The following is a compilation from The Message Bible:

Did you know God is a safe house? The moment you arrive, you relax, and you’re never sorry you knocked on God’s door. When God speaks to victims, real victims, their faint pulse picks up and the hearts of the hopeless are lifted when He whispers in their ears. The rule of the gang lords is nearly done and the days of Pharaoh are almost finished. Our God and King made sky-jewelry for us and let’s us write in His book of wonders! How wonderous He is, He is God, our God. When God is around mischief backfires, violence boomerangs, and the people who have mouthfuls of curses turn into windbags, they are flat-earth people who can’t think beyond today. Without Jesus, the Christ of God, man drinks from a canteen filled with hot desert wind, they hang out at Sin-Saloon, they wander down Dead-End Road, those who despise righteousness are what God calls, Hot air boasters!  Bilious and bloated they gas out, they say, “God is gone”….but look at their lives, haven’t you noticed….thistles are their cash crop. They are like sheep which take turns pretending to be the shepherd, but in the end, without God they are just a string of zero’s, treating people like a fast food meal over which they’re too busy to even pray.

Me? i’ll never treat God’s name like a brand name. i’m going to be like turned-around Jacob skipping rope. God’s wise counsel is confirmed in me and is obvious by my resting heart. He cancelled my ticket to hell, and tore up my sin-paycheck. When i had so many secrets which i kept hidden by fences that ran every which way, God was kind and didn’t tear them down, but instead He wrote grace-graffiti all over my fences. Before i knew Jesus, the devil’s water rushed in on me all the time, hell’s ropes clinched tight on my wrists, there were death traps everywhere, and the hangman’s noose was tight around my neck! But then God!! That’s right, But then my God showed up! The earth wobbled, mountains shook, nostril’s flared, mouths spit fire, there were bright cloud bursts, hailstones and fireballs sprayed, oceans were exposed, lightening was hurled, and my God came against the enemy of Heaven like hurricane-anger that is loosed…. and He made me to stand, liberated, on a wide open field. i was, and am, so surprised by His love! He gave me a fresh start. He opened the book of my heart so all His glorious works He had done in me could be reviewed. The text of my life was written, i tasted His goodness, His health and His Truth: my life became God’s floodlight! How can it be, how can it be, that God is so good to a man like me?

Jesus came to me, i could see Him coming down the road from a far, far off, as if i had telescopic vision! There was glory blazing, high fences were vaulted, His enemies were caught and the upstarts were smashed; dead men got nailed! Wham! Wham! i’m telling you, i saw Jesus do it! He was amazingly fearless! What confidence! His presence was so overwhelming that the haters were wiped out, devils gave up and left their hideouts. The Rock is a blessing, He is free and freeing and sets things right. Jesus is Glory on tour, He is God-craft exhibited. At His command Madame Day holds classes, and Professor Night lectures, and unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. There is a new husband for the sun and daybreak races for the tape, there are songs of songs sung, and His Name is beautiful rhyme as hearts are warmed to faith.

Thanks for joining me, i’m Social Porter for Living In His Name Ministries.

Having set through more than a few sessions of listening to someone attempt to resolve a conflict with someone else, one significant thing i have noticed more often than not, was both people displayed an amazingly distinct lack of listening. We seem to be so involved with ourselves, what we’re going to say and do, that we can’t hear the other person.  In fact, it is a pleasant rarity to meet someone who not only listens, but can actually summarize back to you what you said. You know, it’s very hard to hear your neighbor, when you’re always moving your mouth.

i believe part of the general world anxiety level, which i think is very, very high, is that most folks don’t feel heard, we feel small, invisible, invalidated, and unnecessary, suffering from a generalized feeling of abandonment. i really do believe much of our anxiety could actually be impacted if most of us just put some effort into learning to listen. But, in the middle of conflict, our attitude is, “Who wants to listen to them, especially when THEY are so wrong?”, all said with capital letters, highlighted punctuation, and a little too loud and emphatic.

Maybe it would help if we had a better understanding of what it means to listen, which means  >> to “broaden the ear, hear intelligently, to prick up your ears and pay attention”. Do you see it? It’s more than just perceiving words, but about making an effort to understand the other person and what they mean. Don’t just hear words, but listen for the heart in it all.

At that, i thought i’d cover four basic points of how and where to begin in becoming a good listener.

#1 – Listen in an active manner. Pay attention. Be in the room. Nobody wants to talk to a corpse, so learn to do these three things: Paraphrase, clarify, and give feedback. That’s really important, so hear it is again: paraphrase, clarify, and give feedback. Paraphrasing helps you understand correctly. Clarifying is asking questions until you fully understand what the other person means. Feedback is sharing your own thoughts and feelings in a nonjudgmental way…and, looky here man, you can’t add “you’re such an idiot” at the end and still hope for a positive outcome. Yes, i know, maybe it’s true, but it simply doesn’t need to be said, that is if you really do want to resolve the conflict… you’ll have to search your own heart to know that.

#2 – Listen with empathy. Try to imagine yourself in the other person’s shoes… Understand your neighbor’s problem without joining them in their conflict. Did you get that? Without joining them in their conflict. You may not like what’s being said, but often, as you listen, you may realize that if you were in their shoes you might feel that way too. Rom12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep”. Remember, no one said we have to agree, but consider, God listens to us in all our madness, true, but it doesn’t mean He agrees.

#3 – Listen with openness. Selective listening, defensive listening, and filtered listening are not open listening. Listen as though you were an anthropologist and the person were from another planet; their customs, beliefs and way of thinking are different from yours, and you’re trying to understand them. Again, by no means do we have to go along with their perspective, but we certainly can hear about their dilemma without joining them in it.

(4) Listen with awareness. Does what they are saying line up with the facts? Meaning we, as the listener must have done our homework to at least have an idea of the facts, and consider… just because you have the facts is that the truth. Facts are not always the complete story. If you’ve listened actively, empathetically and openly, and still don’t understand their point of view, you don’t have to attack. Go after the problem not the person! Ridiculing, humiliating, and deliberately provoking the other person does not resolve the conflict, but more embeds the conflict… those actions don’t win anything, it just makes you look like you only want to win and who cares what is right. Take a breath, relax, wait, and gather more information.

The idea is be engaging instead of off-putting. Instead of violently rejecting the other person, possibly you could ask, “Could you tell me a bit more?” or “Could you give me a specific example?” Or you might say, “Thank you for letting me know your perspective. I’ll think about it.” Or, “That’s interesting, I hadn’t considered it in that light.”

God listens to us and hears us, and let us practice to be like the Lord. The art of listening is a Christ-like skill we must develop! Many hear, but few really listen, and that can be changed.

Thank you for reading, i’m social porter with Living in His Name Ministries.

When we see Jesus face to face His presence will govern and light Heaven the same way the sun illuminates the sky, the glory of the Lord allows no shadows in all of Heaven. In my imagination, i can see myself talking to Jesus, hearing His words, and being within reach of the person who has been the all-encompassing focus of all my affections. We’ll get to talk to Him, and hear His words. My dad used to say when he got to Heaven he had some serious questions for God, and i remember thinking, “i doubt it. i’m pretty sure when we see Him all our questions will be answered.” Imagine hearing His voice! In Rev14:2, it says His voice is “like the voice of many waters”, and like “the voice of loud thunder.” Imagine the stories we’ll tell and hear. There will be no contention, competition, or conflict, no one looking over your shoulder waiting for you to make a mistake, no mis-communicated words, and no disappointment. The sparks of struggle will be over and done with… no more friction from the intersection of life and death in us. We will have transitioned beyond our earthly place to the Heavenly home with Jesus.

Sounds a little too good to be true, but it is true non-the-less. Jesus said it’s true, my Bible tells me so! In a world where so much of everything that is said, seen, and heard leaves us wondering how much of it all was true, God is the one consistently reliable person alive. When i look at the milling crowds in the stores and on the street, i wonder to myself, “Why do we have such a hard time letting God be good to us?” i think i know why i do, but maybe it’s not such a bad question for yourself either. Sorting out the “why” of that question is all part of transition which often looks like the sparks of struggle flying into the sky on warm air currents from a campfire that’s just been stirred. The transition to maturity is… uncomfortable.

i’m Social Porter and this is Outposts, a semi-live broadcast from the deck of a rural cafe overlooking the Ockluhwahhah River. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to think on the goodness of God beyond just what is encountered in your work-a-day world. i’ll say it again, i think most folks have a lot of Bible in their heads, but somehow they’ve missed the Father’s heart… this evenings topic is part of an effort to offer some things to contemplate in hopes of broadening our horizons to know who it is that loves us, what He means when He says what He says, and why we do the things we do. Do you know what i mean?

i’ve been thinking lately that the only thing worse than people who don’t believe anything, are people who are colorless and believe anything and everything, sort of like carp, just swallowing anything and everything presented to them and are generally ok with most things that happen, as long as it doesn’t happen to them. Colorless.

Friends, we are the people of God and we are supposed to be loyal to God’s values, but i do suppose it would be good to know what those values are.

This evening’s topic is “Friction”, meaning the sparks of transition and how we conduct ourselves in the middle of it all.

When the Lord moves us from where we are to where we will be, either, mentally, physically, spiritually… or maybe all three at one time, it is called transition and with it comes friction. i can’t say for certain, but i’m pretty sure most all of us have endured transitionary periods.

In the Lords’ doing of a new thing, the habits, patterns, and rhythms we’ve developed over time may take a while to unravel as He creates new ones… from our perspective it’s a season of discomfort, we may even experience a season of “lack” or, what we think is not having enough… enough food, money, support, inspiration, passion, insight, or vision….whatever it is, we just feel a lack. i’ve learned over the years to stop arguing with my lack. Some may call it all a season of testing, in the sense of seeing if we can pass some imaginary measure of performance to go to an imaginary “next level” as if we’re in a video game somehow, but the truth is, more than likely, in the end it is to draw our character to the surface. All very trying to say the least. Most transition seems to bring out our sighing deep breaths, complaints, worrying, and agonizing over even the smallest things.

Watching the transition of an unhatched chick is probably one of the most exhausting and agonizing transitions i can think of. While getting free of the shell, the little bird must also learn to breath… it is astounding it even lives long enough to mature… in it’s transition from egg to maturity, it seems all odds are against it surviving from the start. The egg shell was once it’s protection, but what was once a protection from harm has now become it’s potential death, just like what once was a blessing to us has now become a curse, if we don’t transition to the new place we will be constrained by the old.

Colossians 1:28-29, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling, using all God’s working that He powerfully works within me.”

In Colossians1:29 and 2:1, where the English word “struggling” and “struggle”, or “strive” and “striving” is used… it is derived from the Greek word “agon”, which is where we get our English word for “agony”. Striving and struggling is not always linked to hard breathing and sighing, but in the sense of becoming mature and wrestling with life, yes, it is.

It is not the happiest of places. Transition is a place where our flesh contends with the direction and will of the Lord… and in that place of contending, there is friction, pressure, heat, and sparks… there are even dangers of finding solace in the things of the world which are easier and seem more peaceable at the time, but in the long run are hurtful for us and may even diminish us. But as all things come to a head there are two facts that remain which we must consider.

One fact is… we may not want to go thru the deep waters of change, but like it or not, God is going there. We may have our certificates of achievements, titles granted by men, approvals, and endorsements of participation, but none of those things are fire proof. Our mindset of seeing ourselves as having value based on who we sat under or mentored under is not fireproof. How we value God, ourselves and others must change. Moving forward is necessary, and if we’re not willing for the transition, we’ll never know the greater anointing.

The second is… we can’t solve problems with the same mindset which created the problems. When i came to the Lord, i learned all the things i should NOT do, say, or think. i learned by heart all the can NOTS, will NOTS, do NOTS….and consequently i was always in a KNOT and learned very little about grace. As time moved on, the Lord, repetitively took me through transition to learn about how the law could bring me out, but only grace could bring me in. By law everyone is disqualified, but only grace gave me rest, which means i had to learn to rest in His strength. In transition we rarely are 100% sure what we’re doing is the Lord, but i think it prudent to add that by the time we’re 100% sure, our opportunity is probably long passed us by.

i knew a man many years ago who had a large enough pasture to split into 4 sections of 20+ acres each, all fenced with gates leading from one pasture to the other. In one pasture, he put cattle. As the cattle grew and ate one pasture down, he would move them to a new and richer field where the grass was lush, giving the other pastures time to recuperate, be fertilized, tilled, and watered. Do you know, every time he moved them to a better place, all the cattle would bellow and moan for 2-3 days and nights, all because they had moved to a new place. The stress of having been moved was far more devastating to them than the excellence of the place they had moved to. Eventually, they would resign themselves to being in the new place, creating new routines with new places to stand and whatever else cattle do, learning to re-group as they got bigger and more mature. There will be times of exasperation.

i tend to see myself like that. As the Lord takes me through a season of transition, even though He leads me beside still waters and restores my soul, i low and bellow about my discomfort while the friction of change reshapes my passions and vision. The stress and discomfort of the new development and growth is far more gripping than the excellent place He’s brought me into. As usual though, i learn to make new friends, find the courage to venture out to explore, new routines are created, fresh experiences and wisdom are gained, and it’s not too long before i realize the new place He has brought me to is better than the old place i left.

There will be times of exasperation… expect it. Haven’t we all said with finality things like, “If you’re going to use me, then use me! And if not, then let me go!!” Things will conclude and settling down will come around. Trust God even when where you’re going isn’t apparent.

i know a man whom built a house for himself in a remote location. He was burned out with church, most people had become an irritation, and he was just tired of religiousness, self-important preachers, and dead works. The house was beautiful, just the right size to be manageable with enough property to keep some livestock and grow a garden. As time went on God healed his heart of the wounds of the past, and the season of being brought aside with the Lord was coming to a close… a new transition was in the wind. What was once a solitary place of healing and solace had now become a secluded prison of his own making, and the Lord was leading him to greener pastures. It was uncomfortable, all his familiar things seemed to be becoming something else… the struggle of “becoming someone he didn’t know how to be” was lonely and uncomfortable. He knew the idea was to go with God not get what you want, but the surface resistance to forward momentum can be difficult to overcome. i believe God allows aloneness to mature us to rely on Him & Him alone. Though we feel so alone, let us be determined to depend on God until we know we are not alone.

Often in transition we focus just on the things that have changed. Remember, you are more than the change and your life is broader than your circumstances. Invest yourself in church, clubs, the gym, service to God, family, and friends. If you have moved, find a new church, find a gym, ask people where the best local walks are, go visiting the shut in and afflicted… there is no need to stop doing the things you used to do to stay balanced and bright.

Be patient. This is only a transition, it is not entrenched pain. Did you get that? This is the Lord leading you through a transition to higher ground, and it is not entrenched pain. Change is wearisome and this may well be a tough time… but you can do this. Pray that God wouldn’t take away the pain of the transition, but that He would draw you closer to Himself that you would be comforted by His presence. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you as you watch the past fade away and embrace what lies ahead.

The church must change. We cannot continue to do things the way we did in 1968 anymore. The old way of church seems more like the 1968 religious paradigm that smells like a dead body in the back… God is moving on and we may not be going there, but God is going there, whether we like it or not. Position yourself and make ready. There is a major repolarization on the horizon and we need to be ready.

Put your dog tags of where you go to church back in your pocket and learn to identify with Jesus Christ, not the club… the question is “Do you know Jesus?” not “Where do you go to church?”. We need to become more flexible and adopt some spiritual adaptability. i don’t mean be more lenient about sin, poor doctrine, and unrighteous living, i mean to be more flexible when it comes to following the Lord. If we put God in a box He will kick over chairs, overturn tables, scatter the money on the floor, and maybe even anoint people whom you would never have thought possible.   Luke 11:33 speaks of hiding a lit candle under a bushel basket… i’d like you to know that if you do that one of two things is going to happen… the candle will go out, or it will burn the basket down, and seeing as how the light of God does not extinguish, your hiding place (the bushel basket) will likely go up in flames at some point. We need to be more flexible. If the Lord takes you through a transitional season to prepare you to move to another country, don’t draw a hard line saying you won’t go there. i know this may seem hard to hear, but if we will not bend, He may simply pass us by and pick someone else. He did it to Israel, why not you?

As we learn flexibility and some spiritual adaptability, it doesn’t happen all at once. Three words come to mind: little by little.

In Deuteronomy7 the Lord told Israel in the days of change that were coming, He would drive out the nations before them, little by little, for if they did it too quickly, the wild things around them would multiply. i believe Israel thought this a wonderful promise at first, but when they were in the middle of all that transition, the friction of constantly following God’s lead and the daily choosing to be obedient to subdue nations larger and stronger than themselves, it was nerve wracking, and a fearsome thing. i bet they were all very, very uncomfortable.

They probably wondered if they were capable of winning against such odds, and i’m sure we all think the same things to ourselves, “What if i’m a failure the first day at my new job?”, “What if no one likes me?” “I don’t know that i can remember all the processes.” “What if i can’t find a good church?” “I don’t know how to be the Christian i’m supposed to be.” “What if i can’t find a job or a house?” What if no one loves me and i never get married and have children?” Yea, well… “what if” a lot of things.

Just like Moses knew that God’s heart was for Israel to triumph over their formidable enemies, and that God had a strategy for victory and deliverance, we need to believe God will not leave us in the middle of our transitional season to go off doing something else. And what do you think God’s plan was? Here is what i think: Basically, it was one step at a time, little by little. Inch by inch life is a cinch, yard by yard it’s very hard. The Lord could have easily just cleared a path to the promised land, but in His wisdom, He knew Israel needed some skin in the game and they needed to fight for what God had given them….they had to know God was with them and that they could overcome with strength and confidence…. that the Lord meant all He said, and would do all He promised.

We have a better promise than Israel did in the desert under the law. Hebrews 8:5-6, “… Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle,for the Lord said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”

I absolutely believe God has a place for you which has been providentially orchestrated. He has put dreams, vision and desires in your heart, and i bet if you listen closely in your inmost person you can hear His destiny calling.

Just like Israel, you are on a journey toward the full possession of His promises to you, and also like them, you can rest assured you will face opposition as you go. But God has the same strategy for victory in your life as He had for Israel all those years ago: little by little. You will get where He wants you to go one step at a time, one day at a time, one trial at a time, one victory at a time. You can do this, so don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed in the in-between place, hallway between appointments, your time of transition. In order to be more than conqueror’s, as Paul wrote in Roman8:13, there needs to be some overcoming, some trust in God-building, faith stretching, rigorous honesty preferring times in our lives… there needs to be some standing for the truth regardless of how life looks… that is called exercise, and spiritual muscle building… others would call it maturity.

i don’t believe the Lord will eliminate all the opposition against you at one time, nor will He set you in your quote-unquote “land of promise” without taking you through the experiences necessary to learn the lessons and develop the character you will need in the new place where your transition is taking you. He will take out your enemies, eliminating them one by one, and that will take time… all of which He expects us to participate with Him in accomplishing our own path of growing up and being overcomers in His Name.

Instead of quickly eliminating the opposition, God wants to get out the old and bring in the new. He will start with the posture of our heart… our attitudes and mind-sets, He’ll file off our sharp edges with circumstances, challenging relationships and anything else that would keep us from being fully prepared and equipped to possess the promises He has given us. If you are afraid, just watch the Lord… He’ll setup and coordinate situations that will help us overcome fear and replace it with faith.

If no matter how we try, we can’t seem to get a grip on our finances… watch the Lord and see how He may send you additional work so that your bondage to your bills can be replaced with financial freedom… and when the extra work comes we can’t be lazy whiners preferring to lay on the couch.

And yes, we all typically moan and bellow because we’re so uncomfortable, but i’m offering these views in hopes that if we understand the heart of the Lord a little more closely, transition may not be so uncomfortable or painful as we imagined.

i believe it is highly likely, that the things which eventually break up marriages had all the signals revealed during the courting phase, we simply weren’t paying attention. Maybe we were busy looking at the great grill work, or that amazing engine, or the beautiful interior, but we never got around to doing the work of opening the trunk… the tell-tale signs of trouble were there we just didn’t pay attention. If there is someone in your life who would be a liability to you in the future, God may remove that person and lead you to develop a relationship with someone who has the heart and ability to be a blessing upon arriving at the new appointment.

Making the choices to follow the Lord in all those examples are places of friction, where what we want and dream about comes into better alignment with the Heart of the Lord. Important and compelling changes in our live’s require time and patience, so try not to get frustrated in the process. Yea, i know, easier said than done. Too often today’s Christian mentality sees life as no more than one big long trial, and the true goal can only be reached by those who have “worked themselves up towards God” by their own holiness, by conquering all fleshly desires. Life is NOT one big long trial, nor are we powerless to do anything other than what we actually do. Friends, as long as there is a devil and we wear flesh, it’s going to be a struggle, not that we should stop fencing in our passions, but also familiarizing ourselves more exactly with God’s grace and be kind to ourselves.

Remember, as God removes the things that would hinder you and replaces them with things that will help you, He is developing you into a strong, wise, well-equipped warrior who is able to emerge from every difficulty victoriously. Let the Lord do what He does best… just Let… Him… Do… It.

So many are in transition, and i hope this is a little insight to encourage us all to not get down about it. Travel well, follow the Lord, let go of those heavy loads, and let your heart rise, the Lord is with you. Think about it.

Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”

When the Lord is involved, even the longest wait has meaning and purpose. He redeems time and restores the years the locusts have eaten.

According to Rom8:28 we can have confidence that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose“. Not one minute of your seemingly uncomfortable and lengthy journey is a waste of time. God does not waste an inkling of His breath, His time, or yours… instead of being grieved or made heavy which may occur in your season of transition, look at it as a priceless opportunity for learning and growth.

There is friction in transition, tension and release, resistance and liberation. It is uncomfortable and messy, like revival, uncomfortable and messy, but God is in the middle and knows exactly what He’s doing. Transition always leads to transformation.

i’m Social Porter and this has been Outposts for Living In His Name Ministries, hoping to inspire listeners to think about what you spend your time thinking about. If God is not in your picture, it is time to reconsider your position. Consider carefully, time is of the essence, it is not the time to give up.

When we see Jesus, there will be no controversy, or rivalry, nor calamity, or discouragement. The sparks and friction of transition will be over and done with.

But, in the meantime, take it easy, little by little…enjoy the adventure, relax and breath, it’s all part of growing up. Pray for your neighbors, and be careful. Hopefully we’ll meet again next time, amen.

          John 17:17-19 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

As long as believers live in the world, they will be going against the flow of this present world system, one way or another. It is inevitable. We will experience pressures, adversity, problems, opportunities to sin, temptations, and struggles. But in all these things, because Jesus overcame the world and, by faith, lives in us, we too are as he is … overcomers. If Jesus had not overcome the world, we would not overcome the world. Because He did, we can, which is always the case. Because Jesus did, we do and we can. Because Jesus knelt (Luke 22:41), we can kneel in righteousness. John 14:18, Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” That means God will NOT allow this to happen to us, He will not allow us to be made orphans, and if God said something will not be allowed, we must trust Him that He means whatsoever He says. God does not jest. Jesus was a straight shooter and was not vague. That is an example of good boundaries. Because Jesus had good boundaries, we can have good boundaries.

Because Jesus denied the world in all its’ attractions, rumoring, murmuring, judgment, condemnation, and lust, we can deny the world entrance into our lives also.  Jesus set the precedence for us, to the uttermost, without fail. Because Jesus loved us, we are able to love Him. Because He was free, we can be free also. No one MUST remain a slave to bad character, and death.

Here’s a very good discussion topic: Do you think God will allow into Heaven those who do not love Him? Do we love Jesus and really, truly desire to possess Him who died and rose again for us? What does your conscience say? The unvarnished truth please.

Often believers in Christ are shocked when a prominent Christian or well known minister is caught in some sin. Even people who “know” The Truth can fall into disrepute if they have not allowed the love of God to take root in their lives and have lost their appetite for Jesus. If we are not careful, we can compartmentalized the truth and not allow God’s authenticity and veracity to penetrate us at the core of our being. We can have “head knowledge” of the Word and not “heart knowledge”. Sanctification is when the burning reality of God’s cleansing truth is allowed into every single room and compartment of our lives. In other words, we do not have any secret rooms where we have shut out the Lord. Afterall, it isn’t as though the Lord does not see, for there is nothing God’s eyes have somehow missed. We do not serve a partially blind King, or a King who has some sort of macular degeneration. He is all seeing, so open your doors, tell Him what is really on your mind. Ask Him the hard questions, rest assured He’ll welcome the discussion. A silent doubt never gets answered. Put a voice to it … sometimes our ears need to hear what our mouth says, so speak up … God’s ears are open. Because Jesus was an overcomer, we can be overcomers too! Actually, the Lord said we are MORE than conquerors in Rom6:37, we just have to put it in motion.

Inner freedom is often only a conversation with God away.

“Just have a little talk with Jesus, tell him all about your troubles
He’ll hear your faintest cry, and answer by and by
Feel a little prayer wheel turning, and know a little fire is burning
Have a little talk with Jesus makes it right.”

Thanks for listening, i’m Social Porter for Living In His Name Ministries.

Synthesis of Nine Fruits of the Spirit

At about program number 52 i began to notice a phenomenon within myself…it was the growing realization that i didn’t know what i thought i knew. You’ve heard the phrase, “Out on a limb”? Well, i was far beyond the end of the limb and standing on the breath of God… i realized everything was over my head.

Long before the Lord gave me the idea to do a radio program, i had been praying that He would show me what He meant when He said what He did, because i really didn’t understand it. Don’t get me wrong, i read scripture and grasped the English translation, but i believed the Lord meant something much larger than what the translators often portrayed.

i wanted something that was mine, what He gave to me… not something someone else said or wrote. i would rather have a revelation God gave to me that was only a quarter inch wide and a half inch deep… that was mine all mine… than to always be quoting someone else and the amazing things “they” had to say. Honestly, i wonder a little about believers who are always quoting someone else and seem to have no real thoughts of their own. What is the value of quoting amazing things others say and not really grasping the Lord’s larger meaning and putting it in motion?

Don’t get me wrong, there are many profound writers and speakers out there whom the Lord reveals amazing things to, for sure, they have beautiful words within themselves and are completely worth quoting… they seem to have LOTS of words which just poetically flow from their lips. But i would like to encourage everyone who listens to pursue the Lord to have your own experiences, our own revelations, our own God-views so we can speak from our own experience and insight, as well as quoting other well-known people. It’s good to be well read, but what would you think of that scripture you just read if you’d never read anyone’s commentary or never heard anyone expound on it?

In developing the Fruit of the Spirit programs, #113-122, i thought i knew at least a little something about it all… only to discover… not really. Honestly, it’s embarrassing and quite humbling to realize this. In my mind, by this time in life, i figure i should know something about scripture and have better insight… well, i didn’t… but… things are getting clearer, thank you Jesus. My eyes began to recognize the Lord more clearly when i realized i didn’t have what it took and He began to give me insight and foresight….so in consideration of what i thought i knew,  i cut the anchors from the ship named “i know”, left them in the sea, and sailed with the flow of His presence, like Paul did in Acts 27:40… go with the wind of God and just let her ride.

i’m Social Porter and this is Outposts, cool jazz and contemplative conversation.

This evenings content is a summary of the nine programs representing the nine fruits of the Spirit… the Holy Spirit is likened to a dove in Luke 3:22, and on each wing of the dove are nine primary feathers, each one of the nine feathers representing a fruit of the Spirit, as listed in Gal 5:22-23. The fruit of the Spirit is on one wing, and the gifts, manifestations or ministries of the Spirit on the other. i believe the gifts of the Spirit are represented by bells, and the fruits of the spirit represented by pomegranates, both of which were embroidered on the hem of the priest robe as seen in Exodus 28:33-34. Without the nine primary feathers on each wing the dove couldn’t fly correctly, just like if we aren’t operating in the nine fruits and the nine gifts, we are not operating at our full potential either.  That maybe a little complex, so bear with me here if you would.

i hope you enjoy what’s ahead. Dream, believe, and imagine as we set sail to a new harbor.

           i heard somewhere that the first fruit of the Spirit, love and the last one, self-control are like bookends which hold together the remaining seven. The last shall be first, so let’s start with Self-control…

The word “discipline” is the English transliteration of the Hebrew idea of “self-control”. The O.T. uses that Hebrew word 50 times, and the English translators called it reproof, chastisement, or instruction… but in the sense of self-control, it is seen as discipline, correction, or personal restraint. In the New Testament, the word often used is “sober”, “moderate”, “temperance”, and even “discreet”, meaning to be of sound mind, self-controlled and sane… or as i like to see it… thinking on level ground. The picture is one of fenced in passions and purposeful restraint.

The word for “self-control” reveals God’s intent that we use it as one of our methods to enter into the “returning light of God” which will wash over us like a wave, empowering us to be even more disciplined; the implication of the word means we are to explore our real motivations, in order to stand in the revealed truth of the Lord, knowing the Lord is our support to lean upon in order to conquer the passions of our flesh… and so much, if not all the battle for self-control is in our head. In the belly of a man are the passions which need to be in subjection.

One method to bring those passions into subjection is honesty, rigorous honesty, understanding why we do what we do… getting God’s instruction and correction is called education… something we, as a nation, desperately need… not education in the ways of the world and men, but of the Lord and His values. The Lord IS our method for our feet to be on a level path, or exercising self-control.

Gentleness – is portrayed as something with a much larger implication in the Hebrew and Greek than in English… in the case of Galatians 5:23, the translators used single words like “gentleness” or “meekness”, but the larger picture is “to have the attitude of a little lamb”… not, as many interpret “gentleness” as groveling, slavish, or pandering. What the Lord means is far from that. Gentleness is so very not cowardice or weakness, by any means, according to God’s values.

Ecclesiastes 8:1, “There’s nothing better than being wise, knowing how to interpret the meaning of life. Wisdom puts light in the eyes, and gives gentleness to words and manners.”

Those who go with God and endure the “educational institution of unhappy situations” have their sharp edges rounded off by circumstances, with the character of Jesus slowly being revealed in them like gold sticking out of the ground. Gentleness is a grace all believers possess… mildness of disposition, a natural inclination to kindness above violence and doesn’t spring out of, nor rest upon a sense of worthlessness. Ever. A gentle heart is not a victim’s heart.

In 2Cor10:1, Paul included the words meekness and lowly in conjunction with gentleness. These three words support each other and easily go together… gentleness requires humility, and humility is accompanied by meekness…. in contrast, with pride and feelings of superiority come rough reactions, stubbornness, and know-it-all answers. Gentleness isn’t just an external attribute like a washed face, instead, it is, what i call, an “inner worked grace of the soul”, born from the inside out… not ignoring our wrongness of character, nor being distracted from it, pretending it isn’t there, but by accepting with a receptive heart Christ who is able to save us altogether. Gentleness is a pattern of grace only found in Christ Jesus.

           These days, in a world of moveable boundaries, flexible morals, and the changing colors of loose principals and ethics, depending on the back drop, i believe faithfulness, is one of our most excellent testimonies to the greatness of our God. Faithfulness is related to that of fidelity and several times the original Bible translators interchanged “faithful” with “fidelity”. Anytime we see the words, “Hi-fidelity” on a stereo or an album cover, it means it is considered “faithful” to its source… as believers, it is the fruit of righteousness to be “faithful” to our source. Fidelity and faithfulness is the character of one who can be relied on.

An attribute of God is His faithfulness and, if we are His children, first born in the Kingdom of God, then we reflect this quality also. We are faithful in friendship, faithful in marriage, faithful in keeping His values, we practice “hi-fidelity” – meaning dependable, reliable, consistent and repeatable. Faithfulness is the concept of unfailingly remaining loyal to someone or something and putting that loyalty into consistent practice, regardless of extenuating circumstances.

We wear our faithfulness as a ring or bracelet, it adorns us like jewels for all to see as a reflection of Jesus in our hearts. Faithfulness isn’t just how you act, it’s more than what you do… it’s our dependable, consistent, and repeatable lifestyle.

We get to know “goodness” by being involved with the personification of “goodness”… Jesus, and the better we know Him and His details, the more of a sharpened gold standard of goodness we can live by. Goodness is both hidden and revealed, it is seen in the idea of “the greater includes the lesser” like a mother carries a child in her womb. Goodness has a way of bringing potential things into becoming a reality. By the blood of Jesus and through faith, goodness is imparted to us….it is there, intrinsic to our character because Jesus is alive in us. Everywhere we go, everything we touch, everywhere we set our feet, the oil of anointing of God’s goodness leaves its mark. In every kind word and every good deed, His goodness is infused in it and passed on to the world around us. Goodness subdues and coerces… subduing by way of God being so good to us we can’t help but love Him, and coercive in that when God’s goodness is poured out, even on the unbelieving, they are driven to their knees in honor of the King. God’s goodness will never be restrained, not chained, nor managed by man… it does what the Lord says and follows His will… like the wind or the sea, it cannot be directed by man, and is exclusively controlled by God. Man cannot alter it, and cannot change it; goodness goes before and after us like a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy are with me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.”

God’s goodness is never still, like the wind… day and night it is always moving. When the sun shines it is moving up and down the hills, across oceans and deserts… goodness is never still. The moon shines and the stars light up, and still it moves on. Even in darkness, when our eyes see nothing, goodness is still moving like the ocean waves; it is like when we are asleep, the forests and fields are still growing, we may not notice but His goodness is always marching on. A.W. Tozer said, “His goodness is the axle and we are the wheel, it is central to all that happens with the wheel, whether or not the wheel understands or appreciates the axle”… that is a picture of God’s goodness and it is alive in us… amen

           Kindness is not only what we do, but how we are and why we do what we do. It is a kindness to listen; it is a kindness to bury the dead; it is a virtue which affects everyone and was considered part of the Knight’s Code of Chivalry. Ruth kept her word and went with Naomi out of love. Boaz recognized her action as goodness in Ruth 2:11-12 and calls it kindness in Ruth 3:10. Kindness is the power to lift up the fallen ones and those who are near to fainting in the heat of battle… it is having grace in the palm of your hands to pass out like candy from your pockets… an action where we extend our hands of grace to others. From the Hebrew words for kindness and compassion, they are, amazingly, words of grace which are linked by grace. Within kindness is written the Names of God, which are powerful to break down strongholds and overcome darkness in high places… within compassion there is the action of God for the sake of the Son, Jesus. In the middle of kindness is “goodness” which is an inspiration for repentance. That the Lord accepts our repentance is a kindness, after all, His kindness leads us to repentance. When we practice kindness and compassion… goodness, the goodness of God is enlarged in the spiritual eyes of the world. Kindness and compassion always end up pointing to the King of Kings, are always inclined to teach others of the Lord’s purposes, and are never random.

Longsuffering – patiently enduring while diligently clinging to the promise that God will do what He said He would do, and when He does, it will be a testimony to all who see. In the mean time, we develop an understanding of the Lord, coming to a better perception of what is in our hearts along with knowing God’s details. Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of offense and personal challenge which does not hastily retaliate or run swiftly to chastisement; it is the opposite of anger, is associated with mercy, and is used of God in Ex. 34:6.

Getting wisdom and grace are often acquired through trials and difficulties… typically through situations rife with unfortunate circumstances and not something we would wish on anyone, but truly, it is wisdom and grace possessed in no other way except to “go through” deep water with the Lord. In the Old Testament, patience can be used where the translators used longsuffering. If we set sail with longsuffering, patience insists on being at the helm also. Patience says i will abide in Christ while we wait, and longsuffering says i refuse to budge from my place of forbearance while patience does her work. It is easy to find fault with other believers, but it is God in us to be longsuffering and patient.

Peace, real shalom peace is only gotten one place in the universe. Many search for fulfillment, happiness and contentment in material possessions, money, sex, entertainment, etc. But those things do nothing to fill “the hole in our soul” which only GOD can fill. God’s peace, shalom peace, is dependent on trust, doesn’t need to be seen to be believed, makes room for trouble, trusts God to manage everything, and always endures… it doesn’t mean there is an absence of violence. Shalom peace brings all things into alignment, draws everything into it’s proper God-context; it sets the correct horizon and focal point and is the only vanishing point based on God’s Che’sed, which is never vanishing… peace is part of God’s mercy and grace… beyond the vanishing point. God’s peace is defined as God Himself, He is the pivot and pinion, and peace is part of the Fountain of His heart on which we hang our lives in confidence and assurance, never failing and always in shalom peace by the blood of Jesus. Peace, God’s peace, is one of the elements of the platform on which we plant our feet and live our lives….it is one of the ways we know we are in the fellowship of the saints. Everybody wants it, but in the world today, it would appear not many have it. God’s idea of peace, shalom peace, has “Ha’Shem – The Name” built into it. Looking at the root Hebrew word for peace… it represents Yeshua and the names of God, it is about learning and teaching, in that we can’t teach others about peace unless we, ourselves, have first learned about peace. In peace is hope, denoting direction, goal, and purpose, three key elements of hope. In peace is an underground stream and completeness, Our God-peace is hidden in our hearts and revealed in our character and actions, and glorifies the Kingdom of the Almighty.

           Joy is associated with gladness, which can be a wonderful habit-forming inclination of the heart… much more than being “happy”. From God’s perspective, joy doesn’t have sharp rises and falls, like a sine wave, but it’s always on the slow steady rise, and it persists. Joy, as a fruit of the Spirit, is the melody of an illuminated heart, a brilliant gladness with a shout in the middle of our fundamental make up. With joy, comes light, and the root Hebrew word for “light”, as used in Esther 8:16 is an action verb meaning, “to be illuminated”. The picture is one of head and heart being connected by our purposeful choice, which to me means choosing Jesus… when that happens, there is illumination, making us to be bright. Rejoicing is the root word of joy…those with joy have an illuminated heart, God-light at their center. Joy is tied to gladness in Esther 8:16, expressing a shout in gladness… not just being happy but more, exhilarating brightness, and the dancing fire of rejoicing… the opposite of hard breathing conflict and sighing grief, struggle, and trouble. With wind and fire we have joy and gladness in the Holy Spirit, who comes to us with a melody in His glad heart, making us passionate to rejoice, regardless of our circumstances… even when the sky is dark, those in the fellowship of the saints have a naturally occurring brightness and singing which always finds a way to rise in their heart.

As self control is one book end to the fruit of the Spirit, Love is the other, the God-glue that sticks it all together.

The love of God, as demonstrated by Jesus, is the crown of everything and has everything to do with everything. His love is universe changing, demon defeating, earth re-polarizing, disease healing, and relationship repairing, Jesus is love and love is the answer of all answers, both noun and verb altogether. Love healed the sick and lame, love raised the dead, love was kind to the desperate and the leprous, and gave His face to mankind… looking us right in the eyes for the first time ever. The Father (aleph) sent His Son (beit), and by means of the Holy Spirit (gimel), makes appeal to the poor and needy to receive the Love of God.

Love literally is not bound by law, but is free to walk in and out, filled to running over with divine grace and holiness… and right in the middle, in the belly of the word, is a prayerful rainbow. Love girds us with the sword of the Spirit and decides it is fitting to be generous to run after the poor; it is uninterrupted and thrives in perpetual faithfulness.  As a fruit of the Spirit, love is about character and action, as is the heart of the Father about character and action… loves’ intent of grace makes opportunity for those who have wandered off… to come home. It is the motivation of Love to lift the burden of those who hoist the white flag of surrender, and persuade those who have not yet abdicated their fortifications to come home singing the songs of returning to God.

So ends the review of the nine fruits of the Spirit, each one have it’s own branches which represent the righteous character of the Lord, who is most extraordinary, the One and Only, savior of mankind.

           When our Savior is on the throne of our heart, what is in our heart makes us more than a conqueror by the blood of Jesus… like the persistence of leaven in dough. As a result, His qualities of righteousness become qualities of ourselves to shine in the dark world around us, offering salvation to those who are chained in darkness… imprisoned in chaos.

Isaiah 49:9, “That You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.‘”

Here is a reconstruction of Gal5:22-23 by extending single words into their identities…. “But the fruit, the action and consequence of the Holy Spirit is

love – free roaming and overflowing with divine grace, a noun and verb altogether; joy – an effervescent melody of an illuminated heart; peace – a heart that is settled and still comprised of direction, goals, and purpose; longsuffering – that fierce determination to not be moved while we wait; kindness – grace in the palm of your hands to give away; goodness – the axle and hub of our heart; faithfulness –dependable, reliable, consistent, and repeatable; gentleness – an inner worked grace of the soul as in the manner of a lamb; and self-control – thinking on level ground with purposeful fenced in passions.” This is the beauty of the Lord.

From where i’m sitting, i don’t believe we should function in merely an either/or employment of the fruits and gifts… i believe we, who are mature in Christ, should be hitting on all cylinders, operating in all fruits and all gifts at the same time, being instant in season and out. Sure, the Lord has made some to have more of one gift, ministry, or practice than the other, but….

The Fruits of the Spirit are the governance and foundation of the beautiful manifestations of the Spirit of God… they are more than just something we do, but are governing policies by which our lives are lived. Not a “to do” but a “to be”.

We are to be pastoral with love as is needed, evangelical with joy and gladness, practice tongues and interpretations with diligence and peace at all times, and being prophetic to the benefit of the whole church with love, and self-control…they all function together as a whole, not separately while wearing a suit standing up to be noticed on a platform somewhere. Like the dove who needs both wings and all nine primary feathers on each wing to fly, we too, fly above a fallen world to glorify the Lord and all He represents. To function in both gifts and fruits is a calling of the Lord.

The fruits of the Spirit aren’t attributes we go and get somewhere, they aren’t book learned, won as a prize, or some sort of mental ascension, but are overarching policies of our lives… They are all works of the Lord, attributes of Himself that He shares with us.

Be strong and courageous… remember, our God is a consuming fire, the closer He gets to all things, the more all things become like Him, which, to me, is a wonderful thing, indeed. Drive carefully, mind the gap, and i’ll talk to you next time. Amen!

On a side note and then a fore note, we should be ever so careful what we profess. Palms up – confession, palms out – profession. Are you a typical promise maker and promise breaker? If you tend to break your promises, let me suggest you do more and promise less. Better to pledge 2 things and do two things, than to pledge 10 things and do none. If someone is disappointed that you didn’t make a promise, let them be disappointed… it’s better than making a promise you knew you couldn’t keep merely to acquire their approval in the short run. In fact, if we get right down to it, James 5:12 says, “Above all, my brothers, do not swear–not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” be no, or you will be condemned.” Consider this: the more you do NOT keep your promises, the easier it gets to NOT keep your word. The inverse is true also in that the more you DO keep your word, the easier it gets to keep your word.

It’s a matter of character. Remember, it is your personal honor i’m speaking of, additionally you’re representing the Kingdom of God in the eyes of the world. If you tell someone you’re going to call, then call, even if it’s to say you’re not going to call. We can’t live our lives on, what i call, momentary promises. For many, what is true today may not be true tomorrow… that just won’t work. Good old Dan Clay used to say, “If you do, you do, and if you don’t, you don’t.” That may not make much sense to some folks, but think about it… it’s good sound wisdom. i didn’t get it for years, but i think i do now, it means “If you say “yes”, then do “yes”, and if you say “no” then do “no”, and have the grace to say “yes” when it’s appropriate, and how to say “no” when it’s necessary. Think carefully before you commit. Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

The last word in James 5:12 is the word “condemned”, which is the Greek word for “hypocrite”, which implies deceit, and if anyone in this world needs to be known as honest and reliable, it is the people of God, people of outstanding character.

Our topic is “Pledges and Affirmations”, where it came from and how do our pledges and affirmations impact society today.

           i suppose it could be said, most people live at a slightly erratic tempo, of course some more than others, and most of us might even be slightly out of tune, some more than others. Even at that, everyone wants to be believed and validated in some fashion or another. What lengths are we willing to go to in order to have people believe us? Some folks want others to believe them for criminal reasons, others with the hopes of being validated, and then there are those who tell the truth for the sake of the Lord and it doesn’t matter if any person endorses or validates them because the truth, who is Christ is sufficient for them.

An oath is a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear an oath is to make a solemn vow and i fully believe the Lord takes the promises we make to others seriously, that means we should too.

There are those in our society who object to making an oath or a vow, even in court, asserting that their word is their bond, and if they say “yes” or “no” you can bank on it. That, my friends, is righteous and very brave.

When people make an oath or vow, most of the time they also imply that if they fail in the accomplishing of their oath, it somehow invokes some sort of divine displeasure. The ancient Hebrews were really big on oaths and vows, even to the point of it becoming down right ridiculous.

The most usual oath or vow is the explicit “I swear,” meaning to promise something to someone, or to solemnly charge, but any statement or promise that includes “as my witness” or “so help me”, that also is an oath. Many people take an oath by holding in their hand or placing over their head a book of scripture or a sacred object, thus indicating the sacred witness through their action.

When we take an oath or “swear” something, it’s like we have taken on two masters, the Lord AND the oath. In fact, the implication of the Hebrew word “oath” could literally be taken to mean, “to fence yourself in, to limit yourself”, and the root word means, “a boundary line”. So, we’re down to a boundary line being an oath of sorts… which means the property deed you possess which defines what is yours and what is your neighbors is a type of an oath, a sworn agreement; the title to your car is a sworn agreement, an oath and vow. In light of James 5:12, do you think it’s really about a rigorous legality or is it about your character and keeping your word?

We could take James 5:12 to the point of being legalistic and never even say things which would require us to keep our word, but honestly, that makes for some very odd conversation. i knew a man who was so careful about committing himself to anything he would almost never say “yes” or “no”. Instead he said, “probably”, “more than likely”, “pretty much”, or “I think so”. That isn’t someone being careful about their oaths and vows, that’s someone who fears committing to anything. And yes, his life reflected his lack of commitment you couldn’t count on him for anything.

Oaths and vows… very tricky stuff, and our society is rife with them.

“But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King” (Matt. 5:34–35).

Is taking an oath the same as giving your word? Some say yes, some say no. To me, giving your word, as in, “Yes, i will be here every Tuesday to teach the class” isn’t in the same context as taking an oath, but it certainly qualifies as a vow and giving your word to do something. We must rightly divide the truth here without becoming legalistic in the process. Does God mean we should never agree to anything because it is a form of taking an oath? i think, “no”. If you pledged to open your doors on a certain day of the week to hold a home group meeting, i doubt Matt 5:34-35 means for us to not give our word or pledge to open our home. How would anyone follow us in ministry if we only used the phrases, “probably”, or “more than likely”? 1 Corinthians 14:8, “Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” There is much to be said about giving and keeping your word.

It is sad to say that in the days in which we live, many people fail to keep their word and get downright hostile if we challenge them to do what they say. If you promised you’d show up, then show up, and if you can’t then don’t promise you will. You may mean well, but good intentions don’t count for not showing up. What’d that old saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” More and more often, people routinely break the promises they have made with little fear of repercussion. High divorce rates and political corruption testify that many are pretty unconcerned with keeping their vows, like a pledge of office, or even the covenant pledge of marriage. i believe it is apparent, that the solemnity of our sworn promises, simply, is often not taken seriously. Are all vows and oaths a bad idea though? James5:12 says one thing, but what do we do with Deuteronomy 10:20, “You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.” Should we throw away making declarations in the name of Jesus just to conform to the law? Everyone, at some point or the other, has made promises they didn’t intend to keep. If your honest about that, you know it’s true. Many of us make vows all the while knowing that we have a way out if we want out.

However, such actions take lightly the word of the Lord. God looks upon the heart and knows whether our intentions conform to the promises that we make. 1 Samuel 16:7, “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

If you have made a promise that you did not intend to keep, think about it, why did you make it in the first place if you never meant to keep it? Say what you do, and do what you say, if you give your word then keep your word, and if you can’t keep your word, go to the person and explain the difficulty. Friend, work the problem, don’t let the problem work you.

It is unkind and disrespectful to give someone your word and then just let them hang. You know what i mean? You know, telling someone you’ll meet them at such-an-such a time, and on a whim, you decide to just not go… just letting them hang, no phone call or anything to let them know you won’t be coming. Do you believe agreeing to meet someone, although very simple, is an oath of sorts? We are acting ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, and doing what we say and keeping our word is foundational, don’t you think?

 There are so many businesses today which if they find out you are a believer, they don’t want to do business with you. They say Christians aren’t trustworthy, lie, and don’t keep their word. Friends, that is sad to me, because if there is anyone on earth who should be reliable, trustworthy, and honest it is the children of God. We do our God and family a great disservice when we don’t keep our word.

An amazing number of waiters and waitresses actually loath working at their place of employment on Sunday. Why? They say it is when the “church people” come in, and for them, the crowd is often so stingy, condescending, and dishonest, a lot of wait staff won’t work on Sunday. Don’t you think there’s something wrong with that?

i knew a young man who was a waiter at a nice restaurant, he said that one Sunday he had a group of 20 come in, fresh from church. He hustled, was very polite and personable, listened, took their orders correctly, you know, all the things good wait staff should do. They on the other hand, were cold and sneering, and when they got their orders and decided they didn’t want what they ordered, they blamed him and said either he got it wrong or he had purposely switched it just to spite them. One person even asked him why he wasn’t in church that morning. Little did they know he was a believer and had gone to an early service at his church. When the crowd left, they left him a tip of a quarter paper clipped to a salvation track. It was heart breaking.

Since i heard that story, and many other stories since then, i have thought to myself, we are believers, we are supposed to represent the kindness and grace of God, it’s part of our oath to follow Jesus; we are supposed to be generous – listening to others is generous; helping others is generous; kind truth is generous; not exploiting the exploitable is generous; being generous is part of our pledge to follow and live like Jesus; we agree and have sworn to live like Jesus by not being condescending and self-seeking but to be patient and longsuffering. We pray to the Lord to open the eyes of our heart to see Jesus that we would be more like Jesus, but then to treat people like many of us do… c’mon, where is our character? i asked one man, who was especially harsh and tight fisted towards a waitress why he wasn’t more kind towards someone who was working hard to make ends meet, and he told me, “If that woman is stupid enough to work for $5/hour and whatever pitiful tips she gets, she deserves her life.” You know, i cried and thought to myself it’s no wonder some people don’t want to be involved with church people. Do you keep your word?

When we ask God for mercy, do we think He extends it to us because we deserve it so much, because we are sooo worthy? No. He extends it to us because, in His Love, He is committed to us and all mankind, that if anyone will call on His Name asking for forgiveness and help, they shall be saved. God gave mankind an oath and vow of love that is binding, and God keeps His word … He will do it.  The Lord is Faithful. He is faithful and we have pledged to be faithful too.

           The Jews of old, when they were ever so serious about an oath or a vow, they did something called, “Seven Yourself”. Evidently, it wasn’t enough for your “yes” and “no” to be sufficient. What was meant by “seven yourself” was to bind yourself by seven things, to swear by seven planets, seven sacred items, seven sacrifices, or seven oaths – meaning you would swear your oath seven times. Abraham gave seven lambs to Abimelech at the well of Beer-Sheba, or the “well of seven oaths”; the name Bath-sheba means “daughter of an oath”, seven days of creation, seven flames on the menorah, etc, etc… i don’t know what it was, i’m sure it’s a great discussion for another time, but there was really something about the number seven. Anyway.

Doing all that swearing and oath taking and vow making, all that adjuring and charging others with pledges and affirmations really didn’t stop anyone from doing what they wanted to do anyway. And as a result, when we read James 5:12, or Matt5:34-35, the Lord is saying, making a pledge and an affirmation is a serious thing, and if you don’t have to, don’t. Let your “yes” be “yes” and show yourself reliable to do what you agreed to, well representing the honor and righteousness of Heaven lest you be found to have an empty profession of faith. Let your “no” be “no”, having the character to have good solid boundaries, and to keep those boundaries because you are a person of your word, not because you’ve gone to great lengths to make a bunch of oaths swearing on this and that. Let your word, be your word, giving people the opportunity to see that there really are Christians who do what they say in this world. James 2:14-17, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

When we give our pledge, we need to do what we say, it is not enough to profess to have faith… even in small things, like keeping your word and exercising good boundaries. That’s exactly what keeping your word is, it is the works of your faith.

As Christians, our word is to be trustworthy so that we need not swear oaths every time we make commitments and promises to one another. God calls each of us to be the kind of people that if we say we’ll do something, we’ll do it and we don’t have to swear an oath in order for the other person to be assured we will do what we say. Our word is our bond, and if we don’t keep our word, why should we be surprised if people don’t particularly believe us. If our speech is untrustworthy so that we feel the need to swear our truthfulness in all of our conversations, then perhaps we have not truly embraced the Gospel. Think about it.

John Calvin wrote that if James’ audience “observed faithfulness as they ought, in their words, there would have been no necessity of so many superfluous oaths.”

How trustworthy is your speech? Would people say you are believable, someone who can be trusted and is faithful?  Do you see no harm in telling “little white lies?” Why are little lies “white” anyway? If you have been guilty of being less than truthful in your speech, making pledges and affirmations which you never really intended to keep, then go make amends with those you’ve wounded. Honesty will go a long way to making us believable, consistent and repeatable in the face of a world which is always shifting.

i’m Social Porter and this has been Outposts, brought to you by Living In His Name Ministries,

The key aspect of an oath is the intent of the heart behind it, for oaths and vows in themselves do not establish truth. Friends, your word, an oath or vow is only as good as the person behind it. Do you get my drift?

This quote from William Shakespeare in All’s Well That Ends Well captures an important insight: “‘Tis not the many oaths that makes the truth, but the plain single vow that is vow’d true.” If our word is our bond, then the promises of our mouth are not to be taken carelessly.

Be strong and courageous this week, be honest, forthright, clear eyed, and keep an ear open for the leading of the Lord. i’ll meet you again on the trail of the lonesome pine. Amen.