Luke 8:4-8 Sown for Maturity

Luke 8:4-8  When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:  "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.    "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.   "Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.  "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (NASB)

Maturity, or perhaps the antithesis of it, Immaturity is the prompt for today’s BLOG.  Perhaps you wouldn’t think of the parable of the sower when you think of maturity but it is there plain as day.  As Christians, Scripture challenges us to a life of Spiritual growth.  Doctrinally this is referred to as sanctification.  Simply put, sanctification is the process of growing up into Christ likeness.  In the modern sense it is living out that WWJD bracelet for real in your life.  When you have done that perfectly, (not that you can) you are fully sanctified.

The Easton Bible dictionary defines it this way:  Sanctification, “Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration.  In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom_6:13; 2Co_4:6; Col_3:10; 1Jo_4:7; 1Co_6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1Co_6:11; 2Th_2:13)”.

So how does maturity or sanctification come to life in this parable?  Most often we look at this parable and analyze, what is the seed, who is the sower etc. etc.  By the time we’re all done with that, there is little time to look at the seed that took root and grew in the “Good soil”.  What happened?  Or better said, what is supposed to happen?

Before we get ahead of ourselves, this parable speaks of the Gospel message being shared and received by some.  By the power of the Holy Spirit that message comes to live in the new believer and takes root in this fertile soil prepared from eternity past to hear and receive the Word of God.  That is the, “Other seed (that) fell into the good soil”.  But my friends the message does not stop there.  The parable of the sower does not stop with germination and a sprout popping out of the ground.  In fact, Other seed did that.  “Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away.”  So that is not to be the fate of seed falling on the fertile soil.  That is not to be the fate of Christians.

"Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great."

Christians are to grow up through a process of sanctification into Christ likeness.  No, not all at once but steady progress over a life time is the design.  Paul rebuked some long time Christians who failed to grow up.  Here’s what he had to say.  ”For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.  But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil”. Hebrews 5:12-14  (NASB)

So how do I do this Dale?

That is the beauty of the Christian experience.  If you will just surrender and admit you don’t get it but open the Word and pray to the Holy Spirit to teach you.  He will!  That is the work of the Holy Spirit, to teach.  Pray when you are under the teaching of trained Bible teachers that you will “Get it”.  But you have to take some responsibility.  If you fail to attend services or studies, if you choose not to open the Word, If you choose not to pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you, how do you expect this to happen?

The Lord wants you to grow up spiritually, His word says so.  He will help you do it.  AMEN!

Colossians 3:12-13 Be Patient

Colossians 3:12-13  “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you”. (NASB)

I spent the afternoon driving home from northern California.  It’s a long drive in good weather but today I started out in the snow, yes it was snowing and ended up in heavy rain.  There were few moments along the way when I could shift the wipers off or to the low intermittent setting.  With that preamble I’ll just tell you that the usual bad drivers on I5 were horrific drivers in the weather.  What goes through their minds is beyond me.  With all candor I think some of them should just stay home unless the road is dry and clear and even then they should have a warning printed on their trunk; “Watch Out! Bad Driver on Board”.

With that preamble I’ll confess to you I had moments of frustration when these folks just parked themselves in the fast lane doing 60 mph holding up lines of cars behind them.  Now that I’m home and reflecting on the day it is obvious to me that I need to dig in and write about this experience.  The obvious topic then is PATIENCE.

Patience is referred to several times in the New Testament.  Today I’d like to hone in on this passage from Colossians.  Paul writes, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved” to first identify those he is addressing.  It is clear then that he is speaking of Christians.  This is significant because as we’ve learned before Christians have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Galatians reveals the fruit of the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law”. Galatians5:22-23 (NASB)  Notice that word buried in Paul’s list.  Patience! 

So, in the Christian, all of whom have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, the fruit or result of the Holy Spirit working in them includes patience.  In our passage for today when Paul reminds believers to "Put on" these various attributes including patience, he is actually telling them to “Put on” what the Holy Spirit already wants to produce in them.  So what is Paul actually saying then?  With regard to this list of attributes, “heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” he is telling us to put on these attributes.  These attributes are the results of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer yet Paul tells us to “Put on” these attributes.  There must be something for us to consider. 

I think the answer is clear.  Although patience and the other attributes are the work of the Holy Spirit it is up to the believer to put them on.  That is the Holy Spirit wants to influence us toward being this kind of a person but we have to yield to it.  When we yield to the Holy Spirit working in us we can put on “Patience” and the rest.  We can’t just sit back and say, “I’m a Christian and if I behave badly it is the fault of the Holy Spirit because He hasn’t changed me”.  Rather, if we behave badly, contrary to the fruit of the Spirit and we are truly a Christian it is because we are failing to yield to the Holy Spirit.

I should be clear here.  Christians aren’t perfect; none of them are perfect.  You say, “Duh”!  Well, many people call Christians hypocrites when they behave badly.  Harsh as the criticism may be it is deserved to a degree because as the vessel of the Holy Spirit the Christian has the opportunity not to sin.  But we all do sin.  Put it this way.  The Holy Spirit is perfecting us but it is a process that will never be complete in this lifetime.  Meanwhile when we do yield to the Holy Spirit and He bears fruit in our lives we can “Put on” attributes of “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”

So where does that leave me and my frustration with the drivers on I5.  I can tell you that although I was frustrated from time to time considering the adverse conditions I wasn’t too bad.  Clearly the Holy Spirit has gotten a hold of me and taught me a thing or two.  No road rage today and the frustration was mild by comparison to moments in the past.  I’m not perfect but I am being perfected.  AMEN!

James 1:2-4 Joyful Trials

James 1:2-4  “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (NASB)

Did you somehow think when you became a Christian that from that point on everything was going to be just “Peachy”?  Well if you did, or still do for that matter, guess again.  There’s nothing in Scripture to indicate that as believes we’re going to get on with our lives free from trouble.  In fact, there is plenty to support the idea that we’ll actually in some ways receive persecution for our faith.

So today as I’m sitting with my new company issued Blackberry device and not having a bit of fun with the new interface or the activation of said device I thought, here’s a topic to consider.

I’m not having fun with this and although it is a minor thing I do feel a bit of frustration.  Frustration frankly is one of my weaknesses.  When things don’t go as I think they should or for that matter as I know they should, I can become frustrated.  Frustration has on occasion, okay many occasions, caused me to stumble and stumble pretty hard.

James reminds us that trials are a reality of the Christian’s life.  He challenges us with a perspective that gives me pause every time it comes to mind.  He says, “Consider it all joy … when you encounter various trials”.  WHAT?  Trials tend to present themselves as roadblocks to what needs to be done.  Whether for ministry, for work, for family, for whatever, ROADBLOCKS!  I don’t like them yet James says I should, “Consider it all joy”.

Hmmm!  Thankfully, he goes on to explain further.  He says that these, “Various trials” are, “The testing of your faith”.  I’ll say!  Not that I’m having faith issues over my Blackberry but over the years with more serious trials at play such as personal health or that of a loved one a testing of faith could be at play.  Going through those serious trials can have you questioning the Lord; testing your faith.

This testing though goes on to produce endurance.  After you’ve been through the trials, the speed bumps in life time after time testing your faith each time you become stronger.  You become stronger in faith.  It’s like exercise.  The more you do, the stronger you become.  So with testing over time your faith becomes stronger and as such, “Your faith produces endurance”.

But endurance is not yet the end result.  The passage says, “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”.  OKAY!  That’s more like it.  But what is meant by, “Perfect” and “Lacking in nothing”.

Well, it’s not a promise that everything will be fine and dandy once you mature on this earth having hit all those speed bumps early in life.  What is referenced here is the process of spiritual maturity.  Each of us is on a growth path leading us each day closer to Christ likeness.  Paul puts it this way, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,” Ephesians 4:15

So, when the speed bumps in life come around we’re supposed to rejoice because it is ultimately an opportunity to grow into Christ likeness.  Certainly the little bumps are easier to face than the big ones but the Lord will not put a burden in your path for which He doesn’t also provide the way through.  He will walk you through it, rely on Him!  AMEN!

Hebrews 4:9-11 Sabbath Rest

Hebrews 4:9-11  “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.  For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” (NASB)

Yesterday we looked at the account of creation in Genesis and particularly the seventh day when God rested and set aside that day, sanctifying it for our rest.  Mosaic Law set up the Sabbath day, the day of rest and remembrance.  We observe Sunday in the Church era as the day of rest and remembrance, a day to worship our Lord.  This passage further develops our view of the “Sabbath rest”.

The writer of Hebrews tells the reader “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.”  This passage follows a longer section of warning that contains the following, “For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.”  Hebrews 4:3  Clearly then the “Sabbath rest” is sanctified (set aside) by God but not for everyone.  It is set aside for "We who have believed".  So the Sabbath day of rest is actually symbolic of THE “Sabbath rest” reserved for believers.  As is common in Scripture we are given an earthly view of the heavenly reality.  It becomes clear the “Sabbath rest” is what comes after.

Verse 10 says it is, “For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.”  Well, when is it we rest from our works?  We rest from our works when we die; when this life on earth is complete.  However, not all will enter this rest, “…He has said, ‘AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST…’" Hebrews 4:3, the "Sabbath rest" is set aside, sanctified for believers and believers only.

The bottom line then is that not only did God create the seventh day setting it aside for rest, He did this for us.  He did this for us for eternity.  When our work is done, our six days on earth complete, we look forward to our “Sabbath rest” on the seventh.  Those who believe in Jesus will enter His "Sabbath rest".  Are you a believer in Jesus today?  His “Sabbath rest” is given to all who are irresistibly called to faith in Him.  AMEN!

If you would like to know more about faith in Christ leading to the “Sabbath rest” leave a comment for me to make contact with you.

Genesis 2:1-3 Seventh Day Rest

Genesis 2:1-3  “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.  By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.   Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (NASB)

The Bible gives the account of creation in six days.  Some have argued that the days of Genesis are not 24 hour days.  Maybe they were, maybe they weren’t.  The key to remember is, “For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37

My observation today is on the seventh day.  God, having created everything from nothing in the six day period takes the seventh to rest.  Verse 2 says, “By the seventh day God completed His work”.  Did He finish early?  Was He such an efficient builder of the universe that He simply didn’t need all seven days to complete the project?  I don’t think that’s the point at all.  He finished right on schedule.

What about the idea of rest?  Was God tired?  Was He worn out after a week of speaking stars into existence?  Did it tire him out to think up all the genetic sequences that would differentiate each and every species yet clearly point to a common designer thousands of years later when man could finally read His code?  Did His labor contract require a day off regardless of His need?  Of course none of these are correct.  So, why rest?

God is all powerful (omnipotent); there is no end to His power.  As such, it is not possible for God to be tired.  The idea of His need for rest then is not the driving force behind the seventh day.  But because he created everything in six days but had also a seventh day there had to be a reason.

The reality then is that God created the seventh day for the purpose of rest.  He rested.  How and what does God do when He rests?  Got me!  I don’t think the point for us is to know what God does when he rests, but to know that His design for creation is that there be a seventh day set aside for rest.  “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it”  The word translated sanctified is the Hebrew word qadash.  Used throughout Scripture it holds the meaning of setting something aside for a special purpose; to consecrate.  So in this case, God sets aside the seventh day for rest.

Exodus 20:8 tells us, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”  Chapter 20 goes on to call us to work six days but to rest on the seventh just as God had modeled at creation.  In today’s Church era we are to continue this idea setting aside Sunday, the day Jesus was raised.  God calls us to a day of rest from our labor but more importantly He calls us to a day of remembrance.  So let’s remember the seventh day, the day of God’s rest, our rest and a day to worship Him.  AMEN!