SWEET REASONABLENESS!

SWEET REASONABLENESS!

Phil 4:5-7

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Greek word for “moderation” in our text is epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace'); and means appropriate, (by implication) mild: gentle, moderation, patient. (From Strong’s Concordance)

The word epieikes is of very extensive signification; it means the same as epieikeia, mildness, patience, yieldingness, gentleness, clemency, moderation, unwillingness to litigate [go to court] or contend; but moderation is expressive enough as a general term. "Moderation," says Dr. Macknight, "means meekness under provocation, readiness to forgive injuries, equity in the management of business, candor in judging of the characters and actions of others, sweetness of disposition, and the entire government of the passions."

· from Adam Clarke's Commentary

This word is used ONLY ONCE in our English New Testament! It is coupled with the idea that the Lord is returning soon … actually at hand or at the door. So it is explained in the Amplified New Testament.

Phil 4:5

5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon]. AMPLIFIED

The idea is not so much CONTROL but of YIELDEDNESS. To yield to a force greater than myself is surrender. To yield to a force equal to me is strategic. To yield to a force weaker than myself is grace!

Today you may be forced to yield to a force greater than yourself. Perhaps it will be an illness or circumstance beyond your control. You may also have an occasion to yield to an equal to show courtesy to another. You may also have an opportunity to yield to someone weak, perhaps a child or someone handicapped. This is grace. This is sweet reasonableness.

Dear Lord, let me live today in the light of your soon coming. AMEN

DESCRIBE YOUR GOD TO ME!

DESCRIBE YOUR GOD TO ME!

           Let’s say I walk up to you on the street or, more likely in the mall, and tell you that I am desperately interested in finding the true God. I am, however, very confused and would like you to help me find the one true God out of all the possibilities swirling around me. I tell you that you look like the kind of person I would like to become and I want to find your God. Please describe your God to me.

           Now, before you begin a soliloquy of memorized characteristics, remember that I want to know your very own description and perception of Him. Who is He and what is He to you personally. OK, go!

           It’s not so easy is it? Not because you can’t do it but because you find yourself embarrassed at your own definitions. Your relationship with a personal God seems weak and selfish. Perhaps you have subscribed to the “Santa Claus” God who looks the other way when you sin and gives you stuff when you pray. Is this the kind of God you want to present to this desperately seeking person? Let me see if I can help by sharing portions of the Bible.

1. GOD IS NEAR – NOT FAR AWAY!

Deut 4:7

7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

2. HE IS THE ONLY GOD!

Deut 6:4-5

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Acts 4:11-12

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

           If you think about it, monotheism is the only method that makes sense. If God is God then He stands alone. It is called “The Law of Exclusion.” God, if He really is God, excludes all other competitors.

3. GOD IS HOLY!

Ps 99:9

9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

           The root word for “holy” indicates One that is pure, clean, moral and sacred. He should not, therefore, be thought of or treated like “one of the guys,” or the “man upstairs!” He does not run with me – I am invited to travel with Him. He does not bend to my fashion – I am challenged to change my garments and make them white in the Blood of the Lamb!

Eph 4:22-24

Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

4. HE IS A GOOD GOD!

Ps 100

100:1 A Psalm of praise.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

1 Peter 3:15

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Dear Lord, let me not squeeze you into my hand made mold but let me know you and serve you as you truly are. AMEN

A FORM OF GODLINESS!

A FORM OF GODLINESS!

2 Tim 3:1-5

3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

           Why do we see such corruption in our world today even among professing Christians? Their behavior can be found in verses 2 and 3. They are selfish, pompous and irreverent. They are undisciplined, rebellious and disrespectful. Yet they cling tenaciously to their cloak of religion and react in mock horror at any suggestion that they are less than the best kind of Christian. These take the lead in churches and religious organizations so that their followers become even more grotesque in their piety than themselves.

           The phrase “having a form of godliness” begs a closer look. The Greek word for “have” means “to hold.” I get the idea from the language that one may hold something loosely so that it may be occasionally put down again. I don’t want to hold a system of belief. I want to be held by it!

           The Greek word for “form” is morphosis and means “appearance or semblance.” I get the idea from the particular construction of this word that the form of worship held by these irreverent followers of faith is actually a cover or façade.

2 Tim 3:5

5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT

Three things are needed to combat being swept up by this system of worship which is only a shell. Constant vigilance and personal inspection is needed to insure that these three things are part of our character. They are…

1. INTEGRITY!

           There must be a congruency between what we profess and what we practice! Find yourself a trusted partner and give that person permission to challenge you whenever they see a discrepancy between your faith and the facts of your behavior. Perhaps another word would be “authenticity!”

2. SIMPLICITY!

           The Amish celebrate “plainness.” Without adopting their extremes, perhaps we should adopt their simplicity.

Ps 131:1

131:1 A Song of degrees of David.

LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

3. INNOCENSE!

Matt 18:3

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

           Children are free from the avarice and ambition that we adults have developed through the years. They are as happy with a handful of pretty gravel as they are with a handful of gold nuggets. They have not lost the wonder of a sunrise nor have they polluted it with industry. In Christ’s economy the most distinguished Christian is the one most humble.

Dear Father, keep me from becoming inconsistent in my faith. Let me not become a phony. Keep me simple and real. AMEN