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                          Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, 

                         shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For

                                  with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

                                                                      Luke 6:38

     The first year of my medical school training was in Lawrence, KS, where I attended a small church.  A missionary came to preach one Sunday and also presented the needs of his ministry.  I had no money available at that time since I had just spent all I had for tuition and books for the first semester.  I thought I might be able to scrape up fifty dollars by June of the next year and made a pledge for that amount.  In January, I found myself with no finances available for the second semester.  The Dean explained that their policy was not to provide loans for the first two years and they expected the students to have enough for these two years.  Because of an additional research project I had started on the history of medicine, however, he provided a scholarship grant for the last half of the first year.  All that he asked was that I present my paper at the history of medicine meeting in the spring, which I agreed to do.  June rolled around quickly and I was still fifty dollars short of making my pledge.  As I was in the midst of planning jobs for the summer I received a call from the Dean asking me if I was going to be at the Graduation Ceremonies.  When I asked why I should attend them as a freshman in Medical School, he replied that the committee had submitted my manuscript on the History of Medicine for the D.C. Guffey History of Medicine award.  He further informed me that I had won second prize!  You can imagine my surprise when he told me the award was fifty dollars!  I think to this day that if I had pledged one hundred dollars in September I would have received first prize instead!  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, had been poured into my lap!   

     We are often challenged in our churches and various other gatherings to give to the Lord’s work.  We are less often instructed as to why we should do so!  Some would say, “Does the Lord really need our money?”  “Does He not own the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine?”  Yes, indeed He does!  He also says in Haggai 2:8, “The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the LORD Almighty.”  We do not give because of His need, but because of our need.  There are at least four reasons given in scripture why we need to give to Him and His work.  We need to guard our hearts, to express Christ’s love to others, to provide an inheritance for ourselves and to share His happiness.   

     I know of some who check the Dow Jones Index daily and monitor their assets and bank balances regularly.  They can tell you their net worth without batting an eye!  Their treasure is stored up on earth.  This is what the Lord says about them.  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  (Matthew 6:19-21)  The Lord is concerned about our heart.  It will be where our treasure is.  If our treasure is only in the earth, our heart will be earthly and the “worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”  (Mark 4:19)  It is in laying up treasure in heaven that our heart will be guarded from an unfruitful life. 

     Our need to express Christ’s love to others is addressed in I John 3:17-20.  “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.  This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us.  For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”   In the act of giving to those in need we experience the love of God in and through our lives.  This manifestation of our Lord in us is used by the Holy Spirit to provide us the assurance that we belong to the Truth.   

     As parents, we teach our children financial principles which will enable them to have an inheritance for their future.  God, in the same way, desires that we have a rich inheritance for the life to come.  This is why He says that we are to “store up treasure for yourselves” in Matthew 6:19.  I Timothy 6:17-19 gives us the following instructions.  “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”  The Lord tells us further in Luke 16:9, that the size of our welcoming committee in eternal dwellings is related to our use of worldly wealth!   “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”   

     The greatest need of mankind, however, is to enjoy God and enter into oneness with Him.  Our God is a joyful God and wants us to participate with Him in His joy and happiness.  We are given glimpses of this joy throughout the scriptures.  In each case it is centered in mankind, His redemption for them and their return to Him.  Our Lord was looking forward to that time in Zephaniah 3:17.  (NASB) “The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior.  He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of Joy.”   His joy in our redemption is foreshadowed in the following parable in Matthew 13:44.  “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.  When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”  In this parable, the field is the world and the treasure represents those who belong to Christ and His Kingdom.  The man who was seeking the treasure and sold all he had was Christ.  The redemption itself is described 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.”   In Luke 15:10, we see the joy produced in heaven over mankind’s reception of God’s redemption.  “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  

     All the resources that we are given in life are given for a purpose.  Our use of them to advance and fill His Kingdom with those who are redeemed allows us the opportunity to join with Him in His happiness.  “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!’”  (Matthew 25:21)  Will the measure with which we are able to enjoy His happiness be related to the measure of our faithfulness with the use of the resources he has given us?  

     One more question remains to be considered.  How much should we invest in eternity?       II Corinthians 9:6-7 has the answer.  “Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Every man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”  The answer is, of course, as much as you want!  How many would we want to greet us with outstretched arms, those who would not have been there but for the Lord’s use of our resources?  How much of our Lord’s happiness do we wish to share with Him?     

     The Lord says in Luke 6:38, “Give and it will be given to you.”  Sometimes, as in my experience earlier, He bestows a blessing in this life.  More commonly, it seems that He wants us to wait until we are with Him to receive His reward.  We have only a brief time here to prepare for eternity.  As Dr. David Jeremiah once noted, “We are either moving away from our investments  (on earth), or toward them ( in heaven)!”   Our Lord desires that our investment be in the right place.  He is waiting for each one of us to appear before Him and hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant.”   

In Christ, Richard Spann                                              

  

                  

                                                          Gifts For The King

     In the past few weeks, the magazine catalogs have continued to come, sometimes five or six a day, promoting and offering different Christmas gifts from various locations around the world.  For many years, these have been my shopping outlet for Christmas.  Lacking the time and wisdom to know where to shop, I let the shopping venues come to me!   Starting in September, I perused each magazine carefully for any ideas.  I would consider things that would be of use in the house, the garden, the car, or for travel.  Was there anything that needed to be replaced?  Had any new tastes or interests developed in the last year?  What was most enjoyable?  Was any hint of a need or desire expressed which I had overlooked?  Gradually over the next several months until Christmas, I accumulated item after item and hid them in my den, wrapping them and putting them under the Christmas tree soon after Thanksgiving each year. 

     Although Bev enjoyed these gifts very much, there were other gifts that she appreciated even more.  One of these was simply the gift of my time.  I would schedule a full day off from work with no appointments at the office or hospital.  I arranged for one of my partners to take all of my calls that day.  My desire was just to be available to her.  She planned the day!  My goal was just to be with her and to be involved in the things that interested her.  Over the years we both learned to treasure the day together.  Another part of our Christmas time that gave her delight was seeing my joy at what she had given me.  She was particularly pleased when she saw that I was fully understanding and utilizing the gifts she had given to me.  The deepest part of our joy together, however, was a celebration of trust that we had given to each other many years ago.  This gift of trust in our relationship was foundational to every other gift. 

     These traditions came to a close last year, when Beverly received the gift that surpasses all gifts, the gift of being present eternally with the Lord.  My oldest daughter, Nicolle, also joined her around the throne just ten days before Christmas last year.  When the ones who have been  with you for fifty six years (Bev) and fifty one years (Nicolle) are gone, to whom then do you give Christmas gifts?  My thoughts turned to the One who will never leave you or forsake you!  He is the great I AM, the One who becomes all I need Him to be when I need Him to be all that I need.  He, the Creator and giver of all things, humbled Himself and was born a babe in a manger and received gifts from us, his creation, in the form of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  He, our Redeemer, the One who purchased eternal life for us at the cost of His own life, was the One to whom gifts were given at the first Christmas!  Although He needs no gifts, He still rejoices at what we bring to Him.  This year, I am choosing to give Him the gifts that Bev treasured the most year after year, the gifts of time, thankfulness, treasuring her gifts, and trust.     

     I have selected a day as I did with Bev, several weeks from now, which is to be a gift from me to the Lord.  I am planning to spend the entire day with Him, just the two of us together.  I am asking Him for His agenda, not mine!  It will doubtless include time with Him in His word, time together in prayer and a significant portion of time to simply wait and listen to Him.  I will wait for Him to show me what He wants me to do that day.  I call it a gift from me to Him, but it will really be His gift to Me!  “Come near to God, and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8)  

     As I would give Bev the gift of thankfulness for her gifts to me, I am planning on doing the same with the Lord this Christmas.  There is no material need that I have that He has not abundantly and exceedingly met.  “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)  This is also true regarding every spiritual need I have or will ever have!  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has  blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) 

     Another gift that Bev appreciated was for me to demonstrate my interest in, and use of the gifts I had been given.  Whether this was sports related or for the yard and garden maintenance, she was delighted to see me using it to its intended capacity.  Likewise, the gift that I can bring to the Lord is to receive fully the gifts He has given and allow them to be used by Him for His glory.  “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (I Peter 4:10)   

     The greatest gift that Bev and I gave to each other not only at Christmas time but throughout the year was our unwavering trust in one another.  This, then, is the most important gift that I am giving to the Lord this year, my unwavering trust in His love for me.  It is the gift that I know will bring Him delight!   As gifts are given at Christmas, we look for delight on the faces of those to whom we give gifts.  We can tell this readily from the expression of the eyes, the smile, and the excited demeanor of the recipient of the gift.  We do not often remember that we have a Lord who waits to be delighted as well.  His delight is more real than those of our children at Christmas time!  It does not fade away as it sometimes does with others.  It is eternal.  There is nothing He cherishes more than to be delighted with us!  He tells us what brings Him this delight in Psalm 147:11, “The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”  I can bring Him delight this Christmas by simply putting my hope in his unfailing love! 

     The Lord, being in very nature Love, is governed in all He does for us and in us by His infinite love.  This love is expressed to us with His perfect knowledge and absolute control.  At any given moment in our lives, it is impossible to escape the center of His love for us!   We can, then, confidently say the following with the Apostle Paul 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.”    

     At Christmas time we commonly sing songs about the cradle in the stable.  The cradle, however, was only necessary as a path to the cross.  What the Lord desires is that we join Him by faith at the cross, trusting in His atonement for our sins, so that we may be in the mighty throng in glory as we see Him receive the crown!  The joy of our presence there with Him is the reason why He came 2,000 years ago!  May this cause for celebration be with you this season and throughout the coming year!          

 In Christ, Richard Spann  

                                  

                                        We are not saved by the amount of our faith,

                                                   but by the object of our faith.  

     On September 8th,1974, famous daredevil Evel Knievel climbed into a steam-powered rocket and attempted to blast across Idaho’s Snake River Canyon.  He had carefully assessed both sides of the canyon, prepared a ramp, and arranged for a parachute to deploy to bring him to safety on the other side of the river.  He widely acclaimed his faith in this venture and was certain of its success.  Unfortunately, the parachute opened too early, leading to a crash landing in the canyon below.  Despite his great faith, he discovered that he had placed it in the wrong object.

     About this same time, my wife and I were traveling to a similar canyon called the Royal Gorge.  A bridge had been built across the canyon.  As we stepped up to the bridge, we could see a dizzying distance to the river below.  It took a great deal of persuading to entice my wife to cross the bridge.  Her faith was weak and we took very hesitating steps across the bridge and before long, we arrived in safety on the other side.  We made it to safety, not because of the amount of our faith but because of the object of our faith.  

     Our physical lives are dependent upon placing our faith in the right objects.  The spiritual nature, likewise, looks for that in which it can exercise its faith.  G. Campbell Morgan, in the Crises of the Christ, makes this statement.  “It is unthinkable and impossible that human nature should exist without a god in some form.  The most blatant infidel, denying the existence of a Supreme Being, yet worships; and where there is no other object, then man enshrines his own intellect, bows down before that, declaring that he will receive and yield to the things he can comprehend, thus making his understanding the very deity that receives his worship.  The creation of a god upon the basis of man’s knowledge of himself lies at the back of the whole story of idolatry.” Hardpress Publishing, Fifth Edition, Pages 22-23.  Over the many centuries, the evil one has induced fallen humanity to exercise great faith in many false gods.  Evel Kneivel’s misplaced faith resulted in bodily injury.  Misplaced faith in these lies of the evil one, however, result in eternal separation from God. 

     Having blinded the eyes of many to the glory of the finished work of Christ, the devil does not consider his work to be finished.  He also turns his attention to those who have placed their faith in Christ.  Although he has failed in his attempt to induce us to place our faith in false gods, the enemy of our souls now attempts to rob us of the joy we now have in our relationship with Christ.  He does this by motivating us to look at our faith rather than at the object of our faith, which is Christ.  He gives us the impression that our faith is too little to receive the blessings that are available to us from our Lord.  Although we don’t hear his audible voice, we are led to compare our faith with others and we always come up on the short end of the stick.  When we read Hebrews chapter eleven we may be led to conclude that those heroes of faith were in a different league, and that is why the Lord honored and blessed them.  He causes us to remember instances in our own life when our faith was weak.  He may pose imaginary situations in the future and then remind us that if these things were to happen to us we would never be able to handle it.  His focus is ultimately to force us to look at ourselves rather than to Christ, who is the object of our faith.    

     How much faith is necessary to follow our Lord?  The disciples sensed a lack of faith when told by the Lord that they must forgive one another seven times in one day!  Their conversation is chronicled for us in Luke 17:5-6.  “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.’”   Even faith as small as a mustard seed will be enough!  G. Campbell Morgan interprets this passage to mean that it is the quality of our faith, not the quantity, that is important. The elements of the quality of faith that is required are illustrated for us by three different individuals in the scriptures, all of which were noted for not having a large amount of faith!  

     The first of these was the apostle Peter, who, along with other disciples was to hear this comment from the Lord.  “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”  Mark 8:26.  He demonstrated, however, a critical quality of faith in the following passage of scripture.  “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’”  John 6:68-69.  His faith was one that was characterized by the abandonment of all other alternatives than faith in Him.  Psalm 20:7 states that “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”  The chariots and horses of today include material wealth, our own training and education, political parties, other people and various philosophies to name a few.  If we, however, like Peter, have rejected other alternatives and have abandoned ourselves to Him, even with a small amount of faith, it will be enough.  

      In the Gospel of Mark we have the story of a man whose need was met not because of the amount of faith but because of the object of his faith.  It is recorded in Chapter nine that a man brought his son to Jesus, but with doubts as to the ability of the Lord to do anything.  “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (Mark 9:22)  He further confessed his doubts when he related “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.”  (Mark 9:24)  He did not possess a great quantity of faith.  He did have, however, a critical quality of faith which was evidenced by the fact that he brought whatever faith he had to Jesus.  If we have sufficient faith to come to Jesus, it will be enough!  

     A third individual that the scriptures record as having little quantity of faith was Gideon.  In Judges chapter six we read the account where two times he used a wool fleece to test God’s ability to do what He had promised to do!  Yet the Lord brought him to a point where he acted based on the promise of God.  In chapter seven it is recorded that he said to the three hundred men “Watch me, follow my lead.  When I get to the edge of the camp do exactly as I do.”  This third quality of faith is an action, an activity, a response to a promise or command given.  True belief, or faith is always characterized by a response.  Romans 1:5 describes this as the “obedience of faith.”  In some cases, we are asked to do the very thing, perhaps the only thing, that we cannot do!  Such was the man in Mark 3:5 who was asked to stretch out a shriveled hand.  His faith was sufficient because he acted in response to the Lord’s command, trusting in the object of his faith, the Lord Jesus Christ, rather than in his quantity of faith.       

     Do you ever feel like your faith is not enough for the Lord to act on your behalf?  Does the thought ever cross your mind that if you just had more faith there would be restoration of a relationship, ability to get out of debt, or wisdom to know which course to take in a business venture?  We can be confident, however, that whatever faith you have that brings you to Jesus, trusting only in Him, and responsive to His command or direction will be sufficient.  We are not saved in any situation in life by the amount of our faith, but by the object of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ.  

In Christ, Richard Spann                 

                                        The Joy of the Lord is your Strength

                                                                         Nehemiah 8:10

     Some time ago I sat down with a friend to enjoy lunch together.   After we finished eating and discussing the usual items during conversation we decided to have a short time of prayer together.  As we began to discuss these items, he leaned forward with a troubled look on his face and said “I have lost my joy.”  I could tell from his expression and the tone of his voice that his statement was heartfelt.  It was not merely a passing concern.  It reflected a deep realization of a need in his life that was not being met.  After we prayed and parted our ways I began to reflect on the meaning of joy, as well as God’s means of restoring joy in our lives.  

     Webster’s dictionary defines joy as “the emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good, gladness, or delight.”  It is also characterized by “a state of happiness or bliss.”  The scriptures have much to say about what produces the acquisition or expectation of this emotion.  It is of more than passing interest that four items mentioned in the scriptures producing joy are included in the Navigator wheel illustration!   

     The first two of these are given to us directly by our Lord.  They both have to do with our vertical dimension in life, that is, with our relationship with Him.  They were both mentioned during the walk to Gethsemane after the passover meal in the upper room.  One of these is found in John 16:24.  “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.  Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”  Our Lord desires to see the delight and gladness produced in our lives by answers to prayer.  By this instruction, he acknowledges the need for and benefit of joy in our lives.  He has given us prayer as one means of assuring that this need for joy is met in us. 

     A little earlier in the journey from the upper room the Lord told his disciples that they were to be beneficiaries of His joy through another source.  His words to them in John 15:11 were as follows.  “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”  The Living Word has given us the written word so that His joy may be in us and that our joy would be complete.  What a promise!  He enables us, by that promise, to come confidently to the scriptures where His joy is to be manifested in us. 

     The horizontal section of the Navigator wheel depicts our relationship with others.  In the scriptures we find that our relationships with both the lost in sin and those saved by Grace are designed to bring us joy.  Those who need to know Christ as well as those who need to know Him better are used by the Lord to produce joy in our lives.  In Psalm 126:6 we read the following.  “He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”  The joy we have in our hearts when someone comes to Christ with whom we have shared the Gospel is unforgettable.  Even the angels, scriptures say, rejoice with us!      

     The Lord has also provided another pathway by which we receive joy.  That joy is to be experienced in our relationships with other Christians.  “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.  We write this to make our joy complete.”  (I John 1:3-4)   The Lord has designed us to be one body, caring for and supporting one another.  The function of all the parts together is created to produce joy in our relationships with one another. 

     Many years ago, while working in my hospital office, I began looking at the topics of both joy and peace.  After some time in the scriptures and prayer, I was lead to the thought that ”joy is not the absence of sorrow, nor is peace the absence of problems, but both joy and peace are simply  the presence of the Lord.”  I have remembered that since.  I also recall from the sermons of G. Campbell Morgan some helpful thoughts about joy.  One of these was from a sermon on Galatians 5:22-23.  He was describing the one fruit which is love.  The other words that followed were different attributes of love.  His analysis, then, of joy was that it was the “consciousness of God’s love.”  I have found that to be helpful to me as well.  In another of his sermons Morgan made this comment.  “Our joy is in proportion to our trust in God.  To know Him is to trust Him.”  I have found over the years since reading those comments that as my knowledge of God increased, so my joy increased as well.  The most powerful message to us about joy, however, is contained in the verse which launched our consideration of joy, Nehemiah 8:10.   

     What all does the term “Joy of the Lord” imply?  In Hebrews 12:2 we are told that He endured the cross for the joy set before Him.  G. Campbell Morgan states that in Philippians 2:5-8, the consciousness of the mind of Christ was one of joy, as He demonstrated His self-sacrificial love for us.  We are not instructed to imitate or to emulate His life.  We have no capacity to do so.  We are but to receive His life, and to receive His mind that was described in Philippians 2:5-8.  We are invited to join, by His Grace, in the consciousness of His joy as His life( and ours) is poured out for others.  He is asking us to join with Him in this joy.  The ultimate joy, then, comes from our knowledge and trust we have in Him, from His presence, from the consciousness of His love for us and from our union with Him.  This joy is our birthright since we are joined to Him by the Grace of God. (I Corinthians 1:30)  This is the joy that the Lord desires for my friend who has lost his joy.  This is the joy that I have been praying that he would come to understand and receive.  This is, indeed, what our Lord desires for each one of us.  May His joy fill your hearts and minds and sustain you fully until the day when you see Him face to face.  

In Christ, Richard Spann

           

                         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

     The arch-enemy of our race, the devil, prefers not to come out in the open.  If the Lord had not forced him to the confrontation in the desert, he would have remained hidden.  He does not  present himself to us as a devil.  If he did, we would resist him.  His appeal to us is far more subtle.  He presents to our view options that seem to be beneficial to us.  The option of having our eyes opened, becoming like God, and knowing good and evil was attractive to Adam and Eve.  In their choice to eat the forbidden fruit, however, a new kingdom was formed on planet earth, the kingdom of self.  This kingdom has been present since that time.  We are born into that kingdom and it influences every part of our lives.  This was the kingdom that Satan initiated in his own existence when he declared the following desire.  “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the most High.”  (Isaiah 14:14)   

     Kingdoms in Conflict is the title of a book written by Charles Colson.  All of these kingdoms are related to self.  Everyone has their own private kingdom where self reigns, and it is in conflict with everyone else’s kingdom.  The kingdom of self is present in presidents and paupers, the great and the small, the rich and the poor, the young and the old alike.  There is no tribe, tongue or culture in which we do not witness the rule of self.  It is seen most visibly in wars and acts of evil. It is present in interpersonal relationships causing anger, bitterness and marital unfaithfulness.  The more subtle forms are characterized by pride, envy, stinginess and lack of concern for others. 

     When we are born again into the Kingdom of God, Christ is imputed to us as righteousness and imparted to us as our holiness.  There remains, however, the day by day appropriation of His life.  The old patterns of living for self still need, by faith, to be dealt with by the cross.  The kingdom of self may still show up in subtle ways among Christ followers.  It may manifest itself in substituting spiritual objectives for material ones.  They appear on the surface to be beneficial, but the focus is still on self.  Some are inclined to move about from church to church, in search of the one who gives the best sermons in town.  Others participate in the services only when it is convenient to do so.  If our children’s little league has a game on Sunday (They are deliberated scheduled then!) we choose to go to the little league game instead.  Many parishioners, getting used to the on-line service, have not returned to the pews once Covid has lessened.  There is a persistent mindset in the minds of some in the church which has the viewpoint of “what is best for me.”  They want the best preachers, the best teachers and their favorite music!  This is partially defended by calling it “fulfillment” and “being blessed.“  The focus, however, is on our encouragement, our knowledge, our satisfaction and our entertainment.  In all of this, however, the focus is on our own self being served.  In contrast to this, we see the life of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve.

     We see the service of Christ most clearly in the following passage.  “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!  (Philippians 2:5-8)   G. Campbell Morgan related that the essence of His attitude was love, His consciousness was joy, and the expression of His love was self sacrifice.  The Lord spoke on numerous occasions instructing His followers to do for others what He had done for them.  “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:15-17)   “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  (Luke 6:40)  

     As followers of Christ, we were never designed to be reservoirs, but rather channels through which His grace and life would flow.  A reservoir exists for itself.  It allows inflow but no outflow.  It is of no use to anyone downstream.  Its waters are stagnant and of no use.  In John 7:38, the Lord did not say that “Whoever believes in me will be a lake or reservoir!”. He said “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  These streams are meant for others!  Our lives are measured not by what they contain, but by what they dispense.  We should read it through, pray it in, live it out and pass it on.  If we are not a channel, then we are a bottle neck of obstruction to His grace.  

     In his book, My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers has these comments in regard to John 7:38.  “Jesus did not say—‘he that believeth in Me shall realize the blessing of the fulness of God,’ but—‘he that believeth in Me out of him shall escape everything he receives.’  Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization.  His purpose is not the development of a man; His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure.  If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts.  It is not that God makes us beautiful rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us.  Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all.  ‘He that believeth in Me out of him shall flow rivers of living water’—hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed.  It is time now to break the life, to cease craving for satisfaction, and to spill the thing out.  Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?”  

In Christ, Richard Spann          

                                                               Motivation

     Webster’s dictionary describes motive as “any emotion or desire operating on one’s will and driving it to action.”  No one wills anything without a prior cause.  This is true of all our actions, our speech, and our decisions every day.  Our will responds to motivations which may come from many sources.  The Lord, who created us with this will, also uses motivation to guide us in our walk with Him.  Years ago, a Navigator speaker, whose name I cannot recall, listed the motivations that the Lord uses in our lives.  I have found these to be beneficial over the years and trust that they will be helpful to you as well.  There are nine in number and are found in II Corinthians.  

     II Corinthians 5:1-9 describes a motivation based on the knowledge of our future dwelling place with the Lord.  At the moment we take our last breath we enter into an eternal house in heaven!  We are assured of this because the Holy Spirit is given to us as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  The certainty of our eternal destination is a powerful motivation for us as we labor with Him for the lost.  

     II Corinthians 5:10, a motivation by judgment, reminds us that the Lord takes careful note of our entire lives, remembering all that He has done through our lives as we have relied, by faith, on His Spirit to work through us.  Nothing that He has done through us is overlooked.  The judgment seat is a seat of rewards!  Our sin was judged at the cross and is remembered no more.  The motivation of judgment encourages us as we labor in anticipation of receiving our praise from Him!  

     II Corinthians 5:11 refers to the fear of God as a motivation to serve, to worship, to love and to trust Him.  It is not characterized by being fearful, but rather a worshipful awe, respect, and wonder because of who He is.  Our hearts should be stirred to please Him with all of our thoughts, words and deeds.     

     II Corinthians 5:13 introduces the motive of unselfishness which we also find in the life of our Lord Jesus.  “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)  Here in II Corinthians 5, Paul states that he is willing to let others think less of him so that they might come to Christ.  He refers to this in II Corinthians 4:12 as well,  “So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”  

     II Corinthians 5:14-15 describes the motive of love, “For the love which Christ has for me presses on me from all sides, holding me to one end, and prohibiting me from considering any other, wrapping itself around me in tenderness, giving me an impelling motive.”  (II Corinthians 5:14 Wuest )  This is none other than the love of Christ, which is given to us as a birthright when we trust in Him as our Savior and Lord.  His love for us, for Him, and for others is poured out into our hearts. (Romans 5:5) 

     II Corinthians 5:16-17 reminds us that we are motivated by regeneration.  Because of the change in us, we see people differently.  We have a new sense of their worth to God.  We are motivated by their value in the eyes of our Lord to both love them and to serve them.    

     II Corinthians 5:18-21 relates to us that we are motivated by reconciliation.  God has made possible the non-imputation of sin and the imputation of righteousness.  The news that each one we meet can be fully reconciled to God through belief in His righteousness as a gift to them is a powerful motivation in our lives.    

  

     II Corinthians 6:1-2 impresses us that time is a powerful motivation in our relationship with others.  The guarantee of more time is not given to anyone.  “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (II Corinthians 6:2b)

     II Corinthians 6:3-10 lists the sufferings Paul endured and mentions them as motivations to continue to be faithful in service to the Lord.  He refers to those again in Philippians 3:10.  “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”  He also refers to these in Colossians 1:24,  “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, which is the church.”  

 

     The above list of motivations all have a similar goal, which is to enable us to be productive  in the Lord’s ministry.  This ministry, which He has given to us, is described in II Corinthians 2:14 -II Corinthians 6:13.  In this section of scripture we are called “ministers of a new covenant.” ( II Cor. 3:6)  It is in this passage that we are introduced to “the ministry of the Spirit” in II Cor. 3:8, the “ministry that brings righteousness,” (II Cor. 3:9) and the “ministry of reconciliation.” (II Cor. 5:18)  The new covenant is the ministry of the Spirit through us that brings righteousness and reconciliation to many others.  It is my prayer that the Lord will use these motivations richly in your lives to both increase and multiply His eternal harvest!  

In Christ, Richard Spann   

                                                               Joy and Peace

     It is usually at Christmas time that we see cards which prominently display these two words. Joy and peace were the words of the angels as they announced the coming of Christ.  In order to focus more clearly on the person of Christ during this season, I always begin a study of His life at Christmas time and continue it throughout Easter.  Deepening my knowledge of Him is not an optional exercise for my life.  It is a necessity.  We talk a lot about joy and peace during the Christmas season and we should do this.  I have come to realize, however, that joy is not the absence of sorrow, nor is peace the absence of problems.  Both joy and peace are the presence of Christ.  I read recently in a sermon that “Our joy is proportional to our trust.  Our trust is in proportion to our knowledge of God.  To know Him is to trust Him.”  The stability of our lives revolves around our depth of the knowledge of God.  Joy and peace come from knowing that He is too loving to be unkind and too wise to ever make a mistake.  They come from knowing Him as our shield and our exceeding great reward. (Genesis 15:1)  They come from knowing that the depth, the height, the width and length of God’s love for us can never be measured.  It is the certainty that we are in the center of His love that sustains our lives at Christmas time as well as throughout the rest of the year.  

     Christmas was different the year of 2021.  Beverly awakened the morning of August 20 unable to think clearly.  I could not get her to eat her breakfast or even get her out of the chair.  EMS was called and she was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital.  It was five days before I could see her due to Covid restrictions.  She seemed pleased to see me but she did not know my name.  Despite excellent care she was unable to stand up, to swallow food or to respond to questions.  She continued to decline and was transferred to the hospice unit for the last few days of her life.   After one month of hospital care, the Lord called her home to be with him.  (September 17, 2021) 

     These thoughts were written with a heavy heart,  because my oldest daughter (Nicolle) heard the Lord’s call to come to Him as well.  Her cancer had progressed to a point where she was in Hospice care.  She and her mother celebrated Christmas together in the presence of the Lord the year of 2021.  She left behind her husband, to whom she had been married twenty two years, and their five children.  I grieve deeply with the loss of both my wife and daughter.  I know, however, that the Lord desires to help fill this void with Himself.   

     G. Campbell Morgan once wrote that joy is the consciousness of God’s love and that peace is the confidence of His love.  I am thankful that through my knowledge of God, I can trust Him, and that in trusting Him I am able to be conscious of His love and confident of His love.

     Satan once came before God and accused mankind of worshipping and serving God for the good that God did for them.  It turned out that he was right about Bildad, Zophar, Eliphaz and Job’s wife, but not about Job.  Job determined that he should worship and serve God for who He was, not simply for what He had done for Job.  I have come to realize that there is not much in this life that I can offer to God.  He has provided Salvation, His very own nature given to me in His Son, adoption into His family and an eternity to rejoice in Him.  What I can offer to Him, however, is praise, worship, service and thanksgiving to Him for Who He is, not just for what He does for me. 

     It is at Christmas that we celebrate His coming to earth to visibly reveal the nature of God Himself.  I John 3:2 assures us that when we see Him, we will be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  Beverly and Nicolle have seen Him as He is and have been transformed into His likeness.  They are rejoicing around the throne of God.  This is the reason Jesus came into the world over two thousand years ago.  He came to take away our sin and transform us by the gift of His life in order that we could be one with God in Christ.  This was the joy set before Him as He endured the cross!  (Hebrews 12:2)  

     To those of us who have been left by the ones we love there is sorrow.  I miss Bev and Nicolle deeply.   Although I cannot see Christ visibly as they see Him, He is still my joy and my peace.  He has given Himself to me.  He will never leave me or forsake me!  

     Some dear friends gave me a verse several years ago as I was facing chemotherapy and surgery for recurrent cancer.  I start nearly every day by quoting it to myself.  “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)  It is my prayer and desire for you that His presence and His promises will provide you an awareness of His joy and His peace as you follow Him.       

In Christ,

Richard Spann                      

                                               The Depth of God’s Designs for us

     I am sometimes asked if I have a favorite verse in the Bible.  Actually, there are too many to recount.  I need them all!  Perhaps the one that most completely describes God’s plan for us is in  II Corinthians 5:21.  “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (KJV)  Another question that seems to arise is “Do you have a favorite chapter in the Bible?  Many look at I Corinthians 13, or perhaps the 23rd Psalm.  Although I cannot name a favorite chapter, I do have a favorite paragraph, seven verses which continue to amaze and astound my understanding of the vastness and completeness of God’s care and love for us from the beginning of our lives to the end, including our preparation for eternity.  They are found in the first seven verses of Isaiah chapter 43. 

     “But now, this is what the LORD says-he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel. (verse 1)  YHWH opens this chapter by declaring His name, the LORD, the One who becomes all we need Him to be.  He wants us to know that the following statements are His words!  When He created us, we were all like Jacob, one who wants to control his own life, make his own decisions, and go his own way.  The LORD needed to put him through a process (formed) in order to change him into Israel. (Ruled by God)  This is His pattern with each of us!  God is faithful to individually form us into those who are ruled by HIm.    

     “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. (verse 2)  This is the first of two fear nots in this paragraph.  We need not fear because the LORD knows us by name.  He has summoned us and redeemed us.  We belong to Him because we are His design, His creation, His purchased redemption and His possession.  Our position could not be more secure than this!  

     When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (verse 3)  This verse is a marvelous statement regarding the LORD’s protection.  His presence is always with us.  Each event of our lives is under His personal supervision.  Whether these issues are financial, a physical illness, loss of loved ones, or other challenging circumstances, the LORD assures us of His personal presence and protection.  

     For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. (verse 3)  Here He reminds us again of His all sufficient and mighty Name, sufficient to provide and preserve us in every situation that life may bring.  

     Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. (verse 4)  In Deuteronomy 32:9  the LORD declares that “The LORD’s  portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance.”  In Isaiah 43, the LORD declares that we are to become participants with Him in His inheritance, which is the lives of people.  People are what the LORD values, and He desires that we become partners with Him in claiming His possession.  He desires us to work alongside Him with His inheritance!  “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.”  II Corinthians 5:20.  

     Do not be afraid, for I am with you, I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.  I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’  Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Verses 5-7)   The fitting climax to this marvelous paragraph of creation, formation, personal knowledge, pardon, protection and partnership is His promise to those who participate in His grace.  He will bring with Him those with whom we have invested our lives.  How many will there be before His throne that He will reveal to us?  Isaiah 60:22 says that “The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation.  I am the LORD, in its time I will do this swiftly.”  In regard to each one of these, the LORD states that they were created, formed and made.  These three words seem similar in our language, but in Hebrew they are unique and each one describes a different part of God’s work in their lives.  Created (bara in Hebrew), is the word used in Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:27.  Here it describes a unique personality with potential and possibilities.  The word formed indicates a process, while the word made refers to the final product of His work  The LORD sums up His purpose by declaring that it is being done for His Glory!   This product is referred to in Ephesians 4:13. “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” 

     The above paragraph may seem like the total picture of the LORD’s work in our lives.  It is, in fact, just the beginning.  It is but the preparation for the work of the ages to come.  “Unto Him be glory in the church, throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen”  Ephesians 3:21 (KJV)  His work in us and through us will continue as we join with all tribes and tongues around His throne praising and serving Him forever!  

In Christ, Richard Spann

     

                                             If your Natural Life is Spiritual, then you                                                         

                                               can let your Spiritual life be Natural.  

     For many years, I have been to multiple conferences each year, focusing on different aspects of ministry.  The speakers have challenged me from their messages and examples of their own lives in various areas of evangelism and discipleship.  As I have compared my life to theirs, I am left with a sense of guilt at times, not measuring up to what they were doing.  Furthermore, I would at times experience a reluctance to even approach the areas of ministry the way they had done.  It has taken me some time (And I am still working on this!) to realize that I don’t need to do things the way that others do them.  I also have come to peace with the thought that I am not gifted the same as others in different areas of our ministry.  There are a  number of those in our ministry that are quite gifted in evangelism.  Likewise, there are others whose lives are very productive in areas of discipleship.  The breadth and depth of ministry of others in our team of Navigators has varied considerably.  As I reflect on this, I am led to the fact that we are all different in terms of our temperament, our personalities, and our approach to others.  The Lord’s team consisted of a Zealot and a former tax collector for the Romans.  It included the outspoken Peter and a number of others whose conversations were not even recorded.  They were expected to be different reflecting their own personalities as they followed Christ.  A Navigator speaker some years ago mentioned that if our natural lives are spiritual then we can let our spiritual lives be natural.  

     Have you ever had the experience of being in a situation where you were into some aspect of ministry that was not a natural reflection of your spiritual life?  Tim Downs describes such an experience in his book “Finding Common Ground.”  He related that his group in college was told one evening to go find someone and share their faith.  He states that he met that announcement with “the same enthusiasm he would have in looking forward to a root canal!”  He and a friend spotted a solitary figure who seemed to have nothing to do and asked if they could share the contents of a little booklet.  The man turned and walked away, his eyes glued to the sidewalk.  He said nothing in response to the question so they began reading the booklet.  As they continued to read, the man began walking faster, his eyes never leaving the ground before him.  They plunged ahead with the reading “Man is sinful and separated from God so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love.”  They came to an intersection.  Without waiting for the light to change, he darted across.  They were right behind him, reading fast.  “Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin.  Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience His love.”  By this time, they were almost at a dead run.  They arrived at his dormitory just as the presentation was finished.  He was out of sidewalk.  They were out of laws, and everyone was out of breath.  As Tim recounts the experience, it was clear that this was not a natural expression of their spiritual lives! 

     For some individuals, their gifting and personality leads them to naturally share Christ with others wherever they go.  A friend of mine once had the opportunity to go door to door with Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ.  He related to me later that Bill had a gift for making people comfortable in his presence and moving naturally to the gospel presentation.  I have known others in my lifetime which have that natural God given ability as well. To me, that is not a natural expression of my spiritual life.  I am more accustomed to developing relationships and then asking about their interest in looking at the Bible together.  God will ask us to move out of our comfort zones, but he will not ask us to do that which is an unnatural expression of our spiritual lives. 

     What is meant by the statement, “The natural life is spiritual?”  The simplest definition would be a life ruled by God.  The life of Christ would be visible in words and deeds before others.  An example of what this looks like can be found in I Timothy 4:12.  “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”  If this is true of our lives, then our natural conversations, our business dealings, and our relationships with others will allow the spiritual life to be natural.  We can comfortably be ourselves as we seek to deepen relationships that will bear the weight of God’s truth.  The fragrance of a naturally spiritual life is unmistakable!  It is described in Ii Corinthians 2:14.  “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.”   

     Our Lord states the following to us in Luke 9:23.  “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”  These are the basic requirements for our natural life to be spiritual.  The denial of self is inward and hidden; the taking up of the cross is outward and visible.  To follow Him is to trust and obey.  If our natural life is spiritual, then we can rely on His promise to us in Matthew 4:19.  “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  If our natural life is spiritual, “Follow me,”  then we can let our spiritual life be natural, “I will make you fishers of men.”  The Lord Himself will take the responsibility for letting our spiritual lives be natural.  We can trust Him to do naturally in our lives that which demonstrates what Eugene Peterson describes as “the unforced rhythms of grace.”  

In Christ, Richard Spann 

     Webster’s dictionary describes motive as “any emotion or desire operating on one’s will and driving it to action.”  No one wills anything without a prior cause.  This is true of all our actions, our speech, and our decisions every day.  Our will responds to motivations which may come from many sources.  The Lord, who created us with this will, also uses motivation to guide us in our walk with Him.  Years ago, a Navigator speaker, whose name I cannot recall, listed the motivations that the Lord uses in our lives.  I have found these to be beneficial over the years and trust that they will be helpful to you as well.  There are nine in number and are found in II Corinthians.  

     II Corinthians 5:1-9 describes a motivation based on the knowledge of our future dwelling place with the Lord.  At the moment we take our last breath we enter into an eternal house in heaven!  We are assured of this because the Holy Spirit is given to us as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  The certainty of our eternal destination is a powerful motivation for us as we labor with Him for the lost.  

     II Corinthians 5:10, a motivation by judgment, reminds us that the Lord takes careful note of our entire lives, remembering all that He has done through our lives as we have relied, by faith, on His Spirit to work through us.  Nothing that He has done through us is overlooked.  The judgment seat is a seat of rewards!  Our sin was judged at the cross and is remembered no more.  The motivation of judgment encourages us as we labor in anticipation of receiving our praise from Him!  

     II Corinthians 5:11 refers to the fear of God as a motivation to serve, to worship, to love and to trust Him.  It is not characterized by being fearful, but rather a worshipful awe, respect, and wonder because of who He is.  Our hearts should be stirred to please Him with all of our thoughts, words and deeds.     

     II Corinthians 5:13 introduces the motive of unselfishness which we also find in the life of our Lord Jesus.  “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)  Here in II Corinthians 5, Paul states that he is willing to let others think less of him so that they might come to Christ.  He refers to this in II Corinthians 4:12 as well,  “So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”  

     II Corinthians 5:14-15 describes the motive of love, “For the love which Christ has for me presses on me from all sides, holding me to one end, and prohibiting me from considering any other, wrapping itself around me in tenderness, giving me an impelling motive.”  (II Corinthians 5:14 Wuest )  This is none other than the love of Christ, which is given to us as a birthright when we trust in Him as our Savior and Lord.  His love for us, for Him, and for others is poured out into our hearts. (Romans 5:5) 

     II Corinthians 5:16-17 reminds us that we are motivated by regeneration.  Because of the change in us, we see people differently.  We have a new sense of their worth to God.  We are motivated by their value in the eyes of our Lord to both love them and to serve them.    

     II Corinthians 5:18-21 relates to us that we are motivated by reconciliation.  God has made possible the non-imputation of sin and the imputation of righteousness.  The news that each one we meet can be fully reconciled to God through belief in His righteousness as a gift to them is a powerful motivation in our lives.    

  

     II Corinthians 6:1-2 impresses us that time is a powerful motivation in our relationship with others.  The guarantee of more time is not given to anyone.  “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (II Corinthians 6:2b)

     II Corinthians 6:3-10 lists the sufferings Paul endured and mentions them as motivations to continue to be faithful in service to the Lord.  He refers to those again in Philippians 3:10.  “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”  He also refers to these in Colossians 1:24,  “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, which is the church.”  

 

     The above list of motivations all have a similar goal, which is to enable us to be productive  in the Lord’s ministry.  This ministry, which He has given to us, is described in II Corinthians 2:14 -II Corinthians 6:13.  In this section of scripture we are called “ministers of a new covenant.” ( II Cor. 3:6)  It is in this passage that we are introduced to “the ministry of the Spirit” in II Cor. 3:8, the “ministry that brings righteousness,” (II Cor. 3:9) and the “ministry of reconciliation.” (II Cor. 5:18)  The new covenant is the ministry of the Spirit through us that brings righteousness and reconciliation to many others.  It is my prayer that the Lord will use these motivations richly in your lives to both increase and multiply His eternal harvest!  

In Christ, Richard Spann