Messages with tag - Humility

Our scene is in Antioch in a well-established, conservative congregation, about 15 years after Pentecost. Antioch thrives with commerce and the decadent culture of the times. It also has a large Jewish population, within which are Christians, viewed as a sect of Judaism. Teachers and prophets gather to minister to the Lord and fast. What does it mean to minister to the Lord? What does fasting accomplish? Today a fast can be an initiation into a weight-loss program, a systemic purge, a social protest or a mystical manipulation of God. What was fasting about as it was practiced scripture? Is it a prescribed ritual for us? Is Biblical fasting an anachronistic term in our modern culture. Should we fast?

Pastor Dean encourages us to listen to the excellent presentations from the recent Pre-Trib Conference where the core doctrine presented is the rejection of the sufficiency of Scripture.

In his address to masters and slaves, Paul is not making a statement about social change. Neither is he endorsing or rejecting slavery. Change is brought about by the application of Christian principles, and the universal principle here is; whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord and not to men. Paul uses reward and repayment as legitimate motivation, not necessarily reward in time, but the reward of inheritance. Orientation to authority, accountability, obedience and humility of master and servant is a function of shedding the self absorption of the flesh and focusing on the pattern of service of Jesus Christ, the ultimate authority, in the same manner He subjected Himself to the authority of the Father when, as a man on this earth, he suffered injustice beyond any we will ever encounter.

Marriage can be a great source of joy, or suffering, depending on whose rules of relationship you apply. See how relationship roles predate creation and how elements of creation communicate and reinforce God’s design in role distinctions. Where is the equality in marriage? Does headship imply greater value? Does submission imply lesser value? See how God’s original purposes for man and woman were directly frustrated because of the Fall. Appreciate how God did not abandon us in the hopelessness of judgment but provided a solution in ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ and spiritual recovery in time through the Holy Spirit and the Word.

The foundation of a good marriage is orientation to authority, humility, submission and imitation of Christ and relationships within the Godhead. These are applications that extend to all relationships at every age and marital status. Preservation of this divine institution is essential for our culture to survive and for sanctification to live itself out in our lives. Marriage is defined in scripture, not by starry-eyed lovers or embittered divorcees. Marriage is to fulfill the purpose of God. The only way to know that purpose is to seek advice from scripture. Biblical roles for men and women create clarity. Our culture has attacked these roles creating gender confusion and cultural degeneration. Be encouraged about what the Bible teaches about marriage. Live out His truth in our confused culture and know abundance in a God-defined counter culture.

This lesson also includes Genesis 1:26-28