An Increasing Decrease

J.J. Stark

July 29, 2016

Field Time: Browning, MT

IGNITE CLASS 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

An Increasing Decrease

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30 (NKJV)

Often times the word decrease rings uneasily in the mind, especially when it is accompanied with the words I and must.  I find this true in myself even though I am saved.  It is because I still wrestle with the fleshly mindset of greedily striving to gain more material things so as to achieve a status, or a sense of security.  Because of the Fall, the human instinct is to try and fill our separation from God with worldly substitutes.  This nature causes many to interpret this verse it incorrectly, believing that a life serving Christ becomes a depressing, non-possessive, non-opinionated, and ho-hum cloud, purely miserable.  However, scripture says otherwise.

John 3:30 actually arose out of the midst of “²⁵…a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.  ²⁶ And they came to John and said to him, ‘“Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified – behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”’” (John 3:25b-26) Yet in the face of this, John the Baptist shows the mark of a true man of God.  He gave all the glory to the Father above because of Jesus.  He uses the analogy of how a groomsman at a wedding rejoices in the bridegroom’s taking of his bride.  In that light, John the Baptist says in reference to Christ being glorified, “This joy of mine is fulfilled,” (verse 29b).  That being said, verse 30 becomes a statement of a grateful and privileged joy: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  This is an attitude joyfully willing to give all glory to Christ, with an understanding gratitude that we are only able to honor His majesty in our humbleness.

The apostle Paul talks of this same joy in his letter to the Philippians.  He opens the third chapter with “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…”  Contrary to human thinking, Paul shows by giving an example of his own life resume how the things we may have gained in the world are really of no eternal value.  He says in verses 7-8, “⁷ But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”  Paul states again in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Jesus Himself spoke in Mark 8:34-35 that, “³⁴…Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  ³⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”  Our own Savior did this very thing also.  He humbly decreased and gave Himself in order to glorify His Father in heaven, and did so willingly because He knew that eternal joy would be rewarded to Him in it all.  This is example that I strive to follow: learning more every day that “He must increase, but I must decrease,” so that, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

Application:  I will write on a sheet of paper “HE > I” and hang it a place that it will constantly remind me of this.

Put on Christ, the Son and Heir

J.J. Stark

July 24, 2016

Field Time: Browning, MT

IGNITE CLASS 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Put on Christ, the Son and Heir

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” – Galatians 3:27 (NKJV)

Galatians 3:27 comes at the tail end of chapter 3 after Paul has been discussing how justification comes by faith and not the law, how the law was put into place to teach us our desperate need for Christ.  He builds off a series of questions in verses 2-4:

“² This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  ³ Are you so foolish?  Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  ⁴ Have you suffered so many things in vain – if indeed it was in vain?”

I had to stop and question myself on these.  Is the way I operate in my walk based on doing “good acts” to earn me brownie points with God, or am I doing them because I have faith in the promise of His Holy Spirit?  Definitely a reminder from the Lord to keep Him first in all things, and to speak of the gift of His life-giving sacrifice to all. 

Paul transitions into how we then, through faith, are free from the curse of the law because Christ became the curse to fulfill it.  It brings us into the promised adoption of becoming God’s sons and heirs like that of Abraham, verse 6: ““just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.””  The explanation is given in verses 22-26:

“²² But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  ²⁴Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  ²⁵ But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  ²⁶ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Verses 27-29 become then the crux of it: “²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you all are one in Christ Jesus.  ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

I can rest in the assurance of this promise every day.  There is nothing indicating that my walk with Him will be easy, but I know that I am safe in my Father’s hand, and because He is my true Father I can sit as His son in the glory of His majesty.  It is when I choose daily to put on Christ, coming to humbly before the Throne, that God takes and fashions me after His ever-loving heart.  Through that it becomes the life and words of Christ in John 12:27-28, one of empowerment in the Holy Spirit:

““²⁷ Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.  ²⁸ Father, glorify Your name.”  Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.””

Application:  Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

“Step in time!”

J.J. Stark

July 20, 2016

Field Time: Browning, MT

IGNITE CLASS 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

“Step in time!”

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:25 (NKJV)

“Keep in step…”  It’s funny how sometimes when you read or hear some phrase on one topic it reminds you of another topic that seems totally unrelated!  After reading the verse, my mind immediately jumped from it to the song “Step in Time” from the movie Mary Poppins.  “Kick your knees up! Over the roof tops! Step in time lads,” I vividly hear the character Burt say.  But all humor aside, that scene suddenly took a new light upon thinking about the meaning of the song title.

            The saying “Step in time” has been used in the past to rally and synchronize a group, be it a marching army or a dancing team.  There is almost always a rhythm or something keeping time in either case, the heartbeat of the organism.

            That being said, let’s take another look at Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”  If we live in the Spirit, we are making a proclamation of what we are loyal to.  But what does that entail in the Christian walk?  2 Timothy 2:3-4 say, “³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  ⁴ No one engages himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”  Endure the hardship?  Why is there hardship?  Ephesians 6:12 states, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.”  Alright then, we are in a constant spiritual battle…how are we to combat it?  The apostle Paul states earlier Galatians 5:16, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” How then do we walk in the Spirit, keeping in step with the Spirit, so that we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh?  Paul answers that question in Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on things above, not on the things on the earth.”  What are these things above?  Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”  In living these by seeking the Lord, He will begin to grow us into the tree of life that He wants us to become – “…in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

            To keep in step with the Spirit is to make a choice.  We are either keeping in step with Him, or we are fulfilling the lust of the flesh – there is no in between, despite what the world may think.  We are in hypocrisy if we are trying to live a double life and please both sides, which is the most detrimental thing we can do as a Christian.  I am ever so guilty of trying to fulfill both, so this is something that is as hard for me as any.  This causes me to ask myself, “Who is my master?”  But I am reminded of the words in Joshua 24:15b, “…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  I will march as good soldier in step with the heartbeat of the Spirit.

Application:  I will write on my wrist the phrase, “Step in time.”

Rejoice!

J.J. Stark

July 13&17, 2016

Field Time: Browning, MT

IGNITE CLASS 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Rejoice!

“And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” – Romans 5:11 (NKJV)

So often I forget to take joy in the Lord.  It seems like it would be such an easy thing to do though, and yet I take for granted the miraculous price Jesus Christ paid.  I forget that God bestowed the gift of eternal life on me, undeserving and wretched man that I am, and that I “have now received the reconciliation.”

            God is so good; He patiently waits for me to remember that I am nothing without Him, can do nothing without Him, and have received everything from Him.  The Lord lovingly receives me after I stubbornly fight and ignore the gentle chastening and instructing in His statutes.  To quote the Christian musician/singer/songwriter Rich Mullins: “Sometimes, God ain’t going talk real loud to you, and you have to shut up in order to hear Him.  I don’t know why He’s like that.  Sometimes it makes me mad.  But it don’t do to fight with God cause He always wins.”  It is an attitude of humble acceptance, acknowledging He is Ruler of All and being willing to let Him work.  I think of what David said in repentance after his affair with Bathsheba: “¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  ¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  ¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”  (Psalm 51:10-12, KJV)

            The Holy Spirit continues to teach me the joy of salvation.  Recently though, He revealed how I was being legalistic and hypocritical in my walk, much like the religious leaders that constantly debated, antagonized, and accused Jesus Christ during His ministry.  They enforced laws, rules, and irrevelent ordinances upon others while they themselves did not obey, thus the reason for Jesus calling them “hypocrites!”  They were so focused on the law and technicalities that they missed the freedom and joy the Lawgiver Himself offered them.

            In my conviction I finally see how the things the Holy Spirit leads and instructs me to do, whatever it may be, are for me and me alone to follow.  So often I hold others so rigidly to a standard, be it one set for myself or of something else, that I neglect to abide by it myself.  But the reality is that God has not even asked or instructed me to do such a thing, let alone given me the authority to.  All He has asked of me is to follow Him.  Then, and only then, does Christ bring me into the joy of my salvation, cleansing me in His precious blood and pouring me into new and abundant Life.  From there (my yielding to His will), that life joy begins to spill out to those around me.  Yes, the Great Commission says to “¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all the things that I have commanded you…,” (Matt. 28:19-20a), but how can I lead the blind to see and take joy in His commandments if I myself am not rejoicing in them?

Philippians 4:4-7(NKJV) best states this: “⁴Rejoice in the Lord always.  And I will say, rejoice!  ⁵Let your gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand.  ⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

No Fear

J.J. Stark

July 4-5, 2016

Field Time: Browning, MT

IGNITE CLASS 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

No Fear

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

– 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

Fear…

That ominous, formidable, ever-lurking, and unseen wall that is immobilizes the human race so easily.  It brings to mind how a male lion patrols his territory, protecting it and his pride, using his size and strength to intimidate and challenge anyone or anything that may dare to cross.  This is why the Devil, our enemy, is referred to as a roaring lion in 1 Peter 5:8, because fear is one of his favorite tactics as he prowls “seeking whom he may devour.”

I personally struggle with fear more than I realize.  As much as I hate to admit it, I struggle with security.  It isn’t as though I have come from a background of abuse or family instability; in fact, I have been very blessed to have grown up in a very healthy environment.  Something that has become strong in my character and train of thought, however, it the need to plan.  In other words, I like to know what happens next, and how it involves me.  Through a series of events and trials God has recently brought to my attention several things about this.  The first is that, because I selfishly get caught up in wanting to know what is coming I miss what is happening.  This stems from my fear of being caught off guard and ill-prepared.  I focus on preparing so much I miss what is happing now.  Preparing and getting things in order in themselves are not bad, God Himself is a God of order, but not to the point that it takes top priority.  For the longest time I have battled this, striving in a fleshly performance (no matter what it was) to “get it right”.  Why? And what? Even as of a few weeks ago, I mostly likely couldn’t have said; I’d buried it so deep I didn’t even know.   But God… “For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,” (Hebrews 4:12).  He revealed that I am afraid of vulnerability and consequences.  My toughness, bravery, and even “chivalry” so to speak, are all a fortification hiding my fears of getting hurt.

            2 Timothy 1:7 was the Lord chastening me, and strong exhortation reminding, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”   It is seen throughout history: in the Old Testament, God the Father is the spirit of power to those who walk with Him; the New Testament, God the Son, who is Jesus Christ, is the spirit of love manifested on earth; since the ascension of Christ, God the Holy Spirit is the spirit of a sound mind that guides us throughout our lives.  It is a three to one ratio…one enemy who can only cause of fear, trying to fight against a Triune God who overcomes all in glorious and holy threefold arsenal.  To those that call upon His name and earnestly seek His will it is bestowed to combat the devil.  Several verses affirm this promise:

Fear: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for

the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Power: “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in

weakness.”” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Love: “¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the

propitiation for our sins…¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear

involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  ¹⁹ We love Him because He first loved us.” – 1 John 4:10, 18-19

Sound Mind: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace

that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 1:13

Who then am I to doubt the Eternal Redeemer, to selfishly fight against His will and deny that I am capable on my own?  This is the truth He broke me on, and it is also the truth He will purify and shape me through.

The message from the apostle Paul to Timothy in the passage directly after 2 Timothy 1:7 sums it up.

⁸ “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, ¹⁰ but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

Application:  I will write on my wrists the four points: No Fear, Power, Love, Sound Mind