Seven Steps to Spiritual Stability
Humility and Faith
by
John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling
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Philippians 4:5-6a
Tape GC 50-39
Outline
Introduction
A.A Secular Perspective
B.A Biblical Perspective (Ps. 1)
1.About stability
2.About instability
Review
I. Cultivate Harmony Through Love (vv. 2-3)
II. Maintain a Spirit of Joy (v. 4)
Lesson
III. Learn to Accept Less Than You Are Due (v. 5a)
A.What Forbearance Is
B.What Forbearance Isn't
IV. Rest on a Confident Faith in the Lord (vv. 5b-6a)
A.The Presence of the Lord
B.The Perplexity of Habakkuk
1.His questions about God
2.His knowledge of God
3.His faith in God
Conclusion
Introduction
A.A Secular Perspective
Many people in our society want to have a more stable life. To those who are filled with anxiety and unable to cope with their circumstances, the world offers a myriad of solutions that don't work.
Unfortunately, many churches also provide the wrong solutions because they've followed after the world in believing that man can solve his problems only through secular psychology. But the legacy of such philosophy and psychology is a product that can't live up to its promises. Where can you find stability to help you overcome anxiety and live above debilitating, stressful circumstances?
B.A Biblical Perspective
Let's look at Psalm 1.
1.About stability
Verses 1-3 begin, "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers."
2.About instability
Verses 4-6 conclude, "The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
The person who walks with God is characterized by stability and productivity, but the one who rejects Him flounders in meaningless existence. Which would you rather be? By adhering to principles found in Philippians 4, you can learn how to be spiritually stable.
Review
I. CULTIVATE HARMONY THROUGH LOVE (vv. 2-3)
II. MAINTAIN A SPIRIT OF JOY (v. 4)
We can always rejoice in our privileged union with the Lord. That's illustrated by the two disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). As they were traveling, Christ met them and "explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures" (v. 27). Later "their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?'" (vv. 31-32). Their hearts burned because His presence was their joy.
Lesson
III. LEARN TO ACCEPT LESS THAN YOU ARE DUE (v. 5a)
"Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men."
A.What Forbearance Is
It's difficult to find one English word that captures the diverse meaning of the word translated "forbearing" (Gk., epieikes). Some say it speaks of contentment, gentleness, generosity, or goodwill toward others. Others say it refers to mercy or leniency toward the faults or failures of others. Still others say it speaks of patience, referring to someone who submits to injustice or mistreatment, but doesn't retaliate with hatred or bitterness. I suspect the best translation is "graciousness" because in the Christian sense that word embodies all the other meanings.
But forbearance includes another important element: humility. The humble Christian says, "You mistreated, misjudged, or misrepresented me and ruined my reputation, but I trust God and don't hold a grudge against you." A person like that doesn't demand his rights. Wasn't God's grace manifested to us in the same way? After all, mankind abused and maligned Jesus Christ though He deserved none of it, yet He still reached out to man in love (cf. Rom. 5:10). Humility and graciousness will help you be stable in spite of the circumstances.
B.What Forbearance Isn't
Existentialism, the dominant philosophical mindset of contemporary psychology, has infiltrated not only our country but also many churches. It implies that every man has the right to do whatever makes him feel good. But wrong thinking like that stems from self-centered pride. It's the selfish person who says, "If something makes you feel good but hurts me, you can't do it. But if something makes me feel good but hurts you, I can do it anyway." Some deceive themselves by saying, "My sin doesn't hurt anyone," but sin always ends up hurting someone else.
Unfortunately, many Christians have become caught up in the current secular emphasis on self-esteem. Dr. Paul Brownback observed that many of today's so-called Christian books contain more about self-love than Scripture (The Danger of Self-Love [Chicago: Moody, 1983]). In contrast to self-love, Scripture says we're to be humble and unselfish (Phil. 2:3-4), love those who mistreat us (Matt. 5:44), and extend mercy toward those who stumble repeatedly (1 Pet. 4:8). Those qualities enabled Paul to say, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Phil. 4:11). Paul was content because of his forbearing spirit, not his circumstances.
However, some believers take all that they hear and see and filter it through their minds to see if it wounds them in any way. But that will result in immediate instability and anxiety. When others mistreat you, humility will help you keep your balance.
IV. REST ON A CONFIDENT FAITH IN THE LORD (vv. 5b-6a)
"The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing."
A.The Presence of the Lord
The Greek term translated "near" (eggus) can refer to space or time. Spacial nearness is like saying, "That chair is near." Chronological nearness is like saying, "Monday is near."
If Paul was referring to chronological nearness, this might be a reference to Christ's return. After all, Paul just said, "Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20). Christ's return certainly would be reason for the believers not to be anxious (4:6), but that seems a little impractical since Christ didn't return then, and the Holy Spirit, under whose inspiration Paul was writing, would have known that. Paul might have been saying the believers would see the Lord soon since life is so brief (cf. James 4:14). Both explanations could be part of what Paul was saying.
But spacial nearness seems to be the best understanding. That is, the Lord encompasses us with His presence (Ps. 119:151). When you have a thought, the Lord is near to read it; when you pray, the Lord is near to hear it; when you need His strength and power, He's near to provide it. In fact He lives in you and is the source of your spiritual life. An awareness of His presence will keep you from being anxious or unstable.
B.The Perplexity of Habakkuk
Knowing the Lord is near is meaningful only if you know the Lord. In fact, knowing God is the essence of spiritual stability because your view of God will control your conduct. The prophet Habakkuk illustrates the importance of knowing God.
1.His questions about God
Habakkuk cried out, "How long, O Lord, will I call for help, and Thou wilt not hear? I cry out to Thee, 'Violence!' Yet Thou dost not save" (Hab. 1:2). Strife and injustice had filled the land of Judah. Habakkuk wanted to know why God wasn't doing anything about it.
God responded: "Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days--You would not believe if you were told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous people who march throughout the earth to seize dwelling places which are not theirs.
"They are dreaded and feared. Their justice and authority originate with themselves. Their horses are swifter than leopards and keener than wolves in the evening. Their horsemen come galloping, their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swooping down to devour.
"All of them come for violence. Their horde of faces moves forward. They collect captives like sand. They mock at kings, and rulers are a laughing matter to them. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up rubble to capture it. Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, they whose strength is their god" (vv. 5-11).
God was going to use a pagan nation to punish His covenant people. Habakkuk was startled: "I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us" (3:16). His internal organs were shaking, his lips were trembling, and his bones were aching.
2.His knowledge of God
Habakkuk then began remembering what he knew about the Lord. He asked himself questions about God and then answered his own questions.
a)He is eternal
"Art Thou not from everlasting?" (1:12). That implies God is eternal. He is before, after, above, and independent of history, and reigning in eternal timelessness. That truth helped Habakkuk to realize everything is a part of God's majestic, eternal plan.
b)He is self-existent
"O Lord" (v. 12) is a reference to the name Yahweh, which means "I am." It tells us God is self-existent in perfect, undisturbed tranquility. (He is not influenced by anything or anyone.) The prophet recognized the Lord isn't swayed by wrong information or opinions.
c)He is holy
"My Holy One" (v. 12) indicates God is perfect and must deal with sin. Indeed, Habakkuk next acknowledged, "Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor" (v. 13). God can't act apart from His holiness. So he could therefore reason this way, "I know You're punishing us because of our sin. So I know you'll punish the Chaldeans because of their sin too."
d)He is faithful
"We will not die" (v. 12) was Habakkuk's affirmation of God's covenant with His people. God is faithful, true, and can't lie.
e)He is almighty
"Thou, O Lord, hast appointed them to judge" (v. 12) speaks of God's using the Chaldeans for His own purposes. Their devastation of Judah was His design.
Perhaps Habakkuk was thinking, "Everything I know about You, Lord, tells me to stop worrying about this problem. I don't understand it, but I don't need to. In fact, my mind is too small to do so, and it was pride that led me to think I could."
3.His faith in God
The prophet learned a principle: "The righteous will live by his faith" (2:4; cf. Rom. 1:17). His strong faith in the Lord is evident in his concluding words: "Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places" (3:17-19). In other words he was saying, "If all the normal things of life I depend on suddenly stop, I'll still place my hope in God. He'll give me the ability and confidence to walk along the precipices of life's cliffs." That is the viewpoint of a stable person.
Knowing the Lord is near helps us "be anxious for nothing" (Phil. 4:6) because we know He can handle everything. Fretting and worrying indicate a lack of trust in God. Either you've created another god who can't help you, or else you believe God could help you but won't, which means you're questioning His integrity and Word. So delight in the Lord and meditate on His Word (Ps. 1:2). Know who He is and how He acts. Then you'll be able to say, "The Lord is near, so I'm not going to worry."
Conclusion
Jesus said, "Do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.
"But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matt. 6:25-34). What is Christ teaching us? To know and trust God because that's the key to spiritual stability.
Focusing on the Facts
1. What words help capture the meaning of "forbearing" (Phil. 4:5)? What other important element does forbearance include (see p. 3)?
2. In contrast to self-love, Scripture says we're to be and (see pp. 3-4).
3. What will cause immediate instability and anxiety (see p. 4)?
4. What does the term "near" mean in Philippians 4:5 (see p. 4)?
5. is the essence of spiritual stability (see pp. 4-5).
6. Why was Habakkuk perplexed and startled? How did he deal with his feelings (see p. 5)?
7. How did knowing God is "everlasting" (Hab. 1:12) help Habakkuk (see p. 6)?
8. What is the significance of "O Lord" in Habakkuk 1:12 (see p. 6)?
9. What does "my Holy One" indicate (Hab. 1:12-13)? How would that have comforted Habakkuk (see p. 6)?
10. What principle did Habakkuk learn (Hab. 2:4)? How did he put it into practice (see p. 7)?
11. Knowing the Lord helps us "be " (Phil. 4:6; see p. 7).
12. In what two ways do fretting and worrying indicate a lack of trust in God (see p. 7)?
13. What lesson is Christ teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 (see pp. 7-8)?
Pondering the Principles