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Come,
let us reason together
In humility receive the word
implanted, which is able to save your souls.
But
prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude
themselves.
James
1:21-22
They
searched the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Acts
17:11
Righteous Living
Preface
As a basis for the study at
hand I would like for you to consider a small portion of what the
apostle Paul had to say to the saints of Colossae in the epistle of
Col. 4:2-6; --- “Devote yourselves to
prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of
thanksgiving; --- praying
at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for
the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for
which I have also been imprisoned; --- that I
may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. --- Conduct
yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the
opportunity. --- Let your speech always be
with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will
know how you should respond to each person.” --- This idea of keeping
alert in our prayers means literally disciplined attention and
concentration. Not to let the mind be wondering off to outside
distractions.
I would like to begin this
lesson with a simple statement, and though it’s a simple statement it
needs to be driven into the hearts of each and everyone who might take
the time to ponder these things. And that’s the fact that there is no
part of the Christian’s life more important than his or her every day
manner of living.
Not only how piously you
come into worship on Sunday mornings, but also how you conduct your
life tomorrow and the next day and the next. For it is here on this day
to day basis that your religion and faith in God is really tried and
tested. And hot on the tail end of that statement, let me say this; ---
Anyone may well claim to be a Christian, but if you are not a righteous
liver (and we’re not talking about a vital body organ), you my friend
are not a true Christian.
The New Testament book of
Colossians is especially rich in the details of what the Holy Spirit
considers a righteous life. It discusses many of the problems which you
and I experience being in a vast universe that is hostile and sometimes
seemingly impossible to comprehend. --- But at the same time teaches
that Jesus Christ is the only frame of reference that can make sense in
this world.
The gospel of Christ relates to all men showing that all
men really do count in God’s universe. It shows us how to properly deal
with the multitude of relationships and problems which inundate our
lives. The blessed gospel of Christ calls us to; --- “keep
seeking the things above, where Christ is--.” Col. 3:1 --- Herein dear
friends is the richness to all; --- all that is who seeks it and lives
it! --- So in the first part of our study I wish to bring to your kind
attention some of the wonderful things the Spirit had to say in the
Colossian letter as well as some other places. For instance:
Lesson
1.
God’s Power in us: --- It has been stated many time that
it is not left to the child of God to develop his Christian life style
all by himself, or by his own power and abilities; --- But rather that
a man must if he maintains any sense and has any real hope of being the
kind of individual that God will be well pleased with, must recognize
the fact that the power of righteous living lies outside himself. The
source of it of course is from God Himself.
So let’s introduce in this first part of our lesson
something Paul said in the Ephesians’ letter listing some of the things
for which he prayed on their behalf and that he wanted them to know. In
Eph. 1:18-20 Paul wrote; --- “I pray that the eyes
of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the
hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His
inheritance in the saints, --- and what is the surpassing greatness
of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with
the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in
Christ, when He raised Him from the dead--.” --- Now what Paul is trying
to get across to you and me in these verses is this; --- “I earnestly
desire that you be acutely aware of the power of God that works in you,
and it’s the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. In other
words, we have access to that same magnificent source of power, if only
we would make use of it.
Then in Eph. 3:19-20 Paul carries this thought a little
farther when he prays; --- “and to know the love
of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up
to all the fullness of God. --- Now to Him who is able to do far
more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power
that works within us,” --- Dear soul, make no
mistake about it; God’s power, the power that raised Jesus from the
grave is unlimited power and is readily available to every one of us. I
thank God that I have access to Divine power sufficient enough to
accomplish anything that’s within God’s will to do, and so do you my
friend. --- Every last one of us through faith have total access to
that heavenly source from which we may draw strength and wisdom enough
to live in such a manner that God wants us to live.
But let us beware! We live
in a society that is utterly inundated with the influence of Satan on
every hand, so that everywhere we look our attention is drawn away from
God and focused on things that are worldly, if we’re not careful. And
to be sure, every minute of every day Satan is trying his dead level
best to get our minds off heaven and focused on the world and its
sinful pleasures. Consequently, it takes a great amount of strength and
power to help us draw our minds away from those things that naturally
appeal to our carnal nature; and to get our minds properly focused on
the things of the Spirit rather than of the flesh. --- And folks, if it
wasn’t for the fact that a merciful God will and does help us in this,
we wouldn’t have any hope at all, would we!
It ought to really stir us
up to read of this super abundance of strength. SUPER ABUNDANCE! ---
God doesn’t have just a little bit of power that He will mete out to
me, and a little morsel more to you. No Sir; --- It’s in super
abundance for everybody. More so than we could ever use.
Can you imagine having a
billion dollars, and be turned loose on society to spend it all? ---
How on earth can a fellow spend that kind of money? I mean I would have
no earthly conception of what I would try to buy with a billion
dollars. --- This is what I’m talking about; to me, a billion dollars
is a super abundance of money! Much more than I could ever spend in my
little bitty life time, or whatever time the good Lord would see fit to
let me stay on this earth.
But let me tell you what;
--- we’ve got more even than that, magnified many times over. To an
infinite degree, God’s power exists on behalf of every one of us; and
it’s right there for every one of us to draw on, whenever and wherever
we find a need for it.
Here’s another thought. If it is true (and it is), what
David said in Ps. 10:4; --- “The wicked, in the
haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts
are, "There is no God.” Is it not true that probably
we could turn that right around and say, God is not in nearly enough of
our thoughts? --- And one of the best ways that I know of assuring that
(we who profess godliness); we do have the strength of God in us, is to
make certain we place the appropriate amount of meditation on God and
His word. Unless we do that, we’re liable to start leaving God out of
our lives altogether. And dear soul, when we do that our destiny is
pretty well sealed.
The inspired writer James demonstrated the fatality of
that kind of attitude over in Js. 4:13-16; --- “Come
now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a
city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’
--- Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You
are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes
away. --- Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will
live and also do this or that.’ --- But as it is, you boast in your
arrogance; all such boasting is evil. --- Therefore, to one who knows
the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” --- Well, the
point being of course, is that by omitting God from our plans, spells
our doom. Consequently, we simply cannot implement the power of God in
us for this righteous life unless we put God first in our everyday
lives.
The apostle Paul had somewhat to say along these lines in
Col. 1:9-11; --- “we have not ceased
to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge
of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, --- so that
you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him
in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God; --- strengthened with all power,
according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all
steadfastness and patience; joyously.”
Now let’s skip on down to vs. 26f, where Paul having
reference to the preaching of the word of God says this; --- “that is, the mystery
which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now
been manifested to His saints, --- to whom God willed to make
known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
--- We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching
every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete
in Christ. --- For this purpose also I labor, striving according
to His power, which mightily works within me.” --- Now all
those verses are tied together by the single thread of the absolute
power and might of God working in us, and specifically in Paul.
Now what I think Paul is
telling you and me is that with God’s power we have the capability to
live a worthy life style before the Lord. Which is of vast importance
and something we must do our utmost to strive for in our day to day
living. --- Someone once said, “Sometimes the loudest proclaimers of
truth are the poorest performers of it.” And
sad to say, there’s a lot of truth to that; because there’s the
tendency or temptation to spout forth with a great deal of talk about
service to Christ, without really meaning a whole lot of it from the
heart. Why? --- Simply due to the fact that talk is easy, it’s cheap
and impressive to some.
It is awfully easy to talk
about religion, and say how much we enjoy going to church; and how much
we get out of studying the Bible; and how thrilling it is to be a
Christian. --- Buy because it is so easy to talk it up and leave others
with the impression that that’s the kind
of people we are; the inclination is to
just let it go with that and fail pitifully when it comes to the matter
of actually living the lifestyle worthy of the Lord.
Beloved, we’ve got the power
for it, therefore there’s absolutely no excuse for not living that kind
of godly life. --- But along with all that (in those verses), comes
another idea:
2.
The will to please God: --- Here the emphasis should be on
the word WILL. The idea is that a Christian has to determine in his or
her heart that they are indeed going to love and serve God; and set
that as their sole purpose in life. I realize that’s a hard saying. I
realize this can sometimes be a little bit easier said than done, isn’t
it? --- But it’s really just a matter of looking into the mirror and
deciding on this matter and saying to oneself in one manner or another;
--- “I’ve had it with this world and by the power and grace of God I’m
going to quit serving the world and self; and from now on, whatever I
do, it’s going to be done right, so as to please my Father in heaven!”
--- And dear friend, unless you can make that kind of determination,
you will never be able to live this worthy lifestyle in God’s eyes.
Once more let me say, it’s a lot easier to preach it than
to live it; but beloved, it’s crucial to righteous living.
Paul calls this; --- “worthy of the Lord, to please Him
in all respects.” (Col. 1:10) --- We need to
follow the advice of James in Js. 1:23-24; --- “But
prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude
themselves. --- For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a
doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
--- for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately
forgotten what kind of person he was.”
The will to please God takes utmost desire and dedication.
It involves one to examine his priorities and the various things which
clutter up his life on every side; and saying to himself; --- “These
things are important to me, but I resolve not to let them stand in the
way of doing my duty to God.” We need to take on the attitude of the
wise Solomon and heed his counsel in Eccl. 12:13; --- “—fear God and keep
His commandment, because this applies to every person.” Or as the KJV
puts it, “the whole duty
of man.” --- The frame of mind that
says; “I refuse to let my job keep me from doing what I know God wants
me to do!” --- “I will not allow my friends and associates to influence
me into doing, saying or even thinking about things which I know would
be displeasing to my God.”
Yes my friends, it does
indeed take determination and the setting of one’s mind in order to
live this lifestyle that is pleasing to and worthy of God. --- And in
addition to the WILL to please the Lord God, we must maintain:
3.
Consistent growth: --- Wouldn’t it be a horrifying thing
if those of us who have small children were all of a sudden alerted to
the fact that one of our children had just stopped growing long before
maturity? I mean, when they had reached the age of ten or twelve years
old and all of a sudden one day we are shocked to realize; --- “My son,
or my daughter has ceased to mature, my precious child has stopped
growing!” Why, we would seek the advice and help of every doctor we
would have confidence in, or could afford, wouldn’t we? --- To try and
find out what’s the matter; and why aren’t they growing? What can I do?
What kind of vitamins can I give them? --- What steps can be taken to
provide for their consistent growth so they might reach physical
maturity?
Beloved, it takes the same
kind of concern and vigilance when it comes to our soul. Not only does
it demand determination and strength of character; but it also takes
consistent spiritual growth. Growth which comes from the developing of
a deeper awareness and understanding of God’s will for us, in order
that we might become real Christians, real soldiers of the cross of
Christ, and not just talkers.
Like James says, knowing
what is right does not produce character. Doing what is right does. In
other words; our practice is our loudest and most effective preaching!
As faithful Christians, we are the world’s only Bible. Please sing with
me this beautiful hymn:
The
World’s Bible
Christ
has no hands but our hands to do His work today, He has no feet but our
feet to lead men in His way;
He
has no tongue but our tongues to tell men how He died, He has no help
but our help to bring them to His side.
We
are the only Bible the careless world will read, we are the sinners
gospel, we are the scoffer’ creed. We are the Lord’s last message given
in deed and word, what if the type was crooked? What if the print was
blurred?
What
if our hands are busy with other things than His? What if our feet are
walking where sin’s allurement is? What if our tongues are speaking of
things His life would spurn? How can we hope to help Him and welcome
His return?
The awesome power of God is
manifested in the life of a man who has read God’s word and has
understood God’s word, applies it to himself and says; --- “This is my
blueprint for life, and I’m determined to follow it. And I’m going to
pray to my heavenly Father to give me strength and wisdom.”
4.
Structure: --- Now, if you were to ask me in exactly what
form that strength might come in, and explain precisely how God’s power
works; I would have to confess that I would just have to leave that
part off, and being honest with you; I don’t know.
But I
do know that in several instances the Lord has indeed promised to
provide us with help no matter when or how we might be tempted to
commit sin, and will provide a way out of that temptation.
--- For example, in 1
Cor. 10:13; --- In two respects, the Spirit says; --- “No
temptation
has overtaken you but such as is common to man;”
(Here it is, pay close attention), “and
God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted
beyond what you are able,”
--- That’s a Bible example of God’s power at work in this world we live
in to help you to be a better Christian. As long as you are trying to
live a faithful life, God will absolutely refuse to allow you to be
tempted beyond what you are able to bear. He did it for Job, and He
will do it for you. In other words, He puts the brakes on the devil.
--- I don’t know exactly how He does, but that’s what He said He would
do.
But next the apostle says;
--- “but
with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so
that you will be able to endure it.”
As a result, any temptation that might come our way, it’s entirely
possible for us be overcome it. God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy
has designed a way by which we may triumph over any temptation.
Now, you put that into
practical use, and what it means is; that the man or woman who wants to
love and serve God, can do so, if that individual is so determined to
set their will to please Him. And so when that child of God is tempted
to do wrong, he will seek out the power of God to carry him through.
Do you suppose a man who
falls on his knees in humble prayer to the Holy Father in the midst of
some temptation, will turn right around after he says “Amen”, and then
go ahead and do what he was tempted to do? Do we actually think that
would happen? It might if the person is an out and out hypocrite. But
it just does not make sense for a man who is dead set on committing
some sin, asking God to help him overcome it.
Now, isn’t it a fact in your
own life, that when you’ve done something you know you shouldn’t have;
that before you did that wrong thing (think about it now); --- BEFORE
you did that sinful deed, you didn’t ask God to help you overcome it
did you? --- But isn’t that usually the way it works in human life in
most of us?
But on the other hand, the
man who harbors God in his thoughts; who’s resolute to please the Lord;
who in the midst of temptation, rather than just forgetting about God;
and forgetting about WHY he should, and HOW he may overcome temptation;
will at the same time ask in fervent prayer for the help and power God
has promised to give him during these trying times. --- Don’t you
suspect that man will overcome it? Would
you say he would or would not? --- If not, than as I mentioned earlier;
either he’s a hypocrite or Paul was mistaken when he said; “God is
faithful!”
5.
Thoughtful considerations: --- On this point, I would
hazard to bring up something for your consideration. In Heb. 1:14 Paul
wrote in reference to angels; --- “Are
they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service
for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”
--- Yet again, I lack the ability to explain this; at least not as to
the method of it. But this I’m sure of; it’s a promise from God, who
cannot lie. And I’m persuaded that angels are real beings, that they
exist in this universe, and that they surround us, so long as we remain
faithful to God. --- You and I can’t see them, but I know they’re
there, all around us at this very moment. Perhaps this was what the
Hebrew writer had reference to in Heb. 13:2; --- “Do
not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some
have entertained angels without knowing it.”
God says the angels are
ministering spirits! And that tells me that they are sent to help us.
Help us! --- They get their power and authority from God, and my Bible
tells me that God sends them to help those who are heirs to salvation;
and that means us Christians. --- Angels don’t help those who are not
Christians, but they most assuredly do help those of us who are
motivated to be faithful.
I’m not about to try and
explain exactly how that works. I suppose one would have to do a little
spiritual mathematics and say; maybe a part of the way God helps us in
overcoming temptation is by the mediation of angels. Can’t say for
sure, but at least in my mind, it makes sense.
6.
Another consideration: --- Once more, simply as a
suggestion; --- Let’s look at this from another viewpoint and getting
out of the realm of overcoming temptation. For example; --- How often
have you prayed before starting out on a long trip for God to keep you
safe and bring you back home in safety? Or maybe pray the same prayer
on someone else’s behalf? --- Or perhaps, when you’re away from your
family you pray that God will watch over and protect them while you are
gone? --- Well, I might offer two points here:
A. Do you really and truly
believe God’s going to do that? --- If you don’t, you ought not to pray
for it. James the first chapter says that if you are double minded, you
are unstable in all your ways. Anyone who might pray to God not
believing that God will answer his prayers, has no right to expect that
God will answer. --- The Bible says in Js. 1:6-8; --- “But
he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who
doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ---
For that man ought not to expect that he will receive
anything from the Lord, --- being a double-minded
man, unstable in all his ways.”
--- But now, if you do pray that kind of prayer in faith, it’s obvious
that you truly do believe that God will answer it, in His own way and
in His own time.
B. Question two: HOW will
God answer your prayer? --- I have no way I can prove that to you,
because I have no way of scientifically probing the ways God helps us.
For sure, there are lots of times we like to say, It’s God’s providence
at work; but we have no way of scientifically proving that either, do
we?
But let me say this much;
--- Scripturally, we can come a whole lot closer to proving that God
works through angels than we can ever prove He works through providence
or divine intervention. --- The point we need to understand, is that
God hasn’t said specifically HOW, but He assuredly has said that He
WILL! --- And He has identified those ministers He created to do that
work; and so we can have confidence in both points.
I can have faith and
confidence in the fact that there are heavenly beings that God has sent
to help me do my duty as a Christian. Likewise, I know that God said He
would grant me the power in order to accomplish my goal. Therefore, I
can be certain, if I’ll just set my mind on loving and serving God and
let Him help and comfort me; --- well then, I’ll make that heavenly
goal, and dear friend, if Earl Wilburn can make it; --- You can make it.
Well, these are just
thoughts and suggestions presented for your edification. I realize, at
least in the minds of some, we may have cultivated some “new ground”.
But I do wish you would at least think about it and be convinced in
your heart that God does indeed provide help for us. --- He graciously
makes available a source of power and strength whereby we can
accomplish our goal as Christians and enter heaven.
7.
Final thoughts: --- I would like to leave you with these
final thoughts: --- Clues and keys to happiness are abundantly supplied
in the letter Paul wrote to the church of Colossae.
Have you ever looked on
happiness as a by-product? --- Happiness, true and lasting happiness is
a natural consequence, which comes when we whole-heartedly engage
ourselves in the good work of righteous living. Do you live a life of
happiness? --- If not, there’s no excuse for it. --- But if you will
follow these three basic, but essential principles I promise you;
better than that, God promises you personally that you will walk daily
in true happiness and joyfulness:
A. Set your mind on heaven:
--- This is the advise Paul gave to the Colossians in Col. 3:1-4; --- “Therefore
if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. --- Set
your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
--- For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. --- When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you
also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
--- So what’s the first principle to keep in mind while working toward
happiness? --- Set your mind, your heart, your affections on things
above. Keep heaven always first in your thinking and motives.
B. Seek to teach others: ---
In addition to having your heart set on things above, may I suggest we
refer back to part of our introductory Scripture reading in Col. 4:5-6;
--- “Conduct
yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders
(non Christian and the erring),
making the most of the opportunity. --- Let your
speech always be with grace
(oh, how often we fail to do this),
as though seasoned with salt
(Why so?),
so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
--- Dear friend, let me pose this question for your consideration; ---
Do you really expect to find happiness in Christ, if you yourself are
not actively seeking to be engaged in teaching and converting lost
souls? --- Try to remember this; someone demonstrated enough love for
your unworthy soul, so if your heart is fixed on the things above and
serving Him who died for you, shouldn’t you want to go out and do
likewise?
C. Walk in a worthy manner:
--- Thirdly, real happiness is a byproduct of being filled, brimming
over with the true knowledge of the will of Jesus Christ so that you
and I might walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. Once again we draw
from Paul’s letter to the brethren at Colossae, in Col. 1:9-11; --- “For
this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased
to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge
of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
--- so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to
please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of
God; --- strengthened with all power, according to His
glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;
joyously.”
(Or happily). --- So, there you have it; three steps or principles to
true happiness in Jesus Christ and the heavenly Father.
Do you experience that
happiness as a Christian? Do you really? Or might there be some things
missing in your life and service to your God and Savior? If you are
lacking to some degree in that power and strength which God supplies,
you know why and God knows why! Please don’t leave your precious soul
dangling over that dark pit of sin, doubt and shame. I’m earnestly
speaking to your heart; --- Repent and return to the Lord’s way.
Humbly submitted in His service,
<>
Earl
Wilburn
Questions
and comments more than welcomed: ewilburn@austin.rr.com
Please
don't delete this from your files, as who knows that while you may not
at this time be moved by these scriptures, but perhaps in time you
might want to refer back to this and come to know better the love of
the Lord. --- EW
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