Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Leave It Behind: Instructions For The Non-Believing Believers

Father God, I come before your throne of grace, the only way I know how; with my head bowed and heart humbled to say thank you.  Father I thank you for life and health this morning.  I thank you for the covering while my family and I slumbered.  I thank you for being a God that allows us to come to you not how we pretend to be, but as we are.  I thank you for your mercy and grace toward an undeserving people, and I thank you for your Son Jesus.  I pray oh God that these blessings that you have bestowed upon us continue Father, throughout the day.  I pray Father that the readers of this message are in the right mind to receive it, and that you will instill a spirit of change for those who needs it.  And Father if we can pray for one more thing, we pray oh God for forgiveness of sins that were performed by way of thoughts or deeds.  We give you all honor and glory, and we pray this prayer in the matchless name of your Son Jesus.  Amen


I was speaking with one of my co-workers today.  He has been tasked to improve how tickets are handled so that the level of our customer service increases.  The team that I am on is sort of unique and he was inquiring on what exactly we do.  After sharing the information with him, he was a bit confused.  He understood our support model, and understood what it entails, but he did not understand the other support that we provide.  My team has a basic support model, however other items fall under our support that should not.  It’s what we call a “grandfather clause.” It is an exception that allows an old rule to continue to apply to some existing situations, when a new rule will apply to all future situations.  So there is support that was carried over when we were promoted that should have been left behind.  This can be misleading at times when dealing with other teams, and also frustrating because at times we have to offer explanations why our team are involved in certain situations when majority of other teams are clearly defined.

This sort of confusion happens all the time between children of the world, and supposed children of the light.  Children of the world are unable to make out the children of the light because both behave similarly.  The bible states “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not be partakers with them.  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”  (Eph 5:1-11)  The bible is clear regarding what God instructs Christians to do.  We are to be holy, but sometimes people do not know what holy means.  There are key words and phrases used in these verses that need to be considered, and I believe because they are not considered, is why you have what I call non-believing believers.

We are instructed to be imitators of God.  This of course is impossible, so we have to put on our metaphorical hat.  I think “imitators of God” is self explanatory, but for those who are not clear, one way can be forgiving those who trespass against us. It speaks about things that should not even be named among us.  You have those who are caught up in a rumor mill because of their behavior and the company they keep.  The list is clear and precise and the charge is that we are not to be partakers with them.  The Greek word for “partakers” is “summetochos” which means a participant.  We are not to participate in any activities that the children of this world participates in.  This does not mean watching a football game or eating at a restaurant.  This implies to going to night clubs or a bars.  Children of light have no reason to be in those places.  Here is where the left behind comes in.  It stated “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”  Some of us at one time or another was once in darkness.  All of the things we were told to stay away from in the above verses, we were partakers of them.  Now that we are in Christ, we are a new creation.  Those things of old are exactly that; old and have passed away, now we look forward to a new way of daily living. (2Co 5:17) 

Unfortunately, you have those who want to apply the grandfather clause.  They were smokers before Christ, and they want be smokers in Christ.  They used to hit up the clubs, but they find ways to still dance and show their bodies off, just absent of the building, while claiming to be saved.  They used to listen to filth in their music, and still listen to the filth.  They were attracted to the same sex before, and still are now.  They hide behind love and commitment.  Please!!!!  All that garbage should have been left at the altar, and virtually burned once you became a new creature.  It should have been left in the tub, pool, or river when you were baptized.  When you came up out of that water you were washed free of it.  Some believe that it is ok to be this way. They believe as long as they believe in Christ, and ask for forgiveness, they are good.  News flash!  Hebrews 10:26-31 addresses that error superbly.

There was a time when someone heard you were a Christian, they would ask you to pray for them.  They would want to be in your company because they knew God is covering you.  Now, we are ignored.  We are not taken seriously. You can walk in some churches and can’t tell the difference between those who claim to be children of light and those who are in the dark.  They look alike because they did not leave their past in the past.  It is time for men and women to stop talking about it, but being about it.  Amen.

2 comments:

  1. First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to post such a detailed article Mr. Notice. It took a while to get me here, but thats another story for another day.

    I do however have a question, in your sermon you mention the following;

    "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

    Ive been thinking about this for quite sometime, I feel as if I can apply this to a few things in my life, but I am a bit confused.
    there are several definitions of the word "exposure" according to the English dictionary, I chose the two that would best fit in the given context, they are as follows;

    a. To subject or allow to be subjected to an action, influence, or condition.

    b. To reveal the guilt or wrongdoing of: expose a criminal.


    Now the definition I believed to be best suited here would of course have been B. But when in context of the Bible, I know now that the correct usage of the word is actually A.

    My question comes however when I ask myself, how can I expose those who I need not keep company with?

    And how would I expose those without causing any type of harm or guilt towards them? (whether deserved or not, but who am I to judge?)

    One of the very few things that I have ever retained pertaining to the bible was that no one sin carries more weight than the other. I do not know if this is true or not, it is just what I was told, meaning to say that if i was to go amongst these people or I was to go have a drink with some friends and my past gets the better of me, in biblical terms that sin that I have committed is the equivalent to killing my own brother?

    Getting there.

    Stephan Lyons.

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  2. Steph I thank you for reading the message today, and sharing your concerns. You asked some important questions that should be looked at carefully and I believe that many of the readers agree with you. According to the verse you selected, we expose those of unfruitful works by showing a different display of behavior. We expose them in thought. We expose them in speech. We expose them in deed. It is not necessary for us to shout to the world their faults because people can see their faults. What the challenge is, we are the ones who do not see our own faults. An alcoholic will refuse he is an alcoholic until an intervention is had where he is able to see the many family and friends who are affected by his actions. When your friends are used to seeing you act like them, then turn around and act different, this raises their brow. You expose them because they will compare their current behavior with yours. Amen.

    Regarding the company you keep is sort of simple. You were raised a certain way and this way have conformed to what society deems acceptable. However God has the ultimate say, and His word tells us. However, His word is not accepted because His words intrudes on lives. Lives that are used to getting high. Lives that like to have premarital sex. Lives that enjoy getting drunk. So what happens is these things took precedence over what God desires, and now these things have become gods to those who engage in them. This is easily proven when you ask them to stop. Some can’t. Some won’t. So regarding the company we keep, gives us an indication of who we are. Ever hear the saying, birds of a feather flock together?
    Are you judging? Yes you are. And you can judge people, but not to condemnation. The bible says "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (“Joh 7:24) You judge daily. You do not hang with murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, or etc. Why is this so? Because you choose not to. Why? Because of what they stand for. Are you not making a judgment call here? If you know a male who is known for trying to sleep with his friend’s girlfriends, would you allow him to be alone with your girl? Part of you would say you trust your girl, but part of you would say why put her in that position. A judgment call is used there as well.
    A lot of the things that I share is easier said than done, but there must be a start. The bible states “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”( Php 1:6) It is a process Steph, and it may even take the rest of your life, but it has started. I hope I was able to answer your question satisfactorily. Be blessed.

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