Partake! Podcasts by Dave G Roberts…

13. Partake – The Christian Disciple and Words

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Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived writes in Proverbs 15: “A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire”; “Kind words heal and help! Cutting words wound and maim”; “Congenial conversation—what a pleasure! The right word at the right time—beautiful! “; “God can’t stand evil scheming, but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.” (Proverbs 15:1, 4, 23, 26)

Words are the central means of communication regardless of our language, culture or people group. Needless to say that every one of us has either been hurt, or hurt others, by communicated words. In his book “Conversation Matters”, Peter Shaw writes: “The quality of conversation matters for healthy family life, community life and work life.” He goes on to say that conversation is essential to our enjoyment and growth as people, let alone as Christian disciples. The power of the tongue in speech is awesome. It has the power of life & death and those who love it will eat its fruit. It is a fire, which left unguarded, can corrupt the whole body and set the whole course of life on fire. We need to watch the words that we utter and control our speech, or it will control us. Jesus, our Master, said in Matthew Chapter 12 “How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, which gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is blight on the orchard. Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.” Jesus took words extremely seriously and so must we for we are a result of our speech and we will be judged for what we say.

So what is a right use of the tongue in speech? We are to use our words to nourish others, encourage and lift them up. For the tongue of the righteous is choice silver. (Prov.10:21). Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet in the soul and healing to the bones. We find that if we give an apt reply we will find joy and discover the goodness and healing a timely word brings! But we are not to speak glibly and hypocritically but with truth, sincerity and love – as a mother speaks to her daughter.

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How can we guard its use? By asking the Holy Spirit to watch over our lips and set a guard over our mouth, according to the Psalmist in Psalm 141:3. It is a measure of wisdom to speak words when required and with discernment. Any fool can speak words all the time, but sometimes there is a need for silence, for even then foolish people are thought to be wise. Often we are told to be quick to speak and slow to listen, but as Christian disciples we are to do the opposite! We are to be slow to speak and quick to listen, according to James 1:19.

Our example of Jesus - People were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips according to Luke 4:22! At other times they were astonished at the authority of His words! He always used discernment in what he had to say and how he had to say it. Sometimes he spoke in anger, particularly against the oppressive religious leaders. He spoke with exasperation with his disciples when they showed no clue about what he had been talking about. But his words also healed, such as to the woman caught in adultery, when he used discernment and wisdom. He actively encouraged others gently towards paths of right living. He spoke words lovingly to his mother. He even spoke words of kindness whilst He hung from His cross, during his last moments before death! He is to be our guide and Master in the use of speech, thoughts and words.

For more to think about please do read James 3vv1-11. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Photo courtesy of Petra

• Are the words I speak, words that heal and encourage, or are they also used to hurt and damage people?
• What areas can I improve upon so that my words can heal, encourage and uplift others?
• When I am sharing with other people, is what I am saying really sharing or is it gossiping by another name?
• Is there somebody who I know, that could do with being encouraged and uplifted by way of email, telephone, letter or postcard?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at www.davegroberts.podbean.com. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.

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12. Partake - Maintaining Inner Peace!

G’day & shalom!! Paul writing to the church of Philippi :“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4v5-9

Photo courtesy of Maggiet96.

The world we live in, wants peace! We hear it all the time! Politicians want peace and they are prepared to go to war to get it! New Age folk want peace! Atheists, humanists, Muslims and Hindus want peace! The world is unified around the concept of peace! Almost all want and dream of it! However, the peace the world wants requires the manipulation of circumstances. On the other hand, God’s peace comes regardless of circumstances. So what does the Bible have to say about peace between God and humanity and peace within humanity itself? What does the Bible mean by “peace”? Just how can I as a Christian disciple maintain an inner peace?

Peace Definition:’Shalom’ was the Hebrew word used in the Old Testament. It means a wholeness of well-being & mind; the total absence of conflict and turmoil evidenced by an untroubled mind and a heart that does not fear! It is a total harmony with God, man, circumstances & self. The end of peace was when Adam sinned and fellowship was broken with God and between humans (Genesis 1:3). We know that the God we serve is a God of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We also know that the Kingdom of God is about peace in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9v6) and Zechariah prophecised in Luke 1v79 that Jesus would “guide our feet into the way of peace.” As Christian disciples, we have peace with God through the death and resurrection of our Jesus Christ our Master! But as you know, we are still fallible humans and we all have to some degree and at different times, inner turmoil caused by all sorts of things like asserting our rights, attitudes of unforgiveness towards others and guilty consciences reminding us of things past. What does peace with God mean? How does peace with those around me work? Why do I need to be at peace with those who do not like me? How can I maintain peace within me at all times?

Peace with God. As Christian disciples we are justified by faith and have peace with God. This peace gives us access into grace and God’s blessings (Romans 5:1-2). Our Master Jesus Christ is our peace between God & humanity; also within humanity and the hostility has been removed (Romans 2:13-18).

Peace with Others Paul commands us in Romans 12vv17-20, to live at peace with everyone and not to be proud or vengeful. We are to do what is right in eyes of other people and exhibit positive goodness in the face of insult & assault. He goes on in Romans 14vv13-19 saying that we are to make every effort to do what leads to peace & mutual edification. We are not place stumbling blocks in front of others! Mutual encouragement and edification is more important than personal rights. By being peacemakers we will according to James 3v18 show real wisdom which reaps a harvest of righteousness.

Peace within As Christian disciples we have the gift of peace with God from the God of peace (Philippians 4:4-9) given to us by Jesus! (John 14v27). Being peacemakers and having internal peace shows the fruit of the Spirit. And according to John 16v33, we have peace in troubled times & world through an untroubled, unfearful heart & mind.

How do we maintain peace within? By living a life in obedience to Jesus we bear the fruit of righteousness, which is peace, quietness and confidence (Isaiah 32:17). A mind controlled by the Holy Spirit of peace gives us life and peace and total trust in God! (Isaiah 26v3; Romans 8v6). Lastly by being content whatever the situation enables the peace of God to guard your heart & mind. (Philippians 4v11-12)

For more to think about please do read James 4vv1-11. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together. What areas of your life do you need peace in right now?Are there situations where you need peace to rule? When was the last time you asked the Spirit of peace to rule over a situation or relationship?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at www.davegroberts.podbean.com. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.

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11. Partake – The Christian Disciple maintains a Clear Conscience

Paul writing in 1 Timothy 1vv18-19 “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.”

There you are! You are a Disciple of Jesus, repented of your sins and all set to live your life as a Christian disciple and yet… and yet, you still have this continual nagging feeling inside you that you are still guilty! What do you do? Paul writes here that in the quest for living as an authentic Christian Disciple, faith and a clear conscience are essential for victory in our spiritual battle. Faith according to Hebrews 10:38 is belief plus trust plus action. A clear conscience is freedom from guilt (Acts 24:16). Your conscience is the spiritual faculty, which is sensitive to right and wrong and with the help of the Holy Spirit, judges our attitudes and actions. By having a clear conscience, the Christian disciple pacifies guilt and has inner peace (1 John 3:19-21); makes right decisions (Proverbs 14:30); builds right relationships (Hebrews 5:13-14; 10:19,22) and helps give effective service (2 Timothy 1:3)

However, as we know, we have this persistent battle with sin and disobedience. Persistence in disobedience and refusal to heed the conscience leads to the conscience becoming cold, hard and silent according to Paul in 1 Timothy 4v1-2. So what leads to the conscience becoming seared?

• Escape. Attempting to overthrow God’s standards and hide from reality through substance abuse, sexual immorality and perversion etc.
• Compensation. Seeking to balance guilt with an over concern for social or religious activity.
• Preoccupation. There is feverish effort and activity and an inability to rest and relax the mind lest guilt causes further conviction and unrest.
• Self-deception. Here we have a rationalising and justifying behaviour. Unable to live with guilt, the person blames others. Often gives much attention to minor detail and neglects the weightier matters of honesty, judgment and righteousness.

That’s a seared conscience. Then there is a guilty conscience, which arises from a violation of the conscience. This therefore also affects our relationships with God and with other people.

Relationship to God

• To hide as Adam tried to do (Genesis 3:8-9)
• Lack of concern for circumstances and insensitivity towards God and a devaluation of Him (Romans 1:21-25)

Relationship to others

• Deceptive character or putting on masks/images (Romans 1:22-25)
• Shame, embarrassment, Hiding from others (Genesis 3:7)
• Defence mechanisms - Masks, Blame others (Genesis 3:10-12 ; Romans 1:21)
• Deceptive nature (Proverb 12:15; 1 Timothy 4:2)

Both of these relationships types finish with a hardened heart and depraved mind if left unchecked (Romans 1:23-32)

Common symptoms of guilt feelings include exemplary behaviour - docile and well behaved; physical discomfort - fatigue, stress etc. ; depression - difficulty facing life; defeatist attitudes; self-condemnation - heaping blame on others; self-punishment - denial of self to atone for guilt; expectation of disapproval; undue criticism of others – ascribing ones own faults to others; hostility - antagonistic towards others; compensation - easing conscience by good deeds.

Opposed to the guilty conscience is a clear conscience. A clear conscience is the inner joy and peace of spirit, which results from having made all personal wrongs, right with those whom a person has offended. So what steps can you as a Christian disciple take in order to have a clear conscience.

The first thing is that you must confess your sin. It is a good thing to confess your sins to God the moment you realise you have sinned, coming to Him in penitence and praise. For when someone has sinned against God, the Apostle John says that the sin must be confessed (1 John 1:9). Similarly, when a person offends another, they must acknowledge the wrong to the person they offended and ask their forgiveness (Matthew 5:23-24). As a Christian disciple you must decide to clear up all offences at all costs. Satan will do everything in his power to hinder you from gaining a clear conscience. You must recognize that any rationalizations are an attempt by satan, the world or your old nature in order to keep you from a clear conscience, and therefore fracturing your relationship with your Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

The next thing is to gain an attitude of contriteness. This requires an attitude of brokenness, fully accepting responsibility for your own thoughts, actions and attitudes. This needs to be unconditional, not demanding that others admit their guilt as a condition for us asking. It is one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, things we can do in life to genuinely say, “I was wrong, will you forgive me?” While this is a humbling experience, it is an essential step in gaining right fellowship with God and other people.

For more to think about please do read for your self (James 4:1-11). Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so you can pray over any issues together.

Are there things, which have happened in my past, which, every time I recall, I wish, had never happened?

Are there people I know who dislike me, and could it be because of some offence I have committed against them?

Are there those toward whom my life has failed to be an example of a Christian disciple?

Are there those in authority I have failed to respond correctly to?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at www.davegroberts.podbean.com. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.

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10. Partake – The Christian Disciple and Forgiveness

G!day! The Apostle James wrote: ‘When all kinds of trials and tribulations crowd into your lives my brethren, do not resent them as intruders but welcome them as friends. Realise that they come to test your faith and produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until your endurance is fully developed and you will find you have become men of mature character, with the right sort of independence. ‘ James 1:2-4

It is often said by psychiatrists that 90% of people with emotional related psychiatric problems would be cured, if only they knew forgiveness. Forgiveness of course is a major part of Christianity, both in the way that God forgives us when we come to Him in penitence and repentance, but also in the way Christian disciples forgive others and themselves! Does that surprise you that people may need to forgive themselves? How does that work?

The two major causes of emotional problems, involve forgiveness.

• Failure to receive forgiveness. Many people try to pay for their sin or to atone somehow for their sin or as AW Tozer out it: “The perpetual penance of regret.” Some people even try to punish themselves for they’re past sins.

• Failure to give forgiveness. There are always people who hurt us by what they say and do. If forgiveness is not offered, a root of bitterness resentment and anger may spring up in our lives. There are ’significant others’ - parents who hurt us, siblings who fail us or tease us, and friends who betray who reject us.

Now you may well be asking yourself, why does God allow these irritations and offences to take place?

We need to understand that God’s ultimate purpose for allowing irritations and offences to occur in our lives is to give us an opportunity to become more like Jesus Christ His Son (Romans 8;28:29). There are some irritations we can control and we are responsible to see us take sensible steps to do so. There is no point in complaining we are overweight if we are not prepared to diet.

There are many sources of irritations and offences we can’t control.

• People. Personality traits, inconsistencies, rejection etc.
• Environment. Inconveniences, natural elements, pressures.
• Ourselves. Frustrations with our deficiencies, limited abilities, failures, illnesses etc.

God uses these circumstances, experiences and irritations to shape us and mould us like a gem cutter, cutting and polishing a stone to make it valuable. However, whether God requires ’sandpaper’ or a ’sledgehammer’ sometimes depends on our willingness to be involved in the process. God is concerned not just about what is happening to us, but also what we are learning and how we are responding in His workshop of life.

How do we respond to irritations and offences?

a. Wrong Responses (Human way)

• Defend yourself.
• Accuse somebody else and pass the blame.
• Hold anger in instead of dealing with the problem.

b. Right Responses (God’s way)

• Be honest with yourself - Am I in the wrong?
• Be willing to admit when you are wrong - Ask forgiveness.
• Be willing to forgive.

Asking for forgiveness can be one of the hardest things we need to do. This is particularly so when we have been betrayed by a friend or someone who has been unfaithful. We need to stop and consider Christ and the enormity of His forgiveness.

Failing to co-operate with God’s purposes, has two frequent results

• Insensitivity: Ignore, shut off, withdraw and avoid.
• Oversensitivity: Resentment, bitterness, hatred, anger and revenge.

Remember!! Forgiveness deals with our emotional response/s toward an offender. Pardon deals with the consequences of the offence; we may not be in a position to offer pardon. Forgiveness enables us to have the same openness toward the person after they offend us, as before. Lastly, when we forgive the offender, the hurt and the wound will start to diminish. This is helped when we realise Christ understands and can use these experiences for our eternal advantage.

For more to think about please do read for yourself James 2v1-4… Give yourself the following tests, and see how you respond or react to them. Why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so you can pray over any issues together.

Tests to see if there is someone I need to forgive

• Resentment test - Is there anyone you resent?
• Responsibility test - Do you find yourself thinking, “If only they (parents, friends, colleagues, God) had done this, things would have been different!” and therefore blaming others?
• Reminder/reaction test - Do you find yourself reacting against a person because they remind you of someone else?

As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at www.davegroberts.podbean.com. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.

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9. Partake – Towards Healed Emotions in the Christian Disciple

The psalmist wrote in Psalm 139 verse 23 to 24: “Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; see for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.”

As a Christian disciple, did you know that God wants all parts of you to be following Jesus! That includes your thinking, your actions and your attitudes! It means your mind; your body and will are all to be under the control of the Holy Spirit! This includes your emotions. It must be said that this is contrary to some modern thinking, which stipulates that showing emotions can be a ruinous thing! In Scripture, God reveals Himself as emotional! Our Lord Jesus Christ displayed the full gamut of emotions! But for us humans, there are two extremes with which people exhibit emotional responses. One extreme is the kind exhibited where emotions are stifled and suppressed! The other extreme is where the emotions control the person! Both extremes are erroneous and as Christian disciples we seek a balance whereby we exhibit emotions but under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes weattempt to excuse our bad emotional responses & attitudes and turn them into problems as well as into sins. Whilst wrong responses must be dealt with as sin, it is also very helpful to find out what has caused these bad responses and attitudes, so that we cannot sin that way again! For example, we confess our sins of anger or resentment, but it is also helpful to discover why I am an angry or resentful person.

David Seamands in his book “Healing Damaged Emotions”. ‘Just as the rings of a tree reveal the developmental history of a tree, so it is with us. Just a few minutes beneath the protective bark, the concealing, protective mask, are the recorded rings of our lives, - scars of painful hurts and damaged emotions.

Firstly let us discuss briefly what may well be some of the evidence of damaged emotions within us:

1. Deep sense of unworthiness: a continuous, nagging feeling of anxiety, inadequacy, & inferiority. Such a person feels they are no good & will never amount to anything.

2. Perfectionist complex (The IORTA person): This person is always striving, struggling to succeed, feeling guilty and a failure. They are trying to please themselves, others, & God by trying harder, usually to keep a set of rules. They are bound by a tyrannical twins of “oughts” and “onlys” - I ought to do better; If only……

3. Hypersensitivity: This person has usually been hurt deeply, having reached out for love & affection and been rejected. Often these people cover up their feelings by being hard or tough & often hurt & dominate others.

4. Fear: These people are so afraid of failure that they never get involved in anything risky, where they may make a mistake or look weak. They are often defeated, indecisive people.

Now having seen what may be the evidence of damaged emotions, what principles can the Christian Disciple follow to help them come under the full control of the Spirit?

1. Face your problem squarely acknowledge it to yourself, and to someone else.

2. Accept your responsibility in the matter. Now you may have been the victim, but what about your response, and especially the continued response.

3. Do you really want to be healed? Sometimes there is a sense of satisfaction in being the ‘problem person’, the centre of attention, and the underdog.

4. Forgive everyone involved in your problem. Some people won’t forgive because then there would be nobody left to blame, except himself or herself.

5. Forgive yourself: you can & must, if you have received God’s forgiveness. God is not surprised or shocked by our sin; He knows what we are capable of. (Jeremiah 17:10)

6. Finally, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your real problem. Acknowledge that when Jesus died on the cross, it was not only for your sins that He died, but also for your entire sinful nature!

For more to think about please do read 2 Corinthians chapter 2 verses 5 to 11.What emotions do you still need to place under the control of the Holy Spirit? Are you holding onto something from the past, which is in turn holding you back from coming under the full control of the Holy Spirit? Where can you demonstrate a balanced Christian response to an event and thereby demonstrate the Gospel to somebody who is not a Christian? If you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at www.davegroberts.podbean.com. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.

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