Golden Pillars Class Study, pastor Dave Goble.
There are five “Be”s that we need so we can be grounded, settled, and encouraged: Be mindful, be joyful, be thankful, be watchful, and be prayerful.
Be Mindful. It’s very necessary for us to be grounded and settled, especially after a time of upset. We all have periods of upset. Paul told Timothy to remember the traditions he’d been taught. Being mindful and not forgetting the things we’ve been taught will help us stay on the rock no matter what comes and goes. It’s a good thing that the rock goes with us when we’re grounded and settled on it. We don’t want to be in the serious condition of being on the sinking sand. People lose their lives when they’ve built on sinking sand and an earthquake comes. Different structures do better or worse depending on what they are built of. Unreinforced (without rebar) masonry or brick is the worst structure to be in when there’s an earthquake. If the structure is so rigid that it can’t sway, it will crack and fall down. The best structure in an earthquake is made of wood because it bends and is flexible. We need to be able to bend a little so we don’t break.
Exodus 13:3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
The younger generation is watching to hear our testimony. A young, married couple may be going through a difficulty and won’t ever know our testimony that could help them in what they’re going through if we don’t testify. In any stage of life, we may need to use something we’ve never had to use before. Moses said to remember things that occurred at Passover. Even the fringe on the priests garment was to remind them of things.
Numbers 15:38-41 Speak unto the children of Israel…that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look…and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and…seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the Lord…which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.
In the New Testament we’re told to remember things – remember Jesus was raised from the dead so we could be saved. We need to remember how we used to be and how God changed us. We’re also to remember those who aren’t her yet.
II Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Be Joyful. The wells of joy are a constant source of living water that we draw joy from the wells of salvation. Other members in the congregation are watching the older ones to see if we still have joy after many years. The older we get, there are more aches and pains but the younger ones want to see if we still have joy or if joy runs out.
Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
There’s a measure of joy we receive from hearing the Word. If we get stony ground, we’ll die. Our roots need to go deep to be grounded. It is with joy that we access the strength of our faith. A joyless faith is legalistic or pharisaical and without charity. Real joy doesn’t come at the expense of another or seek to defend itself even if the other person is wrong. Joy brings contentment so it defeats discontentment. With real joy we’re eager and have a real desire to dig deeper into things of God. Joy includes a curiosity about the things of God. Our joy can be upset but we can’t let upset stick around, meditate on it, or find reasons to justify it. If we let our upset turn into despair, it will kill our joy. Despair will turn into hopelessness.
Matthew 13:20-21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Be Thankful. It’s hard to be unthankful if we’re thankful. Unthankful is a cousin to being hopeless. When we enter into the temple, it’s a place we’re thankful. Thankfulness is not in the brick and mortar of the building, but we bring it with us.
Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Those Paul spoke to started out by knowing God but they didn’t glorify him as God by their ungodly way of living. They became vain in their imaginations so their foolish heart was darkened. There’s a state of mind that is whatever we’re feeling in the moment. It’s affected by everything around us and what we’re going through. A state of being is deeper and is like being contented. You can be upset so it affects your state of mind, but it shouldn’t affect your state of being. It doesn’t mean your state of being must be virtuous and your state of mind can be anything so you can throw dishes at the wall. These people’s state of being began to change so they became vain in their imaginations. They became fools and changed the nature of God into corruptible things because they were unthankful. We can change our state of mind for good by being thankful. If we lose our thankfulness, our state of being content will be affected.
Romans 1:21-23…when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man…birds…fourfooted beasts…creeping things.
If we meditate on the things God has already done for us, it helps us recover our thankfulness in the day of trouble.
Psalm 143:4-6…my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works…the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land…
It’s impossible to be bitter and thankful at the same time. If we find bitterness trying to work on us, draw from the wells of thankfulness. It is possible to be upset at the same time we’re thankful. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23;34). Jesus was probably thinking about dying and suffering but not about thankfulness at that moment. His state of mind was affected in the moment but he never lost his state of being thankful to his Father. Stephen was stoned and said, “lay not this sin to their charge.” Our state of mind can be troubled but not affect our state of being.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Be watchful. Strengthen things that remain and are ready to die. To be grounded and settled, we need to be watchful. Satan doesn’t sleep so be watchful for his attacks when you wake up and through the day.
Revelation 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
The fiery darts of the enemy come when you least expect them. We need to be watchful. When the enemy comes we’ll be prepared to overcome him and to have a soft answer to turn away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). If we’re watchful, we have access to soft words. It takes practice to be watchful.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Be Prayerful. Being prayerful is part of the armor of God that we’re intended to put on – praying always with all prayer. Where would we be if we didn’t pray? Are we using the 5 “Be”s so we’re strengthened and don’t get discouraged?
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;