The relationship between Jesus and His followers is described in many different ways. Sometimes these descriptions seem a little contradictory. Jesus called His followers friends (Jn 15:15), but the Apostles call themselves slaves or bondservants (Rom 1:1, James 1:1, 2 Pet 1:1). So, which is it? Are we friends or slaves? The answer is a simple one! We are certainly both!

We are Slaves of Christ
The idea of being a slave has such negative connotations because of the atrocities that come with it. It is interesting that the Lord Jesus neither advocated nor denounced the institution of slavery as it existed in His day, but actually found it as an apt analogy to illustrate certain truths about the gospel and the relationship that exists between Christ and His followers. There are particularly five parallel images from the first-century slave that can be used to describe Christians (Slave, John MacArthur, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010, pages 43-53).

As slaves we belong to Christ. He is our Lord and Master and we are to lovingly submit to Him. Slaves are those who are under the total control of their owner. When we were born physically, we were born as slaves to sin having inherited an enslaved state from Adam (Rom 5). But as believers we have been purchased by Christ through His death on the cross (Rom 5:18-19, 1 Peter 1:18-19). We were bought with a price so that we are no longer under the authority of sin, but are under the exclusive ownership of God, Christ being our new Master (Rom 6:17-19). As believers we are part of a people who were purchased “for His own possession” (Tit 2:14) and “belong to Christ” (Gal 5:24).

As slaves we are called to complete submission to Christ. Being a slave means that we are always summoned by our Master to obey Him in every way. It is the slave’s sole duty to do what his Master tells him to do. Slaves no longer have rights of their own and must give unquestioning obedience to their new Lord. Submission to the Lord must come from the heart and is a certain mark of those who are genuinely converted (1 Jn 2:3). As believers we are expected to obey Christ and to “present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices, acceptable to God which is our spiritual service of worship” (Rom 12:1). It is the new believer’s heart to do the things that are “pleasing in His sight” (1 Jn 3:22). Since we have been bought with a price we are commanded to “glorify God in [our] body” (1 Cor 6:20). Those who claim to be Christians and yet continue to disobey God’s Word have deceived themselves (1 Jn 1:6).

As slaves we are also called to a life of singular devotion to Christ. The life of a slave is really simple. The slave’s purpose in life is to please his master and to carry out his wishes by steadfast obedience to him. Since slaves are singly devoted to their masters, it is impossible for them to serve another master. The same is true for those who are slaves of Christ. Such exclusion to Christ makes it impossible to serve both God and money or worship God and serve idols, or live according to the Spirit and the flesh (Matt 6:24, Rom 7:5-6).

As slaves we are completely dependent on Christ. Every slave is completely dependent on their master for everything including the basic necessities of life. As believers the same should be true of our dependence on Christ. He has promised that He will provide all that we need in life (Matt 6:31-33). As slaves of Christ we must not be anxious for anything but by prayer make our requests known to him (Phil 4:6) knowing that God alone will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Christ will not only keep us from falling spiritually (Jn 6:39, Rom 8:35-39), He will also provide grace to sustain us in all of life (2 Cor 9:8, 12:9).

Lastly, as slaves we will be held accountable to Christ. Every slave gives an answer to his master. Faithful slaves were rewarded, while evil slaves that were disobedient were punished, sometimes with extreme methods. Because our sins have been completely paid for by Christ, He will not punish us (Rom 8:1). But believers must realize that we are all going to stand before our Master to give an account for our lives and be rewarded for our works accomplished (Rom 14:12, 2 Cor 5:10). We should all desire to hear the precious words, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master” (Matt 25:21, 23). Our motivation should be to please our master in all things. There is a day coming when every slave of Christ will be recompensed in full.

We are Also His Friends
Yes, we are slaves, but we are also called the “friends of Jesus.” In the last hours of his life, Jesus told His disciples, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). This imagery is beautiful. Friends have an intimate communication with one another. Friends share ideas, and communicate on a deep level. Friends get to be part of the inner circle. Being friends with Jesus means that Jesus discloses to us the intimate deals of His purposes, plans and heart.

But, being the friend of Jesus doesn’t mean that we become trite with Jesus and forget that He is God. The New Testament calls Jesus Lord more than 700 times. So, while we are His friends, He is still our Lord. Being the friend of Jesus does not put us on the same level like human friendships. Rather being the friend of Jesus means that He is sharing with us intimate information, particularly the words that His Father has given to Him (John 8:32, 17:6-8).

More specifically, Jesus has granted for us to know the mysteries of God. Mysteries that were once hidden in heaven, but that Jesus has revealed to us since we are His friends. The Apostle Paul tells us that one of the revealed mysteries is our great salvation (Eph 1:3-14). The mystery of God’s will has been revealed that God chose and predestined us in eternity past before the world was created. What is revealed is that God had a plan to save some through the blood of His Son according to His purposes which he “set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (v. 9-10).

Take Advantage of Friendship
Since we are friends, Jesus continues to reveal His perfect will to us through His Word. As friends we must take advantage of the opportunity that we have. The Word is not revealed to the world, but hidden from their eyes. The mysteries of God’s word are only revealed to His friends (Matt 13:10). The Holy Spirit who permanently indwells us also illumines Scripture for us, helping us learn what the Word and the mysteries of God are. In order to have this deep friendship with Christ and understand what He wants us to know, we must be reading and studying the Bible on a regular basis listening to the intimate plans, purposes and will of God for our lives!

Always Slaves, Always Friends
So true believers in Christ are both slaves but also friends of Jesus. We must keep these identities in balance never allowing either one to overshadow the other. While we are still slaves of Christ we strive to obey Him. But on the other hand, as friends we experience the intimate communication from Jesus through His Word. We are a blessed people because our Master is good and our friend is loving!

 

As a kid I remember eating “Now & Later” candy which was fruit-flavored and taffy-like. These square-shaped candies were quite hard at first with only a little flavor to be enjoyed at the beginning. But as the taffy was chewed, it became softer, and the real flavors came out “later.” I don’t eat them anymore, as I’ve determined the “Now” hardness and flavorlessness at the beginning to be somewhat unenjoyable.  Instead I have given preference to the soft taffy that gives immediate gratification!  But “Now & Laters” are a great metaphor for our joy in this life. It is true that we will have some joy now. But the real joy comes later!

Jesus promised His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). This promise of Jesus should not be misunderstood! Jesus was not promising full joy now, but He was promising full joy later! Certainly, we have joy in this life at some level. Even the common grace of God allows unbelievers to experience minuscule joy in this life. God provides joy in many ways: love (Song of Solomon 1:4), marriage (Proverbs 5:18), birth of children (Psalm113:9), gathering of the harvest, military victory (Isaiah 9:3), and drinking wine (Psalm 104:15). But the ultimate joy, which God intends for His children, is only received in the future. The joys of this life are but a shadow of the true joy to come. And we MUST keep this perspective in mind at all times. Having this right perspective will help us all avoid the “Prosperity Gospel” preachers who promise full joy now that is tied to material possessions. In the end that is a bankrupt gospel message. If we expect “fullness of joy” now, we will be sadly mistaken, and in the end may become embittered at God. Nothing in this life compares to the promises we have for future glory! Our best life is NOT now, but in the future!

The root of our joy is grounded in the promises for future glory! The Psalmist said, “In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11). Nowhere in Scripture are we promised fullness of joy in this life. In fact, the opposite is true. Those who follow Jesus are promised suffering, trials, difficulties, persecutions and hardships (John 15:20, 2 Tim 3:12, Phil 1:29). For the Christian, his or her joy is delayed and promised to come later!

Our Great Example
There is no greater example of delayed joy than in Jesus’ example of going to the cross. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are to “look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). For sure there were joys that Jesus experienced while on the earth (i.e. seeing people saved, healed, etc.). But the greatest motivation for Jesus to leave heaven and come to the earth to endure what He did was not immediate joy and gratification, but the future promises that His Father made to Him. In short, Jesus was willing to suffer for the joy of future exaltation. In His high priestly prayer Jesus said to His Father, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” Jesus gained His reward by glorifying His Father while on earth. And when it was all done, God “highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11). Joy for Jesus was delayed! The same is true for all who follow Him.

This is why true believers are able to rejoice through suffering. We “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” which is in the future (Rom 5:2). We are able to rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ (Acts 5:41). We don’t mind the plundering of our property, since we know that we have a “better possession and an abiding one” waiting for us (Heb 10:34). We realize that our suffering for Christ in this world is going to ultimately lead us to “rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13-14). Christians are not crazy people who enjoy pain. But our joy is not rooted in this life. We are able to look past all of the difficulties and look to the promise of our future, just like Jesus did.

The Danger of a Distracted Eye
But let’s be honest, our joy is often robbed because we fail to be future minded. We begin thinking like unbelievers. We look around and see all the blessings that others are experiencing. It is not beyond us as believers to feel sorry for ourselves! We can become envious and even bitter at God because we feel like we are mistreated! Don’t be mistaken, this is a dangerous place to be! Even the Psalmist realized this when he said, “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death, and their body is fat. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind” (Psalm 73:2-5). What saved him from stumbling (i.e. getting bitter at God) was the change of mind that occurred when he finally “came into the sanctuary of God” (v. 17). It was the Word of God that reminded him of the ultimate destruction of the wicked and the terrors that await them. The truth was that the Psalmist was on the verge of being “embittered,” “pierced within,” “senseless.” He was allowing his flesh and his heart to fail, and this was robbing him of real joy. Everything changed however when he began to think about the future! As believers we must guard our eyes from looking around us and comparing our lives to others, particularly those in the world. For us our joy is NOT grounded in the circumstances and possessions of this fleeting and temporary life. Our joy is grounded in the future promises!

Witness to the World
As we journey this life we are going to have small joys along the way. But we may also have many sorrows, difficulties, trials and even persecutions. But we must keep our joy rooted in our future hope and the promises of future glory. If we fight to have the right perspective it will not necessarily make this life easier, but we will be a bright light to the world and they will see the faith that we have which is rooted in future joy!

 

In opposition to the Deism view which believes that God does not intervene in his creation, Scripture is clear that God is at work in the world, and specifically in His children. God promises to finish a glorious work in those who are His (Phil 1:6). God’s work begins in eternity past when God elects His children. Then in time, God promises to call, justify and sanctify them, conforming them into the image of His Son. His work concludes in eternity future when He promises to glorify all who are His (Rom 8:29-30).

God’s work of sanctification is magnificently illustrated for us by Jesus in John 15. Jesus characterized His Father as a worker who is continually working in His vineyard. The Father’s work includes cutting off branches which are fruitless, and pruning branches that are fruitful in order that they may produce much fruit. It is clear that the fruitless branches are unbelievers who do not have a permanent union with Christ. If they were connected to the vine they would inevitably produce fruit. The fruitful branches are believers which the Father promises to prune in order that they may produce as much fruit as possible. This process of pruning is theologically called sanctification. The goal of the vinedresser is that every one of His vines not only produce fruit alone, or more fruit, but “much fruit” (John 15:1-8).

Every Branch-Every Son
It is a sad reality that many orphans often do not have the tender care and continual discipline of parents to correct, encourage and shape them into fruitful human beings. Good parents are continually concerned with shaping their children. The same is true spiritually speaking. While the world uses trite names like “the man upstairs” to address God, we are blessed to call Him “Father” (Matt 6:9). Unlike unbelievers in the world, we have the special attention of God. He does not leave us alone like orphans. Rather, God is concerned about “every branch” in His vineyard, (Jn 15:2) and “every son” in His house (Heb 12:5-11). This means that every one of us are certainly going to be the recipients of God’s work for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). As true branches in His garden, we will certainly experience His knife. And as true sons in his house we will certainly experience His discipline. Our heavenly Father is good in that He takes continual efforts to shape those who are His into the “image of His Son” (Rom 8:29). The lack of his working knife and discipline is a certain indication that we are not His.

Right Perspective: Welcoming the Knife
How we view the work of God’s discipline in our lives is crucial. Sometimes God allows His children to experience the worst kinds of situations. If we are not prepared mentally we may in fact curse God instead of worshiping Him. Scripture is clear that God does not spare His children from persecution, hardship, pain, suffering, death and so much more. When God providentially brings His painful knife or discipline we must remember that He is doing it for our good (Gen 50:20, Heb 12:10). God is always good, always right, and always wise! He doesn’t allow anything into our lives (even evil) that doesn’t have a divine purpose (Rom 8:28). It’s hard to say, but as believers we should welcome His knife and the discipline of God in our lives. We should long to be as fruitful as possible. This means trusting God and welcoming His divine work.

No Accidents & No Waste
Our good Father, the vinedresser doesn’t make any mistakes. Unlike humans who may not be the best at “pruning” and may butcher a plant by accident, God does not make mistakes or accidents in His children’s lives. The Father’s cultivation of our lives is according to His loving and thoughtful providence. This means that God allows the exact interventions in our lives which are designed to produce in us mature and well-rounded Christian character. Sometimes His pruning knife may seem to cut too deep, but His purposes are all-wise and designed to enable us to grow strong to produce the most fruit possible. We should also remember that the branches God removes from us are never a waste. He knows exactly what we should possess. Sinclair Ferguson said it wonderfully, “When our ambitions are thwarted, our own plans come to nothing, and we feel the blade of providence in our lives.  Here is our security: God does not waste, therefore I shall not want” (Sinclair Ferguson, Maturity, page 46).

What is the Fruit?
God’s goal in the Christian’s life is not just to produce a mediocre crop, but that we all would produce “much fruit” (Jn 15:8). It is true that some will produce more fruit than others (Matt 13:8), but it goes without saying God intends on producing a substantial harvest in each one of us. The fruit that God is interested in producing in our lives is certainly fruit that pertains to our character. Hopefully through God’s grace, by the end of our lives, we will have many successes and our “great works” will not be burned up (1 Cor 3:12-15). These for sure are important fruits. But the Lord is mostly concerned about transforming our personal lives. When God prunes, it is for the purpose of transforming us and shaping us. The Holy Spirit is mostly concerned about producing in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22). God disciplines us so that we might yield the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” and that we might “share in His holiness” (Heb 12:10-11).

Our Responsibility: Abide in Christ!
So, then what makes the difference among Christians? Why do some produce more fruit than others? God is working, but the honest truth is that many Christians are not as diligent as they should be. The key to this truth is found in the command that Jesus made to His disciples. He said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me….whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:4-5).

When we become Christians, Christ permanently dwells or has union with us. In response to that union we are commanded to abide in Him. This verb abide is often translated as ‘remain’, ‘stay’, ‘continue’, or ‘dwell.’ Abiding is not some mystical activity. Jesus is simply saying that we are to have “fellowship with him that is marked by a resolute, Spirit-enabled, obedience to God’s word – a willing submission of heart, soul, mind and strength to the Lord and His revealed will” (Ferguson, page 48). The Apostle Paul says it this way, “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16). Abiding in Christ means being immersed with the Word of God and saturating our minds with His Word so that we will be obedient to Him.

Fruitfulness is Tied to the Word
There is no way we can bear much fruit without learning the Word and obeying it. We must learn to read Scripture properly understanding the true meaning of it. Then we must apply it and allow it to transform our minds & our wills. This will allow us to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5). As a result, we will bear much fruit for the glory of God.

 

 

The Bible has much to say about money. It is not wrong to possess money because it is God who gives us the power to make money (Deut 8:18) and it is God who alone “richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (1 Tim 6:17), but the love of money and possessions has been the downfall of many and caused many to wander from the faith (1 Tim 6:10). Achan’s love for money brought disaster to himself, his family, and even the whole nation of Israel (Josh 7:1-25). Judas’s love for money led to a betrayal of Jesus and caused him to damn himself to eternal torment in hell (Matt 26:14-16). Ananias & Sapphira’s love of money led them to hypocritically lie about their giving resulting in God’s execution (Acts 5:1-10).

The Bible commands us to guard our hearts when it comes to our money. We must guard against loving money, which is the root of all evil as many who have longed for it have fallen into ruin and destruction (1 Tim 6:9-10). We must guard against covetousness because our lives in the end do not consist of our possessions or money (Luke 12:15). We must guard our heart against greed, because money will never satisfy us (Eccl 5:10). We must guard against putting our trust in our money rather than God (Heb 13:5, 1 Tim 6:17, Prov 11:28) because it can become our master instead of Christ (Matt 6:24).

 

Money is a Heart Barometer
Money is morally neutral; it is neither good nor bad, but what we do with our money is a sure indicator of our heart’s condition and acts as a sort of barometer. Just as a barometer measures atmospheric pressures, how we spend our money measures the condition of our heart. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). When the infamous tax collector Zacchaeus was saved, his heart attitude toward his money was drastically transformed. He immediately gave half of his money to the poor, and repaid his victims four times the amount he had stolen from them (Luke 19:1-10). Unlike Zacchaeus, the rich young ruler’s hard heart was revealed when he went away sad after Jesus commanded him to give his money away and come and follow Him (Matt 19:16-22).

Be Generous BUT Is Tithing Required?
Many of us have been raised believing that we are required to tithe, and legalistically look down on others for not regularly giving a ten percent offering into the “storehouse” (Mal 3:10).  A closer look at the New Testament will prove that tithing was an old covenant requirement for Israel. There is no command for tithing anywhere in the New Testament. Thomas Schreiner, a professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote a great article explaining seven reasons why Christians today are not required to tithe. You can read the article here (https://www NULL.thegospelcoalition NULL.org/article/7-reasons-christians-not-required-to-tithe/), but the following are his seven arguments:

1. Believers are no longer under the Mosaic Law. (Rom 6:14-15, 7:5-6, Gal 3:15-4:7, 2 Cor 3:4-18)
2. The examples of Abraham & Jacob are not normative patterns.
3. Tithes were given to the Levites & Priests, but there are no Levites and Priests in the new covenant.
4. The tithe is tied to the land of Israel received under the old covenant.
5. If tithing is required, how much should we give since old testament saints were required to give closer to 20% annually?
6. When Jesus affirmed the tithe, it was before the dawn of the new covenant.
7. Nowhere is tithing mentioned when commands to give generously are found in the New Testament.

If you would like to explore a counterargument, read the article here (https://www NULL.thegospelcoalition NULL.org/article/bible-commands-christians-to-tithe/) by William Barcley.

To Whom are We to Give?
While the New Testament doesn’t command us to tithe, it does command us to be generous. Just like God, we are to be givers. We are primarily to give to three groups:

1. We are commanded to give to destitute family members (1 Tim 5:8) including children, aged parents & grandparents, brothers & sisters (1 Tim 5:3-16). This does not include lazy, irresponsible family members who are not willing to work and squander their money on alcohol & drugs (2 Thess 3:10).
2. We are to give to our local church and other doctrinally sound ministries to support the preaching of the Word (Gal 6:6, 1 Tim 5:17-18).
3. We are to give to needy persons to help them with physical needs such as food and shelter. We should first be concerned about believers in the household of faith (Gal 6:10) and then help unbelievers as a part of our witness of the Gospel to the world.

How are We to Give?
One of the largest sections of Scripture that addresses giving is found in 2 Corinthians 8-9. Paul instructs the Corinthians on how they are to give. He uses the churches from the region of Macedonia (Thessalonica, Berea, & Philippi) as examples of how to give. The following is a list of ways we are to give from 2 Corinthians 8-9.

• We are to be motivated by God’s grace; just as God gave to us we are to give. (8:1)
• We are to be committed to give even in difficult times. (8:2)
• We are to give with joy. (8:2, 9:7)
• We are to be generous even when we are poor. (8:2, 1 Tim 6:17)
• We are to give according to our ability or as we have prospered. (8:3, 1 Cor 16:2)
• We are to give voluntarily not out of compulsion, duty or fear. (8:3)
• We are to consider our giving a privilege and an opportunity to participate in Kingdom work. (8:4)
• We are to consider our giving as worship and obedience unto God. (8:5-6)
• We are to view our giving as proof of our love for Christ, others and Kingdom work. (8:7-8, 1 Jn 4:20-21)
• We should give systematically in a pre-planned manner. (9:7, 1 Cor 16:2)
• We should give in secret to the Lord. (Matt 6:1-4)

 To listen to a sermon I recently preached on this topic, please click here (https://livestream NULL.com/EBFCStream/weekly-sunday-service-2019/videos/195191286).

Need for a Change in Attitude
Many of us are trapped in a self-absorbed mentality. We make and spend our money primarily on ourselves. But as we mature in our faith, we must take on a new change of mind. Instead of being worldly minded, we must be Kingdom minded. A change in our attitude will inevitably lead to possibly radical decisions to get out of debt in order to free up money to be used as the Lord leads. Oh may we be faithful with the use of our money!

 

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/1945-26-Bible-verses-about-the-Holy-Spirit NULL.jpg)When the disciples were troubled that Jesus was going to leave them, Jesus made a promise to them (and all future disciples) that they would not be left alone as orphans, but that the Holy Spirit was going to permanently come and be “with” them and be “in” them (Jn 14:17). This promise is a major change from the Old Covenant and describes how God works among His people in this New Covenant era. From the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) to the present day, every true believer experiences the abiding and forever presence of the third member of the Trinity. Because the Holy Spirit is not a power (like the Jehovah Witnesses claim) but the third person of the God-head being fully God, Christianity then is not simply a religion but a supernatural miracle whereby “the life of God comes to dwell in the soul of man.” This phrase was used by Henry Scougal, a Scottish minister and theologian in his wonderful book, The Life of God in the Soul of Man (https://www NULL.christianbook NULL.com/life-the-soul-man-real-religion/henry-scougal/9781781911075/pd/911075?product_redirect=1&search_term=henry%20scougal&Ntt=911075&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP) originally published in 1677 but recently republished by Sprinkle Publications in 1986. Scougal recognized that Christianity is not simply 1) theological correctness, 2) moralistic modification, or 3) affectional emotionalism (see Justin Taylor’s review (https://www NULL.thegospelcoalition NULL.org/blogs/justin-taylor/a-summary-of-henry-scougals-the-life-of-god-in-the-soul-of-man/) of the book). Christianity is not just some system of thought or behavior, but rather the very life of God indwelling the new born believer. Scougal says it this way, “True religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation of the Divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul, or in the apostle’s phrase, ‘it is Christ formed within us’” (Gal 4:19, see also 2 Peter 1:4).

Different from the Old Covenant
There is a radical discontinuity in how the Holy Spirit operated among God’s people from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. It is not true to say that the Holy Spirit never indwelt believers in the Old Testament. Joshua was “a man in whom is the Spirit” (Num 27:18). As Ezekiel prepared to confront a rebellious Israel, he also was filled with the Spirit (Ezek 2:2, 3:24). Prophets were filled along with Joseph and Daniel (Gen 41:38, Dan 4:8-9, 18, 5:11-14, 6:3). However more numerous are illustrations that the Holy Spirit did not indwell, but actually temporarily came “upon” particular leaders of Israel in order to empower them for particular works (see Moses, Num 11:17, Joshua, Deut 34:9, Gideon, Judg 6:34, Jephthah, Judg 11:29, Samson, Judg 14:6, 19, 15:14, David, 1 Sam 16:13). In summary we can conclude that the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in the Old Covenant was an infrequent, temporary indwelling that involved only selected leaders in Israel (Biblical Doctrine, John MacArthur & Richard Mayhue, pg. 367).

Do You Have the Spirit?
Rightly understanding the inhabitation of the Spirit should help us think correctly about conversion. To be “born again” (Jn 3:3-8) means that something radical has happened to us. Christianity is not just becoming religious, or believing some major doctrinal points of view. Scougal identified an important point that the 21st century church would do well in taking heed. In this age, becoming a Christian means placing your faith in Christ and, as a result, something radically supernaturally happens to you. So, the question for all of us is NOT 1) have you prayed a prayer, 2) have you walked an aisle, 3) have you been baptized, or 4) do you attend church. The doctrine of the indwelling Spirit demands that we ask “Do you have the Spirit of God living in you?” (2 Cor 13:5)

Gift of God by Faith
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God that comes by faith in Christ. Jesus was clear in John 7:37-39, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.” Paul was clear in Galatians 3:5 when he said, “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” The answer to that question is clearly faith as Paul says in the next verse that “those of faith are the sons of Abraham.” Every believer in this age who truly repents of their sin and places faith in Christ will receive the Holy Spirit. And He will indwell fully, not partially. Immediately at conversion, every believer will be baptized once and for all (Eph 4:5-6) by the Spirit creating a new union with Christ, and with the body of believers (1 Cor 12:13).

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/holy-spirit-dallas-holm NULL.jpg)Romans 8: 4 Blessings!
When the Spirit indwells us, everything changes and the believer is blessed. First, we have a new relationship with Christ and the Father. Paul says that when the Spirit inhabits us we “belong to Christ” (Rom 8:9) forever, never to be lost again (John 6:39). Furthermore, we are adopted into the family of God and are able to say “Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:15-17). So, the indwelling Spirit creates a living union with God the Father and God the Son. We become children of God whereby God the Father cares for us and we can cry out to Him. The Spirit’s indwelling guarantees that we are now a part of the family of God.

Second, we have new leadership in our lives. Paul says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom 8:14). When the Spirit invades our lives there is a new leader in charge. Since the Spirit is the one leading He leads us to love the things of God, and directs us into new paths. He changes our view of God’s commandments, whereby they are no longer burdensome, but a joy to obey. The Spirit conforms us into the image of the Son and gives us the “fruits of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22-26). The Spirit’s presence guarantees a transformation. And that transformation becomes more and more evident when we yield to the Spirit’s leadership. We are called not to be “drunk with wine” but be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). This filling is not the same as indwelling but is the response of the believer to the Holy Spirit’s leadership. Just as a hand “fills” a glove and controls it, or wind “fills” a sail and leads it, so the Holy Spirit must be yielded to in order that we might be controlled by Him. Spiritual maturity comes by learning to yield to the Holy Spirit’s new leadership in our lives.

Third, we have a new freedom from sin. Paul says, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2). The law of Christ and His will are written in our hearts empowering us “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom 8:4). So, the indwelling Spirit empowers us and frees us from the dominion of sin. This doesn’t mean that we will be perfect. In fact, our present sin will cause us to “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom 8:24). But we will see a radical difference as we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. We are called to live holy lives because we are indwelt by the Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).

Fourth, we have a new security. When the Holy Spirit resides in us we are secure forever unable to lose our salvation! God began His work in eternity past when He predestined us. And His work continues in us by guaranteeing that He will glorify those whom He predestined (Rom 8:30). The Holy Spirit’s indwelling is the “guarantee” (like a down payment) and the one who “seals” us (2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13-14) ensuring that we will ultimately be saved and secure. This is why Paul says that nothing shall be able to “separate us” from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31-39).

Walk Wise, Sing and Give Thanks
Since we have been baptized by the Spirit, we must be controlled by the Spirit. Being controlled by Him will move us to be careful how we walk in this day, not as unwise but as wise making the best use of the time because the days are evil. We must also sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father (Eph 5:14-21).

 

Jesus promised His disciples and all who would believe in Him through the corridor of time, that they would do greater works that He did (Jn 14:12). These greater works are certainly not miracles. Jesus did so many miracles that the Apostle John said there wouldn’t be enough books to contain them all (Jn 21:25). A simple survey through the book of Acts should provide enough evidence that the miracles of the Apostle were miniscule compared to the miracles that Jesus performed.

Greater Works
The greater works Jesus refers to are simply the conversion of sinners & the advancement of the Gospel & Kingdom of God. Jesus told us that we should expect to see a greater influence of the Gospel than He did. The ministry of Jesus was limited to 150 mile stretch of land known as Palestine. At the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth He had only 11 followers and they were weak at best. At the resurrection there were 120 followers. In summary the ministry of Jesus on the earth was not as extensive as one would have thought.

But everything changed when Jesus left to go to His Father. “Greater works” are inextricably linked to Jesus’ departure. When Jesus left, He promised that He would send the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit came His disciples would have power (Acts 1:8), and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the world is what guarantees “greater works.” The Holy Spirit’s role in coming into this world was to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (Jn 16:8). The Holy Spirit, who can be everywhere at one time, infiltrated the hearts of thousands of people when He came. It began on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached His first sermon and 3000 souls were pierced in their hearts & were saved. Looking over the last two millennia, it is easy to see that the Gospel has spread to every corner of the earth. The Gospel has infiltrated every ethnic group. Truly “greater works” have been accomplished through the Church in the world.

Promise of Power
How these greater works will be accomplished is a major question that Jesus explains to His disciples. The disciples were weak and without power. But when the Holy Spirit filled them, they had access to a heavenly power. Jesus tells them that to tap into this power they must simply pray “in my name.” Prayer, then, is the channel of power for the Church. Jesus said, “whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (Jn 14:13-14). This is not an open-ended promise that God’s people can ask for anything that their flesh desires (new car, new home, etc.). This promise that Jesus made is linked to the previous verse concerning greater works. The work of Jesus was to make followers of Christ and see the Kingdom of God advanced. To pray in His name means to pray in accordance with His mission and His character. It is similar to the Lord’s prayer that we pray – that our Father be “hallowed” and that his “Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:9-10). So, power to do good works comes through a dependence on God in prayer!

The Danger of Pragmatism
It is a good thing to desire to see “greater works.” As God’s people we should expect to see conversions. We should expect to see sinners coming to Christ and having their lives transformed. But in our zeal for church growth, we must not be tempted to lay down the greatest weapons that God has given the church, namely the Word of God and prayer.

The Church began to adopt a pragmatic approach to ministry over the last 50-100 years. When the church began to drop in numbers, particularly the western Church primarily began to use worldly methods in their Church growth strategy. They adopted a more pragmatic approach to ministry. Pragmatism is simply the idea that the end justifies the means. In other words, truth is determined by consequences. Whether something is right or wrong is determined primarily by the end results. When the Church did not see the results that they wanted to see, they began changing the methods in order to produce the needed results. Rick Warren, in his book Purpose Driven Church, even stated it this way, “Never criticize any method that God is blessing.” Pragmatism is typically interested in one thing, numbers and results. And the method to get those results must be good if the Church is growing.

In order to get numbers where they should be, many pastors began changing their ministry philosophy so as to make the message of the Gospel more palatable for the world. They began taking away the offense of the cross and refused to talk about sin anymore. Sermons were no longer authoritative expositions but became self-help discussions. It is obvious that this philosophy of ministry is bankrupt. It undermines sound doctrine, and faithful adherence to the mandates of Scripture. This methodology is more concerned about results than faithfulness to God. Its practice will definitely draw a crowd, but the crowd may be filled with more goats than sheep! Rather than worrying about success, pastor and churches should be concerned about faithfulness to God!

 

Faithfulness to God
John MacArthur has said to pastors many times, “You worry about the depth of your ministry and allow the Lord to take care of the breadth of your ministry.” In other words, be faithful to the mandates of Scripture, the character of God, and the pure unadulterated Gospel message. Don’t resort to gimmicks and manipulative methods to reach people! But rather trust in the sovereign Savior who said “I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18). This is even true in your family life and your job. You worry about being faithful to God and He will take care of the rest.

Not Pragmatism but Prayer
So, will we take Christ’s promises to heart? Christ promised that we would see greater works and the link to the power is not gimmicks or pragmatism, but prayer! If we want to see the power of the Holy Spirit unleashed in our midst we must pick up our greatest weapons once again. We must plug into the power of prayer! Prayer is the key to seeing power in our homes, in our families, in our church and in our community. We must be dependent on God.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/trust-god2 NULL.jpg)Understandably the disciples were overwhelmed when Jesus told them that He was going away and they could not go with Him (John 13:31-14:3). The disciples had given up their careers & devoted their lives to follow Jesus for over three years and now it appeared that Jesus was abandoning them. As a result, they were troubled, distressed, and confused. Their dreams were unraveling before their eyes.

The Cure for Anxiety: Trust in Christ!
We have all experienced trouble in our lives to the point where we have been overwhelmed and even in despair. The Christian life is not a life void of trouble. In fact, Jesus guaranteed that life would have tribulation and trouble (Jn 16:33). But in the midst of despair, Jesus commands His disciples not to let their hearts be troubled! He tells His disciples, “You trust in God, trust also in me” (Jn 14:1). Here is the cure for anxiety in our lives. Just as we trust God whom we cannot see, we must also trust in Christ! We must trust Him with our future. We must trust Him with every detail of our lives. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5). This is not a guarantee of health, wealth and prosperity. But it is a promise that He will preserve us, particularly our faith and raise us up on the last day (Jn 6:39)! Trusting in Jesus in our trouble means that we wholeheartedly believe that God is working out all of the details of our life for our good and for His glory (Rom 8:28)!

So many Christians use the world’s methods to cope with their anxiety. There are a number of options to choose from: medication, alcohol, drugs, intense counseling, etc. Some of these options are clearly bad while others can be good if used in the right manner. But first the Christian should cope with their anxiety by shoring up their minds and allowing their hearts to simply trust in Christ and His work in their lives. Christians should not be so quick to run to all other resources rather than learning first to rest in and trust their lives with the sovereign Christ! This will require much time in prayer and meditation on God’s Word. Instead of focusing so heavily on our problems, we must refocus our minds toward our Savior who says to us, “Trust me, I’ve got you in my hand. You are right where I want you!”

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/trust-god NULL.png)Opportunity to Exercise Faith
It is in trouble that Christians are given the opportunity to exercise faith. It is easy to exercise faith in the good times. But faith is proven in the bad times (James 1:2-4). Recently, one of our church members told me a story of a church which was raided in China by governmental officials. Several members including the Pastor and his wife were arrested and put into prison for over 7 months. While in the prison, the guards commented how some who were there were overwhelmed and distressed continually. But the guards also noticed how the Pastor and his wife were calm, and prison did not seem to bother them. The guard noticed that the pastor and his wife were at ease. How is it that Christians can be so calm in the midst of storms in their lives? The answer is certainly trusting in God and trusting in Christ. Christians must able to put into practice the command of Jesus, “Don’t let your heart be troubled….trust in me.” The world is watching us to see if our faith is real not only in the triumphs but also in our trouble.

Hold on to the Promises
In addition to commanding His disciples to trust in Him, Jesus gave them precious promises to believe about their future. While this earth is fleeting (James 4:14), and trouble is sure, heaven is being reserved for those who are true disciples of Christ. Jesus quickly comforted His troubling disciples by telling them that He was going away to heaven to His “Father’s house” in order to “prepare a place for [them]” (Jn 14:2). Heaven is a real place where the Father dwells. Jesus went there after His resurrection and secured a place for ALL of His disciples and He is waiting there to receive us to Himself. These promises are for us and should be the antidote for anxiety in our hearts when trouble comes.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/heaven NULL.jpeg)Meditate on Heaven
Christians ought to think and meditate on heaven on a regular basis. We are too attached to this world and the material possessions that we own. Sometimes Christians even begrudge the idea of leaving this earth and going to heaven. But this should not be. Heaven has been prepared for us and has enough room for all of us. Its beauty is described in Revelation 21 by the Apostle John. It is a beautiful place where the streets are made of gold and every beautiful crystal is used in decoration. It is a place where there is no more pain, sadness, sorrow, tears or trouble! It is a real place where we will be reunited with our loved ones. It is a place where the inhabitants will have “fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11). But the best thing about Heaven is that Jesus is there. We will see Him face to face and always be with the Lord. Martin Luther said, “I had rather be in hell with Christ, than be in heaven without him.” Heaven is heaven because Jesus is there.

Heaven is a guarantee for true believers. Meditating on heaven is one of the means God has given us to persevere in this life. When all the troubles come, our hearts should remember the promises of Jesus and long for heaven even more. The trouble and suffering on this earth are minuscule compared to the glory that awaits us in heaven (Romans 8:18). We find comfort for our weary souls when we remember that Jesus is waiting in heaven for us, praying for us to run with perseverance the race set before us (Heb 7:25).

Learn to Rest & NOT be Stirred Up
Learning to rest in the Lord is a lifelong journey. When we are young in the faith, trouble quickly overtakes us. But as we grow in the Lord along life’s journey, we begin to see the hand of God in our lives and learn to rest in Him. This is the grace of God that helps mature us all. Trouble is that sandpaper that rubs all the rough edges off of us and is used by God to conform us into the image of Jesus. Resting in the Lord means “Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Instead of holding on to all your troubles, we must cast them before our Savior who loves us and cares for us.

 

 

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/no-bath2 NULL.png)

Jesus was the greatest teacher of all time. His methods of teaching were so effective because He was able to use simple real-life common activities and events to explain profound and complex theological truths. In the last hours of His life during the Last Supper, Jesus rose to wash his disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). This was an incredible act of love as the worthy one served the unworthy ones. During this act of service Jesus explains to Peter the great truths of salvation in a way that even children can understand.

Jesus Came to Serve by Washing Us!
At first Peter was hesitant to allow Jesus to serve him. Maybe it was out of humility that Peter refused, but more likely it was a result of Peter’s pride. Certainly, Peter understood that Jesus was the Son of God. When asked by Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter said clearly, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Peter understood clearly that Jesus was no mere man and that he was a “sinful man” (Luke 5:8). When it came time for Jesus to wash his feet, Peter knew that this was a task reserved for slaves and he quickly opposed Jesus. But Peter did not rightly understand what the Son of Man came to do. Jesus humbled himself and took on human flesh in order that He might serve His people (Philippians 2:6-8). He laid aside His divine rights as He left heaven and came to serve and “give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus was clearly illustrating not with words but with actions that He must serve them (John 10:11).

And the service that Jesus came to do was to “wash us.” The work of Jesus on the cross was a service of cleansing, not from dirt and grime, but from the filth of sin. When Peter opposed Jesus, Jesus made it very clear to Peter and all of us the consequences of rejecting His ministry. Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (Jn 13:8). Jesus uses the physical washing to illustrate a spiritual truth. Rejecting Jesus’ ministry of cleansing is an outright rejection of Christ. Jesus is saying clearly that there is no other way to be saved. Jesus has the exclusive rights of spiritual cleansing. There is no other way to be cleansed. In fact you cannot even wash yourself! So many people are trying to clean up their own lives by the way the live. It is impossible to do so! There has to be a cleansing that comes from outside of us. Only the work of Christ is capable of washing away our sin (Hebrews 10:4, 10-14).

Many Will Refuse to be Washed
Sadly, most will not allow Jesus to wash them because of the pride in their hearts. It is a humiliating thing to have to admit that washing is needed. But because we are sinners and live in this filthy world, we need someone to wash us. Salvation is available only to those who are humble enough to cry out for mercy and ask Jesus to wash them (Luke 18:9-14).

Good News: Believers Only Need One Bath
When Jesus chided Peter, Peter responded with a willing heart, but with a misinformed mind. Peter tells Jesus not just to wash his feet, but also his hands and his head (v. 9) indicating that he had not fully understood the work of salvation. Jesus clears up the issue by telling Peter the wonderful good news that true believers don’t need a second bath. He says to Peter, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” It is certain that Peter didn’t understand the full implication of what Jesus was telling him. But in short, Jesus was saying that Peter had already been saved. And once he was saved there was no need for further bathing. The bath of salvation for true believers is a one-time event, never to be repeated again.

Understanding Regeneration & Justification
Jesus is explaining, in parable form, the doctrine of regeneration and justification. When a sinner puts his faith in Christ, he experiences the “washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom [God] poured out on us rightly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5). In a word, the first bath Christians ever have is the bath of being “born again.” And as a result, God justifies us, not by our works but by our faith (Romans 5:1). So, when Jesus tells Peter that he and the other disciples (except for Judas) are “completely clean” He is assuring them of their salvation. This event would never take place again! It was complete and finished.

Eternal Security
Can you imagine Jesus telling you that you are completely clean? This is a phenomenal statement that describes eternal security. Jesus knew that Peter was going to deny Him three times in just a few hours. Jesus knew that all of the other disciples were going to abandon Him in His greatest hour. Jesus knew that Thomas was going to doubt His resurrection. And yet, Jesus gives them all this wonderful affirmation that they had been cleansed. This cleansing was not based upon their work, but the work of Christ. He had chosen them and they were His sheep and no one could pluck them out of His hand (Jn 10:27-30). He promised to raise them up on the last day (Jn 6:39-40). Being “washed” by Jesus guarantees a person’s eternal destiny.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/dirty-feet NULL.jpg)Continual Feet Washing: Ongoing Sanctification
Jesus continues to teach the disciples and us that though we are clean (justification) there is still an ongoing daily cleansing (sanctification) that is necessary. Jesus tells Peter, “the one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet” (v. 10). In the days of Jesus, people wore open toed sandals and their feet were continually in need of washing especially when a house was entered. Their bodies were clean but their feet needed cleansing on a regular basis. While justification is a one-time event never to happen again for the believer, the process of sanctification is an ongoing lifetime process that never ends until the believer reaches heaven.

Washing our feet daily is not necessary to maintain our legal standing with God, but it is necessary to maintain our fellowship with God. Once we are adopted into the family of God there is nothing that can change our position. Once we are children of God we will never be lost. But as children of God we should desire to remain faithful and holy to the Lord. Inevitably, whether intentionally or accidentally, we are going to get our feet dirty with sin from this world. In order to have our feet washed we must “confess our sins” knowing that “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This is the prayer of daily cleansing (NOT a prayer to be saved all over again). Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s Prayer that we are to ask God to “give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). This is not a daily prayer for justification, but a daily prayer for sanctification. We must make daily cleansing a routine practice in our lives, confessing our sins daily so that we will not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30, 1 Thess 5:19)

Great Comfort
When we understand the simple teaching of Jesus it ought to bring us incredible comfort. As believers we have been completely washed, but this does not mean that we will be without sin (1 Jn 1:8). If we have been washed we will continually battle against becoming dirty. Having been washed we will desire to strive toward holiness. In fact, the mark of a true Christian is that they do not continue to practice sin (1 Jn 3:9-10). But when we do sin, we can be comforted to know that we have been washed and nothing can change our position. This should motivate us to strive to keep our feet as clean as possible in this world as we march toward Zion, the beautiful city of God.

 

Growing up in our Wednesday night program at the First Baptist Church in Guymon, Oklahoma, I was an “RA” or “Royal Ambassador” from grades 1-6. The program was our children’s discipleship program and I can still quote our motto to this day. The motto goes like this: (http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/RA-logo NULL.jpg)

“As a Royal Ambassador I will do my best to become a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ, to have a Christ-like concern for all people, to learn how to carry the message of Christ around the world, to work with others in sharing Christ and to keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body.”

This vision comes directly from what the Apostle Paul teaches that every true believer has be entrusted with the “message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20). When anyone is saved and reconciled to God, they are no longer citizens of this world, but children of the Kingdom of light (Col 1:13), and citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20). As a result, God makes us ambassadors. This is a great word which describes our new position in this world. An ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.” Since our new home is in heaven, we actually currently live in a foreign land that is not our home (Heb 11:16). God leaves us here to be His official representatives and spokesmen.

Our Hearts Must be Right
Living like an ambassador requires having our hearts in the right place. If we were all honest this is a major battle within us. We must change the way we think about this life we live here and now. We typically want to do what we want to do, go where we want to go, eat what we want to eat…..you get the idea. But as ambassadors we are no longer our own. The struggle is that we want to live as though we are the king of our own lives. We want to live as though this world is our own little kingdom. But as believers we are not the king of our own lives, but are sent here to honor the true King of Kings, who bought us with His own blood. We are called daily to “set our minds on things above” (Col 3:1). We must keep the right mindset or we will tragically live like this world is our home.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ambassadors-quote2 NULL.png)Giving up Trinkets for Real Treasure
As ambassadors we understand that we are going to give up much in this life. But having the right mindset will help us! We look around and see all of the nice things that this life offers, and we struggle. But we must remember that these things are nothing but trinkets compared to the treasure that is awaiting us in heaven. We have an imperishable inheritance that is being stored up for us (1 Peter 1:4). As ambassadors then, we must live life loosely on this earth. We must remember that the pleasures of this world are simply trinkets compared to what is waiting for us in heaven. We must strive not to “love this world or the things in the world” (1 Jn 2:15). It doesn’t mean that we don’t enjoy our time here and the blessings God has given us. But it does mean that we keep the right perspective and remember that we are just passing through, and that the King is going to come back and get us and take us to be with Him in a mansion that He has built for us (John 14:1-4).

Representing the King
Furthermore, being an ambassador means that we actually represent the one who sent us. The way we conduct our time in the foreign land reflects upon our home country and King. There are rumblings (https://www NULL.dailywire NULL.com/news/45035/calls-grow-remove-obamas-us-ambassador-ukraine-ryan-saavedra) that the current US ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, may be removed from her post for dishonoring the current administration with her words. The lives and words of ambassadors are important and reflect those who sent them. In the same way we are to live our lives in a way that honors our King Jesus. As the motto of RAs says, we must strive to “keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body” for the sake of bringing glory to our Lord (1 Cor 10:31).

But Most Importantly
But more than anything, as ambassadors we are called to speak on behalf of the one who sent us. Paul makes this clear when He says that God is actually “making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20). It isn’t enough simply to live a good holy life for the King in the foreign land. We are also called to promote His agenda, advance His directives, speak loudly His message to the people around us. This means that we must know the message well. No good ambassador is ignorant of the agenda. And the agenda is clearly stated that we are left in order that we might “implore [everyone] on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

We have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, namely that God is reconciling the world through His Son Jesus Christ. Every human being is at enmity with God because of their sinful nature. But through the blood of Jesus alone, that broken relationship can be reconciled whereby God can now call sinners his friends (Jn 14:15, Rom 5:7-8). Christ died so that sinners could be made “new creations” and not have their “trespasses counted against them.” Why would we hoard or hide the message? We must speak it on a regular basis to all who come into our path.

Are You a Good Ambassador?
To live as the best ambassador for Christ we must quit compartmentalizing our lives. We must consider ourselves as incarnational, that is that we are “little Christs” walking on this earth. We must represent Him and speak on His behalf every chance we get. We never take a break or a vacation. Since we have been entrusted with the “good news” of reconciliation, we must continually be looking for opportunities to speak with those in this foreign land, never forgetting our mission. Every moment we live and move should be to represent the King not only in deed, but most importantly in word!

Are you a Royal Ambassador? Are you doing your best to be a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ? Do you have a Christ-like concern for all people? Are you learning how to carry the message of Christ wherever you go? Are you keeping yourself clean and healthy in mind and body?

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/joseph-d-mello-618929-unsplash-e1537997446881 NULL.jpg)A young woman came into my office several years ago and conveyed to me that she had never been a part of a healthy church. Her father was a pastor and was mistreated and disrespected. She saw “church people” act very self-centered. She had come to the place where she never wanted to go to church again. She had never experienced strong biblical loving leadership and a congregation that honored and respected their pastors. Unhealthy churches can not only be stressful and unpleasant, but worst of all they dishonor the Lord and give a bad witness to the world. The Apostle Paul closes his letter to the Thessalonians and gives them instructions on how to cultivate a healthy church. His first and primary concern was to describe the expectations and responsibilities of how a pastor is to relate to the congregation and how the congregation is to relate to the pastors. Paul writes:

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

The Shepherd’s Responsibility
The Shepherd Pastor is called by God to care for the sheep of the congregation. He has three responsibilities in his calling. He is responsible to 1) labor, 2) oversee, and 3) admonish the congregation.

Labor: The pastors and elder leaders of the church are called to labor diligently. The word here for labor describes great effort and exertion to the point of sweat and exhaustion. Contrary to what some jokingly say, the pastor must work more than “one day a week.” He is responsible for preaching, teaching, caring, admonishing, counseling and so much more. The pastor has a high calling to diligently minister in the church and work hard (acts 20:18-20). Every pastor must have a servant’s heart ready to pour out his life night and day for the sake of the Gospel (1 Thess 2:9).

Oversee: The pastors and elders also have the responsibility to oversee the congregation and the ministry. Paul says they are “over you in the Lord.” The New American Standard translates that phrase “have charge over.” According to God’s design, the pastor has authority in the church to preside, lead or direct the ministries in the way he sees will best accomplish the mission of the church. This does not mean he can do whatever he wants or fulfill his every preference. But the pastors and elders stand in the place of the Good Shepherd and must act as faithful representatives. This is what it means to be over others “in the Lord.” The authority of the pastor is not self-proclaimed. He only has the authority to lead as the Word of God directs.

Admonish: Shepherds are also called to admonish, or give instruction, to the congregation. This instruction is given for the purpose of correcting, and sometimes warning people (Tit 1:9). It is not popular today, but the pastor must speak directly and frankly with those in his congregation. Since he loves his congregation, he should admonish them to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. He must speak “thus sayeth the Lord” and if he is a good shepherd will always point his congregation back to the Word of God exhorting them not to obey him, but rather to obey the Lord.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/love-pastors NULL.png)The Sheep’s Responsibility
The sheep, or congregation, also have responsibilities in the church designed by God. They are called by God to relate to their pastors and elders in a particular manner that would bring honor to the Lord. They have three responsibilities toward their leaders: 1) respect their leaders, 2) esteem their leaders, and 3) submit to and be at peace with their leaders.

Respect: The congregation is called to understand clearly what God expects of their pastors and as a result they are to respect them. This means that they are to appreciate that God has given them a real human shepherd to watch over and care for their souls (Heb 13:17). Respect should extend to attitudes and words spoken. It is common for people to be unkind, critical, or indifferent toward their pastors. This is not honoring to the Lord.

Esteem: The sheep are also to “esteem them highly in love because of their work.” The congregation must have a loving attitude toward all their pastors. They must keep in mind what work they have been called to do. This might mean overlooking some of your pastors’ shortcomings (not sins). Pastors are not perfect and are also on the journey of sanctification, just like the congregation.

Submit & Be at Peace: The third responsibility of the congregation is to submit to and be at peace with church leaders. Since the pastors are “overseers” and have authority, the congregation must be willing to submit and be peaceable. Being peaceable with your leaders means that the congregation is quick to eliminate conflict, strife, and discord and promote harmony so that the church can be effective in fulfilling its mission.

Promoting a Healthy Church
We all desire to have a healthy church. An unhealthy church is a black eye to the glory of the Lord and brings shame on the Gospel. We can be sure that Satan desires more than anything to destroy the Church. He will attempt to put animosity between church leaders and the congregation. The responsibilities that God has given both to pastors and the congregation are difficult. Without the power of the Holy Spirit and much prayer, it would be impossible to accomplish our Lord’s directives. We must all be aware of what the Lord expects of each of us and encourage one another for the Lord’s sake. Let us pray that God would continue to keep our church healthy and strong. I’m thankful for such a wonderful congregation here at Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church who continually “highly esteems” their pastors and elders. Please pray for us as pastors and elders that we will be faithful to our calling. We will pray for you as well.