Heart of a Warrior - Greg Bourgond

The Missing Link...

Over the years I have run into a growing problem - men do not know how (or have never been taught) how to study the Bible for themselves.  As I lead Heart of a Warrior groups I am amazed how men immediately jump to application without first observing what the text actually says and interpreting what it actually means.

For instance, when you read Revelation 3:20 what is it about?  Most people assume the passage speaks about salvation--that Christ stands at the door of our hearts seeking to come in and save us.  But let's look at the passage in context.

Revelation 3:14-22

14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.  19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." NIV

First of all, the text is written to the church in Laodicea.  So, it is to Christians.  He criticizes the church for being lukewarm.  Their apathy and complacency is due to their wealth.  He admonishes them to wake up and see their miserable state.  Their self-sufficiency and arrogance has blinded them to their condition.  He reminds them that he rebukes and disciplines those whom he loves.  He has their best interest in mind.  He seeks their repentence.  All they need do is "open the door" and let Him in so that renewal can take place.  He promises a special place for those who overcome their complacency, apathy and arrogance.

So, you see, the passage really IS NOT about salvation--it is about repentance and renewal.  How did I conclude that?  By simply employing basic tools of observation.

In the next few postings I will walk you through a 3-step process for proper Bible study so you too can glean all that the Scripture has to offer.  The 3-step process includes Observation, Interpretation, and Application,  Stay tuned.

Will we learn in heaven? Part 2

Author of Heaven, Randy Alcorn, poses the following question.  "Does Scripture indicate that we will learn in heaven?"  His response is, Yes."  He cites Ephesians 2:6-7.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Alcorn points out that the word 'show' means "to reveal."  And the phrase 'in the coming ages' clearly indicates this will be progressive, ongoing revelation, in which we learn more and more.  Even more compelling is his suggestion that "when we enter Heaven, we'll presumably begin with the knowledge we had at the time of our death.

Ongoing learning will not be impeded by misperceptions, erroneous conclusions, or preconceived ideas.  Sin will no longer hinder our capacity to know more fully and accurately.  He goes on to say...

God may enhance our knowledge and will correct countless misperceptions.  I imagine he'll reveal many new things to us, then set us on a course of continual learning, paralleling Adam and Eve's.  Once we're in resurrection bodies with resurrected brains, our capacity to learn may increase.  Perhaps angel guardians or loved ones already in Heaven will be assigned to tutor and orient us.

Won't that be something!  Our curiosity about things here on earth will not be diminished.  We will have access to all knowledge progressively.  Dream for a minute--what would you like to know?  What questions are you seeking answers?  What would you like to learn when you are in Heaven?

Will we learn in heaven?

One of my favorite books is Heaven by Randy Alcorn.  In it he describes what Heaven and the New Earth will be like.  He also stresses that our learning will not cease but continue after our death.  Some people erroneously believe we will know everything in an instant in heaven.  The following verse is often cited as proof.

1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. NIV 

The underlined words come from the Greek words 'ginosko' and 'epiginosko.'  The second word means "to really know" or "to know extensively."  When the word is used of humans Alcorn says, "it never means absolute knowledge."

One Biblical scholar, Wayne Grudem says, "1 Cor 13:12 does not say that we will be omniscient (know everything) but, rightly translated, simply says that we will know in a fuller or more intensive way, 'even as we have been known,' that is, without any error or misconceptions in our knowledge."

Think about it, when you get to heaven you will arrive with the knowledge you left the earth--that will be the beginning point.  You will be learning for the rest of eternity but without error.

More about this in my next posting.

Pick your friends carefully...

Recent events on the presidential campaign trail suggest that we should pick our friends carefully.  Associations can be damaging.  Regardless of your intentions you can easily be compromised by others.  It matters who you hang around with.

The Bible warns against keeping bad company.

Proverbs 1:10-19  My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.  11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; 12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse" 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.  17 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!  18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!  19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it. 

Proverbs 4:14-19 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.  15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.  16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. 17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.  18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.  19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

To be men after God's heart we should be wise about the friends we choose.

Your Best Defense ...

I try to make it a habit to do my daily devotionals.  One of my favorite resources is Daily in Christ with Neil T. Anderson.  This morning was especially helpful in that it presented a good comparison between the activities of the Enemy and germs.  You might want to click below to read it yourself.

Neil Anderson of Freedom in Christ Ministries says ...

Some Christians are a little paranoid about evil powers, suspecting that demons lurk around every corner just waiting to possess them. That's an unfounded fear. Our relationship to demonic powers in the spiritual realm is a lot like our relationship to germs in the physical realm. We know that germs are all around us: in the air, in the water, in our food, in other people, even in us. But do you live in constant fear of catching some disease? No--unless you're a hypochondriac! You know enough about wellness to eat the right foods, get enough rest, and keep yourself and your possessions clean. If you live a balanced life, your immune system will protect you. It's the same in the spiritual realm. Demons are like little invisible germs looking for someone to infect.

Sin and sinful strongholds undermine our spiritual immune system just as disease undermines the integrity of our physical immune system.  Sin like germs is all around us.  If we practice spiritual disciplines (i.e., prayer, study of Scripture, devotions, living a righteous life) our spiritual immune system becomes strong.  If we succomb to our desires, if we habitually sin in certain areas, if we repeatedly give into temptation, our spiritual immune system is compromised affecting our ability to stand firm in the faith.

As Neil suggests eating the right foods, getting enough rest, keeping ourselves clean, getting exercise all build a healthy lifestyle and bolster our immune system so that we are not as suseptible to the germs around us.  Think of your spiritual life the same way.  Scripture, Sabbath rest, prayer, confession and replacement, and other helpful spiritual exercises will help you and I stand strong against the Enemy and live healthy and productive lives.

The need for lived out holiness ...

Before I continue the series on Salvation I thought I might drop a few tid bits I picked up in my reading on a recent trip.  I'll just jot them down without much comment.  Perhaps they will provoke some thoughts of your own.

In a recent article in Christianity Today (March 2007) I came across the following statement ...seems to be a recurring theme for me lately.

The No. 1 thing a Christian can do is live our faith, so people can see our faith coming through.  That is going to be the biggest witness.  It is not through banging on a person's door and saying, "The only way to heaven is Jesus Christ," says Steve Hyland, director of retail merchandising for Coca-Cola North America and leader of its Christian fellowship.  "It's living it versus saying it."

Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived.  Philip Yancey

I was asked recently to identify five words or phrases no longer heard in most churches today ... what would be on your list?

1. The fellowship of Christ's sufferings.
2. Sin and its effects.
3. Submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
4. Denying self and picking up our cross.
5. The need for holiness.

Be holy, because I am holy (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16). 

According to Joel Scandrett in his CT article Holy to the Core "holiness (when it is discussed at all) is often associated with moral behavior such as sexual purity, financial honesty, and commitment to private prayer ... the most basic meaning (however) is to be set apart or dedicated to God--to belong to God.  "I will be your God, and you will be my people," says Yahweh (Leviticus 26:12; Hebrews 8:10)."

Here are a few verses that should make you think ... what do you think they mean?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). 

Continue to work out your salvation in fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13).

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

But our citizenship is in heaven (Phillipians 3:20).

Joel Scandrett clarifies the focus of holiness.  "As long as our notions of holiness are limited to doing certain things and not doing other things, we can go through our entire lives obeying the rules (or at least maintaining the appearance of doing so) without dealing with far more fundamental questions: Whose are we?  To whom do we give our first love and loyalty?"

At its most basic, holiness is the grateful submission to God's claim on our entire lives-to accept that our lives are not our own.

To be holy means that all we are and all we have belongs to God, not ourselves, and that every aspect of our lives is to be shaped and directed toward God.

When we are saved we are under new management, we are not our own, we were bought with a terrible price.  We are called to be holy as He is holy.

Salvation - What Is It? Part 1

In the last few years working with men I have come to the conclusion that there is great confusion about salvation.  Just recently, we have engaged the subject in the groups I lead.  I realized that clarification was needed.  With regard to 'salvation' ...

Is it an event?  Is it a process?  Is it God's initiative or ours?  Can we lose our salvation?  What happens at the moment of conversion?  How does God purify the believer?  Do we first receive Christ as Savior and at some later time embrace Him as Lord?  And on it goes.

With this initial post I will begin a series that I hope will help men to realize the breadth, depth, and height of God's amazing provision for humans bought at considerable price but offered freely to all who will receive it.

To begin with, neither you nor I can claim any credit for originating the quest for salvation.  In John 6:44 Jesus tells us "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." Apart from the conviction of the Holy Spirit, no one can understand or respond to the Gospel (the "Good News" of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ).

Mark McCloskey (currently Bethel's professor of ministry leadership and lead faculty for the Master of Arts in Transformational leadership) and Bill Bright (deceased founder of Campus Crusade for Christ) put it this way.  "Only the Spirit can neutralize the spiritual noice (static) caused by Satan's blinding and binding efforts and free the listener to appreciate the grace and truth of the Gospel."

In their book, Tell It Often, Tell It Well, chapter 17 entitled An Interpersonal Communication Model they make reference to a progressive decision scale made popular by Dr. James Engel, director of the Billy Graham graduate program at Wheaton College Graduate School, in 1973.  The scale identifies 8 steps leading to repentance and 6+ steps leading to spiritual maturity.

People are at various stages in the process to coming to faith.  God, in His sovereignty, uses general revelation (i.e., nature, etc.), circumstances, people, and events to move us along the scale towards conversion and regeneration (more about the meaning of these terms in future posts) - the beginning of salvation.  It may take years, it may take months, it may take weeks, and I guess, in rare instances, it may take days.

-8  Awareness of Supreme Being but no effective knowledge of the Gospel.

-7  Initial awareness of the Gospel

-6  Awareness of the fundamentals of the Gospel.

-5  Grasp of the implications of the Gospel.

-4  Positive attitude towards the Gospel.

-3  Personal problem recognition.

-2  Decision to act.

-1  Repentance and faith in Christ.

Conversion and Regeneration

+1  Post decision evaluation.

+2  Incorporation into the body.

+3  Conceptual and behavioral growth.

+4  Communion with God.

+5  Stewardship.

+6  Reproduction (internally - gifts, etc. and externally - witness, action, etc.)

Hopefully, this initial discussion will evoke questions from you.  Feel free to engage me on the subject.  My next post will continue with additional information.

Lessons from Judges

I attend a church plant called enCompass.  Kevin Thomas is the pastor.  We have known each other for a long time.  I consider Kevin one of the very best communicators of God's truth.  Sunday's sermon dealt with the highs and lows of Samson, one of God's judges during a period of lawlessness before Israel had kings to rule them (Judges 13 - 16).

Kevin described a spiraling cycle that took place in those times and eerily reminiscent of today.  The cycle begins with good times followed by bad behavior leading to bad times resulting in a good cry before God which elicits a demonstration of God's grace once again producing good times.  The cycle repeats itself over and over again in the book of Judges.

We are a stubborn lot.  We could surmise from this repeated cycle that we can't handle good times.  There is something about prosperity that eventually corrupts good behavior.  A corollary to this is represented by the criticism leveled against Western culture by so many today.  At the heart of much of the criticism is that Western culture, in particular the United States, embodies the seeds of corruption in lifestyle choices, music, movies, and dysfunctional behaviors borne from a free society--or so goes the logic.

I am the first to admit that freedom exercised without conditions breeds anarchy and chaos.  I also recognize that Western culture has been responsible for many of the advances in democracy, technology, and society.  So, what's the point?  Simply this - when a society fights for freedom without constraint it gradually and eventually disintegrates into immorality and corruption leading to to anarchy and chaos.

I go back to my point in a previous posting--if we allow tradition, heritage, experience, consensus, or some '-ism to inform our beliefs, values, world-view, and motives we can expect nothing more than what we are seeing happening today; the rapidly increasing decay of all that we hold dear.  I honestly and unapologetically believe that it matters what we allow to inform us, to condition us, to act as an authority over us, to maintain order, to provide stability and security, to give us guidance and direction, to pattern our lives.  When man is placed in the single role of authority over life and behavior we can only expect a gradual disintegration and spiraling down into immorality and chaos susceptible to the big three:  sex, money, and power.

As for me and my family we have chosen our authority--it will be God, His living Word Jesus Christ, and His written word, the Bible.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only lasting hope for mankind.

Kevin concluded his sermon with the following observations.

1.  Giftedness does not equal greatness.  There are many gifted people who have crashed and burned because they couldn't control their appetites or desires.  God created our inmost being.  He knows how we tick.  Shouldn't our Creator determine how His creatures should behave and act?

2.  Playing with weakness equals planning for wickedness.  We go right to the edge, right to the presipice, right to the lip of the votex of dysfunctionality.  Before we know we are swept away in the aftermath, consumed by the dangers we played with and now plays with us.  God's grace is unmerrited but it's not unlimited.

3.  Failure is not final. But God is not finished with us.  He is the hound of heaven.  He is not anxious that any should perish.  He is the God of the second (third, fourth, fifth) chance.  He has given us everything we need to live a godly life.  He has given us a new citizenship, a new commander, a new commandment, a new community, a new conscience, a new concern, a new commitment, and a new character.  He has made all things new! 

Rise up men and live according to your design, according to the values of God's kingdom, according to God's truth, according to His redemptive plan, and according to His purposes for your life.

Why did Christ come?

I believe many of us have lost sight of why Christ came in the first place.  Christmas is a good time to be reminded of this supreme act of love -- Jesus ... Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!  Philippians 2:6-8

Scripture tells us He came for many reasons ...

To save His people from their sins (Matt 1:21).

To be the Shepherd of the people of Israel (Matt 2:6).

To have our light would shine before men (Matt 5:16).

To fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matt 5:17).

To serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Matt 20:28).

To preach the good news (Mk 1:38).

To take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

To do the will of the Father and to finish His work (John 4:34).

To judge the world (John 9:39).

To give sight to the blind (John 9:39).

To testify to the truth (John 18:37).

To give Himself for our sins (Gal 1:4a).

To rescue us from the present evil age (Gal 1:4b).

To save sinners (1 Tim 1:15).

To give Himself as a ransom for all men (1 Tim 2:6).

To save us and call us to a holy life (2 Tim 1:9).

To bring life and immortality to light (2 Tim 1:10).

To turn us away from wickedness (2 Tim 2:19).

To redeem us from all wickedness (Tit 2:14).

To purify for Himself a people of His own, eager to do what is good (Tit 2:14).

To teach us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives (Tit 2:12).

To help us become heirs having the hope of eternal life (Tit 2:7).

To provide purification for sins (Heb 1:3).

To make men holy (Heb 2:11).

To destroy him who holds the power of death (Heb 2:14).

To free us from the fear of death (Heb 2:15).

To make atonement for the sins of the people (Heb 2:17).

To cleanse our consciences (Heb 9:14).

To serve the living God (Heb 9:14).

To become a ransom to set us free from sin (Heb 9:15).

To do away with sin (Heb 9:26).

To give us a new life (1 Pet 1:3).

To call us out of darkness and into His light (1 Pet 2:9).

So that we die to sin and live for righteousness (1 Pet 2:24).

To purify us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

To purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

To be the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John2:2).

To take away our sins (1 John 3:5).

To destroy the devils work (1 John 3:8).

To purchase men for God (Rev 5:9).

We are in a battle ...

One of my passive mentors is D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a spiritual giant in his day and now with the Lord.  A passive mentor is a person you most likely have never met and may be dead but every time you read what they have written or listen to a tape they have recorded God feeds your soul.

I have been reading his book, The Christian Warfare:  An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10-13.  In it he talks about the battle we are in, about a tremendous power working against us ... that we are engaged in a terrible conflict with the devil and all his forces.  He warns us if we do not realize this and take appropriate action we will undoubtedly and ineviably be defeated.

Ephesians 6:10-14  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. NIV

It is fashionable today to not believe in the devil.  But Christ did.  So should we.  Lloyd-Jones says we are in a battle.  I believe him.  He admonishes us to be "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." 

As I was reading I was reminded of the futility of political and social answers to problems whose root is the world, the flesh, and the devil.  Political or social solutions can only bring temprorary relief.  As Lloyd-Jones forcefully argues these solutions only deal with the symptoms at best.  Peace will never be attained or sustained without the Gospel, God's solution.  The root of our problems is the condition of the heart.

There is a battle going on for the hearts of men.  Let's not apply bandaids to our behavior.  Let's undergoe heart surgery.

In 1997, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke to The Washington Institute’ Policy Forum about the nature of the conflicts between Arabs and Israelis.  “Real peace,” he says, “does not come from the hand that signs the treaties, it comes from the head and the heart that formulates them and then forms the attitude towards these treaties, because true peace comes from the heart, or more precisely, it comes from a change of heart.”