Jim Wilson's Blog, page 13

For the Sake of the Name

“Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for thebrothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the churchabout your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthyof God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no helpfrom the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that wemay work together for the truth” (3 John 5-8).

We do not see this passage quoted often. I want to bring itto your attention because of all of the hospitality I have received, eventhough I was a stranger to some of those who showed me hospitality. We havetaken in strangers, too. Those who went out for the sake of the Namehave always been a great blessing to us. Others we have taken in for the sakeof the Name. Some of them have stolen from us, some keep coming back formore monetary help, some have just disappeared, and some have been a greatblessing.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the propertime we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we haveopportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong tothe family of believers” (Galatians 6:9-10).

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Two Promises Kept

“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarahherself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered himfaithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good asdead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless asthe sand on the seashore” (Hebrews 11:11-12).

“They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Eversince our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning ofcreation’…. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understandslowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone tocome to repentance” (2 Peter 3:4, 9).

The first passage has to do with God’s promise to Abrahamwhen he was 100 years old, because Abraham knew that God was faithful and wouldkeep His promise. God kept His promise!

The second verse has to do with Jesus’ promise to return toEarth. He gives us the reason for the seeming delay. He kept this promise toAbraham, and He will keep His promise to us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

How to Be Free

Some Christians believe that they areenslaved to particular sins. The truth is that they are not slaves. If you area Christian, you are already free.

“Since the childrenhave flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death hemight break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, thedevil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by theirfear of death” (Heb. 2:14–15). 

“Then you will knowthe truth, and the truth will set you free…. So if the Son sets you free, youwill be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36). 

“We are freeindeed. ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, anddo not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery’” (Gal. 5:1).

What are we to do with this freedom?“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”(Matt. 5:48). How can we do that? This verse tells us how—imitate God.

“But love your enemies, do good tothem, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your rewardwill be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind tothe ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”(Luke 6:35–36). Jesus told us to love our enemies. How? Imitate God by beingmerciful.

“Get rid of allbitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form ofmalice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, justas in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearlyloved children” (Eph. 4:31–5:1). 

“But just as he whocalled you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Pet. 1:15).

If unsaved people were commanded toimitate God, that command would make no sense. They are captive to Satan andunable to imitate God. “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope thatGod will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, andthey may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, havingbeen held captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:25–26).

“And you will know the truth, and thetruth will make you free” (John 8:32). We are free, and because of that we havethe ability to imitate God.

“.. . because through Christ Jesus the law ofthe Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Rom.8:2).

“Is not this thekind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie thecords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6).

What you have just read is theintroduction to my book How to Be Free, the sequel to How to Be Free from Bitterness. It is available at ccmbooks.org and Amazon. I hope it willbe a blessing to you.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Victory in Christ

This post is an excerpt from Climbing by Rosalind Goforth.

Christ in you, the hope of glory.  – Col. 1:27

We had been but a short time at the Rest Home when a friendcarried me off, insisting that I needed a rest. She took me to Niagara-on-the-Lake,where a Bible conference was being held. There I found myself in a beautifulhotel room with my friends nearby. The following morning, we gathered undersome trees by the auditorium, before the meeting. The scenery was wonderful tome after poor, dried-up China. Through the trees could be glimpsed thebeautiful Niagara River flowing down till it entered the lake. Begging myfriends to leave me there, I gave myself to the exquisite enjoyment of mysurroundings.     

A short time passed. Suddenly there came an impelling toenter the auditorium. I obeyed, but the place being full, I walked forward andfinally found a seat immediately in front of the pulpit. The speaker was justbeginning his address. He was a stranger, but from almost his first sentencehis message gripped me.

He drew simply but vividly, first a picture of an ordinary,all too common Christian life. If he had drawn the picture from my everydaylife experience, he could not have given it other than he did. Sometimes on themountain-top with visions of God and His mighty power; then the sagging, thedimming of vision, coldness, discouragement, even definite disobedience and atime of down-grade experience. Again, through some sorrow or trial, there wouldcome a return and seeking of the Lord, with again the higher Christianexperiences. In a word, an up and down life of intermingled victory and defeat.

The speaker then asked all who truly sought for God’shighest and best, yet who knew the picture he had drawn was true of theirChristian life and experience, to hold up their hands. Being in the front seatand realizing many behind knew who I was, and that they thought of me as a“good missionary,” I kept my hand down. It was too humiliating to acknowledgethat picture as representing me! But the Spirit of God strove with me. “If youkeep your hand down you are a hypocrite! If you truly want God’s best, humbleyourself.” So up went my hand.

Then the speaker drew another picture: it was the Christianlife as God had not only planned it for His children, but had made abundantprovision for their living it. He described it as a life of Victory, notdefeat, of peace and trust, not struggle and worry. All through his address, Ikept thinking, “Yes, it’s wonderful, but I’ve tried so often and failed, Idoubt if it is possible.” Then the speaker ended by urging us to go over thetexts listed on a slip of paper to be given free at the close of the meeting.He emphasized the importance of standing on God’s Word.

The following morning, I rose early, as soon as it was lightenough to see. On my knees, I read from the list I have mentioned, all thetexts given. But before I had gone half way down the list, I saw clearly God’sWord taught, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the overcoming, victorious lifein Christ is the normal life God has planned for His children. In the two daysthat followed, clearer light came, with dawning hope that this life might bepossible for me.

The day after reaching home, I picked up the little booklet,The Life That Wins, and, going to my son’s bedside, I asked him to allowme to read the booklet aloud, as it was the personal testimony of Charles G.Trumbull, editor of the “Sunday School Times,” the man who had been a greatblessing to me at the conference.  

As I began to read, quite a number gathered around,listening with deep interest. I read on till I came to the words: “At last Irealized that Jesus Christ was actually and literally within me.” I stoppedamazed. The sun seemed suddenly to come from under a cloud and flood my soulwith light! How blind I had been! I saw as in a flash the secret of victory. Itwas just Jesus Christ Himself!

But the thought of victory was for the moment lost sight ofin the inexpressible joy of the new vision and realization of Christ.

For days, I seemed as if in a dream. Fearing lest I be, asit were, “carried off my feet,” by what had come to me, I determined to seekthe advice of one, who had for many years been our beloved and honored foreignmissionary secretary. Rev. Dr. R. P. McKay listened sympathetically while Itold all. I ended by saying, “Do you think I am going too far in this? I havejust sent off to missionaries in China fifty copies of the booklet, The LifeThat Wins.”

Dr. McKay smiled as he replied, “No, Mrs. Goforth, for Ihave just sent out to ministers and others several hundred copies of the samebooklet.”

Then he gravely added: “Mrs. Goforth, I am amazed; amazedthat you have only now come to apprehend this truth of Christ’s indwelling. Youhave been the wife of Jonathan Goforth for many years. His messages were aglowwith this truth. It is the Holy of Holies of our Christian Faith.”

“Yes, Dr. McKay,” I replied humbly, “I begin to realize thisand wonder at my blindness. One sentence my husband so often uses has come backto me these days: All the resources of the Godhead are at our disposal!”

- Rosalind Goforth, Climbing

 

The Life that Wins is still in print under the title Victory in Christ. The author, Charles G. Trumbull, is the grandfather of ElisabethElliot and the son of Henry Clay Trumbull, an evangelist in the Civil War andauthor of Taking Men Alive.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for lifeand godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory andgoodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Examples

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us fromsetting our hearts on evil things as they did…. These things happened to themas examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillmentof the ages has come” (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11).

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith andin purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Bad examples are warnings. Good examples are to be followedand imitated.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Free from Anxiety

Early in my Christian life, I had several periods of deepand sometimes prolonged anxiety. In each case, someone else pointed me to Godand His faithfulness and how to trust Him. In every case, my anxiety ended, andGod answered my need.

God cares for us. The more we think about God the way Godthinks about Himself, the happier our lives will be. As long as we think of Himaccording to our accusative thoughts which are not true, we will adjust ourlives based upon those lies. We think that God has characteristics that He doesnot have. We think He is unkind, intolerant, impatient, waiting for us to stepout of line so He can swat us. That is not true. He is the opposite: He iskind, faithful, and caring.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, whatyou will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life morethan food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; theydo not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feedsthem. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worryingadd a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how theflowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that noteven Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is howGod clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is throwninto the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do notworry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall wewear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Fatherknows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, andall these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry abouttomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble ofits own” (Matt. 6:25–34).

There are several biblicalpreventions for anxiety. They are joy, thanksgiving, and casting our anxiety onthe Lord. “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). If youare rejoicing, you cannot be anxious.

It is possible to rejoice alwaysbecause God gave us the fruit of the Spirit called joy. That happened when wereceived Christ. Joy is not related to your environment or to events. That ishappiness, and it is circumstantial. Joy is related to a constant—the Lord andHis salvation. Because He is constant, your joy in Him can be constant, too.

We see this joy in severalScriptures. The first passage describes a state that would be a strongtemptation to anxiety.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes onthe vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, thoughthere are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoicein the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Hab. 3:17–18). 

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior whosaves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebukeyou, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph. 3:17).

“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even thedemons submit to us in your name.’ He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightningfrom heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions andto overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do notrejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are writtenin heaven’” (Luke 10:17–20).

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in thepresence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me awilling spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, sothat sinners will turn back to you” (Psalm 51:12–13). 

What if you cannot rejoice?There is only one biblical reason for losing your joy. It is the chastening ofthe Lord. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who havebeen trained by it” (Heb. 12:11). When you respond to discipline from God, ityields the peaceful fruit of righteousness, which is joy in the Lord.

Thanksgiving is a means of beingfree from anxiety. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this isGod’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). This verse tells us tothank God in every circumstance. It is hard to be anxious while you are giving thanks.

“Do not be anxiousabout anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, withthanksgiving, present your requests to God. And thepeace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts andyour minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7).

Hope is apromise of God. Anxiety is a lie of Satan. The solution for anxiety is torejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4). It is not possible to be anxious whenwe are rejoicing in Him.

Excerpted from How to Be Free from Anxiety. To purchase,visit Amazon or ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Obedience by Faith

Many of you have heard me teach about confession of sin andhow to be free from bitterness, or you have read booklets on the same subjects.You may have figured out that these two subjects seem to be endemic sins. Itwas brought to my attention that I have not taught on how not to sin. Ihave taught on it, but not as much, for the simple reason that when I show upto teach the people are bitter or living in unconfessed sin.

There are several talks on how not to sin on our SoundCloudpage (CCM Media at SoundCloud.com). A few of these are:

            Obedience is Normal

            Obedience is Easy

            Obedience and Faith

In addition to these teachings, I have written a book titledDead and Alive on God’s requirement of obedience and His provision forour obedience.

If you are living in the joy of the LORD’s salvation, Iencourage you to listen to these teachings or just pay attention to God’sprovision and expectation when you read the Word.

There seem to be two extremes in disobedience: legalism andlicentiousness. There is drifting between these two. All three of these aresins.

The world’s answer to legalism is the works of the flesh, i.e.,licentiousness. “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality,impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy,fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness,orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live likethis will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

The world’s answer to the works of the flesh “touch not,taste not, handle not” is legalism (see Colossians 2:20).

The Christian has crucified the flesh, and the Christian isdead to the basic principles of the world. “Those who belong to Christ Jesushave crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Galatians5:24). The Christian is in liberty and has the fruit of the Spirit.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

A Brief Study on Repentance & Forgiveness

Here are two passages on forgiveness from the New Testament:

“And said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christshould suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance andforgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginningfrom Jerusalem’” (Luke 24:46-47).

“…delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—towhom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darknessto light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgivenessof sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts26:17-18).

Jesus said the first to the apostles and the second to Saulof Tarsus when he received Christ. Both commands include repentance, and bothinclude forgiveness. The first is a command to preach repentance tounbelievers, and the second is a command to the apostles to turn theunbelievers from the power of Satan unto God.

Two more passages on repentance are Acts 17:30 and 2 Timothy2:23-26.

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commandsall people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies;you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not bequarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentanceleading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses andescape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will”(2 Timothy 2:23-26).

In the first, all people are commanded to repent.

In the second, God grants the unbelievers repentance. 

Which is it? There are four “wills” involved in repentance,all mentioned in the paragraph from 2 Timothy:

The Christian’s will. He is told how not towitness and how to teach.God’s will.The non-Christian’s will.The devil’s will.

All of these teachings on repentance are true, and we shouldapply them in our evangelism.

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

Jesus’ Action, Our Response

Here are two very basic truths from the Gospel of John:

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of hisdisciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that youmay believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believingyou may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have lovedyou, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are mydisciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

The first passage is what Jesus did and why He did it: “Thatyou may believe.”

The second is what we are to do and why: “All men will knowthat you are my disciples.”

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships

You Know the Way

“‘You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomassaid to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know theway?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes tothe Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father aswell’” (John 14:4-6).

Jesus said they knew the where and the way.Thomas said they did not know where, and therefore they could not know the way.Jesus said the where is the Father and Jesus Himself was the way.If you know Jesus, you know the Father.

People today do not know where, and they do not know theway. The where is the Father. The way is Jesus. Are we willing to tell peoplethe where and the way?

This post coordinates with today's reading in the Tothe Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships