In a simple look at the verses that talk about our relationship with "one another" in the body of Christ we see what that body is meant to look like. The scriptures speak for themselves:
John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another
1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 3:11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
1 John 3:23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
2 John 1:5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
DAVID IN THE WILDERNESS - THE LAW OF PROVISION
Psalm 23:1 (A Psalm of David.) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The Law of Provision is that the Lord is our Provider. In the wilderness we have no other provider so it becomes clear that we can trust him. The problem here, as in all of life’s deep issues, is that if we are convinced that we are our own providers we can miss the lesson.
In the time of need we can:
1. Despair, lose our freedom and become dependent on others.
2. Move in the flesh and seek to provide for ourselves regardless of personal cost or the cost to others.
3. Trust the Lord and accept his provision - this is the heart of contentment.
The provision of the wilderness is basic needs - It teaches us to defeat the Lust of the Eyes through contentment
IN OUR WORK
Luke 3:14 And some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."
IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE
I Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
IN OUR DAILY FOOD
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
IN OUR DESIRES FOR MORE
I Timothy 6:8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
IN OUR UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OF PROVISION IS -
JESUS IS ENOUGH
Hebrew 13:5 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"
David learned the provision of God in the wilderness
His life can be seen in four segments
1. His life at home in the wilderness tending the sheep
I Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
I Samuel 17:28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?
There he learned the basic lessons that formed his life.
2. In the wilderness after he was anointed King. This was the beginning of his “Higher Education” It was the season of intense training in being king. Interestingly the practice of the West has been theoretical education before practice. The primary means of education in the East has been apprenticeship. This is typically God’s practice as well. The apprentice is given responsibility first then taught the practice of his trade. The second period of the wilderness was this training in David’s life.
1Samuel 23:10 Then David said, "O Lord God of Israel, Thy servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.
3. The full practice of Kingship - including massive failures which eventually made him a better King though much suffering attended the lesson for him personally and for many others.
4. His preparation for God’s House through the next generation
Psalm 23 specifically points out the lesson of provisions he learned in the second wilderness period
Psalm 23:1 (A Psalm of David.) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
That God was the reason for his provision and that his provision would always be enough:
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
That God fills our need for rest, food and security.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
That in God our thirst is quenched, our anxieties are stilled.
3 He restores my soul;
That God restores our emotions, strength of will and mental well being.
3b He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
That following God’s ways and direction lead to a life of righteousness.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
That God’s presence frees from fear
4b Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
That God’s discipline and protection are our comfort
5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
That enemies cannot hinder God’s provision but only serve to enhance it
5b Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
That God provides our ministry position and the power to carry it out
5c My cup overflows.
That God gives in abundance
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
That God’s favor is the basis of our life’s meaning and value
6b And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
That the end of all of provision is intimacy with our God in his House.
The Law of Provision is that the Lord is our Provider. In the wilderness we have no other provider so it becomes clear that we can trust him. The problem here, as in all of life’s deep issues, is that if we are convinced that we are our own providers we can miss the lesson.
In the time of need we can:
1. Despair, lose our freedom and become dependent on others.
2. Move in the flesh and seek to provide for ourselves regardless of personal cost or the cost to others.
3. Trust the Lord and accept his provision - this is the heart of contentment.
The provision of the wilderness is basic needs - It teaches us to defeat the Lust of the Eyes through contentment
IN OUR WORK
Luke 3:14 And some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."
IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE
I Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
IN OUR DAILY FOOD
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
IN OUR DESIRES FOR MORE
I Timothy 6:8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
IN OUR UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OF PROVISION IS -
JESUS IS ENOUGH
Hebrew 13:5 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"
David learned the provision of God in the wilderness
His life can be seen in four segments
1. His life at home in the wilderness tending the sheep
I Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
I Samuel 17:28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?
There he learned the basic lessons that formed his life.
2. In the wilderness after he was anointed King. This was the beginning of his “Higher Education” It was the season of intense training in being king. Interestingly the practice of the West has been theoretical education before practice. The primary means of education in the East has been apprenticeship. This is typically God’s practice as well. The apprentice is given responsibility first then taught the practice of his trade. The second period of the wilderness was this training in David’s life.
1Samuel 23:10 Then David said, "O Lord God of Israel, Thy servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.
3. The full practice of Kingship - including massive failures which eventually made him a better King though much suffering attended the lesson for him personally and for many others.
4. His preparation for God’s House through the next generation
Psalm 23 specifically points out the lesson of provisions he learned in the second wilderness period
Psalm 23:1 (A Psalm of David.) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
That God was the reason for his provision and that his provision would always be enough:
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
That God fills our need for rest, food and security.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
That in God our thirst is quenched, our anxieties are stilled.
3 He restores my soul;
That God restores our emotions, strength of will and mental well being.
3b He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
That following God’s ways and direction lead to a life of righteousness.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
That God’s presence frees from fear
4b Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
That God’s discipline and protection are our comfort
5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
That enemies cannot hinder God’s provision but only serve to enhance it
5b Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
That God provides our ministry position and the power to carry it out
5c My cup overflows.
That God gives in abundance
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
That God’s favor is the basis of our life’s meaning and value
6b And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
That the end of all of provision is intimacy with our God in his House.
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