The Call to Serve

Galatians 5:13

Jesus commanded that we serve one another, but obeying this mandate in humility is not natural for us. Sure, there are times we like to help others. But service that involves self-sacrifice--especially for someone we deem undeserving--much more difficult to do.

What does it mean to serve? Consider Christ's example. He gave up everything in heaven to live among us, subjecting Himself to dishonor and human frailty. And He loved even those who rejected Him. Think about how He humbled Himself and washedthe disciples' feet at Passover. This was a disgusting, lowly task that a slave might be assigned--far from anything a king should do. He even knew these men were about to abandon Him but served them anyway.

Ultimately, Christ gave His life for us. And He did so while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). Serving others was His lifestyle--part of who He was and what He did. As His followers, we should strive to be like Him.

Therefore, service involves first dying to our selfish attitudes and motives. Only then can we live to glorify Christ. Jesus said that the greatest commandments are to love God wholeheartedly and to love others (Matt. 22:37-39). Ironically, it is only when we humbly serve others that we experience God's fullness in our own lives.

Many try to achieve happiness by striving after their own desires. The result? Tired, unsatisfied people. True contentment happens only when we walk closely with Jesus. He shows where we can humble ourselves and take care of others. These actions, done through His strength, will be blessed.

~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~

War In Your Heart # 19

Defeat Through the First Man in Eden (continued)

Black Week - In Eden (continued)

The decision to be made was clear-cut. There was not the slightest ambiguity about it. It was focused on one thing and one thing only - obedience to the will of God declared through the Word of God. It involved but one step - a step out of the circle of God's will. But one thing then was necessary on Eve's part, the will to disobey. The choice in favor of self against God.

Here the deceiver reaches the height of deception. He had put an iron curtain around his rebel kingdom. So Eve little dreamed that to step out of the will of God was to step into the will of satan: to be released from the sovereignty of God was to be relinquished to the sovereignty of satan: to cease to be a subject in the kingdom of God was to become not only a subject in satan's kingdom, but his abject bondslave; that instead of doing her own will and having her own way, she would, from the moment she willed to disobey, be transferring her allegiance from God to satan; henceforth to do his will and work instead of God's.

The crisis has been reached. The will must act. The fruit of the forbidden tree must be eaten. So the tempter focuses everything upon the accomplishment of the one thing. Eve must decide for or against God. The beguiler must use all his satanic wisdom, his most clever wiles; he must make a concentrated assault upon every part of her being and so batter down every restraint of God. He must make a gradual approach but reach a decisive climax.

Genesis 3:6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

"When the woman "saw". Perhaps the tempter cunningly remarked about the beauty of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil," so as to focus her eyes upon it and fasten her attention upon its pleasantness (Genesis 2:9) For let us remember that God made that tree and He had pronounced everything that He made "very good." So there was nothing inherently wrong in that tree any more than in any of the other trees, of which they might freely eat. The whole point was that God had commanded them NOT to eat of it. To eat of it would be sin; the sin of disobedience, which is altogether outlawed in God's universe, where He rules as a beneficent but absolute Sovereign on His throne. The measure of the sin of disobedience could be judged by the penalty to be meted out. It was punishable by death. Knowing the command, with its accompanying warning, Eve should not even have looked on that tree.

But she examined the fruit. "She saw that the tree was good for food." It appealed to her physical sense. It whetted her appetite. The desire to taste it came. "The lust of the flesh" was the lowest round in the temptation "that it was pleasant to the eyes." The look became fixed upon the forbidden fruit; it became a gaze; the more she looked, the more pleasant it became. How unreasonable it seemed to deny one anything that not only looked harmless, but positively beneficial!

"The lust of the eyes" took her one step nearer to disobedience. "A tree to be desired to make one wise." What a legitimate ambition, within the will of God, for it would only tend to make one know God better and to enable one to do His will in all things more effectually. But the ambition to be made wise, outside of God's will, could only stem from pride, for it would be an outreaching for something beyond that which God meant one to have. The desire to be wise for any other purpose than for the glory of God would be sin. That is "the pride of life." satan was in the Garden of Eden to gain subjects for his kingdom a world system based upon the principles of "the lust of the flesh," "the lust of the eyes," and "the pride of life" (1 John 2:16).

"She took of the fruit and did eat." "Took" - decision; "did eat" - action. The will to disobey was quickly followed by the act of disobedience. The personal sin of one woman brought the collective suffering and sorrow of all women (Genesis 3:16). Trace the result of this one sin through Scripture and then on out through the universal history of womanhood, especially in lands where Christ is not known, and meditate upon what you find. But Eve's sin did not stop even there.

~Ruth Paxson~

(continued with # 20)

A Sound Heart

"Let my heart be sound in Thy Statues: that I be not ashamed"   (Psalm 119:80).

We may regard this inspired prayer as containing within itself the assurance that those who keep close to the Word of God shall never have cause to be ashamed of doing so.

See, the prayer is for soundness of heart. A sound creed is good, a sound judgment concerning it is better, but a sound heart toward the truth is best of all. We must love the truth, feel the truth, and obey the truth, otherwise we are not truly sound in God's statutes. Are there many in these evil days who are sound? Oh, that the writer and the reader may be two of this sort!

Many will be ashamed in the last great day, when all disputes will be decided. Then they will see the folly of their inventions and be filled with remorse because of their proud infidelity and willful defiance of the LORD; but he who believed what the LORD taught and did what the LORD commanded will stand forth justified in what he did. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun. Men much slandered and abused shall find their shame turned into glory in that day.

Let us pray the prayer of our text, and we may be sure that its promise will be fulfilled to us. If the LORD makes us sound, He will keep us safe.

~Charles Spurgeon~

War In Your Heart # 18

Defeat Through the First Man in Eden (continued)

Black Week - In Eden (continued)

He presses the advantage even further. To offset the fear of the penalty, he presents a glowing picture of the pleasure and power that will come to them in having their eyes opened so that they know good and evil. Oh, the intellectual delight and satisfaction of such knowledge! Surely there can be no harm in eating of the fruit of a tree that would bring such benefit and blessing. A preacher, who was a movie addict, told me of the very great blessing (???) he received from attending the movies! The six-thousand-year-old liar still tells the same lie, for he found out in Eden how well it worked.

"Your Eyes Shall be Opened - Knowing Good and Evil"

Here is the archliar's third lie and the most dangerous of them all, for it is a half truth, and a half lie. But even the small measure of apparent truth is really a lie, for it is told with the definite purpose of deception. So our Lord's word that "there is no truth in him: is absolutely accurate. Their eyes were opened, but to what? To their own folly, sin, and shame. They did know good and evil, but to what end? They knew good, but had no power to do it. They knew evil, but had no power to resist it. But worse still was the fact that there was no way out of this condition, for they had been plunged into the midnight darkness of satandom, and the ruler of the kingdom of darkness would keep their minds blinded so that the light of God would not shine in (2 Corinthians 4:4).

satan had fallen down to the depths of hell because he wanted to go up - up - up to a position and power to which God did not appoint him. He had fallen through the sin of pride. The tempter is now tempting Eve to do the same thing. He seeks her ruin in precisely the same way he met his. To succeed he must create discontent. Oh, murmurer and complainer, take warning!

So, he assumes another one of his diabolical roles revealed in Scripture, and becomes a slanderer of God. He accuses God of deliberately withholding something from Adam and Eve that would immeasurably improve their condition. The hiss of the serpent can be heard in these words, "For God doth know." Oh, what a malignant insinuation! God was purposely keeping them in an inferior state, depriving them of something He knew would be to their benefit! The archapostate, deceiver, liar, angel of light, tempter, accuser, has now done his worst. The serpent-satan fangs, full of deadly venom, have entered Eve's lie; the poison of his enmity to God has entered into her spiritual bloodstream and his last work - that of the arch-murderer, will soon be accomplished - Eve will die.

Self-love has had time to do its work in her. Now it is time for action. Eve must make a choice. God's will or self-will? Self-will involved primarily a complete break from the sovereignty, the authority, and the government of God. It meant breaking with the throne of God in heaven and seating self upon a self-made throne. God would be dethroned and self enthroned. This would allow Eve to do as she pleased, to gratify and glorify "self". There would be no need for obedience to God or dependence upon Him. She would be independent  of all restraint; would not be bound by a single restriction. She would be free to do her own will, to go her own way, to live wholly unto herself. Oh, what bliss that would be! (?)

~Ruth Paxson~

(continued with # 19)

The Power of God's Grace

Romans 5:1-5

Grace is one of God's most amazing gifts. It provides us with everything we need to live in perfect freedom: pardon for our sins, healing for our hearts, the companionship of God's indwelling Holy Spirit, and access to freely cultivate our relationship with Him. We work, worship, and enjoy life surrounded by His unconditional love. His grace upholds us, fills us, and sustains us.

Since we are forgiven people, the Lord responds to us not as enemies but as His dearly loved children (Rom. 8:15; Eph. 5:1). He hears our prayers, speaks to us, and acts on our behalf.

The knowledge that we live under the covering of God's grace gives us...

• Security about our position. No one can snatch us out of His hand (John10:28).
• Boldness to live for Christ. Nothing anyone does or says can shake our confidence in who the Lord is or who we are in Him.
• Peace for today because we can fully trust in His sovereignty. The Lord is carrying out His perfect will--and we can be sure that nothing is able to thwart His plans when we cooperate with Him.
• Hope for the future. This life is just the beginning. One day we'll see Jesus face to face, be perfected as the individuals He created us to be, and live with Him in our true home forever.

The Lord is committed to transforming each of us according to His special plan for our lives. Even His correction is an expression of His loving favor (Heb.12:10). When we falter or fail, we can rest assured that His amazing grace hems us in and always offers us redemption.

~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~

War In Your Heart # 17

Defeat Through the First Man in Eden (continued)

Black Week - in Eden (continued)

"Thou shall NOT surely die." This is the archliar's first lie to man. It is a full-sized lie, for it not only denies God's Word, but it charges God Himself with being a liar. It is such a downright, unequivocal lie that it gives the lie to God. Eve faces a choice that involves her eternal destiny as well as her immediate relationship to God; a choice that hinges upon one thing only: believing God's truth or satan's lie.

To believe the devil's lie would mean for her spiritual death; separation from God for time and for eternity. She had tampered with God's Word in saying "Lest ye die," which had reacted upon her by lessening the sense of obligation to obey His command. So she had laid herself open to believe the devil's lie. By discrediting the authenticity of the Word of God we automatically discount its authority. "The devil first makes men skeptics, then he proceeds to make them atheists." What would Eve do - believe God's truth or the devil's lie? satan must hasten to capitalize upon the ground already gained, for he has not yet won through to the victory.

The Affirmation

The devil knew from his own experience the enormity of his first lie to man - that there was no danger of God's penalty being enacted against disobedience and rebellion - for he well knew that for that very sin he had been cast out of heaven and that hell had been prepared to receive him for all eternity. He must promise them an advantage to be gained that would far outweigh the risk of the penalty of disobedience. A prize to be obtained must be held before Eve that would render God impotent to impose the penalty. He must instigate Eve to break away from the throne of God and act in self-will, even as he himself had done. In no other way could he gain control over her, which was the one thing he was seeking. So he makes an affirmation which is the key to Eve's defeat.

Genesis 3:5: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

"Ye shall be as God." The promise of equality with God, the very thing his own self-love and self-esteem had led him to  grasp after, with such terrible consequences! satan had attempted to ascend from creaturehood into Godhood, and he now tempts man to the same sin. Deification of the creature is the fashion of the day. satan set the fashion, and the dictators and dictatorships of  of the present day are patterned after the similitude of satan's sin.

"You, as an equal with God, will no longer be subject to His law but will be a law unto yourself. You will no longer be subservient to Him, for you will be a sovereign in your own right. Oh, there is even more in store for you than the dominion over this little earth. You have the capacity to share in the government of he universe 0 even the very throne itself." "The serpent beguiled me." Yes, by this devilish lie he beguiled Eve to renounce the beneficent sovereignty of God for abject subjection to his own satanic will. This had all along been his goal. So the archliar tells his second lie, his most dastardly and deadly; for in it he has not only struck a second time at the throne of God, but he is out to get God's first man and woman to do the same, and so to follow him in his rebellion and anarchy.

~Ruth Paxson~

(continued with # 18)

Help, Lord!

Psalm 12:1

Help, Lord.

 

The prayer itself is remarkable, for it is short, but seasonable, sententious, and suggestive. David mourned the fewness of faithful men, and therefore lifted up his heart in supplication-when the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help; but at the same time he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. There is much of directness, clearness of perception, and distinctness of utterance in this petition of two words; much more, indeed, than in the long rambling outpourings of certain professors. The Psalmist runs straight-forward to his God, with a well-considered prayer; he knows what he is seeking, and where to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed manner. The occasions for the use of this prayer are frequent. In providential afflictions how suitable it is for tried believers who find all helpers failing them. Students, in doctrinal difficulties, may often obtain aid by lifting up this cry of "Help, Lord," to the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher. Spiritual warriors in inward conflicts may send to the throne for reinforcements, and this will be a model for their request. Workers in heavenly labour may thus obtain grace in time of need. Seeking sinners, in doubts and alarms, may offer up the same weighty supplication; in fact, in all these cases, times, and places, this will serve the turn of needy souls. "Help, Lord," will suit us living and dying, suffering or labouring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In Him our help is found, let us not beslack to cry to Him. The answer to the prayer is certain, if it be sincerely offered through Jesus. The Lord's character assures us that He will not leave His people; His relationship as Father and Husband guarantee us His aid; His gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing; and His sure promise stands, "Fear not, I WILL HELP THEE."

~Charles Spurgeon~