Tag: mark

LASCIVIOUSNESS

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Here is a word not so common in our modern-day English.  In fact, it is so unfamiliar/unused that the NASB (New American Standard Bible) and many other modern translations of the biblical text fail to use the term at all.  So why should we consider this word from antiquity?

First, it’s due to the uniqueness of its use in the scriptures, and second, because of the particular verses in which this word has been recorded.

This Greek root word, “aselgeia” denotes an excess, the absence of restraint, indecency, and wantonness! Based on this definition, some pretty contagious ailments exist within our post-modern American culture, as well as in many others throughout our world.

  In Mark 7:22, one of the evils that proceed from the heart of humanity and defiles an individual is lasciviousness (ASV & KJV) (literally, filthy wantonness), which is unbridled, outrageous, shameless sensual lust. Apparently, according to II Corinthians 12:22, this corruption is lurking within the church at Corinth. The Apostle Paul states it this way:

I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality (fornication) and sensuality (lasciviousness) which they have practiced.

Some in this church were guilty of continuing in their former (before Christ) pagan practices!  Is today’s church any different?   

Galatians 5:19 clearly classifies “lasciviousness” (translated – sensuality in NASB) as among the evident “deeds of the flesh” which are in conflict and work against the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit that resides within every true believer!  In Ephesians 4:19, Paul declares that individuals who have alienated themselves from God due to the hardness of their heart have become so callous, they have willfully and knowingly given themselves over to the sins of lasciviousness.

However, I Peter 4:1-6 confronts this issue head on – without shrinking back or yielding to any philosophies or outside/carnal pressures!

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality (lasciviousness), lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

Undoubtedly, this problem has infected Christ’s church almost since its inception. Listen to Paul’s firm admonition to the believers at Rome in Romans 13:13-14:

Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

Now, here’s the killer from II Peter 2:2-3;a bold warning for all of Christ’s Church and every single believer (even today, at this very moment):

Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned (Greek root word – “blasphemeo” – defamed, spoken of improperly, slanderously); and in their greed (covetousness) they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

This shameless, degrading, and destructive conduct is on-going and unchecked!  People who are corrupt at heart, even within the church, often seek to obtain the sanction and endorsement of religion in order to continue in their own corruptions. These individuals refuse conviction and genuine repentance – they are determined to gratify/satisfy their own sinful propensities.  However, the essential aspect of a relationship with God the Father, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, brings about an escape — genuine transformation from the evil and corruption of one’s past behavior and conduct.  Come on over! 

 By GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) His & Yours, Pastor Frank

ABBA

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

In Romans 8:15, the Apostle Paul employs a Hebraic-Chaldaic word for “Father” to help believers understand their freedom in Christ and their current relationship with God. In ancient Jewish households, the servants and slaves were never permitted to address the head of the household in the same manner as those belonging to that household either by blood or by legal adoption. Descendants and legal adoptees could, and would properly address their Father as “ABBA,” a word corresponding to our “Daddy” or “Papa.” In the time of Christ, and the New Testament era, “ABBA” was commonly used in a child’s life, from infancy on, as an expression of warm, genuine affection and supreme confidence. Sadly, there is no perfect equivalent in our English language.

In Mark 14:36, Christ uses “Abba,” crying out to His Father in genuine affection and supreme confidence when declaring, “All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” Therefore, the right to call God “Abba” (Father) is a special privilege afforded to only a few, those, to whom by relationship have been granted that right. That’s why Paul uses this very specific word and terminology in Romans 8:15 – “For you (true believers) have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we (can and are privileged to) cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’”

Further explanation of this concept is offered in Galatians 4:6-7 – “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (Jesus Christ) into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” Therefore you are no longer a slave (or servant who cannot and should not address the Father), but a son; and if a son, then an heir (joint heir with all His other children and Jesus Christ) through God.

Christ offers additional reinforcement concerning our liberty and position when, immediately after His resurrection, He addresses Mary Magdalene in John 20:18 saying, “Go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Christ’s Father is my Father too — Christ’s God is my God too — What a deal! What a privilege, what an honor! A slave or servant lives under constant fear and alarm. But we live in freedom and confidence as His children. The spirit of adoption brings the assurance – because you were adopted (picked, chosen) – accompanied by feelings of affection, love, and confidence which as children, looking to any goodly father, not the servile, trembling spirit of slaves. Adoption requires taking and treating a stranger as one’s own child. It is applied to Christians because God treats us as His own, and receives us into relationship, though in the natural, we would be/feel as strangers and enemies in that relationship.

  1. By nature we have no position.
  2. God’s act towards us is one of kindness, of pure, sovereign love.
  3. Now we are under his protection and care.
  4. Now, we as His children, bear His image and character, and yield to Him through our obedience.
  5. Now we express toward Him the feelings due to a Father.
  6. Now we can call upon Him; addressing Him in the language of affection and endearing confidence, seeking His protection and assistance in all things.

Just think about it! – PF

SUFFERING

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, suffering is defined as undergoing something painful or unpleasant, to endure, bear affliction, to allow, permit or tolerate pain, harm, injury, or loss. A great variety of Greek expressions, too large to be enumerated here, have been translated in our Bibles as “suffer(s),”and/or “suffering(s).” However all forms seem to be derived from the same root verb, “pascho” (Greek N.T. Strongs #3958).

In Mark 5:26, we find suffering associated with illness or disease when a woman who “had suffered (or endured) much (many things) at the hands of many physicians,” and “had spent all that she had,” not receiving any help at all, but “rather had grown worse.” Moses, in Hebrews 11:25, chooses to endure ill-treatment (suffering and affliction) with the people of God, rather than “enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” This potentially represents several types of suffering, from mental and emotional to persecutions related to his position and opportunities in life, as well as that of physical need. In II Timothy 2:9, Paul, speaking about his own life and ministry, declares that for the Gospel of Jesus Christ he suffers “hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.”

The Psalmist, David uses the first one-third of the 22nd Psalm (which includes graphic descriptions of suffering and exactly coincides with the sufferings of Jesus Christ) as a lamenting and disconsolate cry of anguish from his persecution by King Saul. Amazingly, his words progress to a trustful cry for help, and then end in vows of thanksgiving which spring from his deliverance (like Christ’s victorious resurrection). No other Psalm demonstrates such an accumulation of excruciating outward and inward suffering which is shown pressing in upon God’s servant who is perfectly innocent. What an illustration of Christ’s agonizing situation – the Crucified One is presented before our eyes in verses 15 through 18: The spreading out of the limbs, the naked body, the torturing pain in both hands and feet, and the burning thirst which our Redeemer suffered in order that the Scripture(s) might be fulfilled. Then He announces in a cry, “dipsoo’ “(Greek – NT word #1372 from John 19:28), “I thirst!”

Consider Christ’s sufferings, both emotional and physical. He suffered in almost every aspect of human life: one of His closest companions denied even knowing Him; other close friends couldn’t manage to stay awake, watch, and pray in a time of His deepest need; His own nation (people) rejected Him; His siblings and other family members considered Him crazy; most of the religious leaders in the community despised Him and spoke openly against Him, conspiring to destroy both His life and His message; a member of His own inner circle (discipleship group) continually stole from His ministry and ultimately betrayed Him; in total innocence, He was charged and found guilty of crimes against both God and the state; He was publicly displayed and crucified as a wretched, heinous criminal, and in His final hour, His Father turned His back. Truly He was a man of many sorrows and much suffering. Yet all to please His Dad and bless humanity as no other could achieve!

How can one refuse the ministry and gift of such a faithful suffering servant? How shall we respond to this Servant when asked to bear a little pain because we identify with His name, or endure suffering for His cause of truth and life?

Just think about it! Hope to see ya Sunday, Pastor Frank

STUFF

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

“STUFF” – an old French word, “estoffe” that derived its meaning from “stopfon,” which means “to stop up.” In English we see this understanding when stuff is used in the verb form, like cramming “stuff” into a closet, filling the trunk of one’s car, or jamming clothes into a closet or suitcase. Exactly how one feels after consuming too much lunch or supper!

Additionally, according to Webster’s New World Dictionary, “stuff” in our vocabulary speaks of material goods, like household items and personal belongings and/or the substances out of which things are produced or manufactured. In a general sense, unspecified items may also be referred to as “stuff.” I don’t know about you, but my world consists of (and seems to be filled with), lots of “stuff!”

Some “stuff” is worthless junk, while other is of significance and valuable, yet it’s all still called “stuff.” There’s good stuff and bad stuff, big stuff and small stuff, fun stuff and sad stuff, great stuff and petty stuff, excellent stuff, average stuff, and inferior stuff, strong stuff and weak stuff, important stuff and trivial stuff, beautiful stuff and ugly stuff, healthy stuff and some stuff that’s not so good for you. Some stuff is material and physical, while other stuff is physiological, emotional and spiritual — whatever the stuff, there’s plenty of it.

In Genesis 25:30, Esau (a godless person according to Hebrews 12:16) begs his brother Jacob

Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff (NASU) (translated pottage in KJV however the word does not appear in the Hebrew text or Greek Septuagint) there, for I am famished (worn out, weary). Therefore his name was called Edom (red).

By his own choice of immediate gratification and pleasure, Esau became a godless person, choosing to love and embrace the things (stuff; in this case food) of this world and his earthly life in exchange for the blessings of God, spiritual peace, and hope (confident expectation) for his future.

Esau gave up:

  1. His right to the priesthood – Ex. 22:29.
  2. A double portion of his father’s estate – Deut. 21:17.
  3. His role in the family – Gen. 27:29, 37; 49:3.
  4. His potential role in the Messianic promise/linage of first born sons.
  5. His rights of primogeniture (conveying special blessings upon his descendants – which were among the most noble, honorable, and spiritual in the ancient world).

Esau undervalued “God stuff” and overvalued “red stuff” which filled his belly and brought temporary satisfaction.

In John 6:27-28, Jesus issues a warning that might help us gain some understanding about “stuff,”

Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.

Nearly everyone can recall the Parable Of The Sower And Soils in Mark 4:18-19 where the good seed of God is sown among thorns, “but the worries of the world (stuff), and the deceitfulness of riches (stuff), and the desires for other things (stuff) enter in and choke” out God’s Word/Truth. Instead of trading the “stuff” of God for the “stuff” of this world, have you ever considered doing the exact opposite? May we, as believers in Christ, be found laying down the “stuff” of this world in order to gain “God stuff!” II Peter 1:8 says “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I pray all our “stuff” becomes useful and fruitful! Just think about it. — Pastor Frank

SALT

Posted on by West Oaks Fellowship

Have you ever heard the term, “not worth his/her salt?” That concept comes from the Latin word “salarium” from which we get the English word, salary.  The “sal” of “salarium” actually means salt.  A soldier in the Roman Empire might have actually have been paid in salt blocks due to the fact that it was a valuable commodity and could easily be traded or sold in any country or region’s market place.

In biblical times, salt was recognized as a necessity for life as referenced in the extra biblical writing, Ecclus 39:26:

“The principal things for the whole use of man’s life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.”

In Judaism, according to Leviticus 2:13, salt was a required additive to offerings and was spiritually symbolic within a covenant. 

“Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.”

In the Middle East, when men ate together, they became friends – thus the Arabic expressions, “there is salt between us” or “he has eaten of my salt,” which means partaking of hospitality which cemented friendships.  Since salt was valuable, needed as a preservative, and used to enhance taste, it became symbolic of an enduring covenant relationship.

Abimelech, a judge of Israel, sowed salt over his own capital city, Shechem, after quelling a revolt against him around 1050 BC (See Judges 9:35). We know historically, that this became a common practice in the Roman Empire as well. They also used this same sowing process to sterilize soil and keep vegetation from damaging their roadways. 

Turning to the New Testament, we find salt used practically, as well as symbolically.  In Matthew 5:13, Christ Jesus declares,

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

It is clearly understood that sodium chloride is a stable compound that does not disintegrate … losing its “saltiness.” However, the common salt in Israel was primarily salt from the Dead Sea, aka Salt Sea, which was highly contaminated with other minerals.  As a result, it would dissolve and could become (in the process of evaporation which was used to separate the salt from the water) a tasteless substance. These salts all diminished in flavor and/or usefulness over time.  Therefore, this fact provides contextual understanding to Christ’s statement in this passage.

Here, our Lord is speaking to His followers and those gathered to hear Him teach, which is a Hebrew/Jewish audience.  He also makes similar references in the other Synoptic Gospels (see Mark 9:50 and Luke 14:34). Jesus’ potential followers could/should have ultimately (as their faith developed) become like salt in that they would create a thirst in others for greater information and understanding … enhancing the taste. When one sees a unique individual, who possesses superior qualities in specific areas, one desires to discover why that person’s life is distinctly different from others in the world. It’s also possible that salt, as a preservative (a means and method familiar in that society – particularly among fishermen), means these individuals would/could/should serve as a preservative restraint against the evils in society. Whichever view is taken, the important and significant quality to denote in Christ’s teaching is that the salt must absolutely maintain its basic trait/characteristic. If, somehow it fails to be salty, then it has definitely lost its purpose for existence and should be discarded. 

Is there a message here for believers in Christ’s 21st century church? While I, personally, use little salt on my food, and frankly don’t understand why some people ruin an excellent food’s taste by over-salting it, or even salting before tasting — in this case the more salt/saltiness the better!  Shake it out.

Are you salty?  Think about it, pray about it … then do something about it.  Let’s all agree to be — worth our salt!

His & Yours, Because of GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense)                              

PF