APPROVE AND PRIZE

APPROVE AND PRIZE                                                                                                                                                                                                         ROSS SMITH

ALL REFERENCES FROM THE AMPLIFIED VERSION UNLESS NOTED

 Philippians 1:10                                So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognising the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences],

We have recently explored the first requirement of Philippians 1:10, where Paul is provoking the pursuit of “Excellence“, and we proceeded to establish the first step, for if we haven’t learned to “sense what is vital“, then we will have great difficulty in what follows, our “APPROVAL and PRIZING” of those things “EXCELLENT AND OF REAL VALUE.“

I would respectfully suggest that the negligence evidenced by the church in ages past to stimulate and provoke our “Learning to sense what is vital” has seriously diminished our capacity to firstly “APPROVE” what is excellent and of real value, let alone “PRIZE” such assets,  and as a consequence, the fallout is, we are unable to “recognise the highest and the best, and distinguish the moral differences.”

The “SO THAT” as the introduction to this Scripture is followed halfway through by an “AND THAT“, which introduces the critical importance of the “SO THAT” if we have any ambition to align with the plumbline of the “AND THAT.”

The ultimate outcome of this verse is “(so) you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble.  (A double responsibility)

Do we recall what precedes the “SO THAT“?  It was that “YOUR LOVE — Abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight.

And so, one might reasonably ask the question, since it is now several weeks since we looked at the subject of “Learn to sense what is vital“, how much have we “LEARNED“, and how much more acute is our “SENSING WHAT IS VITAL” and how much have we abounded in newly developed “KNOWLEDGE and ALL KEEN INSIGHT?”

The “Extended development” of our “LEARNING and SENSING“, which is our love founded in knowledge and keen insight, will now be showing up in the calibre of our studies, where all the “unnecessaries“, the padding and anecdotes of marginal relevance have been expunged, and where each Scripture we employ will not just be cited but critically analysed to reinforce our subject, and to be constructive because of the intensified “KEEN INSIGHT.” This challenge is not a one-off but is couched in the present continuous tense.

Secondly, it should be a part of our nature to “pay attention to detail” so that every incident and event afforded our participation will undergo intense scrutiny to see that we have covered all bases so, like Joshua, we “leave nothing undone.”(Josh 11:15) so that we place consequence on or approve and prize the “priority”, not muddle in the mundane, but we sense the vital. It takes effort and practice.

Because our concepts are still corrupted, we comfort ourselves in the fact that we conscientiously adhere to the things that are legal but then fail to check if they are expedient or, as the apostle nominates, “EXCELLENT and of REAL VALUE.”

Although we are acutely familiar with this verse, our “approving and prizing” competencies come under intense scrutiny, designed to enhance our pursuit of demonstrated “EXCELLENCE.”

1 Corinthians 10:23                         All things are legitimate [permissible–and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

Twice in this Scripture, Paul said, “All things are legitimate“, and so before we go rushing off to engage in all our preferences and appetites of the natural man, carefully complying with being “LEGAL“, and both preferences and appetites are equally as destructive because the “liberty” purchased for us at Calvary did not include an unrestricted “license.”

Because the government has “legalised” sex workers as a legitimate business, it does not fall under the “free to do anything we please” as nominated in the Scripture. I hear you say, “Well, that’s hard to decide, not!” However, “attention to detail” requires we apply the litmus tests where the above Scripture is reinforced by the apostle Paul; the hardest decision is whether it is helpful, expedient, profitable, and wholesome.

This same sentiment is expressed in 1 Corinthians 6:12 by Paul, adding, “But not all things are helpful, good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things.”  A worthwhile exercise is to explore the “Law of unintended consequences” to enhance our carefulness.

So, the ability to “APPROVE” requires more than understanding the law and what society and our neighbours regard as “GOOD“; we are provided with an “APPROVAL” checklist to apply in all cases. To memorise the list is valuable.

As we saw previously, if we have not “surely learned to sense what is vital,” then we are going to have great difficulty in identifying those things which will please God’s heart and will detour by approving “the life of the flesh, catering to the appetites and impulses of our carnal nature“, (Galatians 8:8)

Paul asserts that we need to develop this skill to “APPROVE and prize“, and unless we can appreciate the value of the prize, we will give little attention to approving.

To “APPROVE” something, there has to be a certain degree of competence to make the assessment. Fortunately, we have the resources of God’s Word, clearly defining the criteria. We have been left in no doubt that Father has strung His plumbline in the midst of this fellowship and continues to vigorously disquiet the laissez-faire exhibition, the idea that people should be free to choose how to do things without too much control from someone in authority, in this case, our conformity to the Word of God “in its entirety.”  (1 John 2:5)

Matthew says that the “PRIZE” is the “kingdom of heaven”, and he describes it as “a precious prize – a share in the heavenly kingdom that is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion.” (Matthew 11:12).  So the confronting question is, is my seeking as intense and passionate as demanded, and if not am I oblivious to the “Excellent and of Real Value” of the kingdom of heaven described as a “PRECIOUS PRIZE.”

 This sounds to me like the effort required for “EXCELLENCE“, where our first and foremost priority is to “Seek first the kingdom of God” and to “do it with all our might.” This does not leave much room for the “unnecessaries” that crowd out the “VITALS.”

How do I reach that conclusion? Paul has gone on to say we are to “approve and prize what is “EXCELLENT and of REAL VALUE.” When you subconsciously contend with this demand, thinking that too much is being asked of us in our pursuit of “CONFORMITY“, then it may cost you the opportunity to debate it with Scripture’s most ardent proponent of this cherished characteristic, Paul himself.

REAL VALUE

We do not need to explore too far afield to determine what is “REAL VALUE“, for we are reminded that even if we were to gain the world at the expense of life in the kingdom (Mark 8:36), then we have no real concept of value. That is the ultimate objective we must “PRIZE“, but in the meantime, there are other ways we can show if our judgement of “VALUE” is credible.

The Psalmist understood that, in a relative sense, God didn’t want animal sacrifices. God wanted surrendered, willing servants and proposed that obedience to God’s word was of greater significance than all other religious endeavours.

Psalm 40:6 (B)                                   You have given me the capacity to hear and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require.

According to our target verse (1 Corinthians 10:23), the first decision to make is, “Is it helpful“? Before we do anything, in “purpose, thought and action“, alternatively described as “MOTIVES” and expressed 39 times as such in the New Testament, it is beneficial to ask if it is helpful, is it true, is it kind, is it necessary, is it. If the answer is no in any instance, maybe it is “NOT EXPEDIENT OR PERMISSIBLE“, even though it is “legitimate“. Should I ask of us in a week or a month what the four leading questions are, will we have practised them adequately so they are spontaneous?

 When sarcasm, satire or self-interest is the underlying motive in our communications, we can be reasonably sure that it is not “HELPFUL.” And so, to remove those “ambiguities“, the Amplified version expands the meaning by including “expedient, profitable and wholesome”, which is “not merely convenient.”

There is a similar word to “EXPEDIENT“, and that is “EXPEDITIOUS“, which means acting or doing things with speed and efficiency. I doubt we are ever left in the dark as to the “EXPEDIENCY” of a matter. Firstly, we have been providentially provided with a very sensitive “Conscience“, vigorously stimulated when questions arise in our mind, that is, unless we have seared it by suppression.

How frequently do we choose to ignore our conscience? In writing to Titus, Paul went to some lengths in explaining that we are searing our conscience when it suits us and our preferences. Let us ask ourselves the following question: Does Paul’s scenario apply to our case?

Titus 2:10                                            Nor to steal by taking things of small value, but to prove themselves (That is, show we are learning to sense what is vital …  comments mine) truly loyal and entirely reliable and faithful throughout, so that in everything they may be an ornament and do credit to the teaching [which is] from and about God our Savior.   (Even that which we set out to learn seven weeks ago)

 Secondly, by now, we should qualify as the individual nominated by James in 4:17, a “person who knows what is right to do“, and so now we become “EXPEDITIOUS“, short-circuiting the temptation to procrastinate, which is a form of leaven, that spreading ferment of apathy, indifference, lethargy.

 Joshua was “EXPEDITIOUS“; he left nothing undone (Joshua 11:15), and I suggest Bezalel would not have tolerated tardiness for one second and likewise was meticulous according to Exodus and a pattern for us.

 Exodus 39:43                                     And Moses inspected all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. And Moses blessed them.

 Often, when we stop to “reason out” what we should do, it is because we are inclined to “choose what to do” instead of following our conscience or God’s precepts. Paul narrows it down even further, eliminating our justifications for what we want to do.

 Romans 14:16                                    Do not therefore let what seems good to you (our preferences or “legitimate choices”) be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.]

 An ecclesiastical term for ” APPROVE AND PRIZE WHAT IS EXCELLENT AND OF REAL VALUE“ is “AWARENESS“, but it is still an “ecclesiastical term“, not a living reality because we are still “earthbound” by our reluctance to “Step up to Expectations“, to strive for “Excellence“, to “Give nothing less than the full measure“, still to be seen with the polishing cloth in our hand to buff up our idols of preference.

  I often hear the justification, “But I have always done it this way“, clearly defining our acceptance of the status quo, the near enough, the admission that we are reluctant to change, which is the key word in “repentance.” It’s not that we don’t know how to “change”, for we do it consistently in our “knowing to do right, and not doing it.”

It is of little wonder the apostle Paul said, “that you may surely learn.”

Paul does not leave it at “HELPFUL“; he piles on further conditions, asking if it is “expedient, profitable, and wholesome“, a repetition of 1 Corinthians 6:12, but where he gives an additional assessment condition. ” Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.”

We become slaves when we succumb to our preferences or ignore our conscience, and individually, we have “our own little load of oppressive faults” (Galatians 6:5), which includes things we pay too much attention to and those we tend to ignore. In so doing, we qualify as submitting to “the mind of the flesh with this carnal thoughts and purposes” and obviously detour from the “helpful, expedient, profitable and wholesome.” Oh, if it were only a “little load!”

I can be reasonably sure that we often apply the “EXPEDIENT” test to our behaviour but can guarantee that we give little heed to the “HELPFUL“; does it contribute to the “construction of character and edifying to spiritual life.” (1 Corinth 10:23) (Do we remember what the rest of the group were … TRUE, KIND, NECESSARY)

We might think that our individual “characteristics”, sometimes called “quirks” and “idiosyncrasies”, don’t have any effect on other people. Even our personal life has to carry the obvious stamp of “CONSTRUCTION and EDIFICATION.”

Did the way we prepared for service this morning take place in the soil of “what is excellent and of real value“, or was it clouded in mediocrity because we are still not “Sensing what is Vital.”

A good exercise for us is memorising Philippians 4:8 – 9, redirecting our thinking and enhancing our education and practice.

Philippians 4:8                                   For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honourable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. (V9) Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

Helpful, True, Kind, Necessary, Expedient, Profitable, Wholesome, Legitimate, Constructive, Edifying.

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SENSE WHAT IS VITAL

“SENSE WHAT IS VITAL”                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ROSS SMITH

 ALL REFERENCES FROM THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, UNLESS NOTED

Philippians 1:10 (A)                         So that you may (1) surely learn to sense what is vital, and (2) approve (Not just a nod) and (3) prize what is excellent and of real value (4) [recognising (Respectful acknowledgement) the highest and the best, and (5) distinguishing (Displaying the Excellence)  the moral differences],

Do we recall what precedes the “SO THAT“? “YOUR LOVE —  Abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight.

If what I say today seems repetitive, it is intentional, or this skill and the skill of “Learning to be content” are still qualifications we are developing. This is such a comprehensive Scripture that we will only cover #1, for if we can master this skill, then the other components will become much simpler to implement. There is one major complication included, and that is we very frequently transpose the “CONVENIENT” for the “VITAL.”

When addressed by the apostle Paul, Festus said to him,  “Go away for the present; when I have a CONVENIENT OPPORTUNITY, I will call for you. (Acts 24:25)

To “LEARN TO SENSE WHAT IS VITAL” is to,

• Approve        )
• Prize              )     If these characteristics are not evident, then
• Recognise     )     we have “not learned to sense the vital.”
• Distinguish  )

For those who find this proposal too daunting, I rephrase the sentence into more familiar terms, “let us surely learn to be aware” so that we become “EXCELLENT.”

“SENSING WHAT IS VITAL” is abandoned when we fail to act in the ways that “PLEASE THE LORD,” that is the criteria, and we fail when we stop to make choices that suit ourselves, to do what is right in our own eyes, to ignore the prompts of conscience. That is called “SENSE AND REASON WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT” and is the most obvious sign of a seared conscience.

In exploring this verse in Philippians 1, it is expedient to explain that we will address only the first part of the verse because that is the key to applying the balance of the verse.

The skill nominated has to be “LEARNED” and learned “SURELY“, for too often, individuals assert that they have heard from God when they are, in fact, attempting to force God’s hand or are hallucinating (a delusion).

A person with delusions often has complete certainty and conviction about their delusionary beliefs. They resist arguments and evidence that they are wrong and are slow to learn; there is a dearth of “CONTENTMENT.” They are inclined to “Silent debate” the issue to reassure themselves.

When a lesson is “SURELY LEARNED“, it means that the principle, which was a one-time theory, has now become a reality through experience and is repeatable; that is, the lesson has enhanced our ability to “adhere, trust and rely.”

To “LEARN” requires practice and/or repetition until the precept becomes a habitual “go-to” in every situation without having to stop and query either our motives or the potential outcome.

The “Learn to Sense what is vital” principle becomes even more critical. It is challenging to apply when one has a “seared conscience” where our sensitivity to the pricks and goads of the Holy Spirit has been desensitised by our frequent ignoring and rejecting the prompts,  choosing our preferences instead, a truculent trait hindering our “LEARNING“, and fertilising our preferences.

This does not absolve us from error because we have the Word of God at our disposal, and, despite our reluctance or wilfulness, that intrinsic awareness of right and wrong becomes submerged due to our obduracy. The fundamental lesson in this principle starts with

James 4:17                                          So, any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it (Or ignores it  …  comments mine) to him it is sin. (The function of conscience as the first flag)

This is the very first “VITAL“, and any intractability of our nature in ignoring the principle incurs a penalty that can prohibit us from the eternal destiny Jesus went home to prepare. There are no degrees of “SIN“; those who are to be redeemed will be without “spot or blemish“, just like “FINE flour” is “perfectly regular in consistency and not contain any specks.”

We can either “SURELY LEARN” or we can “SURELY ignore” the “VITAL“, and the apostle warns us, then we shall “SURELY DIE.”

Romans 8:13  (Part A)                    For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, (Let us not minimise the direction, it is saying if we live by our preferences, sense and reason without the Holy Spirit or what is right in our own eyes  …  comments mine) you will surely die.

Do we like the promises of God’s word? Well, the above Scripture is A PROMISE.

This is the same “SURELY” as applied to our “SURELY LEARNING” but clearly defines that if our “LEARNING” is defective, then sin is ineffective, and then death is effective. This should be enough to cause us to cringe in repentance each time we fail to “surely learn to sense what is vital.”  “REGRET” is not a good substitute for “VITAL.”

Ezekiel 18:20  The soul that sins, it [is the one that] shall die.

The apostle does not leave it there but introduces the “BUT” and proceeds to the “VITAL“, where we do the “putting to death” as an alternative to our being “put to death.”

Romans 8:13  (Part B)                     BUT if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit (This disenfranchises any excuse that we are incapable, we are “ENABLED” by the Holy Spirit …  comments mine)  you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, (pampering of self!!)  you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.

The only way we can “habitually put to death” the “dictates of the flesh” is to be able to consistently or “HABITUALLY” recognise and “LEARN TO sense what is vital“, and both are habitual. But when we do “identify” the “evil deeds” or preferences and choose to ignore them, when we do not apply homicide, we reinforce the opposite to “habitual“, making it “optional“.

Sixteen times in the New Testament is the term “progressively to perceive, recognise, and understand God by observation and experience, and to get an ever-clearer knowledge of Him.”  (1 John 4:6)

The ambivalence and apathy of the church at large boil down to our individual responsibility because we still presumptuously try to retain the “right” as to how we spend our time and resources. Any suggestion of “CORRECTION” is viewed as an “INTRUSION“, and that fertilises our resentments, speeding up the decay.

If anyone dares try to tell us how we should spend our free time, there is a cavalry of objections and reasons acting as a vanguard of our pride.

We have not yet accepted that what we are, what we have, and what we do is no longer ours to determine unilaterally because a purchase of our life was made at an inordinate cost. But in too many cases, the goods have not been transferred to the rightful owner. Paul gives no quarter in 1 Corinthians setting down the “VITALS” of our profession because if we do not “KNOW” these things, then we will be prohibited in our proceeding to learn. Let me list the five (5) areas before we read the Scripture.

1. The design and decor of this “temple.”
2. The proprietorship of the “property.”
3. The settlement of the “transaction.”
4. The currency used in the purchase.
5. The intended purpose

1 Corinthians 6:19-20                      (1) Do you not know  (This is a requirement before “So that you may surely learn”  …  comments mine)  that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God?

(2) You are not your own, (V20)

(3) You were bought with a price

(4) purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honour God and

(5) bring glory to Him in your body.

There is only one way to achieve the “Intended purpose” (No. 5), and that is to “Learn to sense what is vital and approve AND PRIZE what is EXCELLENT AND OF REAL VALUE.” We have been urged, encouraged and provoked repeatedly to apply this principle in our studies where we are to “Carefully analyse, accurately divide, rightly handle and skilfully teach” (2 Timothy 2:15), which can be summed up in those six words, “Learn to sense what is vital.”  (Also called “disambiguation”.)

Applying this principle in our studies will truncate many unnecessary comments and eliminate those things that constitute “Padding” or unnecessary examples, disposing of the chaff so that we get to the grain and produce “Fine Flour“. This will eliminate the “UN-vital.”

A prior step is required before we can effectively “sense the vital” in the study we are preparing, we must also “sense the vital” in our own life, a condition as an imperative prerequisite. This sort of instruction is no new theme; it was a demand back in Old Testament times; as we see in 1 Chronicles 22, there was the preparation of the heart and mind before the building of the sanctuary.

1 Chronicles 22:19                           Now set your mind and heart (That is our “MOTIVES”) to seek (inquire of and require (This is the “surely learn” method   …  Comments mine)  as your VITAL NECESSITY) the Lord your God. (“THEN “ … Comments mine) Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into the house built to the Name and renown of the Lord.

The time has arrived where patronising messages, comfortable commiserations, the care not to rock the boat, and other platitudes are no longer acceptable in Father’s sight as an effective ministry. We have available the resources of the Holy Spirit to impart inspiration (Romans 8:13), which is now a “VITAL NECESSITY” if we are to avoid penalties and punishments accruing to the negligent. If we think we don’t fit this example, then we fail to discern the injunction of Scripture. Let me revert to an old prophet whose remonstrations have been oft repeated recently.

Micah 6:8                                            He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?

The last area is where we most often fail, “BUT— He has showed you” !!!!!

There is no doubt that we have been thoroughly educated in “What is good” and also “What is required“, but in case there has been poor reception in “hearing” the message of the Old Testament, let’s revert to the New Testament.

1 Corinthians 4:2                              MOREOVER, it is essentially required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust]. (Also known as “Tried Integrity”)

We cannot go past the first word without embracing the depth of intensity of such a simple word as “MOREOVER.” It actually means, “Beyond what has been stated; besides, further; in addition; furthermore; also; likewise.”

Nor can we ignore the implication of “STEWARDS“; many Bible translations now use the term “manager”, someone who is responsible for taking care of something on behalf of someone else.

So, having heard all the instructions, noted the directions, embraced the theory and agreed with the principles, one more “VITAL” is required of us as God’s servants. Paul uses the term “essentially required“, which is another way of saying “absolutely vital,” and again, it refers to the “TRIED INTEGRITY” found in the vocation of a “STEWARD.”

It is an alarming state that the church is in, demonstrated by the compromise and accommodation of popular social theories being thunderously promoted by the gay community and blatantly supported by the Prime Minister and accommodated by the church. It is such that the reminder by the Psalmist becomes alarmingly confronting in our midst both individually and corporately when he wrote.

Psalm 14:2                                          The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understood, (That is, a person of experience) dealt wisely, and sought after God, inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him [of vital necessity].

The “UNDERSTOOD” means the experience gained in the “Sanctified experiences” known as “events or circumstances and “whatever’s” ” that Father fortuitously brings our way countless times a day to see if we will “DEAL WISELY” or revert to our preferences and succumb to “sense and reason without the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 8:6)

The only way that we will effectively “SEEK AFTER GOD” is if we have developed our “awareness“, or in terms of this study, “learned to sense what is vital and approve AND PRIZE WHAT IS EXCELLENT AND OF REAL VALUE.”

Father has made it absolutely clear that he has “given gifts to men,” and these gifts are intended to glorify God, please His heart, and remove the self-sufficiency of shallow men. When we suppose that we can represent the Lord when we fail to respect His precepts and cannot sense what is vital, we live a life of delusion.

John 15:5                                             I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. (The evidence is plain for all to see) However, apart from Me [cut off from all vital union with Me], you can do nothing. (Equally as obvious but in a negative way)

The use of highlights in my notes is not for visual effect but enables me to recall and emphasise significant points.

 

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