Freedom, Contentment, Presence Part 2

Freedom, Contentment, Presence  Part 2
Contnetment

Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." [6] So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"

"And be content with what you have,"

First we get rid of the love of money-stuff and then (only then) can we begin to seek contentment with what we have.

But we do not have to wait for our freedom to be full.  When we cease to covent and act on that coveting we can also begin to reduce the clutter in our lives.  Look around your place - are you really content with all you have or is some of it convicting?

Does some of it make you feel foolish?  Does some of it show you your covetousness?  Does some of it make you, well, ashamed?

Can you answer the question, "Why do I have this and do I need it?"

OK - yes, you work hard and have a "right" to have nice things, to enjoy the fruit of your labor------MAYBE!  Maybe you have some culturally endorsed "right" but do you carry it too far?  Let me ask you this.  If you see a brother or sister in need how well fixed are you to really help them?  How much better could you care for those in need if you were content with less?  "Oh," you say, "I give to this and that cause and ministry and the church!"  Yes - many of you do but who gets the lion's share of the spoils?

1 John 3:17 ESV
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

This closing of the heart takes place long before the need is ever seen.  Read Deut. 15 and watch as God's heart breaks for the poor.  Read it slowly and carefully and watch the corruption of covetousness bring God to finally and I believe tearfully conclude that we will always have the poor among us becasue we will NOT obey Him in regards to our money-stuff.

I have learned that covetousness can be a subtle enemy of contenment.  We buy just a little, we keep it simple and we do it often.  Doing it a little and often exposes our covetousness and our lack of contentment - two ends of the same stick.

But I wander.  Are you content with what you have?  No, not do you have enough? - Most of us have too much.  What I am trying to get you to ask is; Does what I have satisfy me, fulfill me or convict me?

What do you have that was bought through a covetous spirit?  What was indeed bought as an idol?  What do you have that was bought so you would feel better about yourself apart from God?  What do you have that you bought to show others how acceptable, successful and good you are?  How can you be "content" with these things still in your possession?  It is little different that Israel in the OT wanting to be like the nations around them so they began to aquire little idols and ended up worshipping alongside the Pagans.

Colossians 3:5 ESV
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

I do not believe we can ever experience the contentment Christ would have us experience unless we work at "killing" the covetousness in our hearts.  So, if you indeed want to be content, covetousness - past - present and future has to be attacked with all our energy and all the help the Holy Spirit can give!

Let me ask something that I ask myself.  How can I be content when I am surrounded by things that are in truth idols?  Must I not cast them down - cast them out?  Must I not cleanse my home of these evil idols to money-stuff?

If that sounds silly, I'll pray for you.  If that sounds legalistic my heart breaks for you.  If there is a twinge of ache in your heart, a glimmer of conviction I thank my God for you and encourage you in casting down and out all the "idols" you have accumulated and surrounded yourself with.

Contentment can not compete with covetousness.  You must choose - and pray.  Contentment comes over time and through effort and is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 4:11-13 ESV
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. [12] I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Heart Keepers 04 030614

Heart Keepers 04

4.  Imposing strong engagements upon ourselves to walk more carefully with God and avoid the occasions whererby the heart may be induced to sin.

Most of us know where danger lies.  We know, or should know, what tempts us and where we are weak.  Flavel makes the point here that we have to set clear and sound boundaries for ourselves if we indeed want to keep our hearts.

Knowing what "engagements" we need to set is critical and if more subtle than we think.  I can think of no better example that TV as a place where we need to engage ourselves to greater caution.  It is so easy to become numb to the world and its philosophy than TV.

We used to watch a detective show in which there was some romatic tension between a female detective and a writer of mysteries.  All was well until we the two main characters had begun sleeping together in the same house as the writers teenage daughter.

Even though there were no graphic love scenes we became concerned that we had not been concerned about the "fornication" that was implied by the show.  Here we were watching a show where sin was not only taking place but being celebrated as a good thing and we had missed that somehow.

Well, we had to set a boundary.  Why?  Because we had been so enamoured with the show that we were allowing the blatant sin to go unaddressed.  In being fans we were, in the privacy of our own home, somehow endorsing the illicit relationship between the two characters.  Not being sensitive to this, being so slow to be convicted by this concerned us for our hearts and how they had been numbed or even hardened to what we were watching.

Can you see Flavel's point in this?  We can not affort to allow our hearts, or consciences for that matter, to become numb or hardened.  We need sensitive hearts and consciences so we may not be led into heart sins.

OK, it may seem hokey but the question is, "Would I be doing this if Jesus was with me?"  What you would n't do in His physica resence we shouldn't do period.  It may seem sillly but that's a very simple way to impose upon your heart that which will keep your heart.

Romans 8:7 "The Problem"

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.  Romans 8:7  ESV

John Milton wrote,
"The mind is its own place, and in it self
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.   Paradise Lost

Though the very center of our "self" is the heart, the mind is no less important to the comfort and growth of the believer.  We have looked at - and will continue to look at - the keeping of the heart, it is the mind my attention is drawn to today.

We do not get a lobotomy or even a de-frag when we come to Christ.  Not only the content of our minds, but the very manner in which we employ it is relatively the same.  We keep our memories and we think in the same old way.

This is a great source of confusion and consternation for the believer.  It is in the conflict between the mind of the flesh and the mind of the spirit that the believer senses trials and temptations.

A simple thing like - well - right and wrong is a good example.  Prior to our redemption, right and wrong tended to be fluid.  We were much more "tolerant" in drawing a line between the two.  For the sake of relationships, status, acceptance, etc., we were inclined (that is "bent") towards cutting a lot of slack for those to whom we looked for companionship, acceptance, success and comfort.

This manner of thinking does not automatically change when one comes to Christ.  There is no re-installation of the operating system.  The mind works in the same old way - the information we had before is unquestioned and figured into our decisions.  So we find ourselves making what were once "good" decisions, sound decisions that now, because of our new loyalty, are - wrong.

But, we all found that there were very few who challenged or questioned our thought processes (much less their own).  So, we brought our fleshly/worldly knowledge and thinking into the Kingdom with us and tried to make it work.  Of course, we discover that it doesn't.

That's ok, however, for such is the case with many of our fellow believers.  We think in worldly ways based on worldly knowledge using worldly processes.  Is it any wonder that we struggle in our minds concerning our salvation?

Any simple run of the word mind via a concordance will make it very clear that our minds are just not right - neither content nor processes nor propositions "fit" any more.

Two verses highlight this point:
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  Phil 2:5
and
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by d the renewal of your mind,  Rom. 12:2

We see two things.  We are to have the mind of Christ and our minds are to be transformed.  Hence, the assumption that there is no wiping of our minds when we are redeemed and we are able and expected to change them.

The "mind of Christ" is the goal; "renewal" is the method.

This is no easy or quick task.  It is a daily - if not momentary - duty in which we are to be engaged.

The means:
This renewal of the mind has at least two elements.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,  2 Cor. 10:5a

To do this, we must first recognize those arguments and opinions which pit themselves against the knowledge of God.  We do this by taking every thought captive.

We have all heard this verse used in reference to the world's objections and arguments against the faith - but we need to understand that this same kind of argument and opinion dwells in us - not just outside us.

Unless we accept the duty of taking every one of our thoughts captive and discerning whether it is in obedience to Christ, our "arguments" and "opinions" will continue to be stumbling blocks to our growth, security and comfort.  To fail in this duty - to fail to accept this duty - will be to fall short of the comfort and effectiveness of which we are rightful possessors.  We will be weak and pliable.  We will be tossed and thrown.

"Duty"??  Did I say duty?  Yes, it is the duty of every citizen of the Kingdom to give honor, homage and obedience to the King.  We certainly don't expect it of His enemies.  But to not expect it of ourselves is to put the vassal over the Lord.  It is to make ourselves sovereign and Him just a servant.

These duties are not for our salvation but rather because of it.  We are indeed new creatures but such naive and clumsy ones.  The "duties" of prayer, study, worship, stewardship are our means of training, our means of growth.  Though you may not see it, there is a great deal of work done between the acorn and the oak.  There are principles and providences and processes at work in the acorn that we can say are its duties.  However, though we may indeed be nuts as well, unlike the acorn, we are able to intentionally avoid our duties - and this much to our harm.

So let us accept the duties of capturing every thought and subjecting it to the scrutiny of the Word and the Spirit.  Let us, through the duty of prayer, study, and attending to the Word preached and taught meticulously examine the content and operation of our minds.

Secondly, we are to direct our minds to particular things.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Phil. 4:8 ESV

This is not rainbows and puppies and cute little bunny rabbits.  The true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable - excellence and praise worthy are those things which God describes thusly.  It is His criteria we much discern by and not our own.

Here we have very clear ends to the stick.  What does and what does not meet this criteria?  Are we seeking the one and avoiding the other?  Or, are we just wandering about stumbling upon the one and wallowing in the other?  What influences your thoughts the most?  Is it TV or the Word?  Is it Vogue or Romans?  Is it God's whatevers or just whatever?

Though it is beneficial to look, to hunt for those things about which God would have us think, it's benefit is hindered when we accompany it with what the world offers.  It's like eating a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts and drinking a Diet Coke - dubious in its benefit at best.

We may not be able to think God's thoughts but we are able to think about God's Word.  But how beneficial is it when we spend a couple of hours engaged in the Word and many more passively taking in the babble and confusion of the world.  Again - Kripsy Kreme and Diet Coke - it's just self-deception - silliness - dumb.

No, if we are to really take up the duties of a servant of the King, there is much about which we must think and much about which we must not.

Let me stress that word "MUST."  We must - not that we might be saved, not even that we might stay saved - but rather that we might actually experience the glory and comfort and security of being saved.  The "imperatives" in the scriptures are imperative for living the faith.  They are not optional, they are not occasional - they are immediate imperatives - right now and always now.

In light of the quote I cited from Milton - many believers long for heaven but because they do not attend to their minds, they live a hellish existence here.

Oops - there goes another idol - & another & another ---& -well you get my point

"I'm not good enough!"
Ok, according to who?

Is it all those in your life who made it their perverted objective to convince you of that?

Is is some super-christian author who wrote a book that you took as your measure?

Is it the culture you live in with all sick and twisted expectations and demands?

Is is a husband who is clueless?  A wife who is demanding?  A mentor who is not such a hot mentor?

From my perspective, these are all idols we grab hold of and worship and serve.  We somehow get ahold of and then they get ahold of us.

Duhhhh- the world (power and influence), flesh (pleasure and self sufficiency)  and the devil (perversion and poison) --- oh yeah!

So whose rules do you play by?  His or an idol's?    Think well over this - it's a critical issue.

Junk food is bad food and most "christian" book stores and sections are just chock full of junk - poison - yuck.  They are one person's perspective on live and the Word.

We can eat food - real food or we can eat (pardon my earthiness) - we can eat digested and expelled food.  Most of what you will find in the "Christian Living" sections are just that - manure and not good manure.

It is the Word of God you should be going to for directions, insight, understanding and - wait for it -------- HOPE.

If you are feasting on junk food you are poisoning yourself!!!!!!!!

Some things I'll tell you -
1.  God says there is NO condemnation for His.  There is correction - even discipline and of course all of His suffer - but we suffer because we ARE His!
2.  God sets standards we will not meet here - period - give up any hopes of a fleshly - self-sufficient holiness - never gonna happen!  But praise God, in Christ we are what only He could make us.
3.  The believer's life is a battle - from baptism to burial it is a battle.  Period!  Now it's a battle in a war that has been won by our King but it IS a battle!

So, you feel like a failure - Mmmmmm maybe - just maybe that's good.  If you're seeking to please, appease or serve an idol - rejoice in your failure, repent of your error and return to Him.

Here are the lyrics of a great song that encourages me when I am tapped and/or trapped by the idols around me --

Songwriters: FRANCISCO, DON RICHARD

I know what you've been hearing
I've seen you hide your fear
Embarrassed by your weaknesses
Afraid to let Me near
I wish you knew how much
I long for you to understand
No matter what may happen, child
I'll never let go of your hand

I know you've been forsaken
By all you've known before
When you failed their expectations
They frowned and closed the door
But even though your heart itself
Should lose the will to stand
No matter what may happen, child
I'll never let go of your hand

The life that I have given you
No one can take away
I've sealed it with my Spirit, Blood and Word
The everlasting Father
Has made His covenant with you
And He's stronger than the world you've seen and heard

So don't you fear to show them
All the love I have for you
I'll be with you everywhere
In everything you do
And even if you do it wrong
And miss the joy I've planned
I'll never, never let go of your hand

The life that I have given you
No one can take away
I've sealed it with my Spirit, Blood and Word
The everlasting Father
Has made His covenant with you
And He's stronger than the world you've seen and heard

So don't you fear to show them
All the love I have for you
I'll be with you everywhere
In everything you do
And even if you do it wrong
And miss the joy I've planned
I'll never, never let go of your hand
I'll never let go of your hand

May God bless you - further free you - restore and strengthen You in His Mercy and Grace!