Chaos

I was going through some old files on a thumb drive that was dad's and found this. I believe it was the lesson he taught to the youth at the church he was at around this time. It is a little disjointed for a blog, but the truth is solid. It was nice to hear his thoughts when he was in the battle. So, here are the words of Jeff Fisher:

Chaos: Complete disorder, confusion, havoc, turmoil, or disruption.

This is where I will begin my story of the chaos in my life dealing with cancer. Then I will transition to my scripture passages.

Psalm 18:1-6 (ESV)

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Verses 1-2)

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me, the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. (Verses 3-5)

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice and my cry to Him reached His ears. (Verse 6)

The first thing I want everyone to notice is how David starts out with this Psalm; remembering that this is a time in David’s life in which he is being hunted down to be killed. David’s first words are, “I love you, O Lord.” Here he is, in fear of his life and yet he claims his love to God. David doesn’t complain or question God. He doesn’t even blame God for his situation. How often do we, when we face adversity complain, question, or even blame God, as our first response? I’m not saying it was easy for me to accept the devastating news of the type of cancer I have, but I did not react toward God in a negative matter. Instead, much like David, I understood that the love I have for the Lord flows out from the compassion that only God the Father has for me. When we as believers claim this love toward God, we are expressing our commitment to the Lord who is our source of strength, comfort, and life. Look at the military metaphors David uses to describe his one true God; “my fortress,” “my shield,” and “my stronghold.” These terms convey the intensity of David’s love for his God, the Great King who is able to fight David’s battle, to protect him, and deliver him from the chaos going on in his life. Do we share in that same intensity of love toward God in the midst of utter adversity? Listen guys, I need to not just express this type of intense love toward God, but I have to live it; because if I don’t, then I allow the enemy to win. And, I’m not just referring to the cancer but Satan, for he is the great enemy.

Check out what David does next. Even in the midst of chaos in David’s life he bursts forth in affirmation of calling out with great confidence to his Lord who is more than worthy to be praised; why? because David knows without a doubt that the Lord God will help him in times of extreme distress. Just listen as he recalls the intensity of his anguish; “the cords of death encompassed me,” torrents of destruction assailed me,” Sheol has entangled me,” and “the snares of death confronted me.” There are times, especially when I am having a few bad days from the chemo treatments or the cancer itself, when I feel this very way. But here’s the deal, even when I feel this way from time to time, I never forget that the Lord God is my shield or that He is my salvation. I know the doctors, nurses, and other medical people are doing their best to help me, even trying to save my life; but it is only God who can truly heal and save me from the havoc and turmoil going on in my life. When chaos does come into your life do you, can you, or will you have this type of confidence David has in God that He is your shield, your stronghold, and more importantly your salvation?

Finally in verse 6, we hear that David has called out to the Lord, he has cried out for help. He hasn’t cried out in vain, he hasn’t cried out in doubt or wonder, but he has cried out with great confidence that God has heard his voice. His prayer has reached the ears of God. If there is one thing I can testify about my prayers to God is that I know he has heard them. There have been many times during all hours of the day that I have cried out to God in my battle with the confidence He has heard my voice because my Lord God has responded in many ways to my prayers. Whether during good times or times of disorder and confusion, do you go to the throne of God’s grace with the confidence that He has heard your voice?

Earlier I mentioned the enemy, Satan. I have also used the word battle in my fight against this cancer. So what I want to do now is quickly speak about the spiritual battle that I face and in many ways, David faced. So let’s look at another scripture passage.

Ephesians 6: 10-13 (ESV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Did you notice the similarities between Psalm 18: 1-6 and Ephesians 6: 10-13? They both have military and battle connotations. The slight difference is the apostle Paul includes a spiritual battle. It’s not that Paul doesn’t understand a physical battle because he had been beaten many times and even stoned and left for dead. But what he does understand is that whether it’s a physical or even emotional battle, the enemy is Satan. That’s why Paul is so adamant about standing firm in the strength and might of the Lord, and to put on the whole armor of God. Satan wants nothing more than to keep us focused on the battle we are facing. He wants us to stress and worry about the facts at hand. He will do whatever it takes to weaken our faith. The one thing Satan wants to do is keep believers from trusting in the strength of God. As I battle my cancer, I have had moments in which the battle has become intense both physically and emotionally, but I have had to find the strength and will to stand firm in the mightiness of God. Satan isn’t worried about what adversity we are facing, he uses it against us, to try to get us to lose our faith in God. When Satan can turn us away from God, he has won the spiritual battle. We cannot allow Satan to deceive us with his schemes to distrust and discount God. So therefore put on the whole armor of God and completely rely on His strength and might only. Even though the battle or chaos can be overwhelming in our lives, God is there and has given us the spiritual armor to defeat the devil and his schemes. How will you stand when chaos enters your life?

Nahum 1:7 (ESV)

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.

A Little Confession...

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. -1 John 1:6-10

My time with Jesus this morning led me to consider a lost spiritual discipline in my life and the lives of many believers. 1 John 1:6-10 brings it to light: confession. Most of the time we think of confession as this one time thing we did when we first accept Jesus as our Savior. We confess with our mouth that we are sinners in need of grace. While true, there is way more to the discipline of confession. Richard Foster is his book, Celebration of Discipline explains that confession "involves an objective change in our relationship with God and a subjective change in us. It is a means of healing and transforming the inner spirit." (144)

John uses three "if we say" statements to make his point very known. He is blunt and when we read this with conviction it can hurt. However, I think many of us believers need more spiritual bluntness in our lives. We need the proverbial "hit in the head" with the giant coffee table Bible.

Confession is a continuous act, not because we remove the grace of Jesus from our lives with each act of sin, but because post-salvation, there is this residual effect of sin. By nature sin resides in us and as such we develop habits from that nature. Habits are hard to break and can take a long period of time to do so. I'm a nail biter. I have been since I was a kid. I've tried to stop and been successful for a short period of time. Imagine though a nature of who you are has stayed with you over years. The habits developed in that time would be deeply ingrained. Paul in 1 Timothy 4:2 puts it that our consciences are seared.  So, confession in a believer's life is about agreeing with God what sin is (in our lives and in the world) and bringing those things before Him. It is simply the continual process of dying to our self and seeking Him and His way for our lives. So why is it important? John gives us three truths to consider.

Truth 1: We lie to others when we do not confess

In verses 6-7 John basically says, "I know God, but our beliefs and behaviors contradict our words. By denying that Jesus is God in the flesh and downplaying the seriousness of sin, we lie to others about who we are"(19) states Daniel Akin in the Christ Centered Commentary on 1 John. We are a walking contradiction if we do not confess the sin or the residual effect of sin in our lives. Because salvation carries both an event and a process in nature we must understand that confession leads to growth in Christ. Growth in Christ leads to less and less sin present in our lives. As John says, walking in Christ (The Light) leads to the the cleansing of sin.

Side note: "walk" in this passage is about a continuous way of life.

Truth 2: We lie to ourselves when we do not confess

Verses 8-9 reveal that when we lack confession we can easily deceive ourselves into thinking what we are doing is right or good. John, bluntly says that the truth is not even in us when we think/say we have no sin at all. The most deceptive form we can see is the belief we can take care of the sin ourselves. John is stating that we are not sinless and many times we think we can cure whatever it is of our own accord. Yet, for the second time, John states that if we confess Jesus is ready to forgive and cleanse us. Imagine the last time you tried to fix your own sin. Odds are it consumed you, it drained you, it worked you to the bone. I know, I've been there. Yet, Jesus is ready to do the work. "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest," He says in Matthew 11:28.

Truth 3: We lie about God when we do not confess

If there is no need for confession it is because there is no sin. If there is no sin, there is no need for Jesus. If there is no need for Jesus there is no need for God. Because of sin, we desperately need God. Not just for that one time event of salvation, but for every day. I think of that hymn I Need Thee Every Hour. Part of the lyrics state, 

"I need thee every hour

Stay thou near by 
Temptations loose their power

When thou art nigh"  

Temptations lose their power...that's really it! Confession is turning the power of sin over our lives to the the One who deserves the power over our lives. We need confession to center us back to our Savior who provided a way out of the power of sin and death. We need confession to speak the truth about God and about ourselves.

So what does this mean? I have said over the last several years that I believe at the end of church services we should see more believers at the alter laying down their sin before a holy and righteous God and to a Savior that is ready to forgive and cleanse us. It is not a bad thing to let people see you reveal sin in your life and bringing it before Christ. In fact, it is probably the most truth revealing thing you could do. It speaks of His grace, His mercy, His truth to fellow believers and to those who are lost and in need of a Savior.