Hello, How are You?

Numbers 6:23-26

Jesus gathered with His bewildered followers on the eve of His execution for His last time with them. Confusion and fear held them in a firm grip as He spoke. Much of what He said is contained in John 14 – 17. In that hostile environment His talk was punctuated with such words as “joy” and “peace.”  He spoke often in various settings of His followers as being “blessed.” That is us.

Yet, much of our conduct and conversation gives the impression we have little joy, peace, and experience few blessings.  Listen the next time you speak to someone with such a simple greeting as, “Hello, how are you?” Answers:

One is “So far, so good.” This sounds like the response of a person on safari in a predator infested jungle. Things have been going pretty good so far, but at any minute I expect an attack resulting in catastrophe.  

Further translated, “God has taken care of me so far, but at any minute I expect His provision and protection to expire.”

A second even more negative response is, “Tired!”

In the Old Testament era followers of Jehovah were taught a special prayer which gave cause for optimism. It is often called the equivalent of the Lord’s Prayer in the Old Testament. It is called the Aaronic Benediction.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”  (Numbers 6: 24 – 26)

God taught us this prayer. Blessing is His idea. A simple response to the greeting, ”Hello, how are you?” should well be, “Blessed.”

The prayer in faith expects God to draw near and enfold one in His grace. To pray it is to live expectant of blessings, not of dread as in “So far, so good.”

The praying of this prayer is a way of saying, “Yes, Amen!” to God’s promises. 

“The Lord bless you and keep you” speaks of present blessings and future care by the Lord. He will “keep you.” 

The expression, “Make His face to shine upon you” refers to Him revealing His will.

“The Lord lift up His countenance upon you” is a term expressive of a smile.  May God find such pleasure in you as to smile and reward you with peace.

The prayer speaks of blessing, presence, and the smile of God. It is not a person’s idea, it is God’s idea. It is what He wants for you.

Pray it expectantly, respond accordingly, and acknowledge it every time someone asks how are you.

A Commandment That Gives Life to Living 5/17/98

Proverbs 7:1-27
Page 939 Come Alive Bible

JESUS CHRIST was tempted three times by Satan personally. The threefold appeal dramatically struck at basic needs we all have. Jesus was in all points tempted like us. He resisted and was victorious. Believe it or not, many modern Christians are both tempted like you and victorious. What is now shared is done so in love with the prayer that it might be used of the Lord to enable others to gain and enjoy more spiritual victories over temptation.

TEMPTATION can be a physical object you encounter.

It can be the body of another person with which you become so preoccupied that you grow to conceive of the person not as a person but as an object. Expressions such as, “What a hunk,” and “Look at that body,” reveal such an attitude.

Temptation can be a beautiful piece of pie that makes the mouth water when you are trying to lose weight.

It can be a pornographic magazine.

It might even be too much change accidentally returned by the cashier of which you are aware but the cashier isn’t.

TEMPTATION is a pressure situation, when everybody kids you and urges you to do something you really don’t want to.

TEMPTATION is a challenge to prove what you are or can do by being other than what you ought to be.

TEMPTATION is anything which, if we follow it, causes us to do something contrary to God’s will.

James 1:14, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own desires.”

I Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to beat it.”

Every passion, desire, and appetite of everyone of us has a tempter lying in wait for it which desires to misuse it. Even vices often wear the robes of virtue.

Many young males and mothers have urged me to speak more directly about how young men can avoid the advances of an aggressive female and help avoid improper allurement. Females today are depicted in an aggressive role in all of the media. TV, ads, movies, and novels represent the female as the aggressor. Some think this is new. It isn’t according to Solomon. Let’s do a case study of one young woman and man.
Note:

I. CONDITIONS OF TEMPTATION
A. Company. He was among “the simple.” The term means the silly frivolous idle.

B. Intellectual. “A young man devoid of understanding.”

He may have been brilliant, but he lacked something. The term “understanding” means “common sense satisfied by purity.”

It is unfortunate that the age which needs most advice deplores it most. Talk to youth when passion is high and pleasures are glittering and you will be looked upon with more contempt than a case of leprosy.

Who are those without understanding?
1. Those who reject the good counsel of loving parents.
2. Those who seek wrong companions.
3. Those who rebel against spiritual principles.
4. Those who yield to sensual gratification.

C. Geographical. “Passing along the street near her corner, and he took the path to her house” (vs. 8).

If you are not going in the house, stay off the front porch. Avoid temptation. Don’t flirt with it. Doubtless, he thought he could handle such a stroll.

If you don’t want to eat the bitter fruit of sin stay out of the devil’s orchard.

D. Time. “In the black and dark night” (vs. 9).

E. Attire. “With the attire of a harlot” (vs. 10).

F. A Spirit of Rebellion. She was “rebellious” (vs. 11).

G. Fantasizing. “Lurking at every corner” (vs. 12).

You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building their nest in your hair. You can’t avoid certain improper thoughts but you can keep them from being consented to as your will.

H. Physical Stimulation. “She caught him and kissed him” (vs.13). Note also verses 16 – 18.

I. Shamelessness. “With an impudent (shameless) face” (vs. 13).

J. Religious facade. “Today I paid my vows” (vs. 14).

K. Flattery. “I came out to meet you” (vs. 15). Read also verse 21.

II. CONSEQUENCE OF TEMPTATION (WHEN YIELDED TO)
The cover story of the May issue of “Sports Illustrated” related to children of NBA players who gave birth to children without fathering them. Promiscuity is a norm around the league. One young man stands out among them. A.C. Green, who has played on two NBA championship teams, recently became the “Iron Man” of the NBA, having played in more consecutive games than any player in NBA history. A.C. has started an organization known as “Athletes for Abstinence.” Regarding temptation A.C. said, “Temptation is just a part of life. … the opportunity is always there. The Bible says that when Jesus was tempted by the devil, the devil then went away and waited for another opportune time to come back and temp Him again. There’s always going to be temptation, and there’s always going to be a struggle within us between right and wrong. So, it is always there, but having fellowship with guys on the team and guys that you can talk to on the phone—that always helps.”

A. Physical. When he started down the street by her house according to verse 22, he was like an ox on its way to a slaughter house. An ox on its way to the slaughter house has no idea what is about to happen. He likely thinks he is going to a field of clover where all day long he can revel in herbaceous luxuriance. Soon he finds himself walking down a narrow shoot that funnels him into an even more narrow pen where a sudden death-dealing shock is instantly delivered.

Many a person has been driven on by what they thought would be paradisiacal enjoyment; suddenly he finds that instead of walking in an enticing garden, he has been driven “as an ox to the slaughter.”

The physical consequence also involves public shame. He becomes like “a fool to the correction stocks.”

B. Emotional. “Till an arrow struck his liver (vs. 23). As the “heart” is today often used to speak of emotions, so the liver was considered to be such in previous ages. It still is by the Chinese. The liver was spoken of as “black bile.” Psychologically it was a term which spoke of depression. The graphic term of an arrow striking the liver speaks of guilt and resulting depression.

C. Spiritual. “Her house is the way to hell…” (vs. 27). When he started down her street, he was on the path to hell.

Consider this comment by A.C. Green, the NBA “Iron Man,” “Every decision has a consequence. That’s the bottom line. You have to be accountable for your actions, no matter who you are.”

What can be done to avoid this downward trend? Consider:

III. CURBS TO TEMPTATION
The Bible instructs us to “Flee temptation.” When you do be sure you don’t leave a forwarding address.

The term “flee” means to get away so fast you kick up dust. If you have an improper friendship here is sage advise. That is, a relationship you know the Lord does not approve of. Break it off permanently immediately.

When you encounter temptation always turn to the right.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13).

What ever you know about yourself, know this, you are dreadfully like everyone else.

Corinth was a sea port. The term translated “way of escape” was a nautical expression. It referred to a ship in peril in a storm. The only way it can survive and ride out the storm is to lighten it load. Therefore, certain of the cargo has to be thrown overboard. To avoid being overcome by certain temptations we might well have to throw overboard certain things in our life. Get certain things out of your life and your life out of certain things.

First consider a special capacity and then a concept,

A. Know your limits. Do you think a submarine can go as deep as it wants to? No! There is a limit to its capacity. Do you think a plane can fly as high as it desires? No! Likewise there is also a limit to our capacity to resist temptation.

Even subs that have crashed through the ice at the North Pole have a maximum depth. A submarine named the Thresher exceeded that depth some years ago and was crushed. When the pressure outside became too great it crushed the sub.

There are explorer subs designed to take only one person deeper. They have inches of protective metal and thick glass for protection. At crushing depths, they find many odd little fish swimming around freely. Are these fish shaped like a sub, and do they have thick protective shells? No! How can they survive under pressure. They have a secret. They have an equal and opposite pressure inside themselves. They have internal strength.

We like they can withstand the pressure of life only by having the internal strength of Christ. Romans 12:2, “Don’t be squeezed into the mold of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Let Christ renew your mind regarding the temptation that does so easily catch you off guard. Renew your mind regarding your concept of love and sex.

B. Talk openly and often with a mature Christian friend. You don’t have to talk about every evil thought, but do speak openly about areas needing to be strengthened.

C. Spend time each day alone with the Lord. Let the first part of the time be reading the Bible in order to minister to yourself. Read and make self- application. As you read keep asking yourself, “What application has this to me?”

Let the last part of your time with the Lord be prayer time.

D. Ask the Lord to keep you on a short leash. Pray for a tender conscience. If you start to rationalize in your thoughts ask the Lord to stop you.

E. Christ taught us in the Model Prayer to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” From this we learn we should pray daily, “Lord, keep me from the assaults of Satan. Keep me from being blind sided.

The Just Shall Live by Faith

Jesus transforms lives. He did so for a most unlikely candidate.  A brilliant though belligerent young attorney who was the apple of the judiciary eye in Jerusalem was assigned the role of special prosecutor to investigate rumors of the resurrection of Jesus. His evidence turned on him and convinced him of the reality of the resurrection. He who gathered more facts than anyone about the resurrection was a skeptic. His material evidence and the collaborated testimony of eyewitnesses changed his life.  Thereafter, the life of Paul was filled with joy so that it overflowed. That elation over salvation thrilled him so that he wanted to happily share it with others. The natural result of the infilling is the outpouring. 

This transforming experience was later chronicled as follows.

In the Convent Library at Erfurt is a renowned painting. It depicts Martin Luther as a young monk 24 years of age reading a portion of Scripture in the early morning light. On the page he is reading can be seen the words, “The just shall live by faith.” Centuries before the prophet Habakkuk had penned these words and later the Apostle Paul repeated them.

In the Library of Rudolstadt is a handwritten letter penned by Paul Luther, the son of Martin. In it he relates a family insight as follows, “In the year 1544, my late dearest father, in the presence of us all, narrated the whole story of his journey to Rome. He acknowledged with great joy that, in that city, through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, he had come to the knowledge of the truth of the everlasting Gospel.”

Following is a summary of that moment in the life of Martin Luther.

Still today in Rome you will find the Cathedral Church of St. John of Lateran. There are three parallel staircases in it. People walk up the stairs on the left and right, but the center one is considered special. On some of the steps of the center case there are coverings of plate glass through which red stains can be seen on the stairs. These steps are still climbed by anguishing would-be worshipers who stoop to kiss the glass covered stains. A late tradition says these were the stairs in Pilate’s Hall in Jerusalem, and these are the blood stains from Christ’s wounds.

As the devout young monk, Luther climbed these steps on his knees seeking thereby to gain the favor of God, the text which he had read in that early morning light came to his mind: “The just shall live by faith.” He jumped to his feet and went on his way rejoicing.

Now back to the Library of Rudolstadt and the handwritten letter by the son of Martin Luther: “Thereupon, he ceased his prayers, returned to Wittenberg, and took this as the chief foundation of his doctrine.” It is the basis of Christianity.

That experience resulted in a changed lifestyle. Thereafter, Luther sought to obey and serve the Lord. The Lord intends the same in the life of each of us. It is not incumbent that each should serve in the same way as Luther, but that we should obey Him and live a lifestyle becoming of a Jesus follower. 

For the joy inherent pause now and evaluate your loyalty in keeping with His Word. How is it done? By remembering “The just shall live by faith.”

Defining Speech

Every discipline has terms that are peculiar to their field. Such a term is known as an argot, the jargon or slang of a particular group. For example, it might be said of a golfer he got an albatross, meaning he made a hole in three under par on a single hole. Or, in baseball, he got a golden sombrero meaning a player struck out four times in a single game.

In medicine reference might be made to something being idiopathic, meaning a condition that appears as a result of treatment for another condition. Or, something being an exacerbation, meaning the deterioration of a condition.

Each discipline knows its own argots, but others don’t necessarily.

This is particularly true in religion. For example someone might say God spoke to me. By using it most Christians do not mean God orally articulated to them, but it means they were given a distinct impression regarding a certain matter. Or, perhaps a certain Bible verse impressed them regarding an action to be taken.

A very important religious expression that confuses some is “God’s Son,” or the “Son of God.” This leaves some people musing over who was Mrs. God?

The term is not used in the sense of prodigy, offspring. It speaks of association, not generation. The dictionary as well as Scripture recognizes the title “son” as referring to association, not generation.

The apostles James and John were called “sons of thunder.” Barnabas was known as “the son of encouragement.” 

Following is how the word “Son” as used in the Bible for Jesus is understood within the Christian community.

In Scripture Jesus is called “God’s only begotten Son.” The word “begotten” is a compound of two Greek words used in Scripture. One word is mono, meaning “one.” The other is genes, meaning “kind, type, or species.” Combined they are used to speak of God’s only one of a kind son. The Greek monogenees is used to mean the only one of the same nature as. In Scripture Jesus is not spoken of as a Son of God, but the Son of God. 

Two different Greek words are translated “son” in Scripture. 

Teknon stresses the fact of human birth. It is used of homo sapiens. 

Huios emphasizes dignity and character relationship. It is used of Jesus.

This is the line of logic that leads Christians to revere Jesus as the nexus of God.

As such, Christians believe Jesus was God manifest as a corporeal, touchable, human being: the man/God-God/man.

“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2: 9)

Godhead translates Theotetos meaning not just divine attributes, but the very essence, the nature of God, the totality of who God the Father is, His supreme nature. 

II Corinthians 4:4 records: “Christ, who is the image of God…” EIKON, “the image of God” means He is the perfect visible likeness of the invisible God.

That enables persons to give the right answers to these questions raised by the brilliant Henry Van Dyke.

“Are you willing to believe love is the strongest thing in the world — stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death — And that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem two thousand years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?

James the Lesser

Matthew 15:40 and Luke 6:15

James the son of Alphaeus is the most obscure of the apostles. He is the Don Rickles of the band. His is a life in the shadows. He is the unknown apostle, BUT he was an apostle. If you heard a certain person was an astronaut that went to the moon, but you knew nothing else about him you would still know a lot. Much would be known by the standards used to choose them, by their role and responsibilities. So it is with James II.

The two references to him in Scripture simply note who his mother and father were. That’s it!

Family relations are a bit challenging but from cross referencing names it appears this James was a brother of Matthew, a cousin to James and John, and likewise a cousin of Jesus. He and Matthew would be two of the three sets of brothers who were apostles. The other brothers who were apostles were Peter and Andrew.

Alfred Adler, one of the founding fathers of modern psychiatry, says that the desire to be significant is the strongest impulse in human nature. Adler put it ahead of the sex drive which Sigmund Freud put first. The drive to be somebody is a dominant desire.

James is proof there is room for us nobodies to serve Jesus.

The “fit” of James among the apostles is evidence you can’t have anything large without something small.

You can’t have anything great without something less.

You can’t have a book without chapters. You can’t have chapters without paragraphs. You can’t have paragraphs without sentences. You can’t have sentences without words. You can’t have words without letters of the alphabet. The greater consists of the lesser.

You can’t have a universe without a planet. You can’t have a planet without soil and\or sea. You can’t have soil without grains of earth and drops of water. You can’t have earth and water without molecules. You can’t have molecules without atoms. You can’t have the greater without the lesser.

The age defying, continent spanning, globe engulfing ministry of Jesus Christ exists because of the “James the Lessers” live and serve.

“Little James” walked in company with giants. He was a companion of Jesus Christ. That gave him unusual insight. As He chose the others so Jesus chose him because —

HE WAS CHOSEN TO SEE.
“Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it'” (Luke 10:23,24).

He walked with the great of his era on the greatest mission ever assigned.

HE WAS CHOSEN TO SPEAK.
“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:1-3).

HE WAS CHOSEN TO STAND.
“I send you out as lambs among wolves.” He was brave and courageous. He went.

HE WAS CHOSEN TO SHARE.
After being sent out the apostles came back saying, “Even the devils are subject to us through your name.” Christ replied: “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:17, 18, 20).

Most persons are familiar with the great literary works of John Gresham, Eugenia Price, Max Lucado, etc. Who knows who first devised an alphabet, designed rules of grammar, or set the type for their books? Yet without the work of the unknowns they would not be known.

Millions enjoy the music of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Verdi. Who knows who devised notes, scales, and rests, the building blocks of music? Without the works of these unknowns the works of the known would not be known.

Many who may be consider “lesser” have impacted our lives. The name of Guido of Arezzo isn’t a household name. The result of his work fills our lives daily. He devised a system of writing music in around 1025 AD. He was a monk who devised a system of noting music. From his thoughtful creativity came bars, clefs, notes, and all needed to record musical sounds.

Some lesser form of recording music may well have been around since the time of Christ. It was Guido who opened the door to written music.

Using his system of recording music on paper the first printed collection of music was the work of Ottaviano de’Petrucci on Venice in 1501. These two who lived 500 years apart were lesser lights who have illumined our worlds with music.

Think of great churches and great preachers and try to recall one renown worker in these churches. Yet, without the many unknowns they would not be known.

Simon, the “unknown celebrity” is typical of the legion of unknown nameless heros of the cross. Service, any service, rendered in Christ’s name is as unto the Lord and may well never be noted. Don’t let a lack of recognition dampen your zeal for the Lord.

Remember: “His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches over me.”

Unknown achievers are many. I’ll give a new gold Cadillac or a mess of collard greens to the person who can tell me who John Walters was. He was a math teacher. He had a young student whose interest in math he kindled. His student was Albert Einstein.

Likely no one has heard of an eleven-year-old who loved to swim named Austin Gallagher. He saved his little eight year old friend from drowning. He struggled to get his little friend to the shore. History would have been different if he had not rescued his little friend Abraham Lincoln.

Most people know the name Sam Walton, but who knows the name, Author Neebler. Walton revolutionized merchandising but not as radically as Author Neebler. The first third of this century most people, men and women, wore “long handles” or as they were known “long John’s.” In the early 1930’s many houses got running water and heat. As a result people started bathing more than once a week. It became inconvenient to struggle with a thin man every time you wanted to bathe. Neebler cut off the legs and arms of “long John’s” to make them more comfortable.

He noticed a picture of a French bathing suit with a unique design. He made a pair and experimented with them in a swimming pool. They were bikini like and were held up by braces. He found they came off easily so he put an elastic band around the waste and called them “jockey shorts.” They gained popularity. However, the shirts were awkward to wear with them so he designed a new shirt called a “T-shirt.” Was it ever popular.

He then set about to sell these new designs. Up until this time merchandise was kept in drawers behind the counter. If you went in to purchase underwear the merchant would go through the drawer and find your size and put it on the counter for you. Neebler came up with the idea of wrapping these underwear in cellophane and putting them out on a table for persons to pick their own. Unpopular at first, the idea caught on and led to today’s style of marketing. The unknown, Author Neebler, revolutionized marketing. He is “James the lesser” of marketing.

The cause of Christ has been carried forth by the myriads of privates in His army.

James may not have performed any great work or made any great speeches by which he could be remembered, but Jesus saw something of worth and value in him which caused Him to select James to be an apostle and thus to be among the inner circle of Christ’s closest associates.

One of God’s biggest challenges with average Christians is helping them to get over thinking they are nobodies. Nobodies? There stands the cross of Christ proving you are somebody.

James the unknown was known by name to God.

He courageously went forth. Historian Hegesippus (169 AD) tells of Annas condemning James. He was taken to the battlement of the Temple and given opportunity to save his life by recanting. Instead he shouted of Christ as the Son of God seated at the Father’s right hand and that He would come in the clouds to judge the world. He was cast down. Surviving the fall James struggled to his knees in prayer. Bypassers stoned him while he prayed for the Father to forgive them. Finally a man standing by with a club struck a blow to his head killing him. The symbol of James in Christian art is a carpenters saw. Why? Because tradition says his body was sawed apart and discarded.

James the Unknown made known Christ.