Author: David Dennis

Experiencing the Sovereignty of God

Psalm 139 is a favorite of many people and it is not difficult to discover why. As we read it even superficially, we can remember the instances where we have experienced what the psalmist is describing. In any translation the words remind us about the times in which we have experienced God’s grace in our lives.

Verse three, for example, is one that has resonated with me continually. “You chart the path ahead of me, and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment, you know where I am.”
(Psalm 139:3 LB) I vividly recall a very hot day last summer. I had left a friend in south Wichita and was taking my usual path on Highway I135 to Highway 54 going east. I was on my way to another meeting in east Wichita. As I was pondering that meeting, I discovered that I had bypassed Highway 54. I had never done that before! Somewhat chagrined, I turned east on a less traveled street and slowly made my way back east through a residential neighborhood. After driving only a few minutes, the car suddenly stopped and I barely had time to turn it to the right before it nestled against the curb. As I looked around, I discovered that I was in a quiet neighborhood on a one way street with very little traffic. My initial thoughts were filled with dismay at the delay and realizing that I would miss my next appointment. Those thoughts were followed by those of irritation and resentment against the mechanics who had repeatedly told me that the trouble I had experienced starting the car over the last two months were of no consequence. After calling the Automobile Association for a tow, I was told that it would be 2-3 hours before they would arrive and be able to tow my car to the mechanic’s shop.

After stewing and fuming for a while I finally settled down and realized for the first time that the Lord had charted the path ahead of me. Had I been on a major highway with nothing but barriers at the side, traveling 60 mph, a sudden stop would have created a major accident. In addition to the car damage, there would have been a significant probability of bodily injury to those involved in the accident. Even if no injuries were to have occurred, I would have been waiting in the hot sun in the scorching hot pavement while waiting for the tow truck. It was then that I looked around and was made aware of my surroundings.

I was parked in a lovely neighborhood. I was standing under the shade of a tree, watching a gardener prune the flowers in a well kept garden. After standing there for some minutes, the owner of the house I was parked by came out and brought me a chair to sit in while I was waiting. A little while later, she brought out a glass of ice water for me to drink which she later refilled. If my mind wandered off my surroundings to the inconvenience I was experiencing and what I thought was the failure of the mechanics, however, I would revert to a mind filled with irritation. I discovered while waiting the 2 and a half hours that if was better to contemplate the grace of God and His provisions that day than to dwell on my inconvenience. As I consider the grace of the Lord in choosing this place for me to stop and rest, I am going to vote for this spot next time I have car trouble!

The 139th Psalm has proved to be a source of comfort at other times in my life as well. On our tenth anniversary, my wife and I accompanied her sister and husband on a trip to Hawaii. I had never flown over the ocean before and was somewhat anxious about the journey. My office nurse, who was a follower of Christ, suggested that I look up Psalm 139:9-10. “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” (KJV) What a promise! I was doing exactly what that verse said! I was taking a morning flight, (The wings of the morning.) and I was dwelling in what was to me the uttermost parts of the sea. During that trip, and every trip since, I have experienced the fact that I was led by the Lord and held in His right hand.

Perhaps the most remarkable verse in the Psalm is verse 16. “You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!” (Psalm 139:16 LB) Each and every day, and everything that happens in that day, is under the firm control of our heavenly Father. Most of the time, it is hard for us to make sense out of why things happen as they do. Occasionally, however, we get a glimpse into some of the methods and plans of the Lord. If you will allow me to go back to the previous story for a moment, we will be permitted that glimpse into His workings in our lives.

After the tow truck had deposited both the car and me at the mechanic shop i sat and waited for an Uber driver to take me back home. On the way home, I asked him how his day was going. As quick as a wink he replied “Terrible.” He explained that he had been at a clinic the previous day with anterior chest and upper abdominal pain. It had been present already several days at that time and he entered the clinic for an examination. All of the tests, including a chest Xray, an electrocardiogram, blood tests and other examinations were normal. He was told that it was nothing severe and just to take Tylenol for the pain. In the last twenty four hours, however, it had grown worse and he could hardly touch the spot without causing pain. From his description of the pain and the skin sensitivity I felt confident that he was suffering from shingles. I explained that the pain is sometimes present for several days before anything was visible on the skin. I called in the appropriate medication for him and it was very effective in curing him of the disease. We have since become friends, have visited on the phone numerous times and met for lunch and breakfast on several occasions. We have had several conversations about the importance of faith in our lives and plan to meet weekly to evaluate the claims of Christ. In the sovereignty of God, He allowed me the opportunity to use car trouble to develop a relationship with someone He is drawing to Himself.

The Psalmist concludes the psalm with these words. “Search me, O God, and know my heart, test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24 LB) In view of the awesome love and power of the God who created us and controls our lives there is but one response that we should make. We must come before Him, lay our spirit, soul and body in His hands and commit all to Him. He knows us infinitely better than we know ourselves. Our desire should be that our Almighty God would search us and know our hearts. We need Him also to test our thoughts. With His infinite knowledge of us, which we do not have, we need Him to point out anything in us that makes Him sad, and lead us along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139 is a personal psalm in that it motivates us to reflect on how the Lord has interacted in our lives in different areas. I would encourage you to read it through several times carefully, jotting down instances when the Lord has made Himself apparent throughout your life. Develop a habit of reviewing those times regularly, enabling you to remember His sovereign grace in your life.

In Christ, Richard Spann

Four Generations

Discipling to the fourth generation, as described in II Timothy 2:2, has been one of the goals of the Navigator ministry since that organization began. Unless discipleship is transferred to others in a way that is continually reproduced it will cease to exist. If the ones we disciple do not disciple others, a whole line of generational impact is lost. No population can survive if there is no reproduction. The Christian faith is always, and only, one generation from extinction. One of the most sobering verses in the Bible is found in the book of Judges. “After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10

It is not uncommon for those involved in the ministry of our Lord to have had the opportunity to disciple and also bring to faith others to disciple. What is less common, however, is the fruit that also comes from the lives of those who are discipled. All too frequently the reproduction and disciple making stops with the second generation. It would be profitable, therefore, to examine some the reasons for this occurrence and to consider possible ways to prevent this from happening.

In II Timothy 2:2, we are directed to commit our lives to those who are faithful. To this word we have over the years also added two other words which are “available’ and “teachable.” In his book, “The Fuel and the Flame,” Steve Shadrack has also mentioned two others which are helpful. These are “initiative”, and “heart.” By heart he means a heart for the lost, for the word of God, and a heart for the Lord. These additions then spell out the word “FAITH.” Some of those I have spent time with over the years have not met these criteria. Sadly, over the process of time I have discovered them to be lacking in one or more of these five criteria. This calls for a more careful evaluation of those to whom we commit our lives and our time. Before choosing the twelve, it is recorded that the Lord spent the night in prayer before making the selection in the morning. (Luke 6:12)

One of the most effective tools which we are given in the process of seeing four generations through our lives is prayer. Howard Hendricks once commented that it is more important to talk to God about men than it is to talk to men about God. Prayer must be a regular investment for those we are actively discipling. Prayer should be offered on their behalf for each of the five areas in FAITH. It must also touch other aspects of their lives, including their marriage, occupation, hobbies, and financial situation to mention a few. These all have a bearing as to whether or not their faith will be reproduced in others. In addition to our own prayer, we must enlist the prayers of others in our discipleship teams to pray for them as well. Of primary concern, however, is that we teach them how to pray for themselves in all these areas.

The word of God is central to the process of a disciple who is learning to disciple others. A regular intake of God’s word, including memorization and meditation on verses dealing with evangelism and discipleship is critical to their reproduction. Booklets such as “Born to Reproduce” by Dawson Trotman are helpful. Other tools such as “The Lost Art of Disciple Making,” “Disciples are Made, not Born,” and “Living Proof” are invaluable in assuring that the person you are meeting with will reproduce their life in another person.

One of the most influential factors in this process is the impact of our own lives. What do they see in our lives? Are we continuing to invest in others? Do we continue to pray for them? In any relationship, others learn from what we do, not what we say. Discipleship is caught more than taught. The generational element of discipleship is also caught more than taught. In addition to the impact of our own lives, they will benefit from contact with others who live the lifestyle that communicates the value of generational influence. We need to introduce them to other individuals who are actively producing multigenerational fruit. Not only can this be done person to person but we can take them with us to conferences such as retreats and other meetings in which they can observe this in the lives of additional individuals. I have found it helpful with some individuals to simply introduce them to others which need discipling. I do this by offering the idea as a suggestion for them to pray about and encourage them to begin the relationship. Another good way to get them started is to ask them to assist you with a class at church, or an EMAW group, Memorize the Word, or a TMS study. The goal of such an invitation is to get them acquainted with someone who needs to be discipled. I relate to them that one of the goals of my teaching such a group is to find a FAITH-ful individual in whom to invest my life. I encourage them to pray about the same investment with someone as well.

It is necessary for them to share their faith journey with others. This conversation with others can lead to opportunities with those who are interested in a closer walk with the Lord, or those who are still on a journey to faith. One man who I was spending time with years ago came to faith and immediately shared it with his office staff. They didn’t need to be told a thing about his new birth. His foul mouth was taken immediately away by the Lord and they were amazed at the transformation! His closest friend was so struck with the change that he trusted the Lord the next day. During the next week, his friend’s wife also came to the Lord. Four generations in less than a week! New believers in Christ have a wide range of non-Christian friends and can be great instruments of evangelism and discipleship in the hands of the Lord. Any person who has recently come to the Lord is usually a key person to consider spending time with. They are teachable, have non-christians friends, and their changed lives will make an impact.

In John chapter 21, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Based on Peter’s affirmative response, he then gives him three things to do. “Feed my lambs, Take care of my sheep, and Feed my sheep.” The basic requirement, then, for our ministry is love of our Lord. Unless the disciple with whom we are meeting is in love with the Lord, his faith is unlikely to be reproductive. I have found benefit from regularly spending time with others by simply looking at the person of Christ. “Crises of the Christ”, by G. Campbell Morgan is very beneficial, as are the works of A.W. Tozer, Andrew Murray and Jerry Bridges. They all point to Him as the Source, the Life and the Person that must occupy our continual worship and praise. Only a life centered on Christ in all areas of our life will allow His life to live through us and produce consistent fruit that lasts.

Multiple seemingly non-spiritual aspects of a persons life will alter and determine the spiritual influence of their life. Their use of time, treasure, their thought life and what they trust in at the deepest level of their lives all have an impact on their availability to Christ and to others. A burden of debt and lack of financial freedom hinders some. For many, a lack of margin in their lives prevents their availability to disciple others. Each of us have different challenges that we face. I have found that Lorne Sanny’s priority evaluation of an individual’s life is an important tool in helping developing margin in their lives.This consists of evaluating their life in view of what is Essential, Necessary, Good, Delegate and Eliminate.

Finally, we must not neglect self evaluation during the course of preparing others for their ministry. Are we fully committed to accomplishing the task of preparing others to be disciple makers? Have we counted the cost involved? Are we willing to self sacrifice our lives to see it finished? Is there any issue in our lives that prohibits us from fully following Christ and being available to Him for others? We should consistently ask the Lord to deal with us in our own lives so that we will not be the hindrance to others achieving the Lord’s best for their lives.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

As we work with others, our eyes should continually be on Him, with the intent of adding a diadem to His crown, not attempting to bring glory in any measure to ourselves. “LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” (Isaiah 26 :12)
“Help me, O LORD my God; save me in accordance with your love. Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O Lord, have done it.” (Psalms 109:26-27) May the Lord multiply the fruit through your lives as you follow Him. To Him be glory both now and forever.

In Christ, Richard Spann

Grow in Grace

In II Peter 3:18, Peter closes his second letter with this last sentence. “But grow in grace,
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” (KJV) Romans 5:1-2 tells us how we enter into this grace. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Paul also addresses this subject when he tells Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (II Timothy 2:1) KJV What does it mean to be strong, and to grow in grace? How is this accomplished in our lives?

Some consider grace simply from the standpoint of an acronym. “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” God certainly did give us His riches at Christ’s expense, but grace existed long before we were ever on the scene. From eternity past to eternity future grace is a manifestation of God Himself. It is reflected in all He is and in all that He does. We are dependent upon His grace for our very existence. Every aspect of our physical existence, our spiritual birth, and development into Christ likeness and our eternity with Him is dependent upon His grace. To grow in grace, we need to understand our total dependence upon Him.

When Paul told Timothy to be strong in grace, he was instructing him to be strong in dependency. We think of strength as being adequate in ourselves, having the capability, the perseverance and wisdom to carry out our plans. To be strong in grace, however, means just the opposite. It is a dependence upon Someone else. It implies a realization that without Him, we can do nothing. We are strong in what comes from Someone else. Ian Thomas describes this dependence as follows. “He in us is the origin of His own image, source of His own activity, dynamic of His own demands and cause of His own effect.” The Indwelling Life of Christ. Multnomah Books 2006, pg 25. Ray Stedman once commented regarding the song, “I Need Thee Every Hour.” He stated that He did not believe that. When questioned why, He replied. “Because I need Him every second.” Colossians 3:4 states that Christ is our life. If I am to be strong in grace, strong in dependency, strong in what comes from Him, then I am going to look to Him for His words through me, His use of my eyes, my hands, my feet, my mind, and all my possessions. I am His and He is mine.

In John 9, Jesus states “I have come into the world to give sight to those who are spiritually blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” (John 9:39) LB We could also consider that the Lord came into the world to give grace to those who admit they are in need, and to show those who think they have no need that they need His grace. Growth in grace begins when we admit our need to Him. We need to pray the following verse with the Psalmist. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) KJV. The more we are conscious of our need, the more we seek Him and His throne of grace. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) KJV.

The increasing consciousness of the reality of his own life in regard to what he was without Christ drove the Apostle Paul to seek the grace of God. He states the following in an early letter (I Corinthians 15:7) that, “I am the least of the Apostles.” Ten years later he refers to himself as “Less than the least of all God’s people.” (Ephesians 3:8) In another ten years we find this statement in I Timothy 1:15. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.” The increasing awareness of who he was apart from the grace of God impelled him to draw more and more heavily upon that which came from God (His grace) to supply all that he needed for his life.
Many experiences which we have in life serve to draw us closer to the throne of grace. Some of these may include heartbreaking or devastating circumstances including loss of loved ones, uncertain employment, financial struggles, impaired relationships, and declining health. The Apostle Paul tells us his own experience in this regard. “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
(II Corinthians 12:7-10) The Lord wants us to know that there is never any situation or experience allowed in our lives in which His grace is not sufficient for us. The degree of weakness we experience only serves to magnify the degree of grace which we receive. We learn the truth of what is written in Romans 8:38-39. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Our growth in grace which God has for us includes another dimension. This is to be found in II Corinthians 8:9. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” I thought about this verse recently as I was sitting in the office of an inner city pastor. A homeless woman appeared at the door and then came in and sat in a chair beside me. Her story included being abandoned by her father, a history of drug abuse, losing her three children to foster care, with no job, no money, no food, no place to call her home and nowhere to go. As the Lord brought this verse to mind, I considered what it would be like for me to give her the keys to my car, all my cash, and all my credit cards and take what change she had in her purse in exchange. She would assume my riches, and I would assume her poverty. In actuality, such a trade would be minuscule and temporary compared to the grace offered to us by Christ. Paul tells us that this grace has been given to us to remind us that we are to be channels of His grace to others. “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” (II Corinthians 8:1-4)

We have much to learn and experience about grace. This present life offers only a shadow of what we will experience of grace in the ages to come. We are given a foretaste of this in the closing verse of the Bible. “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
(Revelations 22:21) May the Lord continue to increase His flow of grace to you and through you for his glory as we await the progressive revelation of His grace throughout eternity.

In Christ, Richard Spann

                                      You can only see just what you are looking at

     I had become frustrated with my glasses about two years ago.  The glasses would slip down and I could not use the lower part of the lens for reading.  When I came in to obtain a new pair, extensive tests were done on my eyes.  All previous tests, including the pressure measurements, were normal except for the presence of nearsightedness.  Although the pressure measurements were normal, they said that I had severe normal pressure glaucoma which was diagnosed by a peripheral field examination.  I was asked to look straight ahead and press a buzzer when I saw a vibration or a blinking light.  To my surprise, they said that most of the upper field of vision was no longer present.  The lower lateral range, however, was still sufficient for driving.  They then made the comment that I was rapidly approaching a point where I would only be able to see just what I was looking at.

     As I considered this statement, I was reminded of a man in scripture who, also, could only see just what he was looking at.  His name was Asaph.  He describes to us what he was looking at and what he saw.  “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.  But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.  For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:1-3)  His eyes were focused on others.  As he looked at them, he saw only that they were “always carefree,” “they increase in wealth.” (Psalm 73:12)  “They threaten oppression.” (Psalm 73:8) and “Their tongues take possession of the earth.” (Psalm 73:9)  What was the result of having his sight focused on them?  His feet had almost slipped.  He says in verse 13, “In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.”   He could only see and contemplate on that which he was looking at.  It had changed him into a man of despair, depression and disillusionment.

     There are also other dangers we face when we look at others and consider their condition as compared with ours.  We may think of ourselves as superior, more important, or having more worth or value than others.  Such was the case with the disciples of Christ.  “Then they came to Capernaum.  When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”  But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.” (Mark 9:33-34)  In the case of the disciples, this led to pride, insistence of self worth in comparison to others, arguing and dissension.  

     A third way of looking at others which leads us astray and is detrimental to our walk with Christ is illustrated in I Corinthians 3:3-4.  “You are still worldly.  For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?  Are you not acting like mere men?  For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere men?”  We are often tempted to identify ourselves with others that are well known, respected and have a significant degree of admiration from others.  We can feel exalted to some measure before others merely by mentioning their names as persons we have perhaps met, heard speak, or whose books we have read.  Even the mention of their names seems to be something that may be used to exalt ourselves before others.

     There is yet another way of looking at others which is detrimental to our growth in Christ.  It occurs when we are around individuals who have been given gifts, talents or opportunities which we have not experienced.  We may begin to think  “If only I had that gift or talent, or if only I had been given that opportunity.”  The list goes on.  It may make us feel that we don’t “measure up” to others, and that we are less likely to make the difference in the world that others have made.   

     The participation in any of these four examples of looking only at others can lead us astray.  The result may produce pride because we think that we we compare favorably with others, or depression because we don’t!  They represent a snare for our lives.  The only safeguard is for our eyes to be focused on the Lord instead.  We would do well to consider the words of the psalmist in Psalm 25:15.  “My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.” 

      Hebrews chapter 11 contains the stories of many who were faithful to the Lord and whom we consider as heroes of our faith.  We are only directed, however, to fix our eyes on One, the Lord Jesus Christ.  In Hebrews 12:2 we read the following.  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  The word “fix” means to stare with wonder and amazement, being captured by the thought of who He is, and to consider what he has done for us with such desire and intensity that it captures our mind and our heart.  As we do this, we come through God’s grace to realize the truth of who He is and who we are in relationship to Him.  “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians 2:9-10) KJV   God has given us everything we need in Christ!  We are given our own unique set of gifts.  We are provided additionally with opportunities and advantages which are individualized just for us.  We do not need anything that anyone else possesses.  This includes their talents, their background and opportunities.  Each one of is a different design, gifted like no one else and individually prepared by the Holy Spirit to accomplish what the Lord has predetermined for us to do.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) 

     As the author and perfecter of our faith, He wants us to know that He has given us His very life!  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, bur Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)  HIs life is to be expected.  “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.”              (I Corinthians 1:30)  His life is to be experienced.  “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)  His life is to be expressed.  “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.”  (II Corinthians 4:10-11)         

      Few of us, hopefully, will ever have physical glaucoma which limits our site to only what we are focusing on.  We all, to some extent, have had spiritual glaucoma when we have focused on others, ourselves and our circumstances.  We can only see spiritually what we are looking at.  May the eyes of your spirit be continually fixed on the Lord, so that the manifestation of His life will be fully expressed.  

In Christ, Richard Spann    

      

                          

                                             Preparing For Your Next Trip

     Most of us have had opportunities periodically to take a trip with our friends or family.  For some, it may have been a yearly event, for others, only an occasional trip could be scheduled.  It included travel, making sure of the arrangements at our destination, and being sure that we were prepared for that destination.  We left behind our homes, yards, and possessions to the care of others.  We also made arrangements for the care and well being of those we left behind.  There was a sense of anticipation, perhaps wonder, or even uncertainty about the location to which we were traveling.  What would the accommodations be like?  Did we do everything necessary for the trip?  What would we do when we arrive?  Who will we have meet us and join us on our adventure? 

     The above questions and others occupied my mind the last few weeks of spring last year.  I was planning to leave for Africa, to spend seven days in Kenya, and four more days in Ethiopia.  Much work was necessary to make sure that the passports and visas were ready.  The World Health Organization stated that both countries were endemic for malaria.  Yellow fever was a risk as well.  Provisions needed to be made for medication to prevent malaria and immunizations were required in order to prevent Yellow Fever.  Long shirts and trousers needed to be worn for sun protection as well as for mosquito protection.  Care needed to be taken regarding what you ate, and the source of water you drank.  Only bottled water was to be used to brush you teeth.  In addition, the awareness of local customs and mannerisms that are acceptable in these countries was important.  Delays in travel, inconveniences and occasional cancellations were to be expected.  Preparation for the trip would also require leaving the house, yard, and other possessions in the hands of others who would take care of them.  Most challenging is leaving the relatives and other close friends with whom I regularly visit and have had fellowship with.  With some, I have needed to leave instructions and guidance for the tasks they were to assume in my absence.  

     Whether your next trip is soon, or next year, these are the familiar matters which we all need to consider before taking that trip.  Although we may not know the destination of the next trip which we plan, we do know the destination of one trip that we all will take.  This trip is certain for all of us.  It may be totally unexpected.  It occurs to the young and to the old alike, to those who knew it was coming soon, and to others who had no idea that they would be on this trip.  Some will be prepared for that trip and others unprepared.  By now, you have correctly identified the trip I am addressing!  It is the one which we all take when we are called into the presence of the Almighty God.    

     The preparation for the trip into the presence of the Lord , in some respects, is not unlike other trips we have taken during our lifetime.  To be admitted into Kenya, a valid passport and visa are required.  To be admitted into the heavenly kingdom, advance preparation must also be made.  The scriptures are given to us that we may be certain about the preparation required.  It is amply given us in many sites, but I will refer only to the reference in Romans 10:9-10.  “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”  With this statement, we are confident that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to pay for our sins, and that we accept Him as the Lord of our lives.  

     The preparations that are necessary for our arrival in our eternal kingdom, however, go well beyond the above entrance requirements!  We find reference to the needed preparation in many locations.  One of these is found in I Corinthians 3:10-15. “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it.  But each one should be careful how he builds.  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.  If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”  This scripture relates that although there is admission to the Kingdom, there is no reward.  He has spent his life for worldly pursuits.  All that he accomplished was for his own agenda and was burned up by the fire.  He escapes as one who has passed through the flames.  He is wearing only scorched clothes!  Everything he owned was burned up.  Imagine a scenario in which all my luggage and carry on bags were lost en route to Africa and were never found.  My wallet was also missing and all that I have is the clothes I am wearing. There is no shaver, no tooth brush, jacket, hat, or change of clothes.  Extrapolate that picture into eternity and you will find a picture of the person who has not prepared for their eternal trip by investing their lives in God’s purposes for their life.    

     When our group arrived in Kenya, and later in Ethiopia, we were greeted warmly, and taken to our living arrangements where we later spent days visiting with the staff and friends we had made in Africa.  Scripture tells us that we are given the opportunity of preparing the size of our welcoming committee to our heavenly home!  “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”  (Luke 16:11) 

As someone once remarked, “We only keep that which we give away.”  Our ministry and help given to others during our lifetime will have made a difference in their lives here on earth.  Many will be given a chance to hear the gospel and trust in Christ through our labor, our gifts, and our prayers for them.  The Lord will have used these investments in others to not only bring them into His kingdom, but to also allow us experience their joy with them.  

     Preparation for this trip also requires the preparation of those whom we leave in charge of our possessions.  For most of us, this is our children and grandchildren.  Instruction is given to us in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 regarding this task.  “These commandment that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.”  Our preparation should be as dedicated to the task as was that of the Psalmist.  “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”  Psalm 71:18.  Knowledge of the Lord is always one generation away from what is written in Judges 2:10.  “…another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for them.”   

     The trip which I describe above is certain for each one of us.  Its timing, however, is uncertain.  It may be another 20-30 years, 10 for others,  and perhaps tomorrow for some.  It is in a place beyond description, prepared as our eternal designation.  In my experience, the longer that I am on a trip, the more preparation is required. That is true of this one as well.  May the Lord use your life for His glory so that you will celebrate His reward, receive a rich welcome and are confident in the preparation of those you have left (temporarily) behind. 

In Christ, Richard Spann  

           

      

     

                                                           Emotional Margin

     As he began to speak I wondered what had happened the preceding week.  Our conversation the last time I saw him was full of expectation for an investigational Bible study in the Gospel of John.  He had developed relationships with several others and was expecting that they would join us in a study in the next several weeks.  This day he was discouraged, almost depressed, as he said that he had almost called earlier in the day to cancel our meeting.  Since we had last met, both he and his wife had  been thinking about the direction the political scene was heading and it had consumed their time and energy.  The anxiety and worry over these and other circumstance of life had exhausted their emotional margin.  

      Margin has been defined as the difference between our load and our limit.  We usually think of margin as related to our use of time.  Our over commitment to some activities and pursuits may prevent us from being able to accomplish what is most necessary in our lives.  Charles Humbold addresses this in “Tyranny of the Urgent.”  Less recognized is the need for emotional margin.  I have heard this characterized by three statements, filling the tank of others without draining your own, satisfying the thirst of others without your own lips getting parched, and feeding the souls of others without your own being hungry. 

     In order to have emotional margin you need to know your capacity to handle your own emotional load as well as that of others.  We all have different abilities to handle stressful situations in our own lives as well as the lives of others.  A deficiency in our emotional margin has many causes.  I Kings 18-19:4 relates three of these.  These include physical fatigue, loneliness and following a spiritual high or victory in our lives.  Laboring in an area where we are ungifted may also drain our emotional capacity.  Emotional reserves are commonly exhausted from anger, jealousy, bitterness, resentment, irritation, and worry.   The results of all of the above can cause depression, discouragement and fatigue.  

     The development of emotional margin is chronicled multiple times in the scriptures.  The most familiar is the passage in Isaiah 40:31.  “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”(KJV)  Waiting on the Lord is to spend time with the Lord much like a waiter does in a restaurant with their customer.  A good waiter has their eyes on the customer, is available to them for anything they might want, and is responsive to their wishes.  To wait upon the LORD is to keep our eyes on Him, trusting Him for the needed direction in our lives, and committed to responding to Him.

     Psalm 91:1 is also a treasure for those seeking rest and recovery following a stressful day or situation.  “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (KJV)  This is the picture, not of the person who runs out quickly after a time with the Lord, but one who dwells, who continues the conversation, who relishes in the presence of the Most High.  The secret place is not a location, but a practice, perhaps of praise, worship, or thanksgiving.  This, then, is the person who draws their strength, and their emotional capacity from the Almighty.     

     In Philippians the scriptures in chapter 4, verses 6-9 describe three activities, all of which contribute to our emotional stability and capacity.  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything  is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.” These direct our prayer life, our thought life and our daily activities that accomplish the formation of a life of peace and emotional margin. 

     The truth of these verses regarding emotional margin was brought home to me recently.  My car had some difficulty starting for the past several months but the mechanics I had consulted said it was all right the way it was.  One morning while driving in Wichita I missed a turn onto a major highway that I use and found myself in a residential neighborhood.  Suddenly, the car stopped and I coasted quickly to a bike lane on the street.  After calling for a tow truck, I was told that it would be 2 1/2 hours before they would arrive!  My initial thoughts were to be upset at the mechanics who had failed in their responsibility, causing me unnecessary delays and expenses on a hot day.  The more I thought about the hardships caused by what I assumed was the mechanic’s failure, the more upset I became.  My emotional margin plummeted to near empty levels.  At some point, the Lord intervened with my thought life and I considered what would have happened if I had not missed the turn onto the highway.  A major accident would have probably occurred with my abrupt stop, alongside a busy highway in the heat, waiting at the roadside with traffic rushing by while I waited.  I compared that situation to where I was actually located.  It was one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city.  I had stalled the car in front of a beautiful home with a garden, lots of pretty trees, flowers, and birds chirping in the trees.  The gardener was attending the garden and I walked around enjoying the scenery.  The owner of the house brought out a chair for me to sit in beside one of her shade trees and a glass of ice water which she refilled repeatedly.  I had a choice to make in my thinking.  I could apply Philippians 4:8 and be thankful and rejoice in God’s provisions or I could continue in my resentment at what I thought was the failure of the mechanics.  

     The demonstration of a life with emotional margin has been given to us by Christ.  This life has been make available to us by His cross, resurrection, ascension and the pouring forth of  the Holy Spirit into our lives.  We can see some measure of this in a number of scriptures.  I have listed five for our consideration.  The first of these is His response to a busy schedule in Mark 1:21-38.  After an incredibly busy day, He departed early in the morning to spend time with His father, seeking the father’s will for the next day.  His response to His brother’s ridicule is mentioned in John 7:6-9.  Again, he patiently explained to them his plans, not disturbed by their accusations.  In John 16:31-33, he talks patiently and lovingly to those closest to Him who would forsake Him.  In Matthew 11:25-30, Jesus, when faced by the rejection of the towns in which He has spent much time, began to praise the father for His plans for the redemption of the lost. HIs response to those crucifying Him on Calvary was to ask for their forgiveness.  Luke 23:34.

     In Matthew 11:28-30, we are given a treasure beyond belief.  When we come to Jesus, there is not only rest for the spirit, the righteousness of Christ being imputed to us, but something greater than we could ever imagine.  He tells us that if we take His yoke upon us, and learn from Him, that we can have soul rest.  Major W. Ian Thomas describes the rest for the soul in these words.  “God gains access to our human soul.  This is where He Himself, as the Creator within the creature, can teach our minds, control our emotions, and direct our wills, so that He, as God from within, governs our behavior as we let God be God.” The Indwelling Life of Christ, Multnomah Books, 2006,  p.22.  Since He lives as the Creator within, we partake of His life and the demonstration of His life becomes ours.  This is His desire for each one of us, and to the measure in which we take that yoke upon ourselves and learn of Him is the measure in which our thirst is quenched by Him, our tank is always full and our soul is satisfied.  

In Christ,  Richard Spann   

                 

               

                          

     God, in His infinite grace, supplies all we need to live our lives now and throughout eternity.  He has redeemed us, given us His own life in Christ and accepted us as His beloved children.   All we can offer to Him is our faith and even this is a gift from him. (Ephesians 2:8)  Our acceptance of, and response to this faith is what pleases Him.  “And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.“ (Hebrews 11:6)  In the eyes of the Lord, our faith is said to be of great value.  “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire,-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (I Peter 1:6-7)  Since this is what God values and rewards, we need to apply ourselves to understanding faith and its development in our lives.

     C.S. Lewis once remarked that faith is “holding on to what you believe in spite of changing winds.”  The winds of times and circumstances may be contrary to our progress. They can blow us off course.  At times they may push us backward.  Faith, however, is a fixed attitude based on facts.  These facts are found in the word of God.  The more we are in the word of God, and the more the word of God is in us will our faith keep us steady amidst the winds which hinder our progress.  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 KJV) 

     Fear, not unbelief, is the enemy of our faith.  The fears of today and tomorrow are based upon the uncertainties of life.  We only think that we are in control of our lives.  When adverse circumstances come our way, fear follows closely behind.  Fear looks to ourselves and our own adequacy to handle situations in life.  Faith looks to God and His ability.  The waves were already present when Peter stepped outside the boat and started walking toward the Lord.  His faith kept him on course walking to the Lord. His fear, based on the consideration of his own ability to walk on the waves, overthrew his faith and he began to sink.           

     In Hebrews 11:1 we read the following.  “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  The KJV uses the term “substance” of things hoped for.  A better translation would  be “substantiating,”  As our eyes substantiate what is visible and and our ears substantiate what is audible, so faith substantiates the reality of things hoped for.  In order to increase faith in our everyday lives, the Lord provides four means by which our faith is strengthened.  These are problems, people, purpose and perspective. 

     To grow our faith we need problems.  They are God’s way of driving us to Him.  When we face problems, we become aware of our lack of resources to handle them.  We realize that we have, in fact, dug our own cisterns which do not hold water.  Our lives of self sufficiency are exposed in the midst of a problem we cannot solve.  The realization that we have, like all mankind, no capacity to govern and care for ourselves brings us to Him.  Our response should be, “What are you trying to teach me?”

     The second way the Lord provides increase in our faith is to expose us to other people.  Sometimes it is because they create a problem for us!  He also gives relationships with others because we do not grow in isolation.  The Lord uses the wisdom, encouragement, examples and prayers of others to enable our faith to grow.  Sometimes this is with an individual as mentioned in Proverbs 27:17.  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”  The Lord also uses groups of other people to accomplish this objective in our lives.  “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,  but let us encourage one another -and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:24-25) 

     The third method the Lord uses is to give us a purpose.  We all grow in certain ways when we have a purpose.  Each purpose which He gives comes with a pledge on His part to fulfill that purpose in and through our lives.  This causes us to look to Him for the needed wisdom, strength and perseverance to see the purpose accomplished.  By giving us a purpose, he desires to make evident the fact that He, Himself, is the Source that we need.  This is emphasized to us in the passage in Philippians 2:13.  “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”  With each succeeding purpose accomplished in our lives our faith grows as we become increasingly dependent upon Him.  

     The fourth need which we have that is necessary to the development of our faith is perspective.  “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’  He replied,’If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you,’”  The same year that Evel Knievel tried to drive his motorcycle over the Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho was also the year that I tried to get my wife to walk over the bridge at the Royal Gorge in Colorado.  My wife had very little faith in the bridge, but made it over safely.  Evel Knievel had great faith in his motorcycle but had a crash landing in an unsuccessful attempt to cross the river.  It is not the amount of our faith which is important.  What matters is what our faith is in.  We need to know the size of our God, not the size of our faith.  It is not faith that moves mountains, it is God. 

     “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation your souls.  (I Peter 1:8-9)  

      “We live by faith, not by sight.”  (II Corinthians 5:7)

In Christ, Richard Spann    

                  

                                                     The Mind of Christ 

     “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (Philippians 2:5-8) KJV  

     In one of his sermons, G. Campbell Morgan related that the essence of the mind of Christ was love, the consciousness of that mind was joy, and the expression of that mind was self-sacrifice.  Since God is love, and Christ is God, it is clear to see that the essence of that mind would be love.  Being one with the Father, we can understand from John 3:16 that when it says “God so loved the world”, that this statement also included the love of Christ.  Jesus came to make the Father known, and in all His relationships with humanity this love was demonstrated.  It was His love for us that took Him to the cross. 

     The consciousness of His mind was that of joy as was recorded in His words to His disciples.. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)  We also see a reference to His joy in Hebrews 12:2.  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

     The expression of that mind as one of self sacrifice is seen throughout the pages of both the Old and New Testaments.  “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (Mark 10:45)  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9)  

     The challenging part of this passage in Philippians is found in the first six words.  “Let this mind be in you.”  It is not only daunting, but impossible in our strength to do this.  Paul warns against self effort in Galatians 3:3.  “Are you so foolish?  After beginning with the Spirit, are you trying to attain your goal by human effort?  We are never expected to do this except by depending on the Holy Spirit to manifest the life of Christ within us.  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  (Galatians 2:20)  It is His love, (Romans 5:5) and His joy, (John 15:11) that is poured out into our lives and enables the living Christ to be seen in and through our lives with self-sacrifice.  “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so the the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.”  (II Corinthians 4:9-10)  

     If we are to “Let this mind be in you,” we have encountered an enemy at the outset.  “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”  (Galatians 5:17)  The sinful nature, or self, is opposed to self-sacrifice, particularly when asked to have joy in doing so!  The answer to this opposition is described by Paul in Galatians 3:16.  “So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”  

     As I look back over my life, I can recall that on a number of situations, self-sacrifice was not demonstrated at all. The cost of time, effort, and other choices took precedent.  On other occasions, self-sacrifice was present, but the efforts put forth were done reluctantly or  grudgingly, wondering why someone else could not have done what I was asked to do. Those events where the Holy Spirit enabled me to say no to self and willingly, with joy, minister to others with self-sacrifice are memorable.  They were all characterized by a God given love for that person, a willingness to do whatever was needed to attend to their need, irregardless of the cost to myself.  There was also a joy in being able to be used by the Lord on their behalf.  There was a distinct sense of being led by the Holy Spirit in these situations.   

     We are all given periodic opportunities in life to express the love of Christ in situations where self-sacrifice is involved, even at times when it is unnoticed by others.  As the Holy Spirit leads us, we can also experience His joy as the Spirit manifests the life of Christ through us.  These opportunities come unexpectedly, and not on our agenda for that time or place. They come as we interact with others, perhaps at a place of employment, during travel, or chance meetings with others.  They come most often, however, with those with whom we have the closest relationships.  As we look back on our lives, we will always have the remembrance of the opportunities that the Lord has given us to minister to others with self-sacrifice.  These opportunities are fleeting.  We will not always have an opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love to others. 

     A little more that three years ago, I walked into our bedroom and found the carpet was a total mess.  Beverly was unaware of an illness which had suddenly happened to her and she sat reading in a chair facing away from the carpet I was cleaning.   Although I did not know it at that time, it was the first symptom of a Covid illness.  As she sat and was looking away from me in the chair, I spent the next hour cleaning up the room.  It was a chance to minister to her that the Lord provided, even though she was unaware of what I was doing.  The Lord actually gave me a joy in serving her for which I am thankful to this day.  She slept that night in the chair, as she would often do.  I brought her McDonalds for her breakfast the next morning when she awakened.  She didn’t seem to know what to do with the food and all she could say was “I don’t know.”  She was unable to swallow and I was not even able to help her stand up.  I am not even certain that she even knew my name.  When admitted to the hospital that morning, all that she knew was her own name.  One month later, the Lord took her home to be with Him.  I will always be grateful for the opportunity to provide self-sacrificial love for her as the last thing I was able to do for her.  

     Major Ian Thomas was once asked what his purpose in life was.  He answered “To make the invisible Christ visible.”  It is in letting His mind be in us that He becomes visible.  As we do this, then the essence of our mind becomes love, the consciousness of our mind is joy, and the expression of our mind is demonstrated by self-sacrifice.  May the mind of Christ be richly evident in your life as you follow Him.   

In Christ, Richard Spann      

                            

                                                The Extravagant Life 

     We have known of those who live what we would call extravagant lives.  What immediately comes to mind is a life of opulent surroundings, including mansions, boats and airplanes.  We know of others who spend extravagantly on clothes, travel, hobbies or sports activities.  This type of life would be called lavish or excessive.  The dictionary describes extravagance as “going beyond what is reasonable, suitable or necessary.”  It may be surprising, then, to recall that what was considered by some to be extravagant was highly commended by our Lord.   It was an occasion of excess, it was lavish, and it was not reasonable even to Jesus’s disciples.  The story, as told in the Gospel of Matthew, is as follows.  “While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of man known as Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.  When the disciples saw this, they were indignant.  ‘Why this waste,’ they asked.  ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’”   “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also told, in    memory of her.”   (Matthew 26:6-8,13)

     In the scriptures we also find other examples of excess beyond what is reasonable or necessary.  “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.  Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.”  (II Corinthians 8:1-3)  Amazing.  Extreme poverty, most severe trial, and yet producing gifts beyond their ability.  Extravagant!  

     We see, in the life of Job, a case of extravagant trust when faced with the loss of his children, his property, his reputation, his health, and was surrounded by friends who were his accusers.  Despite all this, the comment of Job was “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” (Job 13:15)  He says the following in Job 23:8-10.  “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.  When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.  But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”  Although Job could not see God in any of his troubles, he was certain that God saw him, was taking care of him and would accomplish what was best for him.  His trust was extravagant because his rest was in the person of God instead of just the provisions of God. 

     The life of David was one of constant demands on his time.  The wars, as well as the requirements of the supervision of a vast kingdom were always on his to-do list.  There was no end to the many activities that needed to occupy his time.  Yet, he focused on one activity, and one Person.  “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:  That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)  He was extravagant in the use of his time simply to seek the LORD and to be with HIm.   

     One of the most striking areas of extravagance was in the worship offered to the LORD by Habakkuk.  When told of the desolation and destruction of his country, his response was as follows.  “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no castle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

     It is easy to praise God when everything is going well with our lives and our ministry.  What about the times when people won’t listen?  What do we do when the message God has called us to deliver is rejected?  What is our response when those with whom we have spent most of our time remain unmoved and distant from God?  Our Lord experienced all of these thoughts and feelings, as expressed in Matthew 11:20-26.  The towns in which the Lord had spent much of His time included Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum.   These towns were singled out specifically as those who did not repent. (Mathew 11:20)  The response of Jesus was as follows.  “At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Matthew 11:25)  Such praise, in the mind of many, may seem excessive, unnecessary, and going beyond what is reasonable.   

     All of the above accounts demonstrate an extravagant life.  They include praise to God when the ministry He has given to us is seemingly unsuccessful.  The list contains worshiping in the face of imminent disasters we face in our lives and in our country.  The seeking of time alone with God and making Him the priority of our lives when faced with the many demands of life is extravagant as well.  These passages contain the story of those, who, in the face of poverty, demonstrated rich generosity going beyond what was reasonable, suitable or necessary.  We also see, in this list, one who has reached the depths of his life.  He has found the very bottom of his existence, and, yet there, his faith in God is still affirmed.  He knew that when he reached the bottom, he was in the arms of God.  “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”  (Deut 33:27)  

     Everyone has faced situations in our lives that are similar to those mentioned in the scriptures.  If we haven’t yet experienced them in the past, then we will in the future.  We may lack financial resources, become incredibly busy in our lives, face extreme disappointments and failures in our ministry, experience significant health issues with no hope of resolution, and have challenges in our lives for which there is no solution.  When those occur, the Lord invites us to lead an extravagant life. 

     Are we able to worship like Habakkuk?, praise God like Jesus did?, spend time with God like David?, be generous like the Macedonian churches?, and trust God like Job?  There is only a small window of time for us to live by faith in our lives.  When we are with our LORD, all worship, praise and thanksgiving will be done by sight.  It will be easy and natural for us to do these things when we are with Him.  What is most pleasing to God, however, is the extravagance of trust, praise, worship, time and generosity that is manifest to Him, by faith, in our lives during the time that we have left.  (Hebrews 11:6) May the Lord give us all a closer glimpse of His beauty, glory and grandeur which will generate an extravagant life in each one of us.  

In Christ, Richard Spann                     

  

                

                                                                  IF

     “If Only.”  Those are among the two most paralyzing words in the English language.  They take us back to events, to people, and to places in our past.  There may have been regrets, disappointments, and perhaps guilt or shame.  “If only I had not responded in the manner that I did.”  “If only I had not said what I did.”  “If only I had not been a part of that activity.”  “If only I had treated that person differently.”  These words ‘“If only” stop our thoughts and other activities while we review and consider the “Might have beens” had it not been for the moments under our review.  There is a halt, a pause in our mental process from which it takes time to recover.  For some there may have been years that were wasted, opportunities missed, and gifts and talents left unused.   

      Our greatest “If only” may be to think about what the years would have been like had we turned to Christ and followed Him earlier in our lives.  When we look back on those years, we discover that our eyes are focused only upon ourselves and our failures.  To consider and review the past “If only’s” of our lives is to be preoccupied with self.  It is to say, in effect, “I really am better than that.”  “I expected more of myself than that.”  “It was not like me to make that mistake.”  “I am a more caring person than was reflected in that situation.”  To look back and have vain regrets is one of the reasons that Jesus gave us these words in Luke 9:62.  “Jesus replied, ’No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’” If our eyes are on the past, they are of no use to us in the present.  Our view of the future is obstructed by our laments of the past.  To be imprisoned by the past leads to failure in the future. 

     The Apostle Paul had many reasons to say “If only” as he regarded his life.  In I Corinthians 15:9, he stated that he did not even deserve to be called an apostle because he persecuted the Church of God, yet his life was dedicated to the present and not to the past.  In Philippians 3:13, he states the following. “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal.”   What mattered to Paul was not what he used to be, but what he was now in Christ.  He was a new creation in Christ. (II Corinthians 5:17)   Christ was his life (Galatians 2:20), and his adequacy. (II Corinthians 3:5-6)  By contemplating his union with Christ in the present, he was set free from the “If only’s” of the past.  It is these truths that also free us from the “If only’s” of our lives.  

     “What if?” No other thought pattern occurs so frequently in our minds as the “ What if’s.”   The “What if’s” have many sources.  “What if I am not able to support myself and my family financially?”  “What if I lose my job?”  “What if my health fails?”  “What if this relationship doesn’t work out?”  The list goes on and on.  The “What if’s” of life have their beginning in the third chapter of Genesis.  In an act of rebellion against the rule of God, man asserted his desire to be God, to make his own rules, and to govern himself.  This he was not able to do.  He was created to be dependent, not independent.  Mankind’s intellect, emotion, and will were created to reflect God, to have fellowship with God, and to have their highest function met by a continued dependence upon Him.  When man cast God aside, he rejected the very source of his completeness, the One who by His very name, JEHOVAH, assured man that He would become all that man needed to be.  Man was not designed with the capacity to control himself nor his future.  God Himself was the only One who would take care man’s present and future needs.  Mankind, as a result of his declaration of independence from God, created his own “What if’s”.  Having lost his connection with the One true God, he answered his “What If’s” by creating his own deity, which is Mammon.  G. Campbell Morgan states that “The worship of Mammon is the rendering to wealth for the sake of its power, of all that man ought to render to God.”  G. Campbell Morgan, The Crises of the Christ,  Hardpress Publishing, Fifth Edition, Pg 26.  

     Since the “What if’s” were created by our independence from God, the answer to the “What if’s” is met by a return to dependence.  We need to depend first on Him for our redemption and then acknowledge His Lordship over each aspect of our lives.  His promises to us, as we grow to trust Him fully, are designed to erase the “What if’s” from our vocabulary.  “The Lord himself will go before you.  He will be with you.  He will not leave you or forget you.  Don’t be afraid and don’t worry.”  (Deuteronomy 31:8)  “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:14 KJV)  “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 KJV)  Our faith in Him is the only appropriate response to the many truths which He has given to us.  He has given us His Name as the guarantee of supplying every need.  “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)   We will always find safety when we run to Him.  Bring all your ”What if’s” to Him and lay them at His feet.  

     If.  The Bible is not silent on this word.  It is a word proclaiming possibilities, a word of promise, a word that guarantees abundant blessings to those who listen and follow Him.  

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14) 

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  (Luke 9:23) 

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.”  (John 15:7)

“If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your light will become like the noon day.  The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations.  You will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. “ (Isaiah 58:10-12)  

     May His Grace lead us to forsake the “If only’s,” and the  What ifs” and concentrate on the “Ifs!”   

In Christ, Richard Spann