Take of Granted

Posted on September 26, 2022 by drgause@agause.com

“Sorry, I took that for granted.” Some events we can take for granted. Last night, you probably didn’t worry about the sun coming up this morning. However, human nature can lull us into believing many facts we’ve learned will always be the same. We take our hearing for granted until we need hearing aids. We all tend to take life for granted until we face death. For over ten years, I knew readers expected a new Sustaining Word every Monday morning, but my health declined. Now, a bit slower, I write as I can. The Holy Spirit recently taught me I was taking some ‘common and simple’ Bible teaching for granted. One example for me has been the doctrine of ‘faith’. After five decades of studying and teaching the Bible, I assumed I didn’t need to dig deeper into the meaning of ‘faith’. I had accumulated page upon page of research and notes. Well! As usual, God reminded me His Word doesn’t work that way.

“Name it and claim it; by faith, it’s yours.” “Don’t worry if you don’t understand; faith is a blind leap into the unknown.” In the past years, probably every Christian has heard teaching like this or similar erroneous claims. We must be cautious because faith is not just important to believers; it is crucial. It’s impossible to please God apart from faith (Heb 11:6 MSG). With such a warning, we must safeguard our understanding of biblical faith.

Where do we start? Throughout our walk as believers, we should occasionally reexamine the fundamental elements of our beliefs. We can learn one lesson through a secular example. Vincent Lombardi, arguably the greatest football coach of all time, took nothing for granted. Every season, he began training camps with the elementary fundamentals. Lombardi started from scratch, assuming that the players had carried over no knowledge from the previous year. On the first day, he would walk into the locker room, hold up a ball and say to his team, “Gentlemen, this is a football,” and continue through the rudimentary abc’s of the game—blocking, tackling, throwing, catching, etc. Next season, he again repeated these fundamentals.

We should also begin with the most basic tenets when we revisit our belief system. Faith isn’t a complex subject. It is simply taking God at His Word and acting upon it. But faith must always be based on something or someone; it cannot stand alone. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes, “faith never points to itself.” Faith is only as reliable as the trustworthiness of its object. As I have taught the correct view, some people opposed, “Oh, I have my faith,” or “I’m trusting in my faith.” Such so-called “faith” is meaningless and worthless because it has no object. People base their alleged faith on faith alone. Biblical faith is God-centered. It is rooted in ‘trust’ and confidence in the character of God. “Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.” – Max Lucado

Even though the foundation of faith is simple, that does not eliminate the challenges we face in a fallen world. Satan attempts to elevate the theories of anti-god intellectuals to be greater than biblical truth. Media daily bombards us with misformation through documentaries that cast doubt on the accuracy of the Bible. Many claim the Bible is historically inaccurate, full of errors, one story among many valid religions, and opposes logic and scientific reason. Paul instructs Timothy, Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses (I Tim 6:12 NIV). Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them (Elisabeth Elliot). “It is no sin to doubt some things… it may be fatal to believe everything. Faith never means gullibility (Tozer).

Fundamental truths that we must keep in mind as we revisit the tenets of our beliefs: Faith is s gift of God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith [trust]; and that not of yourselves: it [faith] is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8). Every believer doesn’t have the same level of faith. God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service] (Rom 12:3 AMP). Our faith can grow, But we hope that as your faith continues to grow (2 Corin 10:15 NET). Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom 10:17). In contrast, our faith can grow weak if we take our eyes off the promises of God and stop listening to His Word.

Faith is not simply the assent of the intellect to a revealed truth; it is the practical submission of the entire man to the guidance and control of such truth (Ungers). Faith isn’t passive but must be active. You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that—and tremble with fear (James 2:19 NET).

Sustaining Word for the Week: Faith is not a wish. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (Heb11:1 NLT). We don’t depend on a feeling. Faith is a decision built on Biblical truth and the character of God.

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Salvation Is a Journey

Posted on September 5, 2022 by drgause@agause.com

Tradition stated by crawling on his hands and knees up the ‘holy stairs,’ kissing each step, and repeating a prayer, the burden of unforgiven sin would roll away. The young man ladened with sin and tormented by his conscience was hoping by performing this ritual, he could rid his burden of guilt and he might obtain the favor of God. However, halfway up the stairs, the words of the prophet Habakkuk came forcibly and incessantly to his mind and heart: “The just shall live by faith.” With this spiritual enlightenment from the Holy Spirit, he immediately stood up, walked down the stairs, and returned home to Germany. Martin Luther later wrote this account of his experience in a letter to his son. The Holy Spirit freed him from trying to earn his salvation through works. Out of this came the Protestant Reformation.

In a figurative sense, I crawled up these steps for years. All my works were in vain, not once releasing me from the guilt of sin. My tormented conscience was always present until the Holy Spirit enlightened me on two verses: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph 2:8, 9 ESV). A lifetime of man’s traditional doctrine fell off, and I was instantly free of guilt.

Soon afterward, I began asking myself, “What now? What else have people taught me that is incorrect?” It became a time of amazement as I studied scripture with this changed mindset. As truth poured forth from the Word, I became more and more free in Christ. But I knew no matter at what point we experience freedom in Christ (whether at the time of our salvation or as a long-time believer), it becomes essential to understand what freedom means biblically. As with any doctrine, people can take scripture to extremes. One group claim that freedom indicates it’s up to God now, and we can throw out any work. In contrast, my mentors taught God saves us by grace through faith, but we can only keep our salvation through works.

Paul brings understanding by two verses. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil 2:12, 13). First, note it doesn’t say work ‘for’ your salvation rather, it says work ‘out’. Other versions clarify the meaning: Continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] (AMP); Be energetic in your life of salvation (MSG); Work hard to show the results of your salvation (NLT).

Salvation is a journey that includes three stages. The first, a legal term, is the act of justification. When we ask God for the forgiveness of our sin and put our faith in Christ, He instantaneously declares us innocent and imputes the righteousness of Christ to us “ . . . having now been justified by His blood . . .” (Rom. 5:9). God sees us in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. Some take this as the end of their participation. “Let go and let God; take my hands off.” They maintain that the key to a victorious Christian life is learning to let go and let God do it. Yet, Paul is telling us to cultivate it and bring it to full effect. In other words, we are to enter the second stage, which is sanctification.

Sanctification is an ongoing process whereby we gradually work out our justification in our actual performance. We start behaving differently, start thinking differently and start acting differently. Justification is entirely God’s work. Sanctification involves our cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Christ has forgiven our sins and delivered us from sin’s reign, but the responsibility for resisting sin is ours. God has given us His Spirit, but our responsibility is to behave in accordance with the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit, walk by the Spirit, follow the Spirit’s leading, by the Spirit let us be guided (Gal 5:25).  

The final stage of salvation is glorification. It takes place after we die. So, it is a transformation by the power of God and entirely apart from works. Glorification is the final stage in God’s work of salvation by which He will fully conform believers into the image of Christ. It reverses the Fall’s effects on man and in all of creation. The creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children (Rom 8:21 NET).

Salvation is a journey. Our works have no place in the first, justification, and no place in the third, glorification, but we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12, 13).

Sustaining Word for the Week: The Message Bible summarizes these verses well. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

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‘He’ Tricked Me!

Posted on August 22, 2022 by drgause@agause.com

You live in a world of deception. The Lord declared this through Jeremiah (9:6) about 600 years before Christ. But we could state it at any point in time since creation. The scope of the biblical topic of deception is significant. It began in the Garden of Eden, is found throughout Scripture, and will continue until the end when Satan, the deceiver, is thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev 20:10). Jesus taught about it 19 times and directly warned His disciples and those who would live in the last days. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matt 24:24 NET). Just these observations show the vital importance of understanding all we can learn about deception.

The translations of the original word in various versions give insight into its meaning—led astray, misguide, mislead, stray, fraud, tricked. We define deception as making a statement, carrying out an act, or using some device to mislead. It tricks someone into believing something that is not true. The root word actually means ‘bait’. Deception always has a bait. My title ‘He’ Tricked Me! is Eve’s answer when God asked her, “What is this you have done?” She replied, “The serpent tricked—deceived—me” (Gen 3:13). The bait Satan used was the fruit from the one tree they could not eat. His deception came through a lie. “You surely will not die! . . . your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God (vv 4, 5). After this occasion, the Old Testament referred to deception 49 more times.

During this study, I listed over 30 verses that warn of things that can deceive us. The major of them come about through people. Here are just a few: false prophets, false messiahs, bad company, evil men, religious leaders, and impostors. Other sources of deception are the desire for wealth and riches, great signs and wonders, traditions of men, and empty words. Paul warned of people who by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people (Rom 16:18). He instructs the church avoid them (v17)! Every method employed by deceivers comes by subtlety. Satan, the people, and the means he uses doesn’t, come with a warning label: “Be warned, I’m here to deceive you.”

The most important truth we must understand is everything mentioned above is merely the means and not the root cause. Deception begins with ‘me’. The most effective deceiver is ourselves. The human mind (heart) is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. Who can understand it? (Jer 17:9 HCSB). The first mistake people make is thinking they can’t be deceived. The reality is they are already deceived and, worse, don’t even know it. King David learned how deceitful and incurably bad his heart was. The lust of his eyes deceived him when he watched the very beautiful Bathsheba bathing from his roof. His flesh lusted; he sent for her and committed adultery. After learning she was pregnant, his pride caused him to have her husband killed being deceived this would hide his sin.

This leaves us with the question, how do we avoid deception if our hearts are so deceitful and incurably bad? David knew the answer was God’s help. He prayed, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Ps 51:10). Paul addresses this: You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your mind (heart), and to put on the new man (Eph 4: 22-24 NET). God promised through Ezekiel, Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you (36:26, 27). The Holy Spirit gives us power, wisdom, and the gift of discernment.

The Sadducees tried testing Jesus about marriage in heaven. Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you deceived for this reason because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God (Mark 12:24 NET)? The Word of God overcomes all deception. After Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness fasting, he was hungry (Matt 4:2). The Devil took advantage of this in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread”. Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth” (v3 MSG). Knowing the Word saved Jesus from this deception.

A deceptive world surrounds us in every aspect—secular and Christian. John instructed us, My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world (1Jn 4:1 MSG). My grandmother always told us, “Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear. I’ve modified that for today’s world. Don’t believe anything you hear or anything you see, especially if it comes through the media. Don’t be shy about checking things out.

Sustaining Word for the Week: If the whole church goes off into deception, that will in no way excuse us for not following Christ. (Leonard Ravenhill)

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Rust

Posted on August 2, 2022 by drgause@agause.com

Last year, moving into your new home brought many challenges and changed my entire perspective on life. This is the first new house we’ve ever owned; best of all, it’s paid for. Our appliances and most of our furniture are new. But we have faced major adjustments. The first significant difficulty has been living in half the square footage of our previous home. My challenge has been not having the storage space I had in our previous home or room for my 10,000-volume library. Yet, even a greater personal struggle has been no workshop or place for my tools. I was proud of the tools I had accumulated over the years for woodworking. Before moving, we had a two-story barn with lots of storage space. I’m not a hoarder, but the first to admit I have always been a packrat—in the genes, I guess. When Dad died, he still had every lawn mower he ever owned. I had a lot of ‘stuff’. Now I’m renting a storage unit, and Donna bought me a 40 ft. shipping container. But many things have remained outside in the weather and rain. Recently, I examined what still needed to be inside, but everything had rusted—some beyond use. Exotic wood for my projects was rotting. I was heartbroken and depressed.

That night, whether awake or in a dream, I’m not sure; it seemed like the Holy Spirt shouted a Bible verse into my mind. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matt 6:19). I had already given away half of my books, office equipment, clothes, furniture, etc. Those went to people who could use them. But this was different; nobody can utilize what had rusted and rotted. As I studied and prayed about my feelings, the Holy Spirit revealed that even after decades of serving Him, I needed to develop more in my perspective of life. Growing spiritually doesn’t end with retirement or at a certain age. Maturing in Christ encompasses our entire life.

Perspective is the broad grid through which we look at life. It determines how we approach life and influences everything – our attitudes, mindset, viewpoint, outlook, beliefs, and values. As we grow in Christ, our human perspective transforms to God’s perspective. We progressively see life as God sees it. He views eternity not past, present, or future. We must remember this physical world is momentary. God sees when it all ends.  

God is teaching me to let go of earthly treasures and embrace more of His perspective. All the “stuff” I valued in life will one day be no more—rusty tools, good tools, books, hunting trophies, our new home, etc. Peter said, But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up . . . all these things are to be destroyed in this way (2 Pet 3:10, 11). Ponder the extent of that scripture. Some things God blessed me to see will be destroyed, the great pyramid; the art of Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Johannes Vermeer; King Tut’s gold coffin and his treasures will be no more.

From a human perspective, that isn’t very pleasant to even think about. But, we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness (v13 Msg). Paul adds The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever (2 Corin 4:18 Msg). So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen (NIV).These verses lead to the question: where is your focus? Are you looking from your human perspective? Or from God’s perspective?

Jesus provided the ultimate example. 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 (Heb 12:2). The word “fix” means to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something else.” The spiritual vision turns away from the earth’s fleeting things and focuses on Jesus. He endured the cross by looking from God’s perspective of the joy He would experience for eternity with those He was dying for.

Embracing God’s perspective brings practical results. When our current troubles or the difficulties in the world disturb us focus on all that is coming and what God has ahead for us. When I have the proper perspective, I see myself as God sees me and do not try to live a man-produced stereotype. God called me to be nothing more than who he had created me to be.

Sustaining Word for the Week: What does God see from His perspective? God has prepared for those love him . . . Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined (1 Cor 2:9 NET). Be transformed by the renewing of your mind to God’s perspective.

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