Thankfulness

The practice of godliness – chapter 8 – a continuation of notes

Thanksgiving is an acknowledgement that all we have and all we are is from God.

It was through a dis-acknowledgement of God in Romans 1 that is stated as the cause for the moral degeneration of the human race. Indeed we see Jesus show disdain from ingratitude in the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19. This shows us the importance that our Lord placed on giving thanks where it was due, to Him. Ingratitude we see in Romans 8, leads to a decaying of the mind, it leads to foolishness. Estrangement from God and God centeredness leads to downfall.

‘Our situation is never so desperate that it is not fitting to give thanks to God’ (104)

We see that Daniel when he knew of the decree that he was not allowed to pray, still went up to his room and gave thanks!

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’

(Philippians 4:6 ESV)

Thanksgiving also causes us to deflect credit from ourselves, it helps us to grow in humility by constantly recognising that every good thing we have and do is from the providential hand of our great God.

Some practical steps:

Begin and end the day with thanksgiving

‘It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night,’

(Psalm 92:1-2 ESV)

Set aside the answered prayer requests and write them down, remembering always to thank God for what he has done and provided.

Often we write lists of prayers but do we then remember to thank God for them when they have done?

It is an offence to God, as we see in the case with the ten lepers to receive from him without thanking him.

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Contentment

The practice of godliness – chapter 7 – a continuation of notes

The godly person has found what the greedy or envious or discontented person always searches for but never finds: He has found satisfaction and rest in his soul (85-86).

With a realisation of the person of God there is great contentment, for it becomes easier (not necessarily always easy) to rest in His provision. Contentment stretches beyond money, it involves many other things – one’s place in the body of Christ or in society, physical/mental limitations, sickness, unpleasant neighbours, trials or persecution. I can say myself that I have found true rest in some but insecurity in others, but one of the great beauties of walking with the Lord, is that he grows us, he nurtures us ‘to mature manhood…the stature of the fullness of Christ’ (Eph. 4:13). I have seen growth yet I see more to come!

Discontent is: a questioning of the goodness of God’ (86).

We must come to a place of trusting in his provision, in his fatherhood that goes infinitely beyond the fatherhood of any good intentioned human father.

Discontent is one of the most satanic sins, and to indulge in it is to rebel against God just as Satan did. (86)

Scripture both warns us of the dangers of discontentment and encourages us to pursue contentment on the basis of God’s promises to provide for us (86)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

(Hebrews 13:5 ESV)

Our contentment and rest is bound up in the promise of God, to never leave or forsake. An assurance greater than any other.

There is liberation in realising that God hands out all things that we have, so therefore considering all things are God’s to give out and that what he gives us is a result of his grace, this should lead us to be content. Since we brought nothing, let us not assume it is OURS by right to take anything. It’s all grace, and with the measure poured out, let us indeed be content.

It is easy to be content when we realise that what is truly valuable are those things which God has declared valuable.

Truly we are able to rest on the fact that if God wanted it he would have made it so, and it was because it was not his perfect will why something may not have happened.

One of many recent examples is a loss I just suffered in my University union elections. I was gutted, truly. After all I and others had put a lot of work into it and it was highly likely that I would win – according to the “University commentators!”. But I can take true rest and assurance that if God had wanted me to be EPS faculty officer, then he would have made sure I had it and so therefore he has other more wonderful things in store to put me through and other ways whereby I might glorify His name in greater degrees.

In whatever setting we find ourselves, work, uni, school, in knowing that we are serving God and serving others we will see that we will try thoroughly with them and not be lax and as a result become very content with them.

‘the lord has given and the lord has taken away’

Job 1:21

When we are aware that all that we have is from God and indeed from his kindness; we will never grumble against what he as given us and against what we deem to be more poured out on others.

We are to be content in whatever situation we find ourselves, we need not waste time in worrying about what we have, where we are and what position we have, whether that is within the body of Christ or in wider society. God is sovereign and also has a loving plan for us, he places us in the place where he wills for us we are to live in light of the statement in 1 Corinthians 7:21:

‘Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)’

Every Christian should pursue excellence of workmanship and service in whatever vocational calling he finds himself. But he should do so to please Christ and to glorify Him, not for the sake of personal ambition. (95)

Ultimately contentment is birthed out of a grasping, a deep grasping that God’s grace is indeed sufficient.

‘This is the secret to be being content: to learn and accept that we live daily by God’s unmerited favour given through Christ and that we can respond to any and every situation by His divine enablement through the Holy Spirit.’ (99)

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Humility

The practice of godliness – chapter 6 – a continuation of notes

I hope you had a rather good weekend – mine was busy (story of my life) but productive!

So this chapter probably (for want of a much better word but what seems to be used in Christendom a lot nowadays) lashed me more than any other, it really helped me to think about humility before our great God.

‘Jesus exemplified humility in its utmost through his death for us’ (74)

‘I live in a high and holy place but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit’ (Is 57.)

‘Humility toward God is akin to the fear of God; it begins with a high view of God’s person’ (75)

When we comprehend the majesty of God and humble ourselves to this, it is then that we are able to work out our lateral relationships in humility. We see others as equal and not subordinate and indeed with the love of God ‘shed abroad’ in our hearts we are able to ‘prefer others’ above ourselves.

In addition when he is the reference point all else falls into place.

What do I mean?

When we see our low estate before God we are able to ‘take the log out of our own eye’ before attempting to ‘take the speck out’ of our brothers’ – we can truly see ourselves as equals and not look on others with condescension.

‘We must treat the scriptures not only as a source of knowledge about God but also as the expression of His will for our daily lives’ (76)

Truly when we fear God we will ‘tremble’ at His Word for we realise that His Word’s express His will. 

When all we want to do is to please God we will yearn for His Word to know His will on order to obey it.

‘When a believer is truly humble before God and His Word, he will also be humble about his own gifts, abilities, and attainments. He will realise and gratefully acknowledge that all that he is and all that he has comes from the hand of God. This aspect of humility begins with our understanding of personal salvation. All evangelicals agree that we are saved solely by the grace of God, apart from any works of our own, but do we believe even in some undefined way, that we did contribute something to our salvation, something that implies that we were a little bit wiser, or a little smarter, or a little more responsive to God than others?’ (78)

‘For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?’ (1 Corinthians 4:7)

All of our work, all of our labour all that we are and all that we do stems from the throne of God. It is ALL by grace, from the brushing of one’s teeth in the evening, to the preaching in the pulpit, to the ability to walk! It is ALL superintended and governed and given by the providential hand of God.

‘We should ascribe any attainments, whether secular or spiritual, to the grace of God’ (80)

‘Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.’ (Deut. 8:17-18) 

‘I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.’

(1 Corinthians. 3:6-9)

Humility exercises itself in biblical submission. Submission is not to be a ‘walkover’, ‘a carpet under people’s’ feet’; rather it is to be able to receive instruction and correction.

We are admonished in scripture to submit ‘one to another’ and we see perfect examples such as Apollos, an apparently gifted preacher who got a few things wrong. He was taken in by Aquila and Priscilla, who were not preachers but knew ‘the Way’ more perfectly.

Similarly we do not see the Apostle Peter harbouring resentment for his younger brother in the faith, the Apostle Paul, who rebuked him for his hypocrisy with the Gentile Believers at Antioch, when he shunned them because they were not Jewish. No he commended Paul in his later letter and commended his teaching as that of scripture.

We must learn to submit, and serve others preferring them above ourselves, an important Kingdom principle as taught by Jesus is the that the ‘first shall be last’ and the ‘last first’ (Matt. 20:16). Servant-heartedness is at the core of the gospel, ‘the Son of man came not to be served but to serve’ (Mark 10:45). 

Practical steps to humility

1.) Renew your mind – Memorise and meditate upon scripture and watch as the Spirit will lead us to conviction and action.
2.) Confess pride and pray for sensitivity to see with God’s eyes and for His Spirit to CHANGE us
3.) Do something! Do something out of your way – serve!

Taking on God’s character

‘The practice of godliness’ – chapter 5 – a continuation of notes

Two essential aspects of godliness – God centredness – and then from out of that Godlikeness (Christian character). Our devotion and our desire for God is tested in our conformability to His character.

Developing godly character.

1.) Devotion to God is the only acceptable motive for actions that are pleasing to God’ (58)

It is not about, “doing the right thing”, it is about devotion to God.

Genesis 39:9

‘He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”’

Here Joseph refused to sleep with his master’s wife, not simply because she was not his, but because it would be to sin against God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’

‘The fear of consequences may keep us from committing the outward acts of murder or adultery, but only love will keep us from committing murder or adultery in our hearts’ (60) 

Colossians 3:22 ; 1 Peter 2:13; Ephesians 5:21

2.) ‘The power or enablement for a godly life come from the risen Christ’ (60) 

‘As the source of power for godliness is Christ, so the means of experiencing that power is through our relationship with Him.’ (61) – John 15

3.) ‘Though the power for godly character comes from Christ, the responsibility for developing and displaying that character is ours’ (62)  

‘let us then be ever mindful of our entire dependence upon the Spirit of God…let us be ever mindful of our duty “to maintain good works”‘ (64) – George W Bethune

4.) ‘The development of godly character entails both putting off and putting on character traits’ (64) 

‘Surely we must put to death by the aid of the Holy Spirit, the misdeeds of the body. But we must also, again with HIs enablement, clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’ (65)

5.) ‘We are responsible to exhibit all of the traits of godly character in a balanced fashion’ (66)

6.) ‘Growth in all areas is progressive never finished’ (68)

2 Peter 1:5-6

‘For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness’

Seeking a deeper devotion

‘The practice of godliness’ – Chapter 4 – a continuation of notes

‘a crucial characteristic of our growth in godly devotion, then, must be a balanced approach to all three of the essential elements of devotion: fear, love and desire’ (48)

Indeed we ought to show a complete dependence on the Holy Spirit of God to bring about such devotion.

‘Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I maywalk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name’

(Psalm. 86:11)

‘That according tothe riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength tocomprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.’

(Ephesians. 3:16-19)

‘never in our desire for Him will we exhaust the revelation of HIs person to us’ (55)

Think on the fear of God – Revelation 4; Isaiah 6 & 40

Think on the love of God – Psalm 103; Isaiah 53; Romans 5:6-11; Ephesians 2:1-10; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; 1 Timothy 1:15-16; 1 John 4:9-11

Train yourself to be godly

‘The practice of godliness’ by Jerry Bridges – Chapter 3 – a continuation of notes

‘Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;’

(1 Timothy 4:7 ESV)

It can sometimes be a nagging question. In our quest for holiness how much is us? How much is God? I don’t want to try to do that which only God can work in me, yet we know that scripture lays responsibility on our part? God has given us a law to fulfill, yet, we know that we can only ‘bear fruit’ as Jesus said in John chapter 15 if we ‘abide in him’?

This chapter helps me personally with these series of questions

‘Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;’ (1 Timothy 4:7 ESV)

There is indeed a personal responsibility – “train yourself” – truly there is a personal weight.

A question then is, ‘Am I training myself first in Christian business or godliness?’

This training is akin to the training of an athlete – what rigour they undergo!

‘No one makes it to the level of olympic, or even national, competition without a commitment to pay the price of rigorous, daily training.’ (35)

Psalm 63:1 (ESV)

Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)

Philippians 3:12 (ESV)

Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)

2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)

‘The Holy Spirit…teaches and trains us through His Word. Therefore we must consistently expose ourselves to the teaching of the Word of God if we are to grow in godliness’ (36)

‘Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness’ (Titus 1:1 ESV)

“our practice of godliness would be very incomplete without a regular Bible reading programme of some type” (40)

“reading gives us breadth, but study give us depth’ (41)

“Every Christian should be a student of the Bible” (42)

‘For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food’ (Hebrews 5:12 ESV)

Keys to our scriptural approach for the purpose of godliness.

Hear, read, study, memorize, meditate.

Taken from Proverbs 2:1-5 (ESV), we find

Teachability – ‘accept my words’

Intent to obey - ‘store up My commands’

Mental discipline – ‘apply your heart’

Prayerful dependence - ‘call out, cry aloud’

Diligent perseverance – ‘search as for hidden treasure’

Meditation is the process of storing the Word up in our hearts.

‘Walking with God involves communion with God. His Word is absolutely necessary and central to our communion with Him’ (45)

‘Pleasing God requires knowing His will…His word is the only means by which He communicates that will to us’ (45)

Devotion to God

‘The practice of godliness’ by Jerry Bridges – Chapter 2 – a continuation of notes

It is through a fear of God, a recognition of his perfect holiness, his majesty and his wonder that we can come to recognise the great price paid by the Son of God upon that tree, and conversely through seeing this great wrath bearing sacrifice of the Son we come to fear God in newer deeper ways.

Psalm 130:3-4 (ESV)

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

I can say this has become true for me and has become my anthem over last summer and into this part of the year, seeing the price paid, the wrath borne, the gulf bridged and the love shown by God, truly his love is great, truly it is great.

And so we are lead into greater and greater devotion to our great God, indeed his great love compels us!

2 Cor. 5:14-15 (NIV)

‘For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again’

Value for all things

The practice of godliness – Chapter 1

‘There is no higher compliment that can be paid to a Christian than to call him a godly person.’ (13)

Our occupation is godliness:

‘For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.’

(Titus 2:11-14 ESV)

‘But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.’

(1 Timothy 6:11 ESV)

‘Pursue’ here denotes an unrelenting state. It is an indictment to me. Oh to ‘pursue’, to run after godliness. We were made for greater things!

The foundation of godliness is a godly devotion. Godliness is borne out of a devotion to God, it is a devotion in action!

‘It is not just a warm, emotional feeling about God, the kind of feeling we may get while singing some grand old hymn of praise or some modern-day chorus of worship. Neither is devotion to God merely a time of private Bible reading and prayer, a practice we sometimes call “devotions”. Although this practice is vitally important to a godly person, we must not think of it as defining devotion for us’ (15)

This attitude of devotion is founded upon three things:

The fear of God

The love of God

The desire for God

William Law said in ‘A serious call to a devout and holy life’

‘Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted to God. He therefore is the devout [godly] man, who lives no longer to his own will, or the way and spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God, who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes all the parts of his common life, parts of piety [godliness], by doing everything in the name of God, and under such rules as conformable to his Glory’

Everything is centred upon God, every action.

‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

(1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)’

It is as Paul Washer says ‘he is not a yuppy’s accessory’. He is everything.

But it is important to finally note that godliness cannot be stirred up in ourself. All we have is from God, it is only to those who have been saved, who have been regenerated by the power of the Spirit of God, who as Peter has said have been ‘given everything we need for life and godliness’ 1 Peter 1:3

Godliness is not wearisome if you are given over to God.

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New series

I am starting a new series tonight.

Don’t worry – for those who were following the short reflections on Job, they will soon return, however before then I will be uploading some notes I have taken on a little book I have been reading by Jerry Bridges entitled ‘The practice of godliness’

There are 18 chapters in the book namely:

Value for all things

Devotion to God

Train yourself to be godly

Seeking a deeper devotion

Taking on God’s character

Humility – epic!

Contentment

Thankfulness

Joy

Holiness

Self-Control

Faithfulness

Peace

Patience

Gentleness

Kindness and Goodness

Love

Reaching the goal

By God’s grace I will upload a chapter a day! So keep an eye out and be blessed as I have been.

May God grant godliness – to which is value for all things for the life now and the life to come for those who call on him as ABBA Father and may he grant those who may be seeking to know more of him, something precious.

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