Victory Over Self Rev. Barry Auch
When Joshua crossed the Jordan, he had not only defeated the kings that were on the east side but now also on the west (Josh. 12:14, 7-24). We see there was still a great conflict of the higher Christian life even in the place called the Land of Promise. As Christians, we may face conflict as well in obtaining the higher Christian life. It wasn't a battle of grosser forms of sin, for they were left behind when they crossed the Jordan. This new adventure was coming into the land of holiness, obedience, and rest. However, Joshua's battles in the new land were real and arduous, and they have helpful insights for us. Surely, we would think that no consecrated Christian would dare to indulge in willful disobedience or sin (before the crossing). These grosser forms were put away at Calvary (work of the cross). As Joshua led, he found there are other giants (kings) more subtle, whom with he fought so long and perhaps plague us. The Apostle Paul gives descriptive words of the Christian's conflict: "...that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Cor. 5:15). Now you may be wondering "What are these other, more subtle giants (kings that Joshua fought) that plague us?" They are the many areas of our self-life which, while not perhaps directly and willfully sinful in a grosser sense, are still opposed and run contrary to the will of God. They must be slain before we can ever go any further in perfect harmony of His Divine will to the higher Christian life. These things are monsters, tyrants, which if allowed to go unchecked and remain, will ultimately bring us into subjection of sin, bring us into a spirit of leanness, and will separate us from our Lord. Oh, how well Joshua understood this and sought to eliminate the cause of its source. To Joshua there was one progenitor (forefather), all of one family, that being Arba, the father of Anak (Joshua 14:15; Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites). Then the land had rest from war. The name Arba means "the strength of Baal." Baal was the Ancient Sidonian god of nature, and Arba stands for the natural heart, in all the force of its self-will and sufficiency. His son Anak, signifies in Hebrew, "long-neck," representing pride and self-will. What character these two names represent of the whole family. Self-will (Arba) is the head of the dynasty in our lives. It expresses itself as: I will, I shall, I'm too busy, I don't have time to pray, I don't think that it is important enough! All the excuses of our lack of consistency with the Lord begin with "I." Never does our neglect begin with "God," e.g. “God said, I was too busy to pray today!” You see, it recognizes no king but its own imperative choice. Arba must die before the city of Hebron can be won and given to Caleb. Self-will (Arba) must die, and ‘yieldness’ must be the watch word before the gates of holiness and peace can be established. We have become so willful that God cannot move in us as He wills. He has often to crucify us to our own will, for no apparent reason other than to break us, and make us self-surrendered, and wholly subjected to His control. ‘Yieldness’ must be the watch word before the gates of holiness and peace can be established. God has great gifts and power to bestow but is looking to pour into clean vessels. Can you imagine drinking out of a vessel that contained milk and then reused with a carbonated beverage before cleaning? What an awful taste and an unwillingness to be used. How does a Holy God pour out His gifts that are righteous, pure, and holy, into a defilement of a vessel, and expect them to remain pure? The answer is He doesn't! Have you wondered why you possess little power, why you can't seem to get victory over little things, how easy it is to drift into thoughts that are hideous, how the spirit of the world has come into your home and you don't know now to get it out? Does your vessel need to be cleansed? Beloved, often in our lives, we have had to surrender something to Him which He really wished us to have. We could have been yielded to the Lord to break us, so He could in return give to us what we really wanted! In like manner God had to take Isaac from Abraham, and then give him back as no longer Abraham's Isaac but God's. The will thus surrendered becomes a stronger will, but not our will, but His within us. Then when we choose, we choose with the strength of God, and He chooses forever. Have you yielded your will and received His? Has the city of Arba become the city of Hebron, and the home of His love? Christian, allow God to have His way in the smallest decision that you make. Allow Him to truly show Himself strong unto you in every facet of life's decisions. Have you completely surrendered in total abandonment unto Him? Allow God to fulfill the scripture "...that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him...". He is waiting for your surrender in spirit, soul, and body (I Thess. 5:23,24). We are so grateful for all of you, your prayers and support! Every blessing, Elizabeth Metz Elizabeth Metz on behalf of the Evergreen Center Staff
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Our Relation To Politics(Faith Home Bulletin, Sep. 1964, A Pilgrim Here Below) “I exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” 1 Timothy 2:1-3 Jesus clearly declared, “They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world,” John 17. We are NOT OF THIS WORLD. It is the truth of God. It is His Word. It is the Will of God concerning you. If you are living close to Jesus; and breathing the breath of the prayer of His Love; then it will be beautiful and easy for you, as the Holy Spirit moves your heart in that Will. You will welcome, as the Word of Salvation, the Word so clearly stating what your attitude is toward the politics of the world and of our nation. The apostle Paul exhorts, by the Spirit of God, to do a specific thing concerning all in authority, for kings, and for all men. This includes a wide range of those who lead and who govern. The exhortation is not a vague effort to get you to take sides in a controversial spirit. What Paul says is much like the word which Jesus spoke, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” This is not a vague, indecisive, do nothing, failure to participate. It is positive, direct, right to the point. It carries obligation to the hearer. The exhortation, and Word of God’s Will is NOT to parade, and wave banners, and blow trumpets, and yell, and get all heated up in a strife of tongues, and in the spirit of controversy. It is distinctly NOT to be worldly minded, or worldly acting. The Word is NOT and exhortation to do like the world does, nor enter the world’s enthusiasms. But very definite things are stated as being God’s Will. He clearly makes known His Will. You ARE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS about the nation’s politics. According to the Scriptures your community and commonwealth is IN HEAVEN. Your “HOME” is in Heaven. You do not BELONG to this world. But you are IN this world. Being a member of a Heavenly Commonwealth, what shall you do in the world where your pathway, at present, lies? How will you adjust yourself to the political situations that arise frequently? You will follow the instructions of the Lord and Governor of your heavenly kingdom. And it is important that you do what He says—particularly important, “For the earth IS THE LORD’S.” Even a group as inconsiderable as our own church might seem to be, can have a vast power in this world, IF WE OBEY THE CLEAR WORD OF GOD. That word defines your position and attitude. God wills that you make supplication; that you pray; that you intercede; that you give thanks. If you are in touch with Jesus, that is what you will do concerning the coming elections, and concerning all elections: “First of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” Study those verses on your knees, “BEFORE THE LORD.” Walk with your God. And what result, particularly, should we look for and aim at? WHOM should we seek to be elected? What choice do we desire? To those who have surrendered, and resigned, their lives and their wills to God, there is but one choice, GOD’S CHOICE. The true PRAY-ER wants that, seeks that, and finds faith-rest, in GOD’S CHOICE, always. Your prayer counts infinitely more than your vote. -Our Lord is Coming Alumnus WeddingWe celebrate with joy the union of Anthony Townley and Sophia that took place in Myanmar on May 20th. Please keep them in your prayers as they minister together in Sophia’s homeland. We are so grateful for all of you, your prayers and support! Every blessing,
Elizabeth Metz Elizabeth Metz on behalf of the Evergreen Center Staff |
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