom I love and cherish so much had this area wrong. We cannot turn our head away from sin (even for the sake of family unity) and say to just love and pray for them that will never lead them to salvation, but gives them excuse and cover to continue in their ungodly ways and lifestyle. As I look back and now can see the condition of the lives (I was told to just love and pray for) involved I can see the word of God is true. Their lives today are even more messed up and sin has strengthened its heinous grip in new ways. No my friend loving them is not enough. Love is not enough. If we come to Christ we all must come the same way: understand what sin has wrought in our lives, confess, and repent now this is God's love.

WTFMT 36 (HGM FROM 19 SEP 16)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-36

TEXT: "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him." (Matthew 3:15)

I. ORDER OF RESPONSIBILITY

       A. You are not responsible for the whole world. Jesus Himself fulfilled that responsibility. Your responsibility lies within your own awareness and control.

       B. In Numbers 30:5, 8, 12-13, the responsibilities of a daughter or wife before the Lord, through a vow, could be nullified by the father or husband. Responsibilities are limited. Paul wrote to Timothy, "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (1 Timothy 5:8)

      C. Personal responsibility cannot possibly move out to an unlimited extend. You cannot be responsible for going to Asia or Africa if you have neglect your responsibility to provide for your immediate family in order to go to Africa. Perhaps God has led you to go to Africa. But the leading of God is not in question. The question is, "have you fulfilled your basic responsibility?" "First things first" is God's arrangement.

       D. If in our obedience we have God's priorities straight we will bring the glory and honor to Him which He intends. If these priorities are not in order we bring shame to Him. If a wife prophesies and disobeys her Godly husband, it brings shame to the Lord. If a husband preaches, but does not provide for his family it brings shame to the Lord. If a child is a helper at Church, but rebellious at home it brings shame to the Lord. We can do nothing for the Lord if we do not take care of first things first.  

      E. Obedience, and in its proper order, is God's prime concern in the lives of His Children. Thus He brings us under training in order to accomplish this. Training may first begin in natural and mechanical things. Once obedience is learned on this lower level then it is less difficult for God to get it moving on the spiritual level. The Lord uses our parents, pastors, and the Brethren to get obedience into us on the natural level.

       F. Chastisement is training. The Lord does not delight in chastening His children. He does delight in obedience. Thus He continues to chasten in order to bring us to a place of broad benefits. Through Abraham all nations become blessed (Galatians 3:6-9).

      G. God calls each of us to this same faithfulness that our lives may richly flow out to others throughout all ages to come. The far-reaching effect of our faithfulness in obedience is staggering even unbelievable. God train s us for this. We must learn to obey. For this reason we come to the school of obedience in the wilderness.

       H. Once we make proper progression along the lines of obedience we become responsible enough to begin to fulfill God's call into service. This is the time we receive our orders and direction to participate in the work of God. The call of God into service is upon every developed saint without exception.

       I. Paul exhorts us to, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11) The armor of God is not for the weakling. Not all believers are able for it. God is not going to call you into His active service unless there is some ability in you to fulfill that calling. I do not refer to natural ability, but rather the ability which God has been able to implant within you. The obedience and strength God instilled within us.

     J. The reason for the need of inner God-given ability and strength is the battle itself. Paul again gives us the reason, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12) Who are the wrestlers in "we wrestle?" They are not infants.

     K. Before Israel went in to posse the land they had training battles. In the wilderness they fought and defeated within forty-year period, about six kings. In Canaan Land they found and defeated 31 kings.

     L. King David was a man of war, but first he was trained. His first training took place in the sheep field. His second phase of training was on the battlefield with Goliath at a time when he was not yet able to handle armor. His third phase of training came when he was a renegade, on the run from King Saul. From there he went into full scale battle as king, with full armor, subduing kingdom after kingdom.

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

   A. In our training we sometimes feel as if we are in full scale battle. That intensity in training is necessary to prepare us. Some believers never succeed in their training. Therefore they never come into the fullness of the battle.

BE NOT CONFORMED

They say if you want to hide something from someone do it in front of them. As a school teacher I have learned the skilled talkers do not sit in the back of the room, but in the front. So too with Scripture. One of the most preached on and recited verse in the Bible is Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2), but it almost is the most ignored verse in the Bible. I find it amazing (God is so amazing) God allows us to live in an environment of cause and effect making our own choices and learning from them as we suffer the consequences. And a part of the learning process is the ignoring of Scripture meant for our benefit. I would like to get deep here for a moment by making a statement and then expounding on my thought. Where there is a lack of judgment the expression of mercy can be a fault. wow I hope you were sitting down. In other words from lack of judgment the mercy we give may be wrong to give. I know this is deep, but we can get through it. For example: having a love for the truth is more important than knowing all truth. How we go hard after the understanding of truth when all we really need is just a desire for truth. Or having a love for God is more important than to be used in ministry and moving in God in powerful ways. How we go hard after being used in ministry by God when all we have to do is have a love for God and He will take it from there. The same truth holds true as we consider not being conformed by this world. Paul knew the look and actions of the outward man reflects the inward work in man done by God. Paul knew, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee." (Proverbs 23:7) He knew how we think inwardly will reflect us outwardly. No matter how hard we try we cannot change this divine spiritual truth. Thus, if you look and act like the world no matter how much you say you love God you love the world more than you love God. It all goes back to the duck . . . if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, smells like a duck, and sounds like a duck it probably is not a chicken. The Bible says, "come out of the world, and be separate" (the word "separate" means judgment) and the only way we can come out of the world is in our thinking and our approach to the things in the world. John knew this also, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) Now I can find myself here at times loving things of the world. Did you get the end of that verse, "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" not that we have sinned and on our way to hell, but "the love of the Father is not in us." And why? Because we have the love of the world in us and good and evil cannot come from the same fountain. How can we say we love God and have our (Christians) bodies tattooed, our face and bodies pierced with shinny things, or our pants hanging around our knees, and so much more? All of these are expressions of the world that project a message and thinking that is anti-Christ born of man's exalting his flesh over Christ. I hear Christians say I am just expressing my artistic nature, no they are expressing their carnal ungodly nature that has not be dealt with by God. Now many would say David you are judging and I would say you are 100% right I am judging. Not judging is one of the biggest reasons why the Christians are is such a mess (and the world sees it) they have no ability to judge themselves, others, and ungodly situations that get them off track with God. Did you know there are some people you cannot hang around and there are some places you cannot go and still serve God. We are conformed to the world by our outward world-like appearance, like different colored hair, wearing the latest clothing styles (modesty in all things reveals a heart dealt with by God), following Hollywood and the "beautiful people," but more from our inward heart condition that rejects a holy God and what He stands for. How can we say we love God and our life is so plugged in to hand held devices where technology has replaced time spent with the LORD? No my friend we have been deceived by the god's of this world. Make no mistake there is a god of this present world called technology and the more Christians (even in our church services) go after it the less God will be welcomed into our lives. We will displace God and His Holy Spirit with the mind pleasing sensations and logical way of technology to connect with man instead of a holy God. Jesus is not hip nor is He on line. He is the saviour of the world and we must come His way. Through the message of the Cross, death to our selfishness as He deals and judges in our lives. A few years ago we went up in a small little town far back in the mountains of Pinhook, VA over the 4th of July ministering with Pastor Niki from Silistra, Bulgaria and his wonderful family. Now Pinhook is in the kuntry (not country) back where you have to pump in sun shine. I was talking (to mainly older folks) about judgment and asked who carries their cell phone in their right rear pocket and many hands shot up. I was surprised, but then I said, who told you to put your cell phone in your right rear pocket? The hands slowly dribbled down in shame. They have been conformed (without them really knowing it) by the worldly practice of stowing a cell phone in a right rear pocket. How subtle and deceptive the world can be in small areas that always leads to bigger areas of our lives. They are hanging on trying to walk a Christian walk, but with no judgment of discernment. They are not able to tell what is going on around them in the Spirit or what the will of God for them is in their daily living, they are so drunk with "stuff." These Christian have no clear judgment. How much of the self-gratifying pleasures are we drinking? How much do we load ourselves up with what the world has to offer? How much of this cup to we drink? Our self-centered, self-indulgences is greatly seen from the lack of judgment and the inability to judge ourselves. One of the greatest dangers of being self-centered is the inability to know the difference between that which is darkness and that which is light. Their thinking and ability to make correct and righteous judgments about situations, others, and themselves is the difference between life and death. Before we can judge we need to have an ability of discernment to know the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness, holy and unholy, and Godly and ungodly. Without this ability we will not be able to judge ourselves nor will we be able to judge righteousness judgment. God began this divine spiritual principle in the Old testament in the Book of Leviticus, "Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. 23And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. 24But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people. 25Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. 26And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine." (Leviticus 20:22-26) and has carried it forward into the New Testament. Peter knew something about judgment. "For the time is come that judgment (separation) must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17) Whenever we judge something there is always a separation. This tomato is ripe this tomato is not ripe so I will not select this unripe tomato. So too in our lives. This situation is ungodly this situation is not so I will separate myself from the ungodly situation. Right or wrong there is a judging and separation. Once we come to a judgment we judge it and it is either condemned or accepted. Whether it is unclean or clean is beside the point. If we judge it as unclean then it is unclean whether it is or not. We make a judgment so that we can separate things that are not of God, condemn them, and so that they do not follow us along our walk with the LORD, if not they will follow us to heaven. The main reason we are conformed to this world is because we have been deceived (our flesh revels in disobedience and deception) by the gods of this world and because we really do not have an understanding and a love for God. Where does Judgment begin and what are the results? When we are separated from others and become the LORD's in a fuller way we are brought to development and growth. God expects us to grow into maturity to the extent that we will be able to judge ourselves and others. Self-judgment can only be accomplished by those who have matured enough to see themselves in the perspective from how the LORD sees things. Sin CANNOT take root in us if we are "truly" convinced of God's love for us and His forgiveness. Sin is not an issue with God, but it is with man. This understanding will also prevent us from desiring to willfully sin. We understand God's desire towards us in a greater way, we hold the mystery of the Gospel in a higher esteem thus we have no desire to sin, we simply do right. Doing right becomes natural to us, it becomes our way of life. If we do not learn now to judge ourselves we will not be able, we will not have the ability to judge worldly things around us nor the Angels. We will not be free to move and touch lives with the life of Christ, even in the smallest matters, and why? Because within us is such a poor representation of the life of Christ.