Principles for Successful Ministry 1

JOHN 13:12-17

SUBJECT: PRINCIPLES OF SERVANTHOOD                                             

THEME: Following Bible Based Guidelines in Christian Ministry Is Successful Service and Not Merely the Numerical Results or Impressive Statistics. How and Why You Serve Christ Is Just as Important as What You Do for Him.   

INTRODUCTION:

1.  Service Is a Theme That Runs Throughout God's Word from Cover to Cover.

    A.  The Bible is filled with countless examples of ways in which God served His people, ways in which God's people served God and others, and commandments that are related to service.

    B.  Today, we will begin looking at six principles from God's Word that are related to service. These guidelines are interrelated and should be taken as a whole.

2.  Service is  Strictly the Command of Our Lord for Every Believer.

As you think upon these principles you will be challenged to ask yourself some tough questions. Why do I press this issue?  

     A.  Because God has made it very clear in His Word that He requires service from us. Service is not an option or a suggestion. It is a commandment. 

     B.  Again this passage emphasizes inner humility in service, not a physical ritual. Not to follow this example of Jesus is to view oneself as “greater” than He is and to live in pride.  Remember no servant is greater than his master (John 12:26; 13:16).

3.  Serving God’s Way for Godly Reasons is Success.

Once again success in Christian ministry is in finding and following Bible based guidelines faithfully and leaving the results and statistic with the Lord.   What are some of these principles?

LESSON:

I.  PRINCIPLE #1: SERVE LIKE YOUR MASTER--JESUS.

John 13:14-15, If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

A.  THE CRITICAL CHALLENGE— to Serve with Humility.  (Jn. 13:14-15)

Something absolutely vital to the work of the Lord is humility and submission to Christ way and motivations.

     1.  Christ’s Example.

In verses (Jn. 13:12–17) Jesus challenged the disciples on the basis of what he had just done. He knew the limitations of the disciples understanding and sought to challenge and clarify his expectation of his servants.

 

      2.  Christ’s Expectations.

He challenged them with his own example of humble service (Jn. 13:14) . 

A prison of pride is filled with self-made men and women determined to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps even if they land on their rear ends. It doesn't matter what they did or to whom they did it, or where they end up; it only matters that “I did it my way.””— Max Lacado

No form of pride, false self-respect, or determination to do our own thing should prevent us from humbly serving the brethren. If Jesus served humbly, then so should we! This is the critical challenge.

B.  THE CONSTRAINING COMMAND— Serve Your Master and Lord Without Excuses. (Jn. 13:13-14)

Commands are to be obeyed without excuse or failure. What makes this order so constraining is the fact that it came from:

      1.  Our Master, Lord, and Example.

Jesus appealed first to his own relationship to the disciples (“Master” = Teacher, “Lord”= Authority) (Jn. 13:13-14) and then to his example (ye also ought to wash one another’s feet). The authoritative nature of his approach is unmistakable and should short-circuit any excuses anyone would offer.  The opposite is rebellion!

      2.  A Revolutionary Standpoint. 

Furthermore, the command is strengthened when we remember that humility was despised in the ancient world as a sign of weakness. Jesus’ command was therefore revolutionary in the sphere of human relationships and applicable to everyone of his disciples and subjects. 

This is not a suggestion but a command from our Teacher, Supreme Authority, and Example! May it be ever clear to each of us that we are obligated to the Master’s Mandates!

C.  THE COMPELLING CLARIFICATION— You Are Enslaved as Christ’s Messenger.  (Jn.13:16).

   

      1.  Seek Service Not Your Rights.                                 

The word “servant” in Jn.13:16 means a slave who had no rights in his master’s house.

      2.  Choose Purpose Over Prestige.

Since the words “he that is sent” refers to a  messenger this would stripe the office of ‘apostleship’ of any prestige and remind them of their obligations to proclaim Christ’s message. They were not too important for this purpose.

These words clarify our responsibility to slavishly execute Christ’s commands and proclaim his message with a humble heart.  We should consider ourselves “sent” by our “Lord” and “Master” for this purpose of serving as his messengers with any and every opportunity.

D.  THE CHEERFUL CONSIDERATION— Real Value and Blessing lies in Doing Service! (John 13:17)

   1.  Service Is Also Our Way to Increased Blessing and Fulfillment in Life.   John 13:17

      A.  We can be “happy” (blessed, joyful, fulfilled), through our service to others.

      B.  We are not blessed because of what we know, but because of what we do with what we know.

      C.  God's grace to us finds its completion in the service we perform for others.

      D.  We will find our greatest joy in obeying Christ by serving others.

   2.  Suffering and Hardship are Not God’s Primary Motivations for Commanding Service.

      A.  God does not command us to serve so that we might be hurt, diminished, decreased, or made to suffer.              

      B.  Suffering and hardship is not what motivates the Lord to compel us to serve.  

      C.  However, our service should be accomplished with a humble attitude and spirit even while suffering to do God’s will.  

   3.  Blessing and Rewards are God’s Motivations for Commanding Service.

      A.  Rather, God commands us to service so that through our service to others, He might reward us, bring us blessing, teach us, and develop a closer relationship with us.

      B.  God blesses His servants because of their responses to what they know.

      C.  Christian happiness (happy are ye) comes through obedient service (if you do them, i.e., the things Jesus commanded).

      D.  God always rewards our service with greater awareness of His presence and power and, ultimately, with eternal rewards that are beyond our ability to imagine them.

Jesus said, “The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. [17] If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. ” (John 13:16–17). We must serve. But this is a command we should delight in doing because service always reaps benefit—to us personally as well as to those whom we serve.                                

James 1:25,  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

II. PRINCIPLE #2: BE A VOLUNTEER  SERVANT.

Exodus 35:5,  Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,

Exodus 35:22,  And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.

Obviously the O.T. saints were instructed that they could bring an offering to the Lord on a volunteer basis. Today we should view our service as a volunteer offering to the Lord willingly given from the heart. Service is certainly a matter of love for the Lord and others. It’s not only the incentives, money, or rewards but the “willing heart” to be a blessing to the Lord and His people.

A.  A TRUE SERVANT DOES NOT WAIT TO BE ASKED.

Why is this true?

   1.  Because they are Sensitive.

He or she discerns a need and acts decisively to meet it. A servant has a sensitive heart and a willing spirit.

I recall when Brother Anderson walked into a conversation I was having with one of our Sunday School teachers who was preparing for a vacation. We needed a substitute while she was away.  Brother Anderson immediately spoke up and volunteered for the job. I did not try to talk him into it nor coerce him in any way at all.  He simply was sensitive to the need and made himself available to help! Praise the Lord for Christians who listen to God and sense His promptings.

   2.  Because of Their Love for Others.

        A.  Godly Love Actively Relieves Needs.

A volunteer is motivated by love and prompted to action by the presence of a need.  Biblical love is never static but active and dynamic. 

        B.  Do Not Confuse This With Full Time Ministers.

The instructions on volunteerism are applicable to the average ministry opportunities in a church and not to the vocational Gospel ministry. I believe God  “calls” preachers to fulltime ministry and thus it is not on a volunteer basis.

   3.  Because They are not Concerned With Convenience. 

        A.  A Volunteer Is Not Motivated by Convenience or Leisure Time.

        B.  Convenient Service Opportunities Will Never Come.

Those who say “someday I'll get involved” or “someday I'll serve God” are offering lame excuses. If you are waiting for a convenient time to serve, you will never serve.  The devil will ensure that you stay far too busy to serve God.

Ask yourself, “What is it that I won't do for God? What is it that I wouldn't do for another person?” An honest answer to those two questions will reveal your own self-pride.

        C.  Many Hard Workers Make a Priority of Christian Ministry.

But bare in mind, those who serve in some of the most significant ministries at a Church are some of the hardest working and busiest people in the entire community.  Truly, busy people, who love the Lord, always make a priority of the most significant endeavors like serving God. 

Remember Jesus died naked, bloody, and battered, on a cross that was next to a public highway. He was made a laughingstock—a crown of thorns pressed into His brow and a sign above His head labeling him in mockery, “King of the Jews.” Jesus died for your sake so that you might have a Savior.  Why is convenience even a consideration when it comes to service? 

Do not expect someone to beg you to serve a Lord who went through that much intense suffering for you!

B.  JESUS MODELED VOLUNTEER SERVICE. 

The Lord Jesus served God and humanity voluntarily in his death. Furthermore, Jesus actually went to the cross voluntarily.

    1.  Remember Christ’s Crucifixion.

The Bible gives us these words of Jesus, spoken well in advance of His crucifixion:

John 10:14-18,   I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. [17] Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. [18] No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

          A.  Jesus was obedient to His heavenly Father, and the Cross was His supreme act of volunteerism.

          B.  He gave His life voluntarily for our salvation without regard to pain, suffering, mockery, or the disbelief of many who witnessed His death.

Is there any type of service that is beneath you? Is there anything you won't do for Him?  Do considerations of sacrifice, discomfort, and difficulty discourage you from getting involved in a more meaningful way?

    2.  Remember David’s Testimony. 

Acts 13:22,  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

God said about King David: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” (Acts 13:22b). Will God say that about you?

III. PRINCIPLE #3: SERVE WITHOUT COMPARISON.

2 Cor. 10:12,   For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2 Cor. 10:17-18,  But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. [18] For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

A.  DO NOT RESORT TO PRIDE BASED ON COMPARISONS.

Jeremiah 9:24,  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

    1.  Service is Not a Matter of Excelling Others.

A true servant doesn't compare his level or type of service with that of anyone else. Service is not hierarchical. There is no “top floor, corner office” when it comes to successful service.

    2.  Service is a Matter of the Heart’s Motivations.

         A.  God Looks upon the Heart and its Motivation, Not Merely upon Results or Achievements, in Rewarding Service.

                                               

         B.  As We Have Stated Before, Every Person Is Capable and Every Person Is Qualified for Some Type of Service.

                                               

B.  DO NOT USE EXCUSES BASED ON COMPARISONS.

1 Thes. 5:11,  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.   

Clearly we all are commanded to “comfort” and “edify one another.”  It doesn’t matter who you are, every believer can obey this command in some way or another.

    1.  Get Your Focus Off of Others.

Many people say about service, “I'd do more for God if I only had … ”   These are only a few of the excuses given in the “if I only had” category:

         ! his job and income

         ! his circumstances and time availability

         ! his opportunities

         ! his family background and status

    2.  Focus on What You Do Have.

Everything you have is a gift from God, and God considers what you have been given adequate for the tasks to which He calls you. Rather than focus on what you lack, take a look at what you have.

    3.  Focus on Your Opportunities.

Not only do you have adequate talents and gifts with which to serve, but God has given you a place and a people to serve. God has given you your family, your business or place of employment, your friends, your church, and your neighborhood as opportunities to serve. There are needs all around you. Target one of them and get started.

  

C.  DO NOT USE CRITICISM BASED ON COMPARISONS. 

Matthew 7:1-2,   Judge not, that ye be not judged. [2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

1 Thes. 5:15,  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

     1.  Refuse to Criticize Those Who Don’t Serve.

Once you begin to serve, don't criticize those who fail to serve. Jesus did not wash the feet of His disciples and then say to them, “Now you wash my feet.” Service must be without criticism and without comparison.

     2.  Refuse To Criticize Those Who Lead Others.

Don't criticize your fellow servants or those who lead your service effort.

         A.  Encourage Them and Build Them Up.  (1 Thes. 5:11)

The person who gives encouragement is likely the person who receives encouragement.

         B.  Offer Insightful Suggestions to Encourage the Work.

Offer suggestions when you think they may be beneficial to the group as a whole, but don't criticize what a person has done in the past or what he is attempting to do. You never know the full story. Only God knows the full extent of that person's effort and the motivation that is behind it.

Be a part of the progress not a stumbling block or hindrance. Harsh criticism never helps!

God requires service from every believer. Ministry is not an optional thing to consider, but a commandment to be obeyed. God knows that service is one way we can increase blessing and fulfillment in our own life. Though difficulty is a part of ministry, God does not command us to serve so that we might suffer lose. Rather, He commands service in order to reward us and bring us blessings. 

A measure of God’s blessings come to us in the form of ministry success which is far more then impressive numerical results, rapid ministry expansion, and sensational statistical reports.  Following God’s ministry guidelines is success–how you serve Christ is important!  While God is glorified when we bare much fruit (Jn. 15:5,8), He still requires that we serve His way for His reasons and not merely to impress others or to meet human expectations (Jn. 15:1-8, 16).  We must be motivated to do God’s Work in God’s Way!  Servant-leadership principles are the key.  In fact Jesus said, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:17).

The Effective Pastor's Impact

Ephesians 4:11-16

Pastors are given to churches as gifts to bring the members into spiritual maturity (Vs. 11).  A pastor, with his pastoral staff, who is effective as an overseer and shepherd will certainly make this passage a reality (Eph. 4:11-16). In addition, he must be vested with the Spiritual Gifts and Maturity to lead and serve the church as Pastor.  Success in churches is often measured by attendance, money, and facilities.  This is actually rank worldliness, unvarnished shallowness, and fleshly carnality.  There is nothing truly spiritual about these matters...they are simply manmade metrics to a large degree. Some will point to a few passages in the Bible to defend their use of these measures, but the truth is any company, organization, or religious group can brag about the same type of statistics. These measures do not include anything inherently supernatural or God-wrought! Well then...what does God actually require? How can a faithful pastor gauge whether or not he is having a God-honoring impact? Notice the marks of the effective pastor according to God’s view:

     1.  The Church Will Be Spiritually Prepared and Well Trained.   Vs 12,  For the perfecting of the saints . . . .

The gift-people/leaders are to prepare God’s people for works of service.  That is the equipment of all God's people in the church for ministry.   The idea is "to prepare" or "to put right."  The thought is applied to surgery in the setting of a broken bone, to the mending of nets (Matt 4:21) and the restoration of the back-slider (Gal 6:1).  Such preparation is the work and service of the pastor. The pastor literally trains the deacons, trustees, preacher boys, Sunday School teachers, ushers, treasurers, and Children’s church workers.  Leaders are not to do all the work of the ministry; leaders are to prepare the members to minister.

Remember the old TV show Six Million Dollar Man? Think about how he was basically rendered a paralytic as a result of a space shuttle crash upon return from space.  But the doctors used high tech equipment to rebuild and reconstruct him... to make him better than ever before. This is the idea behind the pastor’s ministry of taking people who have been paralyzed and broken by sin, leading them to Christ; then with the Word of God rebuilding them and making them productive for the Lord Jesus Christ.

     2.  The Church Will Be Serving and Working Effectively.     Vs 12,  for the work of the ministry

It is here that we have often missed the implications of the body of Christ portrait, and developed congregational patterns that deny rather than express what the church is. All too often leaders are hired by a congregation to do the “work of the ministry.” The pastor is expected to teach. To evangelize. To counsel. To visit the sick. To pray with the discouraged. If the church grows in size and new members are added, it is taken as an indication that their local congregation is healthy and the minister is doing his job. If the church fails to grow or the budget is not met, the one to blame is the minister. After all, he was hired by the church to minister.

How different is this modern view from the Bible’s portrait of a living body! In a living organism, every cell contributes. The body’s health depends on each member fulfilling its special function. No one person can carry out the functions of the living organism the Scripture describes. No one person or team of paid professionals was ever intended to. The role of leaders within the church has always been to help the members of the body grow in capacity to minister; to help each individual find and use his or her spiritual gifts. The role of leaders has always been to lead all believers into a fulfilling life of service.  This is the key to effective ministry and healthy church life—good food and plenty of exercise will keep a body healthy and strong.

When we miss this, and put the ministry of the church onto the professional, we have lost sight of who we are. The local congregation becomes weak, unable to respond as a healthy body to the directions of its Head.

     3.  The Church Will Be Built Up Spiritually and Numerically. Vs 12,  the edifying of the body of Christ:

The first ministry of believers is to other believers.  Spiritual growth in house supercedes numerical growth through reaching out.

A son of about five years old, wanted to mow the family lawn. They had a push mower then. The kind in which the blades moved only when the wheels moved, and the wheels were moved by people power. Well, little Paul pushed and strained—and finally found an answer. He leaned on the handle, lifted the wheels off the ground, and easily moved the mower on just the back roller! How busy he looked, chugging up and down across the lawn. And how little grass he cut!

After a while, the father would explain. “Soon, Paul, you’ll grow, and then you’ll be able to make those blades turn. Then you can help a lot.” (Wiersbe)

How often in the church we concentrate on organizing spiritual five-year-olds to push better lawn mowers, and wonder why so little of God’s grass gets cut! The church is called to first be “edified” and “grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ” (v. 15). Maturing within the body, growing more and more like Jesus, is the believer’s first calling. To equip the church for service, believers must minister to one another first and then to the world.

Do not misunderstand: this focus on building one another up is not “selfish.” It is essential. Only as we grow toward maturity together can we respond fully to Jesus as He directs us to serve in the world. Only a strong and healthy body can carry out the tasks assigned to it in evangelism and missions. Our effectiveness in communicating the Gospel and the love of God to the world around us depends on our growth toward maturity. This kind of growth takes place as we—members together of one body—build each other up in love, each part doing its own ministering work (vs. 16).

     4.  The Church Will Be United and Growing in Unity (Doctrine)   Vs 13,  the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God

The ultimate goal in view is the attainment of completeness in Christ.  Paul likewise insisted on the togetherness of Christians in the church in other passages (1Thess 4:15-17). In vs. 4:3 "the unity of the Spirit" is a blessing to be pursued and guarded.  Here "unity in the faith" is a goal to be pursued and reached.  Growing in unity in “the faith” deals with doctrine the true foundation of unity, not love.  You never sacrifice doctrine for some kind of false unity. Such a realization of unity will arise from an increasing knowledge of Christ as the Son of God in corporate as well as in personal experience.

     5.  The Church Will Be Focused on Spiritual Maturity and Strength.   Vs. 13,  unto a perfect man,

Vs. 15, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

It is vital that we “grow up into Him” if we are to be a valid expression of Jesus in this world. The whole body grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work and makes its valuable contribution (vs. 16).  This is sometimes hard to accept. We look at the world and are burdened by the need for evangelism. We look at the poor and are burdened by the need to help and bring relief. We look at the suffering and are impelled to comfort and to care. So sometimes we slip into the trap of organizing the local church to undertake one or more of these tasks. We program evangelistic efforts and buy more buses. We commit ourselves to an active church social life and great involvement.  All too often we lose sight of the fact that the first function of the body is to build itself spiritually.   Our goals must be to be a perfect mature strong man who can stand firm for Christ is a darkened world.  The first area of growth must be spiritual.

     6.  The Church Will Be Projecting a Combined Testimony to the Character of Christ as a Standard.    Vs 13,  unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

The local church as a whole is seen as "one new man" in Christ (Eph 2:15). Individualism is a mark of immaturity.  This perfection or completeness is proportionate to “the fullness of Christ” himself.  Another believer is not the standard, nor merely another church, but Christ himself is.

The “fullness of Christ” himself is the standard.  Just as Christians may be filled to the measure of “all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:19), so together we are to aspire to the full measure of perfection found in the character of Christ.  Everyone should seek moral and spiritual conformity to the image of Christ.  This is an appropriate body for a glorious Christ. (MacDonald)  

Let us project together a clear and accurate portrait of the stature and fullness of Christ’s Character.  Let us as a church assembly be conformed to His outstanding features spiritually and morally.  Just as He was Wise, Faithful, Holy, Committed, Submissive, Fervent, Compassionate, Loving, Unselfish, and Gracious so should His local churches corporately be.

     7.  The Church Will Be Stabilized by Sound Doctrine and Not Gullible.    Vs 14,  be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about                                                                                                                                         

The metaphor of maturity is carried over from vs. 13. Immaturity is avoided when we follow God’s pattern. There must be no hindrance in development among us as believers and church members.  We are to abandon childish and shallow attitudes and be our age (1 Cor. 13:11). Paul switches from one metaphor to another as he depicts the features of spiritual infants.  We cannot afford to be babes “tossed to and fro” and whirled around by every gust of fashionable false teaching. Blown here and there and feeling dizzy from the confusing effect of false doctrine. No, our goal must be to grow up!

Yes, we are to be stabilized and planted in sound doctrine which affords rock solid direction for life and practice. One of the main reasons Christians get out of sorts with the pastor is because they cannot appreciate mature wisdom and sound doctrine applied to everyday life.  Beloved, do not settle down as a mere spiritual babe– underdeveloped because of a lack of exercise in truth (Heb. 5:12). Make the choice to grow up and become a part of the stability of the church instead of being an unstable perpetual liability.

     8.  The Church Will Be Focused and Contributing in Every Subdivision.   Vs.16,  the whole body fitly joined together . . . according to the effectual working in the measure of every part . . . .

Every member involved, and making a meaningful contribution to the welfare of the church and positively impacting the community for Christ.  Each member focused on the same basic goals, priorities, and mandates.  Each member contributing according to his or her gifts and abilities effectively.  Not just busy, but accomplishing the very will of God.

     9.  The Church Will Be Growing, Increasing, and Ministering in Love to Each Other   Vs 16,   maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

There will be no compromise as to clear biblical teaching and the fundamentals of the faith.  Then there will be a right spirit of love supervising the ministry activity ensuring that there is no one-sided testimony.  Yes,  a remarkable balance between love and truth is wonderfully achieved.  Together we make a complete living organism mutually contributing and growing in harmony.  This process depends on the fact that the various parts of the body are interrelated. The whole is continually being integrated and kept firm by each separate ligament. (Walvoord)

Certainly these are the biblical marks of and effective pastor, pastoral staff and church!  Pastoral authority extends as far as is required to accomplish his great task.  Pastors must be gifted and spiritual to accomplish these great spiritual tasks.  Talent in good, but it will not get these objectives accomplished!  We are very success-oriented as Americans, and this has led to churches putting a premium on “results.” Success in the church is often measured by attendance, money, and facilities. The church with the greatest attendance, the most money, and the nicest facilities looks the most successful. Whenever a church finds a way to increase all three, that pastor is likely to be in high demand as a speaker and consultant, regardless of whether or not the church measures up to the scriptural criteria for success. (Wiersbe)

As a result, churches often put a premium on talent over godliness, ability over maturity. This has led to disastrous consequences. The Bible makes it clear that leadership in spiritual matters is not merely a matter of talent.  It is a matter of spiritual gifts and spiritual maturity (Eph. 4:11-16).  If we put those two issues first and talent second, we will find a higher level and quality of leadership being chosen for churches.

Our modern society is in desperate need of more Christ-like believers and churches. The only thing many people will ever know about God is what they see of His radiance reflected in our daily lives and collective testimony. Our ability to represent our Lord worthily is only possible through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit in the church.

This hymn text by Thomas Chisholm is one of his more than 1,200 fine poems, many of which have been set to music and have become enduring hymns of the churches. This one, published in 1897, was his first hymn to be widely received.

                                                            O TO BE LIKE THEE!

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer. This is my constant longing and prayer; gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! full of compassion, loving, forgiving, tender and kind; helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

O to be like Thee lowly in spirit, holy and harmless, patient and brave; meekly enduring cruel reproaches, willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading, pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love; make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling; fit me for life and heaven above.

Chorus: O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art! Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Reflect on this statement: “He who does not long to know more of Christ really knows nothing of Him yet!”  (101 Hymn Stories)

What Is Real Success? II

GENESIS 13:5-13

Beloved, the Christian who is directed by the Lord Jesus will lead a successful spiritual life. In contrast the Believer who persists in their self-satisfying plans while ignoring the leadership of the Lord is destined for serious and painful failures.

In this biblical account, the revived Abraham has learned to follow God by faith; he is leading a God-centered life. In contrast though, Lot, Abraham's nephew, persists in carnality choosing his own way living primarily by sight.  Because Abraham walks by faith he receives direction and comfort from the Lord; as a result he leads a successful spiritual life.  Lot, on the other hand, experiences one disaster after another because he habitually capitulates to his fallen motives. So, not only is Lot a Believer, he is also a Between-er!

Yes, Lot Is Also a Between-er

He loved bordering with the world. He did not really understand spiritual separation or holy insulation! He did not adequately insulate himself from the negative impact of a depraved culture. A "Between-er" avoids making the hard decisions about fully identifying with the Lord. They prefer trying to please everyone; they avoid taking a stand on anything except the need to be more tolerant. In contrast, living in intimate fellowship with the Lord makes Him our primary Influencer in daily life. Intimate fellowship with the Lord will lead to standing firmly for righteousness in loving and responsible ways. Lot appears to be straddling the fence in the OT account stalemating holy progress. Too much worldly influence or input will certainly contribute to spiritual failures. Lot's growth stagnated; he was not reaching new heights in worship, or exploring new depths of devotion to the Lord--He remains carnal (1 Cor. 3:1-3)! That within itself is a real tragedy!          

First Peter 2:2-3, says "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3, If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

Our Lord expects us to grow up and influence others for Him. If we are spiritually healthy people, then like a newborn baby we will have a carnivorous appetite for more milk. It is a consuming desire...we yearn for more.  A baby that is not hungry or thirsty for milk is sick! All through our Christian journey, regardless of our level of maturity, we should always have this insatiable thirst for the pure undiluted Word of God. Just like people need to eat to survive, a Christian requires spiritual nourishment from God's Word to sustain moral and holy development. If we do not hunger for the Lord, righteousness, and the Bible it may be because we have had far too much junk food from the world. Furthermore, each genuine Believer already knows that the Lord is good and gracious.  We all can testify to the fact that sitting at His table is a delicious experience indeed! O' taste and see that the Lord is good! Why not crave yearningly for more of God? 

This process of growth will stall if we are indecisive about spiritual pursuits and rather casual with God. So many Believers have one foot firmly planted in the world's values and philosophies while placing the other foot tentatively in the life of faith. Believers receive incredible doses of input from worldly venues while exposing themselves to spiritually healthy content once a week and occasionally when they remember to read the Word. So many cannot recall five minutes later what they read in the Bible. Too many never digest a Sunday sermon outside of the walls of the church. If the pastor asked his congregation what he had preached on the previous Sunday it is alarming how many Believers would struggle to recall the content. At the same time these same people can rattle off football and baseball statistics effortlessly. They can recall exactly what was said on Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and who tore their achilles tendon in last week's football game. If you asked them to recall the sixty-six books of the Bible too many will not be able to do so. Ask them to name the twelve original disciples and they cannot. When it comes to making decisions, they do not even think of seeking the face of God for direction. They simply decide as if God does not exist! They are unsure and indecisive about the things of God, but they think and cherish godless values. Worldliness and carnal pursuits dominate the way they think, and these determine what is really important. As such they do not stand decidedly for God or righteousness. Then there are those who will take a stand or a position at the drop of a hat, but their approach is godless, worldly, mean-spirited, and carnal. They may be saying the right things, but they clearly are not saying them in the right way. Such is the case for 'Believers' who are essentially 'Between-ers'. I understand we all have a great deal of maturing yet to realize, but that too requires a deliberate choice and utter dependence on God. 

Now think with me for a moment considering carefully the following statement,

On Jupiter, 318 times more massive than the earth, gravity at the surface is so intense that an astronaut in his space suit would weigh nearly half a ton.  Even if he could safely land, we cannot yet provide him with a propulsive force strong enough to get him off again. (Source Unknown)

The massive gravitational pull of self-centered pursuits can be incredibly powerful. Such influences can appear impossible to overcome. Sometimes our unsaved friends, social media connections, the things we read, internet surfing habits, what we watch on TV, what we hear on the radio, and the goals we have set for our lives can cause us to become “Between-ers” instead of being “Distinctively Christian”. The gravitational pull of some of these  things is greater than that of Jupiter, and the only thing that will give us the propulsion we need to break away from these harmful influences is the Power of  God’s Word! But, we must want to break away...we must yearn to be free and available to the Lord Jesus. By consuming God's Word we can grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord allowing His influence in our lives to become supreme.

If you are having trouble with being a “Between-er,” then concentrate more on the Word of God--it will pry your heart, mind, and soul away from the World, Sin, and Satan. Turn your TV off and open your Bible to the Gospel of John and start reading through the Book. Log off your social media account to spend more time in the Word. Schedule this as a priority. I realize we sometimes feel impressed to be loyal to unhealthy relationships, which in effect devalues our relationship with God. If we are not careful we can become more concern with being acceptable to others while forgetting the priority of pleasing the Lord first and foremost. Too often our plan trumps God's plan without much deliberation or internal conflict. Before long we have grown accustomed to turning to God only for emergencies.... A coldness replaces the warm fellowship with the Lord, and we simply are not as bothered with this development as we once were. 

Devotion to God brings us into the reality of belonging exclusively to Him and His Plan for our life finally becomes our priority! Once again God's precious Word is the key. There is incredible power available through the living Word. This is repeated frequently in the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus says in John 15:3, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." Cleansing of the soul, spirit, and lifestyle is through the powerful Word of God. Later in John's Gospel our Lord says in John 17:17, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." This is Christ's prayer to our heavenly Father! To sanctify is to set us apart reserving us for God's uses, purposes, pleasure, and glory. Clearly God's Truth sets us apart unto Him as we appropriate its precepts and principles into our thinking and behaviors. The Word can indeed do this and multiplied millions of genuine Believers can testify to its impact in their lives. The Bible will move us off the fence!

The sweet Psalmist of Israel tells us in Psalms 119:9, saying, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." Heeding and adhering to God's biblical instructions will result in cleansed lifestyles. This is true for the young and old alike; real changes are evident in the experience of the Believer who takes God's requirements seriously. This great chapter in the Bible also says in Psalms 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." As a strategy against habitually sinning against the Lord God we are instructed to place His Words in our hearts. That is memorizing portions of Scripture for the sake of recalling it whenever opportunity presents itself to think more on God's statements. This deepens our understanding of a passage while bringing it into different scenes of life revealing new applications and fresh ways to implement a truth in the most relevant ways. As we carry God's truth in our souls we become aware of potential violations or mild infractions against God's plan for us. Ultimately hiding the Word in our minds and hearts should result in fewer violations of God's holy standards. 
This great chapter affords one more helpful insight...God's Word can shape and inform our emotions. Read carefully Psalms 119:104, where David says, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." God's precepts can increase our understanding of the Lord, His ways, and priorities. As such we become impressed with how God feels about certain issues, behaviors, and practices. Godliness in part is viewing things from His perspective; it is adopting His feelings about various things. What He hates, we in turn hate also; likewise whatever He appreciates and loves we come to love as well. Thus from deep within and because of the influence of God's Old Book we gravitate away from straddling the fence of compromise and indifference to become people of strong love and convictions. There is no question as to who we are loyal to. We live decidedly Christian.  

Beloved, ALLOW GOD TO BRAINWASH YOU WITH HIS PURIFYING TRUTH! Bring your heart and soul to God, and allow the Spirit of God to teach you life cleansing truth. For some individuals God will need to completely format their brain’s hard drives to reprogram their minds with His pure truth. Please do not feel bad, we all have been there.... First John 1:9 is still applicable to each of us and we have incredible reasons to be thankful for this gracious provision. Own your mistakes; confess them clearly to the Lord without watering them down. Ask Him for forgiveness, cleansing, power, and positive changes. Change your mind about your sin, and trust the Lord to empower positive changes. 

An illustration of genuine SPIRITUAL SUCCESS can be found in the biblical character Joshua. You recall God shared with him the key to spiritual success in Joshua 1:7-9, saying, Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9, Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

The same principles apply to us still today. There are no shortcuts to spiritual success, but the alternative of failure is not at all inviting. You see God has a plan for you just as He did for Joshua. He is available to encourage you to be strong and courageous as you select and pursue His plan for you. God does give spiritual success and prosperity as we walk with Him and trust Him to be our primary Influencer. Again these are spiritual blessings you and I can cash in on. No, we are not promised material riches; we actually have something much better. We have a life with Almighty God! And if all the truth is explored, we will discover that He is exceedingly gracious and generous to us. 

Therefore, Lot Was Vulnerable to Worldly Appeals

Yes, because Lot was weak in his devotions living as a Between-er, he was quite vulnerable to godless allurements and seductions. As a result he follows a path designed by Satan to lure him off the course that God had for him. Notice the steps to his plunge into compromise, worldliness and be warned. Beloved, these are the steps to spiritual failure!

       1) He Was Weak in His Devotions, No altar or direction from God    Vs 5

       2) He Experienced Strife     Vs 7

       3) He Walked By Sight    Vs 10

       4) He Chose Selfishly     Vs 11

       5) He Pitched His Tent towards Wickedness—No Separation    Vs 12

       6) He Stayed Away from God’s Man—No Spiritual Influence   Vs 12; 14:12, 13 (He would be the kind of Christian who stays away from church too much!)

       7) He sat in the Gates of Sodom (Political Power, local official) Vs 19:1

Well there you have it. Lot's trek to spiritual failures that marked his entire heritage. Again the overarching problem was the fact that he had no spiritual restraint in his life. This was the result of the fact that he was weak in his devotion to Jehovah. This predictably led to decision making without any input from the Word of God. There was little or no truth influencing this man's values and behaviors. He was piloting his own airplane and sailing his own ship. Beloved, God must be our captain! As a result he failed to realize God's plan and purpose for him. In addition, he paid an incredible price for this in his own family in multiple ways. 

I do not think I know anyone who wants to be a failure. Lot had wealth and some temporal power, but he was a failure in life. Still today many consider material wealth, power, and professional achievement as the marks of successful people. No, Lot's story is a bold warning against such thinking! We can know success in life, but only as God Himself defines it. Living oblivious of His direction and priorities will not result in real success. Such a life can only be viewed as a miserable failure. It cost Lot far more than he ever intended to pay. Let us learn from the failures of Lot and avoid making the same mistakes He did. It leads to failure on many different levels when we assume we can handle life on our own without the Lord's influence. Make a priority of living in harmony and intimate fellowship with God through prayer and His Word. Be sure to build your own altar unto God in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Spend time in the presence of God allowing Him to shape your values and direct your energies. As a result you will know real success! The kind of success and spiritual prosperity that is free of frustrations and regrets!

What Is Real Success?

GENESIS 13:5-13

What is your definition of success? Simply by mentioning the word "success" positive images immediately spring into our minds! Our spirits are lifted to a desired reality we deeply hope is a part of our future. But seriously... what is your view of success? Some would answer without any hesitation listing financial wealth, significant power or influence, a few homes, fame, and maybe even a few expensive toys. Others may identify a successful business,  a happy marriage and family, or perhaps even a good solid church home. I may be going out on a limb, but I wonder how many folks would say... knowing and satisfying the will of God is success. That is correct; I believe that success in life is discovering God's plan for you and fulfilling it entirely. Another way of communicating this is learning why God made you, and becoming that person...living to do His specifically designed will for you. Understand that God had a purpose in mind when He created you and me. Certainly He has an incredible plan for every child of God! Beloved, the Christian who is directed by the Lord Jesus will lead a successful spiritual life. In contrast the Believer who persists in their self-satisfying plans while ignoring the leadership of the Lord is destined for serious and painful failures.

In this biblical account, the revived Abraham has learned to follow God by faith; he is leading a God-centered life. In contrast though, Lot, Abraham's nephew, persists in carnality choosing his own way living primarily by sight.  Because Abraham walks by faith he receives direction and comfort from the Lord; as a result he leads a successful spiritual life.  Lot, on the other hand, experiences one disaster after another because he habitually capitulates to his fallen motives. He was without divine direction, peace, assurance, and comfort; according to the biblical account, Lot died as a complete spiritual failure. The comfort for Abraham can be seen in the fact that he is led by the Lord, and the catastrophe for Lot is revealed in the fact that he is not!

In Proverbs 14:12, the wise Solomon says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Death is the outcome of insisting on our own way! To punctuate this important warning Solomon repeats it in Proverbs 16:25! If God repeats Himself, it is for our good and admonition--a demonstration of how much He really cares. These passages provide an apt summary for the life of Lot! I submit to you we can learn from the failures of Lot, and it is far better to learn from the mistakes of others thus avoiding some pain, regrets, and struggles. Once again Lot insisted on his own way ahead and this leads to death. That is correct... death to spiritual growth, death to valued relationships, death to God-given dreams, death to our true potential, and death to ever exploring the excellent plan of God for us. And yes, death....

In the life of Lot we witness how one decision can lead to others. How our choices can start us down a road we never initially intended to travel. A path riddled with frustrations, disappointment, disillusionment, and deeply perplexing pain. Our decisions are fundamentally rooted in our character--who we truly are. Lot’s character is revealed by the major decisions he made throughout his life. He chose to pitch his tent toward the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Perhaps he thought about how to farm his herds and how the well watered plains are ideal for raising livestock. It appears he was seeking riches and a better life for himself rather than the path of obedience to God. Indeed he prospered for a while, but this pivotal decision eventually led to his humiliation, the tragic loss of his wife and daughters, and he never realized God's grand plan for his life.

Lot’s life as a Believer was a catastrophe because He never knew the will of God; He did not take a single spiritual step after his salvation; finally he made an absolute shipwreck of all his potential to bring glory to God! His is a totally wasted life! The “WILL OF GOD” should be the desired goal of every Christian; to miss His plan is a gross failure!

Consider these insightful thoughts from The Bible Friend, and entertain for a moment the following points of inquiry. 

WHERE IS HAPPINESS?

Not in Unbelief---Voltaire was an infidel (God Denier) of the most pronounced type.  He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”

Not in Pleasure---Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did.  He wrote: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.”

Not in Money----Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that.  When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”

Not in Position and Fame--Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both.  He wrote: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”

Not in Military Glory---Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day.  Having done so, he wept in his tent, because he said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”

Where then is happiness found?---The answer is simple... in Christ alone.--The Bible Friend

All the things people think will bring them happiness and success are mentioned and all of them failed to deliver! No... wealth, pleasures, fame, power, and atheism will not bring us happiness or success; they all are cheap substitutes for godly prosperity. So, what were the major contributing factors in Lot’s catastrophic failures? Will it not be advantageous to know how to avoid the path to major failures?  Certainly we will make our share of mistakes, but I believe the average person wants to keep those to a minimum...right? How can we avoid making the same mistakes?  How can an individual break a generational curse that has historically plagued their family tree? When we look back over our lives, what can we learn from our failures? What are the the underlying assumptions that lead to predictable and persistent spiritual failures? If you can appreciate the magnitude of such inquiries, then please keep reading.... The answers are far more practical than philosophical! 


First, consider the single point of failure in Lot's situation is the fact that he has NO SPIRITUAL RESTRAINT! He is not governed by his relationship and fellowship with the Most High God.  He appears to be operating under the assumption that he has all the internal resources within himself to decide well and forge his own path. His faith does not provide a constraining, guiding, directing influence in his experience. He does not live in utter dependence upon God.  It is not that faith in God is somehow deficient, but instead many, like Lot, persist in ignorance of Him as if He is a non-factor. Lot assumed he had enough experience, wisdom, intellectual prowess, and internal fortitude to forge his own way ahead independently. Generally speaking this results in many lives caught in an unbroken cycle of frustration--they each are essentially unbroken chains of failures.... 

Furthermore, some of these well meaning folks never or seldom pause to investigate why! Debt leading to more debt. Mild frustrations with our teens to zero communications with them for days...months. Marriage 'dead ends' that lead to further distrust and the harshest exchanges. Becoming slightly interested in an unhealthy relationship gravitating to a chain of shameful moral failures that lead to wholesale violations of core values. Experimenting with marijuana to 'fit in' with the crew devolving to semi-functional substance dependence finally degenerating to pervasive dysfunctional dependence on a substance. The common thread in each of these scenarios is each person thought they could handle it or that they were still in control. People keep looking to themselves or within themselves in vain.... Beloved, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome. Without a healthy God-centered relationship and deeply held convictions we too can live without the highly beneficial influence of godly restraints. 

With this in mind, there are basically three things that seem to be major factors in Lot’s wrong choice to move closer to Sodom, farther away from God, and his ultimate failures in life. The first of them is addressed below--failures in his devotional life. 

FIRST, LOT WAS WEAK IN HIS DEVOTIONS....

In Genesis 13:5, God says, "And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents."

Lot had flocks and tents, just as Abraham, but Abraham had something that Lot did not. Abraham had an altar! That is, he inquired of the Lord, he worshiped God making sacrifices to Him, he cherished and nurtured a robust relationship with the Most High God, and he had a healthy daily devotional life. While Abraham was far from perfect, he did indeed love the Most High God. God's Word and promises framed his adventures, expectations, and plans for the future.

In contrast, there is not even a hint that Lot had an altar, nor is there any indication that he paused to inquire of the Lord for direction. There is zero record that Lot actually asked God, “Lord, this move is important to me and my family, what would you have me to do?” Lot had no quiet time with the Lord, no devotions, no period of waiting on God and no direction from God!  He had no altar. Lot was doing his own thing! God was not his primary Influencer; God was not the vital Object of Lot's devotion. Lot's beliefs, values, and feelings were not shaped by the Lord. He alone was his resource and source...self-sufficiency. He did not feel he needed God for things related to real everyday life. Therefore, he was weak in his devotions.

Yes, Lot Is a Believer

Is this surprising to you? Yes, it is difficult to tell form the Genesis account of Lot's life and family. Please note what Peter said, in Second Peter 2:7-8, "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8, (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)".

When and where Lot was saved I am not sure. It could have been when Abraham disclosed his plans to leave Ur or it could have been when Abraham left Haran to come to Canaan (Gen. 12:4-5).  I do not know for sure, but I do know that he was a saved man. 

Peter describes him by the inspiration of God's Spirit, as "just," "righteous man," and possessing a "righteous soul." Therefore according to the testimony of God, Lot was a saved person. Evidently, he hated the sinfulness and blatant disrespect for Almighty God surrounding him. He did not like the foul language, sensuality, perversions of sex, vial music, gross injustice, manipulations of the poor, miscarriages of justice, and complete ignorance of God! He did not participate freely or indulge in the sinfulness surrounding him. No, he was deeply "vexed" by "their unlawful deeds." This means Lot was annoyed and frustrated with the lawless living in Sodom and Gomorrah (Ezek. 16:49). Pride, gluttony, laziness, and neglect of the poor were all sins that characterized Sodom. There were extremely corrupt social and political cartels, strong powerful mobs, complex and ruthless mafia organizations, a widespread practice of sodmy and homosexual orgies, and real estate racketeers preying on widows. These features in the culture of these ancient cities deeply disturbed Lot. The pervasive sensuality and perversion got on his nerves and troubled him deeply. He worried about these people and was concern for their welfare. The way the poor was treated bothered him to no end. The gross miscarriage of justice was perhaps something he tried to correct through social and political means. 

Perhaps he keep matters of faith to himself preferring to be a silent witness.... Maybe he was ashamed of his faith-life and kept it private.... One thing I know for sure is that God viewed him as a "righteous man" with a "righteous soul." Remember, Lot and his family were the righteous persons God rescued when He destroyed this wicked city (2Pet. 2:7-9). This righteous man was grieved and tortured deeply while living among a desperately vial people! 

But still I must say it is an awful thing when people can scarcely perceive that we really are Christians. It is difficult to draw these positive conclusions about Lot from the Old Testament accounts. In the book of Genesis, Lot comes across as a man who lost himself through compromises and very lax convictions. He seemingly was willing to put up with the filth as long as he could gain something of material benefit from the association. Perhaps, like so many today, he was convinced he could handle the situation and control its impact on himself and his family. The truth is... we can choose what we do, but we cannot control the consequences of our choices! Furthermore, it ought to be obvious to anyone associated with us that we truly love the Lord Jesus!  This is not so obvious in Lot's story. While we all execute through the prism of our unique personalities, the Lord Jesus should still shine through. So, though it is difficult to see, Lot truly was a Believer.