4
Nov 2018, Christ Mountain Top
Nov 2018, Christ Mountain Top
Praying
the Psalm, Psalm 24
the Psalm, Psalm 24
Children,
Exodus 20.12
Exodus 20.12
Message,
Galatians 5.13-26
Galatians 5.13-26
Mission
Moment, Pastor’s Discretionary Fund
Moment, Pastor’s Discretionary Fund
These
simple rules are what John Wesley described as a way to build a “form of
godliness” while seeking its power (2 Timothy 3.5). The United Societies were
simple rules are what John Wesley described as a way to build a “form of
godliness” while seeking its power (2 Timothy 3.5). The United Societies were
a
company of men having the form and
seeking the power of
godliness
company of men having the form and
seeking the power of
godliness
FORM
(pic, sidewalk, me and Zoe)
(pic, sidewalk, me and Zoe)
First
rule, “Do no harm.”
rule, “Do no harm.”
Children: Honor your parents, that you may
live long …
live long …
But in those “terrible twos” “terrible
threes” “terrible teens”
threes” “terrible teens”
They learn a new and powerful word:
NO
NO
Actually
a critical word to learn:
a critical word to learn:
In
business literature and in psychology literature, No is a way
business literature and in psychology literature, No is a way
Stay focused on our personal or corporate
mission
mission
Define who we are and clarify our
boundaries
boundaries
In
our relationships and sexuality
our relationships and sexuality
Protection of the vulnerable against
assault by the powerful
assault by the powerful
“No” means “No”.
Successful
people are those who learn how to say “No” … particularly saying “no” to the
right things.
people are those who learn how to say “No” … particularly saying “no” to the
right things.
· No
to the parents when they try to impose their expectations on your own marriage
to the parents when they try to impose their expectations on your own marriage
· No
to the public that tells you that your business should make widgets when your
purpose is to make wadgets
to the public that tells you that your business should make widgets when your
purpose is to make wadgets
· No
to the children when they insist you fund their lifestyle on their terms or
permit things because “everyone is doing it”
to the children when they insist you fund their lifestyle on their terms or
permit things because “everyone is doing it”
Robertson
and Muriel – discernment when there are two “goods”
and Muriel – discernment when there are two “goods”
“No”
means “No”.
means “No”.
“Do
no harm.” The power in this rule is in the word “no”. Do NO harm.
no harm.” The power in this rule is in the word “no”. Do NO harm.
Wesley’s
examples:
examples:
By
doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially
doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially
that
which is most generally practiced, such as:
which is most generally practiced, such as:
The
taking of the name of God in vain.
taking of the name of God in vain.
The
profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary
profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing ordinary
work
therein or by buying or selling.
therein or by buying or selling.
Drunkenness:
buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking
buying or selling spirituous liquors, or drinking
them,
unless in cases of extreme necessity.
unless in cases of extreme necessity.
Slaveholding;
buying or selling slaves.
buying or selling slaves.
Fighting,
quarreling, brawling, brother going to law with
quarreling, brawling, brother going to law with
brother;
returning evil for evil, or railing for railing; the using
returning evil for evil, or railing for railing; the using
many
words in buying or selling.
words in buying or selling.
The
buying or selling goods that have not paid the duty.
buying or selling goods that have not paid the duty.
The
giving or taking things on usury—i.e., unlawful interest.
giving or taking things on usury—i.e., unlawful interest.
Uncharitable
or unprofitable conversation; particularly
or unprofitable conversation; particularly
speaking
evil of magistrates or of ministers.
evil of magistrates or of ministers.
Doing
to others as we would not they should do unto us.
to others as we would not they should do unto us.
Doing
what we know is not for the glory of God, as:
what we know is not for the glory of God, as:
The
putting on of gold and costly apparel.
putting on of gold and costly apparel.
The
taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of
taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of
the
Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus.
The
singing those songs, or reading those books, which do
singing those songs, or reading those books, which do
not
tend to the knowledge or love of God.
tend to the knowledge or love of God.
Softness
and needless self-indulgence.
and needless self-indulgence.
Laying
up treasure upon earth.
up treasure upon earth.
Borrowing
without a probability of paying; or taking up
without a probability of paying; or taking up
goods
without a probability of paying for them.
without a probability of paying for them.
There
is a “no” in this rule, and it is a “no” we say to ourselves and to our most
destructive and abusive impulses.
is a “no” in this rule, and it is a “no” we say to ourselves and to our most
destructive and abusive impulses.
· no
to avoiding taxes
to avoiding taxes
· no
to working when we should be resting
to working when we should be resting
· no
to owning slaves or benefitting from slave labor (including unjust labor practices)
to owning slaves or benefitting from slave labor (including unjust labor practices)
· no
to going to court against sisters and brothers
to going to court against sisters and brothers
· no
to unkind talk
to unkind talk
· no
to accumulating wealth or accumulating debt
to accumulating wealth or accumulating debt
This
rule addresses how we behave in conflicts and what gets us into conflicts in
the first place. We want something that someone else wants and only one of us
can have it. We act like a two year old. “Mine.” Maybe we’re all grown up, but
we’re still competing over a friend, over a dress, over a right-of-way.
rule addresses how we behave in conflicts and what gets us into conflicts in
the first place. We want something that someone else wants and only one of us
can have it. We act like a two year old. “Mine.” Maybe we’re all grown up, but
we’re still competing over a friend, over a dress, over a right-of-way.
Galatians
5:26 Let us not become
conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
5:26 Let us not become
conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
Living
this “no” – do no harm – goes a long way to building the “form of godliness” in
our lives.
this “no” – do no harm – goes a long way to building the “form of godliness” in
our lives.
This
week, in my personal reading:
week, in my personal reading:
Gossip,
Prov 26.20, For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no
whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Prov 26.20, For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no
whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Rueben
Job, Three Simple Rules, 22:
Job, Three Simple Rules, 22:
Each
of us knows of groups that are locked in conflict, sometimes over profound
issues and sometimes over issues that are just plain silly. But the conflict is
real, the divisions deep, and the consequences can often be devastating. If,
however, all who are involved can agree to do no harm, the climate in which the conflict is going on is immediately changed….
If I am to do no harm, I can no longer gossip
about the conflict [or those involved in it]…. I can no longer manipulate the facts of the conflict. I
can no longer diminish those who do
not agree with me and must honor each as a child of God.
of us knows of groups that are locked in conflict, sometimes over profound
issues and sometimes over issues that are just plain silly. But the conflict is
real, the divisions deep, and the consequences can often be devastating. If,
however, all who are involved can agree to do no harm, the climate in which the conflict is going on is immediately changed….
If I am to do no harm, I can no longer gossip
about the conflict [or those involved in it]…. I can no longer manipulate the facts of the conflict. I
can no longer diminish those who do
not agree with me and must honor each as a child of God.
Galatians
5:15 If, however, you bite
and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
5:15 If, however, you bite
and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Discipleship
response form in program: Most responses are “yes” actions rather than “no”
actions. The “no” actions:
response form in program: Most responses are “yes” actions rather than “no”
actions. The “no” actions:
I will practice a day without gossip at
least once a week
least once a week
I will take a break from technology at
least one hour a week
least one hour a week
Other
responses that assume a “no” partner to the positive action:
responses that assume a “no” partner to the positive action:
I will get a good night’s sleep at least
once a week
once a week
Spend at least two minutes a day thanking
God
God
Titus
2:11-12 For the grace of God
that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say
“No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and
to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age
2:11-12 For the grace of God
that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say
“No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and
to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age
The NO is partner to the YES in building
the “form of godliness”
the “form of godliness”
Galatians
5:16-17 Live by the Spirit, I
say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is
opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh;
5:16-17 Live by the Spirit, I
say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is
opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh;
The NO is partner to the YES in building
the “form of godliness”
the “form of godliness”
We’re
just building the form. Yes, it is the form of godliness, but it is only a
form. No matter how good our form is, no matter how effective we become at
saying “no”, there is no sidewalk, there is nothing in the form except by the Spirit of God. But without the form,
there is nothing to contain and channel the power. Let’s begin to do our part
of the work of holiness, and trust and pray that God will do the filling.
just building the form. Yes, it is the form of godliness, but it is only a
form. No matter how good our form is, no matter how effective we become at
saying “no”, there is no sidewalk, there is nothing in the form except by the Spirit of God. But without the form,
there is nothing to contain and channel the power. Let’s begin to do our part
of the work of holiness, and trust and pray that God will do the filling.
We’re
just building the form. And it is too easy to simplify it to a list of
“don’ts”. It is actually about transformation, which goes deeper than rules …
that’s why we wait for the power of godliness that comes only from God. And
that’s why we finish with a story…
just building the form. And it is too easy to simplify it to a list of
“don’ts”. It is actually about transformation, which goes deeper than rules …
that’s why we wait for the power of godliness that comes only from God. And
that’s why we finish with a story…
Will Willimon, woman from projects who
ends up in Bible study
ends up in Bible study
May
God fill us.
God fill us.
Resources:
Rueben
Job, Three Simple Rules
Job, Three Simple Rules
