1 Corinthians 10:13-14 – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”  NASB

I can grasp the reality that it is impossible to include all the passages that would make up the whole context of this thought.  So, I insert this as a springboard for us to delve into the matter and hopefully propel us to further examination on our own.  I know many reading this are students of the Word of God.  You diligently search the Scriptures to see if what you have heard or read is true and I commend you because that is how it should be. If it is true and biblical, it will stand up under examination and if it doesn’t our views and interpretations Must be adapted to fit what will stand up in the Light!

I am concerned that too many in the Body of Christ are looking for a Rescue Mission rather than living the Normal Christian Life, waging Spiritual Warfare, and becoming able to Pull Down Strongholds.  I am reminded of the old gospel song, “Hold the Fort…”  Now before you become upset with me think about the image that the song presents. 

For me, and not necessarily anyone else, my mind pictures a Christian barely holding on and waiting in hiding behind the walls for the Spiritual Calvary to arrive just in the nick of time and rescue us.   There is no question that we have God’s promise that HE IS COMING!  He will fulfill that promise but, in the meantime, I understand His commission to be Occupy until He comes!  I understand it to include the promise that the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 

Let’s consider this passage briefly.  What is the Temptation Paul mentions?  I doubt that anyone could definitively say but with verse 14 one could consider idolatry as a possibility.  However, when I look at the Greek the word is ‘peirasmos’ and seems to indicate putting to proof by experiment, experience, solicitation, discipline, or provocation and is most assuredly adversity. 

Next, we notice the word Tempted – ‘periazo’ which implies testing objectively and even discipline.  To be tempted Above or Beyond that which we can stand is objectively drawing attention to something more than our ability.  We also see the word Escape ‘ekbasis’ which is without question an exit.  When we see the words Endure and to Bear ‘hupophero’.  We see that this is a situation where we are under and enduring.  It is being imposed upon us.  All of this Temptation, Trial, and Testing is something that is all too human and not something uncommon so even though it is horrific for us and trying it is not so unique that no one else has endured it.

My question is that no matter if it is our being ‘tempted’ to succumb to a ‘temptation’ or if it is a trial that seeks to shipwreck our faith and draw us away into some form of ‘idolatry’ do we need a Rescue Mission or an Infusing of Faith and Courage? If it is truly beyond our ability to stand God will provide us an exit strategy but sometimes, we seem to look for the exit too quickly when we should be Resisting the devil and watching him flee.

In no way do I mean this to be condemning or to suggest that I am somehow more spiritual than anyone else for I face the same things you do and am subject to the same ‘temptations’, ‘tests’, and ‘trials’.  I have failed more than I care to admit but I have always found God faithful.  I have stopped looking for a Rescue Mission and started asking for more Courage, Faith, and Determination!  I want God to be able to say to me as He did to Joshua and know that I will take it to heart and allow the Spirit of God to embolden me – “Be strong and very courageous.”  We have a War to win, a Battle to fight, and a Victory to enjoy!

God bless you as you go through your day!

1 Peter 2:5 – “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  NASB

Previously, I broached the subject of ‘Spiritual House’, or ‘Stone Pile’ and I desire to delve a little deeper into that idea.  I truly believe that I have a Word from the Lord on this subject and hope that you will hear what I’m saying, evaluate it, pray about it, examine it, and then render a decision as to how it applies to you and your local fellowship.

Sometimes there is a new word not because it is NEW but new because it has not been heard yet.  I believe that there is a spiritually dynamic life to be had in the Body of Christ beyond what has been enjoyed by most Christians and Churches.  Sometimes to move into a new area in God there has to be a ‘leap of faith’ and a ‘change in our concept’ of the function of the church and the individual.  That being said, I want you to consider a ‘problem’ that prevents this, and I believe as you see the problem you will be willing to invest yourselves into finding and implementing the solution.

Here in the text, it mentions ‘living stones’ and a ‘spiritual house’ for the purpose of a Holy establishing a Holy Priesthood.  That is not talking about those who carry the title of ‘minister’ or ‘preacher’ but Christians.  Peter, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, offers a ‘natural picture’ to help us understand a ‘spiritual truth’.  Natural stones produce natural houses and spiritual stones produce spiritual houses.

• These are LIVING STONES – – [lively zoes]. 

Stones, building blocks, but building blocks that are alive.

• There is a PROCESS – – Being built up.

Constructing or forming is taking place and it involves time.  It is not instantaneous!

• There is an OBJECTIVE – – A Spiritual house.

Fully functioning spiritual house which is a body, a family, and a unit.

Imagine living building blocks!  Wouldn’t that be a wonderful reality in today’s church?  I do believe that it is becoming a reality in many locals, but sadly in much of the church world, it is more of a whimsical fantasy and a theoretical dream than a reality.  A significant portion of organized religion is far from being a Spiritual House either locally or universally.  What we see much of the time is a ‘pile of bricks’.  No question they are living stones with incredible potential but not functional because they have never Been Formed into a Spiritual House.  There is a vast difference between a Spiritual House and a Stone Pile! 

There are several contributing factors to the dilemma.  First, often there is little to no understanding of the Kingdom, biblical church government, and function.  Second, frequently our newfound freedom in Christ encourages us to run everywhere and do everything with no real spiritual submission to authority and without proper training.  [Equipping – Ephesians 4].  This equipping, according to the Scripture is done under the oversight of the Wise Master Builders or God’s under-shepherds and the gifts in the Church.

It is possible to have a ‘system of government’ that is biblical in theory but not in practice.  It is possible to have ‘elders & deacons’ in name, who do not have the calling, anointing, or function of true elders or deacons.  It is possible to have a ‘team concept’ of ministry but not practice it truly.  It is possible to have ‘home cell groups’ without having the ‘gift people’ in the right place or function.  It all looks good, sounds good, and the desire is good but it doesn’t produce life because it has not been ‘fitly framed’ together so it can be more than a Pile of Stones!

To be a Spiritual House, the stones/bricks Must be ‘fitted together’ with design, foresight, and planning.  According to the Bible, each member of a congregation is a ‘living stone’ a building block.  Most churches spend an enormous amount of money and energy trying to amass stones and in the view of the world the more stones you have the more successful you are.  The number of stones is equated with success, so everyone is focusing on gathering stones but not fitting them into a Spiritual House.  It is stones, stones, stones!  Let’s get more stones!  Well, you might as well ‘get stoned’ if that’s all you have it will do you about as much good.

If we are to impact this world as Jesus commissioned and commanded us it is imperative that we become Spiritual Houses, not Stone Piles!  Make this a commitment of your heart and seek to become ‘fitly framed together’ into a Spiritual House for a Holy Priesthood.  The lost need it.  The saved need it.  God desires it!

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Mark 2:14-17 – “As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, ” Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. 15 And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, ” Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  NASB

The Pharisees were self-righteous.  They provided Jesus object lesson after object lesson to present His message of Grace.  In today’s world, I find it incredibly disturbing the level of bitterness and hatred that exists among people.  I find it even more disturbing when I find it among those identifying as followers of Christ and Christianity. 

The Pharisees thought they had a corner on truth and were the only ones pure in their doctrine and Jesus repeatedly revealed that it was not the outside of the cup that God focused on but the heart.  The Pharisees had their spiritual ‘T’s’ crossed and their ‘I’s’ dotted and yet missed the mark in the eyes of the Savior and the revealed will and heart of God in the Bible.  They sought to earn their acceptance and in doing so demonstrated the reality they were ‘sick’ spiritually and ‘bankrupt’ relationally. 

We have a condition where those who are outside the faith are filled with enmity toward each other.  We have a condition in the church where those of various sects, groups, camps, and/or persuasions are at enmity with those not, like them.  That identifies the condition of my title – “We, as a society, are sick and need healing.”

When Jesus called Levi, the tax collector, a man whose occupation caused him to be despised by the Pharisees, the Lord was the immediate target of the religious crowd.  Our Lord went into this vile man’s home, sharing a meal and when the Pharisees knew it, they cheerfully branded Him a heretic because he was associating with SINNERS! 

Imagine that!  The Great Physician seeking out those in need of spiritual healing.  These Pharisees were not bold enough to confront Jesus to his face, so they buttonholed his disciples asking their condemning questions, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”  Jesus heard them and responded directly to their accusations and condensation saying, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  If it were not for the incredible seriousness of that, it would be hilarious the way Jesus put the Pharisees in their place. 

His answer should have caused an immediate recognition by the judgmental, self-righteous looking down their noses as those they considered SINNERS! But it didn’t!  Jesus identified His purpose of “seeking and saving that which was and is lost.”  His declaration, that it is not the healthy that need a physician but the sick was an indictment against, the attitude of the Pharisees.  It exposed the truth that although they were rigid in their keeping the Law of God but also the Laws of their own making, they were suffering from a serious heart problem. 

Their hearts were not gracious or loving.  They were not forgiving or interested in the spiritual condition of those they considered SINNERS!  They were judgmental and harsh in their treatment and view of anyone not a member of the Association.  Jesus identified that attitude was foreign to His heart and the purposes of God.  He identified that there is a Spiritual Physician who has come to Heal the Spiritually sick if the sick will receive Him.

If we allow ourselves to become like the Pharisees, we reveal a spiritual sickness in our own hearts and our great need of the Heavenly Physician to heal us.  If we, who are followers of Christ, fail to manifest spiritual health how will those in the world believe and receive it!  In many ways, we are sick and need healing.  I encourage you to bring your entire heart and mind to the Cross and allow our Lord through the Holy Spirit to apply His healing balm and heal us.  In that state of wholeness, we can manifest not just represent Christ to the world.

God, bless you as you embark on this beautiful day in Christ!