God is Glorious

 

God is Glorious

There are qualities about God that defy descriptions and languages. The fact that God is glorious is accurate, but our appreciation of this concept falls extremely short of the intentions of the Word. Really language bends and even trembles attempting to define the ‘glory of God.’ It is here that I attempt the nearly impossible.

Glorious can describe God rather generally and provide a more explicit declaration on other occasions. Often the context provides the correct clues. In Exodus 33, Moses makes a very specific request to view the ‘glory’ of God. After being with the Lord on the mountain for this time and now routinely receiving directions and commandments from Him, Moses finally gets up the nerve to ask for the fascinating—"shew me thy glory”. We all yearn with Moses to know God more deeply and intimately.

Exodus 33:18-23, And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. ¹⁹ And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. ²⁰ And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. ²¹ And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: ²² And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: ²³ And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Moses asked to see God’s glory, and the Lord responded by revealing His “goodness,” character, and “name”, instead of a direct visual image, because seeing God’s “face” would be deadly. In loving mercy, God protected Moses in a cleft of the rock, allowing him to see only His trailing presence. Beloved, while God is holy and beyond our understanding in tremendous ways, He reveals Himself personally to us as we seek Him, offering glimpses of His nature/character in the Word and Christ while lovingly protecting us in our frailness. Moses…emerged from that experience with God ‘brilliantly shining with awesome glory!’

From this and other passages, we may describe the “glory of God” as supreme magnificence, brilliant manifestation, and the radiant splendor of His holiness and power. We might say it’s a visible, overwhelming greatness of divine character and presence. God is the ultimate embodiment of honor, power, divine beauty, and perfection. Accordingly, He is deserving and yes, worthy of our complete praise and worship (Exodus 33:18-23; Isaiah 6:3).

Several passages join this one to portray the Lord God in this light as glorious:

1. Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”  
• All the natural creation is a persistent, silent witness to God’s fascinating existence, incredible power, and insightful wisdom. Creation reflects the Creator’s majesty, providing universal evidence of His craftmanship.
• David announced…a summary statement: the majestic Creation is evidence of the even more majestic Creator-God.^[1] Thus, the entire natural revelation is a potent declaration of how glorious God really is.
2. Isaiah 6:3: “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
• God’s holy presence and creative majesty is a pivotal declaration in Isaiah’s vision, emphasizing God’s absolute purity, majesty, and triune nature. The threefold repetition highlights the superlative holiness of God and His supreme sovereignty over all creation. 
• We are reminded that God’s unapproachable holiness is strengthened by the guarantee that His glory is present everywhere. He is viewed as high and exalted; this is how we need to view Him because it will deliver us from such small living. We would no longer make lax references to God or the Lord Jesus as ‘the Man upstairs.’
• They talk about Him as if He were a buddy and as if they could speak to Him in any way they please. My friend, you cannot rush into the presence of God. He doesn’t permit it. You come to the Father through Christ. This is the only way He can be approached. You can never come into the presence of the Father because of who you are. You come into His presence because you are in Christ. The Lord Jesus made that very clear when He said, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” If you are His child, you can come with boldness to the throne of grace, but you cannot come to Him on any other basis.^[2]
3. Psalm 57:5: "Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth."  
• King David’s profound cry of praise and faith while hiding in a cave from enemies.
• He plead for God’s supreme power to be manifested, prioritizing God’s glory over personal safety or deliverance. David acknowledges God as higher than the heavens and superior to all earthly, threatening situations. Even in desperate danger ("among lions"), David stops to declare that God’s honor is more important than his own problems.
4. 1 Corinthians 10:31: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."  
• Every action in our life—from mundane tasks like eating and drinking to major decisions—should be done with the purpose of honoring and bringing glory to God.
• This is a kind of, “moral compass” for Christian living, emphasizing that worship is an all-inclusive lifestyle rather than just religious rituals.  We should be asking, “Will this bring glory to God?” before acting, ensuring our actions reflect God's character and lead others to Him.
5. Habakkuk 2:14: "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."  
• The prophet promises that the knowledge of God’s glory will inevitably triumph with his righteousness, sovereignty, and truth over our wicked chaos. Our message of hope and comfort is that God will be universally recognized and glorified!
• We are encouraged to live with the expectation of this future reality, reflecting God’s glory in our lives today.
6. Romans 11:36: "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
1. God's absolute sovereignty is the Source (Creator), Sustainer (through whom all exists), and Ultimate Goal (for His glory) of all creation. Literally everything exists for His purpose. 
2. Therefore, our worship involves humbling ourselves to realize we exist for His glory, not our own.
7. Romans 3:23-26: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
1. God declares that everyone has sinned and fallen short of his glory, making everyone equally in need of salvation. Justification is a free gift of grace, achieved through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God offered as a propitiation (atonement) to satisfy justice.
2. Everyone without exception has broken God’s law and failed to measure up to His perfect standard of holiness. All people, regardless of background, are in a sinful state and cannot achieve righteousness on their own.
3. "Glory of God" points to God’s perfect, holy standard, which human actions, thoughts, and words fail to reflect. You see neither painstakingly following perfect rules nor belonging to an elite family makes you righteous in God’s eyes, but rather that everyone must be justified through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Beloved, God’s glory includes the immensity of creation (stars, planets, mountains, oceans), the person of Jesus Christ (incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension), supernatural appearances/manifestations like consuming fire or holy clouds, and the display of divine characteristics like sovereignty, love, mercy, and justice. All of these indicate God’s magnificence, holiness, brilliance, grandeur, and presence among us. 

The ultimate purpose of our existence along with all creation is to reflect His beauty, and we are instructed to do everything to His glory (1 Cor 10:31). Think about everything that was created: the universe, solar systems, suns, stars, the planets, moons, the ocean, the powerful lion, or the remarkable eagle in the sky, me and you–all creation demonstrates God’s glory. Nothing is exempt from his glory. 

Sometimes our choir sings a spectacular song detailing the fact that God is bigger, better, stronger, and greater! What a bold testimony of worship, exhortation, encouragement, and focus! Our Lord is indeed bigger, better, stronger, and greater! Another way to summarize all these qualities is to describe God as ‘glorious’!

Historically in my travels to various churches, I once…maybe even twice witnessed a believer so full of respect for God and at a place of an unusual high in the worship service exclaimed out of that unprecedented fullness, “Glory…Glory…GLORY…GLORY!” He was desperately trying (but miserably failing) to contain what he was experiencing at that moment. I was reduced to tears when I finally realized what was happening years later. Now I cannot help wondering if he got ‘JUST a glimpse’ of the glorious nature of God!

---

^[1] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 807.

^[2] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 209.

It is Time to “Christ Up”

 

It is Time to “Christ Up”

Galatians 2:20

Theme: turn to Christ daily for whatever you need to live out God’s interests.

It's time to "Christ" up! You have heard of the phrase, "Man up" before perhaps in the context of a unique challenge to a youth or even to a fully mature man who is presently behaving more like a boy. Basically, we are forcefully encouraged to meet certain expectations...satisfy requirements or secure the necessary strength to elevate our performance. Well with "Christ" up there is a standard...expectation, a requirement. "Christ" is that standard, and this does not involve more self-reliance!

The strength we must summon is not physical and carnal, but totally spiritual and transcendent. At this level "Christ" does the amazing through our spirit's and mostly by His Holy Spirit. The result is God is glorified through "Christ" and we elevate to "Christ Mode" instead of settling for merely what is humanly possible with self-reliance. We intentionally capitulate to our human spirit that was made alive by God, embrace the power of the holy Spirit, and submit our carnal flesh by yielding to divine outcomes instead of mere cultural ideas. We live out the meaning of being a "living sacrifice." Christ is manifested, magnified, and made visible for others to be attracted to Him also.

This idea is offered in Galatians 2:20 which says: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. 

Critical Ideas to Capture:

1. “Crucified with Christ”: A believer's old sinful nature is dead, freed from any condemnation of God's law.
2. “Christ liveth in me”: The believer's life is now guided and empowered by Jesus Christ living within us through the incredible power of Holy Spirit, thus eliminating the need for self-reliance and personal isolation.
3. “Live by faith”: The daily life in the physical body ("the flesh") is sustained by faith in Jesus, not by following the law or earning salvation through our activities.

God highlights for us the incredible need to transition from self-reliance to living through Christ’s power. Beloved, it is time to “Christ Up” as we apply this idea to ‘Christian living.’ Make this all-important transition, change, and revolution!

What is self-reliance? The ability to depend on yourself for things instead of relying on others. The self-contained person is independent and autonomous — they take care of themselves.

Proofs of self-reliance are demonstrated through ‘fleshly’ resourcefulness, carnal flexibility, and independent decision-making, and displaying a desire to navigate challenges without relying on or involving others. Some of this is necessary and expected but this becomes dangerous as we promote ‘self-sufficiency’ independent of ‘Christ-reliance’!

What does God afford us is ‘Christ dependency”? Holy and transcendent living is not normal for fallen human beings but is only available to believers who are living sacrifices. Not merely saved individuals—though this should include every believer, but real subjects of the Kingdom of God. That is new wine, new life, new power, new purpose, new freedom, new hope, new significance, new fire, and new people reserved exclusively for the genuinely righteous lifestyle!

This is what holy and transcendent living is like:

Ephesians 5:18-20, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁹ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; ²⁰ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Galatians 5:21-26, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴ And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

The believers are deeply spiritual—enthusiastically Holy Spirit dominated! They are intimate with God and experience frequent connection with Him, consistent in life, and often surpass mere religious routines. They typically exhibit high levels of faith, humility, and holiness, prioritizing a direct, personal, and emotional relationship with God over mere formal, ecclesiastical, external, cultural displays of supposed faith. 

Beloved, transcendent living is rising above daily struggles and self-centeredness to experience God’s deeper purpose, joy, and connection to His Kingdom. It involves cultivating awareness of Him through His Word, nurturing agape love, and embracing moments of amazement as He fulfils His will through us. Such lifestyle transforms ordinary existence into a meaningful kingdom-focused journey.

The murky side of self-sufficiency often leads to exhaustion, long-lasting stress, worry, and isolation, as the irrational need to do everything alone causes us to view asking for help as a weakness. We can even regard asking God for guidance and power as an indication of weakness. Such an attitude or mindset can destroy fellowship with God, forfeit Christ’s Kingdom opportunities and dynamics, cripple relationships, hinder teamwork through the church, and cause believers to reject church or pastoral support, leading to emotional coldness and detachment and, in extreme cases, serious spiritual, physical, and mental health crises. 

What are some ways we are resorting to or even choosing self-reliance?

1.      Do we take personal responsibility for outcomes?

2.     Do we resort to the ‘flesh’ to take credit for results?

3.     Do we trust our instincts—feeling, personal ideas—instead of God and His Word?

4.     Are we maintaining emotional independence? You know…regulating our own emotions, validating our own worth, and not relying on God and His people for godly happiness and holiness.

5.     Are we actively solving problems rather than waiting on God for guidance and relying on His help?

These questions aid our self-evaluations before the Lord. It is okay to invite His help as we search our souls (Psalm 139:23-24).

Important factors of transcendent living to include:

• Shift your perspective to moving beyond the ‘ego-self’ or individual, mundane, and self-centered concerns.
• Stay still in God’s presence, being alert to the present opportunities, and noticing what He communicates (His will) to your heart and thoughts.
• Purpose to serve and get involved focusing on helping others, leaving a godly legacy, winning people to Christ, and contributing to God’s kingdom goals through your church.
• Accept and trust God with the way it is. We must intentionally let go of the need to control every outcome and instead trust God’s wisdom with the flow of life.
• Daily incorporate these concepts by applying God’s truth, moments of meditation on God and His Word, standing in awe of His incredible Person, and being watchful of daily life, relationships, fellowship opportunities and work.

Conclusion:

The pathway to realizing this “Christ up” mentality often involve surrendering to the Holy Spirit, forsaking the flesh as unacceptable on this transcendent level, cultivating real spiritual significance, gratitude towards the Lord, and connection with your church’s ministries.

 

God’s Order for a Wife (Part III)

 

“God’s Order for a Wife” 

1 PETER 3:1-6

SUBJECT: SUBMISSION APPLIED TO MARRIAGE

THEME: each believing wife is to submit to her own husband in God’s order for marriage as a matter of trusting God.

RELEVANCE: though much of marriage is thrilling, our experiences can become unfair and sometimes painful; those who are the most intimate can hurt us deeply. Undoubtedly this is the case in marriage. To further complicate matters, many Christian couples are oblivious of what God calls them to deeming ‘God's way’ as outdated. Regardless as children of God we are expected to accept God’s order and conduct ourselves accordingly even in poor circumstances. The obligation to trust God and embrace a better future are thus directed and reinforced in marriage.

INTRODUCTION:

Every relationship requires some work, labor, adjustments, growth, change, and effort if it is to serve God’s intentions and be mutually beneficial for all parties. Certainly, this is true in marriage.   

MESSAGE:

B.    God’s Instructions to Wives

Such a wife is thoughtful to respond in the Spirit’s control instead of a fleshly reaction. She lives for eternal values instead of time bound ideas. What matters to her is what will outlive her physical life and still matter in eternity for all eternity.

                                                    i.     Master Your Attitude—Bring these Areas into Focus and Under Control!

1.     1 Pet 3:4, But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

2.     The attire that makes the believer genuinely attractive to God is the beauty of the inner person. Costly hairstyles, elaborate clothing and expensive jewelry are all “corruptible,” temporary and perishable! They do not last! The ‘worldling’ emphasizes the external appearance instead of modifying the internal character—"the hidden man of the heart.” They value carnal expressions like controlling the man to use his money, nasty backtalk, and celebrating bold feminism, but a “meek and quite spirit” is of great price in God’s evaluations. Our Lord values the internal person much more; he really examines beyond the surface to realize what’s happening inside. This is the most important part of the real you! It has been well said, “You have a body, but you are a soul.” If we really live for the Lord, this area would be our primary focus.

3.     Choose a Meek Attitude.  1Pet. 3:4, “Meek . . . spirit” refers to an attitude or perspective that is gentle, pleasant, tender, humble, mild and considerate. This is the mindset of discipline and self-control always. The opposite would be a girl that is harsh, unpleasant, rough, proud, expressive, and selfish. Her carnality and fleshly nature dominates her existence. However, a meek person does not flare up with anger, talks back out of frustration, and acts defensively out of insecurity. She refuses to weaponize any weakness she may discover in Him due to her intimate proximity. She does not scheme to hurt her husband to maintain control or to manipulate his compliance. Neither does she whine and complain frequently to have her own way. She is dominated by a spirit of meekness.

a.     Gentleness is Another Way of Referring to Meekness. Gentleness is being easy on others, considering their vulnerable points, and taking care not to hurt them. I once had some dental work done in a clinic where more than one dentist worked on me. One dentist had rough hands; the other had gentle hands. The first dentist hurt me; the second one didn't. That is part of what it means to be gentle.

b.     Meekness Is Different from Weakness. One who is meek is often understood to be timid, weak, and “wimpy.” Such is not the case, however. Meekness refers to “power under control.”

                                                                                                                i.     PETER =Peter was loud and pushy. Then, he became controlled and channeled, using his great energy for the glory of God. MOSES is the “meekest” man who ever lived. Yet he was far from a wimp. He was a dramatic and powerful leader, but under the control of God.

                                                                                                              ii.     A river that is controlled can generate much power. A fire under control can warm a house. A personality under control can be used by God for His purposes. Controlled energy can achieve great good. Uncontrolled energy usually dissipates or just destroys.

                                                                                                            iii.     JESUS was arrested, taken through a series of mock trials, beaten, and mistreated. He had the power to annihilate his tormentors with a spoken word, but He didn’t, choosing instead to endure suffering for the sake of our redemption. Isaiah spoke prophetically when he said of Jesus’ controlled tongue, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7). Meekness is “love under God’s control” even to the extent of controlling the mouth!

c.      The Holy Spirit will build meekness within us individually and within our marriages. When He does, we do not hurt people or run roughshod over them. We do not “lock horns” with those who cross us. Rather, under the control of the Holy Spirit, we display sensitivity to our spouse and allow God to channel our energy for the good of our mate. Yes, submission is a mark of confidence and security in the Lord. It is not spineless cringing, based on insecurity and fear. It is voluntarily unselfishness, and willingly cooperative attitude/spirit that seeks the highest good for one’s husband. So, like a gorgeous gown, put on meekness.

4.     Choose a Quiet Attitude. Vs 4, “Quiet spirit”. She is a woman of special quietness and tranquility…a peaceful disposition. Her character is composed and free from agitation, stress, or conflict. The winds of her soul are not turbulent and anxious but calm, still, serene, and unstirred. This tranquil attitude is at peace with oneself and with God. A quality that seeks to build peace with her husband.

a.      Exhibiting godly behavior under unfair circumstances can be extremely taxing for even a good wife. Some wives under such pressure could begin to resort to substituting secret manipulation for a “quiet spirit”.  This could take on many forms: pouting, sulking, scheming, bargaining, arguing, nagging, preaching, coercing, or even humiliating. Wives who use this strategy are not trusting God to change their husbands’ lives.  They are trusting in themselves. Wives remember, you are not responsible for your husband’s life, but you are responsible for yours. You cannot make your husband something he is not. Only God can do that; transformation is His thing. Remember it is your job to submit to and love your husband it is God’s job to make him right. It is God’s job to change his life.

                                                                                                                i.     F. B. Meyer notes: “Plenty are there whose outward body is richly decked, but whose inner being is clothed in rags; whilst others, whose garments are worn and threadbare, are all glorious within.”^[1]

                                                                                                              ii.     God wants Christian wives to dress up their insides with the most attractive apparel. He desires for God-honoring wives to go through great effort and trouble to get just the right heart look. Adorn the heart with the pearls of Meekness and the diamonds of Quietness. How attractive you would be to the Lord if you did. Wives, these virtues are in fashion with God as a matter of fact he regards them as VOGUE!

                                                                                                            iii.     Christian wives should not think of outer attire as the source of genuine beauty.^[2]

b.     This concept especially applies to the Christian life. Believers often get duped into searching for happiness, meaning, purpose, and joy in the same places the world: people, possessions, and favorable circumstances. In doing so, we exhaust ourselves and end up dissatisfied, disillusioned, and even broken.

                                                                                                                i.     What we long for we already possess. The Holy Spirit lives within us, and He is willing to pour out in our lives His fruit—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  If we had those nine qualities in our lives, what more could we ask for? In Galatians 5:22–23, these qualities are not only deeply satisfying but also help us to have rich relationships with other people!

                                                                                                              ii.     They make us good “living advertisements” for Christianity to unbelievers. The wealth we long for is spiritual wealth, ours to be had if we live in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

                                                  ii.     Pursue Other Spiritual Virtues Also.

1.     1 Pet 3:5-6, For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: (6) Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

2.     This is the primary reason that Christian women are to adorn themselves with a meek and quiet spirit. When she does, she reveals that she is a spiritual child of Sarah. As a result, the precious qualities in Sarah’s life will be a part of her life.

3.     Like Sarah, Be a Wife of Holiness Vs 5, “Holy Women”

a.     Examples of holy women in the Old Testament support Peter’s exhortation. Purity of life (v. 2) and a submissive spirit (v. 5) have always been a godly woman’s lasting source of beauty and attractiveness. Sarah is chosen as a specific example of a woman who was submissive to her husband.^[3]

b.     The word “holy” signifies the object of awe and reverence. It pertains to being holy like God is holy and relates to our essential and superior morality—a fault free lifestyle.

c.      1 Peter 1:15-16, But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16, Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

d.     The holiness we are to exhibit is not our own, but the holiness of Christ in us. We are not holy, and we will not become holy humans. Christ can manifest His holiness if we yield our bodies to Him.

e.      This Is Not a Mere Human Operation; it Is a Spiritual One.

                                                                                                                i.     Becoming holy is a process which includes God's part and our part. On one hand, our part is to stay out of God's part—to yield, to surrender, to stop seeking God on our own terms. But our part also is to obey. It is to enter His rehabilitation program.

                                                                                                              ii.     When you put yourself under a doctor's care, he cannot help you if you don't follow his instructions. As the patient surrenders his own good ideas and obeys the doctor's instruction, he becomes well. The same is true in sanctification. If you and I want to be made holy, then we must willingly surrender ourselves to His care, and we must also actively obey His instructions.

                                                                                                             iii.     We have no more power to make ourselves holy than a dying man has to save himself. We are weak and tired, and we cannot offer much help. However, we can submit to His rehabilitation program—sanctification. The key to our part is faith—to seek Him in obedience.”

1.     1Thes 2:12, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

2.      1 Cor 1:30-31, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:   (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

4.     Like Sarah, be a Wife of Faith   Vs 5, “Who Trusted in God”

a.     Evidently, she trusted in God. She followed her husband and therefore was faithful to the Lord!

b.     Faithfulness is being trustworthy; it is “hanging in there”; it is persevering. It is being the kind of person who can be counted on to do what is right. Repeatedly the Bible admonishes us to be faithful to the Lord. Matthew 25:21 says that if we are faithful in little things, the Lord will give us bigger things. In Revelation 2:10 we read, “... Be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

c.      We should be faithful to our words and marriage vows. We should be faithful to our responsibilities as husbands and wives. But above all we should be faithful to God. God wants to be able to count on us. If we are willing the Holy Spirit help us be faithful people. Do you have a weakness in being faithful? Many do. It is not a highly valued characteristic in modern times. But it is highly valued by God.

d.     Women of faith today ought to bare the family likeness of her spiritual mother Sarah. Almost the only one who will emphasize Christlike qualities is God in the Bible. Remember, the world and the economy cannot make money by emphasizing faithfulness, but God views it as a rich priority! Even many churches will emphasize faithfulness in attendance and giving because that benefits them, but they fail to elevate this trait like God does. Be faithful to God because it matters to Him.

e.      Many modern women adopt a ‘worldly standard’ or have godless expectations of ‘husband material.’ Some claim the 6X6X6X6 idea for any possible male contenders…six figures annual income, six pack of Abs—physically fit, at least six feet tall, and six or more inches…. Some checklists require a man to have a deep voice, emotionally mature, correct color/ethnicity/hair, mentally and emotionally tough—he must be able to handle her (she thinks she is perfect already and does not plan to grow, change, or accommodate), athletic ability, and economic success. The wrongs, delusions, assumptions, fantasies, and ludicrous nonsense in these lists are off the charts ridiculous!

f.      God specified servant-leadership, provision, protection, and holiness-priest in the home for the man as a husband. This is what real masculinity looks like; this is what the Lord Jesus modelled. Wives and prospective wives should adopt this as their ‘standard’ and stop looking for ‘worldly’ requirements. Too many of the future wives cannot secure a masculine husband even though they claim they want one or keep a godly man even if they happen to end up with one. I will more thoroughly address male qualities soon.

5.     Like Sarah, Be a Wife of Obedience. Vs 5, “Even as Sara Obeyed Abraham….”

a.      Some key passages on Sarah include Genesis 12:1–5. Consider the difficulties Abraham’s obedience may have caused for Sarah. She had to leave her home, her family, and her friends. She had to suffer hardship and even risk her life because her husband obeyed God.

b.     She is viewed as a woman who “obeyed” her husband as an aspect of her submissive heart towards God and him.

c.      Sarah is cited as an example. She obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. This takes us back to Genesis 18:12 where we read that Sarah said this “within herself.” She did not go around and make a loud profession of submission to Abraham by publicly calling him lord. Rather, in her inward life, she recognized him as her head, and this recognition was displayed by her actions.

d.     Those women who follow Sarah’s example are her children. Jewish women are descendants of Sarah by natural birth. But to be her daughters in the best sense, they must imitate her personal character. Children should carry the family likeness.^[4]

CONCLUSION:

Husbands, wives, and prospective spouses need to give careful attention to these instructions from the heart of God. Many of us understand the bulk of what I have covered, but we all need to practice these truths far more than we currently do. The problem is we refuse to submit ourselves because of ideas from family, friends, associates, worldly beliefs, self-centered motives, and devilish advice seem more relevance, convenient, and beneficial. As a result, we fail to believe the wise council of God paying too much attention to our own feelings. Value God’s point of view more! Growing stronger, developing unrealized qualities, and meaningful change through these challenges are viable expectations for us all! So much marital injury could be avoided if we listen to God.

It is true life can be unfair at times and even cruel! The people closest to us can cause unbelievable pain and sorrow even in the husband & wife relationship. But one thing remains constant…that each the child of God is expected to acknowledge God’s order and conduct oneself accordingly regardless of current circumstances.

It is imperative that we acknowledge God’s order for marriage, because therein is the hope of happiness and fulfilment for couples. Above all our Lord will be honored, respected, and obeyed through our submissive lifestyles.

 

---

^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2268.

^[2] Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 849.

^[3] Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 849.

^[4] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2268.

A Pure Offering

 

A Pure Offering

Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 2:15-16

The concept of a pure offering is roundly depicted and afforded in Scripture, and God rejects any offering of the wrong qualities or nature. This can be seen in Abel and Cain’s offerings in Genesis chapter 4 with God’s acceptance of Abel’s blood sacrifice and His rejection of Cain’s formidable efforts. In Revelation chapter 21 we witness the perfect New Jerusalem ornamented in the astounding beauty of holiness prepared for the Lord God descending from Heaven. God rejects wrong worship, and He accepts worship that aligns with His values.

It is in Ephesians 5 we find Christ’s example and the following encouragements,

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

We see this illustrates that the church, as a glorious spotless pure bride, is to be presented to Christ without even a wrinkle, denoting complete holiness and purity. Such commitment models this love to husbands for their wives, reflecting the Lord’s self-sacrificing, altruistic, and transformative impact on such relationships. Our work as minister of Christ is thus outlined and our task toward the church is given design and purpose. We are also smitten with the fact that Christ desires a holy virgin for a permeant wife.

Clearly, God prizes holiness, purity, cleanness, and spotlessness in His people and their services; any believer who presumes to make an offering to Him must undertake to ensure it is free of any contaminations. This is at the very least an expression of Christ’s transformative work in us. With a measure of confidence in Christ, we can so present ourselves to Christ to execute any aspect of His will. This is the standard though…we are so accustomed to hurrying to say, ‘but we are not perfect yet’ or that we are ‘extremely flawed at our best.’ While these observations are true of us, the standard expectations of God are not reduced or eliminated in light of our imperfections. He really wants and deserves a ‘pure offering.’ Great is our need to live and serve in the power of the Holy Spirit! Much else can be said about either of these passages, but the striking emphasizes of a pure offering is worth pondering further.

From God’s perspective purity is a state of being free from sin and moral corruption; this is a tell-tale sign of real holiness and sanctity. Purity encompasses both our outward actions and the conditions of our hearts and minds. We can see this clearly depicted in, Matthew 5:8, where God stipulates, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Therefore, God calls believers to pursue purity in thoughts, actions, and intentions, reflecting His own holiness and righteousness in our endeavors. God is obviously doing a transformative work in such lives and services. In addition, these believers are roundly assured of seeing God! Beloved, not just ‘any old thing’ is ‘good enough’ for God!

Then Romans 12:1, is so encouraging saying, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Our Lord emphasizes the importance of dedicating ourselves as a form of worship…this is how we do acceptable worship to our Lord. God calls us to present our bodies as “living sacrifices”, which is living according to methods and conditions that honors Him and reflects His gracious mercies. Not merely a worship service or a song, but a lifestyle of devotion to Him. Our minds and bodies must be pleasing to the Lord as we make offerings and sacrifices of ourselves and our substance to Him. He mandates a transformation of the mind, urging us to reject worldly patterns and discern His “good, acceptable, and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2). Such transformation is essential for living a life that fall in line with God’s purposes and offering sacrifices expressive of His values.

Again, as Christ’s people, the only satisfactory worship is to offer ourselves wholly and entirely to the Lord. We are to be under God’s control, our yet-unredeemed bodies can and must be yielded to Him as “instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:12-13; 8:11-13). Reflecting on the incredible ultimate sacrifice of Jesus for us and our sins, a complete self-sacrifice is only “reasonable.”

Beloved, we should live…breath in, exist, function, serve, and offer ourselves in the eternal flames of a “living sacrifice.” It is here that right motives are embraced, the pursuit of God-honoring purposes are incorporated, actions that mirror Christ once-and-for-all sacrifice of Himself for our sins are followed, and we afford precisely what God requires as He has need of us or it. We afford God a platform for His fire and offerings! It is in this space we realize our great purpose, true freedom, real power, and the kingdom of God over us! We sustain brilliant testimonies to His love, sacrifice, salvation, and faithfulness. We blend our motivations with His; we become whatever He requires; we donate and render anything He would use. We live for such sacrifices unto Him!

So, what exactly does a ‘living sacrifice’ look like anyway? Well Romans 12:2, explains, we are not to ‘conform’ to this world’s expectations. This ‘world’ (1 John 2:15-16) consists of the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” So, the “lust of the flesh” stemming from our fallen sinful nature, includes anything that appeals to our appetites. These very strong, inordinate desires are often associated with sinful behaviors and cravings that draw us away from a godly life. They may involve excessive desires for food, drink, sex, and anything else that gratifies our physical needs. It encompasses not only sexual lust but also other sinful desires such as jealousy, pride, and idolatry. This is the struggle between earthly wants and spiritual living. Ultimately, it represents the conflict between following our base instincts and obeying God’s higher morality.

The “lust of the eyes” refers to our covetous desires or longings for things that we see, often leading to sinful thoughts or actions. “Lust of the eyes” certainly involves materialism, coveting whatever we see that we don’t have and envying those who have what we want. It implies a craving that goes beyond mere approval, turning into a godless fixation on material assets, physical attractions, or prohibited wants. This is a temptation to desire what belongs to others or to indulge in visual pleasures that are not morally acceptable.

Then there is the “pride of life” which is any ambition that feeds our pride, puffs us up on a pedestal, and puts us on the throne of our own lives. This is the temptation and desire for power, personal recognition, self-aggrandizement, and personal glory. It encompasses a self-centered opinion of our life, identity, and achievements, often leading to arrogance and a sense of superiority based on material possessions and social status. God sees such persons as opposing Him as they emphasize worldly values over spiritual ideas. Beloved, we are not to permit the world to press us into its mode!

Furthermore, purity certainly involves parting with uncleanness and comprehensive consecration to God (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1). We are to be holy “in all manner of conversation [behavior],” so that everything we do reflects the holy character of God. To such dedicated believers, there is no such thing as ‘secular’ and ‘sacred.’ All of life is holy as we live in pursuit of glorifying God. Even such ordinary activities as eating and drinking can be done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). If something cannot be done to the glory of God, then we can be sure it must be out of the will of God. You see holiness and purity address every area of our existence without exceptions.

Beloved, casual…unholy attitudes and lifestyles dominate the ‘Christian’ scene anymore. There is little regard for truly holy purity. We water down the requirements of God to avoid offending mere people! Though there are deeply committed followers of Christ, so many remain halfhearted in their pursuits for personal holiness. It is disturbing how there seems to be little interest in understanding holiness from a Bible-based perspective. Thank God there are those willing to stand on God’s promises, share their faith with the unsaved, worship God consistently, and serve others sacrificially. However, so many professing believers want God’s blessings, but they care little for his holiness or anything regarding His plan. Furthermore, many folks seem to be more concern with what they can get away with…is this okay or is that permissible? The interest is not on how much closer we can get to godliness, but how much closer we can get to worldliness.

Titus 1:15-16, says, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. [16] They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”  

 I am merely repeating what God already said, and I am immensely humbled by this opportunity! There is a serious problem with such carelessness about God and the things pertaining to the Lord. Disrespectful attitudes toward God and a lifestyle devoted to Him can be seen in every sector of our culture. Oh, this fallen Adamic dismissive spirit in me! It’s a major mistake invading into politics, entertainment, sports, fashion, the internet, science, music, and even in modern ‘Christianity.’ Let me be the first to admit that I find these ideas extremely challenging and even intimidating. I confess myself unworthy and grossly unqualified in myself…no matter what my status is or my accomplishments are! A holy reverence has been erected in my very soul, and I will not deny it! Repentance…though it is necessary will take some serious courage to be truly counter-cultural, but God calls us to do just that. I am supremely thankful for Christ Jesus my Lord.

Yes, as a perceptive believer you understand this is a peerless opportunity afforded us. Before we can proceed though, we must examine ourselves to ensure we are ready to act. Ask yourself these searching questions. Do I regularly under-value the freedoms of knowing, approaching, and serving God? Do I take holy opportunities for granted or possibly disrespect them frequently? Do I casually dismiss responsibilities God considers vital? Would I be comfortable with God treating me, the way I routinely treat Him? Obviously, faithful devotion and purity of heart are roundly important to our great God, but are such pure sacrifices something I cherish?