The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
(a repeat and rewrite from 2021)
"Confidence and Humility"
I recently heard a sermon by a preacher in which he said to his congregation, "I will never compromise. I will never fail you. I will never let you down." He received a long ovation for his confident affirmation.
Contrast this with the Apostle Paul, who confessed after decades of ministry, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (I Corinthians 9:27).
The preacher mentioned purported himself as being beyond the possibility of failure. Conversely, the Apostle recognized that no human being can guarantee ongoing faithfulness to God or people. One failed to understand the Biblical doctrine regarding our ongoing susceptibility to temptation and sin. The other realized the truth that as long as a "law of sin" remains in our fleshly members and faculties inherited from Adam, every believer remains susceptible to the possibility of sin and failure (Romans 7:18-25). One, while perhaps well meaning in his intentions, set himself up for failure by pride and confidence in his own integrity (and has actually already fallen into the snare of pride). The other, far better informed by God and His truth, longed to serve the Lord and people faithfully. However, like Paul, he also realized that even after many years of faithful service, he could still be cast away from genuine ministry by succumbing to devilish and fleshly temptations.
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should have much confidence in God's keeping and enabling regarding our walk in faith and faithfulness. We attempt to frequently affirm such grace in these messages:
"His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).
No believer, however, can vow to God or human beings that we will never fail or compromise.
"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (I Corinthians 10:12).
Both confidence and humility must pave the path of righteousness upon which we walk. Neither faithfulness or failure are inevitable. No less than Paul affirmed his Christ-enabled capacity for godliness and his fleshly potential for ungodliness. The day will come at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ when we will be able to confess, solely for the glory of the One who perfects us, "I will never again fail or compromise!" This is not that day. This is the day to rejoice in God's promised guidance and enabling. It is also the day to take heed lest we fall. Confidence and humility. Both sensibilities form the rails of truth upon which we journey with our Lord in seeking to serve Him and people.
A final thought: what could or should the preacher have said to his congregation?
"My brothers and sisters, I greatly desire to faithfully serve God and you, a longing I believe He has wrought in my heart by the Holy Spirit. I desire to not fail Him or you. However, I know that as long as we are in this present world, none of us can guarantee our faithfulness. Please pray for me, as I do for you, that I will consistently and increasingly honor our Lord, serving Him and you in a manner that reveals His grace and truth. Hold me accountable, and seek to be a good example of faith and faithfulness to me, even as I seek to be to you. Thereby, we will together give all glory to Him as we trust Christ and Christ alone to be our perfect model of godliness, truth, and integrity."
"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
(II Corinthians 9:8)
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."
(I John 1:8)
Weekly Memory Verse
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
(I Timothy 2:1-2).
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