R.T. Kendall's Blog, page 17
February 27, 2013
Christ Community Church
Phone 586-776-5452
Sundays @ 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m
Spring of Life Fellowship
Doral (Miami), Florida 33172
Phone: 305-597-4440
Times of service: 10 am (English); 12 noon (Spanish), 6 pm (15th Anniversary Celebration)
Imitating Christ 4
Silence
The passage in Philippians 2:5-8 tells us that when Jesus “emptied” himself, making himself of no reputation, he became man. The Word – which was God – became flesh (John 1:1,14). Jesus became man without ceasing to be God. He was man as though he were not God; he was God as though he were not man. And as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross. There is much that we can discuss regarding Jesus’ being a man – and the ordeal of the cross. We could talk about the suffering. The sacrifice. The shame of it all – the embarrassment for him. But I want to talk about his silence.
Silence. A great part of humbling oneself is to say nothing. Jesus did and said only what the Father told him to do (John 5:19); he was not able to say a word except what the Father gave him permission to say. Consider his performance before King Herod. Herod was so excited to see Jesus; he thought he could see Jesus perform a miracle, perhaps like pulling a rabbit out of a hat or something magical. When the moment came Jesus did not do anything or say anything. He just looked at Herod. This annoyed Herod. The king then “plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer” (Luke 23:;9). This got Herod’s goat. Then the physical suffering began. I think it was in some ways Jesus’ most brilliant moment – saying absolutely nothing to Herod, not even giving him a crumb.
It takes a lot of grace and humility to say nothing. There are those who are shy and perhaps need grace to speak up. But there are those of us who are so keen to assert our opinion that it takes extreme discipline and a lot of humility to say absolutely nothing. Just silence.
I have been gripped by those words, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise” (Prov.10:19). Jesus is the only person in history who perfectly controlled his tongue. James said, “If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check” (Jas.3:2). Jesus was perfect. He never sinned – in thought, word or deed. And part of mastery of the tongue is the ability to say absolutely nothing. Jesus repeated this discipline with Pontius Pilate. “Where do you come from?” Pilate asked Jesus. “But Jesus gave him no answer”. This infuriated the governor. “Do you refuse to speak to me?”, Pilate angrily continued. It was only when Pilate asserted his authority – “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” – that Jesus responded, pointing out that authority was given to Pilate from above (John 19:9-11).
I hope you will know the name Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player. He was the first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Those were the days when black people could not stay in “white only” hotels, eat in segregated restaurants or even drink in certain drinking water fountains. In my hometown of Ashland, Kentucky it was common in those days to see two drinking fountains next to each other – one designated “colored” the other “white”. Jackie Robinson would have to endure the horrors of racism without showing a trace of anger. When insulted, he would have to remain silent. He would need to “know his place”. Those who knew him well said that he was a very fiery and feisty man; to agree not to fight back was totally out of character. But he knew what was at stake. “He was willing to make a sacrifice for the good of the whole”, said one who knew him well, as reported in a recent American Way magazine. Indeed, he was “carrying 26 million black folks on his back”. Amazing. A real American hero, what pressure that was on him non-stop over those years.
Jesus – our supreme example – had to accept the discipline of not uttering an angry word all the way to the cross. No person in history was more vilified. The sins of the entire world were on his back. One unguarded comment would have ended his mission. His silence is what further demonstrated his sinlessness. Had he retorted in anger once to the king, the governor, the chief priests or the soldiers the entire Plan of Redemption would have been aborted. On the cross Jesus was challenged to come down from it so they all could “see and believe’ (Mark 15:32). Had he rebuked his accusers and tormenters the Father would have called the whole thing off. For the slightest comment would have disqualified Jesus from being the sinless Lamb of God. Satan would have won. After all, it was the devil who was behind the entire opposition to Jesus. All the devil wanted was for Jesus to show anger or vengeance – just once! Jesus’ response however was simply this: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”(Luke 23:34).
Jesus was not even allowed to explain to Mary Magdalene what was going on. There she was – right in front of him – sobbing her heart out in disbelief that all this could be happening to him. Seeing her grief must have added immeasurably to Jesus’ own pain. If only he could whisper to Mary, “Mary, it’s okay; what I am doing is to atone for the sins of the world; this is why I came into this world – to die for you”. He was not allowed to say a single word of explanation.
Keep in mind that Paul said you and I are to be like this. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil.2:5). It means the willingness to suffer as he did – maintaining silence when tempted to speak or make ourselves look good or feel better.
The greatest freedom is having nothing to prove. Jesus had nothing to prove. He did not do a single thing or say one word that would let him explain what was going on. His pleasure came from pleasing the Father. It is called internal vindication – vindication “by the Spirit” (1 Tim.3:16). He therefore remained silent before all those around him – both friends and foes. “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth” (Isa.53:7). It was Jesus’ finest hour. Let it be ours when the pressure is on to say one little word to defend our actions, our thinking, or our reasons for what we are doing – even to those whom we love. It is part of being like Jesus, bearing the cross. To say absolutely nothing, not raising a little finger to clear our name.
Vindication is God’s prerogative. Don’t deprive God from doing what he does best – to vindicate. His way of doing it is so brilliant, so unpredictable that you will be amazed how he does it (Rom.12:19). Yes, he is sometimes slow. And yet he may vindicate in a short period of time. He may take a long while. And if he chooses to postpone vindication until the Judgment Seat of Christ? I reply, that means greater anointing for us here below. It is like the special grace given to Paul when the thorn in the flesh was not removed (2 Cor.12:9). That double anointing was better than the removal of the thorn! The increased anointing, then, is greater than having our name cleared! God will bring out the truth in his time. “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God” (1 Cor.4:5).
That time is worth waiting for. Don’t mess up by trying to speak. Embrace the glory of silence.
RT
You can read much more about this in my book: Imitating Christ available at a discount for this month.
February 8, 2013
Imitating Christ 3
“No reputation”
The King James Version translation of Philippians 2:5ff, translated by the NIV as “emptied himself” is: “made himself of no reputation”. Whereas “emptied himself” is possibly the more literal translation of the Greek, there is something about Jesus making himself of “no reputation” that is gripping and challenging. At any rate, it has had a vast and profound influence on me for over fifty-seven years.
When one considers that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and to be esteemed as better than silver and gold (Prov.22:1), we are led to conclude that God wants us to have a good name – a good reputation. Indeed, we are not to lay hands (i.e., ordain or approve) on a person who is without a good reputation (1 Tim.5:22), Paul shows how important a good name is. And yet the irony is that Paul himself did not have a good reputation in many places. The Judaizers (Jews who professed faith in Christ but wanted to retain the Law to the hilt, including circumcision) made Paul’s life miserable. They followed him everywhere he went, even destroying his reputation with his own converts! Paul later urged – referring to his reputation with the Roman authorities – Timothy not to be “ashamed of me his prisoner” (2 Tim.1:8), knowing full well that Paul’s reputation wasn’t going to give Timothy a lot of credibility.
In previous blogs I told of my own questionable prayer: “Lord make me the lowest possible shame for your glory” – and how that prayer was answered within a few weeks. I had never experienced the loss of reputation before – whether among friends or relatives. But the experience of being “under a cloud” in the eyes of those important to me prepared me for more to come! I could not have known that down the road I would have to experience this uncomfortable feeling again and again.
Why am I gripped by this? I answer: it has done more to increase my anointing than any other thing I can think of. To remind those who may not know my definition of anointing – it is the power of the Spirit that makes one’s gift function “easily”. I have personally wanted a greater anointing of the Holy Spirit than anything in the world. I used to say I would push a peanut with my nose across London if it would increase my anointing. I would do anything – fasting, praying every day at 4.00 AM, getting people to lay hands on me. I have had the most famous preachers in the world to pray for me – to lay hands on me. I am sure this has done me no harm – none of these things. But if I were to be totally and transparently honest, I would have to say that what has given me the greatest anointing on my gift (insight into the Word of God) is that my reputation – with some – has been under a cloud for a long time. Some good people have had doubts about my integrity and theological position. I had one friend however who said he would write certain people because it was not right that this or that be said about me. I stopped him, pleaded with him: “Please do not say a word to anybody”.
Why? I fear the lifting of the anointing from me if I raised a little finger to clear things up that would put me in good light with certain people. Billy Graham once said that he feared the possibility that God would lift His hand from him more than anything; I fear the same thing. And I know in my heart that if I “put the record straight” with regard to my reputation that I would be finished in God’s sight. In one stroke I could clear my name but lose my anointing. The fact that certain things are said about me that cast a doubt over me is (in my opinion) a major key to my anointing. I am content to wait until the judgment for God to clear my name (1 Cor.4:5). In other words, I would rather wait until then than lose a measure of my anointing now.
I think this is what Paul was after – at least in part – in Philippians 2:5ff. It is why I prefer the King James translation of that passage. It has shaped my whole ministry.
RT
You can read much more about this in my book: Imitating Christ available at a discount for this month.
Imitating Christ 2
To imitate Christ is the loftiest goal anybody can have on this planet. And yet here’s the deal: we all will be like Jesus ultimately. John said we shall be like him when he comes the second time; we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2). This is called glorification. All who are predestined are (sooner or later) effectually called; all those who are effectually called (regenerated) are justified (declared righteous before God by our faith); and those who are justified will be glorified (Rom.8:30).
So it is a fact that all children of God will become like Jesus. But the moment we are born again – regenerated – we are given the command to follow in Jesus’ steps – even though salvation is irrevocably ours. For example, we are called to be baptized.
Baptism does not save us; it is a demonstration that we are unashamed to be children of God. We are called to be sanctified; and yet our sanctification is not what saves us; it shows our gratitude to God for being saved by sheer grace. And so too the command to be like Jesus; it is not what gets us to Heaven but it demonstrates that we are persisting in faith. As we have received Jesus Christ we are to walk in him (Col.2:6).
Paul put it this way: let this mind be in you which was in Christ. Though he was truly and fully God he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped – held on to – but he became nothing; he emptied himself and became truly and fully man. Not only that; he went to the cross (Phil.2:5-8).
Paul brought up the issue of imitating Christ in the context of unity (Phil.2:1-4). He was urging the Philippians to be united and not governed by a rival spirit. The best way to avoid a spirit of rivalry is to be like Jesus; to do what he did. A rival spirit is deadly. It is what divides churches, leadership, marriages and friendships. When we truly imitate Jesus Christ here is what follows: an absence of wanting to get the credit for what we do; an absence of keeping a record of wrongs – but also an absence of keeping a record of rights (saying “I told you so”). If every church member made a serious, consistent effort to be like Jesus twenty-four hours a day the problem of disunity in the church would be over – at once.
The trouble is, we want the credit for what we do. We want to be noticed. We want the compliments. We want to control.
I ask you: do you want to be like Jesus? Do you? Do you think about it? Do you plan ahead – asking the Lord to help you to be like him? A man known as Gypsy Smith many years ago wrote a little chorus: “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me”. I pray this for myself.
When one stops to realize that we all will be like Jesus one day it should give us pause. All of us just like Jesus. Think about it! And yet it gives our Heavenly Father no pleasure if we take the attitude, “Since I will be like him one day I will just wait until then – and not worry about it”. It is an unhappy person who talks like this. Some would say that such a person has not been truly converted. That is to be one’s judge – I don’t want to go there. But it is certainly not honoring to God when we have little or no aspiration to be like his Son.
I want to be like Jesus. I want my life to cause others to want to be like Jesus. I know this: if you want more of God, a greater anointing and a life filled with the Spirit it will mean a Christ-like life is on God’s agenda for you – and this desire will be a conscious aspiration in your heart and life. I pray this little blog might stir you to pursue Christ-likeness as you never have before.
RT
You can read much more about this in my book: Imitating Christ available at a discount for this month.
February 2, 2013
Imitating Christ 1
In April 1956. I prayed a doubtful prayer. What I mean is, it is doubtful whether I should have prayed it. But I did.
I had just heard a very moving sermon by Dr. Hugh C. Benner, general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene (of which I was a member). He preached a sermon on “The Mind of Christ” from Philippians 2:5-12 (the basis for my book Imitating Christ – called Meekness and Majesty in England, using Graham Kendrick’s wonderful hymn as the book title and theme for each phrase in Philippians 2:5ff – Graham also wrote the Foreword). Dr. Benner’s sermon drove me (literally) to my knees. He made the point that Jesus, though being in the form of God, not only became man but even became the “lowest possible shame”. I got on my knees, being so overcome by his message that I prayed – with all my heart: “Lord, make me the lowest possible shame for your glory”.
When I prayed that prayer I was sitting on the top of the world. I had been given a brand new Chevrolet by my grandmother. I was pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Palmer, Tennessee – traveling there on weekends and studying at Trevecca Nazarene College (now University) Monday through Friday. I was assistant to Dr. William Greathouse, the Dean of Religion at Trevecca. I had a bright future in that denomination; indeed, seemingly heading for prominence – possibly in the footsteps of the man my Dad named me after, Dr. R. T. Williams.
Here’s the thing: I prayed that prayer and meant it with all my heart; there was no way on earth that I knew of that such a prayer could be answered although I knew (somehow) that it would be answered.
Why did I pray that prayer? I cannot be sure why I prayed that prayer. Was it pseudo guilt that I was too happy? Was it the Holy Spirit who applied Dr. Benner’s sermon so deeply – or did I apply it beyond what the Lord was leading me to? I only know that within days of praying that prayer a number of decisions were presented to me that led to (1) my resigning my little church in Palmer; (2) deeply disappointing my Dad by certain decisions I felt compelled to make; (3) my grandmother asking for me to give her the keys to that new Chevrolet (she gave it to my Dad); and (4) relatives in the family saying to me “You are a disgrace, a shame.”
When I heard the word “shame” I suddenly remembered my prayer. Oh dear. I had asked for it. If that moment was not an answer to my prayer I don’t know what was. My father demanded that I pay rent to stay in his home. I started working for a dry cleaner’s establishment. I found a different denomination which upset my Dad all the more. Within four months of praying that prayer I was working as a salesman door to door selling baby equipment.
Should I have prayed that prayer? You tell me. I only know that it changed my life and set it on a different course. But I can add this: be careful what you pray for! God may answer you!
RT
You can read much more about this in my book: Imitating Christ available at a discount for this month.
January 21, 2013
Believing God 4
Not all Christians believe as I do – in “once saved, always saved”. I have written a book on it – not to convince people but to assure those who want to believe it but are afraid it’s not true. I can tell you: it’s true.
I have not always believed in once saved, always saved. I was brought up in a church that not only believed the opposite. They even taught that the doctrine of eternal security was “born in hell”. (Never mind that they sang “Amazing Grace” all the time, overlooking the fact that John Newton the Calvinist believed in once saved, always saved!). What changed me: a supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ driving in my car on October 31, 1955. I was a student at Trevecca Nazarene College (now University) and pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Palmer, Tennessee. The person of Jesus appeared before me as if before my very eyes although I know now it was a vision. But he was more real to me than anything around me. An hour or so later I entered into a rest of soul that I did not know was possible in this present life. Such peace. Joy. Assurance. Assurance? YES. I was given what I would absolutely call an infallible assurance of my salvation. I knew then (57 years ago) I could never be lost. People around me said, “You will change your mind about that”. I knew then I wouldn’t and I never did.
Why am I telling this to you? Two reasons: (1) Hebrews 11 – which I have been focusing on for a while – describes people who were not only saved but came into their inheritance. (2) All the Scriptures people use to refute eternal security refer not to losing one’s salvation but losing one’s inheritance. Every single one of them. Do not be discouraged when you read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:4 or Hebrews 6:4-6 and think you can be lost and go to Hell after being truly saved. Not one of these refer to salvation but inheritance.
You will not be totally free to pursue God’s best for you as long as you think you could lose your salvation. “Christ has set us free” (Gal.5:1).
RT
You can read much more about this in my book: Believing God available at a discount for this month.
January 18, 2013
Believing God 3
Hebrews 11 is a description of people who persisted in faith. With one or two exceptions (as Abel, verse 4) Hebrews does not describe saving faith but persistent faith. Saving faith does not guarantee our inheritance; persisting in faith does. Saving faith guarantees Heaven; persistent faith results in seeing God do in your life what he did in the lives of those described in Hebrews 11.
God chose our inheritance for us (Psa.47:4). It is out of our hands. Not a single person in Hebrews 11 chose to do what they did. Abraham did not choose to leave home without knowing where he was going. He did not choose to sacrifice Isaac. Isaac did not choose to bless Jacob (he preferred Esau). Joseph never dreamed he would be prime minister of Egypt. “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance”, said David (Psa.16:6). You may say: “David would say that, wouldn’t he? After all, he was a king”. I reply: God will make your inheritance as beautiful to you as David’s was to his. You will have no regrets, no complaints – in the end. The process along the way can be painful – even tortuous. Oh yes. Some of those in Hebrews died, were tortured, some escaped death – barely; but all persisted in faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb.13:8). Those in Hebrews 11 are in Heaven. They are among the “cloud of witnesses” (Heb.12:1) that are – perhaps – watching us and cheering us on “Don’t give up”. They are in Heaven, we are on earth. Our work isn’t finished. God loves us as much as he did them. He has a plan for us as definite as he had for them. I don’t want to miss God’s will. Neither do you. Persist in faith and you will be as fulfilled as David and finish as well as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
RT
You can read much more about this in my book: Believing God available at a discount for this month.
January 11, 2013
Believing God 2
Hebrews 11 is about men and women coming into their inheritance. Inheritance is what we receive when we persist in faith. Once saved, always saved; that is a given. But, sadly, not all who are saved automatically come into their inheritance. Inheritance is what we get by not giving up.
There are two kinds of faith: saving faith and persistent faith. Saving faith is described in Romans 4:5: “To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness”. Persistent faith is described in Colossians 2:6: “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him”. We received Christ by faith – which is what saves, or justifies, us. That fits us for Heaven. Forever. It’s done. But we are to continue – persist – in the same faith. Doing so is not done with the view of making sure we get to Heaven. No. Heaven is ours. So why do we persist? For basically two reasons: (1) to show gratitude to God for saving us – which is a life of holiness. Sanctification is essentially the doctrine of gratitude. It is not what saves us or gets us to Heaven but shows we are grateful that we are eternally saved. But also (2) God invites us to come into our inheritance. He has an inheritance for each of us. What may be yours may not be mine; what may be mine may not be yours. For example, I could not have known on April 5th 1942 (when I was saved) that one day I would be a Bible teacher. This was God’s inheritance for me. He has an inheritance for you. It may not be full-time Christian ministry. You can be a nurse or lawyer or banker or secretary in God’s will as perfectly as I am as a Bible teacher.
But sadly there are Christians who forfeit their inheritance. By ingratitude. Disobedience. Foolishness. They don’t lose their salvation. But they risk – if they are not brought back to repentance – forfeiting their inheritance. Those in Hebrews 11 had in common that they believed God, persisted in faith and came into their inheritance. They did not receive what they thought they would get. But what they got was better than what they aimed for! And it was said of them: “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb.11:38).
The most dazzling thing is this: you and I can do what they did. By persistent faith. Believing God.
RT
You can read much more about this in my book: Believing God available at a discount for this month.
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