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Philip Conley's Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (Romans 16:25-27 – “Knowledge of Secret Things”)

Morning Thoughts,

“Knowledge of Secret Things”

Romans 16:25-27, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”

This morning, a casual interaction with humanity reveals a great deal of complaining. Anything and everything from the weather, to current events, to personal grief is lamented sometimes with such fervor that just listening to it all can make you start feeling down yourself. Though not that old, I have learned by experience that complaining and thanksgiving cannot live under the same roof concurrently. A thankful heart is not complaining and vice versa. So, in the spirit of thanksgiving let us look at some unchanging things that God has mercifully given us and blessed us to know about while we sojourn here.

Paul closes his epistle to the church at Rome with a heartfelt yearning that mirrors every sincere pastor’s desire for the churches that they serve. Paul had basically expounded to them the things that he desired that they have, and in closing, he shows the desire and also the awesome place that these Romans had. Their place can be ours today, and their minister’s love and devotion should be our pastor’s today. So, what was Paul’s desire, and what placement did the Romans have? Very quickly, Paul desired that they be stablished in the tenets of his gospel. In other words, Paul wanted them grounded, secure, and unwavering in the great and central themes of New Testament Christianity. Just as Paul closed his discourse of the resurrection in I Corinthians, the point of the gospel is not to attend church, feel good, and come back a few days later. The point of the gospel and its tenets is to make us resolute in our convictions and devotions to God. The gospel serves as a great benefactor in that regard to aid and strengthen us to being better disciples of the cross.

But, what is this gospel coming from? What are the tenets? What made the placement of the Romans so special? Notice the progression backwards that Paul makes. The conclusion is that the Romans be stablished in his gospel. That gospel flows from the subject matter of Jesus Christ. His Person is a revelation of a mystery that had been hidden for generations since the world began. Though the Scriptures of the Old Testament declared Him through prophecy, He has been seen in these times incarnate. This revealed mystery was commanded by God, and is now revealed to all nations so that we would be obedient in the faith and walk by faith. To God belongs the glory for all these things, amen and hallelujah!

Seeing the progression let us consider the basic tenets of the gospel that we dearly love and why thanksgiving should flow without ceasing from us to keep complaints at bay. The Romans were given layer upon layer of the working of God through His covenant and the accomplishment of Jesus Christ to that end. Romans 8 is layered in rich tones with the glory that God has bestowed upon us through His own work. The Romans understood through the teachings of Paul that God foreknew us, predestinated us, called us, justified us, and glorified us. (Romans 8:29-30) They were further grounded in the knowledge that nothing ever has or ever can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39-39)

If these were our only tenets, consider how blessed we would be. What percentage of humanity today understands those teachings as Paul laid them out? What percentage of humanity in Paul’s day knew these things? Furthermore, considering Paul’s progression, what percentage of people in the Old Testament understood them? Though Israel was familiar with God through the law and the prophets, even Israel of old did not understand these things. Consider the wise words of an inspired writer in Proverbs 30:4. He did not know the answer to his questions, and he poses them to his audience knowing that they do not know them either. Today, we know the answer to those questions: 1. Who has ascended up into heaven? Jesus. 2. Who has descended? The same Jesus. 3. Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Again, Jesus. 4. Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Still Jesus. 5. Who hath established all the ends of the earth? Are we seeing how blessed we are and the Romans were in their placement? Ah, but now the pinnacle of it all: 6. What is his name, and what is his son’s name if thou canst tell? By knowing the name of God’s Son (Jesus), we are already a “leg up” on the saints of the Old Testament even those inspired by the Holy Ghost. WOW!

Paul’s preaching and the gospel declare overture after overture about the Person of Jesus Christ. Just hearing His name declared can dispel our fears and give hope for the future. Hearing about Him literally binding the wind in His fists with a simple, “Peace, be still” gives us assurance that He can equally still our storms and troubles today. Hearing of His descension into this world to ascension back to glory comforts the soul to think that He came here for us, went back for us, and will one day bring us to where He is! What is this but a revelation of the mystery that generation after generation of old did not know. What is this today but a revelation that remains a mystery to so many people at this present hour.

The Roman church was not located within Jewry (though many historians believe that it was a mixed church of Jews and Gentiles), but they enjoyed the revelation because God commanded it to be unto all nations and not to one only. That mark should particularly touch us today, because those of us who are Gentiles would have been completely shut out of the knowledge of the things of God in Old Testament days. God revealed the majesty of His glory in that time to Israel only. They were the only nation that could say they had a manifestation of His presence through cloudy and fiery pillars. They were the only nation that had His law delivered to them. They were the only nation that had His authorized priests. They were given prophets, inspired Scripture, and even land that God swore to them.

In the current dispensation, God’s command is unto all nations for the obedience of faith. Therefore, we enjoy the gospel, His Scriptures, and His ministers according to the revelation of this mystery, because it pleased God for more than one nation to have this. Thank God! Because of this, we have heard and rejoiced in the same blessed truths that Paul gave the Romans. We rejoice to know that God loved us before time, sent His Son in time, and will one day have us dwell in glory with Him beyond time. Friends, just consider 10 basic things that we believe, love, and rejoice in when hearing them preached: election, predestination, eternal security, particular redemption, completed redemption, resurrection of the body, immortality of the soul, infallibility of Scripture, power and providence of God, and the comfort and beauty of God’s church. All of these things are rooted and grounded in the mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ our Saviour. These things are at the heart of the gospel, with Christ as the ultimate glory and centerpiece.

Outside of the church of our Lord, how many people could we round up that would agree with us to the truth of these 10 things? Though I do not rejoice in the fact that true worshippers are few in number (we should ever pray and desire that more would see and know just as Paul did in Romans 9 and Romans 10), we do have to admit that the number is small. Throughout history the number of true worshippers compared to humanity is small, with even our Lord Himself calling us a “little flock” (Luke 12:32). The next time we feel like complaining about “our lot” or sinking down listening to the siren songs of life, let us remember what our real “lot” is. We are part of a blessed family that was ruined of itself but now elevated by our Elder Brother. Because of His love and work, we shall experience Paradise and satisfaction beyond compare. Because of His mercy unto us, we have been blessed to know about it here and praise Him for it all our days. Do I truly have right to complain? God has been and continues to be so good to us that I should have only room to thank Him for all of HIs benefits towards me. Friends, we are blessed; let us live lives of obedience so that glory would redound to God only wise through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

In Hope,
Bro Philip

Philip Conley's Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (Acts 28:4-6 -“Circumstances and Extremes”)

Morning Thoughts,

“Circumstances and Extremes”

Acts 28:4-6, “And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”

This morning, we perceive things and make judgments and conclusions based on our observations. However, our perception and observation is limited at best, making firm conclusions harder to come by in many things. Due to the rise of instant communication, people’s “snap judgment” levels have increased, even though the plethora of information has actually diluted much truth rather than magnified it. One of the biggest pitfalls that well intentioned children of God can fall into in this regard is judging who is and who is not a child of God. To avoid allowing circumstances get us into extreme thinking, we need to be cognizant of our limited perspective. For example, the best that I can say when seeing good works manifest is, “To my best observation, they have displayed grace that can only come from God.” When I see nothing but evil works, the best I can muster is, “To my best observation, I really don’t know.” The dying thief on the cross is a good example of a lifelong experience of evil, changed at the 11th hour by the Holy Ghost. Esau is a good example of God providentially blessing His chosen – Jacob – by preventing Esau from an evil purpose, thereby looking like a good man outwardly.

The lesson above shows how circumstances can lead to extreme thinking – in both directions. Paul and his companions were on a boat in Chapter 27 ultimately headed for Rome when a storm capsized the boat. Paul and the rest of the boat’s passengers all made it safe to an island inhabited by barbarians, though they were quite cordial barbarians. These very blinded natives observed the above happen to Paul and showed their ignorance about Paul’s position and state. When things went evil, they assumed that he was an evil man (not cutting him enough slack), and when things went well, they deified him (giving him too much credit). There are two popular clichés today that have been around all my life: 1. When things go well, someone says, “You must be living right.” and 2. When things go poorly, “You ain’t living right.”

What goads these conclusions? Circumstances do. Circumstances may and do change, but truth does not. Truth is not dependent upon circumstances as it stands firm no matter what is going on outwardly. Now, circumstances can lead us into truth when we observe things for what they really are. Courts have tried and convicted men by piling enough circumstantial evidence together that the jury felt compelled that they were really innocent or guilty. Good deeds piled together can give us a good indication that someone has been touched and regenerated by God Almighty. Though I do not spend a lot of time wondering who is and who is not a child of God, I do not have any real concern that those that I preach to on a week in and week out basis are really God’s children. They have exhibited Christian grace and charity over and over, thereby indicating to a reasonable conclusion that they are God’s own.

When Paul had bad circumstances go his way, the barbarians assumed the worst in him. Job’s three miserable comforters assumed the same when his bad days were in season. The heart of their inquiry to him was, “Job, obviously you’re guilty of some secret sin. Why don’t you just confess it, get it into the open, and get it over with?” In Paul and Job’s case, they had not done anything wrong to merit a bad experience, but life is full of circumstances where people suffer having not done anything wrong. I am always amazed by the disciples’ question to Jesus in the introduction of John 9 when they encountered the man born blind. They asked who sinned to make him this way: him or his parents? What a question! How could a man have sinned before his very own birth to get born that way? Yet, that is the power that circumstances play in warping our mental patterns.

There is perhaps no more important natural life lesson that parents can teach their children than this: The world is not fair, and bad things will happen whether you have merited it or not. People suffer. That is part of life. Not a pleasant thought, but it is verily the truth. Yes, if we live rotten, wicked lives, we should expect that we will suffer for it. If we live righteous lives, we should expect to be persecuted for it. Either way, we will suffer. Peter’s admonition is to suffer as a Christian rather than as a murderer, etc. (I Peter 4:15-16) When bad things happen, we should not automatically assume the worst as these barbarians did. We should rather seek to know the truth. Maybe the reason it happened is beyond our ability to determine, but either way, the truth is what is important. Paul was not a murderer under the curse of some intangible entity like “vengeance.”

On the other hand, they glorified Paul overmuch when the miraculous happened. God spared his life by not allowing the poison to kill him, thereby making them assume he was a god. To different degrees this happens to ministers a lot. While we do not get bitten by snakes and live, we are blessed with miracles from God’s hand repeatedly when we enter the pulpit. When the man’s words become more than words and the gospel goes forth miraculously in demonstration of the Spirit and power, there is a tendency to think too much of the messenger. More credit is given to the man than is deserved. Paul labored to expunge preacher worship in his opening to Corinth (I Corinthians 1), but sadly that mindset still plagues people today. If “their guy” really knocked one out of the park, they crow about what their guy did. Friends, if real preaching is to be had, the Holy Ghost blessed it, and God alone is glorified in it.

In a more natural application, we tend to credit people with things beyond their real scope of influence. I get sadly amused today when people pin successes and failures in all areas to the president. Now, the president has an important job function to fulfill, but he is not culpable for every up and down that we see daily. Just as the preacher is responsible to put forth his effort in study, meditation, and prayer, the president must labor honorably to execute his office to the best of his ability. However, the president is not the one who ups and downs the gas prices or many other things. The pastor is not the source of credit for new members nor necessarily the cause for dwindling members. Those things may be beyond his control, yet good circumstances can deify someone and bad circumstances can vilify him in people’s minds.

What was Paul’s position? He was neither a murderer nor a god. What is our position? Hopefully we are not murderers, but we are definitely not gods. Paul was dependent on God for all things. So are we. Paul labored to follow the will of the Lord. So should we. What is the real truth? The real truth is that man by himself is nothing. God is everything. We can do all things with His help and strength. We can overcome problems, honorably bear suffering, and deal with the doubts and dark days of life. He has loved us with an everlasting love. Because of that love and His work, we will abide with Him where he is. None of the good or bad circumstances in life will change these truths. When things go well and we think we can do all right by ourselves, we deceive ourselves. When things go awry and we think that God has forsaken us, we deceive ourselves. God does not change; His truth does not change. Therefore let us not let the sliding and slipping sands of life cause our minds to wander from the unchanging One and His promises. Let us not ascribe too much credit where none is warranted, and let us not overly criticize someone/something when we may not know all that we need to know about the situation.

In Hope,
Bro Philip