Random Thoughts about Freedom and Free Things

Posted on July 7, 2014 by suemariericker

I think most people are familiar with the concept (though I probably have the phrasing wrong) that nothing is ever completely free—there is always a price for someone to pay, and frequently it is that person who thinks they are scoring something for free, though the price may have nothing to do with money.

Although our salvation free, it came at a heavy cost to the Son of God – “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us….Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Romans 5:8, 18).

Jesus offers a freedom that no nation in this world can offer, for “if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).

Here is something else to remember about our freedom in Christ:  “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:17, 18).  I love this promise because it confirms that the godly changes we need in our lives do not come from obeying laws but by beholding Jesus; also implied here is that the things which capture our attentions, affect our lives.

1 Corinthians 12 reminds us that God gives diverse gifts of the Holy Spirit for the benefit of all; and Paul assures us that “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).  The eleventh chapter of Hebrews reminds us, though; that faith in Jesus sometimes comes with a deep cost—and many Christians experiencing persecution right now are able to testify to that fact.

Jesus taught, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?…So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27-30, 33).  As I read this scripture, it struck me that Jesus did not say that those who do not forsake all would be lost; yet, they would forfeit that special relationship between a teacher and His disciple.

The defining characteristic of discipleship is having our attention and affections fixed on Jesus above all else—the outflow of discipleship is (powerful!) ministry.  Luke records, “Then He [Jesus] called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.  He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1, 2).  As Jesus was about to ascend into heaven, He promised, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  The Holy Spirit power that was available to Jesus’ disciples long ago is available for His disciples today, to testify of our Savior’s redemptive power.

So, I’ve been thinking about some ministries lately—a couple of ones that I’m familiar with, but I am sure there are others—whose purposes are to train people for specific spiritual warfare or healing ministries.  As one who is a bit “financially challenged”, the cost of these workshops or training sessions have touched a nerve in me.  The phrase “the gospel for sale” comes to mind…  Also, in my way of thinking anyway, their marketing strategies promote sort of an exclusivity of ministry for those who (pay to) attend their workshops.  I am not saying this is true, it is just how I perceive them.

Because of this, my thoughts have wandered to the story of Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8, who believed in Jesus through Philip’s teaching and was baptized; yet when he saw the amazing work of the Holy Spirit through the apostles, he wanted that power.  “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’  But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!’” (Acts 8:18-20).

There are no shortcuts in discipleship – if someone is presenting a technique or formula for ministry that is not Biblically sound, we need to run away from it.  …and the only way we will recognize the difference is if we study God’s Word, our source for truth and training.  We have this assurance that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

The apostle Paul also taught, “And He Himself [Jesus] gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:11, 12).  Our churches need to be resources for teaching God’s Word and training disciples to be ministers of God’s amazing grace and salvation—and many of them are, providing opportunities for ministry and mission trips.  …and our most important mission fields are our families and the communities where we live.

I am learning that I do not need to pay money for the things God freely gives—but that does not mean that there isn’t a cost to following Jesus and testifying of His love and power.  But He is SOOOOO worth it!

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What Do You See?

Posted on July 1, 2014 by suemariericker

The citizens of ancient Israel had some serious problems with their decision-making practices, particularly when it came to allegiances and priorities.  I cannot say which came first, the idolatry or mercilessness, but they seemed to go hand in hand.  Idols snatched their hearts away from God, while greed and discrimination towards the weak and vulnerable became rampant.  Jeremiah confirmed this when he wrote, “Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel.  Thus says the Lord:  ‘What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, have followed idols, and have become idolaters?’” (Jeremiah 2:4, 5).

Jeremiah also prophesied, “…‘For I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitant of the land,’ says the Lord.  ‘Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely” (Jeremiah 6:12, 13).  Ezekiel also confirms, “The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.  So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:29, 30).

This past Wednesday evening, we had a guest speaker at church (Bill Wilson, founder of the ministry, MetroWorld Child) who challenged us about the way we look at people, children in particular.  He presented a few disturbing slides of children with horrific facial tumors and asked us what we saw when we looked at these pictures.  I can only share with you how these pictures and his message affected me, and I am still experiencing aftershocks from the service.  When I looked at those pictures I saw desperate situations and was grateful that they were not mine; I saw impossibilities, I saw hopelessness, I saw disease, I saw poverty, but I did not see souls, precious in the sight of God—who Jesus died for because He loves them so very much.

…which is why my thoughts have been wandering towards the spiritual collapse of the children of Israel in the Old Testament, and the book of James in the New Testament.  “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).  “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality….If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors….For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:1, 8-9, 13).

“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” (James 2:15, 16).

I am struggling to know how to write this, acknowledging that no condemnation exists for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1); yet I also recognize my own vision deficiency when it comes to broken people.  How do we as Christians view the impoverished?  …or perceive street gangs, read about the persecution of children by Boko Haram in Nigeria, view pictures of starving children (or do we avoid them as was my inclination in response to the pictures we were shown last week).  What is our response when we read about the children, illegal aliens, crossing the border into the United States, or attempt to grasp the extent of persecution rampant throughout the world?  I recognize that it is easy to see the many and overlook the one. …and how do we recognize and avoid the subtle, self-righteous attitudes of “I’m glad I don’t live there”, “I’m better than that”, “I’m stronger than that”, “God has blessed me because I was born here” or “I have worked hard for all that I have”—or identifying those who are law breakers without recognizing how frequently we break God’s laws to love Him with all our hearts, our minds, our souls, our strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

This is not a political post nor a statement in defense of any political position; instead, my intent is to challenge the way we see others—because Jesus calls all of His followers to be involved in the lives of the weak and vulnerable.  “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Matthew 25:37-40).

I confess that often I am so overwhelmed by the extent of suffering in this world that it is easy to close the blinds and lock the door of my heart to those who are hungry.   Or thirsty.  Or strangers in this land.  Or naked.  Or sick.  Or in prison.  Or persecuted.  Or abused.  Or abandoned.  Yet for God’s people, these challenges are opportunities for service to “the least of these”—beginning with intercession, being one who is willing to stand in the gap for this land and for the oppressed all over the world. 

It is so easy to look at my finances and my circumstances and say, “there really is nothing I can do” and overlook the most effective thing I can do—pray.  Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers.  Pray, “Lord send me”.  Ask Him what I can do.  And be willing to obey when He says, “teach Sunday school”, or spend time listening to a child, or a friend.  …to write a message of encouragement to someone or send a gift through Voice of the Martyrs to a persecuted Christian in a restricted country.  …or sponsor a child through MetroWorld Child.  God is our Creator and He will create opportunities for us to touch the lives of others if we are willing and available.

Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord—we love you because you first loved us; we want to see you, we want to see others through your eyes, and we want to serve you.

 

Blessed is he who considers the poor;

The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive,

And he will be blessed on the earth;

You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.

The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness;

You will sustain him on his sickbed.

Psalm 41:1-3

 

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“But James Says…!”

Posted on June 28, 2014 by suemariericker

Because I have a “been there, done that” relationship with legalism, I know that those who feel compelled to promote a particular doctrine or denomination love the book of James—at least a few verses in that book.  For instance:  “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves….But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:22, 25); or, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can that faith save him?…But someone will say ‘You have faith and I have works.’  Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  You believe that God is one; you do well.  Even the demons believe—and shudder!…For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:14, 18-19, 26).

Many use these verses to support their particular doctrine or tenet, as well as to counteract what one might consider an inordinate amount of grace, about which the apostle Paul seems to write.  Yet there is no contradiction between these two apostolic writers.  For instance:

  • James wrote: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…”, and Paul writes, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart…” (Ephesians 5:15-19).
  • James instructs: “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing”, and Paul writes, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1-4).
  • James sounds fairly severe when he writes “faith without works is dead”, yet Paul affirms, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12, 13). Though “fear and trembling” may imply uncertainty or insecurity, Paul also instructs the Philippian Christians “do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6), and he began his letter by acknowledging, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

 

I am aware of people who completely avoid the book of James because of the tactics and abuses of some who use these verses to promote a particular dogma; sadly, they are missing out on an amazing handbook for Christian life.  Listen to the practicality of these verses:

  • “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (1:5, 6).
  • “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (1:12).
  • “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (1:19, 20).
  • “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and windows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (1:26, 27).
  • “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (5:7, 8).

We are in the midst of intense spiritual battle and Paul reminds us that God gave the apostles (and prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers) to equip the saints for the works of the ministry, to build up the body of Christ—to attain “to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:13, 14).  Many of us have experienced first-hand the bending and twisting of scripture to form compelling doctrines; however, it is important that we do not avoid scriptures that make us uncomfortable—rather, that we spend time in prayer and study of God’s Word, with the empowering, enlightening Holy Spirit instructing us and guiding our understanding.

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Afraid of Grace!

Posted on June 25, 2014 by suemariericker

I’ve been thinking about a couple of things I wrote in my last post, which I don’t want to correct, per se; rather, I want to expand those thoughts.  I made a comment that Satan   and his cohorts don’t show up at our front doors, (identify themselves), and offer a portfolio of demonic doctrines and faulty teachings for us to choose from, that he is much more subtle.  That is not to say that people are not going door to door pedaling the enemy’s lies.  However, it is only as we as we search Scripture, and surrender our lives to the indwelling Holy Spirit and allow Him to instruct us, that we can establish a strong basis for our faith, set up a perimeter of truth around our minds, and build a defense for our hearts.

Demonic strategies work to undermine, with “plausible arguments”, the authority and identity of Jesus, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge….For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:3, 9-10).  Jesus is not a created being, He is not an angel, He is not Michael the archangel; rather, He is the Creator—“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16).

The enemy also takes fiendish delight in undermining our confidence in the finished work of Jesus.  For many years I had a sense of insecurity about my salvation and an overriding fear that I might be overlooking some sin—I knew that Jesus saved me, yet there was this nagging little voice telling me that I needed to be better and do more for God to be truly happy with me.  The saving grace of God was downright incomprehensible and His mercy was unfathomable.

The grace of God is a scary thing for many people—they cannot speak of grace without inserting a caveat to protect it from abuse; however, the Bible teaches that, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9, 10).  Only demonic doctrines teach that it is wrong to say you are saved, or that believing and confessing is not enough.  From the mouth of our Savior comes these words:  “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (John 6:29).

But *gasp* what if people go crazy with grace and do all sorts of bad things?  That question presumes both that people want to go wild, and that the Holy Spirit is incapable of causing us to “will and work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).  As humans, we have an innate propensity to take on the responsibility for our healing and regeneration that God intends to do Himself—and our work is flawed, because, it is based on human endeavor and understanding.  “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasure, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:3-7).

The other comment I made in my last post that one could possibly have a, “no, they couldn’t be!” response to, was this:  “If we recognize the authority of Christ, and by faith have received Jesus’ generous gift of salvation, subtle deceptions will not take that away; however, it will affect our freedom in Christ, how we relate to others, and the message we communicate through our life story to the world around us.”  I write this from experience.  There was a time in my life when I turned away from God, believed a lie and did things I should not have done; there was also a time when I thought that I was responsible for my regeneration, and times when I thought my salvation rested on my actions—those actions and beliefs affected my relationship with Him but not the fact that I belonged to Him.

It is good to know that our salvation is not an on again, off again contract—we, like sheep tend to go astray, yet Jesus promises, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29).  When we begin to grasp all that Christ has accomplished on our behalf, there is no doubt that our spirits will soar with praise to Almighty God—the Son has made us free and we are free indeed!  …and when anything besides Christ, Him crucified and raised to life, becomes our story, then the message we are communicating is not truly the gospel.

 

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father;

We are the clay, and you are our potter;

We are all the work of your hand.”

(Isaiah 64:8)

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Spiritual Abduction

Posted on June 20, 2014 by suemariericker

Our pastor is teaching a series through the book of Colossians and the verses he spoke on this past Sunday highlighted in my heart the insidiousness of errant teachings and beliefs.  I can’t explain why, when I read the phrase, “see to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit…” (Colossians 2:8), it doesn’t have quite the same effect as “spiritual abduction”, yet both communicate the same problem—bondage to lies.

In light of some of the highly public “departures from the faith” lately, I’ve been thinking about twisted teachings and deceptive spirits, and Jesus’ admonition that “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24); and the apostle Paul’s words to Timothy, “the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared…”  (1 Timothy 4:1, 2).  Peter also warns, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2 Peter 2:1, 2).

Whoever in the world would choose to be deceived?  Who in their right mind chooses captivity over freedom?  That is the crazy part about deception—people who are living it do not recognize the control it has over them!  Satan and his cohorts do not come to our front door in a business suit (or in a red suit with a pointy tail and horns), ring the bell, and offer us a portfolio of demonic doctrines, faulty teachings, or misguided perceptions for us to choose from; rather, he sneaks around, using subtlety to trap us—that is the nature of deception.

I think one of the enemy’s sneakiest deceptions (I don’t know if there is an official list of sneakiness somewhere, this is just my opinion) is the perception that we are better than we actually are, particularly when it comes to comparing ourselves to others (which we are not supposed to do, but somehow there seems to be a little comparison button in our minds that demons like to push).  Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church, “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves.  But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding” (1 Corinthians 10:12).  And to the church at Rome, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3).

I do think it interesting that we are more inclined to compare ourselves with “less than” people (in our opinion) rather than those we consider “greater than”—either way, comparison is not God ordained.

Here is one of the most insidious ones that I have struggled with most of my life, society resoundingly supports, and religion hops on board to lend hearty “amen”!  Personal appearance in regards to weight.  I have heard it taught that being overweight is gluttony and gluttony is sin – implying that overweight people are sinful, and really overweight people are really sinful!  However, this reasoning does not provide a view into a person’s heart or take into account what God may be doing in one’s life.  And it doesn’t take into account Jesus’ teaching that “it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11). …or Paul’s instruction, “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—‘Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’ (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:20-23).

Another area of judgment we so readily fall into is regarding the employed, under-employed, or unemployed—it is so easy to come up looking pretty good when we have a reliable income!

The deception of self-righteousness sets up a scale (or law) where we come out looking either good or looking bad—and if we look bad then we choose to compare ourselves to those who will make us look good.  It is easy to forget that I am a wretched sinner, even in the strong areas of my life.  “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out….Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:18, 24-25).

The danger of “personal strengths” is that it we can develop a certain smugness about ourselves where Christ-sufficiency becomes self-sufficiency—causing our strengths to become our weaknesses.  And our weak spots are really our strengths because we rely on God’s strength; or as Paul so accurately states, “But he [the Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10).

It should come as no surprise that spiritual captivity and deception lie where we least expect them.  However, our best defense is the Truth, found in Jesus (John 14:6), and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

If we recognize the authority of Christ, and by faith have received Jesus’ generous gift of salvation, subtle deceptions will not take that away; however, it will affect our freedom in Christ, how we relate to others, and the message we communicate through our life story to the world around us.

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Sometimes I Just Don’t Get It!

Posted on June 13, 2014 by suemariericker

I was brought up in one of those “Jesus + ….. = Salvation” churches, and lest you consider any one particular denomination maintaining a corner on that market – they do not!  A phrase echoes in my heart from a popular animated movie (that I have watched many times with my granddaughter)—“Let it Go!”  …and it reminds me just how difficult it is to Let It Go! …particularly when it comes to adding to the requirements of salvation.

Fear of failure is so deeply ingrained within our very beings, that it seems we can’t be without a moral measure to assess our performance—and there is a measure called the law, yet if we just go by appearances, some of us come out looking pretty good.  I admit that in the past I was quite a manic-depressive Christian.  I recognize that the correct terminology for that condition is bi-polar, but that doesn’t quite project the same image as manic-depressive.  When I considered myself to be doing pretty well legally (in regards to religious requirements), I was a pretty happy Christian.  When things didn’t look so good as far as activities of devotion, or I recognized an internal imperfection (they are there though I usually choose to ignore them), I became depressed—as if my salvation depended upon me!

Over time my emotions have stabilized as I have grown in the knowledge and understanding of the cross and Christ’s resurrection.  Slowly I have begun to “get it” when it comes to the difference between my righteousness and the righteousness of Christ.  The prophet Isaiah so precisely describes our human condition:  “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

Scriptures give us some amazing instances of human righteousness exhibited through the religious observances and attitudes of the Pharisees, as well as the life of Saul before he became the dynamic apostle Paul—Jesus referred to them as “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.  Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27, 28).

God gives us a window into His value system through the selection of David as king of Israel, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).  Jesus clarifies, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:20-23).

As quick as we may be to deny the condition of our heart, it is best to agree with God who speaks through the prophet Jeremiah, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)—often we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are doing pretty good when in fact, if we are depending on our own righteousness, we are in trouble!

That is my introduction—Bad News! …however, that bad news makes the good news so much more extreme.  …which is why sometimes I just do not get it!  We are saved through God’s mercy, not our works of righteousness—“through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5), we are justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law (Galatians 2:16), and we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Nothing that can separate me from God’s love, even when I am having a bad attitude day – “If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies.  Who is he who condemns?  It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:31-35, 37-39).  People are the ones who put limitations and exclusions on God’s love, not Him; and the biggest problem with the exclusions pronounced by humans is that they are “rules” based and not Spirit-led.

Paul writes this precious promise to the church in Corinth:  “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17)—and happily, the same Holy Spirit who was at work in the creation of the world, when God spoke this planet, and the universe into existence, is the same Spirit at work in our hearts forming us into new creations!  “In Him [Jesus] you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13, 14).  Our redemption is about His work for His glory—not our work, for our glory!

Once we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we can do nothing to “set the hook” of our salvation—it is finished.

He said so on Calvary.

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Called By God

Posted on June 6, 2014 by suemariericker

It is incredibly amazing that, in Jesus, there are no “less than” or “greater than” believers, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23, 24).  In fact, to our human reasoning everything is upside down!  “He who is the greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11, 12).

And the apostle Paul, writing about spiritual gifts in his letters to the Corinthian church wrote, “…those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.  And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor….But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:22, 24-25).

As important as it is to accept that we have a kingdom destiny and purpose within the body of Christ, that is not our only “calling”.  As I was searching for these verses for my last post, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1: 8, 9), I discovered that our gifting and calling to ministry is one of a number of callings, and very possibly not the most important one!

We are called Jesus’ friends:

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…” (John 15:15, 16).

Although Paul addresses the book of Romans to a specific church, this message is for all Christians—called of Jesus Christ, called to be saints:

“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints” (Romans 1:6,  7).

We are called His people, beloved, and sons of the living God:

“I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.  And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God” (Romans 9:25, 26).

We are called into fellowship with Jesus:

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

We are called to liberty!

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:13, 14).

The gospel calls us to salvation, sanctification by the Spirit, and belief:

“Because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14).

We are called to eternal life:

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called…” (1 Timothy 6:12).

We are called to live exceptional lives:

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.  For

‘He who would love life

And see good days,

Let him refrain his tongue from evil,

And his lips from speaking deceit.

Let him turn away from evil and do good;

Let him seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their prayers;

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’”

(1 Peter 3:8-12)

May we all walk in the knowledge, the grace, and every calling of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

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Can I Help?

Posted on June 2, 2014 by suemariericker

My 3-year old granddaughter is a happy little character, eager to help when I’m cooking or doing some other household chores.  I know that it would be so much easier to just clean the floor or cook the meal without her “help”, but I also recognize the importance of welcoming her assistance while she actively learns to participate in life around the home.  As I guide her not so coordinated little hands or bite my tongue when she, in her enthusiasm, spills the milk, I cannot help but think about our heavenly Father’s response to our eager but unrefined offers to “help”.

GetAttachmentEugenie loves to help—she doesn’t offer in order to get us to love her more, to get respect, or to earn favors—she is just a very loved, little bundle of energy who wants to be a part of the activities of our home.  We are still working on the picking up toys part of responsibility, but she is willing to do that, particularly when we lend a helping hand.  Her desire to participate in family life by helping out reminds me of some of my experiences as I have journeyed through life—particularly my eagerness to help and a desire to be involved in ministry in some capacity.  I encountered several different kinds of responses to my eagerness throughout the years, even some disheartening ones.

Sometime after that initial excitement and anticipation of being actively involved in ministry, sometime after the disappointments, the joy of service gradually became a sense of duty—and disappointment led into questioning whether I had any sort of calling or purpose within the body of Christ.  Ministry took on shades of obligation, giving became something required, and the most exciting opportunities appeared to be available only to those who were more esteemed, more qualified, or could afford to participate.

Now I am no authority on the tactics of the enemy; anyone of us can read about some of his strategies in the Bible, though.  I know he casts doubt on God’s Word and twists it for His own purposes—both Eve’s encounter with Satan in the garden and Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness give us some great insight into his intentions.  Clearly, demons do not want us to fulfill our created purpose or experience our divine destiny, so they attempt to refocus our attentions from the Savior onto our circumstances and ourselves.  I am also convinced that Satan knows the Scriptures much better than most Christians and is able to manipulate them, and us, in ways to render us quite ineffective—that is, if we are not watchful, remembering our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Our childlike desire to “help” is God-initiated because it is He who works in us “both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13)—He gifts us and guides our hands to fulfill His purposes.  Yet it is possible for Satan and his cohorts to sidetrack and incapacitate us; and if we allow pride, fear, or insecurity to affect our relationship with God and others, the enemy is able to render us quite fruitless.

I’ve been struggling with writing this blog – I had a direction I thought I wanted to go with it, but the words just did not come.  I wanted to follow the thought that everyone is gifted by the Holy Spirit—“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).  …or to remind us that we each have a holy calling:  “Our Lord…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9).

Instead, I am reminded of Christ’s warning to the church at Ephesus in the book of Revelation:  “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first” (Revelation 2:4, 5).  The interesting thing is that, as I recall past teachings on that verse, “do the works” was the emphasis, and not “you have abandoned the love you had at first”.  Looking back at Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, this is what he wrote:  “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked….But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:1, 4-10).

When our focus slips away from the mercy, love, grace, and kindness of God onto a works-based relationship with Him, it is only natural that the excitement and spontaneity that accompanies “first love” slips away, also.

This is where is ultimately wanted to go with this post:  We are in the midst of intense spiritual warfare and when the enemy can distract us from the pure gospel of Christ, our position in God’s kingdom, and unabashed love for our Savior and His people, then he is buying time for himself.  We have Jesus’ assurance that “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).  Now is the time to step away from echoing the accusations and condemnation of the enemy, from the religious traps that so easily snare us, and from the enticements of this world—back into excitement for the good news of the gospel and uninhibited love of our Savior.

 

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Indifference

Posted on May 27, 2014 by suemariericker

My intention is to submit a new post to my blog once a week, every Friday—that gives me time to consider, pray, and study what God is speaking to my heart.  It is good to do that because I’ve discovered some of the scriptures I thought I knew weren’t exactly the way I remembered them or they were not exactly saying what I assumed they were.  Sometimes by Wednesday, though, all I can think is “I’ve got nothing!” and my commitment is to listen to the Spirit and write as He leads instead of trying, from my flesh, to force something.  …so my prayer is that, if God isn’t on my schedule or the Spirit isn’t giving me something to write, I’m not going to post.

That being said, it isn’t Friday!

I’ve been thinking a lot about my last post and all of the horrible things, not only occurring throughout the world but specifically happening to Christians.  When I mentioned indifference towards some of the horrific events currently taking place, this little voice inside my head attempted to justify me—“I care, I really do, I just don’t know how to pray and I don’t know what else to do; I am a little helpless here and there are others who are better pray-ers than I am.”

Indifference is not necessarily a lack of concern; it also includes apathy—an attitude existing all too often amongst humans in general, but also found in the hearts of believers.  Sometimes we are just too busy to let the suffering of others take a significant role in our attentions; or more commonly (I can assure you I have done this!), we declare that the suffering and violence so rampant in our world is too negative and depressing; we just want to look for something positive to lift our spirits.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to be engaged—engaged in being light in the midst of darkness (Matthew 5:14-16), engaged in serving others (Galatians 6:2), engaged in rejoicing, engaged in prayer, engaged in thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Sometimes mountains appear daunting and immovable—and that is definitely what the enemy would like us to think—challenging our ability to rejoice, pray, and express thanksgiving.  But the point isn’t to look to the mountains; instead, we are to look to the One who is our help (Psalm 121).

I have read a lot of books about prayer, trying to figure out just how to have an effective prayer life—I know that, as Christians, prayer is both a privilege as well as a precious aspect of our relationship with God.  Yet honestly I have, many times, struggled with this scripture in James:  “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).  I recognize that, with Jesus living in me through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, I am righteous; I also recognize the individual aspect of this verse—one person can effect much through prayer.  The part I have struggled with most often is how to pray fervently, especially when I am not feeling so fervent.

I know it is not about a saying the same thing in different ways or with many words because Jesus cautioned when teaching about prayer, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.  For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 5:7).  …and me trying to manufacture fervency is just another facet of self-righteousness.  I am so grateful for the promise God gives us through the apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Rome:  “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26, 27).  This is not a release from prayer; rather, it is an assurance that even if we don’t get it exactly right, the Holy Spirit is there to make up for our vulnerabilities.

The Spirit has been opening up windows of insight in my heart, highlighting ways for me to truly experience fervency in prayer—Paul hints at it in his second epistle to the Corinthian church:  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”  (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).  There are points in my life where I can identify and empathize with others—first, as a Christian; I am seeing intolerance and misrepresentation multiply rapidly within our society and I recognize that the persecution my brothers and sisters are suffering internationally may happen here soon.  …and these persecuted believers are more than strangers, they are family, “and if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).

Besides my Christian faith, here are some other things about me:  my mother died when I was four, I am a single mother, a grandmother, the mother of military members, there are aspects of my life right now that are restricting…. I could go on but here is my point:  My heart aches for these imprisoned mothers (Asia Bibi, Meriam Ibrahim) and from that standpoint I can pray for them.  I can pray from a deep wound in my heart (that God has graciously healed) for orphans; from the position of a parent I can pray for those 300 girls taken captive in Nigeria.  I can pray for Naghmeh Abedini from the brokenness of raising children on my own; and I can pray for her husband because he is the age of my children, he is a Christian, and he is a United States citizen.  Because of his citizenship, I can also pray for justice, integrity, wisdom, and compassion within the leadership of this nation.  Some of the restrictions I am experiencing right now remind me that I am not in prison and I am not suffering for my faith; however, I can pray for those who are!

I can’t think of everything to pray but there are touch points in my heart where I am able to identify with the suffering of others—compassion and fervency give place to effective prayer when they are birthed from deep within our spirits.  That is one of the beautiful and amazing things about the body of Christ, with so many unique personalities and so much diversity of experience, when we join our hearts together in prayer for others we provide an amazing covering of God’s presence in their lives.

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Light Affliction

Posted on May 23, 2014 by suemariericker

Life is rarely convenient; in fact very often it is wrought with inconvenience and frustration.  As I have grown older, it takes more to annoy me or disrupt my “happy place” than when I was younger, but I find that some people and some situations still invade my little place of serenity. 

These verses in 2 Corinthians have come to mind lately as I’ve considered the things we so frequently consider “afflictions”:  “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Paul wrote those words in the context of, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—” (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9).  Farther along in his letter Paul writes, “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often….”  Yet what concerned him most?  “…what comes upon me daily:  my deep concern for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak?  Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” (2 Corinthians 11:24-29).

Paul considered his afflictions light; and his greatest consideration was for others.

Paul also had a “thorn in the flesh” which provoked him, and three times he pleaded with God to remove it (we have no information regarding his “thorn” other than it existed).  After the Father responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness”, the apostle chose to “gladly” boast in his infirmities, “that the power of Christ may rest upon [him]” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

This is a difficult week for many Christians—Pastor Saeed Abedini, was forcibly pulled from his hospital bed, beaten until he collapsed, and returned to prison because of his faith (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/05/22/serious-setback-pastor-saeed-abedini-belongs-in-us-not-in-brutal-iranian-prison/), Mariam Ibrahim, a Sudanese woman, wife and mother, was sentenced to death for being and marrying a Christian (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/15/mariam-yahya-ibrahim_n_5328966.html), and Asia Bibi is a Pakistani mother of five, hoping to appeal the death sentence for her faith (http://www.christiantoday.com/article/asia.bibi.appeal.trial.date.set.for.fourth.time.in.pakistan/37207.htm).  This list is not even close to be inclusive—throughout the world there are many, many more Christians whose lives are at stake.  I mention these because of the immediacy and critical nature of their situations.  Persecution is rife within governments and the populations of many nations, and intolerance towards those who put their faith in Jesus Christ abounds.

God touched my heart with the sincere pleas for prayerful support by Pastor Abedini’s wife, Naghmeh (her Facebook update, May 20, 2014):

“I have to be completely honest with you all and ask for your prayers and your help. For the first time in two years, I feel so very tired and not sure of next steps. I can not stop the tears from falling. I feel like a wounded soldier who needs time to rest. I need you all to carry me and my family in prayer and to continue to voice your concern. Today I feel there is no breath left in me. Praying and worshipping through it, but I have to admit today is so very difficult. Each minute feels like an hour. Praising Him through my tears. Need you all to hold my hands up like Moses in battle. Feeling so very week…”

I am stricken with her anguish and overwhelmed with a feeling of inadequacy when it comes to praying for her, for her husband and children, for Mariam Ibrahim, for Asia Bibi, for the missing school girls in Nigeria, for the persecuted church throughout the world, and the many other violent, abusive, and critical situations playing out on this planet.

A sense of insignificance whispers in the dark places of my heart and skirts around the edges of my thoughts—do my prayers really matter?  Do I really matter enough to God that He would listen to my prayers and cries for help for these brothers and sisters in Christ?  For the wounded, disadvantaged, abducted, the abandoned and abused, the persecuted and tortured?  It is such a big prayer and I am such a little person with a little voice!  It is much easier to slip into indifference than to cry out to God for help!  Yet at the very heart of this issue is the gospel and the good news of salvation—we are significant to God because He sent Jesus to die for each and every person.  Gaining favor with God means accepting Jesus and His righteousness in place of my own self-righteousness and sinful nature.  It is because of Him we can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

God does not require that we attempt to replace indifference with compassion or unbelief with faith—for that is self-righteousness.  Instead, he promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).  Indifference, which is the inability to love others, and unbelief are sin; yet if we are honest with Him, He will change our hearts.

The direction of our gaze determines our view of life – whether it is on ourselves, our circumstances or on Jesus.  “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1, 2).  May we also, “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

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