Shipwrecked Faith

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear.  For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.  1 Timothy 1:19

Everyone is born with faith; life is a series of faith choices, both good and poor.  When we place our faith in a chair, by sitting on it, we exercise our faith that the chair will hold us up.  If it does, it was well-placed faith.  If we place our faith in a man who whispers to us on the street corner….psst, buddy…you want a great deal?  I got these Rolex watches worth twenty grand each; sell ya one for $75.  Chances are rather strong, our faith in that guy will rust as fast as the watch.

It's one thing to be naïve about the worth of a trinket; it’s quite another matter to allow preconceived notions about God shipwreck our faith.  Faith, in spiritual matters. is supposed to guide our choices towards God’s open arms.  Misplaced trust in anything other than God’s will and way leads to a shipwreck of our faith.  Sometimes we cling to a hope that is ill-founded merely because it sounded good, or real when we first heard it from a friend.  We didn’t run it through the God-filter; instead, we just believed it (placed our faith in it), and couldn’t believe how badly it turned-out.  It’s like the story of the man who worried himself over the question of whether life wasn’t fooling him, and he began to think he was dead.  He started believing it and telling everyone he was dead.  No friend or family member could convince him otherwise.  Finally they got him into therapy.  The psychiatrist had no better result; the man thought he was dead.  Frustrated, the shrink decided on a graphic, undeniable test.  He asked the troubled man:  Do dead men bleed?  The man said:  No, dead men don’t bleed.  With that, the shrink pulled out a pin, pricked the man’s arm with it, and it started to bleed.  The shrink pointed to the man’s arm and asked:  So what do you make of that?  The man, now puzzled, finally offered:  Well, I’ll be durned…dead men DO bleed!

What Apostle Paul was telling Timothy is a stern warning for any one of us to beware of letting our faith settle on anything that won’t pass the blood test.  There is so much heat these days on television news, social media, blogs and vlogs galore, which promote hatred, violence, and rebellion, as well as perversity as a normative good choice, if that’s what you want.  That kind of stuff conflates a small amount of truth about political and sociological problems, with isolated Biblical verses to create a wedge of doubt between your conscience and the good sense given to you by God’s kindness.  We can fall victim to good sounding, but false theories of how to view the world.  We can be like Eve who heard the serpent whisper did God REALLY say that?  Satan even used that tactic, quoting Scripture to Jesus (way out of context, of course); the devil was tempting Jesus to abandon the Father’s mission and serve the darkness of Hell.  In all three of the temptations recorded in Matthew[1], Jesus denied Satan’s offer with Scripture, appropriately interpreted, countering Satan’s use of twisted Scripture.

For You Today 

We must use our faith, nurture our faith, and grow in our faith.  But we must be careful to grow straight, rather than crooked.  To grow straight requires bathing our worldview in the Word of God.  There is nothing about popular worldview opinions that can match the strength of God’s Word to avoid shipwrecking our faith.  Paul gave this advice to his young ministry student, Timothy:

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.  Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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[1] See Matthew 4:1-11

Temptation - Facing the Dark Side - Part 5

Friday – September 20, 2013

Any tactician will tell you that the best defense against anything is a good offense.  Football players keep the ball away from the other team’s offense by having a good ground game.  Soldiers keep on the attack so the enemy cannot regroup and attack.  Debaters who have a weak point yell. 

Fighting is what an army does when they go into war.  And the war in this case is spiritual; the prize is the territory of your soul, your witness, and in some cases your life.

Make no mistake about spiritual warfare – it has been the premier battleground since day #1.  Do you remember Job?  His story is (historically) the first book of the Bible.  Job’s troubles started when Satan waltzed into heaven and challenged God to a “showdown” – devil vs. man.  The temptations were bigger than most of us have, or will face in life – loss of entire family, fortune, health and reputation.  Job had nothing left!

God allowed that test to take place; (Just why God allowed it is another issue for another day) Job stood firm in his faith….certainly not his strength, because that was long gone…and God won the day.  Job’s life was more blessed at the end than the middle.  The point is, whether you enlisted or not – like it or not – you’re in this war.

Lessons from Jesus and Job

Spiritual Leadership in your life

The best way to beat a superior army is to get more soldiers and become a more superior army.  And even better is to get a general with experience and superior knowledge than the other general.  Listen to what the Bible says about General Jesus:

…he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. ¹⁶So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.   Hebrews 4:15b - 16 (NLT)

All those temptations you give into – the ones that have been ruining your life – Jesus has faced them all and whipped them all!  And He is able to give you the strength to overcome them as well.  Form an alliance with the King of Kings.  Be saved.  Invite Him to reign in your life.

Spiritual weapons in your life

The Sword and Spirit are ours.  Memorize God’s Word – hide it deep in your heart.  Make it so familiar to your soul that it comes out whenever you are threatened.

Paul advised Timothy:

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things.  Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.  Fight the good fight for the true faith.  Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.   1 Timothy 6:11 - 12 (NLT)

Couple that with apostle Paul’s understanding, that you never fight alone; there is always God, enabling through His grace…

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.  And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.  When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.   1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

Today

No matter the temptation, the grace of God is able.  To paraphrase the old sermon illustration,

Temptation knocked on my door one day,

I asked Jesus to answer.

There was no one there.

Temptation - Facing the Dark Side - Part 4

Thursday – September 19, 2013

If you recall, Satan’s fall from Heaven was due to pride.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning!  You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.  For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.  I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north.  I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’     Isaiah 14:12 - 14 (NLT)

“I will…”.  Here’s an important key in sifting through choices which present themselves; “I will” is always a red flag!  A constant question I have about any choice is:  

Is this God’s will, or does it pander to my will?

Satan will often present comfort and ease as a right reason.  That job pays so much more.  She is prettier.  I like the way this version of the Bible sounds.  It’s much easier to give less than a tithe.  Ease and comfort are not necessarily Godly.

Don’t misunderstand my intention here – God cares if you have it tough; He cares much more that you’re in the center of His will, which is more than comfortable – it is best…even if it’s difficult and involves suffering.

Then, also notice Satan always wants you to think about what others think.  He tried to entrap Jesus with that.  Hey, Jesus, you know these folks here in Jerusalem are just ripe for the Messiah – but, listen, you’ve got to get their attention.  Do something.  Build a national following.  Forget that repentance stuff, and all that boring worship and memorizing the Bible.  Jazz it up, Jesus!  Hire a band.  Get some puppets – put your name up in lights, boy.  Jump off the temple – do a miracle there.  Then they will know you are the real thing.  If you’ll just follow MY advice, I’ll see it all happens!

Pride’s Problem

I used to take quite a bit of pleasure (and pride) knowing I drove a very inexpensive, American-made Ford.  The little grey beast had (with the exception of Henry’s Model T) the lowest sticker price of anything Ford ever made.  I got 40 miles to the gallon!  The air conditioner still worked after 11 years!  Cheap, durable and American-made! 

But once when I was cleaning the car (its annual bath, needed or not) – as I bent over the door opening I noticed that little sticker with the manufacturer’s information.  It said, Made for Ford Motor Co. by Kia Motors.  My American pride-mobile was made in Korea! 

And, if that wasn’t enough, two weeks later another sticker fell out from under the radio in the dashboard – the little pink slip said “Made In Brazil”!  So much for Russell’s car-pride!  (I now drive a good German VW made mostly in America).

Pride is where Satan lives.  His fall from heaven was because of pride, and he will use that to tempt you into falling as he did.

Here are his “big three” weapons, and how they appeal to you:

Lust of the flesh 

appeals to material things and experiences you want.  Note that Eve was content until the serpent showed her what she could have if she only exercised her will.  He showed her how to be “upwardly mobile” by disregarding God’s instructions to abstain from that tree.  It’s an appeal to greed.

Lust of the eyes

appeals to our aesthetic, creative nature.  Eve saw the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was pleasing to her eyes. 

Pride of life – 

the fruit held a promise – to make one wise like God.  This is an appeal to self-will.  Satan’s chief sin in his fall from heaven was in wanting to take God’s place.  (There’s plenty of example of that in our day…take your pick!)

Today

Don’t fall for Satan’s prideful answers to life’s questions…

Trust and obey, for there’s no better way,

to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.

Temptation - Facing the Dark Side - Part 3

Wednesday – September 18, 2013

This morning we are going to look at two ways that the Tempter (Satan) always uses to trip up Jesus’ followers:

He will always suggest a wrong road that seems right

Years ago Debbi Boone had a hit song, You Light Up My Life.  It was one of those crossover songs, hitting the popular, country, and gospel charts.  One phrase in the song always struck me as having the wrong message to ever be considered part of a Christian worldview:

It can’t be wrong, when it feels so right.

Satan has had a lot of practice fooling even the most mature believers.  Friends, I tell you the truth, don’t trust what your heart tells you.  Don’t trust what country music, or your buds from the hood say.  Satan will use anything and anybody to confuse and corrupt your foundation.  He will always suggest a wrong road that seems right. 

In the desert wilderness Jesus relied upon God’s Word to find his way.  So should you.

He will always supply wrong reasons that sound right

Part of the Tempter’s strategy will always present a slightly different (and entirely wrong) way of doing God’s will.  Satan reminded Jesus He came to have a kingdom, feed the hungry, and establish worship.  And he could have those things quicker if he just followed Satan’s advice.  

Friends, no matter how high sounding the end, the way you do things had better square with God’s Word – otherwise you are on thin ice.

A church I served was without a music director.  Of all things, I (who cannot even carry someone else’s tune) was leading the singing.  A group of a dozen visitors showed up one Sunday morning. 

After the service, Carl, a very distinguished looking member of that group invited me to visit him the next evening.  I showed up, and was treated to two hours of Carl showcasing his musical talents – complete with solo and framed music course certificates.  The evening ended with Carl’s statement:  Preacher, me and those other families want to join your church…if you’ll make me the songleader.  I told him I thought he and those other folks would probably be happier in another church. 

Now, I didn’t know the man from Adam’s housecat.  But, I knew enough that anytime there is an “offer with an if” you’re in the middle of a business transaction.  I needed a music director, but this was Mt. Temptation.  I later found out the man had split two other churches with his marvelous music.  His wrong reasons had plenty of sound right (and certificates to prove it) – but they were still wrong reasons.  He cared nothing for the church he was so generously “offering” to serve – it was his agenda and pride that mattered to the songman.

Be Prepared!

Jesus prepared himself spiritually, with fasting and prayer in the wilderness.  When the attack came he was ready with God’s Word to not only survive the temptation, but to overcome and become stronger for the days ahead. 

Today

Remember that the battle is only that – one battle in a lifetime war!  Prepare yourself today and every day with God’s Word, the Sword of the Spirit.  You don’t wait until it starts to rain before you think about repairing that roof; your spiritual roof needs shingles from the Word of God.  Get on it!

Temptation - Facing the Dark Side - Part 2

Tuesday – September 17, 2013

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.  The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”  

But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”  Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”  Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

After spending these 40 days in prayer and fasting, Jesus is confronted by Lucifer himself.  It is appropriate to remember that the tempting came after two things:

a.         After Jesus made preparations to fulfill the ministry God had laid out for Him – ministry decisions about how he would serve.

b.         After he was physically and mentally exhausted.

Why?  

Why wait for the time when Jesus was just getting started in ministry and after a season of spiritual preparation? 

Satan always attacks foundations.  

If you can corrupt the foundation of anything, it doesn’t matter what is built afterwards.  It’s Satan’s way – undermine the footing, destroy the building! 

When a church gets a new pastor they are in the foundation of a ministry together.  Satan would dearly love to undermine this relationship.  Then, for all the time they have together, the people second-guess the pastor’s motives, and the pastor also wonders about them.  Will that pastor and people accomplish much for the kingdom?  I think not; trust undermined is faith forsaken!

Satan’s undermining of foundations is the very reason why values have been such a big player politics in recent years.  It isn’t so much that politicians are interested in Christian values, per se – politicians are interested in getting elected; they can’t even agree on what values really are.  (I can tell them – but they wouldn’t want to look in the Bible.) Satan knows if the focus surrounding values can be shifted to a debate over what constitutes values, he has already won. 

Satan understands that once we settle on any definition other than what God has laid out in Scripture, he has won.  If the foundation is not God’s Word, it is bound to crumble. 

Satan’s temptations always attack the foundation of God’s Word:

a.         Physical hunger.  Satan knew there were plenty of hungry people in the world, so he offered, Hey, Jesus, turn these flat stones – the ones that look like bread – turn ‘em into bread.  You can feed all those people.  No one will ever have to listen to Sally Struthers pleading on TV to feed those poor, hungry children.  Jesus quoted the Scripture:  Not only bread – God’s word.  Strike ONE.

b.         Spiritual hunger.  Satan’s second swing involved an ancient prophecy from God’s own Word.  It seems as if he said, OK, you quoted Scripture, take this:  The angels are supposed to watch over you – here’s how you can kill two birds with one jump; take a leap off the peak of the temple – let God’s angels save you with a spectacular miracle.  Everyone will certainly know that you’re the Messiah, and you’ll prove God’s word is true.  Jesus pointed out the verse that really applies here:  Don’t tempt God with foolishness.  Strike TWO.

c.          Accomplishment hunger.  Look, Jesus, see all the kingdoms of the world.  I can give it ALL to you.  If you just worship me, I’ll set you up good.  It’s a short cut to what God wants for you anyway.  Let me save you all that cross business.  It’s so much easier this way.  Jesus rejected this also with a word from the Word – Worship YOU, Satan?  God alone is to be worshipped!  You better get out of here!  Strike THREE – and out.

Satan struck at Jesus’ foundations, and found he’d hit rock.  This is the lesson we can learn today from this battle of temptation…Let Satan swing against the Rock…he will find no way to cut down Jesus in your life!