The Painfully “Good” Things
Part One
Being the self-centered creatures that we are, the first things that come to mind for most of us, when we read of the “good things” spoken of in Psalms 84:11, would be all the things that would satisfy, benefit, promote, and or sustain the plans and agenda that we have laid out for ourselves, during our time, here on Earth.
“…He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity (Psalms 84:11 NASB2020).”
In our arrogance, we think we deserve, and are therefore entitled, to receive such blessings, being among those who are “walking with integrity,” when in fact, we have only done what we were supposed to do, with many things that still need to be addressed.
“So you too, when you do all the things which were commanded, you (should) say, “We are unworthy slaves; we have only done that which we ought to have done (Luke 17: 10 NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”
As we are about to see, for the Christ-centered, advancing disciple, there can be a very different awareness of what the “good” things spoken of in Psalms 84: 11, and what the “needs” spoken of Phil. 4: 19nne , can involve.
Comprehending this principle, will help one resolve what would otherwise be a lot of unanswered questions, when it comes to some of the seemingly negative or challenging things that God sends or allows to take place.
If God is God (and He is), then nothing can take place, good or bad, at any time, in any place, without His foreknowledge or His ability to have intervened, if it had been His will to do so.
Therefore, everything that takes IS the manifestation of either His direct, permissive, or over-ruling will. Without a doubt, accepting the adversity as willingly as we accept the blessings (1) that come from the hand of God can be a major hurdle to overcome along the road to spiritual maturity.
For an advancing disciple, to sacrifice one’s own plans in order to best serve God, is not a burden.
It is a privilege and an opportunity to make the best out of what will be our heavenly experience upon departing this world.
All born-again believers are assured of residency in Heaven (2), as eternal life is an unearned gift that God bestows on all who believe in the unadulterated Gospel Message (3).
But rather or not our individual eternal experience will be one with the reward and privileges spoken of in such passages as 1Cor. 3: 14, Rev. 2, Rev. 3, is dependent on one’s level of spiritual maturity, and the level of his Mark 4: 19, 20 production during the course of his or her post salvation spiritual life.
Spiritual maturity is measured by the amount of accurate Bible Doctrine one possesses in his or her edified soul structure (4), coupled with its application (5) to what one thinks, says, and does on a daily basis. It matters not where we are or what we are otherwise doing. In fact, participating in the Great Commission is what gives spiritual significance to wherever we are, and what we are otherwise doing, 24-7.
Production is mea9, 20sured by the results of one’s participation in the Great Commission (6).
The Army of God that carries out the Great Commission is an all-volunteer outfit. It is not a requirement in order to obtain or retain salvation, but it is a requirement of discipleship.
Jesus taught that IF one “follows” Him, he or she WILL become a fisher of men, resulting in the evangelization and or edification of OTHERS. Being a “follower” of Christ is what defines a Christian. Is that what defines you? Have you become a fisher of men? Is the unspoken testimony of your daily life, and the spoken words that come out of your mouth, motivating others to examine their own walk with the Lord? Are you a magnet or a repellant? Do others see Christ in you, or are you promoting another agenda?
Advancing disciples do not serve God in order to be rewarded or privileged, but God has made it clear that He IS going to reward and privilege born again believers who choose to embrace and advance in the post salvation spiritual life of Biblical discipleship.
From divine viewpoint, the Psalms 84: 11 “good” things consist of anything that contributes to the salvation, edification, and or the spiritual maturing of a human soul. The human part in the process of salvation is a one and done event, but the identification, initiation, execution, advancement, and sustaining of the post (after) spiritual life of discipleship is an ongoing process with the collaboration of both human and divine activity.
We’re all for it when the Psalms 84: 11 good things and the Phil. 4: 19 needs involve such things as security, joy, good health, and prosperity, but not so all-fired up when these “good” things and or needs involve adversity and undeserved suffering.
Anyone can “praise the Lord” as long as everything is going his or her way.
An advancing disciple will learn that it is during the tough times and most difficult challenges in life that he or she will have the opportunity to spiritually mature the most, and to bring the maximum glory to God.
The integrity of the salvation that a born-again believer has already received is never in jeopardy (7), but the Mark 4: 19 production in one’s post salvation spiritual life can certainly fluctuate, bringing either more or less glory to God at any given time.
Post salvation sin will cause a born-again believer to be out of fellowship with God and subject to divine discipline (8). For an advancing disciple, just being out of fellowship with God is enough to motivate him or her to u a 2Cor.13: 5 examination and take the corrective actions (9).
God already knows where we are at any given time in our individual walk with Him. God tests our faith, not so that He can see, but so that WE can see, where we really are in our walk with Him. These tests can involve experiencing either prosperity or adversity, as both can take our focus of attention away from the plan of God.
A “bad” thing, from divine viewpoint, is anything that would distract, replace, impede, or compete with God’s place, God’s plan of salvation, or God’s individual plan that He has in mind for one’s post (after) salvation spiritual life.
These “bad” things can even consist of things that are otherwise good, but are not a part of the plan that God has in mind for the one we see in the mirror. If you don’t get, or lose, it’s because you don’t need it, to carry out the individual plan that God has in mind for you.
If the plan that God has in mind for you calls for the removal of something that you presently do have, it will be taken away, if not surrendered. Holding onto things that God wants removed will impact the intimacy of one’s relationship with God, as one struggles, trying to serve two masters.
The advancing disciple must be willing to give up everything and anything that the individual plan of God requires. But, you will be glad to know that discipleship does not always require giving good things up, but may only be a matter of making adjustments and maintaining the right set of priorities.
The advancing disciple will learn to distinguish between what he or she WANTS, and what he or she NEEDS to receive, in order to execute the plan that God has in mind. It will profit us nothing to gain the whole world (everything we want) if it costs us our souls, or the rewards in Heaven.
We did not create God to fulfill our plans; God created us to bring glory to Him by fulfilling His.
Operating under the influence of our self-centered, fallen nature (10), we want the things that (we think) will bring us the most joy and satisfaction, and can be hostile towards anything or anyone that gets in our way.
Among the things that can get in the way of our plans, are limitations, restrictions, and requirements that the plan of God imposes. As a born-again believer advances in discipleship, there will be less and less of a conflict between his or her own plan and the plan of God, because his or her plan has been totally surrendered.
For the advancing disciple, “… to live is (for) Christ (not oneself) and to die is gain (Phil. 1: 21 NASB2020 parenthesis mine.
For an advancing disciple, whatever God wants to give or take away to fulfill His plan, is His to do with as He pleases. No reservations. No further explanations needed.
End of Part One
(1)\tJob 2: 10 (2) Romans 8: 1 (3) John 3: 16 (4) Matt. 7: 24-27 (5) James 1: 22 (6) Matt, 28: 19, 20 (7) Romans 8: 1 (8) Heb. 12: 6 (9) 1John 1:9/John 8: 11 (10) Romans 7: 17ff
Part One
Being the self-centered creatures that we are, the first things that come to mind for most of us, when we read of the “good things” spoken of in Psalms 84:11, would be all the things that would satisfy, benefit, promote, and or sustain the plans and agenda that we have laid out for ourselves, during our time, here on Earth.
“…He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity (Psalms 84:11 NASB2020).”
In our arrogance, we think we deserve, and are therefore entitled, to receive such blessings, being among those who are “walking with integrity,” when in fact, we have only done what we were supposed to do, with many things that still need to be addressed.
“So you too, when you do all the things which were commanded, you (should) say, “We are unworthy slaves; we have only done that which we ought to have done (Luke 17: 10 NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”
As we are about to see, for the Christ-centered, advancing disciple, there can be a very different awareness of what the “good” things spoken of in Psalms 84: 11, and what the “needs” spoken of Phil. 4: 19nne , can involve.
Comprehending this principle, will help one resolve what would otherwise be a lot of unanswered questions, when it comes to some of the seemingly negative or challenging things that God sends or allows to take place.
If God is God (and He is), then nothing can take place, good or bad, at any time, in any place, without His foreknowledge or His ability to have intervened, if it had been His will to do so.
Therefore, everything that takes IS the manifestation of either His direct, permissive, or over-ruling will. Without a doubt, accepting the adversity as willingly as we accept the blessings (1) that come from the hand of God can be a major hurdle to overcome along the road to spiritual maturity.
For an advancing disciple, to sacrifice one’s own plans in order to best serve God, is not a burden.
It is a privilege and an opportunity to make the best out of what will be our heavenly experience upon departing this world.
All born-again believers are assured of residency in Heaven (2), as eternal life is an unearned gift that God bestows on all who believe in the unadulterated Gospel Message (3).
But rather or not our individual eternal experience will be one with the reward and privileges spoken of in such passages as 1Cor. 3: 14, Rev. 2, Rev. 3, is dependent on one’s level of spiritual maturity, and the level of his Mark 4: 19, 20 production during the course of his or her post salvation spiritual life.
Spiritual maturity is measured by the amount of accurate Bible Doctrine one possesses in his or her edified soul structure (4), coupled with its application (5) to what one thinks, says, and does on a daily basis. It matters not where we are or what we are otherwise doing. In fact, participating in the Great Commission is what gives spiritual significance to wherever we are, and what we are otherwise doing, 24-7.
Production is mea9, 20sured by the results of one’s participation in the Great Commission (6).
The Army of God that carries out the Great Commission is an all-volunteer outfit. It is not a requirement in order to obtain or retain salvation, but it is a requirement of discipleship.
Jesus taught that IF one “follows” Him, he or she WILL become a fisher of men, resulting in the evangelization and or edification of OTHERS. Being a “follower” of Christ is what defines a Christian. Is that what defines you? Have you become a fisher of men? Is the unspoken testimony of your daily life, and the spoken words that come out of your mouth, motivating others to examine their own walk with the Lord? Are you a magnet or a repellant? Do others see Christ in you, or are you promoting another agenda?
Advancing disciples do not serve God in order to be rewarded or privileged, but God has made it clear that He IS going to reward and privilege born again believers who choose to embrace and advance in the post salvation spiritual life of Biblical discipleship.
From divine viewpoint, the Psalms 84: 11 “good” things consist of anything that contributes to the salvation, edification, and or the spiritual maturing of a human soul. The human part in the process of salvation is a one and done event, but the identification, initiation, execution, advancement, and sustaining of the post (after) spiritual life of discipleship is an ongoing process with the collaboration of both human and divine activity.
We’re all for it when the Psalms 84: 11 good things and the Phil. 4: 19 needs involve such things as security, joy, good health, and prosperity, but not so all-fired up when these “good” things and or needs involve adversity and undeserved suffering.
Anyone can “praise the Lord” as long as everything is going his or her way.
An advancing disciple will learn that it is during the tough times and most difficult challenges in life that he or she will have the opportunity to spiritually mature the most, and to bring the maximum glory to God.
The integrity of the salvation that a born-again believer has already received is never in jeopardy (7), but the Mark 4: 19 production in one’s post salvation spiritual life can certainly fluctuate, bringing either more or less glory to God at any given time.
Post salvation sin will cause a born-again believer to be out of fellowship with God and subject to divine discipline (8). For an advancing disciple, just being out of fellowship with God is enough to motivate him or her to u a 2Cor.13: 5 examination and take the corrective actions (9).
God already knows where we are at any given time in our individual walk with Him. God tests our faith, not so that He can see, but so that WE can see, where we really are in our walk with Him. These tests can involve experiencing either prosperity or adversity, as both can take our focus of attention away from the plan of God.
A “bad” thing, from divine viewpoint, is anything that would distract, replace, impede, or compete with God’s place, God’s plan of salvation, or God’s individual plan that He has in mind for one’s post (after) salvation spiritual life.
These “bad” things can even consist of things that are otherwise good, but are not a part of the plan that God has in mind for the one we see in the mirror. If you don’t get, or lose, it’s because you don’t need it, to carry out the individual plan that God has in mind for you.
If the plan that God has in mind for you calls for the removal of something that you presently do have, it will be taken away, if not surrendered. Holding onto things that God wants removed will impact the intimacy of one’s relationship with God, as one struggles, trying to serve two masters.
The advancing disciple must be willing to give up everything and anything that the individual plan of God requires. But, you will be glad to know that discipleship does not always require giving good things up, but may only be a matter of making adjustments and maintaining the right set of priorities.
The advancing disciple will learn to distinguish between what he or she WANTS, and what he or she NEEDS to receive, in order to execute the plan that God has in mind. It will profit us nothing to gain the whole world (everything we want) if it costs us our souls, or the rewards in Heaven.
We did not create God to fulfill our plans; God created us to bring glory to Him by fulfilling His.
Operating under the influence of our self-centered, fallen nature (10), we want the things that (we think) will bring us the most joy and satisfaction, and can be hostile towards anything or anyone that gets in our way.
Among the things that can get in the way of our plans, are limitations, restrictions, and requirements that the plan of God imposes. As a born-again believer advances in discipleship, there will be less and less of a conflict between his or her own plan and the plan of God, because his or her plan has been totally surrendered.
For the advancing disciple, “… to live is (for) Christ (not oneself) and to die is gain (Phil. 1: 21 NASB2020 parenthesis mine.
For an advancing disciple, whatever God wants to give or take away to fulfill His plan, is His to do with as He pleases. No reservations. No further explanations needed.
End of Part One
(1)\tJob 2: 10 (2) Romans 8: 1 (3) John 3: 16 (4) Matt. 7: 24-27 (5) James 1: 22 (6) Matt, 28: 19, 20 (7) Romans 8: 1 (8) Heb. 12: 6 (9) 1John 1:9/John 8: 11 (10) Romans 7: 17ff