Toby Sumpter

Discerning the Lord’s Will (The Continuing Adventures of Jesus #38) (KC)

Joshua Edgren on August 28, 2024

INTRODUCTION

How do you know what the will of God is for you? We pray that God’s “will” would be done on earth as it is in heaven, but we have many choices to make, some obviously significant and every choice momentous.

Paul said that he was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem (Acts 19:21, 20:22), and yet, the same Spirit filled disciples urging Paul not to go (Acts 21:4, 11). Does God do this regularly? Does God send mixed signals?

God is not trying to trick anyone, but He does test us. The Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted (Mk. 1:12). This was not so that Jesus would fail, but so He would succeed. Christians must trust and obey God’s clear Word, and then we trust His providence in the gifts, opportunities, and desires He gives us.

The Text: “And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara…” (Acts 21:1-14).

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

After leaving the Ephesian elders at Miletus, Paul’s entourage sailed along the coast of southwest Asia Minor, until they came to Syria (Acts 21:1-3). While there for seven days, the disciples, by the Holy Spirit, warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem before sending him on his way with prayers (Acts 21:4-6). Sailing south along the coast of Palestine, they came to Caesarea and stayed with Philip, one of the seven, who had four faithful daughters (Acts 21:7-9). While there, the prophet Agabus, foretold that Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem, and everyone tried to dissuade Paul from going (Acts 21:10-12). But while Paul felt the emotional force of their pleas, he was unmoved and ready to die if necessary, and the brothers committed him to the will of the Lord (Acts 21:13-14).

THE WILL OF GOD

How did Paul know what the will of God was? We may not be able to answer exhaustively, but we can have a basic understanding of how God wants us to discern His will. Theologians commonly distinguish between the “decretive will” of God and the “preceptive will” of God. The decretive will is what God has decreed will come to pass before all time (Gen. 1:3, Is. 46:10, Eph. 1:11); His preceptive will is what God has revealed is good and right for His creatures to do (cf. His law, Ex. 20, Dt. 5). So it is God’s preceptive will for all men to repent of their sins and obey God’s law, but regardless of whether they do or not, God works all things together for good for those who love Him (Rom. 8, Gen. 50:20). So while we cannot know God’s ultimate decretive will, His preceptive will (His law and gospel) is the central revelation of His will for us (1 Thess. 4:1-7).

DISCERNING THE WILL OF GOD

So, when you’re trying to determine God’s will, begin by asking: is it lawful/moral? If not, it is not the will of God. It is not the will of God for you to marry an unbeliever, to disobey your parents, or cheat or steal. These moral obligations also include providing for your family, your parents, and having a church community. You would need a clear indication from God that a higher duty is requiring you to set aside one of those duties (e.g. a boss or parent or pastor asking you to sin).

If it is lawful, then the next questions would be: What are your abilities, opportunities, and desires? You may have the ability and desire, but no opportunity. You may have the opportunity, but no ability or desire. As it is sometimes said, “the need is not necessarily the call.” Many orphans need to be adopted, many unreached peoples need to be evangelized, but the need is not necessarily the call. But if you have an opportunity and the ability, sometimes the will of God comes down to what you really want to do. On the other hand, as Jonah learned the hard way, sometimes the need amounts to a command and it doesn’t matter what you want to do (e.g. the Good Samaritan). Also, remember that wisdom is found in the multitude of counselors, and at the same time, you can’t just go along with the multitude (Ex. 23:2).

FACE TOWARD JERUSALEM

Later, Paul will explain that he came to Jerusalem to bring alms and offerings (Acts 24:17). While there may have been other factors at work, it appears that Paul was very concerned to bring his entourage from the new churches in Greece with their offerings to Jerusalem. He knew the risks involved full well, but he believed that this was what was most needful, perhaps particularly for the unity of the Jewish and Gentile churches.

It also continues the pattern of the apostles imitating Jesus, “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Lk. 9:51). And just as Peter wanted to insist that Jesus not go (Mk. 8:31ff), Paul faced similar resistance, testing his resolve. And so we can expect similar testing, and while it can occasionally be wise to double check our decisions, our general instinct ought to be “not to doubt in the dark what we knew in the light.” If we are walking in the Light, confessing our sins and forgiving one another, while God does test us, He does not trick us.

APPLICATIONS

Safety is Not the Highest Good: Our God plays with death and dragons. Wisdom is not reckless, but it is ambitious and courageous. By faith some overcame armies; and by faith some were stoned and sawn in two (Heb. 11). And all of them obtained a good report. Winning and victory are found in obedience to the Lord, not necessarily surviving.

Parents, beware of making safety the highest good. Obedience is the highest good, and obedience often requires selfless courage, danger, and even harm. Paul was prepared to go to prison and die if necessary for the name of Jesus. Wives, beware tempting husbands or children to be unfaithful by your fear of harm. Better the obedience of Christ (dying at 33), than a long life of grieving His Spirit.

Stick to Your Near and Clear Duties: “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33). “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Ps. 37:4). And this includes keeping your word/vows/covenants (Ps. 15:4). This is how God ordinarily shows us His will.

Shepherds of the Sheep (The Continuing Adventures of Jesus #37) (KC)

Joshua Edgren on August 14, 2024

INTRODUCTION

Since the beginning, the church has been led by qualified men called “elders.” This was the case in Ephesus and in all the churches (Tit. 1:5). These men are called to shepherd the flock of God by feeding it and guarding it by the entire Word of God.

The Text: “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons…” (Acts 20:17-38)

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

Paul called the Ephesian elders together for a final charge before he departed, reviewing the manner of his ministry, his intensity, diligence, and sacrifice, saying it was to be his last time (Acts 20:17-25, cf. 20:38). Therefore, Paul makes a point for the record that he has not held back any part of God’s Word from them and is therefore innocent of their blood before God, as a faithful watchman (Acts 20:26-27, cf. Ezek. 3, 33). He charges the elders to follow his example in guarding and feeding the flock of God, warning them specifically about wolves arising in their own midst (Acts 20:28-31). He commends them to God and His Word and his own example of ministry, prays with them all before parting (Acts 20:32-38).

ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD

Paul emphasizes in this final charge to the Ephesian elders his ministry of God’s Word: teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying of repentance and the gospel, preaching the kingdom of God, and the whole counsel of God, and therefore, the elders are to feed the flock, build up the saints, by the same Word of God’s grace.

This is what we mean by “All of Christ for All of Life.” We mean all of Scripture, applied all the time, everywhere. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). This means that our goal must be to study and know the whole Bible. Many modern Christians are only taught snippets and a few stories. We are not prepared for all good works because we do not know all of Scripture. What does God’s Word say about immigration, sexuality, politics, finances, or friendship? We must not be selective in our Bible study. And elders are entrusted with making sure that we are not leaving anything out: Genesis to Revelation.

FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD

The whole Bible is our food, and elders are entrusted with making sure the flock is actually eating. The center of this is Lord’s Day worship, where the elders that labor in word and doctrine teach and preach the Word openly (1 Tim. 5:17). But all elders are entrusted with checking in “house to house.” We don’t just put the food out and hope for the best; elders are shepherds under the Chief Shepherd who care for the health of the flock (1 Pet. 5:1-4).

This is how Christians are built up (Acts 20:32). If Christians have become weak and impotent, it is because we have a famine of God’s Word (Amos 8:11). This is why Scripture requires God’s people to follow “those who rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God… for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief” (Heb. 13:7, 17). There is an exhortation here in both directions: elders must speak the word, set good examples, and watch over souls, and members must heed that counsel, follow those examples, and make this job a joy and not a grief.

GUARD THE CHURCH OF GOD

Elders are also required by to guard God’s flock from wolves. This is one of the reasons why elders must be men. This is a frontline, combat and security position. Those who become elders have to imitate Paul’s willingness to “not count his life dear” (Acts 20:24). Sometimes this requires literal martyrdom, but it frequently includes public hatred and persecution (Mt. 5:11-12, 2 Tim. 3:12).

This task of guarding is never “off duty” and is intense because it includes the internal temptations of elders, their own households, plus the rest of the elder board and the congregation, while continuing to preach the gospel to those outside. Elders are held to a high standard of personal holiness and household faithfulness (1 Tim. 3, Tit. 1). Paul says this was intense for him personally (Acts 20:19), and he insists that this will be the same for the Ephesian elders, some of whom will be led astray and lead others astray (Acts 20:29-30). Therefore, elders must watch and pray constantly, and the flock must watch and pray.

Church scandals are some of the most damaging events for the faith of Christians, but there ought to be some comfort in hearing these words from 2,000 years ago. How many scandals have there been since then? And look at the church of Jesus Christ. We must be faithful, and sometimes the world will accuse us of scandal, when all we did was deal with sin like the Bible says (Mt. 18, 1 Cor. 5).

APPLICATIONS

Pray for faithful elders and pastors: We live in a great famine of the Word, but it is not for lack of access to the Word. Rather, we have churches filled with men who will not tell the whole truth, who pander and flatter, tickling the ears of their hearers, prizing their own lives and reputations over the glory of Christ and the care of His church (cf. Jn. 12:43). By doing this, they are hating and abusing the flock of God, refusing to feed and guard them.

Trust in Jesus Christ not men: God has determined to care for His people through fallible men (and this is true in all governments), and this really is for our good. He knows what He is doing. But we must not follow mindlessly: we submit in the Lord. We follow them as they follow Christ because He is the Good Shepherd: He purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28, Jn. 10:28). He died for His church so that “He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).

When John was given a glimpse of the future glory of the world, He saw the Church descending from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Rev. 21:2), and all things made new (Rev. 21:5). And faithful elders are central to this project.

The Comfort of Christ (The Continuing Adventures of Jesus #36) (KC)

Joshua Edgren on August 7, 2024

INTRODUCTION

We live in a fallen world of turmoil, and we do not yet see everything under the feet of Christ, but we see Christ (Heb. 2:8-9). We do not yet see every nation discipled, every cancer cured, or death itself destroyed, but we see Jesus who has tasted death for every man, so that by Him, we may have a peace in this world that the world cannot give. We see in this text that this was a central part of Paul’s missionary work, and it continues to be a central part of the mission of the church.

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

As planned, Paul left Ephesus to go back to Macedonia and Greece, where he comforted the churches for some time before returning with seven assistants, sailing from Philippi to Troas right around Easter (Acts 20:1-6). On the following Sunday, the disciples gathered for worship, and the service went late into the night, and while Paul was preaching, a young man fell asleep and fell to his death out of the third story window of the house they were meeting in (Acts 20:7-9). When Paul came down, he embraced the young man, bringing him back to life, and the service finished with the Lord’s Supper, bringing great comfort to everyone (Acts 20:10-12). From there, Paul made his way back toward Ephesus, coming to Miletus, to take a ship to Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 20:13-16).

ENCOURAGEMENT & TEAMWORK

Following the uproar of Ephesus, Paul spends some time “comforting” the churches that have started (Acts 20:2). The root word for “comfort” is the same that Jesus uses to describe the Holy Spirit, the “Comforter,” who was promised to lead the disciples into all truth (Jn. 14:26, 15:26). Closely related is the fact that Paul is accompanied by a number of companions and disciples, at least seven of which are probably official representatives of churches Paul had planted, perhaps even delegates, bringing an offering to Jerusalem (cf. Acts 24:17). And the result of the worship service in Troas and the healing of Eutychus was “not a little comfort” (Acts 20:12). The ministry of the church is a ministry of comfort and encouragement (Acts 9:31, Rom. 15:4, 2 Cor. 1:4).

LORD’S DAY WORSHIP

At the center of this comfort is worship on the Lord’s Day, “the first day sabbath” (Acts 20:7), which is worth underlining, since it has often been translated as only “first day of the week.” But the word is actually “sabbath.” The same goes for all of the resurrection accounts: Jesus rose on the “first day sabbath” (Mt. 28:1, Mk. 16:2, Lk. 24:1, Jn. 20:1). In the Old Testament, there were various “sabbath days” that landed on different days of the week (new moon, festival days, cf. Lev. 23:39). As Phil Kayser has pointed out, in the first creation, God intended Adam and Eve to enjoy the sabbath as their first full day in the world, but they sinned and the Old Covenant condition was symbolized by a seventh day sabbath (looking forward). But Jesus restored us to the Garden in the New Covenant by His resurrection and restored that original first day sabbath.

John calls Sunday “the Lord’s Day” in Revelation 1, which is the same construction for the “Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11). In the same way that we set apart ordinary bread to “remember” Christ’s work on our behalf, so too we set aside an ordinary day to “remember” Christ’s work on our behalf, and so a “sabbath rest” remains for the people of God (Heb. 4:9). And gathering for worship and resting from your ordinary labors is a crucial part of the “comfort” of the Holy Spirit. Slaves have no days off, but we are freemen in Christ.

SLEEP & RESURRECTION

At the center of this episode is the incident with the young man, Eutychus, whose name means “good luck,” and which might indicate that he was (or had been) a slave. It was a large upper room, full of torches (likely crowded), and Eutychus may have been sitting in the window for fresh air (Acts 20:8-9). The imagery was surely not lost on the first century audience: this would have reminded early Christians of Pentecost when the fire of the Spirit filled the upper room, and perhaps it would have also had echoes of Hannukah, and earlier still, the temple itself. They gathered to “break bread,” which was an early euphemism for the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7), and after Eutychus fell and was raised by Paul’s embrace (much like Elisha, 2 Kgs. 4:34), they celebrated the Lord’s Supper, our resurrection feast (Acts 20:11).

All of this emphasizes that the Spirit of the same Christ who conquered death is with Paul and with the Church. It’s no accident that after the resurrection, even death itself is likened to a “sleep,” that believers will rise from (1 Cor. 15:20, 51, 1 Thess. 5:10). And we comfort one another with these sure promises (1 Thess. 4:18, 5:11).

APPLICATIONS

Whether we wake or sleep: The foundational comfort of a Christian is eternal security – eternal life. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6:23). Sinners deserve death, but Jesus took those wages by dying in our place and taking away our sin. The power of the devil was only in his ability to wield the fear of death for the punishment of sin (Heb. 2:14-15). But death is a defanged enemy because it is no longer our punishment. Jesus has the keys of death and hades (Rev. 1:18). Death is a river that all must pass through to get to the Celestial City. But it is a river crossing that Jesus personally oversees.

Worship is the engine: We often say that worship is the engine that drives everything we do. Fundamentally, this simply means that Jesus is Lord, and therefore, everything we do must submit to Him, bow before Him. But God has also made it clear that He wants us to gather as congregations to worship together. There is something particularly powerful and comforting when God’s people renew covenant together in word and sacrament on the first day sabbath, the Lord’s Day. This doesn’t turn everything into a church service, but rather it frees us to work and enjoy everything as a gift from our Risen King.

Christ & the Idols (The Continuing Adventures of Jesus #35) (KC)

Grace Sensing on July 28, 2024

INTRODUCTION

The gospel collides with all idolatry, whether external shrines or internal obsessions. But idols can be sneaky and even warnings about idolatry can weaponized and misused to steer unthinking Christians. Is it idolatry to love your work, your family, your church, your nation, your ethnicity? The answer is “no,” so long as “love” is defined biblically, so long as your love is obedient to God. Idolatry is disobedient love. And obedient love is at war with every disobedient love.

The Text: “After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem…” (Acts 19:21-41)

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

When Paul determined that he would go back through Macedonia before going to Jerusalem, hoping to ultimately go to Rome, he sent Timothy and Erastus ahead of him (Acts 19:21-22). Meanwhile, Demetrius, a silversmith, raised a stir in Ephesus about Paul’s preaching and its impact on all the business related to the shrine of Diana/Artemis (Acts 19:23-28). This turned into a very confused mob, and Paul’s friends prevented him from trying to talk to them (Acts 19:29-34). After two hours of chanting, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” the town clerk admonished the crowd for not bringing charges in an orderly fashion and dismissed them (Acts 19:35-41).

CONFUSION REIGNS

This episode highlights the fundamental confusion of idolatry. Scripture says that when men serve some part of creation rather than the Creator, they become vain in their imaginations and foolish, while professing themselves to be wise (Rom. 1:21-25). And this confusion about God and idols inevitably leads to confusion about sexuality and life in general (Rom. 1:26ff), including the confusions of greed, business scams, and people pleasing.

Notice too that riots are commonly the language of confused idolaters (Acts 19:32) – idols are deaf and blind and must be “awakened” by rage and violence (cf. 1 Kgs. 18:28), and when that chaotic churn burns down some buildings or leaves a few people dead (or more), those effects and the cathartic release can be attributed to the gods, including gods named “democracy” and “equality” and “justice.” When you see mobs and riots in the streets, you should think “idols.” Idolatry is inherently violent.

THE ECONOMY OF IDOLS

In Ephesus, as everywhere, the economy was built around the values of the city. Food, clothing, housing, other goods and services, various hobbies, and worship all create various economies of exchange in societies. If the values of a society revolve around Christ, that will create one sort of economy, but if the values revolve around idols, that will create other sorts of economies. Statist idols create statist economies. Hedonistic idols create envious economies. The worship of Artemis and her shrine permeated the economy of Ephesus and those regional markets (Acts 19:27).

When the gospel comes, it collides with all idols simply by declaring these parts of creation are not gods (Acts 19:26). But wherever cultures are oriented to those gods and their shrines made with human hands, the gospel is certainly a danger to that part of the culture (Acts 19:27). But remember, as we saw in Corinth, idolatrous cultures are enslaving and unjust (Acts 16). The great wealth of the silversmiths was a superstitious scam. Idols “unman” the people who serve them (Ps. 115), while worshipping the living God restores the image of God and creation to its rightful glory (cf. 2 Cor. 3). The gospel comes to restore and heal human society, but it disrupts the economies and cultures of idols. Some idols must be completely destroyed and many must be demoted and reformed.

APPLICATIONS

Many modern Christians misplace the contrast between idols and the true God. The difference between the living God and Mammon is not amount of stuff or money or power or beauty. Romans 1 says that the fundamental difference is between giving thanks and refusing to give thanks. God gives richly all things to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17), but they are meant to teach us to trust Him and thank Him. When you trust Him completely, you can give thanks in all things, whether in plenty or in want (Phil. 4:11-13).

This is how the gospel collides with and re-orders human cultures. And the difference is in obedience to God or not. Since this gift is from God, how does He want us to use it and enjoy it? Food, clothing, housing, sports, money, work, sex? The Ten Commandments are the guard rails. Don’t serve these things or let them run your life. Don’t let them get in the way of serving God, honoring His name, keeping Sabbath, honoring parents, life, marriage, property, and the truth. Is your love for that gift causing you to disobey God? Is your favorite sport causing you to miss worship many Sundays? Do you read your Bible as much as you study your other loves? Is your desire for another house, different clothing, a spouse giving you a bad attitude? Don’t be confused (or cause confusion) about who your God is.

It has become fashionable to warn Christians about making an idol of marriage, family, and nation, but why not the church? Why so few warnings about being overly committed to church programs? But many of these warnings are misplaced, sort of like warning a prison camp about the dangers of gluttony. The real idol is often the opinions of non-Christians and liberal Christians. But love of God means an obedient love of the gifts of God. No one loves “enough,” but we can love more or less obediently.

One commentator says that Christians “do not want to replace Artemis and become the next official religion of Ephesus, because in that case they would be under the thumb of the city and its special interests,” and there is a legitimate warning here: Erastianism (state run churches) has a poor track record. But the Reformed and American solution was not a godless state, but rather a truly Christian nation with a separate government from the churches.

The gospel does not come to a city in order to drive out the idols only to leave the official religion empty or neutral. Some God or gods will always be the center of value and culture. Which God is it? Neutrality and secularism are simply sophisticated names of humanism, another idol of human hubris. But Christ is Lord of all, everywhere. There is no other way to have true social peace and justice, order or harmony. The clerk is quoted perhaps ironically, but every pagan city is in danger of causing riots and commotions unless or until they turn to Christ. And this is also true for every heart, every home, every church.

A Mind to Work (Joint Outdoor Worship Service Part #1)

Grace Sensing on July 21, 2024

INTRODUCTION

We live in the ruins of Western Christendom. The walls of once great Christian nations and civilizations have been breached by new pagan hordes. But God in His kindness has done something remarkable here locally in Moscow. He has given us a mind to the work of rebuilding the walls of Christendom. And He has done this in such a way as to cause a spotlight to be shone on this work. People have noticed us building.

So what are we to think of all this? And what we are to do? The simple answer and exhortation is to remain faithful at your stations. Keep your mind to the work.

The Text: “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work” (Neh. 4:6)

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

This comes in the midst of God’s people being mocked for their work under Nehemiah, rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Their enemies are angry, and they are trying to stir up trouble. They say the Jews are weak and feeble. They say they will not accomplish much. And they say the Jews will certainly not reestablish worship. And whatever they do accomplish, it will be worthless and flimsy and collapse again. And in the midst of that opposition, Nehemiah prays that God would hear these taunts and turn their attacks back upon their own heads. And armed with that prayer, the Jews built the wall, and they made good progress in building the wall, and the people had a mind to work.

Broadly speaking, our central tasks can divided into three areas: keeping short accounts, honest/diligent labor/study before the Lord, and worshipping like you mean it.

KEEPING SHORT ACCOUNTS

In order to keep our minds to the work, we must have clear minds. And the only way to have clear minds is to have clean hearts. Jesus says that before you talk to your brother about the speck in his eye, first remove the log in your own eye. Then you will see clearly to help your brother. Sin gums up the gears of everything. Sin is like mud on your windshield. Sin is like walking in the dark. Sin doesn’t allow you to see clearly or think clearly. One of the great lies of the Devil is that sin is just the way things are and there’s nothing really to be done about it. The lie is that since everyone sins, normal life is just full of darkness.

But the gospel says that is not true. The gospel says that God sent His Son into this dark world in order that we might have light. The gospel says that it is possible for sinners to walk in the light with God and have fellowship with one another. 1 John 1:7 says: “If you walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” How does the blood of Jesus cleanse us from all our sins? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). It is possible to walk in the light. It is possible to have a clean heart. This is what we mean by keeping short accounts.

This is how you don’t allow sin to accumulate in your hearts or lives. If you have two houses on the same street, both with large families, and one is clean and tidy and the other one looks like a bomb went off, the difference between the clean house and the dirty house is that in the clean house they pick up. The clean house family has dirty dishes and dirty clothes and spills just like everybody else, but they do the dishes and the laundry, and they clean up the spills. The dirty house ignores the messes, tries to hide them in closets or under the rug, despite the awful smell permeating the house. So this is how you can have a clear mind: have a clean heart and stay in fellowship with your people.

HONEST AS A HUGUENOT

In the 17^th century, it was common say, “honest as a Huguenot.” We want to cultivate the same kind of reputation in all our labor. This means no lies and complete sobriety. The truth is the foundational currency of value. A good name and honesty and integrity are even more valuable than the gold standard, bitcoin, or however you’re trying to stave off inflation. The most damaging form of inflation is the inflation of truth. The shysters in the ancient world shaved and clipped coins: do not clip the truth, do not shave the truth. The righteous man swears to his own hurt and doesn’t break his promises. Let your yes be a “yes” and your “no” a “no.” A mind to the work, is an honest mind to the work. Liars have to constantly keep track of their lies, but truth-tellers sleep well at night. And wherever you have not told the truth, go make it right, even if it hurts. That’s the only way to have a mind to the work. But every brick you lay in your family or in this community under pretense or hypocrisy or theft, hoping no one will find out about your lies, is a brick that has no integrity. It would be far better to confess it now, so we can repair the damage now than in six months or six years when the damage is even greater.

Closely related to honest work is sober-minded work. We are community that celebrates, and that means it is common to attend a dinner or a party with wine or beer or scotch. The Bible says that God gave wine to make the hearts of men glad, and Jesus turned water into wine for His miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. We want to be the kind of people who would gladly enjoy Christ’s miracle. But the Bible is equally clear that drunkenness is sinful, harmful, and utterly disastrous. We want to continue to build a culture of true Christian joy and celebration, but that joy is clear-headed and sober-minded, not tipsy, not buzzing.

CONCLUSION: WORSHIP LIKE YOU MEAN IT

At the center of all our labor is worship. And that means coming before the Lord honestly. If we are to be truly honest about our sins and truly honest in all our labor, we must fundamentally come before the Lord in complete honesty. God already knows everything. He sees through all our excuses, all our blame-shifting, all our hypocrisies. And those who humble themselves and come in the righteousness of Jesus Christ are most welcome, and the Spirit comes and blesses them and sends them from God’s presence with joy and vigor.

This is what we mean by worship like you mean it. Worship in faith, believing that the God of Heaven really lifts us up into His presence. That as we sing and pray and listen and eat, the gates of Hades are being shaken – that everything that cannot stand is being broken down, so that only those things that can remain stand firm.