Live-Move
When the music of life in God makes you dance, how do you move?
Monday Morning with Jesus is falling by the wayside, and I need to get better about that. It isn't going away. I need to change my writing habits because work isn't going away either. It's an adjustment in life. It happens because we move through life. Anyway, let's get into the scripture from a week ago.
16We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
19We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him
20in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
22and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
23This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
24The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
1 John 3:16–24 (NASB95)
"That He laid down His life for us." Verse 16 in First John opens very much like John 3:16 does, which is what people will initially think about when this passage comes up.
16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NASB95)
These two passages show that John believed Jesus Christ was God. No Ifs, ands, or buts. Both books were likely written at the end of John's life from Ephesus. I don't know which came first, though I suspect the Gospel came first. No one knows. If you research it online, the vast majority say the Gospel of John and the three letters were all written as one of the last books in the Bible, even though the Gospel of John is one of the first in the New Testament. It is mostly irrelevant to this discussion. I find it interesting, though.
The point of bringing up verse 16 from First John is that God laid His life down for us. He did that. He did that because He wanted to for us, and only He could accomplish the task of being the spotless lamb. No other human being every could or ever will live a perfect life. Only God could live perfectly according to His ways, so He did.
5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5–8 (NASB95)
But also…
9But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
11For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Hebrews 2:9–11 (NASB95)
Verse 17 reminds me of a scripture I regularly search for and always forget. It is Proverbs 3:25-35. I made a note about it last week so I could find it again, and I needed it immediately after. I forgot where I made the note and couldn't find it until I used OneNote's fantastic search function.
25Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;
26For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.
27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.
28Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.
29Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.
30Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.
31Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.
32For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright.
33The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
35The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.
Proverbs 3:25–35 (NASB95)
The essence is that if someone has a need, and you have it in your power to give it, give it. Especially if it is a brother or sister in Christ. That's very convicting right now for me for reasons I won't go into.
Verse 18 is about being doers of the Word, not just hearers of the Word.
21Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:21–25 (NASB95)
Verse 19 assures us that we are "of the truth" if we are doers of the Word and not just hearers only. Verse 20 harkens back to the discussion from our small group. When we look into the mirror, we see ourselves and know who we are. We know what we've done and why we did what we did. We might lie to ourselves, but when we look into that mirror, the reflection looking back knows it is a lie and knows the truth. We distract ourselves so we'll forget it is a lie and can go on deceiving ourselves, but here and there, little things remind and condemn us with the truth. Regardless, God knows the truth. We should never forget that.
That's the good news at the end of verse 20. God knows the truth of our hearts, but He is bigger than our willingness to deceive ourselves. He is gracious and forgiving.
8The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
14For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.
15As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer.
17But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,
18To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts to do them.
Psalm 103:8–18 (NASB95)
God forgives them, and He remembers them no more. That's important. We, as fallen human beings, constantly relitigate our sins and the sins of others, but God doesn't do that. When God forgives, He also forgets throwing our sins away from us, and Him as far as the east is from the west, and He remembers them no more.
33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the Lord, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
34 "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the Lord, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
Jeremiah 31:33–34 (NASB95)
Remembering them no more is how we are to emulate His forgiveness. If we forgive someone, we are to forget, too. That, for me, is the hard part. I struggle with that, but God knows my struggles and is there to help me.
Verse 22 is important in the context of helping us, too. However, this verse has a conditional. God's forgiveness is a free gift with no payment or task required other than faith in Jesus Christ. Here, if we want what we've prayed for, we have a conditional. We have "…because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."
12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
16 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:12–18 (NASB95)
Those are red-letter words of Jesus to His disciples. But even here, there's a conditional in verse 13. "…that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." The things God and Jesus are willing to do for us when we ask are only those things that glorify God through Jesus. God does not answer prayers that go against the Word of God. Jesus does not move mountains for us if we seek our own glory rather than His glory. We must be squarely on His path instead of ours for this exchange to work out.
Why is that? Why do prayers get answered only if they glorify God through Jesus and not just to give His children stuff or a comfortable life? Because it is not about works or the fleshly world but about faith. Only in those things that advance our faith, strengthen our faith, and reflect the love of Jesus through our faith to the world around us are we given the answers we seek.
Now, I want to be as clear as I can here. I am not saying that anyone whose prayers weren't answered didn't have enough faith. That's not what I'm saying. I'm not one of those people. I am saying that God had or has a reason that we might not always fully (or at all) understand, and we have to accept that as His decision.
Verse 23 has the simplest of instructions. We've seen it before, too. Again, it is all about faith in Jesus and what He said.
12 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:12–14 (NASB95)
I find it interesting that in verse 23, we have "commandment" singular, and in verse 24, it is plural, "commandment." I don't see that as contradictory. I see that as informative that we cannot ignore the other things God said to do or not do in favor of the one thing some try to intimate as in, "Love wins. Just love, and we're good." They get this from scripture, but I believe they are misinterpreting the statement. Here's their scripture.
10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:10 (NASB95)
Those who use the phrase, "Love wins," or some other derivative of that, are doing a serious disservice to the baby Christians who hear that statement. This is a great example of why pulling a single verse out of context can do great harm to the intended meaning. Let's look at the two verses preceding verse 10 in that same text.
8Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:8–10 (NASB95)
For this (love), you shall keep these other commandments, treating people how you want to be treated, which is how we best keep God's laws. That is what Paul is trying to communicate in that passage of scripture, in my opinion.
Verse 24 closes out the scripture with the statement that the Holy Spirit is with us when we do our best to love one another by treating each other the way we want to be treated within the bounds of how God says people should be treated. God is with us when we do that.
22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?"
23Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.
25 "These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.
26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 14:22–26 (NASB95)
Now, let's get into the sermon.
Pastor Kristen Lee gave the message on Sunday. She opened up with worries about life in general. We have the attack on Israel from Iran and the concern about how Israel might respond. The news is abuzz with "wars and rumors of wars." Some are calling for restraint by Israel to stop the region from spinning out of control into a wider war, while others, myself included, are on the side of Israel having a right to defend themselves from the slaughter of their people. I think it is interesting to note those who have been labeling one American political party "white supremacists" or "Nazi" are quite happy to chant "from river to sea," which is 100% a call to exterminate the Jewish people. It boggles my mind how those people are not self-aware enough to recognize they are the ones who are supporting that ideology they so casually accused others of so recently. This is the most fantastic aspect of the First Amendment in the United States. I hope everyone is taking note of all the people happily self-identifying through their free speech that they are okay with the extermination of a people.
None of that was in Pastor Lee's sermon. It is my exposition on the wars and rumors of wars she mentioned. The larger point we should take away from her statement is that fear is not a spirit of God. We should not make decisions based on fear nor react from a position of fear. That is not walking God's path for His children.
3As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
4And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you.
5 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.
6 "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
8 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
10 "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
11 "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
12 "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.
Matthew 24:3–12 (NASB95)
There's a lot to fear in there, so how do we not make decisions based on fear, and why is that not a spirit of God? Again, let's not take things out of context. Here is what comes after verse 12.
13 "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
14 "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:13–14 (NASB95)
That also wasn't in her sermon. Jesus returns like a thief in the night. Us watching for signs of His return are unprofitable simply because we can't know when He is coming. However, we should still be aware of what the signs are, and that helps us at least prepare for the difficulties that might be in our future.
Pastor Lee moved into a description of the passage she used for the sermon from First John. She said it was more like a sermon than a letter, but that's accurate. John was trying to combat the heresy of Gnosticism. The Gnostics told their followers they had the secrets to God's Word and could only know those secrets if the people followed their instructions. God's Word is not secret. It is openly knowable for anyone who wants to read and study it. Anyone who tells us we must follow them to get the secrets is lying. They are the false prophets we were warned about, and they should be avoided.
Pastor Lee sort of talked about those false prophets. In her run-up to reading the scripture, she mentioned knowing our leaders and others by whether they just "talked the talk or did they also walk the walk?" Essentially, she said we should know them by their fruits, not by what they say but by the things they do or produce from their actions.
15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:15–20 (NASB95)
The scripture was read at this point.
After listening to her read, I noted that it read very much like the passage from James that appeared in Sunday's lesson from Week 14. Here's that passage.
16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
18In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
James 1:16–18 (NASB95)
Pastor Lee asked, "How do you know when you are a follower of Jesus Christ?" The answer is simple, according to her message. We know we are followers of Jesus when we receive and show love to those around us.
She surprised everyone with the next word, pulling out the word from verse 17 in the KJV behind the phrase "closes his heart." Here is the KJV version.
17But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1 John 3:17 (KJV 1900)
Shutteth up his bowels. Everyone thought that was very funny. The Greek word behind bowels that the NASB translates as heart really indicates tender mercy. Here's the Greek.
Greek Strong's Number: 4698
Greek Word: σπλάγχνον
Transliteration: splanchnon
Phonetic Pronunciation: splangkh’-non
Root: probably strengthened from splen (the "spleen")
Cross Reference: TDNT - 7:548,1067
Part of Speech: n n
Vine's Words: Affection, Affected, Bowels, Compassion, Compassionate, Merciful, Mercy
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
bowels 9
inward affection 1
tender mercy + <G1656> 1
[Total Count: 11]
probably strengthened from splen (the “spleen”); an intestine (plural); figurative pity or sympathy:- bowels, inward affection, + tender mercy.
James Strong, "Σπλάγχνον," Strong's Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
But how do we have tender mercy to one another from a heart of love? We do that by having a heart rooted in Jesus, but that doesn't really answer the question. How do we have a heart rooted in Jesus that moves us to treat people around us the way we want to be treated? We do that by knowing and remembering what we believe in. It means having principles and fanatical levels of integrity based on those principles. But how do we do that?
15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
17For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
1 Peter 3:15–17 (NASB95)
"…to give an account for the hope that is in you." Why do you have hope? Why is Jesus important to you? What have you found in scripture that moves you to do the things you do, act the way you act, give up the things you gave up, and avoid the things you avoid. Know the reason for "Why". Once you know the reason why, act upon it. Produce the good fruits. Move in the truth in the world so the people of the flesh see how the people of the spirit act. Be different from the world, not the same. We don't draw them in to us to ask about the better way when they see us acting the same as the other people of the World. We have to be different from them, or they won't see us any differently; if they don't see us differently, they won't see any value in our faith.
Pastor Lee asked a question at this point. "What is more important, what we believe or how we live?"
Pastor Lee tossed out a quote, and I couldn't hear who it was from. I also didn't get it all down right. Essentially, it said that faith is not a competition of good works but a sponsor of them. Our faith should be grounded in knowing what we believe, and it then inspires us to move in the world; it requires us to move. So, what do we get from God that requires us to move? When we internalize a faith that declares a God of mercy, love, and compassion towards us as individuals, we have to move.
So, what music of faith do you hear from your gifts that inspires you to move?