How Do You Do That? (Colossians 1:10)

Have you ever seen someone perform some feat that, to you, would be impossible?  Yet, they did it easily.  You may have gone to them and asked, “How do you do that?”  Or, you’ve just established your own home and want to make your grandmother’s famous cake, so you call and ask her, “How do you make that cake we all love?”  She replies, “My, I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it. I’ve been doing it so long that I don’t even give it a thought. Let me think…., What do I put in there? How much? How….It’s, you know…., I just do it.” And you think, “Oh!, that’s a big help!”

Sometimes it can be that way in our Christian walk.  Some Christians have been walking so long it’s hard for them to comprehend why anyone would have a hard time doing the simple things in the Christian life.  But we should all remember how hard it was for us when we first started walking.  Of course, we probably can’t remember that, but we can remember how hard it was for our children or nephews and nieces to start walking.  We even remember that we didn’t expect them to walk the very day they came home from the hospital–it would have been too hard.  We patiently waited until they were strong enough to walk before we coaxed and encouraged and even tricked them into walking.  Now, if you would ask them, “How do you walk?” they would laugh because, “Everyone knows how to walk.  It’s second nature.”

New Christians need careful, meticulous training and help to learn how to do the simple walking in the Christian life.  Those simple things should grow to be “second nature” for every half-mature Christian.  And those of us who’ve been walking for awhile should remember it’s not all that simple if you’ve just come home from being born in the hospital.

What to Practice?

This is a post that I was supposed to write last month.  I finally got to it.

What Instrument?

As a band director, a question I’m often asked is, “What instrument should my child play?” There are a few things to consider along with this question — age, physiology, gender, and character. While not “set in stone,” many agree that children should not start playing a wind instrument (woodwind or brass) until they are a little more developed physically. We don’t begin teaching those instruments until the fourth grade. On the other hand, string instruments and piano do not have any potential “dangers” for a young player.

Physiologically, parents and teachers should consider the size of a child’s features that would be involved in playing the instrument. Everyone can overcome difficulties, but most of the time, we do not want unnecessary difficulties for a beginning instrumentalist–there are enough things to overcome without creating more.

Who’s Advising?

I’m not trying to compete with Kent’s credentials. But I do want you to know who’s giving this advice. Jack Hammer says that Kent and I have “gobs of experience.” So, here’s my musical autobiography:

In the fourth grade, my father started me out playing a $25 trumpet in the beginning band at school. I practiced as I was told and in the eighth grade, the band director asked me to move to the baritone. It was while playing the baritone that I began to love instrumental music. As I progressed, I figured out that the tuba wasn’t much different from the baritone, and in my senior year of high school, I learned how to get around on the trombone. We went to Mexico on our senior trip, and the trombone took up less space than a baritone, so I figured out how to play hymns and songs on that.

Through this time, I rarely had professional lessons. As I recall, there were a few summers when the music director at our church (he was good enough to have been a professional) gave me a few lessons. I don’t remember any practice sessions in particular, but I do remember practicing.

Does God Accept Unscriptural Service or Work?

You see the question above.  What do you think?  I would think that most of you would answer:  No.  God will not accept something unscriptural.  If it is unscriptural, then it doesn’t please Him.  Lots comes to mind, but let’s start with Hebrews 11:6 that “without faith, it is impossible to please Him.”   We are sanctified by the truth, not our feelings or opinions (John 17:17).   God is Holy.  I think of Caan.  God didn’t accept his well-meant labor.  Nor did God accept Saul’s early sacrifices or Uzzah’s touching the Ark.  Salvation itself is exclusive—“no man cometh unto the Father but by” Him (John 14:6) and “neither is there salvation in any other” than Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).  Many will say a whole bunch of things, but Christ will say He never knew them (Matthew 7:21-23).  Christ didn’t come to bring peace but a sword.  He’s a Divider.  He separates the sheep from the goats, the tares from the wheat.  We give God a lot of leniency where He doesn’t actually have it.

He’s longsuffering.  That’s for sure.  He’s merciful.  Definitely.  But He doesn’t accept the work that is done our way.  That’s wood, hay, and stubble (1 Corinthians 3).  Our labor is not in vain in Him (1 Corinthians 15:58).  Everything else is vain though.  He keeps giving us opportunities to get it right, but we have to get it right.  Everything we do should be regulated by Scripture and especially worship.  I mean, God will use His Word.  He will bless through His Word.  He even uses evil nations in His Divine Providence.  That doesn’t mean He accepts what they do.  You know all of that.  So…..

That brings me to a major application.  Does God accept what people are doing through unscriptural organizations?  Christ started the church and gave it His authority (Matthew 16:18, 19).  I know this is controversial, but I would rather you think of it as loving.  I hope you can assume that is how I mean it.  We don’t have a Scriptural basis to think that we can do it our way and have God accept it.  We shouldn’t think that we can add something to what God said and that He, the Perfect, Infiinte, All-Wise, Immutable God, will see that as permissible.  That we survive doing it for many years is not evidence that God is fine with it.

Think about the Wilds, Bill Rice Ranch, Bob Jones, Maranatha, Ironwood, Baptist World Mission, and more.  These are places that in most cases say that they are supplementing the church, aiding the church, going alongside the church to encourage and strengthen.  Those phrases sound nice.  At least for the cause of syrupy sentimentalism, perhaps I should just go along for the ride.  However, think of how offensive it is.  God has a way, but wooooaaaa, look out, this man, this hunk of flesh, this finite thing of depravity has a better way than God.  I can aid His way, supplement it.  He needs my help, like Judah needed Egypt.  God doesn’t need man initiated, man concocted institutions.  They will get in the way even if I can’t give you twenty reasons how they do.  They are a problem even if you can list a dozen ways that they “help.”

Our church or I don’t use any of these organizations.  I don’t endorse them.  I don’t push anyone in their direction.  I don’t want to encourage their existence any more than I want to push for the public school system.  The best a university like BJU (from where my wife graduated) can be is a better version than Clemson, another South Carolina school.  I don’t give any credit to their faculty or staff for doing “Christian service” there.  That would undermine and devalue what the Bible says about Christian service.  They cannot truly “make disciples.”  They don’t aid in the cause of sanctification.  How can one sanctify in an unscriptural way?

I do believe that God uses these people.  That doesn’t justify what they do.  God uses everyone in some way.  I believe He uses some people more than others and sometimes based upon the degree of Scripturality that they live.  I am not casting out everything they do.  Whenever they obey God’s Word, that’s good.  Whatever they do through a church—great!  They do get in the way of imparting a Scriptural model.   They do damage.

You might feel sorry for these people right now.  You might think that they deserve more respect.  Let’s together respect God and think about what He deserves.   We should delight ourselves in the Lord, not in our ways and not in our own understanding.

Let’s get the discussion going.

You Mean…, That’s Not Biblical?

I remember hearing a sermon in high school or college chapel on a perfect text for some typical preachers. The text had only six words. Three parallel commands. Three sets of two words. Actually, only four words total because one of them was repeated twice. So with the repeated words comes the parallel poetry of the three points. Three things we must NOT do!

Touch not, taste not, handle not. Colossians 2:21

The theme of this sermon was to give us biblical reasons NOT to touch, taste, or handle certain things. It was a typical litanny of “do’s” and “don’ts.” Of course, with this text, it was mostly the “don’ts.”

Please forgive me. I don’t remember any of the details of the message. I don’t remember the particular illustrations. I don’t remember the particular applications. I don’t remember the explanation of the text (except that if there was any, it couldn’t have been legitimate).

All I remember now is that the whole message was NOT biblical. Oh yes, it was moralistic. Yes, it contained many truths. Yes, it probably convicted some. But it was NOT biblical.

If you will look at the immediate context of this verse, it should be easy to see that Paul was fighting against those that would say “touch not, taste not, handle not!” He was not commanding us to not touch, not taste, or not handle.

This experience of mine never fails to be an illustration of how not to preach. It is a non-biblical sermon. The preacher had something he wanted to preach to young people about, so he made up an outline and looked for a verse to “back it up.” He may as well have looked up some poetry, conservative commentary, or statistics to “back it up.” Because the verses he picked are in direct opposition to what he was trying to preach!

This practice is deplorable. Yet it is often practiced among those who claim to be Bible preachers. Too many preachers know already what they are going to preach when they go to open their Bibles. Rather, let us have preachers who open their Bibles to see what God would have them deliver to His people.

Whose Will Is Free?

I find it ironic that the man who will say that it is right that man’s will is free will say that it is wrong that God’s will is free. But before we delve into that, we should make clear what we mean by “free.” By free, do we mean “unrestricted, unbounded, uncontrolled, unrestrained,” or do we mean “able to make choices?”

There is a limited sense in which man is free, and there is an unlimited sense in which God is free. Man is free finitely. God is free infinitely. Man’s freedom has boundaries. God’s freedom does not. God is only limited by himself. Man is limited by God. God does whatever he pleases. Man sometimes thinks he does.

I cannot say for how long, but for much of my life there has been a great overemphasis of the “doctrine” of the free will of man. Until confronted with Mormonism, I really had no reason to question the great emphasis and value placed on this “free” will. But now I wonder if man’s will and the supposed freedom of his will is really such a good thing. What good did “the freedom to choose” do for Adam? What good has it done for mankind as a whole? What man has ever made all the right choices? And is salvation simply a matter of making the right choice, or of “choosing wisely”, as with Indiana Jones in the Temple of Doom?

In this brief treatment of the question of free will, we will compare the pot’s freedom to that of the potter, and we hope to point out the man who is “free indeed.”
The Freedom of the Pot
That in some sense man is free cannot really be questioned. This morning I chose for myself a blue shirt and yellow tie. I picked out a pair of blue trousers and black shoes. Yesterday, I chose a bleu bacon cheeseburger with french fries, and I chose a Coke since the restaurant shamefully stopped carrying Mountain Dew. I was, in a somewhat limited fashion, free to choose.

However, my freedom, even in these choices, was limited by availability. As a man, I can make choices, yet I find that my choices are only free to a certain extent. I “chose” my wife as well. Yet, my choice of a wife was limited by a few key factors. First, it depended on a “mutual choosing.” Had she, like others before her, decided that I wasn’t worth it, things would have been different. My choice depended on the choice of herself, her father, and ultimately on the choice of the Lord God.

So, in this I see that even in choosing, I am not entirely free. And we find that the Bible would teach this as well. For I can say that today or tomorrow I will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain. But my choice is not authoritative. I have power to make a choice. I have no power to “guarantee” it. I can predict, and I can prophesy, but my power to guess a thing should not be confused with the power to make it happen.

Therefore, we ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. And with good reason to. Because ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

My choices are seen and known and subject to the will of God.

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

So, even as man is free, man is not free. In a limited sense, man makes choices. But we must remember that these choices are made in a fleshly context. The Bible has something specific to say about man’s ability to choose on a spiritual level.

First, in a spiritual sense, men are slaves. No man, in the history of the world, has ever chosen not to sin on any more than a temporary level. In fact, when natural men choose not to sin, they really are not choosing not to sin. They choose to delay sinning, or they choose something other than that particular sin. They choose beer or wine, they choose fornication or theft, they choose to lie or they choose to curse. But they all choose to sin. And their will has no power to choose anything else.

they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Thus, God says that even the plowing of the wicked is sin. Natural men are slaves to sin.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

If we are to “choose Christ”, we must first be delivered from captivity. Natural men, with hearts of stone, do not know Christ. They do not understand the things of the Spirit of God. They have no liberty, nor are they free.
Freed Men
In preaching the gospel to the Jews, Jesus said, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). In response, the Jews protested that they were Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man (John 8:33). In that context, Christ reminded them that they were in bondage to sin (v. 34).

No man is free until Christ sets him free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (v. 36). Thus, we must be freed by Christ. Christ must lead captivity captive. Christ must bind the strong man so that his house can be plundered. Until then, we remain slaves.

Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Romans 6:6-7 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

God frees us so that we can obey His Word and so that we can cease from sin. No man is free to please God in any sense until God frees him (Philippians 2:13; Proverbs 16:1). Apart from this freedom, we really have no warrant to speak of “free will,” unless of course we are referring to the free will of God.
The Potter’s Freedom
As I said before, it is ironic that we would resent the freedom of God because it interferes with our own “ability” to make choices. Why would it be right that we have free will, but not that God have free will?

I cannot help but believe that the true believer delights in the sight of God on His throne more than he delights in any other vision. Otherwise, we find that God becomes nothing more than a means to an end for us.

We know that God is free in the truest sense of the word. God and God alone decrees all that will be, and causes it to be. Whatever God intends will be done.

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 46:9-11 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Do You Praise?

I have found that many Christians don’t know the difference between praise and thanks, and many don’t seem to care.  How can you praise God if you don’t know what praise is?  Here’s your task for this discussion:  Give a definition of praise from your head, using the passages that are also in your head that you associate with your definition.   By the way, just a hint—don’t use the word “praise” in your definition.

Secondary question and discussion:  Why praise?

How Do You Know That?

Epistemology is the study of knowledge. Another way to say that is, “How do we know what we know?” The nature of humanity and knowledge forces upon all of us one of two states: ignorance or omniscience. Ultimately, each of us is either all knowing or not knowing. Now you are probably sitting there with this response, “Oh, come on now, I know I know some things, even if not everything.” Okay, you’ll admit you don’t know everything. Is there a possibility that something that you don’t know could change the meaning of something that you think you know? Of course there is! All of us have changed what we knew about something once we gained more information. So the possibility exists that everything we “know” could be changed by so much that we don’t know. In order to know anything certainly we have to be omniscient. We must know everything or not be sure of anything.

The world today understands this. This is why no one thinks that anyone can know what the truth is. Most question everyone’s authority because “even that person can’t know everything.” This is why the world is hopeless.  The world is ignorant and they know it. It is like they are in a rowboat in the middle of the Pacific with no oars and no compass, drifting and hopeless.

Somebody might be saying, “How do you know that? What about what you don’t know?” Well, that’s a fair enough question. How can anybody be so sure that they know anything? No one is omniscient. True and False. I’m not omniscient. If I didn’t have help, I would be totally ignorant. But I have a Friend Who is omniscient. He knows everything, and whatever I learn from Him, I can be sure it is true and right altogether. The Christian who trusts the Word of God has an anchor that keeps the soul steady on the restless sea of life.

Knowing God. Fearing God. Obeying God. These are all foundational to knowing anything. The source of all knowledge is God, and the only way for ignorant man to be sure of any knowledge is for that man to fear, obey, know, and depend on God and His Word.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Proverbs 1:7

Are Ye of Little Faith? by John Bunyan

Then said Christian to his fellow, Now I call to remembrance that which was told me of a thing that happened to a good man hereabout. The name of the man was Little-Faith; but a good man, and he dwelt in the town of Sincere. The thing was this. At the entering in at this passage, there comes down from Broadway-gate, a lane, called Dead-Man’s lane; so called because of the murders that are commonly done there; and this Little-Faith going on pilgrimage, as we do now, chanced to sit down there and sleep. Now there happened at that time to come down the lane from Broadway-gate, three sturdy rogues, and their names were Faint-Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt, three brothers; and they, espying Little-Faith where he was, came galloping up with speed. Now the good man was just awaked from his sleep, and was getting up to go on his journey. So they came up all to him, and with threatening language bid him stand. At this, Little-Faith looked as white as a sheet, and had neither power to fight nor fly. Then said Faint-Heart, Deliver thy purse; but he making no haste to do it, (for he was loth to lose his money,) Mistrust ran up to him, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, pulled out thence a bag of silver. Then he cried out, Thieves, thieves! With that, Guilt, with a great club that was in his hand, struck Little-Faith on the head, and with that blow felled him flat to the ground, where he lay bleeding as one that would bleed to death. All this while the thieves stood by. But at last, they hearing that some were upon the road, and fearing lest it should be one Great-Grace, that dwells in the town of Good-Confidence, they betook themselves to their heels, and left this good man to shift for himself. Now, after a while, Little-Faith came to himself, and getting up, made shift to scramble on his way. This was the story.

HOPEFUL: But did they take from him all that ever he had?

Should We Pledge Allegience to the Christian Flag?

According to the pledge, the Christian flag symbolizes the Kingdom of Christ. When we pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, we pledge our allegiance to Christ. Pledging to the Christian flag has been ingrained in young people since the early 1900’s.

According to Wikipedia (and other reliable sources), the Christian flag was created in 1897, by Charles C. Overton, the Sunday School Superintendent at Brighton Chapel on Coney Island. It seems that the scheduled speaker failed to arrive for a patriotic Sunday, and so Mr. Overton began a soliloquy on America’s flag. In the heat of patriotic fervor, Overton wished out loud for a flag that could represent all of Christiandom. The details get a bit sketchy as to when the flag was completed, but most say that Overton himself (with the help of a seamstress) presented the flag to his congregation on the next Sunday in 1897.

Lynn Harold Hough, a Methodist Pastor, wrote the pledge itself in 1908. And, as they say, the rest is history. When I was a boy growing up, pledging allegiance to the Christian flag was a part of the daily routine. When I became a school teacher, pledging allegiance to the Christian flag was a part of the daily routine.

A few years ago, in a meeting with the men of our church, we considered a question about the Christian flag. If the Christian flag does, in fact, represent our Savior and His kingdom, then why do we place it to the left of the American flag? We had an interesting array of answers. But ultimately, the men of the church were unwilling to place the Christian flag in the place of honor.

I mention that because it reveals something interesting about our attitude towards the Christian flag. While we pledge allegiance to it, just as we pledge allegiance to the American flag, do we really view the two in the same way? We would give our lives for the American flag, we say. We pledge our allegiance to that flag. But would we give our lives for the Christian flag? Does the Christian flag represent Christ’s Kingdom the way the American flag represents the United States?

If the Christian flag does, in fact, represent Christ and His kingdom, then shouldn’t it be given the place of honor on the platform of our churches? And if you would answer no, then why would we pledge allegiance to that flag?

I’ll be straight with you here. I am not certain that the Christian flag is a legitimate symbol of Christ and His Kingdom. I see legitimate symbols of Christ, as given in Scripture. The bread and wine of the Lord’s Table represent Christ. The Church represents Christ. But where did this banner come from? It is hard for me to believe that it is a true representation of Christ and that I owe any allegiance to it whatsoever.

Psalm 20:5 says, We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

But it seems impossible to argue that this verse is calling for a Christian flag. Is the banner referred to in Psalm 60:4 really the Christian flag? Is that really what God meant when he said he would give us a banner?

To me, pledging allegiance to a flag that represents our Savior and His Kingdom seems inconsistent. We are not to make any graven images, we are not to worship any visible representations of our Lord. So, what are we doing when we pledge allegiance to a visible representation of Him? The entire act seems improper for a Christian, and unnecessary as well. Do we need this pledge? Does the pledge insure faithfulness? Does the pledge make better disciples? Does the pledge increase our faith? In pledging, are we somehow worshipping?

At best, the pledge seems to be a waste of time and words. At worst, it may be sacrilegious. But maybe someone can enlighten us on this!

What is the New Testament Basis for Praying for the Sick?

I have noticed for years that many churches in prayer meetings emphasize prayer for the sick.  How many Bible sermons have you heard on praying for the sick?  None that I remember.  I realize that we don’t probably hear too much on prayer anyway in sermons, but does the New Testament tell us to pray for the sick  When it comes to prayer (or anything else), Scripture is sufficient.  We have practices taught in Scripture, but we also have those acts that are emphasized in the Bible, ones that God wants us to do more than others.  Shouldn’t we be praying for what we see the people in the Bible praying for?

When you study the prayers of the Apostle Paul in the epistles, how much do we see him praying for the sick?  He doesn’t pray for Timothy that we know of.  He tells him to use the best medicine of the day.  He doesn’t pray for Epaphroditus.  He does pray for himself three times, but God says “No, my grace is sufficient.”  That means that healing Paul wasn’t in God’s will.  So far, we have praying for sickness isn’t in God’s will.  Paul asks two different churches in two different epistles to pray for his boldness in proclaiming the Gospel.  He prays for others to be filled with the knowledge of his will and for their love to abound more and more.  So, for as many prayers that go up for the sick, where do we get from the New Testament that this is in God’s will?

I could defend praying for the sick with Scriptural implications at the most.  I don’t defend it using James 5:14-15.  If there is anyplace people go to teach this, they go to James 5:14-15.  Those verses read:

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

I contend that this text gets ripped from its context to defend praying for the physically ill (i.e., those with cancer, the flu, etc.).

The Pre-Context of James 5:14-15

The pre-context of James 5:14-15 goes back to the first verse (hmmmmm).  I think we do well to pick it up in v. 4 with laborers.  A harvest is coming in which people will be slaughtered.  On the other hand, Christian workers will suffer in the here and now for their work, but they will be rewarded in the end at the coming of the Lord, so they must be patient (vv. 7-8).  We know that the Lord is coming so we need the patience of Job to endure to the end as we are suffering affliction for our present labor (vv. 9-11).  If we are afflicted for our testimony for the Lord, we should pray (v. 13a) and if we are not, then we should sing (v. 13b).  Then we get our text in v. 14.  The context does not say anything about diseases we call sickness.  The context is about living for the Lord in a hostile culture, where persecution will occur and we will suffer for it.

The Internal Context

“Is any sick among you?”  The term “affliction” in verse 13 parallels with “sick” in verse 14.  “Sick” (asthenei) in v. 14 can mean “sick” as in “disease,” but also “weak.”  Consider these usages of the same Greek term:

Romans 14:1-2, 21, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. . . . It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

1 Corinthians 8:9, 11-12, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. . . . And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:21, 29, “I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. . . . Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?”

OK, here’s one that fits the context of James 5:14-15 perfectly, that is, 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Godly people go through persecution for their labor for God on this earth, suffering affliction, and they should pray.  However, if one of them cannot pray, because he is too weak from that affliction and persecution, he should call someone over to his house who can pray for him.  Persecution could leave a person spiritually weak, discouraged, and ready to give up.

You ask, “What about the anointing with oil?”  “Anointing” is not ceremonial.  A whole separate Greek word is used for ceremonial anointing.  This word is medicinal.  It would be akin in contemporary English to “rub.”  The good Samaritan used “oil” (same Gk. word) to rub into the wounds of the injured man (Luke 10:34).  Today this might be some kind of therapeutic massage.  A rub or massage will bring blood to an injured area to promote healing.  It feels very good and actually can encourage the one feeling sore and down.

Here is someone who has suffered for the faith and in this state of affliction is weak.  The men who are on praying ground come over to pray over him while he struggles with prayer, strengthening him spiritually, and also giving treatment with oil to his beaten muscles and tissue.  “Oil” is symbolic of the Holy Spirit in Scripture, and surely there is some spiritual implication to their rubbing this man spiritually, bringing him back in spiritual strength, so that he is no longer “sick,” that is, “weak.”

In v. 15, the term “sick” is still different (kamno), found only here and two other places in the New Testament.  In Hebrews 12:3, it is completely fitting with this interpretation, reading:  “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied (kamno) and faint in your minds.”  Also Revelation 2:3, where it says:  “And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted (kamno).”  This is a person who has become weak, weary, and faint from suffering the affliction expected of a Christian in a hostile world system.  A Christian needs to keep his focus on the coming of the Lord, waiting for his reward, but when he loses his vision, the strong spiritually can help him with prayer and encouragement.

I’m not saying “don’t pray for the sick.”  However, do pray Scripturally.  I think you should be able to agree that prayer for the sick is not an emphasis of the Bible.  God will heal all of us permanently, giving us all a resurrected body some day.  We should depend on Him now for our physical needs and at the same time pray the most for those things that matter the greatest to God.

Is There Any Thing God Doesn’t Think About?

What do you think about during the course of your day?

Â

Â

Â

Stop. Really, I want you to answer that question.

Â

Â

Now what do you think about between those thoughts?

Â

Â

Â

Stop. I’m not kidding; I want you to answer that one also.

Â

Â

Now, what categories would you put your thoughts into? Spiritual, physical, mundane, material, family, etc.

Â

Â

—–shift—–

Â

Â

What does God think about? You probably think that God doesn’t concern Himself with the same topics that you do. This is because we often think like the psalmist was when he wrote:

O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.  Psalm 92:5

Now, what categories would you give to God’s thoughts?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

So, do you think there is anything that God doesn’t think about? Have you ever thought about that? You might be asking, “Who cares? Is this even important?” It is of utmost importance because we are told to bring every one of our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

If every one of our thoughts is to be obedient to Christ, He must think something about all our thoughts and all the categories for our thoughts. And of course, this is the challenge: in ourselves, we do not think like Christ. Philippians 2:5 tells us to let the “mind” of Christ be in us. Romans 13:14 commands us to “put on the Lord,” as does Ephesians 4:24-32.

As we try to obey Scripture, we recognize a struggle in true Christians’ lives.

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:15-25

These verses end with what sounds like an excuse. It seems like the apostle is saying, “Oh well, I guess I’m just schizophrenic.” But the answer is in the first two verses of chapter eight.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

In order to have the mind of Christ, we must submit to the Spirit of Christ–the Holy Spirit.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

Submitting to the Holy Spirit–Holy Spirit filling is not a one-time event. Neither is it a huge spiritual experience. It is continual submission to His will.  Be being filled with the spirit (Ephesians 5:18). “Walk in the spirit…” (Galatians 5:16-26). Walking means taking steps. Every step is directed by the Spirit. Our lives and thoughts must be governed in this way.

God has a thought for every step of your life. While His thoughts are high, that does not mean He doesn’t think about you or what you are doing. We must learn to think like He does about every category of our lives.

Does Jesus Want Everybody HAPPY?

 DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in the article below belong to the guy with the hair. By no means should the fact that it appears on this – ahem – esteemed blog be considered an endorsement of the article itself, nor of every thought which the author thinks. Viewer discretion is advised. Offenses may be handed out by the truckload. Please see store for details. JackHammer is copyrighted property of HardHats Inc., a HammerSmythe Corporation. Sorry, no refunds.

For those who don’t know, Sunday Schools and Children’s Ministries sometimes teach their young people the song Jesus Wants Everybody Happy. The song goes like this:

Jesus wants everybody happy.
Jesus wants everybody glad.
Jesus wants everybody happy, happy, happy,
And he doesn’t want anybody sad.

BUT…

The devil wants everybody grumpy.
The devil wants everybody sad.
The devil wants everybody grumpy, grumpy, grumpy,
And he doesn’t want anybody glad.

SO…

Let’s make Jesus happy,
And let’s make Jesus glad.
Let’s make Jesus happy, happy, happy,
And make the devil mad.

With hopes that the song did not wow you with its depth and clarity of thought, or with its reverent view of Jesus, we have a few thoughts that may help enlighten the users of said song.

Those who sing this song in their respective children’s ministries often choose the song to encourage cheerfulness in the class. Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and it isn’t one of the workers. We don’t want grumpy kids; after all, the teacher is grumpy enough already. We want happy kids. And what could be wrong with that, right? I mean, cheerfulness is good. We like happy people, don’t we? Let’s all put on our smiley buttons right now. Class! Sing with me! Everybody!

But wait just a second! What’s that I see on the back row? Is that Johnny’s hand I see up in the air? “What is it, Johnny?” “Johnny, do you have a question?”

We all wait patiently while Johnny stands to his feet, grinning shyly. “Teacher, does Jesus really want everybody happy? Does the devil really want everybody sad?”

Gulp. Hadn’t thought of that. Now that you mention it, I guess I don’t know for sure, Johnny. Let’s think about that here for a second before we start singing.

I’m struggling to believe that Jesus wants everybody happy. Call me skeptical. Maybe I’m bored. Maybe I have nothing better to do than find another song to mock. But I’m thinking that this is a stretch — or better yet a stretcher case. Does Jesus want everybody happy? Everybody? Does Jesus want people happy in their sin? Does he want them happy while rebelling against Him? Does he want people happy while they stubbornly refuse to repent? Because if so, what do we think we are doing, preaching against sin and all? Shouldn’t we instead be trying to make them feel comfortable? I mean, nothing puts a sinner in a bad mood faster than a prophet pointing his bony finger and saying, “Thou art the man.”

Funny thing, this. If Jesus wants everybody happy, then why does he often send them sadness? Should I remember this song at the funeral of a dear friend? Maybe we should all sing it. Solemnly, of course. “As the pallbearers carry the coffin out the back door, the congregation will rise and sing Jesus wants everybody happy.”

I wonder: if Jesus wants everybody happy, then how should I feel about sin? Does Jesus want me happy about it? Does he want me smiling? Non-judgmental (piety dripping from the ends of my mustache)? I mean, if Jesus wants everybody happy, then I need to be happy. All the time happy. Happy, happy, happy. Clap, clap, clap. Grin, grin, grin. Big cheesy grin with kool-aid edges.

What about the devil? Does he really want everybody grumpy? Then why do they advertise Bud Light with smiley people? Doesn’t the devil want sinners to be happy in their sin? Doesn’t he want them happy with themselves? Doesn’t he want them happy missing church? Doesn’t he offer them pleasures?

The truth is, Jesus doesn’t want everybody happy all the time. There are times when it is important – even vital that we groan for our sin. God does not want men comfortable sitting at church in willful sin. God does not want us happy with sin. God himself is not always happy.

Contrarily, the devil does not want everybody grumpy all the time. The devil, I believe, is most comfortable when men are most indifferent and unemotional. It seems to me that he strives to dull our senses, to lure us into a state of apathy and lukewarmness. To borrow from ole’ Screwtape,

Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts…

Now, it is undeniable that there is a sense in which Jesus wants everybody happy, and the devil wants everybody sad, although the terminology certainly is suspect. But ultimately, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Man’s chief end, as the catechism says, is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. We are commanded to rejoice in the Lord alway. So, we can say that this song is true ultimately. Ultimately, the devil wants everybody sad.

But is that what we meant by the song? I mean that, really. If we’re going to sing CCM, we at least oughta get a drum or two.

Does God Give Me Any Thing I Desire?

One of my favorite subjects is prayer.  I am not trying to be controversial about it.  I think it should be one of the most talked about subjects.  The disciples said:  “Teach us to pray.”  I want to know about prayer.

You probably knew that 1 John 5:15 says:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

There it is.  God hears us and gives us what we desire.  Right?  You want a Mercedes?  It’s yours.  You want the Bentley instead?  Go for it.  Recently we got the prayer-of-Jabez guy, Wilkerson, saying something similar.  Enlarge my garage.  Scratch that, an auto stable.  Name it, claim it.

We must get the answer for this from this context.  What say ye?