Jim Wilson's Blog, page 45

The Will of God

What is the meaning of God’s will? What do we have to do in order to do God’s will? How can we know God’s will?

There are two expressions of God’s ultimate will in the Scriptures. The first is our salvation: "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

The second is our sanctification: "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified" (1 Thessalonians 4:3a).

Both of these were accomplished by Jesus Christ: "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).

The will of God for us is our salvation, which includes our justification (conversion), holiness (sanctification), and the redemption of our bodies at the Second Coming. Since we have already experienced justification, our concern now is our holiness (sanctification). Remember, it is already provided for: 

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:22-24).

Knowing the details of God’s will for the decisions we need to make in our lives is not difficult if we are walking in the light. If we are not walking in it, the will of God could be written on the wall and we would not be able to read it.

*Excerpted from Being Christian. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore. 

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

Being Christian: God's Direction

“‘Woe to the rebellious children,’ says the Lord, ‘who carry out a plan, but not mine, who make a league, but not of my Spirit that they may add sin to sin who set out to go down to Egypt without asking for my counsel’” (Isaiah 30:1-2).

This text applies to nations, the world, and individuals. They make plans and implement them. They draw up treaties, agreements, and contracts. The plans are not God’s. They do not ask the Lord for advice. Many Christians also follow this pattern. God says, “Woe to the rebellious children.”    

In the early stages of the conquest of Canaan, the Gibeonites deceived Joshua into making a treaty with them under oath:

“The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath” (Joshua 9:14-15).

There is a way to follow God’s plans that is not good, but is still better than following your own way:

“Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with a bit and bridle, else it will not keep with you” (Psalm 32:9).

It is not pleasant to have a bit in your mouth, a bridle on your head, and no understanding of where you are going. If we do not seek God’s will on our own, God, in His faithfulness, will jerk us around with a bit and bridle to ensure that we do not miss it.

God has a better way, His perfect way:

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go: I will guide you with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).

This personal guidance from God is based on a relationship with Him which presupposes the forgiveness David prayed for earlier in the psalm.

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6 KJV).

“All our ways” includes business dealings, purchases, vacation plans, friendships, recreation, and every other area of our lives. If we are honest with ourselves, we will acknowledge that we seldom if ever share these with our heavenly Father. Perhaps if we started to share the details of our lives with Him, the joy and relief from strain would equip us for the big decisions that come our way.

 

*Excerpted from Being Christian. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

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

Our Weapon: Our Own Testimony

 

We are not just messengers in our presentation of the gospel. We are also to serve as witnesses.

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Rev. 12:11).

The story of Paul’s conversion is told three different times in the book of Acts. It is first recounted in chapter nine. Later Paul retells the story to the lynch mob in Jerusalem in front of the Roman barracks in Acts 22. The third time was two years later, in Acts 26. Paul spent those years in prison in Caesarea. He gave his testimony to the governor Festus, and to King Agrippa and his sister Bernice in an audience room with high-ranking officials and the leading men of the city.

I encourage you to write out your own testimony. Use this testimony to give the saving message to people whose eyes are already open and who are hungry for the light of the gospel. Tell what you were like before, when you first became interested in Christianity, how you heard or read the gospel, when you made a decision, and the results. Then send it to someone who is not a Christian and tell it to people often.

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

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

Our Weapon: The Fear of God

 

Consider using the following truths with unbelievers.

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him” (Lk. 12:4–5).

We are given a choice of whom to fear. We can fear those who can kill the body, or we can fear Him who sentences people to the second death.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death’” (Rev. 21:5–8).

The voice is from the great white throne at the end of history. The voice said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” If we fear God, He delivers us from both the fear of the first and of the second death.

We can flee Satan, but no one can successfully flee from God, nor can we fight with Him and win.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you” (Ps. 139:7–12).

Are we willing and ready to preach the judgment seat of Christ? Jesus did it. Paul did it. John and Peter did it. If we leave out the bad news, people have no reason to embrace the Good News.

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

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

Our Weapon: Terror, part 2

 

This is a story I heard over fifty years ago: There was once a famous Anglican missionary who had a reputation for being a hell-fire preacher. He was very effective in describing judgment. Upon his return to England from missionary work, his bishop assigned him to preach in a village church. When he heard who was coming to preach, the vicar of the church became very anxious for his flock. He was concerned what the missionary would preach and what the effect would be on his congregation.

The vicar met the missionary at the train. After some small talk, the vicar asked him what his text would be on Sunday. The missionary replied he had not yet decided, and did the pastor have any suggestions?

The pastor replied, “We here in civilized England are not big on judgment. Any message on the love of God would be fine.”

The missionary answered, “Wonderful. How about John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world’?”

The pastor, relieved, said “That will be just fine.”

On Sunday morning in the village church, the missionary opened his Bible to John 3 and began to read. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not . . .”

He stopped and started over. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not . . .”

He stopped again, turned to the vicar and said, “What shall I do now, vicar?”

The love of God is the salvation from death and from the fear of death. The only reason God expressed His love to man in the death of His Son was that man was under judgment because of his sin. Judgment must be preached first, or the love of God makes no sense.

“Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy Him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:14–15).

“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 Jn. 4:9–10).

People surrender or flee when they are terrified. Terror is an effective weapon.

“It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

There are far, far too many people going to hell unafraidbecause they have not been scared. People must be informed of the sure judgment of God. If they are afraid, they might be open to the salvation available in the love of God for sinners.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 Jn. 4:18).

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

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

Our Weapon: Terror, part 1

 

Fear is not necessarily a bad motivation. In certain circumstances, it is an entirely reasonable response.

“Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Lk. 21:26–27).

“Terror and pit and snare await you, people of the earth” (Is. 24:17).

Recently I was talking with a twelve-year-old boy who was very rebellious towards his father. As I taught him the Good News, he interrupted to tell me his greatest motivation to become a Christian was fear of being cast into the lake of fire. He apparently received Christ, for his mother told me he has become a very different boy.

Terror is abject fear. There has always been terror in war. The main object of terrorism is not killing innocent people. The purpose of terrorism is to cause fear in the survivors, a fear that immobilizes them.

During World War II, more people were killed in Tokyo and Yokohama by incendiary bombs than were killed by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was the terror caused by the latter which brought about Japan’s surrender.

Terror anticipates certain destruction. It is a message to those who are still living. It is a message of extreme fear based upon reality, not imagination. Jesus taught terror (Mt. 13:40–42, 49–50). Isaiah taught terror (Is. 24:17). Jeremiah taught terror (Jer. 7:20). The apostle John taught terror (Rev. 6:15–17).

Jesus used terror to help people believe in Himself:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (Jn. 3:16–18).

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (Jn. 3:36).

Notice the phrases, “shall not perish,” “condemned already,” and “God’s wrath remains on him.” These are not empty threats.

In 2 Corinthians 5:9–11, the Apostle Paul told us to use fear to persuade men. This fear comes from what takes place at the judgment seat of Christ.

“Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” (2 Cor. 5:9–11).

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:11–15).

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

Our Weapon: The Baptism of the Spirit

 

Whenever we use the weapons of the Holy Spirit (preaching, prayer, gifts, and the fruit of the Spirit), the Spirit works in the lives of sinners.

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again”’” (Jn. 3:5–7).

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38).

“Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 11:16).

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor. 12:13).

“When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 8:15–16).

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

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

Our Weapon: The Word of God

 

The Scriptures are to be wielded. Ephesians 6:17 describes the word of God as an offensive weapon: “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Again in Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Second Timothy 4:2 commands us to use the sword of the Spirit: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

Preaching Christ causes faith. But we are to preach Christ as He is presented to us in the Scriptures:

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:14–17).

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to Me” (Jn. 6:44–45).

“Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, ‘So I declared an oath in My anger, “They shall never enter My rest”’” (Heb. 4:1–3).

It is the gospel that causes belief. Some people hear the gospel but refuse to learn, refuse to combine their hearing with faith, refuse to repent. However, the majority of the lost have a different problem. They cannot believe because they have not yet heard the gospel.

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

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

Our Weapon: Humility

 

Humility is not just an admirable character trait. It is essential in the presentation of the gospel.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:28–29).

The gentle imperative “Come to me” emphasizes an exceptional quality of Jesus: His humility and meekness. This is wonderfully described in Philippians 2:5–11:

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus carried out a sequence of humble actions that resulted in our salvation:

1. He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

2. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbledhimself and became obedient to death…even death on a cross.

Therefore God exalted Him. Verse 5 tells us that our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus. That means that when we proclaim the gospel of Christ, including how and why He came to die, we should be like Him in humility. The humility of the messenger should match the humility that established the message.

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

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk. 14:11).

“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt. 23:12).

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:1–2).

God exalts those who have humbled themselves. The exalting comes second. If we put self-exaltation first, humiliation is the result. If we exalt ourselves, we are arrogant. We do not look like Jesus to the unsaved.

Here is how Paul humbly identified with people. The reason for this humility was the salvation of as many as possible:

“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19–22).

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

The Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22–23).

The book of Titus gives several reasons for exercising self-control:

“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say aboutus” (Tit. 2:1–8).

You may know of witnessing situations where the Christian did not exhibit self-control—perhaps he got loud or angry or annoyed, and his annoyance showed. To have power without love is awful. To have power without self-control is disastrous. Power keeps us from being timid or ashamed of Jesus Christ. Self-control keeps us from acting in ways of which we should be ashamed.

Most witnessing situations where self-control is lacking occur when a Christian is caught not knowing the answers. Consequently, he raises his voice to get false authority.

Self-control is part of the fruit of the Spirit. It is aided by confidence in the Lord and His Word and by preparation in knowledge of the Word. God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control to keep us from acting in shameful ways as we share the Good News.

“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men” (1 Pet. 2:15).

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if foolish men were silent and no one maligned the word of God because they had nothing bad to say?

*Excerpted from Weapons & Tactics. To purchase, visit ccmbooks.org/bookstore.

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