Exploring Christ's Spiritual Laws
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Eph 6:9a . . And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not
threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is
in heaven,
The "masters" in that verse are believing masters; Paul's letters were written
and sent to churches rather than to the world at large..
If there is one political maxim that seems to ring true in every generation,
it's that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It's in the
human heart to abuse authority and to oppress and exploit people rather
than manage them to everyone's advantage.
Believing masters, and believing slaves, are siblings in God's family (Gal
3:28). Therefore, Christ's law is to be exemplified by both the slave and by
his master.
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has
no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13)
A slave master willing to sacrifice his life to protect his slaves would be a
very unusual master; but that is the very attitude of a Spirit-filled master
towards his believing slaves; and should be the attitude of a Spirit-filled
supervisor towards his believing employees: which is the attitude of a good
shepherd rather than that of a self-serving predator.
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am
come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for
the sheep.
. . . But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep
are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the
wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because
he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." (John 10:10-13)
_
Eph 6:9a . . And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not
threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is
in heaven,
The "masters" in that verse are believing masters; Paul's letters were written
and sent to churches rather than to the world at large..
If there is one political maxim that seems to ring true in every generation,
it's that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It's in the
human heart to abuse authority and to oppress and exploit people rather
than manage them to everyone's advantage.
Believing masters, and believing slaves, are siblings in God's family (Gal
3:28). Therefore, Christ's law is to be exemplified by both the slave and by
his master.
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has
no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13)
A slave master willing to sacrifice his life to protect his slaves would be a
very unusual master; but that is the very attitude of a Spirit-filled master
towards his believing slaves; and should be the attitude of a Spirit-filled
supervisor towards his believing employees: which is the attitude of a good
shepherd rather than that of a self-serving predator.
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am
come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for
the sheep.
. . . But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep
are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the
wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because
he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." (John 10:10-13)
_
.
Eph 6:9b . . and there is no favoritism with him.
The believing master's rank doesn't mitigate his accountability. No, he has
no advantage over the believing slave. Both must give an accounting of
themselves, and neither the master nor the slave will be given the slightest
preferential treatment. No, they will be recompensed on the merits of their
faithfulness; rather than their positions.
_
Eph 6:9b . . and there is no favoritism with him.
The believing master's rank doesn't mitigate his accountability. No, he has
no advantage over the believing slave. Both must give an accounting of
themselves, and neither the master nor the slave will be given the slightest
preferential treatment. No, they will be recompensed on the merits of their
faithfulness; rather than their positions.
_
.
Phil 1:27-30 . .Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy
of the gospel of Christ . . without being intimated in any way by those who
oppose you.
Intimidation essentially frightens somebody into submission and/or induces
fear or a sense of inferiority. The goal of intimidation is to break somebody's
spirit and make them give up, lose heart, and drag along in a fog of futility.
Intimidation is often effected by cowing, bulldozing, bullying, browbeating,
and peer pressure.
Browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, contemptuous, or
insolent treatment.
Cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken and/or all
courage is lost
Bulldoze implies breaking somebody down by pressure, urgings, demands,
or threats
Bullying implies intimidation through threats, insults, and/or aggressive
behavior
Peer Pressure can be defined as the influence exerted by a peer group in
encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in
order to conform to group norms.
Peer pressure owes it strength to the human heart's natural desire to
belong. In the song "Subdivision" by a rock group named RUSH, there's a
lyric that goes: Be cool or be cast out. Of course the criteria for defining
what's cool and what's not, are legislated by the group to which one wishes
to belong. For high school kids; the "group" is oftentimes not confined to a
small posse of valued associates; but even an entire student body. That's a
lot of pressure; especially when young people live in dread fear of being
known by everybody as a weirdo or a geek.
In an episode of Jerry Seinfeld, somebody, I can't remember who, asked
George Costanza: Is it really necessary that everybody like you? And George
answered, in an almost indignant tone: Yes! . . it is.
The Lord's people are called to put up with those kinds of abuses, and to
encourage themselves by always keeping in mind that a day is coming when
The Lord is going to make their enemies pay for the way they treated His sheep.
"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them
that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when The Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of The Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he
shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that
believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (2Ths
1:6-10)
_
Phil 1:27-30 . .Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy
of the gospel of Christ . . without being intimated in any way by those who
oppose you.
Intimidation essentially frightens somebody into submission and/or induces
fear or a sense of inferiority. The goal of intimidation is to break somebody's
spirit and make them give up, lose heart, and drag along in a fog of futility.
Intimidation is often effected by cowing, bulldozing, bullying, browbeating,
and peer pressure.
Browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, contemptuous, or
insolent treatment.
Cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken and/or all
courage is lost
Bulldoze implies breaking somebody down by pressure, urgings, demands,
or threats
Bullying implies intimidation through threats, insults, and/or aggressive
behavior
Peer Pressure can be defined as the influence exerted by a peer group in
encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in
order to conform to group norms.
Peer pressure owes it strength to the human heart's natural desire to
belong. In the song "Subdivision" by a rock group named RUSH, there's a
lyric that goes: Be cool or be cast out. Of course the criteria for defining
what's cool and what's not, are legislated by the group to which one wishes
to belong. For high school kids; the "group" is oftentimes not confined to a
small posse of valued associates; but even an entire student body. That's a
lot of pressure; especially when young people live in dread fear of being
known by everybody as a weirdo or a geek.
In an episode of Jerry Seinfeld, somebody, I can't remember who, asked
George Costanza: Is it really necessary that everybody like you? And George
answered, in an almost indignant tone: Yes! . . it is.
The Lord's people are called to put up with those kinds of abuses, and to
encourage themselves by always keeping in mind that a day is coming when
The Lord is going to make their enemies pay for the way they treated His sheep.
"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them
that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when The Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of The Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he
shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that
believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (2Ths
1:6-10)
_
.
Phil 2:2-3 . . Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves.
If there is at least one place on earth where believers should be on the same
plane with each other it's church; but that's not always the case as human
beings are just naturally prone to status; especially among pastors, choir
members, Sunday school teachers, Deacons, Deaconesses, etc.
Some people aren't content with mediocrity; no, they have to be head and
shoulders above the crowd, they have to be admired: they have to be feted,
they have to be heard, they have to be noticed, they have to be somebody,
they have to be a mover and a shaker, they have to be up in an ivory tower;
they have to have their finger on the pulse; they have to be in the limelight.
(oops; another RUSH song) and above all; they have to be right because it
is totally contrary to conceit's nature to be wrong about anything; even
superfluous minutiae.
If you should find yourself in a position around your church, whether as an
usher or a cook for men's Saturday morning prayer breakfast, make sure
you're your heart's in the right place because there is coming an
performance evaluation for the Lord's sheep where some of the elite are
going to be very embarrassed when they're exposed for the ambitious
achievers they really are.
"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, and will expose the
motives of men's hearts." (1Cor 4:5)
An especially bad case of conceit is on display at 3John 1:9-10
_
Phil 2:2-3 . . Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves.
If there is at least one place on earth where believers should be on the same
plane with each other it's church; but that's not always the case as human
beings are just naturally prone to status; especially among pastors, choir
members, Sunday school teachers, Deacons, Deaconesses, etc.
Some people aren't content with mediocrity; no, they have to be head and
shoulders above the crowd, they have to be admired: they have to be feted,
they have to be heard, they have to be noticed, they have to be somebody,
they have to be a mover and a shaker, they have to be up in an ivory tower;
they have to have their finger on the pulse; they have to be in the limelight.
(oops; another RUSH song) and above all; they have to be right because it
is totally contrary to conceit's nature to be wrong about anything; even
superfluous minutiae.
If you should find yourself in a position around your church, whether as an
usher or a cook for men's Saturday morning prayer breakfast, make sure
you're your heart's in the right place because there is coming an
performance evaluation for the Lord's sheep where some of the elite are
going to be very embarrassed when they're exposed for the ambitious
achievers they really are.
"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, and will expose the
motives of men's hearts." (1Cor 4:5)
An especially bad case of conceit is on display at 3John 1:9-10
_
.
Phil 2:4 . . Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also
to the interests of others.
The "others" in that verse are exclusive. Paul's directive pertains only to the
classification of people to whom he penned his letter; viz: "saints in Christ
Jesus . . together with the overseers and deacons" (Phil 1:1)
Seeing as how the Lord expressly forbids selfish ambition amongst his own;
therefore, before proceeding with your ideas, be very sure to ponder all the
possible ramifications of your actions first.
Stepping on people's toes, and/or thwarting their ideas so that yours
prevails, fails to satisfy the law of Christ; which requires believers to love
their fellow believers as Christ loves them (John 15:12). It also fails to
satisfy the Golden Rule which says: So in everything, do to others what you
would have them do to you. (Matt 7:12). Always looking out for #1 just
simply isn't very nice.
_
Phil 2:4 . . Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also
to the interests of others.
The "others" in that verse are exclusive. Paul's directive pertains only to the
classification of people to whom he penned his letter; viz: "saints in Christ
Jesus . . together with the overseers and deacons" (Phil 1:1)
Seeing as how the Lord expressly forbids selfish ambition amongst his own;
therefore, before proceeding with your ideas, be very sure to ponder all the
possible ramifications of your actions first.
Stepping on people's toes, and/or thwarting their ideas so that yours
prevails, fails to satisfy the law of Christ; which requires believers to love
their fellow believers as Christ loves them (John 15:12). It also fails to
satisfy the Golden Rule which says: So in everything, do to others what you
would have them do to you. (Matt 7:12). Always looking out for #1 just
simply isn't very nice.
_
.
Phil 2:5-8 . .Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who,
being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to
be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross.
That's an interesting contrast between Christ and Adam. He and his wife
made a definite grab for equality with God. (Gen 3:4-5)
It's just amazing how well Christ played down his divine origin and
conducted himself as a regular guy. Even the people with whom Jesus grew
up in his home town were highly doubtful he was so well connected.
"They said: Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we
know? How can he now say: I came down from heaven?" (John 6:42)
Even his cousin John had no clue that Jesus was the very person for whom
he was the forerunner.
"I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize
with water told me: The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and
remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify
that this is the Son of God." (John 1:32-34)
But there is always that one "king of the mountain" in church who just has
to be head and shoulders above everybody else; for example:
"I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the
preeminence among them, receiveth us not." (3John 1:9)
Diotrephes not only opposed the apostles; but also excommunicated people
who dared to ally with them. And to think that guy operated not in a Devil
worshipping church, but in a Christ-worshipping church. (3John 1:10)
(chuckle) Mr. Diotrephes apparently was on, what we today would label, an
ego trip.
_
Phil 2:5-8 . .Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who,
being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to
be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross.
That's an interesting contrast between Christ and Adam. He and his wife
made a definite grab for equality with God. (Gen 3:4-5)
It's just amazing how well Christ played down his divine origin and
conducted himself as a regular guy. Even the people with whom Jesus grew
up in his home town were highly doubtful he was so well connected.
"They said: Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we
know? How can he now say: I came down from heaven?" (John 6:42)
Even his cousin John had no clue that Jesus was the very person for whom
he was the forerunner.
"I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize
with water told me: The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and
remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify
that this is the Son of God." (John 1:32-34)
But there is always that one "king of the mountain" in church who just has
to be head and shoulders above everybody else; for example:
"I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the
preeminence among them, receiveth us not." (3John 1:9)
Diotrephes not only opposed the apostles; but also excommunicated people
who dared to ally with them. And to think that guy operated not in a Devil
worshipping church, but in a Christ-worshipping church. (3John 1:10)
(chuckle) Mr. Diotrephes apparently was on, what we today would label, an
ego trip.
_
.
Phil 2:12 . . As you have always obeyed-- work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling
Some people's interpretation of that passage pretty much echoes Santa
Claus' holiday practices. For example the lyrics from the classic jingle: Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town.
You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list, and checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice:
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake,
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!
There's no grace in that song-- none at all --no generosity, no altruism, no
kindness, no charity, no love, no peace, no understanding, no sympathy, no
patience, no tolerance, no courtesy, no compassion, no forgiveness, i.e.
there are no gifts in Santa's bag; only merit awards for those who prove
themselves worthy enough to deserve them.
Well; Paul didn't say work for your salvation, no he said work it out; which
speaks of something entirely different than merit awards.
According to Eph 1:13, the moment someone hears and believes the gospel,
they are sealed by God's spirit. From that moment on, they no longer belong
to the Devil; rather, they belong to God. But they're only recruits, so to
speak; they're just as raw as a brand new Army enlistee.
Well; at first, enlistees are more civilian than soldier and need to undergo
rigorous training and experience to forge them into real GIs; which is
analogous to inexperienced Christians who, at first, are more worldly than
heavenly and need to undergo training and experience before they're
competent enough to serve the purpose for which God apprehended them.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph 2:10)
NOTE: The phrase "fear and trembling" was one of Paul's favorite
colloquialisms; for example:
"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and
Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling."
(1Cor 2:3-4)
And another:
"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with
eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will
of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to The Lord, and not
to men" (Eph 6:5-8)
"fear, and in trembling" doesn't mean Paul recommends shivering in terror
and anxiety like a frightened gerbil; but that a believer's attitude should be
free of pride, arrogance, and conceit, i.e. free of a superiority complex
and/or a master-race mentality; for example:
Paul was very courteous to the Corinthians, and made himself of no
reputation at all, even though he was one of The Lord's hand-picked apostles
and they were a bunch of pagan heathens at the time who deserved nothing
but the cold shoulder. Paul's attitude rubbed off on the Corinthians because
they in turn deferred to Paul's associates with fear and trembling just as he
had treated them all at one time.
"I had boasted to [Titus] about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But
just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to
Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the
greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with
fear and trembling." (2Cor 7:14-15)
So then, what we're talking about here with "fear and trembling" is honor,
respect, submission, deference, and reverence rather than terror and
anxiety; and it's actually one of the Beatitudes.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt
5:3)
_
Phil 2:12 . . As you have always obeyed-- work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling
Some people's interpretation of that passage pretty much echoes Santa
Claus' holiday practices. For example the lyrics from the classic jingle: Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town.
You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list, and checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice:
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake,
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!
There's no grace in that song-- none at all --no generosity, no altruism, no
kindness, no charity, no love, no peace, no understanding, no sympathy, no
patience, no tolerance, no courtesy, no compassion, no forgiveness, i.e.
there are no gifts in Santa's bag; only merit awards for those who prove
themselves worthy enough to deserve them.
Well; Paul didn't say work for your salvation, no he said work it out; which
speaks of something entirely different than merit awards.
According to Eph 1:13, the moment someone hears and believes the gospel,
they are sealed by God's spirit. From that moment on, they no longer belong
to the Devil; rather, they belong to God. But they're only recruits, so to
speak; they're just as raw as a brand new Army enlistee.
Well; at first, enlistees are more civilian than soldier and need to undergo
rigorous training and experience to forge them into real GIs; which is
analogous to inexperienced Christians who, at first, are more worldly than
heavenly and need to undergo training and experience before they're
competent enough to serve the purpose for which God apprehended them.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph 2:10)
NOTE: The phrase "fear and trembling" was one of Paul's favorite
colloquialisms; for example:
"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and
Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling."
(1Cor 2:3-4)
And another:
"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with
eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will
of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to The Lord, and not
to men" (Eph 6:5-8)
"fear, and in trembling" doesn't mean Paul recommends shivering in terror
and anxiety like a frightened gerbil; but that a believer's attitude should be
free of pride, arrogance, and conceit, i.e. free of a superiority complex
and/or a master-race mentality; for example:
Paul was very courteous to the Corinthians, and made himself of no
reputation at all, even though he was one of The Lord's hand-picked apostles
and they were a bunch of pagan heathens at the time who deserved nothing
but the cold shoulder. Paul's attitude rubbed off on the Corinthians because
they in turn deferred to Paul's associates with fear and trembling just as he
had treated them all at one time.
"I had boasted to [Titus] about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But
just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to
Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the
greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with
fear and trembling." (2Cor 7:14-15)
So then, what we're talking about here with "fear and trembling" is honor,
respect, submission, deference, and reverence rather than terror and
anxiety; and it's actually one of the Beatitudes.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt
5:3)
_
.
Phil 2:14 . . Do everything without grumbling or debating
It used to be an unwritten rule in the US Army that GIs could complain all
they wanted just so long as they did what they were told. Well; Christ isn't
pleased with that.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,
not for men." (Col 3:23)
The problem with grumbling is that it's an attitude of rebellion; for example:
"And the people spoke against God and Moses saying: Why have you
brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and
no water, and we loathe this miserable food." (Num 21:5-6)
Well; long story short, God punished the people's grumbling by sending a
swarm of deadly reptiles among them, and many bitten by the reptiles died
because their venom was very lethal.
The word for "debating" is dialogismos (dee-al-og-is-mos') which is
sometimes translated "evil thoughts" for example:
"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." (Matt 15:19)
Dialogismos sometimes keeps people awake at night as they obsessively
re-wind and re-play a conflict with somebody over, and over, and over again
in their heads.
_
Phil 2:14 . . Do everything without grumbling or debating
It used to be an unwritten rule in the US Army that GIs could complain all
they wanted just so long as they did what they were told. Well; Christ isn't
pleased with that.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,
not for men." (Col 3:23)
The problem with grumbling is that it's an attitude of rebellion; for example:
"And the people spoke against God and Moses saying: Why have you
brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and
no water, and we loathe this miserable food." (Num 21:5-6)
Well; long story short, God punished the people's grumbling by sending a
swarm of deadly reptiles among them, and many bitten by the reptiles died
because their venom was very lethal.
The word for "debating" is dialogismos (dee-al-og-is-mos') which is
sometimes translated "evil thoughts" for example:
"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." (Matt 15:19)
Dialogismos sometimes keeps people awake at night as they obsessively
re-wind and re-play a conflict with somebody over, and over, and over again
in their heads.
_
.
Phil 3:1 . . Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord!
The koiné Greek word for "brethren" is adelphos (ad-el-fos') which is a
masculine noun for a male relative. But it's use is flexible. Adelphos can also
include one's female relatives too; I mean; after all, men and women are all
siblings around the table in God's home. And when Paul wrote to a church,
he oftentimes used the word adelphos to address the entire congregation.
Rejoicing "in the Lord" is way different than rejoicing in yourself; which is
vulnerable to one's mood and/or circumstances. The Lord once told his
disciples that they shouldn't rejoice that demons obeyed them; but that
that their names were written in Heaven. (Luke 10:20)
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things
above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on
things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden
with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will
appear with him in glory." (Col 3:1-4)
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say:
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
(Horatio P. Spafford, 1828-1888)
_
Phil 3:1 . . Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord!
The koiné Greek word for "brethren" is adelphos (ad-el-fos') which is a
masculine noun for a male relative. But it's use is flexible. Adelphos can also
include one's female relatives too; I mean; after all, men and women are all
siblings around the table in God's home. And when Paul wrote to a church,
he oftentimes used the word adelphos to address the entire congregation.
Rejoicing "in the Lord" is way different than rejoicing in yourself; which is
vulnerable to one's mood and/or circumstances. The Lord once told his
disciples that they shouldn't rejoice that demons obeyed them; but that
that their names were written in Heaven. (Luke 10:20)
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things
above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on
things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden
with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will
appear with him in glory." (Col 3:1-4)
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say:
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
(Horatio P. Spafford, 1828-1888)
_
.
Phil 3:2a . . Beware of dogs,
Dogs in ancient Israel were regarded with the same degree of abhorrence
that we in the west regard rats. They weren't your average domesticated
pet, but rather, feral, homeless curs that prowled city streets and landfills,
feeding on garbage, road kill, and the corpses of low income folk who died
without proper burial A study of the dogs of the Old Testament reveals just
how low in one's estimation is the person regarded as one (e.g. 1Kgs 14:11,
1Kgs 21:19, 1Kgs 21:24, 2Kgs 9:29-37; cf. Luke 16:21).
Feral dogs were not only unsanitary, but treacherous too.
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before
swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend
you." (Matt 7:6)
There are also guard dogs; which would correspond to people so passionate
and protective of their religion of choice that they will literally kill people who
refuse to agree with them; for example:
"Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have
pierced my hands and my feet." (Ps 22:16)
The "dogs" in that passage were Israel's religious elite; the very ones who
had Jesus arrested and put to death on trumped up charges. Pilate caught
on right quick that the Jews weren't after Christ's blood on account of crime;
but because of envy (Matt 27:18). In other words: Christ was an effective
rival that had to be eliminated. Christians have really got to watch their
backs around zealots like that crazy enough to murder people who dare to
oppose and/or criticize their belief systems.
A "dog" can be categorized as someone who is spiritually feral; which
Webster's defines as: (1) of, relating to, or suggestive of an animal; viz:
savage, (2) not domesticated or cultivated; viz: wild, untamed, (3) having
escaped from domestication and become wild, and (4) beastly.
A dog then, in the spiritual sense, is little more than a brutish human
scavenger. Human dogs are destined for a very unpleasant future in the
same category as witches, fornicators, murderers, idolaters, and liars.
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to
the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without
are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters,
and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (Rev 22:13-15)
_
Phil 3:2a . . Beware of dogs,
Dogs in ancient Israel were regarded with the same degree of abhorrence
that we in the west regard rats. They weren't your average domesticated
pet, but rather, feral, homeless curs that prowled city streets and landfills,
feeding on garbage, road kill, and the corpses of low income folk who died
without proper burial A study of the dogs of the Old Testament reveals just
how low in one's estimation is the person regarded as one (e.g. 1Kgs 14:11,
1Kgs 21:19, 1Kgs 21:24, 2Kgs 9:29-37; cf. Luke 16:21).
Feral dogs were not only unsanitary, but treacherous too.
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before
swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend
you." (Matt 7:6)
There are also guard dogs; which would correspond to people so passionate
and protective of their religion of choice that they will literally kill people who
refuse to agree with them; for example:
"Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have
pierced my hands and my feet." (Ps 22:16)
The "dogs" in that passage were Israel's religious elite; the very ones who
had Jesus arrested and put to death on trumped up charges. Pilate caught
on right quick that the Jews weren't after Christ's blood on account of crime;
but because of envy (Matt 27:18). In other words: Christ was an effective
rival that had to be eliminated. Christians have really got to watch their
backs around zealots like that crazy enough to murder people who dare to
oppose and/or criticize their belief systems.
A "dog" can be categorized as someone who is spiritually feral; which
Webster's defines as: (1) of, relating to, or suggestive of an animal; viz:
savage, (2) not domesticated or cultivated; viz: wild, untamed, (3) having
escaped from domestication and become wild, and (4) beastly.
A dog then, in the spiritual sense, is little more than a brutish human
scavenger. Human dogs are destined for a very unpleasant future in the
same category as witches, fornicators, murderers, idolaters, and liars.
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to
the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without
are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters,
and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (Rev 22:13-15)
_
.
Phil 3:2c . . Beware of mutilation.
Mutilation in this particular instance isn't criminal mutilation, rather; it refers
to voluntary ritual circumcision; viz: initiation into Judaism and the covenant
that Moses' people agreed upon with God as per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers
and Deuteronomy. There were Jews in various cities back in those days
telling Christians that their salvation depended upon circumcision.
"And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and
said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be
saved." (Acts 15:1)
The apostles disagreed.
"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have
troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be
circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:"
(Acts 15:24)
Hence; Paul's warning.
"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and
don't get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If
you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ
cannot help you. I'll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by
being circumcised, you must obey all of the regulations in the whole law of
Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping
the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's
grace." (Gal 5:1-4)
The law represented by ritual circumcision is a good law: there's nothing
intrinsically wrong with it.
"Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary,
we establish the Law." (Rom 3:3)
"The law itself is holy and right and good." (Rom 7:12)
"We know these laws are good when they are used as God intended." (1Tim
1:8)
The problem is: it's very difficult to satisfy the law's requirements.
"For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God
requires obedience to all of its commands." (Rom 10:5)
Obedience to all the law's commands has to be consistent in order to obtain
righteousness by it. In other words: obeying all the law some of the time, or
all the law most of the time; isn't good enough. It's necessary to be
consistent, i.e. obey all the law all the time: no let up.
"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and
immortality; He will give eternal life." (Rom 2:7)
"Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the
book of the law to do them." (Gal 3:10, cf. Deut 27:26)
_
Phil 3:2c . . Beware of mutilation.
Mutilation in this particular instance isn't criminal mutilation, rather; it refers
to voluntary ritual circumcision; viz: initiation into Judaism and the covenant
that Moses' people agreed upon with God as per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers
and Deuteronomy. There were Jews in various cities back in those days
telling Christians that their salvation depended upon circumcision.
"And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and
said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be
saved." (Acts 15:1)
The apostles disagreed.
"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have
troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be
circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:"
(Acts 15:24)
Hence; Paul's warning.
"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and
don't get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If
you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ
cannot help you. I'll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by
being circumcised, you must obey all of the regulations in the whole law of
Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping
the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's
grace." (Gal 5:1-4)
The law represented by ritual circumcision is a good law: there's nothing
intrinsically wrong with it.
"Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary,
we establish the Law." (Rom 3:3)
"The law itself is holy and right and good." (Rom 7:12)
"We know these laws are good when they are used as God intended." (1Tim
1:8)
The problem is: it's very difficult to satisfy the law's requirements.
"For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God
requires obedience to all of its commands." (Rom 10:5)
Obedience to all the law's commands has to be consistent in order to obtain
righteousness by it. In other words: obeying all the law some of the time, or
all the law most of the time; isn't good enough. It's necessary to be
consistent, i.e. obey all the law all the time: no let up.
"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and
immortality; He will give eternal life." (Rom 2:7)
"Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the
book of the law to do them." (Gal 3:10, cf. Deut 27:26)
_
.
Phil 3:17 . . Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take
note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have
often told you before, and now say, again even with tears: many live as
enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their
appetites, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
I'm pretty sure that passage can be said to be speaking of the tares that
Christ spoke of in Matt 13:24-30 and Matt 13:36-43. The law of averages,
combined with Satan's machinery, insures that every church has a
percentage of tares on the roles.
The tare is an interesting plant. In it's early stages, only a well-trained eye
can tell the difference between it and wheat or barley. Plus the tare's root
system so intertwines with the roots of good plants that they can't be
pulled up without destroying both.
It's all saying that churches are pretty much stuck with tares once they've
become an integral part of operations; so we just have to learn to live with
them; sort of like backpackers learning to live with snow and ice, wind, heat,
cold, soggy, and snakes, bears, cougars, and insects. Just as it's futile for
backpackers to try eliminate nature from their backpacking world; so it's
futile for churches to try and weed tares out of their midst. But churches
can, at least, take steps to protect themselves once the tares become
apparent.
Tares are somewhat different than heretics. Tares are sort of like Esau.
Though Isaac's eldest son was irreverent; he was content at home and made
no attempt to reform his family's spiritual values.
Tares hinder a church's spiritual growth, and are quite useless for the Lord's
purposes; but they're usually content to co-exist with the conscientious
Christians in church. Though tares are more or less worldly, I wouldn't go so
far as to say they're a threat to unity.
Tares are a curious lot. Though they go Sunday after Sunday in church and
Bible class listening to hours and hours of preaching and teaching, nothing
they hear ever seems to sink in. It all bounces off like bananas thrown at a
Russian tank.
Heretics, on the other hand, are typically reverent; maybe even religious
from their toes to their fingertips. They love Bible study and likely attend
prayer meetings too. But they're detrimental to unity because of their
activism. They not only push to reform their church's spiritual values; but
worse: steer it off in another direction. Heretics are far more than just
enemies of the cross; they're a disease; and though tares are to be pitied,
heretics deserve to be cursed.
"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that,
have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped
and sinful; he is self-condemned." (Titus 3:10-11)
_
Phil 3:17 . . Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take
note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have
often told you before, and now say, again even with tears: many live as
enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their
appetites, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
I'm pretty sure that passage can be said to be speaking of the tares that
Christ spoke of in Matt 13:24-30 and Matt 13:36-43. The law of averages,
combined with Satan's machinery, insures that every church has a
percentage of tares on the roles.
The tare is an interesting plant. In it's early stages, only a well-trained eye
can tell the difference between it and wheat or barley. Plus the tare's root
system so intertwines with the roots of good plants that they can't be
pulled up without destroying both.
It's all saying that churches are pretty much stuck with tares once they've
become an integral part of operations; so we just have to learn to live with
them; sort of like backpackers learning to live with snow and ice, wind, heat,
cold, soggy, and snakes, bears, cougars, and insects. Just as it's futile for
backpackers to try eliminate nature from their backpacking world; so it's
futile for churches to try and weed tares out of their midst. But churches
can, at least, take steps to protect themselves once the tares become
apparent.
Tares are somewhat different than heretics. Tares are sort of like Esau.
Though Isaac's eldest son was irreverent; he was content at home and made
no attempt to reform his family's spiritual values.
Tares hinder a church's spiritual growth, and are quite useless for the Lord's
purposes; but they're usually content to co-exist with the conscientious
Christians in church. Though tares are more or less worldly, I wouldn't go so
far as to say they're a threat to unity.
Tares are a curious lot. Though they go Sunday after Sunday in church and
Bible class listening to hours and hours of preaching and teaching, nothing
they hear ever seems to sink in. It all bounces off like bananas thrown at a
Russian tank.
Heretics, on the other hand, are typically reverent; maybe even religious
from their toes to their fingertips. They love Bible study and likely attend
prayer meetings too. But they're detrimental to unity because of their
activism. They not only push to reform their church's spiritual values; but
worse: steer it off in another direction. Heretics are far more than just
enemies of the cross; they're a disease; and though tares are to be pitied,
heretics deserve to be cursed.
"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that,
have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped
and sinful; he is self-condemned." (Titus 3:10-11)
_
.
Phil 4:4 . . Rejoice in the Lord always. I say again: Rejoice!
Words and grammar in the Bible convey information; otherwise language
serves no useful purpose. When the Lord says "always" he means always or
he wouldn't say always. So then, part-time rejoicers in the Lord are failing
to comply with God's wishes.
There is a joy available from Christ that's able to overcome all the negative
stuff this world can possibly throw at you.
"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and
that your own joy might be full." (John 15:11)
The koiné Greek word for "joy" in that verse is chara (khar-ah') which
doesn't mean ecstasy; but rather: cheerfulness; viz: calm delight and/or
gladness; in other words: pacific. This doesn't mean believers should be
bubbling over all the time; but it sure does mean they shouldn't be
overwhelmed with feelings of despair and melancholy sadness all the time;
or even some of the time. Paul says to rejoice "always" which of course is
beyond human capability; but not beyond God's.
"The fruit of the Spirit is joy." (Gal 5:22)
_
Phil 4:4 . . Rejoice in the Lord always. I say again: Rejoice!
Words and grammar in the Bible convey information; otherwise language
serves no useful purpose. When the Lord says "always" he means always or
he wouldn't say always. So then, part-time rejoicers in the Lord are failing
to comply with God's wishes.
There is a joy available from Christ that's able to overcome all the negative
stuff this world can possibly throw at you.
"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and
that your own joy might be full." (John 15:11)
The koiné Greek word for "joy" in that verse is chara (khar-ah') which
doesn't mean ecstasy; but rather: cheerfulness; viz: calm delight and/or
gladness; in other words: pacific. This doesn't mean believers should be
bubbling over all the time; but it sure does mean they shouldn't be
overwhelmed with feelings of despair and melancholy sadness all the time;
or even some of the time. Paul says to rejoice "always" which of course is
beyond human capability; but not beyond God's.
"The fruit of the Spirit is joy." (Gal 5:22)
_
.
Phil 4:5 . . Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The koiné Greek word for "gentleness" is epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace') which
essentially means: mild.
Webster's defines "mild" as gentle in nature or behavior, moderate in action
or effect; not sharp or bitter, i.e. just the opposite of fierce, harsh, rough,
scathing, mean, abrasive, stormy, intemperate, strict, and/or severe.
Though a mild person is affable, they aren't necessarily a wimp; no, they're
just not easy to provoke. The quite opposite would be a thin skinned,
reactive, defensive personality that goes to war at the drop of a hat.
Mild people don't threaten, nor come at you with bared teeth and narrowed
eyes. They're reasonable and rational, rather than emotional and reactive.
Assertive, confrontational people have no clue what it is to be mild; and
those are the very ones losing sleep with evil thoughts as they obsessively
re-wind and re-play a conflict with somebody in their heads over, and over
and over again rehearsing things they should've said, and would've said, had
they thought of them.
"Blessed are the meek." (Matt 5:5)
Moses was meek (Num 12:3) and Christ was meek (Matt 11:29, Matt 21:5).
Personally I wouldn't categorize either of those two men as meek. So then,
what really is meekness?
Primarily, to be meek, in the Biblical sense of the word, is to be temperate.
A temperate person isn't eo ipso a cowering milk toast. Anybody who's
studied the life of Moses and Jesus can easily testify that neither of those
men were timid; no, they walked softly but carried a big stick, so to speak.
Never mistake true meekness for a yellow streak.
Jacob and his dad Isaac were temperate men; but could be very strong
when the situation called for it. Temperate people pick their battles carefully,
and never waste anger and energy on trifles.
There are Christians in this world who're simply implacable. They just cannot
live and let live. Turning the other cheek is to them a worn-out cliché that no
one takes seriously anymore. For them rivalry, conflict, revenge,
competition, retaliation, recriminations, and grudging are a way of life: every
disagreement is an act of war-- they're peevish, emotional, bitter, harsh,
unloving, cruel, thoughtless, and reactive; and they thrive on complaining,
criticizing, chafing, carping, finding fault, tattling, bickering, retort upon
retort, rejoinder upon rejoinder, sarcasm, endless debate, dredging up old
unresolved conflicts, gainsaying, and getting in people's faces and giving
them a piece of their mind.
It seems like those people are always getting indignant about some petty
outrage or another. Well; those kinds of Christians are definitely not in the
"gentle" category. They're hellish, toxic demons who relish letting their
wrath be evident to all instead of gentleness because when they're upset;
they want everybody to know it.
_
Phil 4:5 . . Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The koiné Greek word for "gentleness" is epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace') which
essentially means: mild.
Webster's defines "mild" as gentle in nature or behavior, moderate in action
or effect; not sharp or bitter, i.e. just the opposite of fierce, harsh, rough,
scathing, mean, abrasive, stormy, intemperate, strict, and/or severe.
Though a mild person is affable, they aren't necessarily a wimp; no, they're
just not easy to provoke. The quite opposite would be a thin skinned,
reactive, defensive personality that goes to war at the drop of a hat.
Mild people don't threaten, nor come at you with bared teeth and narrowed
eyes. They're reasonable and rational, rather than emotional and reactive.
Assertive, confrontational people have no clue what it is to be mild; and
those are the very ones losing sleep with evil thoughts as they obsessively
re-wind and re-play a conflict with somebody in their heads over, and over
and over again rehearsing things they should've said, and would've said, had
they thought of them.
"Blessed are the meek." (Matt 5:5)
Moses was meek (Num 12:3) and Christ was meek (Matt 11:29, Matt 21:5).
Personally I wouldn't categorize either of those two men as meek. So then,
what really is meekness?
Primarily, to be meek, in the Biblical sense of the word, is to be temperate.
A temperate person isn't eo ipso a cowering milk toast. Anybody who's
studied the life of Moses and Jesus can easily testify that neither of those
men were timid; no, they walked softly but carried a big stick, so to speak.
Never mistake true meekness for a yellow streak.
Jacob and his dad Isaac were temperate men; but could be very strong
when the situation called for it. Temperate people pick their battles carefully,
and never waste anger and energy on trifles.
There are Christians in this world who're simply implacable. They just cannot
live and let live. Turning the other cheek is to them a worn-out cliché that no
one takes seriously anymore. For them rivalry, conflict, revenge,
competition, retaliation, recriminations, and grudging are a way of life: every
disagreement is an act of war-- they're peevish, emotional, bitter, harsh,
unloving, cruel, thoughtless, and reactive; and they thrive on complaining,
criticizing, chafing, carping, finding fault, tattling, bickering, retort upon
retort, rejoinder upon rejoinder, sarcasm, endless debate, dredging up old
unresolved conflicts, gainsaying, and getting in people's faces and giving
them a piece of their mind.
It seems like those people are always getting indignant about some petty
outrage or another. Well; those kinds of Christians are definitely not in the
"gentle" category. They're hellish, toxic demons who relish letting their
wrath be evident to all instead of gentleness because when they're upset;
they want everybody to know it.
_
.
Phil 4:6 . . Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Webster's defines "anxiety" as: characterized by extreme uneasiness of
mind, or brooding fear about some contingency; viz: worry-- which implies
an incessant goading, or attacking, that drives one to desperation.
If believers were never to be anxious then there would be little, if any, need
to pray and share one's concerns with their father in Heaven. The point
here, is to avoid desperation. When people get desperate, they start making
mistakes; and some of those mistakes can be life-changing; and cause
permanent damage.
Tuesday, Aug 04, 2009 a deranged man named George Sodini walked into
an LA Fitness gym in Philadelphia and gunned down twelve women in an
exercise class. His impetus? According to information police later found on
his blog, the 48 year-old man was in a mental state brought on by his long
held personal conviction that not one woman in the whole world could
possibly love him. In his mind; women were a threat to his survival— cruel,
venomous sirens whose mission in life is to torment males and make them
unhappy. No doubt in Sodini's thinking, murdering those women was
justifiable revenge for what females had done to him all his life.
His case is extreme, yes, but it serves to illustrate what happens to people
when they let desperation gnaw at their feelings for too long a time. Pretty
soon they crack and do something irrational.
For a believer on the verge of desperation; their Father may or may not
remove the source of their concerns, but at least He's at hand to protect
them from going too far off the deep end; unless maybe their nervous
condition is related to a sin unto death. (cf. Rom 8:13, 1John 5:16-17)
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:7)
_
Phil 4:6 . . Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Webster's defines "anxiety" as: characterized by extreme uneasiness of
mind, or brooding fear about some contingency; viz: worry-- which implies
an incessant goading, or attacking, that drives one to desperation.
If believers were never to be anxious then there would be little, if any, need
to pray and share one's concerns with their father in Heaven. The point
here, is to avoid desperation. When people get desperate, they start making
mistakes; and some of those mistakes can be life-changing; and cause
permanent damage.
Tuesday, Aug 04, 2009 a deranged man named George Sodini walked into
an LA Fitness gym in Philadelphia and gunned down twelve women in an
exercise class. His impetus? According to information police later found on
his blog, the 48 year-old man was in a mental state brought on by his long
held personal conviction that not one woman in the whole world could
possibly love him. In his mind; women were a threat to his survival— cruel,
venomous sirens whose mission in life is to torment males and make them
unhappy. No doubt in Sodini's thinking, murdering those women was
justifiable revenge for what females had done to him all his life.
His case is extreme, yes, but it serves to illustrate what happens to people
when they let desperation gnaw at their feelings for too long a time. Pretty
soon they crack and do something irrational.
For a believer on the verge of desperation; their Father may or may not
remove the source of their concerns, but at least He's at hand to protect
them from going too far off the deep end; unless maybe their nervous
condition is related to a sin unto death. (cf. Rom 8:13, 1John 5:16-17)
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:7)
_
.
Phil 4:8 . . Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if
anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things.
It's a common practice among emergency medical service personnel to get a
patient's mind off their injuries by distracting them with a barrage of
questions and/or chit-chat because thoughts and emotions have power to
make things worse.
Sometimes late at night when the demons come, and negative thoughts
start festering in my mind enough to keep me awake, I get up and do
something like watch a documentary on NetFlix, or a movie on DVD, play a
video game, read a book, or work on the computer. Just getting my mind on
something besides those negative thoughts really helps restore my peace of
mind so I can go back to bed and get some sleep. Phil 4:8 makes good
mental-health sense.
_
Phil 4:8 . . Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if
anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things.
It's a common practice among emergency medical service personnel to get a
patient's mind off their injuries by distracting them with a barrage of
questions and/or chit-chat because thoughts and emotions have power to
make things worse.
Sometimes late at night when the demons come, and negative thoughts
start festering in my mind enough to keep me awake, I get up and do
something like watch a documentary on NetFlix, or a movie on DVD, play a
video game, read a book, or work on the computer. Just getting my mind on
something besides those negative thoughts really helps restore my peace of
mind so I can go back to bed and get some sleep. Phil 4:8 makes good
mental-health sense.
_
.
Phil 4:9 . . Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or
seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I think Paul often spoke from experience. In other words; he didn't just
believe what he taught, but he knew what he talking about as someone who
tasted the goods.
You know, sometimes I think that too many Christians are somehow under
the impression that the New Testament's epistles are not all that important
in matters related to faith and practice. They've made the Sermon On The
Mount their religion and they think that's all they need. But if they want the
God of peace to be with them instead of off in the distance; then they are
simply going to have to revise their estimate. Compliance with the epistles is
not optional; no, it's essential.
"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of The Lord."
(1Cor 14:37)
"We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by The Lord Jesus, that as ye
have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would
abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by
The Lord Jesus." (1Thess 4:1-2)
"And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't
obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and don't obey, it is
like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your
appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But
if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law-- the law that sets you
free --and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God
will bless you for doing it." (Jas 1:22-25)
_
Phil 4:9 . . Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or
seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I think Paul often spoke from experience. In other words; he didn't just
believe what he taught, but he knew what he talking about as someone who
tasted the goods.
You know, sometimes I think that too many Christians are somehow under
the impression that the New Testament's epistles are not all that important
in matters related to faith and practice. They've made the Sermon On The
Mount their religion and they think that's all they need. But if they want the
God of peace to be with them instead of off in the distance; then they are
simply going to have to revise their estimate. Compliance with the epistles is
not optional; no, it's essential.
"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of The Lord."
(1Cor 14:37)
"We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by The Lord Jesus, that as ye
have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would
abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by
The Lord Jesus." (1Thess 4:1-2)
"And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't
obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and don't obey, it is
like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your
appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But
if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law-- the law that sets you
free --and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God
will bless you for doing it." (Jas 1:22-25)
_
.
Col 2:6-7 . . So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to
live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were
taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
That directive, of course, is restricted to the faith as you were taught by Paul
and his contemporaries. He and they taught only one faith rather than a
buffet of faiths to choose from.
"There is one faith" (Eph 4:5)
It's neither wise nor humane to encourage somebody rooted and built up in
Christian cults to continue in those faiths: e.g. Moonies, Christian Science,
Seventh Day Adventism, Herbert W. Armstrong, Mormonism, and/or the
Watchtower Society, et al.
Paul emphasized receiving Christ Jesus as "lord". The koiné Greek word is
kurios (koo'-ree-os) which means: supreme in authority. Curiously there are
a number of Christians out there who regard Jesus' authority no different
than they regard the authority of the prophets. But when the Old Testament
seems to oppose Christ's teachings; Christians have to go with Christ.
"I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in the
darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
And besides: he comes highly recommended.
"Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and a voice out of the cloud,
saying: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to
him." (Matt 17:5)
_
Col 2:6-7 . . So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to
live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were
taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
That directive, of course, is restricted to the faith as you were taught by Paul
and his contemporaries. He and they taught only one faith rather than a
buffet of faiths to choose from.
"There is one faith" (Eph 4:5)
It's neither wise nor humane to encourage somebody rooted and built up in
Christian cults to continue in those faiths: e.g. Moonies, Christian Science,
Seventh Day Adventism, Herbert W. Armstrong, Mormonism, and/or the
Watchtower Society, et al.
Paul emphasized receiving Christ Jesus as "lord". The koiné Greek word is
kurios (koo'-ree-os) which means: supreme in authority. Curiously there are
a number of Christians out there who regard Jesus' authority no different
than they regard the authority of the prophets. But when the Old Testament
seems to oppose Christ's teachings; Christians have to go with Christ.
"I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in the
darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
And besides: he comes highly recommended.
"Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and a voice out of the cloud,
saying: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to
him." (Matt 17:5)
_