“He hath not slandered by his tongue, He hath not done to his friend evil;
And reproach he hath not lifted up Against his neighbour.^a
Despised in his eyes is a rejected one, And those fearing Jehovah he doth honour.
He hath sworn to suffer evil, and changeth not;^b
His silver he hath not given in usury, And a bribe against the innocent Hath not taken;
Whoso is doing these is not moved to the age!^c”

A) Verse 3 of this psalm shows a principle that Jesus taught regarding our thoughts and our actions. The verse is broken up into three parts, the first two of which deal with our thoughts and actions. Jesus told those around him that even if we think anything slanderous, hateful  thoughts towards our neighbor, we might as well have committed murder. (Matthew 5:21-22) When the psalmist says, “He hath not slandered by his tongue”, this is showing that as a Christian, a righteous man or woman of God, he has nothing on the tip of his tongue that is derogatory or evil inside of him. Often when we have suddenly forgotten the answer to a question a common phrase we use is, “It’s on the tip of my tongue.” If we have slander on the tip of our tongues, even if the thought of slander is not there but the feeling of it, the emotion of something negative towards your brother is consuming you even though you can’t pin it down, that’s still sin. We are to be free from all malicious thought and any accusations against our brothers. The Apostle John reminds his readers the same thing that Christ said; he also reminds them that the love we are to be clothed in is a self-sacrificing love. (1 John 3:15-16) Let our feelings, thoughts and actions be not on belittling those around us, but on how we can serve each other in thought and deed. Resist Satan, and he will flee, for we are not called to be anywhere near the evil of this world. (James 4:7) So let nothing but the Spirit itself dwell in us, may we submit to Him and let him do what He wills in us. (John 14:23)

B) This verse has two ways of being interpreted. One way is to say that the man of God holds in contempt those whose actions are wicked, while still being able to be free from the presence of evil thoughts or words. The second way is that the Christian is to find himself rejected and worthless in his own eyes. Both are great ways to read this verse. The first way of interpreting the verse we see a very godly man who is able to rightly judge his brothers, yet has an undying love for them. He sees their actions and knows the wicked things that they have done, yet he can only think of how he can build them back up. He holds them in contempt, at a distance, not because he views himself as more, lest he sin, but a distance so that he does not fall into the same snare. This idea is echoed in Paul’s writing in Galatians when trying to restore a fallen brother in Christ. (Galatians 6:1)

The second way of reading this verse actually comes from a translated version by Aben Ezra, “He is mean and contemptible in his own eyes” which is also a valid translation from the original, “ נבזה בעיניו נמאס, nibzeh beeynaiv nimas”. I don’t know which I like more because I stumble continually with trying to separate the sin and the sinner, and yet there is something so glorious and redemptive in the second way this verse is interpreted. We are to never put ourselves on a high pedestal, or think anything great of ourselves. We are to serve each other, and view ourselves as nothing. (1 Corinthians 10:24) Just as Christ came to wash our feet and save us from our sins, we are to have the same attitudes towards our brothers. As Christ humbled himself, and by taking on the form of man, not grasping at the being of God and took on our form, there shines something beautiful in that. (Philipians 2:6-8) How can someone so holy, so perfect in every way become lower just to serve, just to save us while we were sinning against Him? (Romans 5:8) This is the God we serve, we serve a God who has given himself to us, saved us and given His Word to use, so that all who believe in Him are saved. (2 Corinthians 11:4)

When was the last time that you lowered yourself, humbled yourself not to those who are close to you, but to those who despise you? Sinners show love to those who love them, so shouldn’t we do more? (Luke 6:32) If Christ showed the standard for living on Earth, and His whole time He spent humbling himself, putting those who had no right to be near the living God ahead of him, why are we not doing the same? Christians often use the term, “taking up the cross” as an expression about dying to ourselves, but I do not see many dead men or women around me. I don’t see people who gasp for breath, who are begging for a drink of water or a piece of bread, I see people who are healthy and do not have any thirst or hunger. Do I see a generation of dead men and women as we are called to be? I am the first to admit as I look in the mirror I do not see a dying man, and for that God convicts me. But let this be a note to anyone who reads this, if you look in the mirror and see an emaciated man, do y0u not also see the light of Christ in shinning through your life?

C) The last verse in Psalm 15, ties everything together. We have a man who does not take advantage of those who are innocent, for he is ultimately a man who fears the Lord. This whole psalm is also to point out that these things are only accomplished by those who fear God. These are the standards and the rules that he has given us that we need to keep. We are to abide in Him daily, and have the Holy Spirit convict us of the truths that He has already spoken. (John 14:26) When a Christian neglects these truths, he is not abiding close to Christ, and the fear of the Lord is not in his eyes. (Romans 3:18) I think that is important to look around and see anyone else that isn’t living up to this psalm. When we see a brother or sister in Christ who is not abiding in Christ, we are to restore them and pray for them. (Galatians 6:1) Let us not forget though, that it is a sin if we know we are to be praying for someone and fail to do so. (1 Samuel 12:23) Restore and pray for those who are shaken, help them see the truths of God and the love He has shown us. Be certain that you don’t have a log in your eye before you go to your friend with the speck, but be prayerful of those who you can help.

The psalmist ends with a promise, a guarantee that Christ gives to his followers. Those who keep God’s commandments and abide in Christ are on solid foundation that is unshakeable. When we start studying the Word, we find more about God and see more of what He has done for us. Too many people neglect to study the Bible, and are seeking experiences only. This is one of the most dangerous things possible because your foundation is going to be based on moment to moment feelings rather than everlasting truth. This is why we study God’s word so that we may pour more concrete on our foundation. Knowing who God is and what He has done for us is the concrete that we build our lives on.

What did it look like?  Aside from the miracles, signs, wonders, and sufferings that the Church performed or experienced, I want to look more closely at the strategic use of the original Church.  Do you believe that the Church at this time experienced an apostolic movement to confirm the resurrection of Christ?  Good – then we should be more fervent to construct the  modern Church in the image of the original Church since God gave them gifts that we rarely see today.  Do you believe that at the time, it wasn’t so much an apostolic movement as it was a greater filling of the Holy Spirit?  Good – then we should be ever more fervent to replicate the early Church, which had a greater filling of the Spirit.

Prayer:

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” – Acts 1:14

One of the main functions of a Church is that it serves as a house of prayer.  Matthew 18:19 says that if two or more gather in Christ’s name, they will receive what they ask for.  The key is that everyone must be in agreement of what is being asked of.  There is no use in community prayer if we do not agree on what is being prayed for.  All believers in Acts were not only one in heart, but also one in mind (Acts 4:32).

Witnessing outside the Church:

“…For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” - Acts 1:22

Please see Churchianity vs. Christianity.  Many churches go outside of their walls only a few times throughout the year.  This needs to change.

Devotion to all things of God within the Church:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” - Acts 2:42

Within the Church, the congregation devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles – this is the opposite of being witnessed or preached to; doing (devoting) verses receiving (being witnessed/preached to).  Within the Church, you also see fellowship, prayer, and breaking of bread.  Devotion is being proactive to the apostle’s teachings – which are written all throughout the New Testament.

Fellowship:

“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:45-47

Christians hanging out together but not breaking bread, worshiping, praying, encouraging, or sharing insights/teaching is often mistaken as fellowship.  This is not fellowship; this is merely Christians hanging out as the world does…minus the wicked acts.  According to what the book of Acts gives us for an illustration of the early Church, fellowship is giving to the needy within the Church by being so selfless as to even selling your own possessions, breaking bread and eating together, and praising God for the community of believers.

To further illustrate the selfless nature of the early Church, below are some more verses:

There is no “I” in team; all the believers were one not only in heart but also in mind:

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” – Acts 4:32

Division, dissension, slander, gossip, and differences were obviously dealt with biblically since the product was a unified congregation in heart and mind.

Are there any in need within your congregation? This shows what it means to be one in mind:

“There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” – Acts 4:34-35

Proper delegation:

“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

- Acts 6:1-4

If you are a minister, do not neglect your duties as a minister by spreading yourself too thin.  If you are a pastor, do not neglect your duties as a shepherd by spreading yourself too thin.  It is important to also take notice on how important the apostles considered prayer and ministry – so important that they gave responsibilities to others, even though they were the best at what they did in the Church.

Baptism:

“So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.” – Acts 10:48

So important is baptism, that it was mentioned 17 times in Acts.  We take baptism for granted today in the Christian Church in America.  Imagine being baptized during a time where surrounding kingdoms are ready to kill or persecute you because of your outward proclamation of Christ?  Anyone who repented in Acts was immediately baptized.  Not only is it symbolic of a renewal, but it has an impact on us spiritually.

Focus on the entire Church body:

“The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.” - Acts 11:29-30

Too often today do church leaders focus only on the members within their church and the community around their church.  This was not the case in Acts.  In Acts, the Church worked together by providing for their fellow brothers in the surrounding kingdoms.  Multimillion dollar churches and churches so large that they begin creating satellite churches in areas miles apart was not heard of in Acts.  The Philippians did not monopolize the Christians of Macedonia.  Rather, the Philippians would have sent money to the Christians of Macedonia to help them establish their own church and help them when needed.  This is important because we need pastors who can get involved in the local community and our individual lives, not pastors that are celebrity status and broadcast their messages across state borders.  This is a moral hazard…many Christians use these messages as their primary bread and skip out on church.

This should give anyone that is involved in church leadership some solid long-term direction for their church and anyone not involved in leadership some insight so that they can spark change.

-Mark

“He who is walking uprightly,^a
And working righteousness,^b
And speaking truth in his heart.^c”

From the last post on Psalm 15, it becomes clear that to be able to dwell with God and live with him is one of the greatest gifts that we receive through the Holy Spirit. This is also something that we should remind ourselves not to forsake and always remember God as our Lord and Savior. David describes the type of man, or Christian who is able to dwell with God. Just because the Holy Spirit dwells in us does not make give us an easy ride to talk with God, in fact it may make it more difficult in some aspects because Satan will try doubly as hard to try and ruin us by sin. If we do not possess the characteristics of Psalm 15, we quench the Holy Spirit within us.

A) When David says, “He who is walking uprightly”, the word for “uprightly” in Hebrew, tamim, literally means perfectly, complete in all its parts. What is the Christian walking in though? Each day we walk along the thin line that is the will of God. The will of God when described by most commentators is not an individual plan for your life, though there is one for all of our days are written in His book, but one that is the moral will of God. (Psalm 139:16) This moral will is described perfectly in Colossians 1:9-13:

“Because of this, we also, from the day in which we heard, do not cease praying for you, and asking that ye may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, to your walking worthily of the Lord to all pleasing, in every good work being fruitful, and increasing to the knowledge of God, in all might being made mighty according to the power of His glory, to all endurance and long-suffering with joy. Giving thanks to the Father who did make us meet for the participation of the inheritance of the saints in the light, who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate [us] into the reign of the Son of His love.”

Paul clearly lays out the will of God for every believer. The will of God is never directed towards the individual, but for all God’s children. (Though God has a will for the individual, this is seen in retrospect when we see God’s hand on our lives) We are to walk in these things daily if we want to be able to walk with the Lord. These are the things that David says we have to walk in all parts, we cannot skip one and go to the next. When you read 2 Peter 1:5-8, these are all the characteristics that a Christian should have, this is what God wants for your life, what the will of God is for you. Do not be ignorant, may the Holy Spirit convict you on what you are missing from your walk with the Lord. Like David, let the Lord search you by His Spirit and show you what is missing. (Psalm 139:23) In fact, there is a complete list of all the things that God hates in Proverbs 6:16-19. (The Seven Things God Hates)

B) Going into the Hebrew again for the 2^nd part of this verse, the Hebrew word for working, paw-al, is something that should be translated as, “systematic, habitual work.” This is not a type of work that every once in awhile when God smacks you over the head to do something good. You will know when you are doing this when you never receive a rebuke from God about doing works of righteousness because you are always doing it. I think that Christians are way too lazy and need to actually start getting out there and working. One of the best descriptions of work and labor is in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, when Paul says to “labor in love.” This type of labor is work that breaks you down and is merciless. This is not something you can do each day without it crushing your spirit and building it back up. Did you not know that God always called Israel out on the lack of care for the poor and widows? What are you doing this week to help those who need it and feverously work righteousness? This is not something you take your time and say, “not now, maybe tomorrow or the next day.”Maybe your worldy needs are being met and you have no reason to seek out the hungry and poor. Will God still answer your prayers? Of course, but to what extent? Will your lack of fervor for His will hold back or delay an answer?

C) The person who speaks truth in his heart does not make false promises or teaches lies. Whatever his heart convicts him of, he speaks it. He is a man who believes in the truth and makes it a practice of living by it daily. This truth can mean he speaks Gods word and that of the Bible, or that he does not let any falsehood escape his mouth. Solomon talks about this in Proverbs when he says that if we make any type of promise we cannot keep, we are to go immediately, forsaking sleep, and right the wrong. (Proverbs 6:1-4) Do we have the truth in us? Do we not hear from God every time we read His word? If we go against what He says, the truth is not in us, and we do not speak it in our hearts, let alone follow through and produce fruit from it. Are we slandering those around us, or are too promiscuous with our words? If all our words are played back before us when we stand before Christ, will we be able to stand on them or have them crush us? For a man’s words either condemn him or save him. (Matthew 12:37)

Last night as I was praying, I realized how often I was repeating the same points.  I was quickly convicted because I realized that the repetition was an underlying lack of faith.  Using this example, if you can imagine faith within a glass, then my faith only filled up less than the rim.  If my faith were full (although building faith is a process), then putting a request before God should only need to be done once since at that point where my faith is full one request would be sufficient.

And then I also realized my words were many.

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” - Proverbs 10:19 (this verse is not specifically referring to prayer, but to all instances in life when you have the opportunity to speak.  Therefore, I used it to refer to prayer.)

I became convicted again.  Because of the verse above, I realized that not only the repetition was a result of sin (lack of faith) but also realized that I am speaking to the God of the universe.  He is in heaven, I am not.  I was not frugal with my words – and this was a lack of sufficient fear.  If my fear of God were full (although building fear is a process that parallels our understanding), then my words would be few since at the point where my words are many, I forget that I am rambling to the God of this universe and sin is bound to be present through my loose tongue (See Fear of the Lord).

So I took a step back and slowed down.  I tried to remember the real reason why I was praying.  It was beyond a request and beyond my redundant ramblings.  God knows my heart before going into prayer.  Unfortunately I took my own route of praying and decided to avoid the recommended prayer framework – the “Our Father”.  And then I realized that all that i want to do is reveal my heart to the Lord so that I can build a better relationship with Him.  But what can I possibly reveal to God that he doesn’t already know?

Since God recognizes that we are in our weak states until the resurrection, maybe he wants us to reveal our hearts to Him not because he needs to know, but because we need to edify our faith.  I’ll admit – the repetition, although not perfect, builds my faith and allows me to rest contently knowing that I spoke all that I had on my heart.  Had I not rambled, my prayers would have seemed unfulfilling due to my lack of faith.

Therefore, I realized that by praying we are strengthening our spirit and building our relationship with God.  Although this may seem obvious, it’s really not so obvious.

“Jehovah, who doth sojourn in Thy tent?

Who doth dwell in Thy holy hill?^“

As Paul would lay out the characteristics of those who are not fit to enter the kingdom of God, David shows us who is able to dwell with the Lord in Psalm 15. (1 Corinthians 6:9,10) Sometimes it is easier to look at what we should have in our daily lives as a Christian, rather than what we should be abstaining from. If we can walk with this psalm in our hearts, and by the help of the Holy Spirit, we will further our sanctification and become more like Christ. (2^nd Thessalonians 2:13)

As much as this is a rhetorical question, David asks it because who really is fit to be in the tent of the Lord? Who can say they are free to dwell on His holy hill, Zion? The priests of the old had to wear little tassels made from pomegranate shells on the bottom of their outfit so if God were to strike them dead, they would know because the sound produced from the shells would stop. (Exodus 28:33-35) The priests were the only people who were allowed to come into the Holy of Holies, and even they were not completely protected from God.

A Christian might say that since their body is a tabernacle for the Holy Spirit, they may approach God in any manner, or even haphazardly. (2 Peter 1:13) Solomon puts it very clear; when we approach God, we are to make our words few because if we make a promise or an oath to God and do not keep it, God has every right to take away the fruits of our labor. (Ecclesiastes 5:2-7) God is not our best bud, or our boyfriend, so to treat him like that is to not give him the respect nor honor that is due to Him. The Lord is so holy that he cannot even look at our sins, and he won’t even hear us when we pray if we have blood on our hands. (Habakkuk 1:13, Isaiah 1:5) Treating the Creator of the universe with such an earthly love shows a lack of true regard for who God is. Their love ceases to be agape, and turns into a sinful eros and phileo love.

So who can approach the Lord Almighty? As Christians, we have been given the greatest gift of all; communion with the Lord. Since the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we are only one prayer away from being in communication with God. This is something that in many is not utilized as it should, including myself. When Christ died, he tore the veil of the Temple, and gave us a chance to be in communion with Him. Does this mean we can live our lives in any fashion and still be able to walk with God? The Apostle John points it out very clearly that if we have any darkness in us; the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:6) Psalm 15 shows us a great example of what a righteous Christian should be like as He walks with the Lord. It is a very powerful and precious gift that we have received through the blood of the Lamb. To treat this with a lackadaisical attitude, we cheat God and ourselves. The psalmist promises us, that the man who is described in the psalm will not be moved when anything comes against him. (Psalm 15:5) This is a promise given by the Holy Spirit, and since God is not a shifting shadow, we know that if we walk in this manner, we will not be shaken by the calamities of our life.  (James  1:17)