A Divine Necessity

We spoke of fads and trends in the last message. One should remember that both fads and trends can be strongly rooted in the truth but inappropriately used to credentialize one’s self, to gain or maintain stature or significance in the Body of Christ, or they can be attempted without regard to divine sequence and consequently be of little effect.

Today’s scripture emphasizes the importance of being instantly obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit. While it was the will of God for the message of Christ to go into Asia and Bithynia, to do so at that particular time would have been because of human aspiration rather than divine inspiration. The lesson for us is that we learn the difference.

One of my very favorite quotes of all time; one that I read regularly for its admonishment that we be continuously knowledgeable of, and instantly faithful to, the revealed will of God is found in a quotation from Martin Luther:

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” Martin Luther

The enemy is constantly bombarding the Body of Christ with all his weaponry and strategies. We have been warned to be knowledgeable of them. If we do not act with spiritual intelligence and discernment we will find ourselves fighting battles where victory will not be decisive and the focus of the enemy in other stratum and locations tactically ignored—much to our sorrow.

Having said that, it is my considered opinion that the greatest battle of all time is raging around us and, in fact, in us in this day: the battle of human conflict. Because we have found devices to cloak our feelings, we tend to either disregard or to be are unaware of the conflicts that lie buried deep within. These suppressed feelings are pockets of infection that affect every part of life—mind, will, and emotions—as well as their physical impact.

Many might protest that they have no such problems. However, to do so would be to take issues with the scripture. It is well documented that offenses come to all of us.

The issue at stake then is not if they come but how we treat them when they come. The following might be helpful:

1. Jesus warned “It is impossible that no offenses should come” (Luke 17:1a NKJ). One only deceives himself if he cannot admit the reality that no one is exempt from offensive situations and that few of us understand fully or have the will to address them properly.

2. Paul’s injunction to the Ephesians gives the will of God regarding our treatment of them: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:3-32 NLB). This leaves no wiggle room for us. We must forgive each person for each thing he did that was offensive to us.

3. In the same chapter, Paul gave the necessity and strategy for dealing with offensive situations, i.e., Ephesians 4:26. I think this verse has long been interpreted instead of translated. Its proper translation should be something like the following paraphrase: “You are prone to be angry, redemptively address what provokes you before you go to bed at night before it becomes entrenched and causes you to sin.” Anger unaddressed will soon be justified and become a way of life; consequently, it must be immediately confronted and resolved through forgiveness.

It is well to note the essence of Ephesians 4:32: because God has forgiven us all our sins against Him, we MUST forgive each other for the sins against us. Jeff

• Jefferson H. and Norma R. Floyd, CO-directors • Jubilee International • P. O. Box 572 • Noblesville, IN 46061