Beware of Becoming Puffed Up — Alan Martin

Pursuing Peace and the Unity of the Spirit

We'll be looking at verses 16 -19 of Romans 14. It's still very much upon my heart to test the foundation, lay the foundation, finish the foundation. I'm not sure how to describe it properly. But that we be a fellowship where the peace of Christ is in full measure evident.

And the unity of the Spirit is preserved through the bond of peace. It's still upon my heart. We're told in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14, Follow after peace with all men, and holiness without which no one shall see the Lord.

And that means if we are lacking peace, if we fall short of this peace of Christ, if we fall short of the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace, I fear for us. We are called as members of one body to be in peace.

And this is still much upon my heart. So in Romans chapter 14, read with me from verses 16 -19. Therefore do not let that which you consider good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

For he who serves Christ in these things, in righteousness, in peace, and in the joy of the Holy Spirit, is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things of peace. And the things by which one may edify another.

Peace Cannot Be Found in Self-Pleasing

Okay? I want to first look at this morning where the things of peace that we are to pursue will not be found. I just want to save you from looking there. Because you can pursue peace and not find it if you're looking in the wrong places.

So first of all, let's look in the book of James chapter 4. You can be sure that if you look here, you will not find peace. James chapter 4 verses 1 -3. From whence come? Or where do come? Where do wars and fights come from among you?

Do they not come from your pleasures that war within your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight in war, yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Both word for pleasure here in this passage in verses 1 -3 comes from the Greek word hedona or hedonos. We get the English word hedon, hedonism from it. Which is just a life that we're completely given to pleasure.

The actual root of the word is the Greek word andano, which is to please. So this comes from this idea of pleasing. When we seek to please in a certain direction, we'll experience wars, battles, fights.

I'll describe that a little bit more in a minute. But what direction if we seek to please will produce these things according to verse 3? If we seek to please ourselves, the person seeking to please himself in order to have peace and joy and what's right in his own eyes, his own form of righteousness is going to experience warring, murder, jealousy, fighting and battle.

So the things that are all contrary to the peace of God come from where? From seeking to please ourselves. Now in contrast to this, James has described in the prior three verses where the things that really do bring peace come about.

Wisdom from Above Produces Peace

Look in chapter 3 verses 16 -18. Chapter 3 verses 16 -18 of James says, 4. Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are. The one seeking to please himself, from that come envy, confusion, every evil thing spring from there.

But that wisdom that is from above is first of all pure. Pure of what? Obviously what's the main problem? Self. Self-seeking. He's purified from a self-interest. And when you're purified from a self-interest, what's the next result?

Then, peaceable. It's pure. Then, peaceable. Then, some versions say considerate. Some versions say gentle. What's another translation? Courteous. The Greek word here is the word for yieldedness. Moderation.

It is the opposite of being rigid. It's the opposite of my way or the highway. It is the ability to give way to others. So they can have peace. So it will go well with them. That's what this word is. And this is in this same word, this epikase, this forbearance, this moderation, this yieldedness, this gentleness.

The scripture says in Philippians,. This is what we are to be known for before all men. Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. Every person here should be known as one who is very forbearing towards others.

Not for being a prophet. Not for being just strong, religious, unduly, legalistic, unmovable. There are things we do not budge in. But in everything possible, we should be known as those seeking to yield.

That's the idea of this word. Then comes compliant. Easily persuaded. There are those who in conversations have no intention of hearing what the other person is saying. They just will politely wait till the other person finishes his foolishness so they can really speak wisdom.

They are not very easily persuaded because they don't listen. They already have the answer. They don't need to be persuaded. They are convinced they already know. Wisdom from above is also full of mercy, good fruit, without partiality, without hypocrisy.

And then it says in verse 18,. And the fruit of righteousness is sown, how? In peace. And what's the fruit of this righteousness which is sown in peace? It makes peace. Those who sow in peace, you would expect what to grow?

Peace. Those who are peaceful receive peace. So, wisdom that comes from above produces peace with God and men. Wisdom that comes from within produces warring, murder, jealousy, fighting, and battles. Let's look a little deeper then how the things contrary to peace arise from among us.

What causes us to go from being at peace with one another to be in conflict against each other? We've already seen part of the answer is seeking to please ourselves. That's part of it. But let's look a little closer at this aspect and the other factors that go along with it.

Thinking Beyond What Is Written

Turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 6. 1 Corinthians 4 verse 6. Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what's written, and that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

Okay. According to this verse, what happens when we think beyond what's written? What happens when we think beyond what's written? Well, what's the word that they use here? We become puffed up. Okay. So in other words, let me explain, I'll explain this word just a little bit.

Yeah, here it is. The word puffed up comes from the Greek word phousiao, which is to inflate. Okay. What do we become inflated with? Okay. Thoughts of our own. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Every man does what's right in his own eyes. So what does a person become puffed up with? Their own thoughts. That's what pride is. Pride is being filled with your own thoughts instead of the word of God.

Okay, you following? Okay, you're thinking outside the boundary. Here's what A .T. Robertson had to say about this word phousiao. Phousiao is from the word phousis, which means nature. And so meant to make natural.

Just your own natural thoughts. Just fill with your own natural thoughts. Paul says, I say this now even with tears. Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. It says they take glory in their shame.

God is their belly and their mind is what? On earthly things, natural things. Being filled with natural things puffs people up. He goes on to say through this word. It also comes from the word phousiao, which is a pair of billows.

So Paul uses it to create a vivid picture of a person being filled with his own thoughts. Being inflated. Self-conceit. This makes sense in Proverbs 13 .10. The scripture says, contention cometh but by pride.

Pride, it says in the NIV, it puts it this way. Pride only brings quarrels. But wisdom is found on those who listen to advice. Okay? Now, question. What causes this self-inflation? Alright, look with me.

Knowledge Puffs Up, but Love Builds Up

If you're in 1 Corinthians still, turn to chapter 8. 1 Corinthians chapter 8. I've already given a pretty strong hint. It involves being filled with our own thoughts. But how does this process describe here by Paul?

1 Corinthians 8, verse 1. Now concerning the things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge, but what does knowledge do? Puffs up. Knowledge fills you with thoughts. You study, you've known, you've disciplined yourself, you've read the scripture, you know, you know.

And when you know and you're filled with what you know, it blows you up. But what does love do? It actually builds up others. Knowledge is not the answer to everything. Just because you know something is wrong and someone else doesn't, doesn't mean the answer to that is you telling them.

That make sense? What does the wise man do? What does the prudent man do according to Proverbs? What does he do with knowledge? He keeps it to himself. Because knowledge is not the answer for everything.

Knowledge puffs up. Now, look with verse 2. Same chapter, 1 Corinthians 8, verse 2. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he does not yet know as he ought to know. I've always kind of been puzzled a little bit of that verse, what it means.

But that's the limitations of translation. See, the word know and knows in English is different words in the Greek language. The first word for know here is, comes from the word arao. But it's a, we get the word I from that.

To see, to perceive. And it's a perfect infinitive in the Greek, means if someone says, I've fully seen it. Oh, I've fully seen this. He does not yet, a different word comes in. Experiential knowledge.

If anyone says, I've fully seen it. He has not fully experienced it yet as he ought to. Because what does the scripture say? For we all see as how? In a glass dimly is the best you and I can see in this world.

The best you and I can see in this mortal flesh is but dimly, as in a glass dimly. And how do we know? You said it right, brother. How can we know in this world? In part. We know in part and we prophesy in part.

And someone saying, I have fully seen it and I fully know it, is a fool. And do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. And when someone is filled with what they have seen and what they now know.

You know what comes out of it? Contention, warring, strife, fighting. Whereas love, advice. That's sobering, isn't it? You know it's, when I have this here in my note. When we become inflated with our own thoughts that we've fully seen.

And our own knowledge that we've fully experienced. Our attitude towards others becomes adversarial. Hostile. Defensive. You know what it says in 1 Corinthians 13 of this same word puffed up? 1 Corinthians 13 verse 4 says, love is not, can't do it.

Not with love. Not when you are steaming, highly valuing others. You can't puff that up. You can puff up carnality. That's a hint. What can be puffed up? Turn with me in Colossians chapter 2. Let's look at what can be puffed up.

Judging Others by Human Standards

Colossians chapter 2. Colossians chapter 2 beginning with verse 16. So let no one judge you in food or in drink or regarding to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. How do we judge others? How does someone judge us?

What do they judge us with in other words? They have to be judging us with something. Their own thoughts. Do you see why scripture says when we compare ourselves among ourselves and judge ourselves by ourselves, we're not wise?

We don't go around judging others by our own thoughts. Especially by what we only see in part and what we only know in part. We leave all judgment to the one worthy whose eyes see all. Even what's behind the thoughts and intents of the heart.

There's only one with whom we have to do. And he doesn't miss anything. Therefore he is worthy to judge. And we are not. We don't have the ability to. Here in verse 17 of Colossians 2. These things, these food and drinks and festivals and new moons and Sabbaths are a shadow of the things to come.

But the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you out of your reward. The Greek word here could be translated to don't let anyone give an unfavorable decision. In other words, they just kind of disapprove of you.

You know why? Because you're not measuring up to what? Their thoughts. You're not measuring up to what they have seen. You're not measuring up to what they have come to know. And so, they can't award you the good housekeeping seal of Christian behavior.

You are a substandard believer in their eyes. Because you don't measure up to what they're inflated with. That's the idea here. Let no one cheat you out of your reward, taking delight in false humility and the worship of angels.

And this is a very interesting statement then. Intruding into those things which what? Finish that for me in verse 18. Intruding into those things which? Not seeing them. How can you intrude into things you've not seen?

The Greek word says more clear. Fully seen. He hasn't fully seen. None of us fully see anything. When someone decides that they're really going to press into something that they have not yet really fully seen.

But when someone is pressing on into something that they have not fully seen. Where are they being puffed up? According to that verse. In the mind of their flesh. Their carnal mind is filling them with their own carnal thoughts.

And they're pressing into it. And therefore they disqualify you. Because you don't measure up. To what they have seen. To what they know. And does that produce peace? Now and it's interesting. Especially in our day.

False Humility, Angelic Messengers, and New Revelations

What do these people delight in? What are they delighting in? It's in verse... I'll give you a hint. It's in verse 18. They take delight in false humility. I'm not talking about that. But what else? That's what happens.

But what are they delighting in? That's the false humility. That's that part. The other part. The worship of angels. You know what comes along with this? You know how a lot of people intrude into things they have not fully seen?

Hey, you've got to read this.

Man, so and so wrote this. Hey, there is a group in such and such a place. And they have seen it. And now I know it. Because I read it. And so and so says. And so and so says. They're the messenger. That's what angel is.

Where did Islam come from? Mohammed got it from the angel.

The messenger gave it to him. Where did Joseph Smith get his message from? The angel gave it to him. Still going on today. So and so said. So and so said. So and so said. Be careful. Be careful in such people who have got to press into your hands this great new discovery they've made through the messenger.

And don't let them disqualify you from living before God according to the convictions He's given you. Follow? And don't be this kind of person to other. So filled with your own thoughts. So excited by what you have not fully seen that you end up breaking the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

Because what happens here is right after the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5 it says, and let us not become conceited. Envying and provoking one another. You know what it means to provoke one another?

It means to call others to yourself. How do you call others to yourself? Hey, I've seen it. Now I know. And you can tell who the messenger is in my people's house. Go look in their library and see who the most books they have.

Listen to their conversation and see how many names come up in it. During a given time. Look in their tape collection and see how many tapes they have by this one guy. Paul said, no more glorying about men.

They're just all under rowers. They're just all servants. They're just people who happen to receive a message. The only one worthy of any glory is the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's what happens to these people.

That's the last thing it says about them. These people who are getting their messages from messengers have lost connection with the head. They're connected to certain messengers. They've got some books.

They've got some information. They're in tune now. But they've lost connection with Christ. And now they're getting their information on this horizontal plane. And that's a dangerous place to be. So what's the solution to this?

Walking by the Spirit

Well, the prevention is also the cure. Okay? Turn to Galatians chapter 5. Briefly here. This is a first class conditional sentence in the Greek meaning its conclusion is assumed. It's going to happen.

So really we could translate it this way in verse 25 of Galatians 25. Since we live by the Spirit, let us do what? Walk by the Spirit. Not becoming conceited. What does the Spirit bring? If we walk by the Spirit, what are we going to be receiving?

The things that come from above. The Spirit will not speak on His own. He'll speak only what He hears from the Father. So you won't be walking by anything you're being filled with from within yourself.

You will be walking by the wisdom that's from above. That's pure, peaceable, considerate, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. And it will lead to making peace. And keeping, preserving the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

Paul’s Example of Living for Christ

Paul learned this. Look in 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Just two more verses. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Paul learned this. Verse 16. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Verse 16. Start with verse 14. Just to kind of help create the context.

2 Corinthians 5. Verse 14. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus, that if one died for all, then all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves.

Well, that would take care of the first problem in creating disturbance, wouldn't it? You're not seeking yourself to please yourself. Because those who've really been united with Christ are no longer living for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. I like the way the King James says it. Henceforth we know no man after the flesh. You do not know others by your own carnal thinking. You know them by the Spirit of God.

What God fills your heart with, that's how you relate to them by. And believe me, God does not relate to us only on the basis of what He sees. He relates to us on the basis of His will. And it's God's will that no one should perish, but that everyone should be saved and come to the full knowledge of the truth.

The Righteous Requirement of the Law Fulfilled by Love

And one last verse. Last verse that we're going to look at. Romans chapter 8. If we are really keeping in step with the Spirit, living by the Spirit, and not our own carnal thinking, Romans chapter 8.

I'll start with verse 4. Romans 8 verse 4. When we are really walking by the Spirit, what's going to happen? The righteous requirement of the law will be what? Fully met in us. Of course. Love doth no harm to His neighbor.

Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. And how does this love come into our lives? By knowledge? No. It's shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit of God is filling our hearts with love, the righteous requirement of the law are fully met in us.

Because we do not walk after the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Verse 5. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life, and the unity of the Spirit preserves, is that part of preserving the bond of peace. Because the mind of the Spirit is peace. And as members of one body we were called to live in peace, and it's still a burden of my heart to make sure that is how we relate to one another.

Not judging one another by our own carnal thoughts. Especially those thoughts we have only partially seen, but we are ready to run into and pass along to others the source, the messenger we got them by.

Be careful. Be careful that the unity of the Spirit is preserved in the bond of peace. Alright, let's pray. You and Your mercy to forgive us where we have judged others. By our own carnal, partial, incomplete, unfinished thoughts.

Restore us to the proper place where we are before You. In that place where we acknowledge only You know fully. Only You understand completely. Therefore, You are worthy to be the judge. And let us, Father, fill us with that same mercy towards others.

That is the very source of life between You and us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Kenny is going to come and make some...