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Always so
by Chris Cumming
There is a common-used phrase that I have
heard all my life. It reads, “There is always room for
improvement.”
Notice some quotes I found on the subject of there always being room
for improvement:
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before
starting to improve the world.” ~Anne Frank
I would add to her statement by saying that no firstfruit need wait
a single moment before improving their position in the Salvation
Process.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of
improving, and that's your own self.”
In light of the three-part sermon we just had on Grace, I offer this
quote:
“The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or
religious, is to know ourselves - our weakness, errors,
deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine grace, we may overcome and
turn from them all”
In the Salvation Process I am always defining it as a place where
there is forward movement. Notice the next quote:
"Where there is movement, there is improvement."
So a major premise to our life in the Salvation Process is that we
must always be on the improve. In doing so we can ask some
important questions:
1] Do I really need improvement?
2] Does the Bible talk about improvement?
3] Where should I look to see if improvement is needed?
4] How do I manifest improvement?
Today we are going to answer these questions as I encourage all of
us to improve our status in the Salvation Process.
There is always room for improvement in your life.
Find those areas. Manifest improvement.
This is my two-word, specific purpose of this sermon: “Manifest
improvement.”
What you are going to see is that I will be answering the four
questions above throughout the text. Both doctrine and scripture
often speak to most or all of them in the same utterance. All you
see here will constantly encourage you to Manifest Improvement.
We have a document that explains our church’s teaching. It is
called the Systematic Theology Project or the “STP.” Does it have
any declaration about the document itself being open to improvement?
Quoting now from the introduction to the STP:
“We fully recognize the numerous ways in which this systematic
theology could have been organized. We have no illusion that what
is hereby presented is perfect or cannot be improved, but we intend
to accurately reflect the contemporary teachings of the Church.”
The doctrine of the church [the Word of God]
is perfect but the explanation of it was written by firstfruit
humans and anything created by humans is always open to
improvement. Indeed, this is a sermon about firstfruits improving
themselves.
The introduction to the STP continues. As I read this next excerpt,
imagine I am not talking just about the STP but the firstfruit
himself.
“What is herein presented is therefore still in preliminary
form. It must continue to grow in both scope and quality. But it
cannot grow without constant constructive input from the ministry.
Ministers should consider it their responsibility to help refine the
Systematic Theology Project, contributing to it in the same spirit
with which it was prepared. Hence, we accept, appreciate and
welcome—indeed solicit—all information which serves to enhance and
improve this effort.”
Let me state that excerpt again, only this time applying it
specifically as a statement about a firstfruit in the Salvation
Process:
“This firstfruit before you is in preliminary form. He must
continue to grow in both scope and quality. But he cannot grow
without constant constructive input from God in the form of the
firstfruit’s forward movement in the process and addressing himself
to all the elements therein.”
Hence, the firstfruit accepts, appreciates and welcomes—indeed
solicits—all information which serves to enhance and improve this
effort.”
The firstfruit, under the heading of Fervency, Diligence, Zeal and
Perseverance is always looking to improve his or her status in the
process of salvation.
Does our doctrine speak specifically to our need to improve
ourselves?
In our doctrine on “The Christian Relationship with God” it says in
part:
“The two overriding principles one should consider in applying
God's law to the everyday cares and pursuits of life involve the
continuing and conscious recognition that: 1) Christianity is a way
of life; and that 2) everything we do as Christians should be done
as if under the scrutiny of Christ (Colossians 3:17). In different
areas of life, these principles take on different meanings.”
Let us read that quoted verse:
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Let us look at the commentary on this verse:
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed -
Whether in preaching the word of Christ, in hearing the Gospel, in
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and in conference and
conversation with each other; or in whatsoever action, civil or
religious throughout the whole life and conversation, in the
performance of things natural, moral, and evangelical, relating to
God or man, or one another, in the world or church:
do
all in the name of the Lord Jesus - both
in the strength of Christ, without whom nothing can be well said or
done; and according to the mind and will of Christ declared in the
Gospel, which is his name; and calling upon his name for assistance
in the ministration of his word, administration of his ordinances,
and in the performance of every duty, directing all to, and having
solely in view his honour and glory: ~John Gill
What better way is there for a firstfruit to “do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus” than to improve what we are doing?
Remember our study about the relationship between the words,
“Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom.” We know that Wisdom is
speaking to our actions and that our wisdom comes from our work in
gleaning knowledge and then understanding about that knowledge from
God. Therefore to improve our actions [wisdom],
we should be busy improving our work with Godly knowledge and
understanding.
Remember a couple of verses from that study:
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and
understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge
of the holy is understanding.
In Colossians 1 we see Paul writing to the brethren at Colossae and
speaking to the fruit they are showing in the Salvation Process. He
then says, beginning in verse 9 of Chapter 1:
Colossians 1:9-11
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to
pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,
unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Verse 9:
To be filled with the "knowledge of His will" is a process of
improvement.
Verse 10:
One cannot be, "fruitful in every good work" without constant
improvement in those works. It even states clearly in the verse how
the being fruitful is accomplished. It is accomplished by the
"increasing in the knowledge of God."
Verse 11: We
are strengthened "with all might, according to His glorious power."
The whole verse is speaking to constant flowing improvement on our
part. We improve by conforming to His will and direction. All this
is done by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.
Let us talk about Increase. We could speak to the parable of
the talents in Matthew 25 and how God expects there to be an
increase [improvement] in
what we do here. We know that the lord wanted increase while he took
his trip and he is clearly upset with the one servant who did not
show an increase. That is a Kingdom parable and Kingdom parables
speak to just who will attain the Kingdom. God is calling for
improvement in your status from the first day you entered the
Salvation Process.
Will a wise firstfruit increase his learning? Will he constantly
get wise counsel?
Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will
increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise
counsels:
Is it possible that we honor God with our
improvement?
Proverbs 3:9
Honour the LORD with thy substance,
and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
If a wise firstfruit gets more
instruction, will he improve? If a firstfruit gets more teaching,
will he increase or improve in learning?
Proverbs 9:9
Give instruction to a wise man, and
he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in
learning.
Does a firstfruit go to God and ask to be
improved?
Luke 17:5
And the apostles said unto the Lord,
Increase our faith.
Is our improvement really about Christ
increasing in us while we decrease?
John 3:30
He must increase, but I must
decrease.
Where again is the source of our
improvement?
1 Corinthians 3:6
I have planted, Apollos
watered; but God gave the increase.
Does God speak to our improving our relationship with the
brethren and fellow man?
1 Thessalonians 3:12
And the Lord make you to increase and
abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do
toward you:
Does Paul ever give an encouragement for
more and more improvement?
1 Thessalonians 4:10
And indeed ye do it toward all the
brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren,
that ye increase more and more;
Is there admonition in the Word of God to show improvement in our
praise to God?
Psalm 71:14
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
Does God promise to increase us more and more? Is this not a
promise to show us improvement throughout our lives?
Psalm 115:14 ...a
psalm about giving praise to God
The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
Here is the commentary on the phrase "increase you more and more."
The Lord shall increase you more and more -The
Word of the Lord, as the Targum, shall do it; in a temporal sense,
with a numerous posterity, with riches, wealth, and honour; and in a
spiritual sense, with an addition of spiritual blessings; with
renewed instances of divine layout: with an increase of the gifts
and graces of the Spirit of God, as faith, hope, love, joy,
patience, humility, and other graces; and with more knowledge of God
and Christ, and of divine and spiritual things. ~John Gill
Clearly speaking to both temporal and spiritual increase and
improvement.
Does our walk in the Salvation Process, by definition, supposed
to be showing improvement more and more right up to the return of
Christ?
Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more
and more unto the perfect day.
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes says for "shineth more and more",
"Signifying that the godly increase daily in knowledge and
perfection." Our increasing to a state of perfection demands
improvement.
Can a firstfruit improve his manifesting of love? Can he improve
in both knowledge and in judgment?
Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in
knowledge and in all judgment;
Note: The John Gill
commentary speaks to the word "abound" in this verse. It states
that this love is spiritual rather than merely human or natural
love. We see this in the last phrase when it states that the love
is abounding in and by virtue of Godly knowledge and judgment.
Spiritual love can abound without going to excess. There is no
excess possible in spiritual love. One cannot love too much. All
the aforementioned in this paragraph from the John Gill.
This would stand to reason. Spirit is perfection. Spiritual things
are perfect. This is why we manifest spiritual things like love,
joy and peace. Fruits of the spirit, in and of themselves are
perfect. The more we manifest spiritual fruits, the more we mature
and therefore the more we show and demonstrate improvement.
Are firstfruits to take what God gives us in the way of
instruction and constantly improve from it?
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the
Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and
to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
Here is the John Gill commentary for the phrase:
so ye would abound more and more -
that is, be more and more in the exercise of every grace, and in the
discharge of every duty, making advances in holiness of life, and
perfecting it in the fear of God. ~John Gill
Note: You will understand
the use of the word "grace" here from the three-part sermon on the
subject. It is speaking to the Salvation Process in or under grace
or given to us by virtue of the Favor of God. What we are
exercising are the elements of the process. I like the phrase here
"making advances in holiness of life" which is a pure phrase
denoting improvement. To make advances in holiness, one must be
manifesting improvement.
At the beginning of this sermon I gave you a couple of quotes about
self-examination:
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
“The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or
religious, is to know ourselves - our weakness, errors,
deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine grace, we may overcome and
turn from them all”
The first step in improving ourselves is to identify the areas where
there is trouble or otherwise the need for the improvement. What do
we look for? Notice:
a) sin.
b) bad habits-physical and/or spiritual.
c) weakness in character.
d) errors in thinking, beliefs and doctrine. By “doctrine” I mean
one embracing a false doctrine or teaching.
e) negative situations such as temptation or keeping bad, evil for
rebellious company.
Let us look at a few scriptures on self-examination.
2 Corinthians 13:5 ... you giving the examination
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own
selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in
you, except ye be reprobates?
Psalm 139:23-24 ...God
giving the examination
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.
Psalm 17:3 ...God giving
the examination
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou
hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth
shall not transgress.
I love the phrase here "I am purposed" as this goes to a recent
Bible study on sanctification or setting things aside for a
purpose. We learned in the Bible study that God has purpose for all
the things He made and set in place. (See our study
on 1 Timothy 4:5)
Notice more on this idea of sanctification and how that is done.
Turn to John 17:17
John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Now back to more on examination...
Psalm 26:2 ...God
giving the examination
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Psalm 119:59 ...
you giving the examination
I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Lamentations 3:40 ...
you giving the examination
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Hebrews 12:15 ...you
giving the examination
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any
root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be
defiled;
Where do we look to manifest improvement?
Here is where you begin looking:
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Spiritual
I want to finish up by taking a chapter of the Bible and simply
enumerating the statements about manifesting improvement. Turn to
Colossians 3.
I am going to give you this as an example. I will do Colossians 3
and you do more chapters of the Bible and add them to your
Examination and Improvement Journal.
Colossians 3:1-25
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence,
and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man
with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after
the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is
all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do
ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of
perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also
ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in
the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well
pleasing unto the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be
discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh;
not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart,
fearing God:
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not
unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the
inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath
done: and there is no respect of persons.
Now let us enumerate the area of possible improvement:
Verse 1: See Godly things.
Verse 2: Be a steward of your spiritual affections.
Verse 5: Crush all evil elements from your life.
Verse 7: Know there is room for improvement.
Verse 8: Omit anger, wrath and malice from your life and mouth.
Verse 9: Bring in truth and force out lies.
Verse 10: Embrace knowledge that results in your conformity to
Christ
Verse 11: Bring Christ into yourself.
Verse 12: Manifest mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and
longsuffering.
Verse 13: Avoid irritating or provoking each other. Forgive one
another. Avoid quarrels.
Verse 14: Increase the power or amount of your spiritual love.
Verse 15: Improve the peace within you. Be ever thankful.
Verse 16: Immerse yourself in the Word of God. Meditate on it.
Let it give rise to actions [wisdom].
Verse 17: Do everything in the name of Jesus Christ. Give thanks.
Verse 18: Be a good wife.
Verse 19: Be a good husband.
Verse 20: Be obedient children. Everyone improve obedience to God
and parents.
Verse 21: Fathers: do not provoke children.
Verse 22: Improve obedience. Fear God with readiness and
cheerfulness, without hypocrisy and dissimulation [concealment,
false appearance or guise]. Improve
your integrity.
Verse 23: Do things from the heart rather than grudgingly or with
murmurings. Do all things as if you were doing them for God
directly.
Verse 24: Overcome discouragement, knowing there is a reward when
Christ comes.
Verse 25: Improve your understanding of the concept that God is not
a respecter of our outward condition and circumstances. He looks on
the heart and rewards holiness...those in the image of Christ.
Improving ourselves should not be a goal. It must be a constant and
concerted action.
To improve, one must first hold fast to and maintain what he has.
Then go higher, deeper, further:
a] Go higher in knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
b] Go deeper into the Word of God.
c] Go further forward in the Salvation Process.
Do all three simultaneously.
Final Question: What is the largest room in your home? I
know which it is. The room for improvement. |