BETWEENERS

Psalm 78:32-33 “For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.”

When I was a kid I lived in seeing distance of an old white wooden Baptist Church in Coldwater, Alabama. When my dad got saved in 1945, we started attending that church religiously, as the old saying goes. In fact, we attended every time the doors were opened, and I have been known to accuse my dad of going down and open the church doors so we would have a place to go.

I remember sitting in that church and enjoying the singing of the congregation as they sang the old hymns of the faith, many of which are being forgotten in the churches today. The singing was great. What was lacking in quality was surely made up in quantity. Some of those “old-timers” could really “belt it out.” But at least the singing was biblical because they were making “a joyful noise unto the Lord.”
Some of those songs were exciting to sing but some gave us a wrong view of the Christian life. One of my favorite hymns gave me the impression that “The Promised Land” was heaven and “Crossing Jordan” was the pathway to the final reward of the believer.

The reality is, the Promised Land and Canaan are not pictures of heaven, but are pictures of “The Victorious Christian Life.” When the Children of Israel crossed over into the land of promise, there were many, many battles to be won. I’m thankful that when we enter into our final reward there are no battles left to be fought. Jesus has won all the battles for us. But since Canaan is not a picture of heaven but of the victorious life, there are still many battles to be won if we are to live in victory.

The Israelites lacked the most important quality that was needed in their journey – Faith. Notice that verse 32 says that they “believed not for his wondrous works.” Even after all that God had done for them in protecting and providing, they still could not trust Him for the future. They had left Egypt but were not sure they could live in victory in the land of promise.

That’s the experience of too many Christians. They are “Betweeners.” They have been freed from bondage through the work of the Blood of Jesus Christ, but have not entered into victory through the power of His Resurrection.

I don’t know about you but I do not want to be a “Betweener.” I want to experience the victorious Christian life. I don’t want to live in defeat. I know that I have been saved from the “Penalty” of sin and will one day be saved from the “Presence” of sin, but I want to experience the victory over the “Power” of sin in my life day by day. As Paul would write in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, . .”

The children of Israel could have experienced the power of God as they entered the land but they just couldn’t walk by faith. And, there were consequences to their choice. Look at verse 33, “Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.”

Unbelief had shut them out from the land God had promised. What a vain thing it was to wander up and down in the wilderness instead of seeing God work miracle after miracle in their life. Can you imagine having to attend funeral after funeral for 40 long years until all those who had refused to enter Canaan had died. There are always consequences to not obeying God.

Apart from faith, life is vanity. It’s sad to see so many believers who are “Betweeners.” They could be living in victory, but they live in defeat. Oh, many of them have earthly treasures. They live in fine houses and drive the best automobiles and even dress in the latest fashions, but they are wandering through life in spiritual defeat. They have no real purpose. They have forgotten that as believers we’re to “. . . seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; . . . “ (Matthew 6:33).

The life of victory is lived by faith. The writer of Hebrews writes in 10:38, “Now the just shall live by faith: . . .” The average believer lives by sight. They have to see, reason and know the end before they start. This was what happened with the children of Israel. They had a hard time trusting God and doing what he had commanded them to do.

What is faith? Faith is just taking God at His Word and being obedient to it. Faith is not some mystic thing as many people think. God told the nation of Israel just exactly what they were to do. They just couldn’t take that step of faith and be obedient to God’s wish.

We’re to know what God wants us to do. Can we? Sure we can! We can know His will. He tells us exactly what to do in His Word, or there are principles contained in His Word that can be applied to every decision we have to make. So what should we do?

Read The Word Of God - This is a priority in the life of every believer who wants to live in victory. Have a daily time in which you feed your soul the nourishment it needs.

Meditate Upon The Word Of God - Think about what God’s Word has said to you. Make application of it to your circumstances and decisions.

Pray For Wisdom - God’s Word tells us that we can have wisdom because God wants to reveal how to have victory.

Be Obedient To What God Wants You To Do - You will make mistakes. You will fail. You will even sin. Confess your sin (I John 1:9) and continue to obey. You can walk in victory in the power of Christ’s Resurrection.

Let’s not be “Betweeners.” Let’s walk by faith and claim the victory Christ has already won on the cross.

That’s my view: what about you?

IT’S ALL UP TO GOD

Psalm 75:7 “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

We are living in a day in which people promote themselves. We are told all our lives that you have to take care of #1. Kids graduate from high school and a party is planned and the students place all their achievements on display for all to see. Athletes video all their games in hopes that the videos will make an impact upon a possible full or partial ride at the college level.

I’m not saying that every bit of this is wrong, but I am saying that it’s important for all of us to take a step back and see if humility is a part of our life. Notice what we read in verse 7 “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

Understanding this will do some very important things in our lives. And what is that? Let me list three:

(1) Deter Pride – There are many who think they’re where they are because of their ability; personality; power; etc. I’ve got news for those individuals. We have a sovereign God and “He puts down one, and exalts another.” I love it when someone wins a game and gives the glory to God. I love it when people understand the truth of John 3:27, “. . . A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” The athletic ability, sharp mind, winsome personality, etc. are given them by an omnipotent, omniscience, sovereign God. Understanding that truth will keep things in the right perspective.

When we apply our God-given gifts to the best of our ability and then humble ourselves under his hand, then our promotions are up to Him. I Peter 5:6, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” We are where we are because of God.

What else will an understanding of verse 7 do?

(2) Develop Patience – Most of us are not patient people. You’ve heard the old saying, “I want patience, and I want it RIGHT NOW.” Patience is a very good character quality to have, but let me remind you not to pray for patience. We read in Romans 5:3, “. . . knowing that tribulation worketh patience;” Don’t pray for patience. You might get more tribulation than you want.

Collier: “Patient waiting is often the highest way of doing God's will.” Boy, is that a thought provoker. I wonder how many times I have run ahead of God in my life because I didn’t have patience.

Joseph had been given his future in a dream, but think of all he went through waiting for God to put down his enemies and exalt him to where he was supposed to be. Think of Moses on the backside of the desert waiting for what God had in store for him. What about David being anointed king but going back and being a servant until God exalted him to his rightful throne.

God “. . . putteth down one, and setteth up another.” And He even chooses the timing. Sometimes God allows His people to be in places where they feel they are unfairly treated; are unjustly dealt with; are in what they think are unbearable circumstances, but remember what Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” God is sovereign and God is at work.

Remember what I’ve said many times, and I have no clue where I got it, but “God is more concerned with your Character than He is your Comfort.” God is at work and God wants us to patiently wait on Him.

What else will an understanding of verse 7 do?

(3) Decrease Pressure – Sometimes a person thinks he has to make something happen. It may be because of his or her own goal-agenda life-style or it may also be pressure from someone else. There’s nothing wrong with setting goals and trying to achieve them. I even do that in retirement. In fact, if I didn’t set goals I probably wouldn’t get anything done, and that would not be good.

It’s good to be successful, but remember that the abilities you have are God given. The intelligence you have started with a sharp mind that God implanted within you. In James 1:17 we read, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, . . .” Since God gave, He can take away.

I am always thrilled when I hear of one of God’s children being given a place of leadership. Remember, God put you there. And because He put you there, and since He did, He will keep you there and will use you the way He chooses. If people recognize you for your success, be careful of pride. God can take you down as fast as He elevated you.

When we serve with humility and give God the glory for what He does in our life, His grace will continue to bless us. I Peter 5:5 says, “. . . God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

God is at work in our life and He works at His pace. When we understand that it relieves the pressure to climb the corporate ladder, win the Noble Peace prize, win the most souls or even pastor the largest church.

I’ve seen people who been on the top and then found themselves at the bottom of the heap. On the other hand, I’ve seen a young man who was in my youth group who started serving as a teen. He did it all. He cut the grass, washed the dishes, cleaned the toilets, and anything else that needed to be done. He went off to Bible College, came back to the same church he was raised in. What position did he receive when he came back? He started as a servant again. Today he is the Senior Pastor of that church, which is a large church. You see, “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

That’s how I view it! What do you think?

ANYTHING GOES

Grace and I were watching the Olympics and one of the ladies had on a sleeveless dress. It wasn’t immodest but I remarked that I didn’t think you were supposed to wear sleeveless dresses in the winter. My wife pointed out that today ladies even wear white dresses in the dead of winter.

In years past, and I’ll not say too much to avoid showing how out of touch I am, this was a no-no. In my childhood days, and even later years there were other seasonal taboos: couldn’t go barefooted until the dogwoods bloomed; wear white shoes until Easter; and you couldn’t wear white shoes after Labor Day, etc.

But today, “Anything Goes”. Man, I wish I hadn’t gotten rid of my white shoes! Pat Boone and I could be in style year round!

“Anything Goes” has even found itself into the lives of believers, and even churches for that matter. I’m surprised when I see people who call themselves Christians saying and doing things which at one time were taboo in Christian community. Why is this? Were we wrong in our thinking in the past? (probably in some cases, yes; some, no) Is it wrong today? (probably in some cases, yes; some, no)

In the Christian life there are a lot of differing opinions about what is right and wrong. There are some things which are definitely wrong. The Bible is clear on those issues. It would be great if the Bible was that clear on all things, but that is not the case. In these areas, which I refer to as gray areas, we have certain liberties. In those issues we can differ and either opinion can be made very easily. Since that is the case, what should determine our actions in those issues? Some might says, “You just have to let your conscience be your guide!” That depends on how your conscience has been programed. That didn’t work too good with Bonnie and Clyde or Al Capone.

The guide for all our attitudes and actions is not our conscience or feelings or the philosophy of the world. The guide for the individual who is bought by the blood of Christ is to be the Word of God. II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, (complete or mature) throughly furnished unto all good works.”

What Paul was saying in those two verses is: The Bible is God-breathed and is profitable for all that believe; for all our convictions; for correcting us; for teaching us righteousness, so that can mature and equipped for all our actions. (That’s my take on it)

So, the Bible is the guide for the child of God’s actions, whether the issue is dealt with as a command or in a principle.

Did the Apostle Paul face gray areas in his life? He certain did and he wrote in I Corinthians 10:23, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

That sounds good, but what did he mean? What does it mean “All things are lawful for me?” Does that mean we can sin? No! In fact, anybody who would use that argument needs to have his head examined (or maybe his heart).

Paul was dealing with eating meat that had been offered to idols. No, it wasn’t unlawful him to do so. So, there are some things which in and of themselves, are not forbidden. There’s no command right or wrong. As believers we can agree they are not forbidden. You can, but maybe I cannot. Why? Why is this?

Notice the last part of Paul’s statement in I Corinthians 10:23, “. . . but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

“are not expedient” = not profitable, not wise
“edify not” = doesn’t build up

Paul is saying that there are some things that are not forbidden by a command of God, but there are some things that he does not get involved in because it is not the wise thing for him to do. Is Paul thinking of himself here? I don’t think so. Paul’s main focus was the church and the souls of lost people. There were weaker brethren in the church which might be led to do things which would violate their conscience. On the other hand, there were others in and outside the church to whom his ministry might be limited if he had involved himself in questionable activities.

Now let me say this: I’m not talking about somebody who’s a Pharisee. Jesus didn’t mince words to the Pharisee and neither do I. I’m talking about a weaker brother who loves the Lord, is growing in grace and who is trying to follow the teachings of God’s Word and looks up to me as a role model. I’m more concerned about his growth than I am my liberty.

I’m also talking about my neighbor that I’m trying to be a witness to and they are watching me, my consistency and whether or not I really care and love them. I’m more concerned about his soul than I am my liberty.

With this in mind, “Anything Goes”, does not apply as far as I’m concerned. I must live, first of all, for Christ, and secondly, for others.

Outside the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul was the greatest demonstration of concern for lost people. I can’t picture Paul having an “Anything Goes” philosophy of life, because he cared too much for his lost countrymen. Notice what he said in Romans 9:3, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”

Paul understood his Christian liberty and was not going to be shackled again under the Law, but he also had a love for people within and outside the church that he wanted to influence for Christ.

That’s my view: what about you?