Righteousness and Anger

Many things happen to us to make us angry. We want life to be fair but it often isn't because we live in a world populated by humans. Each of us responds to the world logic and patterns in our own way. We often experience conflict because of a multitude of factors present around us.

When logic comes from God's word (logos), it brings peace and a sense of well-being, not agitation. A very big point to understand is that God's wrath is passionate, not hateful. God is a God of love. He designed the human mind to think and have certain emotions to help protect us from the evil that exists in the world. He obviously thinks that anger to certain things is good, and he teaches us how to deal with it.

Ephesians 4:26-27
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.

We are surrounded daily by actions and influences that seem not fair and arouse a sense of justice in our hearts. At the end of the day (I mean this literally not figuratively like it is so often used) we have the opportunity to lay our head on our pillow and give it all to God. It is at those moments we can  listen and genuinely forgive. We can really allow God to do his love thing to handle what is on our hearts. Forgiveness does not mean giving in to injustice.  It means asking God to resolve any problem the way it needs to be resolved. Our 'pillow talk' can  assure us a good night's rest only to wake up the next day expecting good things ahead. This is to be viewed as a dynamic of life not a rigid rule . It is from a very deep love that God guides us in this direction. God's kingdom abides in this realm.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

Righteousness is not indignant. It is a description of our right to God's love and solutions. Righteousness is not about competition, jealousy or argument of who's right and wrong. I often make mistakes, but I have realized that we can be still righteous even when we make mistakes and that is what elevates us to God's kingdom here on earth (remember the prayer, 'thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven'?) The Pharisees (the 'separated ones') and scribes tried to teach people the law.  With the advent of Jesus Christ we could become righteous by giving us access to God through grace not law.

Most people who stay angry have conflict in their own hearts and allow the adversary to run in through and ransack their brains. Believe me when I say I know about that. God can help us get out of that rut when we understand what true righteousness involves.  And I know about that too. At night when I close my eyes, I love laying what is on my mind all out before God. When I wake up the first thought I have is usually one of great expectation for the day.

The Mystery Doctrine and Practice - Why is it so Important

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes(rulers) of this world, that come to nought:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:8 Which none of the princes(rulers) of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. I Corinthians 2:7-8

None of us are perfect, so we can get confused when we read a verse like this. The word 'perfect' in the above verse refers to those who have the complete, mature, and accurate understanding as to the purpose and reality of the Messiah.  God had an intent and purpose for Jesus Christ. If we want to see the power of God we need to understand what God intended in Jesus Christ. In order to find it we need to look at the 'hidden wisdom'. 

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery(hidden secret) among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (mature) in Christ Jesus: Colossians 1:26-28

Knowledge alone does not mature us.  It is when we utilize knowledge with strong humility that spurs our growth.  Jesus Christ's purpose is to expose darkness and where it lurks. We are able to overcome the earthy and devilish wisdom of the world through Christ in us.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 1 Corinthians 12:27

We are all 'essential' workers in the congregation of Christ. There is no spiritual elite because we all have the gift of holy spirit with which to fan our great individual potential. In I Corinthians 12:27ff, God  through Paul, reveals the imagery of the human body as it relates to the body of Christ working together. It is a beautiful analogy and tells us uniquely how we relate to one another. We each have the confidence and assurance to do our part and not infringe on someone else's part. The hand cannot function without the shoulder and the elbow, but at the same time, the shoulder cannot perform the same function as the hand. All the parts of the body need each other, yet every part of the body of Christ has Christ as its head. So many parts operating in sync with the head is unbeatable. Jesus told his disciples that they would do greater works than he because he needed to go to the Father. God has granted him the authority to direct the church an he does that through the spirit.

We do not have an absent Christ. He is connected to us. Is that so outlandish? Thirty Years ago, did we think we could talk face to face with each other?  Today even though I might be 1000 miles away from my kids and grandkids, I can be present with them via Facetime. It is nothing for God to utilize the communication lines of holy spirit to keep us all tied together. When you login, the password is prayer.

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us (other people with the same communication lines): and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. I John 1:3

That is powerful! Think about what we have access to! On the internet we have access to some really great human references, human experts, resource books, data, interviews and videos on any topic. We have a stronger, more powerful connection with God and we don't have to deal with the junk and darkness that the internet is filled with. (Analogies can just go so far). God's wisdom is pure wisdom with not even a hint of darkness.

One of my favorite records is in the book of Numbers. Gold gave instructions to Moses:

16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. Numbers 11:16-17

This is from the Old Testament before Christ's time.  Spirit was upon certain men. Joshua noticed two people operating the spirit of God outside the camp and went and told Moses. Mose's response?:

29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

Here is a beautiful hint of God's desire which came to pass starting on the day of Pentecost after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Pentecost was the birth of the church that is the led by Jesus Christ.  On the day of Pentecost God's heart's desire was fulfilled. We celebrate it this coming Sunday. Happy Birthday to the Church! Let the candles blaze! What a great time to focus on that gift of God's Spirit and exchange its presence with each other.

    

Sinner's Prayer?

During the current crisis which is worldwide,  people are experiencing amplified feelings of fear, isolation, vulnerability, and loss of control. People have varying ways of dealing with what is going on. Some turn to science, officials, news, drugs, alcohol, religion and chocolate.  Many people during times like these, want to ask questions of and about God.

There are many ministers on TV in ads calling people to confess their sins and come to God.  I think this really misrepresents the heart of God. Repentance involves a change of heart. It is the change of heart that God is interested in because the change in heart brings the best to an individual. We can see that as we read through chapter ten of the book of Romans. Sin does nothing but damage to our lives. I dare say God does not want to be reminded of our sins.  He wants our hearts restored and drawn to him. God wants us to live above the trauma and drama of the world. Somehow some designers of world religious practices sadly don't really understand it.

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Roman 10:1-2

The  Hebrew religion, around the time leading up to the book of Romans, was immersed in the laws and guidelines of tradition. Their religious practices were going overboard to prove their own righteousness.

3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

We see a similar practice going on today with the current crisis situation.  For example, there are actually lawgivers who are regulating that only two people of the same household should be in a boat when fishing on a lake to prevent a virus spread. There have been sound guidelines given but some regulations are way over the top. The Bible itself has guidelines that are reasonable and right. There are admonitions actually in Deuteronomy 14:12-20 and Leviticus 11:13-19 not to touch or eat bats. The word of God includes epidemiological education but Mosaic religious law and practice got more rigorous and restricting as man extended God's word with Hebrew traditions as time went on. Man always seems to get carried away with the dits and dots of regulatory boundaries. It is probably about man's lust for control. Listening to God is not about control.

The Hebrews of Paul's time had incredible laws of minute regulation that burdened and dampened those who had a zeal for God. This kind of righteousness is what nobody needs! True freedom is founded in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ showed and continues to show us the heart of believing God:

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Righteousness is a heart thing. We don't have to confess anything except what God did for us through his son Jesus Christ:

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (wholeness). Romans 10:9-10