We have heard that four "P’s" are good guides for doing away with worry. We seek to Praise, have Poise, Pray and receive Peace.
But this is clearing the decks as it were for an active walk in the spirit. Where do we go from there?
(Romans 5:1-5) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
We are justified (deemed to be right or righteous) because of our faith in Jesus the son of God and so we have God’s peace.
We have been taught ways of keeping that peace …
Consider …
(Romans 8:13-14) For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, [14] because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
This is the next step … to be led by God’s Spirit. Then we are grown up sons … "huios " (and of course daughters)
It’s the HOW that gets us into trouble.
Man is a three part creation … that is he is, triune in nature a body a soul/mind/personality/psyche/ego a spirit sometimes called the heart (not the physical heart of course).
The outward man as manifested by the body is getting older every day and will indeed perish but the inner man may be renewed day by day.
(2 Corinthians 4:16) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
We need to identify this inner nature for it is our hope for a renewed life …
(2 Corinthians 5:17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Is this the inner nature mentioned in 4:16?
Consider …
James 1:19-21 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, [20] for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. [21] Therefore, get rid of all the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
In other translations … "save you"reads … "save your souls"
Or again …
(Romans 12:2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Psalms 23:3 he restores my soul.
The solution to this dilemma is to realize that it is our spirit that is born again, made perfect, and is a NEW creature in Christ. Nowhere does the Bible speak of renewing or restoring the spirit.
The soul however is to be restored or renewed as 2 Cor.4:16 tells us. It is the Word of God that saves our souls, renews our minds and restores our souls.
The central thought for us as we seek to be led by God; is that the Lord leads us through the spiritual man.
We are BODY,SOUL,SPIRIT
All the physical is known by the senses i.e. through the body … that’s easy enough. All the thoughts, ideas, intellectual things are reached through our soul.
Spiritual things are reached through the spirit.
(1 Corinthians 14:14) For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. Shows that the spiritual is reached out of the spirit.
Summing up …
BODY = THE PHYSICAL REALM to be under our rule not rule us.
SOUL = THE MIND REALM being saved by the Word (the Bible).
SPIRIT = THE SPIRITUAL REALM. We are led in this realm.
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Paul says in Rom5 that we who have received the grace (unmerited favour) rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
We expect good outcomes that is, we hope
We hope for the "glory" of God. This is "doxa"and means the manifesting of His ways and nature in us.
That would certainly be something to rejoice over …
But it is not always so easy.
Rom 5:5 says to rejoice in sufferings …
Remember the knapsack and the burden of the Lord …
Its sometimes hard to rejoice or glory in what is happening.
Consider … The mother bird
Getting that egg laid is probably a good example of tribulation.
Perseverance and patience are needed to sit there all that time.
BUT experience knows by much testing that the result will come.
Hope keeps up the spirit of the mother bird.
She is not disappointed, and there is usually much fuss when the chick appears.
Look more closely at the process.
FIRST … LET US BE FULL OF JOY … I.E. REJOICE.
1. Suffering or Tribulation.
We are tempted to use this idea as a negative. I’m going through a bad time, the enemy is giving me a bad time, life is horrible etc. This is where the idea of praising God for His greatness in being the one who is our deliverer is needed. Stay positive.
The Greek is "thilipsis" primarily pressing, pressure, anything that burdens the spirit, the idea of affliction. It can also refer to suffering in general. There is always a sense of testing implicit in this word. The example for us to follow is found in
Mark1:12. Jesus was in the wilderness and was tempted by the devil. Notice His way of dealing with this.
So also with us, the pressure of the Holy Spirit’s call to us requires meditation on the Word, Prayer in the understanding, prayer in the spirit, perhaps fasting, certainly a response not an avoidance of the test of suffering.
Remember Mother Bird.
THE RESULT … PERSERVERENCE.
We are able to be patient and persist, to endure the seeming discomfort of the time. There is a waiting involved.
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
I guess Mother Bird gets sick of sitting on that egg too.
THE RESULT … CHARACTER
This is "dokime"the effect of proving, it has the sense of bringing forth the result of testing, it is rendered character in the NIV We grow in and during this process. We are tempered and made stronger.
I guess the first time Mother Bird sat for so long it was tough but it became easier through experience.
THE RESULT … HOPE
Ever noticed that the nearer the end of a difficult task the more one gets confident of the outcome. e.g. being lost in the bush and you think you see a familiar spot an essay gets near to the final chapter. the last calculation in a theoretical model
Mother Bird feels the egg move.
Hope … a confident anticipation of the outcome.
THE RESULT … NOT DISAPPOINTED
Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us.
When Gods brings a result it is the result of His love and it is touched with His life.
Mother Bird saw the result … a new born chick …
We also like the bird will be able to rejoice exceedingly as we experience God’s solution for our situation.
Sermon to Hope of God Church Canberra