NOBILITY OF SPIRIT: A discussion on PHIL 4:8. 10 JAN 2017

Due to medical appointments, I am getting a little free time today, & the chance to discuss a subject dear to my heart. “…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure…lovely…of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.”(A) I adore this scripture so much, that I had it said at my wedding. I value it so much, that I told a like-minded brother that my desire was to promote nobility of spirit. In that spirit, I present this post. Nobility of spirit is both an ideal, and a living masterpiece that can enable others to obtain godly freedom & excellence.

WHAT IS NOBILITY OF SPIRIT?? Like so many things undoubtedly different people will have different answers to this. But a look at PHIL 4:8 gives us some guidance…it shows that truthful, praiseworthy, & excellent things are similar in nature. Indeed, leaving the Bible aside for a second, these terms are close enough to serve as synonyms to “nobility” in a Thesaurus. The Word of God describes some “noble” people: “These were more noble…in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.”(B) In other words, these folks were principled…aware of what is called “dogma”, the theological truths that provide the foundation to the Way of Christ. God’s Word is indeed valued in heaven. The word translated “noble” in the original Greek is “eugenes” which is a derivative of eu (yoo=good, well done) and carries the context of excellence. Certain people just emanate “nobility of spirit”. And it doesn’t have to be only people, there are noble trees, noble mountains, & noble animals. One identifies nobility, when it is experienced. One might also call it dignity of spirit. It is high-minded principles. It is bringing heaven to earth…the attributes of the divine into the mundane. (“Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.”)

EXAMPLES. Yesterday’s post spoke of a noble example of a doctor, who specialized in helping those who had confounded modern medicine. His noble mind was both empathetic & benevolent. Two example from ancient history come immediately to mind: Joseph & Daniel, who began as slaves, but by nobility of spirit caused the World to promote them to the ranks of nobility. Daniel spoke about what God was showing him, “He revealeth the deep and secret things…”(C) Deep things! And Joseph spoke about what God was doing in his life: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good…”(D) The good Joseph talked about was the salvation of his people. So we have fixed the meaning of nobility…it is someone who loves God’s wisdom, exhibits godly conduct, and exhibits excellence. Christ was the prime example, so one way to nobility is to imitate Christ’s virtues. For instance, Christ’s noble ideas to give to those who can’t repay, & to forgive others of their sins.

CONVERTING GODLY PRINCIPLES INTO NOBLE DEEDS. The Bereans were more noble because they checked the Word of God for doctrines. They did not base their actions on whims or opinions, but they translated the principles of the Word of God into “shoe leather”–that is they made Biblical principles relevant to ordinary life. Unfortunately, many ministers have been saying doctrine (dogma) is irrelevant to life; and because the average church goer doesn’t realize what he is missing, he swallows this nonsense. The ministers involved in ecumenicalism stress that doctrine is destructive to churches–and that is right if they are churches of Christendom…because it is preventing these worldly churches to unite into a One World establishment Church that the Illuminati can control. Christian morality is built upon Christian theology. Sorry if that is not what you have been led to believe…but it is the facts of the matter. The World has been trying to water down Christianity into a vague, nice, cuddly sentimental social club. Having been a missionary to the cults for ten years, I can state with assurance, the modern church has little comprehension of the doctrines upon which their behavior is to stem from. That is why it is so easy for the govt. to get the churches involved in war, so that Baptists are killing Baptists, and Methodists are killing Methodists, etc. Worldly loyalties are more important than Godly loyalties. It is why humanism & atheism can be found even in the churches. Our doctrine of God is important. I am reminded of the WT Society writing in the WT magazine that God makes prophecies like the weatherman makes predictions…he’s merely the heavenly weatherman. If Yahshua had not understood doctrine, he would not have survived Satan’s temptations…which is exactly why many potentially noble persons, get destroyed by Satan. What is the nature of God, man & fallen angels? Without an understanding it is easy to get ensnared into immoral traps. For instance, society can not legislate morality. Good laws need good people to model correct behavior, live up to them, and enforce them. Without a godly principled people, the Constitution simply becomes a piece of paper.

ONE EXAMPLE. Let’s look at one minor aspect. We are to do all we do for the sake of God. We are to do it out of faith & love. We are to manifest the Spirit of God. One aspect of God is creativity…another is joy. A Biblical principle is that the love of money is the root of all evil. The churches do not teach the sacredness of accomplishment for God. Work is pictured as simply something done for money. Men love a sense of accomplishment–it is built into most men. Their true joy from work is seeing something created out of their labor–and yet this purpose is stolen from them. They are reduced to grubbing for money…an endeavor that at times becomes demeaning. So an aspect of life that could be sacred, is reduced, due to lack of understanding Christian principles, into a quest for filthy lucre; and a man is measured on how well he does that. While some non-Christians show dignity and excellence, for instance, one doesn’t need to be a Christian to be honest or have joy…the Word of God and the principles it teaches are needed for most of us not to get sucked into the common behavior of the masses. “For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” (E) There is a relationship between righteousness and the deeper use of the Word of God. Being virtuous is part of being noble. And then a noble person can handle freedom.

“BE FRUITFUL & MULTIPLY.”(F) There is an aspect of multiplying–(reproducing) that produces the godly fruit tending towards nobility, that is the role of parenthood…which if done correctly demands selflessness & love. Serving your children builds a maturity & strength of character that ennobles a person. So the command “be fruitful & multiply!” produces a fruitfulness of nobility to it that naturally happens if parenting is done properly.
TIMELESS EXCELLENCE…TIMELESS VALUES. The noble person does what is of value…if something holds its value timelessly, then it is more valuable. Are there timeless things? Love. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”(G) The love of Christ is excellent, noble and timeless. What is good, what is true, and what is noble my friend?? Think on these things.

(A) PHIL 4:8 (B) ACTS 17:11 (C) DAN 2:22 (D) GEN 50:20 (E) HEB 5:13 (F) GEN 1;22,28, 8:17; 9:1,7; 35:1 (G) 1 COR 13:13