Ps 1:1-6

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the

ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:

but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

2 Cor 1:12

12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

2 Cor 11:3

3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve

through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted

from the simplicity that is in Christ.

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THIS SERIES ON DISCIPLINE THE WAY TO SUCCESS BY INTRODUCING TWO NEW DISCIPLINES: ONE IS SIMPLICITY AND THE OTHER IS MEDITATION. I BELIEVE THAT BEFORE WE CAN REALLY MEDITATE ON GOD’S WORD WE HAVE TO SIMPLIFY OUR LIVES OTHERWISE OUR MINDS WILL BE PREOCCUPIED WITH THE CLUTTER OF THINGS AND WRONG PRIORITIES IN OUR LIFE. SO LET’S LOOK AT THE DISCIPLINE OF SIMPLICITY FIRST.

FIRST LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO AN OLD SHAKER HYMN THAT IS OFTEN SUNG AS A FOLK SONG:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'Tis the gift to be free,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained, To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.

AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE CALLED TO BE A SIMPLE PEOPLE OF PLAIN SPEECH, OF CONTENTMENT, WHO ARE NOTED FOR AN UNCOMPLICATED FAITH IN GOD THAT SHAPES ALL THAT WE ARE AND DETERMINES ALL THAT WE DO. NOW YOU CAN SEE WHY I MUST ADMIT THAT I AM A STUDENT IN THIS DISCIPLINE, NOT A MASTER. THERE IS MUCH IN ME THAT IS RESTLESS, DISCONTENTED, AND COMPLEX. IT IS NOT A CULTURAL NORM TO SEEK SIMPLICITY. OUR SOCIETY IS DRIVEN BY COMPETITION. THUS WE FIND IT VERY HARD TO BE SIMPLE AND PLAIN. INSTEAD WE ARE COMPLEX, OFTEN HIDING BEHIND IMAGES OF OUR OWN MAKING, AFRAID TO BE OPENLY HONEST ABOUT WHO WE REALLY ARE. WE BUY CLOTHING TO IMPRESS, DRIVE CARS THAT ARE MARKETED AROUND CREATING AN AURA OF SUCCESS, AND STRIVE FOR JOB TITLES THAT PROJECT OUR POSITION. SOMETIMES CONSCIOUSLY AND OFTEN UNCONSCIOUSLY, WE CREATE PECKING ORDERS, KEEPING SCORE OF WHERE OTHERS FALL IN THE SOCIAL ORDER AROUND US. MOST OF US DO NOT DERIVE OUR SENSE OF WELL-BEING, OR OUR SENSE OF IDENTITY FROM AN INNER CENTER THAT IS FORMED AROUND CHRIST. WE HOPE THAT OUR EXTERNAL PROJECTIONS OF WHO WE REALLY ARE, COVERS OUR DEEP INSECURITIES AND FEARS FROM OTHERS.

JESUS CALLS US FROM THIS KIND OF LIFE. HE TEACHES US TO BE A SINGLE-MINDED, SIMPLE PEOPLE, TRUSTING, LOVING, AND OPEN.

LUKE 16:13

"NO SERVANT CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS... HE WILL HATE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER...(NIV)

MATTHEW 6:31-33

SO DO NOT WORRY, SAYING, `WHAT SHALL WE EAT?' OR `WHAT SHALL WE DRINK?' OR `WHAT SHALL WE WEAR?' FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD [PAGANS] RUN AFTER ALL THESE THINGS, AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM. BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.

LUKE 10:40-42

BUT MARTHA WAS DISTRACTED BY ALL THE PREPARATIONS THAT HAD TO BE MADE. SHE CAME TO HIM AND ASKED, "LORD, DON'T YOU CARE THAT MY SISTER HAS LEFT ME TO DO THE WORK BY MYSELF? TELL HER TO HELP ME!" 41 "MARTHA, MARTHA," THE LORD ANSWERED, "YOU ARE WORRIED AND UPSET ABOUT MANY THINGS, 42 BUT ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED. MARY HAS CHOSEN WHAT IS BETTER, AND IT WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER." (NIV)
RICHARD FOSTER WRITES, IN HIS BOOK THE CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE: "OF ALL THE DISCIPLINES SIMPLICITY IS THE MOST VISIBLE AND THEREFORE THE MOST OPEN TO CORRUPTION. THE MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS HAVE NEVER SERIOUSLY WRESTLED WITH THE PROBLEM OF SIMPLICITY, CONVENIENTLY IGNORING JESUS' MANY WORDS ON THE SUBJECT. THE REASON IS SIMPLE: THIS DISCIPLINE DIRECTLY CHALLENGES OUR VESTED INTERESTS IN AN AFFLUENT LIFESTYLE."

SIMPLICITY MUST FLOW FROM INNER VALUES AND FAITH.

1 Tim 1:5-6

5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

6From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

2 Tim 2:19-22

19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call

on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Eph 6:5-7

5Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE SHOULD BECOME A HEART MATTER, FOLLOWING DEEP SEATED CONVICTIONS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF GOD’S WORD. OFTEN TIMES THOSE CONVICTIONS ARE SUPPRESSED BY AN ANXIOUS LIFESTYLE OF A COMPLICATED AND BUSY LIFE. NOW ONE WORD OF CAUTION: BEWARE OF THE ATTEMPT TO FORCE SIMPLICITY FROM THE EXTERNAL TO THE INTERNAL. IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF SECTS THAT HAVE RECOGNIZED THE IMPERATIVE OF JESUS' CALL TO A SIMPLE LIFE. THEY HAVE DEVISED RULES CONCERNING OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY, USE OF TECHNOLOGY, AND STYLES OF DRESS IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO CREATE SIMPLICITY. ONE FAMILIAR GROUP THAT FOLLOWS THIS PATTERN TODAY IS THE AMISH PEOPLE, WHO ARE NICK-NAMED "THE PLAIN PEOPLE." THEY DRESS IN UNADORNED STYLES OF LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING IN BASIC BLACK OR BROWN. THEY REFUSE TO ALLOW ELECTRICITY, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND AUTOMOBILES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. BUT DOES ALL THIS PRODUCE INNER PEACE OR FOCUS ON THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST. NO!

Phil 2:9-11

9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

SIMPLICITY MUST START IN THE INNER PERSON. SIMPLICITY MUST BEGIN IN OUR HEARTS AND FLOW OUT INTO THE OTHER AREAS OF OUR LIFE. IT BEGINS WITH A FULL SURRENDER TO JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR. WHEN WE COME TO THE END OF OUR RELIGIOSITY, WE ARE READY TO DECLARE SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY AND ACCEPT THE UNDESERVED FAVOR OF GOD CALLED DIVINE GRACE. GIVEN OUR SELF-WILL, THAT DECISION IS SOON TESTED BY DESIRES TO RECLAIM PARTS OF OUR LIVES FOR OUR OWN MASTERY. SIMPLICITY REQUIRES A CONTINUING SUBMISSION TO HIM, ON A DAILY BASIS! FOSTER SUGGESTS THREE ATTITUDES THAT CULTIVATE SIMPLICITY IN US.

Phil 2:3-5

3Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. 4Don't just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing.

5Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ,

Rom 15:5

5May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement

help you to live in complete harmony with each other-- each with

the attitude of Christ toward the other.

1. WHAT I POSSESSED I HAVE RECEIVED AS A GIFT FROM GOD.

James 1:17

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom

is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Matt 7:11

11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto

your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven

give good things to them that ask him?

Matt 6:25-34

25 "So my counsel is: Don't worry about things-- food, drink, and clothes.

For you already have life and a body-- and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. 26 Look at the birds! They don't worry about what to eat-- they don't need to sow or reap or store up food-- for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.

27 Will all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the field lilies! They don't worry about theirs. 29 Yet King Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as beautifully as they. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you, O men of little faith? 31 "So don't worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, 33 and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to. 34 "So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

2. GOD CARES FOR ME AND IS ABLE TO PROTECT WHAT I POSSESS.

SIMPLICITY CALLS FOR A TRUST. HOW EASILY WE GROW ANXIOUS ABOUT TOMORROW. QUESTIONS FLOOD OUR MINDS, STEAL OUR PEACE, ROB US OF SLEEP, AND DISTRACT US FROM SERVING GOD. WE ASK:

• HOW CAN I PROTECT MY INVESTMENTS?
• WHAT IF SOMEONE BREAKS INTO MY HOME AND TAKES MY POSSESSION?
• HOW WILL I COPE WITH AGING?
• HOW WILL I PAY FOR COLLEGE?
• WHAT WILL OTHERS THINK OF ME IF MY KIDS MESS UP?

IF WE ALLOW THESE QUESTIONS TO FILL UP OUR MINDS WE LOSE SIMPLICITY AND BECOME FULL OF ANXIETY. WE BEGIN TO SCHEME AND PLOT AND PLAN, USING OTHERS IN ATTEMPTS TO SHIELD OURSELVES FROM PAIN OR LOSS. SURELY THERE IS A PLACE FOR WISDOM, FOR BEING CAREFUL... BUT REMEMBER THIS: NO MATTER HOW CAREFUL, HOW PRUDENT YOU ARE, OUR TRUE SECURITY IS FOUND IN GOD, IN HOLDING TIGHTLY TO THE HAND OF OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. DO YOU SHARE THE ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE THAT IS WRITTEN OF IN ROMANS 8:38-39? FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS, NEITHER THE PRESENT NOR THE FUTURE, NOR ANY POWERS, 39 NEITHER HEIGHT NOR DEPTH, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

NOW, THIS KIND OF ASSURANCE IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHERE WE ARE LOVING GOD INTENSELY AND LIVING IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL DAILY AND BECAUSE WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY FEELING OR BY SIGHT. THE THIRD WAY FOSTER SUGGEST TO SIMPLIFY OUR LIVES IS TO HAVE THIS ATTITUDE:

3. WHAT IS MINE IS YOURS IF YOU NEED IT, FOR GOD OWNS IT ALL.

IF WE UNDERSTAND POINTS 1 AND 2, THIS THIRD ONE IS A LOGICAL STEP. SIMPLICITY REQUIRES GENEROSITY! BUT IF WE THINK WE HAVE EARNED WHAT WE HAVE AND THAT WE ARE KEEPING IT SAFE THROUGH OUR CAREFUL WATCH, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE GENEROUS AND SHARING WITH OTHERS.

Acts 2:44-47

44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

NOW IF THESE THREE STATEMENTS BECOME AN INNER REALITY, MOVING INTO OUR HEARTS AND MINDS, THERE WILL BE EXTERNAL EVIDENCE. OUR SIMPLICITY WILL DEFINITELY EFFECT THE WAY WE LIVE EACH DAY. IN PRACTICAL WAYS, OUR SIMPLICITY WILL BECOME EVIDENT TO OTHERS AROUND US AND WILL FREE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO MEDITATE ON GOD‘S WORD. HOW? HERE ARE 10 WAYS SIMPLICITY IS SHOWN.

1. DO WE PURCHASE THINGS FOR THEIR USEFULNESS RATHER THAN THEIR STATUS? HOW MANY OF US ASK OURSELVES THIS QUESTION WHEN BUYING A CAR-- WHAT DO I REALLY NEED FOR TRANSPORTATION? MOST OF OUR PRUCHASES ARE BASED ON OUR WANTS NOT OUR NEEDS. A CAR IS A STATUS SYMBOL SO WE WANT TO BUY SOMETHING NICE. HOW MANY OF US BUY CLOTHES AND SHOES THAT ARE STURDY, COMFORTABLE, AND MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR JOB? DON'T WE, INSTEAD, EVEN THO' WE HAVE CLOSETS FILLED WITH GOOD CLOTHING, BUY MORE SO THAT WE ARE FASHION? WE PURCHASE THINGS BASED ON OUR PREFERENCE AND NOT BASED ON OUR NEEDS.

2. DO WE REJECT OR MASTER ALL THINGS THAT CREATE ADDICTIONS IN US? I AM NOT ONLY SPEAKING OF TOBACCO, DRUGS, AND ALCOHOL, DEAR FRIEND. MANY OF US ARE ADDICTED TO THE TV THAT IS TURNED ON VIRTUALLY EVERY HOUR THAT WE ARE HOME. SOME OF US ARE ADDICTED TO MONEY, NEEDING TO SPEND IT TO FIND A RELEASE. HOW ABOUT COCA-COLA AND CHOCOLATE? HOW ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY? ARE YOU ADDICTED TO ENTERTAINMENT SUCH AS MUSIC, VIDEOS, MAGAZINES? DON'T CONFUSE THE BASIC NEEDS OF LIFE WITH ADDICTION. WE NEED SAFE SURROUNDINGS, WARM RELATIONSHIPS, FOOD, AND SHELTER. LOOK FOR THOSE THINGS IN LIFE THAT CONTROL YOU. IF THERE ARE CONTROLLING ADDICTIONS, NO AMOUNT OF YOUR WILL CAN MASTER THEM. ONLY AN OPENNESS TO OTHERS AND TO THE RENEWING GRACE OF GOD CAN BREAK THE ADDICTION. OFTEN THAT TO WHICH WE ARE ADDICTED MUST BE DECLARED TOTALLY OFF LIMITS FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD.

3. DO WE REGULARLY GIVE THINGS AWAY. NOTHING BREAKS ATTACHMENT TO "THINGS" LIKE GIVING THEM AWAY. ONE YOUNG MAN CAME TO JESUS DESIRING SPIRITUAL LIFE. HE WAS GOOD GUY, FULL OF DEVOTION TO GOD. BUT JESUS, KNOWING THE MAN'S LOVE OF HIS WEALTH, ISSUED THIS CHALLENGE: LUKE 18:22-25 "YOU STILL LACK ONE THING. SELL EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AND GIVE TO THE POOR, AND YOU WILL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN. THEN COME, FOLLOW ME." 23 WHEN HE HEARD THIS, HE BECAME VERY SAD, BECAUSE HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT WEALTH. 24 JESUS LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, "HOW HARD IT IS FOR THE RICH TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD! 25 INDEED, IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE THAN FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD." (NIV) IS JESUS ASKING YOU TO BREAK YOUR LOVE OF THINGS SO THAT YOU CAN BECOME SINGLE-MINDEDLY DEVOTED TO HIM?

4. DO WE CAREFULLY CHOOSE AND SELECT FROM THE ARRAY OF GADGETS THAT ARE THROWN AT US AS BEING "NECESSARY." MANY SO-CALLED "LABOR SAVING DEVICES" ARE NOT ALL THEY CRACK UP TO BE. THEY CREATE MORE WORK AND DRAIN ENERGY FROM US IN THEIR MAINTENANCE. I AM NOT, AS YOU KNOW, ANTI-TECHNOLOGY. SOME OF THE THINGS WE ACQUIRE DO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES, BUT MANY ONLY ADD TO OUR STORE OF STUFF. BE CAREFUL ABOUT BEING JUDGMENTAL OF OTHERS. I CAN CONDEMN THE CARPENTER WHO BUYS NEW TOOLS BECAUSE THEY MEAN NOTHING TO ME WHILE HE CAN CRITICIZE MY CHOICE OF COMPUTERS BECAUSE IT MEANS NOTHING TO HIM. SO LET’S REMEMBER TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT OWNING EVERY NEW THING THAT COMES OUT ON THE MARKET.

5. ARE WE WILLING TO ENJOY THINGS WITHOUT NEEDING TO OWN THEM? USE LIBRARIES INSTEAD OF BUYING BOOKS YOU WILL READ ONCE. ENJOY PUBLIC SPACES AND LEARN TO APPRECIATE BEING AROUND OTHERS. ENJOY VACATION HOMES THAT YOU CAN RENT WITHOUT NEEDING TO INVEST HUGE SUMS IN MAINTAINING A SPACE YOU WILL OCCUPY LESS THAN 10% OF THE YEAR. PRACTICING THIS DISCIPLINE WILL HELP YOU TO BE AROUND HURTING PEOPLE WHO ARE LOST AND WITHOUT CHRIST. YOU WILL THEN HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS TO THEM AND GET INVOLVED WITH THEIR LIVES.

6. DO WE TAKE TIME TO WALK IN AND APPRECIATE GOD'S CREATION. SO OFTEN WE ARE PREOCCUPIED WITH OUR JOB, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR POSSESSIONS TO APPRECIATE THE SIMPLE THINGS OF LIFE. BUT LETS TAKE THE TIME TO APPRECIATE ALL OF GOD’S CREATION.

7. DO WE FALL INTO THE MODERN TRAP OF CONSUMER CREDIT THAT ENCOURAGES US TO BUY NOW AND PAY LATER. PROVERBS 22:7 THE RICH RULE OVER THE POOR, AND THE BORROWER IS SERVANT TO THE LENDER. THE MODERN CONSUMER SOCIETY IS TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON DEBT. MOST OF US FIND OUT TOO LATE THAT WE HAVE WOVEN A TIGHT SNARE THAT TRAPS US BY USING THE EASY CREDIT AVAILABLE TO VIRTUALLY ALL OF US.

MILLIONS OF COUPLES ARE STRUGGLING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF COLLEGE LOANS INCURRED ALMOST WITHOUT THOUGHT. WHY GO TO A CHEAPER COLLEGE WHEN MONEY IS SO EASY TO BORROW?

• OUR HOMES ARE FURNISHED,
• OUR VACATIONS TAKEN,
• OUR CHRISTMASES ARE PAID FOR

8. DO WE USE PLAIN, HONEST WORDS WHEN WE CONVERSE. JESUS SAID IT BEST, [MATTHEW 5:37] "SIMPLY LET YOUR `YES' BE `YES,' AND YOUR `NO,' `NO'; ANYTHING BEYOND THIS COMES FROM THE EVIL ONE." (NIV) ARE YOU A PERSON WHO KEEPS HIS WORD, DO YOU DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO. AVOID FLATTERY AND SHADED TRUTHS. STOP YOURSELF WHEN YOU FIND THAT YOU ARE TALKING ONLY TO IMPRESS. SOLOMON WARNS US....ECCLESIASTES 5:2 DO NOT BE QUICK WITH YOUR MOUTH, DO NOT BE HASTY IN YOUR HEART TO UTTER ANYTHING BEFORE GOD. GOD IS IN HEAVEN AND YOU ARE ON EARTH, SO LET YOUR WORDS BE FEW. (NIV) THIS IS IN THE CONTEXT OF MAKING A VOW, BUT IS GOOD ADVICE FOR ALL OF OUR WORDS. GOD IS LISTENING!

Col 4:6

6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Eph 4:29

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

9. DO WE MAKE GOOD ATTEMPTS TO AVOID ANY CHOICE THAT LEADS TO THE OPPRESSION OR MISTREATMENT OF OTHERS. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US IN THIS GLOBAL ECONOMY. WHEN WE PURCHASE NIKE ATHLETIC SHOES, WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO A COMPANY THAT REGULARLY EMPLOYS PEOPLE AT EXTREMELY LOW WAGES. WHEN WE INVEST IN TOBACCO STOCKS WE ARE REAPING BENEFIT FROM A PRODUCT THAT CAUSES MISERY AND DISEASE IN OTHERS. MEN, HEAR ME CAREFULLY, WE OPPRESS OUR WIVES AND CHILDREN WHEN WE DEMAND THAT THEY SERVE US. IF WE REFUSE CERTAIN HOUSEHOLD TASKS BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THEY ARE BENEATH OUR DIGNITY, WE ARE NOT LIVING IN SIMPLICITY! JUSTICE IS IMPORTANT TO GOD AND MUST BE IMPORTANT TO US. IF WE CONSCIOUSLY ALLOW OURSELVES TO FEEL SUPERIOR TO OTHERS SO THAT WE CAN JUSTIFY TAKING FROM THEM, WE ARE IGNORING THE CALL OF CHRIST. \

10. DO YOU LIVE A LIFE OF TOTAL SURRENDER TO GOD? ONE DAY JUST BEFORE JESUS ASCENDED TO HEAVEN, HE SAT WITH PETER ON THE SHORES OF THE LAKE WHERE PETER OWNED A FISHING BUSINESS. IT WAS ALL SAFE AND FAMILIAR TO PETER BUT THE LORD GESTURED TOWARDS THE BOAT, THE NETS AND CHALLENGED THE BIG FISHERMAN, "DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN YOU LOVE THIS?" TODAY, HE IS ASKING YOU AND ME THE SAME QUESTION. "DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN YOU LOVE THIS?"

IF WE ARE NOT SINGLE-MINDEDLY DEVOTED TO HIM AND CULTIVATING THE HABITS OF SIMPLICITY, ANSWERING THIS QUESTION WILL BE DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. "HOW HARD IT IS FOR THE RICH TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD!" WILL YOU SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD? I CANNOT TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THIS WILL COST YOU, NOR EXACTLY WHAT GOD WILL ASK OF YOU. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS: HE WILL DEMAND EVERYTHING FROM YOU. BUT WHAT A RICH REWARD AWAITS US... MATTHEW 19:29-30 AND EVERYONE WHO HAS LEFT HOUSES OR BROTHERS OR SISTERS OR FATHER OR MOTHER OR CHILDREN OR FIELDS FOR MY SAKE WILL RECEIVE A HUNDRED TIMES AS MUCH AND WILL INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE. 30 BUT MANY WHO ARE FIRST WILL BE LAST, AND MANY WHO ARE LAST WILL BE FIRST.

THE GREATEST REWARD IN THE PRACTICE OF THE DISCIPLE OF SIMPLICITY IS THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO MEDITATE ON GOD, WORSHIP HIM FOR HIS GOODNESS AND PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD WHEREVER WE GO. REMEMBER, IN HIS PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY.

NOW BEFORE WE CAN GIVE OURSELVES TO MEDITATE ON GOD’S WORD WE MUST SIMPLIFY OUR LIVES. SO NEXT WEEK I WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE DISCIPLINE OF MEDITATION.