It's In There Somewhere

Fifty-Two Chapters / Exodus 3

2012-01-26T11:24:00.001-06:00

There is no question but that the meeting of God with Moses at the burning bush is one of the key events in human history. Here are my thoughts from this significant chapter.

Consider Moses. At this point in his life he is eighty years old. At one time he was a man of high position and influence in Egypt; a prince in the land. He tried to use that fleshly power and influence to do good for God’s people and failed miserably. As a result he became an outlaw escaping as a refugee to the desert. This is now forty years later and it is just another regular day on his regular job as a shepherd.

It was a regular day on a regular job when he saw what could have easily passed for a regular sight. The conditions were so dry and so hot in this wilderness that seeing a bush spontaneously combust into flames was not an unusual sight. What was unusual was for the bush to not actually be consumed but in order to observe that Moses had to actually look at the sight. He had to look for more than a few seconds. He had to actually be paying attention for God on a regular day at his regular job.

Consider God. This God calls a broken failure of a man in his menial state and blithely tells him to go and deliver a nation of slaves from one of the greatest powers on earth. Furthermore, He states that this earthly power will resist this suggestion but not to worry about that because God Himself will deal with them. What kind of God is this? This is like sending a pee wee team in to play in the Super Bowl. “Don’t worry. The New England Patriots are a lot faster bigger and stronger than you, but we’ll win.”

Moses asks God for His name. This is a reasonable request and God has two answers. This is also reasonable since God is a bit much for just one name, and also because both of these names are full of meaning.

“I AM WHO I AM”

This is why Moses can actually do the task being assigned, because he won’t actually be the one doing it. I AM WHO I AM means that God is the One who doesn’t actually need anyone or anything else. He is completely self sufficient.

I AM WHO I AM also means that God doesn’t change. Everything in the material universe is in a constant state of flux. Everything is growing or dying, waxing or waning, aging and fading or birthing and coming into its own for a brief time. Even the most solid of objects are made up of atoms which are in constant and unpredictable motion. There is an ancient saying from the Middle East that encapsulates this truth: “You can never step in the same river twice.”

With everything in a state of constant change what can one depend on? The answer is only the One fixed point in all of the universe: I AM THAT I AM.

“I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

This is the other name by which God identified Himself to Moses. This is a wonderful name. While the other name indicates an awesomeness of power and mystery far beyond our ability to comprehend this name is other end of the spectrum of God’s names. He is a personal God. He walks in relationship with regular flawed people.

To all who are regular flawed people with ordinary lives filled with ordinary days, and who long for something, or better yet someone, they can totally count on - this is the God for you.

Fifty-Two Chapters / Genesis 25

2012-01-17T23:06:00.000-06:00

This may seem to be a weird chapter to select as one of my favorites. It starts out with the answer to one of my favorite Bible Trivia (boy, talk about an oxymoron) questions. If you haven’t read the chapter yet then 500 points if you can answer this: Who did Abraham marry after Sarah died? Actually, even if you have read the chapter you still get 100 points if you could answer without looking back.

Of course, the answer is... Keturah.

The chapter then goes on to tell us a little about the sons Keturah bore to Abraham. (Indeed, Sarah was barren rather than Abraham being infertile. But of course we already pretty much knew that with Ishmael being born to Hagar.) It also tells us that Isaac and Ishmael came together to bury Abraham after he died.

Then we get a list of Ishmael’s sons and are told that Ishmael lived to be a hundred and thirty-seven before he died.

We’re told that Isaac’s wife Rebekah was barren but Isaac prayed and God gave her twins. While the twins were in her womb God told her that the older would serve the younger. The first born was hairy and named Esau. The younger came out grasping his brother’s heel and was thus named Jacob. Esau was a hunter but Jacob enjoyed a more domestic life. Esau was Isaac’s favorite. Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite.

As interesting as all of this may be it falls somewhat short of being favorite chapter material.

Ah, but then we come to the last six verses and a remarkable story unfolds.

Esau has been out hunting and comes in famished. Jacob is cooking stew. Esau asks for some stew. Jacob tells Esau that he can have some stew in exchange for his rights as the first born. Esau agrees. Done.

What did we just see? We just saw why God chose Jacob instead of Esau. In the natural this could go either way. In truth, what kind of brother won’t just give his sibling something to eat when asked for food? It was pretty low of Jacob to take advantage of his brother like that. So, what gives?

Esau despised his birthright. In despising his birthright he was considering as of little value the right to stand in the line of the promises given to Abraham. He could not see the value of promises made by an invisible God concerning future things. Even a promise so great as, “Through you all nations on earth will be blessed.” Jacob saw its value, believed in the invisible God who made those promises, and desired to have them.

It is good to be kind and good and generous and all of those qualities we admire in others so much. But it is better to desire God and what He has promised. If we are those other “good” things but have no need for God then ultimately we won’t have those other things either. If we will desire God and go after Him them all of these other things will eventually be ours as well because He will conform us to His image.

Jesus said, “Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have even what he has will be taken from him.” The story of Jacob and Esau proved that if we desire God we will have it all, but if we despise (consider of little value) God then we have...nothing.

Fifty-Two Chapters / Genesis 22

2012-01-11T00:27:00.001-06:00

This has been one of my favorite chapters for many years. This chapter is the reason I named my son Isaac. (Margaret was a party to selecting the name but she was pushing for Mark as I recall.) Also, Isaac means "he laughs" and I wanted that for him as well, but this chapter was the real reason.

Abraham

Abraham is an old man by this time. He has walked with the Lord many years and is well able to recognize the Lord’s voice. The Lord comes to Abraham and instructs him to do the literally unthinkable. To sacrifice Isaac would not only be a horrible thing to do in the natural, but in the spirit it seemed to make no sense. Everything God had promised to Abraham was tried to Isaac’s life. If Isaac is no more what will become of these promises concerning Abraham’s descendants?

But Abraham does not hesitate. The only issue here is, “What has God said?” Abraham realized that Isaac had certainly come from God. As such, Isaac did not belong to Abraham. He belonged to God.

There may well come a time in your life when God instructs you to give up something He has given to you. When He does remember, the only issue is, “What has God said to do?”

Isaac

Isaac is the arch-type of Christ in many ways. He was born as the son of promise. Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah was well passed the age of child bearing. Not only was she passed the age to have children she had never been able to have children even when she was younger. She was barren. Isaac was born to a mother who in the natural couldn’t have children just as Christ was born of a virgin. Isaac’s father was a wealthy man and everything he had came as a result of who he was. Jesus was the Son of God and everything He had came from His Father.

Isaac’s father was willing to offer him in sacrifice. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, whom He loved.

The Comparison

The region of Moriah where Abraham was instructed to go is in the area of present day Jerusalem. So it was that at the father’s instruction the son carried the wood upon which he was to be sacrificed up a hill in the area of Jerusalem. The final stage of the journey was made by the father and son alone. The servants could not go with them.

One of the most remarkable facts about this even is explained in Hebrews 11:19. This is the verse that explains what Abraham was thinking when he was willing to obey this seemingly impossible command. The verse simply says, “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.”

Think about this. It was a three day journey to the place God showed Abraham. From the time the command was given until the ram was provided was three days. For three days Isaac was as good as dead to Abraham. Yet Abraham was able to stand it because he reasoned that God could even raise the dead. And so for three days our Lord was in the grave but on the third day, God did raise the dead!

Sometimes the prophet himself only has the slightest notion of what he saying. Isaac asked, “Father, the fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

A ram? No. His only Son, whom He loved. What must have gone through the heart of God as He saw Abraham and Isaac act out this scene?

Fifty-Two Chapters / Genesis 3

2012-01-02T22:24:00.000-06:00

Week One / Genesis 3

Were Adam and Eve real people? Some days I feel the answer is “Yes” while other days I feel the answer is “No”. The New Testament certainly treats them as if they were real and that makes me lean heavily in that direction. However, if they are not real and are instead characters in an allegory I’m not going to be crushed, nor will I argue about it. If this is an allegory it is a magnificent one.

Why were they forbidden to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

This is an important question and its answer reveals a lot about ourselves and God. God created us in His image. This doesn’t mean that God has to have a humanoid form. It does mean that we have an eternal spirit, and that we have the ability to create and reason, and that we are in some mysterious way autonomous. The one thing that God could not just gift us with was love. This is perhaps the most important way in which we could be like Him but in order for us to love we must have the choice not to love.

Follow me here. Jesus said, “If you love me you will obey my commandments.” Love is the pure source of obedience. (Fear is the impure source.) Mankind had no opportunity to exercise such a choice before the command was given to not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The tree itself likely had no inherent evil or power of any kind.

I seriously doubt that there was anything evil about the tree. In fact, I don’t think the fruit of that tree bestowed any special knowledge. It was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because the act of disobeying God’s Word was the first time mankind knew evil. Up until that time all we had known was good. Because we disobeyed we now knew evil as well. Thus, Good and Evil. Aren’t we glad that choice was made? (Not.)

The real issue was who we would believe.

God said we would die if we ate from the tree. The tempter said we would not die but would be better off if we ate from the tree. The choice was that simple. Who are we going to believe? It still is that simple.

All that is in the world.

This fateful choice was the beginning of the World System. John tells us in 1 John that all that is in the world amounts to: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. Eve saw that the fruit was good for food (lust of the flesh), pleasing to the eye (lust of the eye), and desirable for gaining wisdom (boastful pride of life). We also note that these are the same three things with which the devil tempted Jesus.

The coming One.

After God came on the scene to sort things out He told the serpent that the seed of woman would come; He would strike His heel (a non lethal blow) but He would crust the serpent’s head (a lethal blow). Even at this early stage God is revealing the Messiah. We already see the faint outline of the virgin birth (“seed of woman”) and the cross (“strike His heel”). The important thing was the serpent’s ultimate defeat. One will come who will undo the misery of that day and lift the curse it brought.

Death?

Did Adam and Eve die that day? Not in a biological sense, but in a more real sense they did die. God is the source of all life. Death is separation from God. Prior to this day they met with God face-to-face. On this day that fellowship was broken.

In Conclusion

Adam and Even had not been forbidden to eat from the Tree of Life; yet, apparently they had failed to do so. They chose the wrong tree. So often we still choose the wrong tree.

They only had one command the breaking of which brought death. “Don’t eat from that tree.” Only one command is required to find life. “Believe in the One who died on the tree.”

You don’t have to believe that Adam and Eve are real people, but the truth of their story is powerful and clear.

Revelation 22:1-21

2011-12-31T00:43:00.000-06:00

And In The End

The end is the beginning.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.

Bring it!

Revelation 21:1-27

2011-12-30T04:30:00.000-06:00

All Things New

The King has returned. The thousand years are over. The devil is now permanently banished to the lake of fire. The Great White Throne judgment has taken place so the wicked are permanently banished. Now comes what we tend to think of as heaven. Here are some observations.

Now fellowship with God is restored. In Eden God waled with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. Now He lives with them always and forever.

Now every tear is wiped away.

Now there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.

The old order of things is passed away. It isn’t passing. It has passed. We really can’t conceive what this means. Back in the 60’s Bob Dylan was proclaimed the prophetic voice for a new generation with songs such as The Times They Are A Changing. One of the lines from that song said, “The old order is rapidly changing.” Not really. Things were changing but the old order wasn’t even close to budging. But now the old order has indeed passed.

The New Jerusalem appears. It is a city shaped like a cube. Strange, I know, but wait, it’s even stranger. The cube is 1,500 miles on each side. This is not just a city that would stretch from Baltimore to Denver but it is a city that would also reach 1,500 miles high! What kind of city is that? Who can imagine such a thing? The old order has passed.

There are three gates on each side so that means that there is a gate every 500 miles? Each gate is made of a single pearl? Here is where we get the famous “streets of gold” image. What must such a city weigh? Could the earth support such a thing? Some thing it hovers over the earth. What would that do to the gravitational properties on earth? Impossible? It would be but for the fact that the old order has passed.

There will be no night there. When will we sleep? Will we never sleep again? Who can imagine such a thing? The old order has passed.

I get the sense that there is much more to this new order, far more. But we can’t really take this much in so... Wow! All I can say is “bring it.” I believe that is new order for “Amen.”

Revelation 20:1-15

2011-12-29T00:20:00.003-06:00

The Thousand Years

This is where it gets a bit dicey.

We tend to think that Christ comes back and that’s it. The unbelievers are sent to hell. The believers go to heaven. Somehow heaven and earth get mingled and that’s that. That’s what we think but that’s not what the Bible teaches.

Christ returns and the devil is bound for a thousand years. During that thousand years Christ reigns on the earth and apparently there are those (presumably believers) who reign with Him. After all, a King needs a court and governors and the like to govern effectively. Apparently a select number of the dead come to life during this time and they too become priests and assist in the reign of Christ.

At the end if this thousand years the devil is released and apparently there are those who even after a thousand years of remarkable peace, plenty, and prosperity believe they could do a better job of ruling and join a rebellion. (Are we that wicked and dumb? Yes.) Their rebellion doesn’t fare any better than the armies assembled against Christ did at His return.

At this point the devil and his minions are cast into the lake of fire. Also, the wicked dead are judged and cast into the lake of fire. Death and Hades are also thrown into the lake of fire. (What does that mean? I don’t know. It’s a mystery.) The only ones not thrown into the lake of fire are those whose names are found written in the book of life.

That’s how the Bible says it will go.

Revelation 19:1-21

2011-12-28T04:30:00.000-06:00

The White Rider

At last! We are finally coming to the point where the true King arrives and this world system is finished. This passage starts, appropriately enough, with a four fold “Hallelujah!” And why not? The time has finally come.

When the first seal was broken we saw a rider on a white horse come forth bent on conquest. He was the false rider. He was bent on conquest but he did not succeed. Now the real Rider on a White Horse is revealed. This is His apocalypse, His unveiling. Here is what we know about Him.

He is called Faithful and True. John had heard Jesus Himself declare, “I am the Truth.” He is the writer who reports the conversation in which Jesus told Pilate, “Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.” Concerning Him being called Faithful, He was able to pray on His last night before the cross, “I have completed everything You gave me to do.” That is faithful.

He is called the Word of God. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, He was with God in the beginning.

He is also called KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. For God has indeed exalted Jesus to the highest place and given Him a name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of god the Father.

He judges and makes war, but unlike the way of the World System He does these grave things with justice. His first act upon His return is to make war. All of the armies of the earth who have sided with the beast are allied to stand against the Rider on the White Horse. It isn’t much of an encounter. They are killed with the sword that comes from His mouth. Of course they are. This is the mouth that said “Light be!” and the universe sprang into existence. This is the Word of God. This is the time to shout, “Hallelujah!”

Revelation 18:1-23

2011-12-27T04:30:00.000-06:00

Babylon’s Eulogy

There is something wrong with the world and you know it. I’m not talking about the creation as such. Yes, pollution and industrialization are blights on creation but they are not creation. At least they are not God’s creation. They are man’s creation and that explains why they are so easily twisted. God’s creation is beautiful and clean, life giving and invigorating.

When I say there is something wrong with the world I’m talking about the way the world operated. You’ve heard me mention the World system several times and that is what I’m talking about. It seems that no matter which version of the system is in place, from Capitalism to Communism to Tribalism, the results are always ultimately the same. The powerful oppress the weak. The rich exploit the poor. Someone is always deciding that a war needs to be fought somewhere. The ones who decided to start the war make a lot of money while innocents die killing other innocents.

It’s all wrong. We know in our hearts, in the very depth of our being, that this is wrong. This is not how we were meant to live. This is not what we were created for. But what can we do? How can we change things? John Lennon sings, “Ware is over if you want it,” but I want it, and I suspect many others do as well, and there is still war. Maybe that isn’t quite the answer.

The answer is the return of the King, the King of kings and Lord of lords. This chapter is essentially an eulogy to the system that makes everything wrong. Babylon (the World System) must fall and when she does it will be...the end of the World (as we know it).

The panic will be massive as the political systems we have come to rely on are shattered. If you own a house, or some land, the only reason you own it is because the government and its laws say it is yours. When that government and its laws are gone...what then? If you have money what happens when the economy that underlies that money vanishes? We are talking about an economic downturn or a depression or hyper-inflation. We are talking about the economy that was here yesterday - poof.

Yes, there will be great distress because that is all we have ever known in this world. But remember, there is something wrong with this world. When the lament goes up for her demise the rejoicing will finally start in ernest.

Revelation 17:1-17

2011-12-26T04:30:00.000-06:00

Mystery Babylon

The ending is at hand. The world as we know it is crumbling and the King is at the door. Chapters 17 and 18 are sort of a parenthetical detour showing what is happening to the world system.

Be aware that not all prostitutes sell their bodies. The worst ones sell their souls. Mystery Babylon is their mother. They ride a terrible beast and think that because they ride it they must also control it. Wrong. Those who have joined with the beast in trying to destroy the saints will themselves be destroyed by that same beast. He has no allies, only victims.

The political earthly powers will align themselves with the beast against the Lamb. After all, they didn’t recognize Him the first time He came. This time He looks merely like an alien invader. John himself tells us in his gospel, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”

My favorite part of this passage is in verse fourteen where it talked about the powers of this world coming against the Lamb. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings.

No other explanation needed. Nothing about tactical superiority or overwhelming fire power. Nothing about a campaign to win the hearts of the people. Nothing else needed. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. That’s all.

Revelation 15:1-16:21

2011-12-25T04:30:00.000-06:00

It Is Done!

These two chapters tell of the out pouring of God’s wrath on the earth through the seven bowls of the seven angels who come from the temple.

We have seen a great cosmic tale unfold told from the vantage of heaven and from the vantage of the earth; told in both the spiritual and natural realms. This tale matches the World against the Kingdom. Up until this point most of the calamity upon the earth has been brought about by the World itself. With this passage we see God take an active role in forcing the resolution of the conflict.

Of course He has always taken an active role from the very beginning. He drove Adam and Eve from Eden so they would not eat from the Tree of Life and be trapped forever in their fallen state. From that fateful day He prepared things for the arrival of His Son which event we celebrate this very day. Christ went to the cross to defeat the evil one and God raised Him from the dead. The Holy Spirit was sent to indwell and empower the Church and the individual believer. God has not exactly been idle.

Again the first four plagues seem to follow the genre of ecological disasters, only this time they are far more severe than what mankind has managed to do itself by following the World. The fifth and sixth bowls bring political implications. Perhaps the darkness of the fifth bowl is literal? In any even it reveals the total failure of the system of the beast. Even though people now know that it is completely bankrupt in every way they still refuse to turn to God. These are the ones who absolutely refuse to repent. The sixth bowl calls for the gathering of the armies of the earth for one “winner take all” battle.

The seventh bowl is poured out and while there is an unprecedented earthquake and hundred pound hailstones raining down upon the earth these are not the truly momentous results of the last bowl. That honor goes to three words uttered by a loud voice. “It is done!” Three terrible wonderful words every bit the equal of: “He is born” “It is finished” and “He is risen.”

Revelation 14:1-20

2011-12-24T04:30:00.000-06:00

Angels and Rapture

The Christ has come. The devil has released the antichrist. Now what? I don’t claim to understand all of the symbolism here but let me tell you what I see.

First I see the Lamb and His choice followers standing atop Mt Zion in full view and clearly defying whatever authority the beast claims to have. Obviously God can take care of His own.

I then see angelic messengers. Which Christ was born His birth was heralded by angels, so it is fitting that when the hour of God’s judgment proceeding His return is at hand that too should be announced by an angel. A second angel then comes to announce that the world system has fallen. I don’t have space to go into it here but take my word that Babylon is symbolic for the world system.

Then a third angel comes and gives the flip side of what it means to take the mark of the beast. Those who refuse to take the mark (which may be a physical mark or may simply be a willingness to sell out to the world system) are threatened with being unable to buy or sell. Those who do take the mark are warned that they will be subject to the wrath of God. Threatened with supposed economic ruin or warned of the coming wrath of God? It should be an easy choice, and likely will be for most everyone, but many will chose the wrong way.

I grew up with the doctrine of the Rapture. While this word isn’t actually used in scripture the concept is alluded to various times. The concept is the idea that those who are faithful believers in Christ will be taken out of the world before the actual return of Christ. In fact, it is quite certain that the Bible teaches this. The question concerns exactly when in the course of final events does this happen. There are three major theories.

One theory (the one I was raised with) is that the Rapture will happen before the “Great Tribulation” which is generally suggested to start with the opening of the seven seals in chapter six. Another idea is that the Rapture doesn’t happen until immediately prior to Christ’s physical return. There are several verses scattered through the New Testament which suggest this scenario. The third idea is that the Rapture would occur at some mid point in the time of tribulation.

The third suggestion is the one that works best for me. If in fact this is the case then I think we are seeing the Rapture right here. The “one like a son of man” is a clear reference to Daniel chapter seven and refers to the Christ. He swings His sickle and the earth is harvested. Those who belong to Him are taken before the wrath of God is poured out in the coming seven bowls. The next harvest is performed by another and this harvest is for those being thrown into the great winepress of God’s wrath.

Of course, this may not be what this means at all but it certainly seems like a nice fit. We shall see when all is made plain.

Revelation 13:1-18

2011-12-23T00:22:00.001-06:00

666

Today we look at one of the most famous chapters in the Bible. Only the creation account in Genesis one and the 23^rd Psalm would likely be more widely recognized. Astonishing that so many people would recognize a chapter from a book they have likely never read, but the imagery is so compelling.

In the previous chapter we saw the birth of the Christ and the dragon’s failed attempts to prevent His coming. Since the dragon was unable to prevent the coming of Christ his attention now turns to raising up the antichrist. This character goes by several different names in scripture. Daniel calls him the “little horn”. Paul calls him the “man of lawlessness”. Here John calls him the “beast”. In John’s first epistle he informs us that the spirit of antichrist is already in the world.

There is no doubt that the spirit of antichrist holds sway over the world system, not only because we can see it in the way the world operates, but also because John tells us that “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” If in fact the spirit of antichrist is to be personified in one man toward the end of days he will be worshipped because he will be the personification of all that the world already worships.

There is a lot of mystery in this chapter and some unforgettable images: the head with the fatal wound that was healed, the institution of one world trading system, and the infamous mark administered to the hand or forehead. I don’t know what all of these mean; however, once again the sight given to John almost two thousand years ago is astounding.

At that time John saw a day when the world’s economy could essentially be regulated by one political entity. We aren’t quite there yet but we can see it coming from where we stand. I’m sure that in his day it would seem that this “mark” would only serve as sort of a stamp of approval allowing people to engage in legal trade. We see it quite differently. Not only can it serve as a stamp of approval but it can also serve as the very means by which funds are transferred and transactions completed. People can pretend to not be amazed by this prophecy but it is worth noting that no one else from antiquity came anywhere close to predicting such a thing. John did and today it seems almost inevitable.

So the devil’s plan is to raise up a political leader who will deceive the whole world and win the vote, so to speak. Those who won’t come along will be threatened with financial ruin. Money is to be the motivator. Since he is a deceiver and money is one of his greatest deceptions this makes perfect sense. Only one problem with this plan (well at least one), there will be no vote, and who needs to trade when everything is free?

The Christ has come. This is the devil’s plan to counteract the work of Christ. And God’s response is...

Revelation 11:15-12:17

2011-12-22T04:30:00.000-06:00

The Woman The Child and The Dragon

After the seventh trumpet there seems to be a break from the themes of sevens that last for the next three chapters. Chapter twelve concerns a woman about to give birth. This clearly concerns the birth of Jesus because the child that is born is a male child who will “rule all the nations with an iron scepter”.

The dragon is the devil because he is identified in the passage; however, spiritual realities are often mirrored in the natural. In this case we can also see Herod who tried to kill Jesus and ended up killing all of the male infants age two and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. He didn’t kill Jesus because Joseph was warned in a dream to flee to Egypt, across the desert.

There is a remarkable documentary called The Star of Bethlehem that references this passage. A man named Fredrick Larson did an extensive study of the the Bethlehem star and through the aid of software which enables one to see the night sky from any vantage on earth at any point in history he uncovered some astonishing findings.

To cut straight to the chase he makes a pretty convincing case for a triple conjunction between Jupiter (the King planet) and Regulus (the King star) being the likely sign that first caught the attention of the magi. The connection between this finding and this passage is that while this triple conjunction was happening the constellation Virgo (the Virgin) happened to be situated in the sky in such a way that the Sun was square in the constellation (clothing it) and the moon was situated directly at its feet.

This isn’t about astrology. God put signs in the sky (the Bible makes this clear) not to control our personalities, lives, or destinies but to reveal His glory.

After the child was born the devil was cast to earth and his coming was a cause for woe. He knows his time is short because the child has come and has fulfilled His purpose in coming. So, what will he do next? What is his plan? The next chapter reveals...

Revelation 10:1-11:14

2011-12-21T04:30:00.000-06:00

Two Witnesses

We are certainly in the thick of mysteries now. I used to spend a good bit of energy puzzling over what the “seven thunders” spoke in chapter ten. Of course we are given no clue concerning the content of their utterance so I finally figured out that I could puzzle all I liked but would never know the answer until it is revealed. So there.

On to chapter eleven, I have always found these two witnesses to be fascinating. They will be active for approximately three and a half years, unless these numbers are purely symbolic. Apparently somehow, until their time comes, it will not be possible to kill them even though there will be many who wish them dead. Fire comes from their mouths to destroy their enemies? Surely that is symbolic, but what does it portend?

Who are these guys? I’ve heard three people suggested. On is Enoch, because Hebrews says that it is appointed to man to die one and Enoch never died. That seems reasonable except for the fact that according to Paul’s writings there will be a whole generation of believers who will escape death.

Moses has been suggested. One of the signs these guys do is to turn water to blood. Moses did that. And their coming apparently brings with it plagues. Moses, check. Apparently, Moses did die because the Bible says he did, but no one but the Lord saw his death, nor his body.

Elijah is the other suggestion often put forth. He never died. He went up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Also, Elijah called for a drought which lasted some three plus years; the very thing these guys are going to do. I’m going with Moses and Elijah. That’s who these two guys are, unless they aren’t.

What is completely remarkable to me in this passage is verse nine, “For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.” That doesn’t seem too remarkable these days but when I was a child (not that long ago) the idea that people all over the globe could see something in a three day period was quite something. As little as a hundred years ago such an idea was downright preposterous. In John’s days it was impossible.

Clearly John wasn’t talking about his day. He was talking about a day that would not be possible for almost two thousand years. If you are a believer this is quite comforting. If you are a non believer this is quite unsettling. It’s supposed to be.

Revelation 9:1-21

2011-12-20T04:30:00.000-06:00

Really Bad Things

Chapter nine of Revelation is one of the most frightening in the Bible. It has also given rise to some of the weirdest interpretations.

Probably the most infamous interpretation isn’t really connected with Bible scholars at all, but with a notorious killer and cult leader named Charles Manson. In August of 1969 he led some of the most notarized killings of the last century. He was doing it to help start a race war in the USA. He felt that he had been called to it by the Beatles in their song Helter Skelter. And he claimed that the Beatles were the four angels mentioned in Revelation 9:14-15.

While the various interpretations this chapter advanced are generally less fantastical than the one Charles Manson espoused, and virtually always with less drastic consequences, most as still best described as “out there”. What are these creatures released from the Abyss who follow Abaddon? What to make of four angels bound at the Euphrates? How is a third of mankind to be killed? If that were a current event it would mean the death of over 2,000,000,000 people. Is this thermonuclear war?

I don’t know the answer to these question and I really don’t have any theories to share; however, there are two things I do know about this chapter which I will share with you.

First, whatever these things are, they are bad. I don’t want to be here when they happen, and if I am here I certainly want to be under God’s protection. I suggest that you adopt the same attitude.

Secondly, as bad as these things are the real tragedy in this chapter isn’t about locusts with scorpion’s tails or massive armies and war. The real tragedy is in the last two verses. “The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

Let us not be so blind. We can learn from bad things if we only will.

Revelation 7:9-8:13

2011-12-19T04:30:00.000-06:00

Trumpets

There are three sets of seven in the book of revelation: seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. In today’s passage the seventh seal is opened and this act seems to be the signal for releasing the second seven, the seven trumpets.

We will discover later on that these trumpets seem to run somewhat in tandem with the seven bowls in terms of what they release. Whether or not they occur sequentially or simultaneously is a matter of question.

Four trumpets are sounded in today’s passage with the following effects. A significant amount of the earth’s vegetation is destroyed. A significant amount of the sea and its wealth is made desolate. A significant amount of the fresh water becomes unusable. The earth’s atmosphere is adversely affected.

I can’t really see anything to be gained by debating the symbols such as a burning mountain or a great star blazing like a torch. Nor do I think it is likely profitable to get into the specific math of this “a third” business. What is unmistakably clear is that there is severe ecological damage done to the earth. Is this damage due to the sudden appearance of great blazing mountains and stars, or is it the result over time of sinful man’s abuses? Either could be argued and I will leave that argument to others.

What I find amazing is that in John’s day I suspect that pollution was virtually unknown. Virtually all waste was organic, essentially no fossil fuels were burned, and to imagine such calamity coming upon the earth required Divine intervention. Today we see it in action all around us. There may still be Divine intervention, but it is enough for me to know that God’s Word saw it almost 2,000 years ago.

John not only saw and heard these trumpets, he saw our day as well.

Revelation 6:1-7:8

2011-12-18T04:30:00.000-06:00

Seals

The seals of the marvelous scroll are broken and things start happening. But what does it mean? I will tell you up front that I don’t know for certain what these things mean, and neither does anyone else. The prophecies concerning Christ’s first coming were only completely clear in light of their fulfillment and we should expect no less concerning His second coming. After all, it would never do to spell out the plan so clearly that the enemy could understand it. Nevertheless, I do have some ideas and thoughts about these things and what they could represent.

I used to believe that these seals marked the start of something called the great tribulation but now I’m not so sure they weren’t broken long ago. After all, Jesus is the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)

The first four seals are often referred to as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The first is a reflection of the true ridder on the white horse who does come to rule and reign. This imitation is bent on conquest and is therefore the Antichrist, or more likely, the spirit of antichrist which is already in the world. The second is war, and he is certainly no stranger. The third is famine, also released in this present world. The fourth is death, and while I’m not sure about the “fourth of the earth” part that could be the totality of those who have been killed in the fashions described.

The fifth seal takes us back to heaven where the voices of the martyrs is heard. This would stretch back to Abel who was not only the first to die, but the first to be “killed” and the first martyr. They are assured that God will avenge them, but first their number must be completed.

The sixth seal unleashes a set of events reminiscent of the day Christ died on the cross. Perhaps it had partial fulfillment on that day with the completion yet to come? That would not be unprecedented in biblical prophetic literature.

In chapter seven we see a different kind of seal. Ecological disaster is coming upon the earth but before it can come there are those belonging to the Lord who are sealed for their protection. Who are these 144,000? I’m quite certain they are not members of a particular cult or sect. They could literally be Jews from these various tribes. (God knows which tribe every living Jew belongs to even if they don’t know themselves.) They could be believers in general. They could literally be 144,000 in number though the number sounds highly symbolic.

The important thing in this 144,000 business is this: God is able to protect those who belong to Him from anything. Why does it seem that at times He doesn’t protect? Who is to say that He doesn’t? But even if He doesn’t it is because of a higher purpose. Safety isn’t always the highest value in the game. Still, He is able.

It is significant to note that one of the tribes is missing in this list. It is the tribe of Dan. The name “Dan” means “Judge”. (Daniel means “God is my Judge”.) The one thing those who belong to God are not subject to is judgement. That was taken care of on the cross.

Revelation 5:1-14

2011-12-17T05:00:00.000-06:00

The Lamb

The One sitting on the throne holds a scroll in His right hand. It is obviously an extremely important document for it is sealed with seven seals. It is obviously an extremely important document for no one was found worthy to open it at all. It is obviously an extremely important document for the fact that no one could open it caused John to weep and weep. What is this scroll? The Bible doesn’t tell us out right; however, by implication it is generally assumed to be the title deed to the earth.

John is told to stop crying because one had been found who was worthy to open this scroll. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, was found worthy. Turning to see this powerful one John sees, not a fierce lion, but a Lamb that was Slain standing in the center of the throne. Imagine! At the center of the ruling power of the universe is a Lamb that was Slain.

But we know who this Lamb is. Yes! He is worthy! For with His own blood He has redeemed men and women from every tribe and language and people and nation. Therefore, all of the angels say He is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise. (That appears to be a perfect seven.) So, every creature under heaven echoes these accolades, the four living creatures resound, “Yes!”, and the elders fall down in worship.

Imagine. Not just someone who got 51% of the vote. Not just someone who won the electoral college. Someone who is worthy.

Revelation 4:1-11

2011-12-16T04:30:00.000-06:00

Symbols

In Revelation Four we are taken into heaven to see the throne of God. The scene is rather fantastical, which isn’t to say that it isn’t an accurate description of God’s throne. Whether this description be literal or symbolic there is for sure a great deal of symbolism contained here. Let’s dig a bit deeper.

The One sitting on the throne had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. We know that God can literally appear in whatever form He chooses. He might appear as a burning bush, an angel, a whisper, or anything in between. It seems strange that He chooses here to appear with colors that resemble semi precious stones. While jasper can appear as red, yellow, brown, green, or blue it is predominantly red. Carnelian is a deep red. Together they might remind one of earth, and for sure of blood. The One enthroned in heaven appeared to John clothed in the colors of mankind’s home and the color of our redemption.

A rainbow shaped like an emerald encircled the throne. Of course the rainbow is the symbol of the first covenant of salvation by which Noah and his family was saved. We should be aware that while we are only able to see portions of the arc when we look at a rainbow; in fact, the full arc is a perfect circle.

Twenty-four other thrones with twenty-four elders? Both the old and new covenants are represented here. The covenant with Israel would be represented by the twelve patriarchs for whom the twelve tribes are named. The new covenant would be represented by the twelve disciples of Christ. (Yes, one did take Judas’ place.)

Seven lamps representing the seven spirits of God? This can also be translated the seven-fold Spirit of God. It is a reference to Isaiah 11:2 where we are told concerning Messiah:

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of power,

the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

Wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord make up the Spirit of the Lord. That may seem like six spirits but when they combine they create something other than themselves. The seven spirits make up the Spirit of the Lord.

The sea of glass clear as crystal? The sea represents mankind in scripture. In heaven it is clear and pure.

The four living creatures have long been associated with the four gospels. Though there is disagreement concerning which creatures correspond with which gospels here are my favorite connections. (Which just happen to agree with St. Augustine of Hippo.)

Matthew - Lion - Matthew seemed to be written more for the Jews and Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Also, Jesus is born into the world as the King of the Jews to be worshipped by Magi from the East.

Mark - Human - Unlike Matthew or Luke the gospel of Mark does not focus on the kingly or priestly aspects of Christ but simply on His time and works as a man among us.

Luke - Ox - Luke focuses on Christ in connection with the priestly office. It starts with Zachariah performing his priestly duty in the temple. It tells of Jesus being dedicated in the temple. It brings the news of His birth to shepherds who tended sheep. Sheep and Oxen are both major players in the sacrificial duties of the priests.

John - Eagle - The eagle soars above the clouds and is said to be able to look directly into the sun. Those who spend much time in John’s gospel discover that this incredible book indeed takes us places and shows us things beyond the mortal veil.

It is this very John who was given this magnificent vision and heard the very words of worship around the throne.

“Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,

who was, and is, and is to come.”

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.”

Revelation 2:18-3:22

2011-12-15T04:30:00.000-06:00

We Are the Churches

In these letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor we see virtually all churches in all places at all times. Here is a brief synopsis of each church, its pros and cons.

Ephesus

Pro: Busy. Does a lot of good stuff. Doesn’t give up easily. Holds to sound doctrine and isn’t easily taken in by charlatans.

Con: For all the good it is trending downward. The reason is they are no longer motivated by love.

Smyrna

Pro: Good, solid, faithful church.

Con: None in God’s sight but the world might find them not very flashy and certainly won’t be attracted to their lack of material goods.

Pergamum

Pro: They haven’t cut and run even in the face of persecution. They hold to Christ’s name.

Con: While the stand well against persecution they seem to be quite susceptible on the other end of the scale. In other words, they seem willing to sell out for money.

Thyatira

Pro: They are a busy, serving, loving church. And they are trending upward in these areas.

Con: They are so loving and “open” that they have actually been taken in by teachings that immorality is okay.

Sardis

Pro: They have a reputation of being alive.

Con: Their reputation is misleading.

Pro: Even in such a place there are some who really are alive.

Philadelphia

Pro: They are faithful and serve faithfully.

Con: None in God’s sight; however, to the world they seem small and insignificant.

Pro: No one can shut the door God has opened for them and they will thrive when the rest of the world is thrown into turmoil.

Laodicea

Pro: None in God’s sight; however, they world is impressed by their “wealth”.

Con: They really don’t care about God that much. They care just enough to not realize that they don’t really care.

Pro: Jesus hasn’t given up on them.

Does any of this sound familiar? It should.

Revelation 2:1-17

2011-12-14T04:30:00.000-06:00

To the Churches

The Church is a glorious mysterious magnificent thing. It is the Bride of Christ. It is Christ’s Body. (The two shall become one flesh.) It is both invisible and the most visible of all institutions. It is invisible because membership in the Church has nothing whatsoever to do with membership in any organization. There are members of the Church who have never attended an “organized” church. There are members (some of them quite prominent) of “organized” churches who will hear Christ say, “I never knew you.” Yet, with over 2,000,000,000 adherents worldwide there are few places on the globe where one can go and escape the influence of the Church.

Jesus is seen here standing among the seven lamp stands representing the seven churches. Seven is the number of completion in Scripture. While these specific local congregations no longer exist they represent the completed church of which Christ is the Head. Some go so far as to read into these churches a chronological progression representing stages in the “Church Age”. We really don’t have any authority to make such an assumption; however, I do believe we have the authority to see these churches as being representative of the Church as a whole, from the time of John to the return of Christ.

Here are a few note to observe about the church.

All churches have problems. They are a mixture of those who are doing well and those who are struggling. They are virtually all a blend of the righteous remnant and the not so righteous. (While two of the churches are given no rebuke both of them would be described by the world as “poor” and “suffering”. Not the kind of attributes most people are looking for in a church.)

Yet, Christ claims them all. Even the church at Laodicea still has a lamp stand and makes up the completed church. Does Christ have warnings for those who wander and are “rich” and self satisfied? Yet bet, but He hasn’t disowned them. He will sort them out for God disciplines those He loves and claims as His own, but He is the one who sorts them out, not us.

To all of the churches He extends hope and promise.

Whether we have lost our enthusiasm in Ephesus, are tried in Thyatria, or simply living in Laodicea there is hope and there is promise for all who belong to the Church. Let him who has ears here what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 1:1-20

2011-12-13T04:30:00.000-06:00

Apocalypse Now

We are finally to the last book in the Bible. It is generally called Revelation; however, some versions call it the Apocalypse. Both are correct. Apocalypse is from the Greek word “apokálypsis” which is how the book opens. “The apokálypsis of Jesus Christ.”

We tend to think of the word apocalypse as having to do with a catastrophic event, especially concerning the ending of the world. The book of Revelation is the primary reason for this. But apocalypse doesn’t actually mean that. The word is literally “lifting the veil”. It means to reveal something that was previously unknown. Therefore it is also quite correct to translate “The revelation of Jesus Christ”.

Did you notice that the revelation isn’t really about the end of the world. For sure, this book does contain the ending of this world system, but that isn’t the most important thing it contains, nor is it the focus of the book. This is the revelation of Jesus the Christ. In this book we shall see His birth, His death, His exaltation, His return, and His triumph.

This book is full of signs and symbols. We cannot be certain which things are literal and which are symbolic. It is not in chronological order. We cannot say with certainty what goes where on the timeline. Some images are frightening, some are glorious, and several passages are simply stunning. We should it be what it is and not try to turn it into a puzzle to be solved.

The only way to get through this book and not lose our way is to stay focused on the focus - Jesus Christ.

In this opening chapter we are reassured that He is coming again. It will be literal for every eye will see Him. John then has a striking vision of Christ; His eyes like blazing fire, His voice like many waters, His face like the sun. He stands in the midst of his churches which themselves bear light. He holds the leaders of the churches in His hand as well as the keys of death and Hades. What will He say? Let us press ahead with our eyes and ears open as we look behind the veil.

Jude 1:1-25

2011-12-12T04:30:00.000-06:00

The Way of Cain

Jude wanted to write about the good news but he realized that it was more needed for him to write a warning about those enemies of the faith who pretend to be followers of the faith but who actually follow their natural instincts. He gives three Old Testament examples of these kinds of people and all three are instructive.

They have followed the way of Cain. Cain of course was the one whose sacrifice was rejected and out of envy murdered his brother Abel. Clearly murder was a terrible act but it was the result, not the root, of the real issue. The way of Cain isn’t necessarily murder. It isn’t envy which preceded and precipitated the murder. The way of Cain was to come to God in the way that seemed best to him instead of the way God prescribed. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. Abel brought a blood sacrifice. Blood sacrifices are messy and cruel. Cain brought a bloodless sacrifice. His sacrifice looked and smelled better. He had a great idea, but it was an idea that was totally of the flesh.

They have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error. Balaam was a prophet who actually heard from the Lord. When Balak sent for him the Lord told him not to go and Balaam obeyed. Then Balak offered more money. Balaam asked again if he could go. (As if the amount of money in question made a difference?) The Lord let him go but warned him to only say what the Lord told him. (This was the famous occasion where the Lord opened the mouth of Balaam’s donkey.) Balaam obeyed and only prophesied good things for Israel. Balak was angry and wasn’t going to give Balaam anything. After Balaam had finished giving his prophesies he thought he saw a loop hole. He instructed Balak in how to get Israel to bring a curse on itself by enticing them to worship idols. He got his money. He also was killed for his trouble, as well he should have been, since his advice started Israel on a path that led to untold trouble and misery.

They have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. Korah’s issue was very simple. He thought that anyone could claim for themselves God’s call. God had called Moses and Aaron? What about me? I’m just as good as they are. That was the basis of his rebellion. He refused to allow God to be the One who calls and those it was just as good for man to do the calling. He has many descendants. All three of these do.

Nevertheless, we serve a God who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. Let us trust in Him and not ourselves.

2 John & 3 John

2011-12-11T04:30:00.000-06:00

Sleeping on the Floor

My dad was a pentecostal pastor in a small (very small) town just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. We had revivals usually twice a year. The revivals usually ran for a week. If the revival was going well we might meet all seven nights instead of taking Saturday off. If the revival was really going well we might go two weeks. As a youngster I hated it. Parts of it were fun but going to church every night to hear the evangelist wasn’t my idea of a good week.

Nevertheless, there was one aspect of these revivals that I liked. Most of the time the evangelist (and his wife if she was traveling with him) would stay at our house. I actually liked that part very much. It usually meant a snack following the service and a late bedtime. Often the snack was ice cream! The bedtime was late because the adults couldn’t really stay up unless I go to because my bedroom always went to the evangelist and I slept on the floor in the living room. It was like camping out indoors, with ice cream.

I’m reminded of those days whenever I read these two short letters from the apostle John. In both he is talking about hospitality and who to take in and which ones to avoid. Being a believer in the early church (and in some churches well into the 20^th century) meant opening up your home and helping to support the cause of the gospel with a hot meal and often giving up your comfortable bed. Now that we can afford hotel rooms for those who minister we have lost something.

One other point always strikes me about these letters. While John certainly continues the theme of love he also singles out some to whom we should not extend hospitality. In particular he mentions anyone who “runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ.” These aren’t people who on the surface appear to be unbelievers. In fact, this sounds like super spiritual believers for who the simple power of the basic truths of the gospel are not enough. This is generally caused by, at best, a very unhealthy curiosity and, at worst, by a desire to lord their advanced knowledge over others. Both attitudes are dangerous and highly contagious.

Otherwise, be sure to greet each other and practice hospitality for the sake of the gospel

1 John 5:1-21

2011-12-10T04:30:00.000-06:00

Overcome the World

We talked a few days ago about the World System. It is a false system to be sure but it seems so real. You may recall that it is made up of the lust f the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. We are immersed in this system by means of our birth in the flesh. How can we overcome it?

There is a famous verse in today’s passage (actually there are several) which reads: “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” This verse is often taken in isolation and taught in such a fashion as to imply that in order to overcome the world “I” have to exercise “my” faith which will then require the circumstances of this world to bend to “my” will. It is true that “I” have to choose to believe, but the rest of that line of reasoning has nothing to do with what John is saying here.

Faith isn’t an object, it is a modifier. True, it is a noun, but it cannot exist in a vacuum. To say that someone has faith really tells you nothing. Faith in Christ? Faith in the devil? Faith in Money? Faith in a political party? Faith in a football team? Shall I go on? There are many people who have faith in each of these things but faith in four of them, as well as literally thousands of other things people have faith in, will do absolutely nothing toward helping you overcome the world.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Yes our faith overcomes the world because everyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world. The focus is never me. The focus is always Him. John heard Jesus say it Himself on the night before the cross when He told the disciples that in spite of tribulation in this world they were to be of good cheer because “I have overcome the world.” My faith overcomes the world only when I place it in the One who has overcome the world - Jesus Christ.

Therefore, dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 4:1-21

2011-12-09T04:30:00.000-06:00

Love Love Love

Virtually everyone from my generation who reads the words “Love Love Love” will instantly think of John Lennon’s song All You Need Is Love. Most Christians, at least the kind that I grew up around, didn’t think much of Mr Lennon nor his song. What could a long hair pot smoking rock ‘n roll hippy know about love. He can’t fool us. He’s really just talking about sex. That was the general line of thinking. How ironic that we seemed to think that those who truly knew about love were those who hated long hair pot smoking rock ‘n roll hippies. It is also interesting that his name was John.

I can’t say for certain how much John Lennon knew about love, though I am pretty sure he knew it was a great deal more than just sex. And for someone who likely didn’t know Jesus he was remarkable near the mark.

John the disciple did know Jesus and he did know about love and he probably would have liked the song. John is often referred to as the Apostle of Love because he spends so much time talking about it in his writings. In his gospel he never calls himself by name, but rather by the consistent title: “The disciple whom Jesus loved”. This may seem a bit arrogant at first brush but that isn’t where he is coming from. John knew that he knew that Jesus loved him. He doesn’t say he was the disciple whom Jesus loved best. He simply knew that Jesus loved him and that knowledge was quite powerful.

Perfect love cast out all fear. Fear of judgment? Yes, but not just judgment; all fear. Love cast out fear of others, fear of failure, fear of loneliness, fear of strangers (including long hair pot smoking rock ‘n roll hippies, and aliens both legal and illegal), fear of that which we don’t understand, fear of death, fear of...everything.

Therefore, we really are expected to love one another. We can love because He first loved us. So where does the power to love come from? Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

1 John 3:1-24

2011-12-08T04:30:00.000-06:00

Like Him

When I was a Youth Pastor back in the early 80’s we used to have the group sit in a circle and we would sing a little song around the group. Let’s say the first three were Jackie, John, and David. The song would go like this:

Jackie, Jesus loves you.

John, Jesus cares.

David, God has a plan for your life

and you know He’ll always be there.

We would go all the way around and sometimes we would go around a second time and different people would have their name appear in different lines. It didn’t really matter whose name appeared in which line because all of the lines applied to all of us.

God has a plan for your life. Do you know what it is? I do. I know what His plan is for me AND I know what His plan is for you. Here is a clue. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

God’s plan is to make you become like Jesus. It doesn’t matter if your name is Jackie, John, David, Ronnie, or Muhammed. He wants everyone to come to Him through His Son and His plan is to transform us into Jesus’ image. Paul says the same thing in Romans 8:29. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

I don’t know what God’s short term goal is for you. I don’t know the exact path He wants you to walk nor the method He is using to change you. That puts me in mind of an old song the church sang when I was a kid.

Some through the fire,

Some through the flood,

Some through great sorrow,

But all through the blood.

You will still retain your identity and your uniqueness, and so will I. But we will all be like Him. Now won’t that be something to see?

1 John 2:1-29

2011-12-07T04:30:00.000-06:00

Who Do You Love?

We have been commanded to love one another. If we claim to know God but refuse to obey this primary command John says we are a liar. Pretty strong stuff. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.

Some will go this far in agreement but try to find an out by claiming that certain people are not their brother. Are we only talking about believers here? Are we only talking about believers who believe the same way I do? Are we only talking about people in my church? How about only male children of my parents? That may sound a bit silly but in truth people draw such lines. Why don’t we ask Jesus? “Who is my brother?” If that question has a familiar ring it is because it sounds very much like the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The guy who asked that question did so in an attempt to justify himself. I would suggest that those who need to qualify the term “brother” do so for the same reason.

While we are to love our brother we are to not love the world. What does this mean? God so loved the world that He gave His Son. Yes, but He gave His Son for people. When John speaks of the world here he is talking about a system, not the people in the system.

The system is very simple because it consist of only three things: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. This is all it has ever consisted of. When the tempter came to Eve with the fruit she saw that it was “good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom.” The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the boastful pride of life. When that same tempter came to Jesus he tempted Him to turns stones into bread - the lust of the flesh. He tempted Jesus to come over to his side by showing Him the kingdoms of the world and offering them to Him - the lust of the eye. He tempted Christ by challenging Him to jump from the Temple and prove who He was by having angels come to catch Him - the boastful pride of life.

Every day we are faced with these three temptations. Every day we are also presented with other people (aka, brothers). Be sure to remember where your love belongs.

1 John 1:1-10

2011-12-06T04:30:00.000-06:00

30 Days

Over 30 years ago one of my pastors made the statement that he had read 1 John every day for a month and it changed his life. I decided to try it. I read 1 John every day for a month and, yes, it changed my life.

This first chapter is so rich that instead of focusing on any particular truth I want to simply paraphrase it.

This is a firsthand eye witness account. We literally saw the Son of God, the Word of Life. We actually touched Him just as you might touch any person you know well. The reason we are telling you about Him is because we want to share our joy with you. If we could somehow bring you into this joy we have in Him it would make our joy even greater.

The main thing He revealed about God is this: God is light. There is nothing hidden about God. All of the dark hidden secrets that people claim to have about God? Nonsense! They may claim to have fellowship with Him but they don’t. There is no darkness in Him. If we just walk in open honest light with each other He is right there with us blessing our relationships and forgiving our sins.

Oh yes, we do have sins. Some may claim to be “holy” but they are just fooling themselves. Others can see their sins and for sure God can. If we will just be honest and humbly ask God to forgive He will! Not only will He forgive, but He will continue the process of making us truly righteous. But if we keep on insisting that we don’t need this forgiveness then we are calling God a liar and it’s our word instead of His Word that rules in our lives.

There is some serious information here, and it gets better. What are you reading this month?

2 Peter 3:1-18

2011-12-04T23:54:00.001-06:00

Waiting

It has been almost 2,000 years since the angels told the gather disciples, “This same Jesus will come again in the same way that you have seen Him go.” That means that He will come in a literal and physical fashion. But it has been almost 2,000 years!

That seems like a long time but if you consider His first coming it is certainly in the ballpark. If you go back to the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 as being the first promise of Messiah then mankind waited at a minimum over 4,000 years for His first coming. The nation of Israel had the promise of a coming Messiah at least as far back as Moses who foretold concerning the Prophet in Deuteronomy 18:18-19. That would have been a wait of near 1,500 years. So, 2,000 years isn’t out of line; however, it sure seems like a long time.

Therefore, it is not surprising that some would have given up and become scoffers. Where is this “coming”? It has been 2,000 and we don’t see him. Maybe He has forgotten to return? Maybe He never was going to return? Maybe He was just a myth all along?

Ah, but such scoffers are actually themselves fulfilling the prophetic word concerning His return by their own words. Furthermore, it isn’t really we who are waiting for Him. He is waiting for us. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

When you feel discouraged and start to doubt that He will return remember. Two thousand years is not a long time by God’s reckoning. He hasn’t forgotten. We are constantly on His mind. When the time is fulfilled He will come; literally and physically, He will come.

2 Peter 2:1-22

2011-12-04T04:30:00.000-06:00

Lying Preachers

How can you tell if someone is a false prophet? A false teacher? A lying preacher? Peter says that there will be false teachers among us, and he is really only reiterating what is said multiple times in scripture.

If you are quite familiar with the Word you can often tell because they don’t use the Word very well. The may be brilliant speakers and charismatic personalities, but they stumble with the Word. Honestly, you don’t really have to be all that familiar with the Word to spot most of them. Honestly, far too many Christians aren’t familiar with the Word beyond kind of knowing a verse or two so this method doesn’t help much.

If you are sensitive to the Holy Spirit and have the gift of discernment of spirits you can likely spot them. Often they are quite carnal in their presentation. Two words Peter uses here are “bold and arrogant”. Ah, but there aren’t very many who are not drawn to the Word yet walk in the Spirit enough to spot phonies. Children can usually spot them but not spiritually dull adults.

There is another way to spot them. Look at their lives. Does this seem to be the kind of life Jesus would live? It helps to know the Word well but even if you don’t it still isn’t very hard to recognize an ungodly lifestyle. Of course, if you only see them on TV or on stage when they blow through town you really can’t see their lives. That is one of the reasons why God intended us to live in community and get to know those who serve by leading.

Know those you follow. Would you trust your possessions with them? Would you trust your spouse with them? Your kids? Your life? If so you can likely trust them to have a good read on the latest greatest teacher, prophet, evangelist, etc. There are such things as lying preachers, just as there are lying judges, and auto workers, and Starbucks workers. Find a preacher who is actually pastor, one you can trust. And, oh yes, get to know the Word as well. You’re going to need it.

2 Peter 1:1-21

2011-12-03T04:30:00.000-06:00

Cleverly Invented Stories

I enjoy the writings of Stephen Lawhead. He has written a great deal of historical fiction based on Celtic legend. His dialogue is excellent. He is masterful at describing food. (Random, I know, but true.) Most of all he weaves a tight intriguing plot. There is truly good stuff here.

Some people would have us believe that the stories about Jesus are essentially the same as a good novel. They would have us believe that twenty centuries ago long before the modern novel took its form there was a group of literary giants in a small impoverished near eastern country who happened to come together and conspire not only to write the first modern work of faux historical fiction, but that they had the genius to write four such books in order to appear more authentic. In truth, I have an easier time believing that Jesus walked on water than in believing this theory.

Who could make up such a story? God being born as a baby, apparently conceived out of wedlock, to an impoverished insignificant young couple. He basically does nothing of note until well into adulthood. He then produces the greatest teaching the world has ever know. Yes, He does some miracles, but He makes no marks politically. He is killed by His enemies then God raises Him from the dead and He leaves. Left behind is a handful of undistinguished followers who are entrusted with taking the message of life to the entire world.

Toward the end of his career Simon Peter must have already been hearing rumblings about how these stories were just made up. His response? “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” Eyewitnesses! The most powerful tool in the historian’s arsenal. All they did was tell us what they witnesses.

But in truth, they didn’t do it alone. They had help. They didn’t just decide, “Let’s write some books!” These prophetic words were not their idea. By definition prophetic words aren’t man’s idea anyway. They were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

So, there are three options:

The greatest moral teachers of all time got their teaching out by means of deliberate deception. (Seems incongruous.)
The Holy Spirit of God used men to perpetrate a lie. (I can’t get my mind around that idea and am not sure I want to.)
It’s all true.

1 Peter 4:1-5:14

2011-12-02T00:05:00.001-06:00

How to Be Lifted Up

The 2006 NCAA Football season was a remarkable one that in some ways has shaped the College Football landscape ever since. The Big 10 entered the season with the pre-season #1 team in Ohio State. On September 9 the Buckeyes seemed to totally validate that lofty position with a 24-7 beat down of #2 ranked Texas. As the season progressed the mystique of Ohio State and the Big 10 grew. On November 18 they were still undefeated when they faced another #2 ranked team in fellow Big 10 member Michigan. The games resulted in a thriller with Ohio State prevailing 42-39. The cry went up for a rematch in the National Championship game but due to an unlikely set of circumstances Michigan had to settle for the Rose Bowl whit Ohio State faced Florida in the National Championship game. These two behemoths were highly favored in both games. Too bad they couldn’t have faced each other again for the big prize.

On New Year’s Day Michigan faced the University of Southern California in the Rose bowl. USC won 32-18. It was certainly a let down but it could be passed off as simply the disappointment hangover of not getting to play for the National Championship. On January 8, 2007 Ohio State lined up against Florida and returned the opening kickoff all the way for a touchdown! All seemed right with the world but then they had to play the next 59 and a half minutes. The final score? Florida 41 Ohio State 14.

Pride goes before a fall. We all know that. Sometimes the fall is quite sudden. At other times is may appear to be almost in slow motion, or as if it isn’t coming at all. The time between the June 17, 1972 Watergate break in and Richard Nixon’s leaving office in disgrace on August 8, 1974 comes to mind. But sudden or slowly the result is the same.

However, there is a way, a proper way, to be exalted. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. The issue isn’t being exalted. The issue is the attitude we carry. We may be certain that if we carry an attitude of pride we will fall. We may be equally certain that if we will humble ourselves under God then He will lift us up, and to the exact right place as well. It will be in due season. It may come sooner. It may come later. It will come. Don’t worry about it. Give all of your worry to Him. He cares for you.

1 Peter 3:1-22

2011-12-01T04:30:00.000-06:00

Whoever Would Love Life

I love life. Of course there are times when it gets hard and I get tired, but what of that? Walking in the woods, standing by the ocean, watching the cardinals in the snow, playing with a young child, reading a good book, eating a good meal, watching a good movie, hearing a great song, playing a fun game, and of course being with those you love - all of these things and so much more make life a beautiful experience.

When life turns bad more often than not it is because of what s happening inside rather than outside. Hard times come and go, but when things are going wrong inside unless something deliberately changes then it doesn’t get better. So, how do you go about making deliberate changes? What changes need to be made? What are we to do if we want to get back to loving this wonderful gift of life?

Here are three biblical requirements for loving life.

Don’t speak evil or deceitfully. It’s true. If you go around habitually speaking evil of others, even if it may be warranted, the result is that you will start to see evil everywhere, and this beautiful life God has given won’t be so beautiful anymore. If you are habitually intentionally deceitful then your life itself takes on a hollow distrustful sheen that seeps into your spiritual core.

Turn from evil and do good. This seems so obvious but... Evil can make money fairly easily. Evil can feed lust. Evil often seems to be the right response in the world’s eyes. All of these things are true and so subtle that we find ourselves ensnared in evil often without really knowing how we got there. If your life has become sour simply stop and try doing some intentional good.

Seek peace and pursue it. I am a United States citizen. I love my country and am grateful for the opportunities and freedoms that I have; however, I also am aware that we are a warlike culture. We try to pretend that we are peace loving, and many individuals are, but as a culture we have a chronic tendency toward war and conquest. This is one of the main reasons why in spite of our great blessings we rarely rank any better than middle of the pack in surveys that measure true satisfaction. Peace is worth pursuit and is key to loving life.

If we will do these things then we will be included in that group of the righteous under the watch care of the Lord’s eyes and to whose prayers His ears are attuned.

1 Peter 2:1-25

2011-11-30T04:30:00.000-06:00

Solomon

As King David neared the end of his career he found in his heart a desire to build a temple for the Lord. He shared this desire with the prophet Nathan who agreed this would be a good this to do; however, afterward the Lord spoke to Nathan and said otherwise. David was not the one to build a temple for the Lord. Instead, David’s son would build a temple for the Lord. This is exactly what was prophesied about David’s son:

“When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.” (1 Chronicles 17:11-14)

Solomon came along and he indeed built a glorious temple for the Lord. Solomon was highly honored for his wisdom and had tremendous wealth, but Solomon’s throne was not established forever. In fact, by the time Solomon passed off of the scene he had fallen so far in his position wit the Lord that ten of the twelve tribes were taken away from his son Rehoboam.

Did God’s word fail? Of course not. Solomon was only a precursor of the One to come. Jesus came and as the Messiah He was the proper heir to the title Son of David. He has been set over God’s House and His kingdom is established forever. But what about the temple?

Peter solves that riddle here in this passage. Christ did not build a temple out of wood and stone; a temple destined to perish. He build a temple never before seen. He built a living temple out of living stones. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are like living stones which combine together in the church to become a living temple unto God. We are therefore a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

The world has never seen anything like this before. This is not something man made up. Though we submit to the civil authorities of tis world it is not really them to whom we are submitting. We are submitting unto our King who is also te Shepherd and Chief Overseer of our souls.

Let the world settle for Solomon. We belong to Jesus.

1 Peter 1:1-25

2011-11-29T04:30:00.000-06:00

Gold

Peter mentions gold twice in this passage. Here are a few facts about gold.

In all of human history there has only been about 350,000 lbs of gold mined. This would produce a cube less than 25 yards on a side.
One ounce of gold can be beaten into a thin sheet that would cover 300 square feet.
Gold weighs about 75% more than led.
Pure gold is odorless, tasteless, and non toxic.

It is interesting to note that Peter doesn’t mention this precious metal as something to be greatly desired. He mentions it in contrast to two things of far greater worth: our faith and the blood of Christ.

Gold can decay. Left in its natural state it generally does not decay because it is unaffected by air and water; however, nitro-hydrochloric acid as well as several alkaline solutions can cause gold to be dissolved.

Everything in this world is subject to decay because it was created. The poet Paul Simon has a song titled Everything Put Together Sooner or Later Falls Apart. It’s a long title but a true one. But there are some things that are not “put together.” There are some things that are not created.

These last forever. And chief among these is the blood of Christ and your faith in that blood.

James 5:1-20

2011-11-28T04:30:00.000-06:00

Dangerous Wealth

James ends his letter with some very stout words against the rich. It is a word for our country today.

Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. The average worker in this country makes less today in terms of real dollars than he or she did in 1966. In the last 45 years the workers, the ones who mow the fields and actually produce something by their labor have gained exactly nothing. In fact, they have gone backward. Why? Because they don’t work hard? No. The answer is in verse five about the rich.

You have lived on earth in luxury and selfindulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. We live in an age of extravagance unrivaled since the so called “gilded age” of the nineteenth century. Luxury car commercials are as common as popcorn. The idea of paying top dollar, not even for quality, but for the prestige of being exclusive is the accepted norm. It is difficult to find words adequate to the task of describing the ridiculous levels of self indulgence witnessed by the top of the economic strata in our country. Actually, there is one word that fits - unconsciousable.

You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you. There is money to be made in creating enemies. If you can identify some enemies then you will be well funded to provide “protection” from them. There has always been a lot of money in murder; whether it is pulling the trigger for a boss or starving an orphan for another per cent of profit margin.

Do I hate the rich? Not at all. Jesus died for us all, and in the eyes of the vast majority of the earth’s population I would be considered rich. I am just simply trying to take James’ warning and state it in words that are less easy to ignore in our time and place.

There is a day of reckoning. The Lord is coming. It’s pretty clear whose side He is on.

James 4:1-17

2011-11-27T04:30:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow Never Comes

Tuesday morning I conducted a funeral service for Mary Dees. I first met Mary almost 41 years ago through here middle son Steve. She was a good woman and a strong one. Her husband died in 1968 when she was 36. He was career military and left her with three teenage sons. She got her GED and went to Nursing school. She became a nurse and put two of her three sons through college. (The third joined the military right out of high school.) She also had to provide for Steve who fought with addiction issues and never held a steady job. She was 79 when she died but six years earlier she buried Steve. He was 53.

James tells us to not boast about tomorrow. He isn’t saying that we should never think about tomorrow. He isn’t saying that we should not make plans. He is saying that we should always realize two things.

One thing we should realize is that not only do we have no promise of life on this earth tomorrow; in fact, we have no promise of life on this earth for the rest of today. I’ve preached too many funerals to not know that this is true.

The other thing we should realize is that both tomorrow and today belong to God. If we put our lives in His hands then we need not worry about tomorrow, or today.

If we live or if we die we belong to the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Those without the Lord have no real hope of tomorrow and indeed will never see it. Those with the Lord will one day see tomorrow come. Now that is a miracle. To live with the awareness of this truth is to live indeed.

James 3:1-18

2011-11-26T04:30:00.000-06:00

The Tongue

I think James is trying to say that the tongue can do bad stuff. In fact, I’m quite sure that is what he is saying and I agree.

Have you ever said something that you really really wish you had not said? Of course you have. If you are unaware of it (unless you are mute) then you are an unaware person. We have all said the wrong thing at times and some of us have said some very wrong and destructive things.

There is another side to this teaching.

Quite a few years ago I was struck by one of C. S. Lewis’ ideas that made so much sense it has stuck with me for decades. He was pointing out that the potential for good or evil is essentially the same ratio in all things. A cow has very little potential for either good or evil. It is simply a cow. A dog has somewhat more potential and can rightly be referred to as either a good dog or bad dog. A person of low intelligence and abilities can certainly do either good or evil but a person of high intelligence and abilities would generally be capable of even more. An archangel is a glorious being, but a fallen archangel would be the devil of hell.

There is perhaps no member of our bodies that has more potential for evil than the tongue. That is bad. However, the converse is also true. The tongue has amazing potential to bring good. With the tongue we can encourage. With the tongue we can share the gospel. With the tongue we can praise God.

Don’t be afraid. Do be careful.

James 2:1-26

2011-11-25T04:30:00.000-06:00

Faith Works

The church reformer Martin Luther was so put out by this passage that he argued that the book of James did not belong in the canon of the New Testament. Luther argued that we are saved by faith alone and he had trouble with this passage. I believe that we are saved by faith alone but I don’t really have trouble with this passage.

All James is really saying here is that faith isn’t simply a matter of what you say you believe but what in fact you do believe. True belief will be demonstrated in actions.

When I was a small boy (I believe I must have been around five at the time) I was intrigued by the red burner on the top of my mother’s stove. “No, you didn’t,” you say. Yes, I did. It was so pretty and interesting looking, and I was now tall enough to reach the stove top, so I put my hand right down on the burner. I didn’t tarry long. Ever since I have an unshakable belief that red hot object of any kind are things I want to touch. This belief is demonstrated by my actions of always avoiding red hot objects. If I did not truly believe this I might touch one every now and again just to test the theory that red hot objects should be avoided.

James says that if you truly have faith in God you will act like someone who has faith in God. I don’t have a problem with that thesis. The problems come when you turn tis around and say that just because you do some religious looking things that is proof you have genuine faith. Look at the examples James gives. These aren’t religious looking things at all.

Abraham was willing to kill his son. There is more to it that that but in the final analysis that is what we are talking about here. Rahab was willing to betray her nation (a city state in this case). When we see these for the great acts of faith they are both are quite impressive. But there is no denying that a freshman political science student could spin the heck out of both situations. The point isn’t that what they did was so righteous in and of itself. The point is that what they did was clearly the result of what they believed about God.

And so the question is: Does what we believe about God impact the decisions we make in life? If not, then do we really believe?

James 1:1-27

2011-11-24T04:30:00.000-06:00

Bam Bam

The book of James is tucked away just after the letters of Paul which seem to dominate the theological landscape of the church and just before the last four books from the beloved apostle John. This would seem to be the ideal place to take a breather and simply drift for awhile. Five short chapters all seemingly very simple and straight forward.

Ah, but the book of James is a sledgehammer not a sleeping pill. In places it is also a stick of theological dynamite, and we will reach those places soon enough. For today, just some plain old straight talking heavy lifting.

Are you going through hard times? Do trials seem to be all around? That’s great. No, I mean that is great. Consider it pure joy because this is helping to make you mature and complete.

If you need wisdom about anything ask God. But don’t doubt.

Does the world think you are poor? You really aren’t. Does the world think you are rich? You really aren’t. The world doesn’t know anything.

Got a sin problem? It’s your own evil desire. Be careful. It wants to kill you.

Everything good comes from God. Anything not good does not come from God. Next question?

Don’t talk so much. Your “righteous indignation” doesn’t do anyone any good; not God and not you.

You should listen more but listening isn’t really enough. Even if you stay awake through the whole sermon you might as well have slept if you aren’t going to allow it to change your life. If you will let it change you then you will be blessed.

You want to be religious? Take care of those less fortunate than you and don’t go running after what the world runs after. Everything else that pretends to be religious is phony.

Bam. Bam.

Hebrews 13:1-25

2011-11-23T04:30:00.000-06:00

Three Things

In the closing chapter of Hebrews the writer covers quite a bit of ground and says some striking things that are well known, though we don’t always think of them as being from this book. Today we will touch on three of these things.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Jesus Himself said that you cannot serve both God and Mammon. Here the writer says flat out, “Don’t love money.” Why? Because you have God. You can love your family and love God. You can love your dog, or trees, or the ocean, or sunsets, or music and love God. But apparently when it comes to money a line is drawn. You must choose: God or Money? You can love God and have money but you can’t love money and have God.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. That pretty much says it all. To those who claim that He doesn’t do the things today He did in the past we say, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” To those who try to claim that Jesus Christ isn’t really God we remind them that there is only one unchanging I AM, and yes, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” To those who think that while He was willing to accept them long ago but that now they have gone too far astray and done too much wrong we say, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. In Romans we are told to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. We often think of that as the real deal and this “sacrifice of praise” thing as second rate. No way! In fact, what we think of as a living sacrifice may at times be no more than fleshly displays. A sacrifice of praise is in fact an integral part of being a living sacrifice.

As a pastor I often look out over the congregation and see people pouring their hearts out in worship whom I know are going through extremely difficult times and trials. It never fails to move me so I can only imagine how it must be viewed by God. Not surprisingly these are also people who have learned to love God instead of money and people who know that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.

Hebrews 12:18-29

2011-11-22T04:30:00.000-06:00

Where You Have Come To?

The writer of Hebrews states that we have not come to darkness, gloom, and storm. He mentions quite a few other things but those three pretty well sum up the point. Contrast this with the words used to describe what we have come to: heavenly, living, joyful, righteous and perfect.

One set of words describes the circumstances surrounding the giving of the law. The other set of words accompany the new covenant. Let’s see...which ones of these sounds more enticing? Would I rather have darkness, gloom, and storm or life, joy, and perfection? It isn’t really a hard choice is it?

Could it be that more people don’t respond to the gospel message because we so often given the wrong impression of what we are inviting them to? No wonder Paul was so vehemently opposed to those of the circumcision group who insisted on blending the gospel with the law. It isn’t that we are lawless, but rather that we have not come to a mountain that cannot be touched but to Mount Zion.

We have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Therefore we should be thankful and worship with reverence and awe.

Hebrews 12:1-17

2011-11-21T04:30:00.000-06:00

Take Aim

When I was a child my mom went to college during the summer to finish up her degree. One summer I spent the days with a family in the church who had two sons. Both boys were a littler older than me but we were close enough to enjoy playing together. One day we decided to play BB gun wars. It was the oldest son against the younger brother and me.

I took cover behind the well pump. My partner hid in the coal bin under the back porch. The older brother got the best vantage by hiding in the outhouse. The only possible shot we had at him was through the little hole used to poke your finger in to open the door. I’m not a great shot, but I aimed and aimed for the longest time at that hole and finally fired. I thought I saw the BB fly in the hole and sure enough, if you play with those things you could put an eye out. Could, but fortunately not this time. The older brother came running out of the outhouse with a big welt right above his eyebrow. I’ll never forget it.

Almost everyone is familiar with the saying, “If you aim for nothing you’ll usually hit it.” The converse is often true as well. If you aim at something you will often hit it.

What should we aim at? We should aim at what we see. There is no better advice than verse two. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Looking at Jesus is always a good idea. He is the foundation of our faith and He is the One who will bring our faith to completion. Even the cross could not deter Him because He could see the great joy beyond even all of that suffering. He could see the glory beyond the shame. And for that reason He is enthroned with our faithful God.

Take aim. Take aim. Take aim.

Hebrews 11:17-40

2011-11-20T04:30:00.000-06:00

Examples of Faith

When we think of faith we tend to think of obvious victories. The think of the time the check came in the mail. The time when the doctors said, “No hope,” yet the recovery took place anyway. The time when defeat seemed unavoidable, yet it was avoided. These are the things we thing of. Let’s look at what the writer of Hebrews thinks of.

He thinks of a father who was willing to totally give God his son even though everything God had promised depended of that son. He thinks of a young prince who decided to forfeit the prerogatives of power and position and chose persecution instead. He thinks of a prostitute who believed God enough to welcome enemy spies into her home because she understood that being on God’s side was more important than national allegiance.

These are the examples God gives us of His idea of faith. Even when talking about the incident at the Red Sea we aren’t told that Moses’ faith parted the sea. God parted the sea. By faith Moses walked between the walls of parted water. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, but that wasn’t te point of the faith. Joshua didn’t go to God and tell Him he wanted the walls to fall down. God came up with that plan. Israel’s faith was in following God’s plan.

We need a different perspective on faith. We need to see that it is not the magic power, but rather it is the process of making daily decisions based on believing that God is there, He is real, and He will prevail even in apparent defeat.

Abraham was able to offer Isaac because he believed that God could raise the dead. God was able to offer His Son because He can raise the dead. These heroes of the faith listed in Hebrews eleven did not receive the full promise of their faith but they believed, and we can believe as well that God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:1-16

2011-11-19T00:58:00.001-06:00

City of Faith

The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is well known to those familiar with the Bible as the faith chapter. It starts out defining faith and goes on to expound on some of the heroes of the faith.

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

First of all without hope there is no faith. Faith starts with hope. What do you hope for? Is that which you hope for a godly desire? Did God give it to you? If the answer to those last two questions is, “Yes,” then you are ready for faith to kick in. You should start to live your life in confident expectation of of that hope. If the answer to those last two questions is, “No,” then you can psych yourself up all you want and try to do some magic, but there is nothing of biblical faith there.

Faith is being certain of what we do not see. Here is the tricky part. Faith is being certain of what we don’t see even if we never see it in this life. Some of the things we will see here but others we won’t and that is just the way it is. If we aren’t good with that then what we have isn’t the kind of faith the writer of Hebrews is talking about.

Noah saw the deliverance of his family through the deluge. He did not see a glorious new world after the flood. We were still (Noah included) a fallen race. Abraham saw the miraculous birth of Isaac. He did not see the manifestation of the City with Foundations whose architect and builder is God.

“All these people were still living by faith when they died.” There have been believers who ave seen great things but no one has yet seen what we are really looking for. Every person who has been healed has also died. Every building that has been built has, or will be, destroyed. But that is okay. We are aliens and strangers here. This isn’t our country, our eternal country.

We look, no, we long for a better country. We are looking for the city that at present only faith can see. So God is not ashamed to be our God, and we made live in full assurance that He has prepared such a city for us.

Hebrews 10:1-39

2011-11-18T00:48:00.001-06:00

Let Us Draw Near.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Enough said.

Hebrews 9:1-28

2011-11-17T00:06:00.001-06:00

Blood

Blood is not a pretty thing. Blood doesn’t smell very good. The shedding of blood in a religious rite seems somewhat barbaric to our modern Western sensibilities. For this reason there are those within the church who would like to do away with any reference to blood, even the blood of Christ. The writer of Hebrews does not agree with these people and neither do I.

This was the same error as that committed by Cain. Cain’s brother Abel brought a blood sacrifice while Cain brought a bloodless sacrifice. Abel was accepted but Cain was not. Nevertheless, the way of Cain is still very much alive. It is the way which says, “I don’t care what God requires I’ll do it my way and God will accept it because I have a better idea.” That is not the way it works but some people persist in that mode anyway.

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Why? The answer is really quite simple. The law of sin and death is this: “The soul that sins will die.” They don’t die because God gets mad and kills them. They die because sin separates them from the Holy God. Biological death is when your natural body stops, but that really not all that big a deal. Spiritual death is separation from God. That is a very big deal. God can’t cease to be holy and sin can’t exist in His presence. Only the shedding of blood can atone for sin because the price of sin is death and the life is in the blood.

Before Christ the blood that was shed was that of an innocent animal. Tragic and cruel? Of course, sin is tragic and cruel. Yet, the blood of animals could not really take away sin. It was sort of a band-aid if you will. It allowed the worshipper to be able to somewhat draw near for a time. What we really needed was something far more powerful.

And so I ask, “What can wash away my sin?” The writer of Hebrews answers, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Hebrews 8:1-13

2011-11-16T00:15:00.001-06:00

The New Covenant

Why was the law of Moses given? There are many reasons.

The law was given to teach us how to love each other. It is one thing to say, “Love others.” It is something else to say, “Don’t lie, steal, covet, or commit adultery.” All of these later things are components of how to love others.

The law was given to keep us from destroying each other. (I guess that is a corollary to the first point.)

The law was given to lead us to Christ. (Galatians 3:24) What does that mean? It means a couple of things. It means that when we look at Christ we see the only person who fulfilled the law. That should point us to Him. It also means that when we look at ourselves we see how incapable we are of keeping the law.

Fortunately the law was not given for our salvation. No one is saved by keeping the law. That is a good thing since we aren’t able to keep it.

The writer of Hebrews quotes the prophet Jeremiah to bring out the point that even before Messiah came it was clearly God’s plan to replace the old covenant with a new covenant. Jesus said in Luke 22:20 that the new covenant was His blood poured out for us. And what a wonderful covenant this is! Under the new covenant God will forgive our wickedness and remember our sins no more. That is straight forward and powerful. That is something we can do because we don’t have to do it. God does it.

I like this covenant. I want to be a part of this covenant. This is good news, indeed!

Hebrews 7:11-28

2011-11-15T04:30:00.000-06:00

Melchizedek

What a cool name. Melchizedek. It sounds like Mel-kiss-a-deck. Once you learn to say this name it’s like eating potato chips; it’s hard to stop. Ah, but the name itself isn’t nearly as cool as the points the writer of Hebrews makes in this passage.

Under Moses the priesthood was established for the family of Aaron from the tribe of Levi. This is called the Levitical Priesthood. It is clear that the Levitical Priesthood was not intended to be the last step. David declares in Psalm 110 (a Psalm that was universally recognized as referring to Messiah) that He would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The order of Melchizedek was obviously older than the order of Aaron since Melchizedek blessed Abraham, Levi’s great grandfather. Therefore, this priestly order had the Levitical order trumped both before and after.

Furthermore, the order of Melchizedek only had one known member prior to Messiah, that being Melchizedek himself. (Some even believe that the mysterious Melchizedek was a pre incarnation appearance of Christ Himself.)

Furthermore, Messiah was made a priest of this order forever. All of the Levitical priests were only priest for a few years of their earthly lives. This priest was, is, and always will be a priest.

Finally, this priest did not need to offer sacrifices for Himself because He never sinned. He also didn’t need to offer sacrifices over and over like the Levitical priests. The fact that they needed to offer sacrifices again and again made clear the fact that their sacrifices didn’t really take away sin. The one sacrifice offered by this great priest was enough. Once for all.

Melchizedek is a real cool name, and lots of fun to say. It just doesn’t compare to Jesus.

Hebrews 6:13-7:10

2011-11-14T00:15:00.001-06:00

The Tenth

I have always tithed. Growing up in a pastor’s home I not only heard tithing taught, I saw it practiced. Because it has always been a part of my Christian walk it has always been somewhat easy for me. This isn’t to say that there were not times when things were tight. It was easy because it was already decided. I tithe first and that is that. God has taken care of the rest since He can make the 90% I have left over go farther than I can make the 100% go.

Some people complain that tithing is not in the New Testament. They are wrong. They may refuse to see it but it is there. Not only does Jesus endorse tithing in Luke 11:42 but the writer of Hebrews firmly ties tithing to the Christian faith in today’s passage.

Abraham is the father of those who believe. (Romans 4:16) Melchizedek is a clear type of Christ. He was a priest and king. There is only One other in scripture who holds that distinction: Jesus. He was greater than Abraham. Again, that is very select company and it could be argued that Jesus is the only other member of that group among mankind. We will find out tomorrow that Jesus was not a priest after the order of Aaron but after the order of Melchizedek.

Therefore, we have the father of those who believe encountering the first of Christ’s priestly line and as part of the exchange that takes place Abraham pays the tithe. From this it seems pretty clear that tithing is a component of Christian worship.

From my own experience, and the experience of many others I have witnessed, I can certainly say this, “Tithing leads to a blessed life.” It brought blessing to Abraham and it will bring blessing to you as well.

Hebrews 5:1-6:12

2011-11-13T04:30:00.000-06:00

Got Milk?

I’ve been around pastors virtually all of my life. My father was a pastor and as a child I knew many pastors quite well. Before I became a pastor myself I served in various positions in the church and worked closely with pastors. Most pastors are diligent, humble, sincere servants of God and His people. (These aren’t usually the ones you see on TV, though occasionally they may be.) One of the heartbreaks of being a pastor is having people you have prayed for and cared for and perhaps counted on simply up and leave. Every pastor experiences this. Usually those who leave don’t bother to say anything in parting but occasionally they will give a word of explanation. One of the more common excuses...er, uh, reasons they give for leaving is, “I’m not being fed here anymore. I need meat instead of milk.”

Of course they are referencing the passage we read today. Actually, 99% of the time they are referencing one phrase from today’s passage. They don’t really know the passage itself at all.

When Paul talks about milk instead of solid food he is saying, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” In other words, solid food is for those who have taken the basics and made them an integral part of their lives.

On rare occasion you will have a situation where the pastor has simply grown lazy and the members have grown and perhaps “out grown” the limits of his or her teaching. This is not usually the case. What is far more common is that the member has grown enamored with some particular teaching that fits their personality or lifestyle better. Instead of them being conformed to the Word they are looking for the Word to be conformed to them. Or, they have become bored and think somewhere else is the answer. Those who are ready for solid food don’t become bored. They don’t have to be entertained because a life of really following Jesus is quite an adventure. Nor do they have “itching ears.” (See the November 6 post.)

Got milk? Are you ready for solid food?

Hebrews 4:1-16

2011-11-12T04:30:00.000-06:00

The Word

Have you ever done something only to look back and say, “What was I thinking?” Sometimes the hardest person to know is yourself. Knowing others can be pretty easy because for the most part there is little or nothing riding on it. You don’t have to live with them (except in a few cases) and if you don’t really know them it likely won’t impact your life materially. Not knowing yourself however, can lead to tragic consequences.

One of the most important verses in all of scripture is Hebrews 4:12. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any doubleedged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Reading the Bible doesn’t just teach you the stories of the heroes of old. It doesn’t just reveal God (as important as that is). It reveals you. If you have spent much time reading the scriptures as a believer then you have had the experience of suddenly seeing yourself quite clearly, often with uncomfortable clarity. This is no accident.

The Word is alive. This is why you can read a passage a hundred times and many of those times it will say something different, but quite relevant, to your life. Warning: don’t go looking for novelty. If you try to make it different you will succeed but you will shut out the Holy Spirit and only be listening to yourself. Simply read the Word in humility and the Holy Spirit will take care of speaking.

The Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Your heart. My heart. If you will allow yourself to listen the Word will consistently reveal where your true motives lie. It will show you what is flesh and what is Spirit.

No wonder the psalmist says, “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” It is.

Hebrews 3:1-19

2011-11-10T23:59:00.001-06:00

Free Beer

Margaret and I lived in Zimbabwe from 1985 to 1988. I well remember one night going out to eat with another couple and as we walked down the street seeing a somewhat intriguing sign. The sign simply said, in bold letters, “FREE BEER”. None of use were actually beer drinkers but this sounded like a too-good-to-be-true offer so we crossed the street simply to check it out. Sure enough there was a catch. The offer of free beer was no doubt sincere, but so was the fine print. In small letters beneath the bold offering was one word - “tomorrow”.

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” This admonition is reminiscent of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians, “Now is the time of God’s favor, today is the day of salvation.” When we hear God’s voice we can either accept it or harden our hearts. In either event, today is the only time we may do this.

It isn’t that we have no promise of tomorrow. The truth is that tomorrow is merely a concept in our minds. Tomorrow never comes because it is always tomorrow. Saturday comes. Sunday comes. Monday comes. But tomorrow never comes.

“Sin’s deceitfulness” would have us believe that we can wait until some mythical tomorrow. That will be the day when you can go to Zimbabwe for free beer. The truth is we can only respond to God today.

Hebrews 1:1-2:18

2011-11-10T00:05:00.000-06:00

Jesus vs Death

One of the main earmarks of a cult is its opinion of Jesus. Most cults take the position that Jesus was not really divine. If He wasn’t divine then what was He? Was He an angelic being with a special mission? Was He a man who actually got it right and never sinned so He won the prize of being the Savior?

The writer of Hebrews argues against these alternatives. He goes to great lengths to point out that the Son is clearly superior to the angels and therefore could not be a mere angel. Angels are servants; winds and flames of fire. The Son created all things and sustains all things by His powerful word. Nor was the Son a mere man. He was temporarily made “lower than the angels” becoming a man for the specific purpose of tasting death for everyone.

No, the Son is not a mere angel nor a mere man. He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.

Furthermore, He has defeated death. His years never end. Because He did this His brothers also need not fear death. Imagine...really stop and imagine what it is like for death to not be a part of the experience of life. By His death He has destroyed him who holds the power of death and has set free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.

When cults demean Jesus by trying strip away His divinity they also hold their followers in slavery to the fear of death. I’ll take the biblical full bodied Son of God in all of His divine splendor and the accompanying destruction of death. That’s not a hard choice and that is what the Bible teaches.

Philemon

2011-11-09T04:30:00.000-06:00

Useless

I always pick up a penny when I see one laying on the ground. The reason I do this is not because I am eager for money. The reason I do this is because of a testimony one of the kids in our Youth Group gave many years ago. He said that he was walking along and saw a penny laying on the ground and stopped to pick it up. When he did he was struck with the thought, “The fact that God would care enough to pick me is life a millionaire stopping to pick up a penny.” In other words, this doesn’t seem worth his time, but for some reason he thinks it is.

Paul writes to his friend Philemon and even though this short letter is named after its recipient it is really about a man named Onesimus. Onesimus was a runaway slave who had been owned by Philemon. Somehow he had come into contact with the apostle Paul and in the process had been converted to faith in Christ. Having now become a believer he was going back to face the consequences of his former actions of running away.

In some ways this letter is itself a parable of the gospel. Onesimus had run away from the one to whom he belonged. As sinners we are away from the One who created us, the God to Whom we belong. Yet, in going back Onesimus was carrying a letter in which Paul said, “Whatever Onesimus owes to you I will pay myself.” Through the gospel we are able to come to God with Christ’s provision that whatever sins we have committed He has paid for Himself. On these terms God accepts us, not as slaves, but as His very own family.

The reason this story reminds me of why I pick up pennies is because the name Onesimus literally means “useless”. In today’s economy a penny is essentially useless. In today’s world an individual human is considered expendable, certainly by the rulers of this world. And for sure God doesn’t “need” us. But He still chooses to stop and pick us up and through the grace of Christ we are accepted as members of God’s own family.

Titus 2:9-3:15

2011-11-08T04:30:00.000-06:00

Attractive God

Mahatma Gandhi is famously quoted as saying, “If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.” I suspect that it would not just be India, but the whole world which would be following Christ.

In writing to Titus Paul gives instructions for how various groups of people should conduct themselves. He ends his instructions to slaves (which would be more akin to our idea of employees today than what the term slave connotes) by saying, “...so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” He could just as well have put this on the end of his instructions in general.

Just what was he instructing these workers to do? Do good work. Don’t be argumentative but follow instructions. Don’t steal. Be trustworthy. Pretty difficult stuff, huh?

His instructions to all groups included things such as: be worthy of respect, be self controlled, don’t be chemically addicted, be kind, be considerate of others, don’t slander, and show true humility. On the other hand we are instructed to not get involved in foolish arguments and controversies.

Yet, when it comes to “reaching the lost” our approach is more often to come with arguments and half baked woo hoo instead of all of these things we are instructed to do. If we Christians would just live according to the teaching of Christ as found in the Bible I believe we would be far more effective in winning the world, not to mention far more content with our own lives and far more pleasing to God. What a concept! Instead of showing the world how smart we are we could show them how attractive He is.

Titus 1:1-2:10

2011-11-07T04:30:00.000-06:00

To The Pure

There is a fascinating concept contained in today’s passage. “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.”

Purity is a desirable thing. We tend to associate it with sexual innocence, but it actually applies to much more. Take gold for an example. If you were to buy a gold coin or a bar of gold bullion its gold content would be measured in karats. Gold that is 18 karat is actually 75% gold and 25% some base metal. 14 karat gold is 58.3% gold and 41.7% base metal. Only 24 karat gold is essentially 100% gold, also known as “pure” gold. If you pay for pure gold you must think purity is a desirable thing. In the same way foods or medicines can sometimes be impure. We want pure foods and medicines. Purity is a desirable thing.

Corruption is an undesirable thing. We often thing of corruption in terms of underhanded governmental or business dealings. These are undesirable, but there is another application of corruption. Sometimes you download a file to a hard drive but the file cannot be read because it is corrupt. Corruption also means the act of something starting to rot or decay. All of these meanings denote things that are undesirable.

So, we desire purity and don’t desire corruption. Let’s go to the next step. We tend to think that things are either pure or corrupt, but that is not what Paul is saying here. He makes the stunning statement that to the pure all things are pure. Obviously he isn’t talking about gold karats or food here, or is he? Gold is just a thing. To some people it is a powerful corrupting agent. To others it is a beautiful and useful thing. The gold itself has nothing to do with which category it falls into. It all has to do with the heart of the individual involved.

Here is the remarkable thing, if we will keep our hearts and minds pure then we are virtually incorruptible. If we allow our hearts and minds to become corrupt themselves then even those things which are innocent and beautiful twist into double entendres evil thoughts.

Therefore, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

2 Timothy 4:1-22

2011-11-06T04:30:00.000-06:00

The Age of Itching Ears

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

What sort of things might these itching ears want to hear? Here are a few suggestions.

Itching ears might want to hear that God wants us to be rich in this world’s goods. They may want to be taught that God wants them to always have the very very best. They might want to ear that materialism is next to godliness and a sign of God’s favor.

Itching ears might want to hear that believers are never supposed to be sick or experience suffering. They might want to hear that while Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus that was only because he had not received the revelation of Devine health we have now.

Itching ears might want to hear that all of the problems in the world are the result of other people’s failures. If it weren’t for the liberals. If it weren’t for the immigrants. If it weren’t for the radicals. If it weren’t for the unbelievers. If it weren’t for the hippies, or the punks, or the rappers, or the homosexuals. If it weren’t for all of those people who are not like me then God would be pleased with the world. If we could just get rid of that speck in the other fellow’s eye.

Itching ears might want to even hear that the problem is the church. If you just get away from the church then you can really follow Jesus instead of being dragged down by all of these phonies in the pews and pulpits.

That’s just the beginning. There are a lot of things itching ears are...well, itching to hear. Man can scratch that itch but only Jesus can cure it.

2 Timothy 3:1-17

2011-11-05T04:30:00.000-05:00

The Last Days and Evolution

This passage always fascinates me every time I read it. Read these ﬁve verses again

and think about our society.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of

themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their

parents,unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not

lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of

God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

OK, you could argue that people have always exhibited these traits. Clearly these traits

existed in Paul's day because words existed to describe them; however, it is equally

clear that Paul is saying that the last days will be marked by an increase in these

undesirable activities.

I was raised in the 1950's. There were certainly things wrong in our culture in those

days. Racism comes to mind as being a serious blot on those days. While Leave it to

Beaver was not a totally accurate reﬂection of life in the 50's it wasn't too far off the

mark for many and certainly it portrayed values that were highly admired. Boy, he things

have changed.

Evolution is not a dirty word. In fact, evolution is an incontrovertible fact. It simply means

change, and without question everything in this material world is changing all the time.

The question isn't whether or not we are changing but whether or not the change is for

better or worse. For believer and nonbeliever alike the process of change is uneven.

Believers have the assurance that they will ultimately be changed into the likeness of

Christ Jesus.

At times it looks like some unbelievers are doing a better job of changing than some

believers but that is just the short term perspective. Long term, for the whole human

race caught in the world system, the trend is clear and it isn't good. That's the bad news.

The good news is that the bad news is further evidence that the world system's days are

drawing to a close. It may be a few years, or possibly a few decades, or maybe just a

few days. But these are the last days!

2 Timothy 2:1-26

2011-11-04T10:47:00.003-05:00

The Workman's Instructions

Chapter two of 2 Timothy is required reading for anyone who seriously wants to serve

as a minister of the Lord. You may wonder if there are those who don't "seriously" want

to serve as a minister of the Lord. The answer to that would be, "Yes"! Of course not

everyone is called into vocational ministry. (Thought every disciple of Christ is called to

ministry.) But there are those who are in ministry for money or inﬂuence. Such

"ministers" bring shame to the cause of Christ and will be punished most severely.

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not

need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." This is one of the key

verses for those who want to go into vocational ministry. The word of truth is the Bible

and it is absolutely essential to everything a minister does. While I do not believe that

years of seminary are necessary we live in an age and culture when many "ministers"

know very little of the Bible. This isn't because they have had limited opportunities but

rather because their "ministry" is built on personality or on some other books they have

read. This is very bad indeed. If you are such a minister you are in danger and fooling

yourself. If you are following such a minister you are in danger and being fooled.

"And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to

teach, not resentful." This is a verse that is often overlooked (or intentionally ignored) by

many in our culture. Especially in the United States people like "tough talking preachers

who step on people's toes." There is occasionally a time for that but that is not the MO

of a true man or woman of God. Often it is an excuse for an absence of the fruit of the

Spirit. (How is that for stepping on toes?)

There is more but these two are enough for right now. If you want to be a vocational

minister, or just minister in your present calling, or know what a true minister should do,

then 2 Timothy 2 is required reading.

2 Timothy 1:1-18

2011-11-03T04:30:00.000-05:00

Heritage

When I was a kid, and into my early teens, I remember distinctly being disappointed that my dad was a pastor. He worked bi-vocational essentially his entire ministry. While the church usually ran over a hundred in attendance it was decidedly blue collar. In fact, a few factory workers were looked at as being the more well off financially in the church. I thought, “I my dad worked at a good factory job he could help me get on at the plant.” I didn’t know much.

Now that I am in my early sixties and have over 29 years in full time ministry I see a very different picture. It isn’t just that my upbringing prepared me for full time ministry. More than any kind of vocational calling my upbringing prepared me for life. The knowledge of the Word that was instilled in me growing up and the examples of godly lives I saw in my parents combined for a heritage that money cannot possibly buy. I have some serious appreciation for what a huge deposit was granted to me even though I didn’t appreciate it at the time.

I think of this each time I read verse five: I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (My grandfather on my mother’s side was also a full time pastor.) Timothy had a head start that you can’t order online at Amazon or anywhere else. So did I. And so did some of you.

Some of you did not have such a heritage, but do not despair. Timothy’s grandmother Lois didn’t have it either. Lois passed it on to Eunice and they both passed it on to Timothy. You may not have a high paying job. You may not be in full time ministry. You may consider that you have very little to leave to your children, but that isn’t true. It doesn’t take money or even talent to instill a good deposit in your children. All it takes is the desire to do so, combined with the willingness to live an upright life, a genuine love, and the help of the Holy Spirit. All of these are available to us. May we make them available to those who follow us as well.

1 Timothy 6:1-21

2011-11-02T04:30:00.000-05:00

November 2 / 1 Timothy 6:1-21

Money

Money makes the world go round. That is a true statement, especially if you add one word which totally clarifies it. Money makes the World System go round. Money is, of course, a total illusion which only has power because people believe in it.

To illustrate. We spent three years in the mid 1980’s in Zimbabwe. The Zim dollar at that time was officially valued at about .65 US dollars. On the black market it went for around .40 US dollars. Twenty years later it was essentially worthless. Zimbabwe was the first, and only, country to print a $100 trillion banknote. You couldn’t really buy anything with it but it made an interesting conversation piece.

Money is an illusion but it is a powerful one. Money enables the “rich” to oppress and exploit most everyone else. Money causes passions to rise in virtually everyone no matter which side they take. Because the illusion is so strong there are many who devote their life to the pursuit of money.

My friend Bob Hughey tells of a time he spoke at a retreat in Colorado back in the Reagan 80’s. Bob had shared his testimony which included the part where he literally sold everything and gave it to the poor. After the session a young man came up to him and said, “My goal in life is to make all of the money I can. What do you think of that?” Bob replied, “I think you are going to wander from the faith and be pierced with many griefs.”

There is money and there is God’s Word. One is an illusion. They can’t both be right. If you believe in God’s Word you don’t necessarily have to give everything away but you do need to heed Paul’s instruction to Timothy on how to instruct you.

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

There is a coming age in which all money will be as worthless as the Zim dollar. Take heed, this is no illusion.

1 Timothy 5:1-25

2011-11-01T04:30:00.000-05:00

Church Life

In the book How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth Gordon Fee says that the epistles are “Occasional Documents”. By this he means that they were written for specific occasions. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t passages in the epistles that are universal for all times and places; however, it does mean that some of the passages are quite specific to time and place. Today’s chapter seems to contain both kinds of passages.

In the culture to which Paul was writing women generally had little or no means of making a living and were basically dependent on securing a husband. Therefore, Paul doesn’t really mention the possibility of a widow getting a job; something which is quite possible in our present culture. Still, there are some basic principles here that would seem to be universal.

Grown children should feel a responsibility to take care of their parent once they become too old to earn a living. This is right because the parents took care of the children when they were too young to make a living.

The head of a household has a responsibility to work to provide for the household, not just to provide for his, or her, self.

The church should assume some responsibility for those who have no other means of help.

Those whose life has earned them a good reputation should be given greater consideration than those whose lives have been more profligate.

It isn’t good to make a rash vow to the Lord. Nor is it good to entice others to make such vows.

Those who serve the church in senior leadership deserve to make a living from such service.

Those who have risen to positions of senior leadership through faithful service should be given the benefit of the doubt against unsubstantiated slander.

Therefore, don’t elevate people to senior leadership in a hasty manner.

A little wine isn’t necessarily a bad thing and, yes, even people with books of the Bible named after them occasionally get sick.

This is church life.

1 Timothy 4:1-16

2011-10-31T04:30:00.000-05:00

Three Things

In later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. What marks these deceptive teachings? The people who do the teaching are not sincere. Of course a person can be sincerely wrong but I think we are pretty clearly in an age where insincerity is flaunted and people tend to simply overlook and discount it. Don’t! Also these deceptive teachings are marked by instructions intended to control people’s lives. They strip people of free will and command the weirdest things. Weird commands should be a BIG RED FLAG.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. The Bible is by no means against physical training; however, this verse puts it in perspective. It is surprising how many people don’t know this is in the Bible. It makes perfect sense. No matter what you do with diet and exercise to keep in shape you will ultimately lose it because it is just a physical thing. Godliness last forever.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. In our fellowship we are making a concerted effort to join the generations in all areas of ministry. We need each other. The youth need the wisdom and lessons of the aged. The aged need the energy and enthusiasm of the young. Both need the vision of the other. Respect flows both ways. The young are not despised and the old are respected. We aren’t batting a thousand but we want to be.

These three things are by no means all the instruction and treasure in this passage but they are what the Spirit would have me emphasize today. Read it for yourself with the question, “If I were writing 350 words about this what would the Spirit have me emphasize?”

1 Timothy 3:1-16

2011-10-30T04:30:00.000-05:00

Leaders

Everything rises and falls on leadership. A good leader can take an ordinary group of people and an ordinary plan and accomplish extraordinary results. A mediocre leader can take an exceptional group of people and a brilliant plan and achieve mediocre results. A bad leader can destroy much good work.

In this passage Paul lays out instructions for leadership qualifications in the church. The first thing that jumps out at me in this passage is that nowhere is talent or intelligence mentioned. Those things can help but they are not at all near the top of God’s list. Man looks for those abilities but does need ability so much as character.

A few observations from this passage. Don’t get too bent out of shape about the phrase, “The husband of one wife.” There are cultures where you can’t find a leader who is the husband of one wife. Does this mean that there can be no church leaders in such a culture? Of course not. Likewise, I don’t see this as excluding women from such positions. While they aren’t the husband of one wife neither are bishops in the Roman Catholic Church. For that matter it appears that Paul wasn’t either. The phrase is there because any man with multiple wives has certainly got his hands full already. (In all seriousness.) But where all you have to chose from is polygamous God’s grace is sufficient.

Such a leader should have children who are obedient. You can tell a lot about parents by observing their children. I am not just talking about whether their kids talk too much or not. Children are children and that is a beautiful thing. I am talking about rebellion. Some people punish their kids for being kids and wink at rebellion. A child with a lot of energy isn’t a bad child, but a child with rebellion is headed for a hard life. One other thing, at some point in the pre-teen years they cease being children. A teenager may bring shame to their family but that isn’t always the parent’s fault as would be the case with a six or eight year old.

Finally, consider these points: selfcontrolled, not violent, not a lover of money, and not a malicious talker. All of these qualities are within the reach of the least in the kingdom. It isn’t about talent or intelligence. It is about heart and character.

1 Timothy 1:12-2:15

2011-10-29T04:30:00.000-05:00

Democrat or Republican

I am a truly independent voter. In my lifetime I have been all over the political spectrum. I have voted for both parties, been elated with both parties, been disgusted with both parties, and more often than not split my ballot. The one this I have discovered in my almost 62 years is this: politics is an illusion.

You never really know what you are going to get. Especially over the last few decades in this country much of the illusion is purely intentional. Even without the extreme level of disingenuousness from all sides you still don’t know what you are going to get.

Dwight Eisenhower appointed Earl warren to the Supreme Court in part because of his Conservative leanings and got a very activist court with liberal leanings. Richard Nixon was elected in part because of his reputation for being anti Communist. So of course it was during his administration that relations were opened up with what was then known as “Red” China. Nixon was also elected because of his image for being moral and honest...well, we know how that worked out. Ronald Reagan’s tax cuts were slightly more than canceled out by his tax hikes while he increased Federal spending from 20.7% of GDP to 22.4% of GDP.

I could go on, but suffice it to say that you can study and plan and listen to all of the pundits and still not have any idea what you are getting. So, why is the church so politically motivated in the USA? I understand that there are issues that are important, but the only issues that the church has ever championed with good results are those which involve setting people free (Abolition of Slavery and Civil Rights come to mind).

This is what the church is supposed to do: I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Whether you voted for the leader or not, whether you voted or not, you can pray for them to have wisdom and revelation and grace. Some say, “If you don’t vote you can’t complain.” Actually, complaining is never a biblical idea. There is never ever anything godly about complaining. What we can do, and are instructed as believers to do, is pray.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-1 Timothy 1:11

2011-10-28T04:30:00.000-05:00

Some Practical Commands

My dad used to say, “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” He didn’t get that out of the Bible; nor did these “heavenly minded” people he was talking about get very many of their ideas out of the Bible. It is true that we are to lead lives which are led by the Spirit; however, the first step in being led by the Spirit is to know the book He wrote. Otherwise, it is very easy to invent our own ideas and simply claim that they belong to the Spirit.

Both in the second letter to the Thessalonians and in the first letter to Timothy, Paul gives some extremely clear guidelines regarding where the Holy Spirit’s guidance will lead.

We are supposed to work. It is true that some people cannot work, and when this is the case we are certainly not to despise them, but cannot work and will not work are two different things. It isn’t God’s will for us to work to the exclusion of all else. Work too often tries to take the place of a relationship with God, but work, in its proper perspective, is a godly quality. Before I went into the ministry full time I was employed at the Social Security Administration. That job was a blessing from God for it allowed me to put food on our table and support the Lord’s work and still have time to put in much time in volunteer ministry.

Do not be a busybody. Don’t be always poking into other people’s business, but also, don’t be fascinated by myths and endless genealogies which only serve to create controversies. Some have turned away from the command to love and started talk radio shows... I mean, given themselves to meaningless talk.

That’s enough to chew on for right now. Let’s get those bases covered and then we can really start following the Spirit.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

2011-10-27T04:30:00.000-05:00

Antichrist?

Paul apparently wrote this letter because the church at Thessalonica was being disturbed by some weird teaching about the coming of the Lord. Sound familiar? It seems that throughout church history there has been some weirdness going on somewhere with regard to this doctrine. It makes sense because this is a very attractive point of interest for believers and a point on which the Bible tends to be fairly cryptic. Of course it is cryptic about the second coming, just as it was cryptic about Christ’s first coming.

There are a few things that we do know. The problems come when we try to extrapolate our information and complete the puzzle. Nowhere are we instructed to do this. Several places it is made pretty clear that we are not supposed to do this. But we really can’t seem to help ourselves, can we?

Still, what we do know is quite revealing if we will just stick with it. Christ has not yet returned and the Day of the Lord has not yet happened. (Some cults teach otherwise.) Jesus Himself told us that when He does return it will not be in secret but as the lightening which flashes from east to west, it will be seen by all.

Before christ returns there will be a man, a great leader, who will be so popular that he can demand to be worshiped. (Yes, Adolph Hitler almost fit this description but there were a few things not quite in place.) It may be possible that this “man” could be a metaphor for the spirit of the age but it seems more likely that it will be an actual person. When that person is revealed and when signs and wonders start to herald his claims and when seemingly the whole world becomes convinced that he is indeed the answer, then the stage will be set for the Real Answer to appear.

That’s pretty clear. We haven’t seem him yet, but at the speed with which things can happen these days he could certainly be just on the other side of the datebook. Until then, don’t be deceived. And when he is revealed, you will know, you will understand what is really happening. The appropriate response is to look up, for your redemption draw near.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

2011-10-26T04:30:00.000-05:00

Glory and Marvel

When out troops invaded Iraq in March of 2003 the stated military intent was to produce “Shock and Awe” in the enemy. At first it seemed to work as the US troops quickly advanced through the country. As time went by and weeks turned to months and years we discovered that Shock and Awe isn’t very practical when you are already there.

Today is a special day for Margaret and me. October 26 is the birthday of our first child. I remember so very much about that event. It was life changing in a profound way. It was more powerful than Shock and Awe. It would be something more akin to Wonder and Awesome. These are words that might also be interchangeable with Marvel and Glory.

I admit to sometimes wondering how God will do it. How is it that when Christ comes back the whole world will be brought to heel? Over the last forty years it has been proven that Superpowers can’t just take over cities and declare victory and that’s it. We are such a resilient, resourceful, rebellious race that it is hard to imagine how the whole world could ever be subjugated even with a “rod of iron”.

Then you read a passage such as the one before us today and you realize that God’s ways aren’t our ways. He isn’t really coming with just Shock and Awe, thought there will certainly be that. He is also coming with called Glory and Marvel. The world has never seen the like, but it will. And then every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Bring it!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

2011-10-25T04:30:00.000-05:00

The Will of God

“What is God’s will for my life?” I can’t start to tell you how many times I’ve heard that question. Unfortunately, I don’t hear it as often now as I used to. Perhaps the reason I don’t hear it so often is because, being older, my peers tend to have found the answer to that question already. I hope that is the case rather than thinking that we no longer care as much as we once did.

Before I go any further let me hop down a brief bunny trail by pointing out a couple of very revealing verses from this passage. “Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” Memorize these. Keep them in your heart for the next time someone tries to convince you that they have figured out when the Lord will return. If they have figured it out then He wouldn’t be coming like a thief in the night, now would He?

Back to the “will of God” question. It’s actually quite simple. We make it hard because we turn it into something along the lines of, “What meaningful thing has God designed me for?” We are thinking of a task of sorts. He has designed us for something very meaningful; however, the task is nowhere near the most important part of His will for us.

The Bible is quite clear about God’s will in several places, but this passage has a particularly clear instruction. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” If we will simply do this then the task part will essentially take care of itself.

I have just finished a biography of the famous German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was murdered by the Nazis at the age of 39 toward the end of WWII as the Allies were closing in on the concentration camp to which he had recently been moved. It was actually quite tragic, especially to his aged parents and young fiancee, as well as quite arbitrary and seemingly unnecessary.

Bonhoeffer’s theology was still in the formation stages at this point in his life but even so he has become quite influential, particularly in the realm of discipleship. We know almost nothing from his personal writings regarding his last few weeks of imprisonment, but we have a fair amount of first person observations from his fellow prisoners. What is clear is that even in these most trying of circumstances, the like of which few can ever expect to see, he was constant in his daily devotions and brought a level of encouragement and even joy to all of those around him. When the end came he faced it with no bitterness but confident hope.

That is the will of God for all of His children. Not that we will all die a martyr in a concentration camp, but that we will all be joyful, thankful, and prayerful. The rest will take care of itself.

1 Thessalonians 3:6-4:18

2011-10-24T04:30:00.000-05:00

The Coming of the Lord

I have discovered that not every doctrine I was taught growing up is beyond question. There are a few things which for believers are beyond question. The deity of Jesus Christ is beyond question. The atoning death of Christ on the cross is beyond question. The literal physical resurrection of Jesus Christ is beyond question. Pretty much everything else has serious defenders within the true brotherhood of the faith.

Clearly some things are more important than others. Pardon my saying so but it isn’t particularly important whether or not it is a sin for a man to have long hair. This is especially true in light of the fact that we have no direction whatsoever from the Bible to actually define for us what constitutes long hair. On the other hand adultery is very clearly defined and while it may or may not send you to hell it certainly isn’t God’s plan for your life.

The return of Christ is an area about which there is no clear consensus in the Church. That He will return seems beyond question, but there is much disagreement over both when He will return and what is to be taken literally and what is symbolic in Scripture. I was always taught that His return would be literal and was imminent. And while I now have different views on some of the doctrines of my youth the literalness and imminency of Christ’s return is just as settled now in my mind and heart as it has ever been.

The Lord Himself will come down from heaven. That seems pretty clear. There just doesn’t seem to be any room for metaphor or imagery there. Those believers who are alive at the time will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and will discover that those who died in Christ are waiting for them as well. Again, there isn’t a lot of room to read anything in to that. When will it happen? We don’t know. It certainly seems that Paul thought it might happen in his lifetime. Therefore, I see no reason why we shouldn’t think it might happen in our lifetimes. In fact, it’s pretty clear that the Bible intends for believers to have that very expectancy.

What a difference this doctrine of the literal and imminent return of christ makes. Every day becomes one full of expectancy and hope. At worst you go into the next life having lived this one with a bedrock hope for each and every day. That is what I call a no lose doctrine.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-3:5

2011-10-23T04:30:00.000-05:00

As a Father Deals With His Children

Our Church has a theatre. One of the productions we have mounted is called The Boys Next Door. It is a very powerful (and very funny) play about four adult mentally handicapped men who share a group apartment.

One of the two scenes that isn’t funny, but is quite powerful, concerns the occasion where one of the guys’ father comes to visit. It doesn’t go very well. Through out the play this character (Barry) has these grandiose notions of his dad. You start to get some idea that these notions might not be true and when Barry’s dad shows up they are proven not true in spades. By the time the four page scene is over you understand a lot about perhaps how Barry came to be in the condition he is in. You also feel both anger and extreme pity for his dad. What a bitter miserable man it takes to treat his son that way. He has virtually no capacity for meaningful human interaction.

Unfortunately, Barry’s dad really exist in too many cases and in our culture many dads reflect this man far too closely.

Contrast this with what Paul says here about his relationship with the church at Thessalonica. “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

This is what a godly father does. He encourages his children. Regardless of anything else in our lives, regardless of what we may try to portray on the outside, inside we all crave the approval of our father. To hear dad say, “You did well,” or “You can do, I believe in you,” is more valuable than... Just about anything.

He comforts his children. I’m not talking about being over protective. There are times when only dad can really bring the comfort. Moms certainly do their share of comforting, and there are certain cases where mom is most certainly the one needed. But the idea that comfort is mom’s job and dads don’t that sort of thing is a lie from hell. A child who has a mom and dad who will both give comfort is a blessed child, indeed.

He urges his children to live a life worthy of God. He cannot force his children to live such a life anymore than you can force someone to love you. When you try to force someone to live for God at best they do the outward stuff, but for the wrong reasons. At worst, as soon as they are able they resist such forcing and often spend the rest of their lives associating manipulation with God. That is why he urges them to live a life worthy of God.

A father like this is a godly father. Would that Barry had grown up with such a dad.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

2011-10-22T04:30:00.000-05:00

Love’s Labors Won

I have always been struck by the trilogy Paul uses here in addressing the works of the church at Thessalonica.

He mentions their work produced by faith. Sometimes people may do worthwhile work even though even when they have doubts. Faith isn’t the absence of doubt. In fact, if there is no cause for doubt then there is no need for faith. There are works that we do simply because this is what we believe He is calling us to. These are works produced by faith.

He speaks of their labor prompted by love. Some people labor for money. Some labor for fame. Some labor for “immortality”. Some labor to survive. Some labor and don’t really know why. None of these come close to the satisfaction and value of laboring for love. Love is the greatest motivation of all.

Finally, he mentions their endurance inspired by hope. Hope has been devalued in some circles as an inferior brand of faith. Nonsense. Hope is the birthplace of faith. Hope is essential. Without hope life becomes an unbearable burden. Hope has the power to lift us above the fog and allows us to glimpse the eternal.

Works can be good. Labor is certainly not bad. Endurance is an essential tool for living in a fallen world. But the motivation behind these three is the real test of their quality. The church at Thessalonica had quality. May we have it as well.

Colossians 3:18-4:18

2011-10-21T04:30:00.000-05:00

Occupy...Till He Comes

OK, so the phrase “occupy till He comes” isn’t in this passage. Currently there is a movement in this country that started as Occupy Wall Street. It is basically a social protest against the unconscionable greed of the financial industry in our country. During a time of genuine financial distress for the vast majority there is an elite who were not only responsible for this distress but who were themselves bailed out by public funds and who continue to squeeze the poor and the increasingly smaller middle class in pursuit of an ever greater slice of the pie.

Obviously, this is a political issue which is quite complex and has proponents on all sides. I can’t say with certainty who is right and who is wrong, but I can say what a believer is supposed to do because the Bible makes it clear.

If a believer is working for someone he or she should be aware that they are really working for the Lord. This doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be fairly compensated (of course they should be) but if you are just working for worldly gain that’s all you will get. If you are working for the Lord you will receive your worldly gain but more importantly you will bring honor to Christ and receive a far greater reward for your work than will show on your pay stub. Note that I am not talking about evangelizing on the job. If you talk about Jesus a lot but do a poor job you will bring dishonor rather than honor to Christ. Do your job well, because you are working for the Lord, and the opportunities to witness will come.

If you are one who has others working for you resist the temptation to think that it is all about the bottom line. What a miserable small evil way of thinking. Of course the world glorifies this was of thinking but the world’s way is death. Understand that you have a master and it isn’t your accountant, or some rating agency, or even stock holders. Your master is the Lord. Treat those you employ fairly. Their families are as important as yours. The Lord will not look kindly on your “fortune” if it is gained by taking bread off of the plates of another’s children.

Occupy Wall Street has branched out to other areas and the term “occupy” is the branding that links them all together. I don’t know if it will do any good though I wish them well. For me, I think if we will occupy with these simply rules the day will come when He will appear and those who have worked and managed and owned with Him in mind will be very glad they did.

Colossians 2:16-3:17

2011-10-20T04:30:00.000-05:00

Holiness and Holidays

I was brought up in a “holiness” tradition. A lot of emphasis was placed on what you wore and where you went and how you talked. We were taught that it was a shame for a man to have long hair. We knew that women were supposed to be modest. This resulted in very very plain women standing beside men who were decked out in their finest (with short hot combed hair). They were both honoring the Lord: one by dressing up and the other by dressing down.

It is very likely that they were both honoring the Lord because it is all about the heart. If they were dressing up for the Lord that works. If they were dressing more modestly because they thought that pleased the Lord that works as well. The Lord didn’t really care if they dressed up or down. What mattered was that they were considering Him in their hearts.

That is basically what Paul is saying here. It isn’t man’s rules that matter. It is your heart toward God that matters. Some of man’s rules seem like good ideas and they may even seen “holy”, but that is impossible. Only God is holy and only that which He claims for His own in a special way is made holy. Man can’t make anything holy! So don’t be judged by what man thinks. It’s a trap! In fact, this mere outward display of “holiness” actually has no power to influence your inward life at all. Colossians 2:23 was quite a revelation to this boy raised in the holiness movement.

So, what are we to do? Shall we just do whatever we want to? No. Chapter three provides some great suggestions but they all are directed inward instead of outward. If the outward changes the inward may or may not follow. Changing the outward before the inward changes can lead to the inward becoming resentful or, just as bad, complacent. When the inward changes the outward will always eventually come around. Strange how those who stress the outward almost always focus on those things associated with sexual immorality but almost never on humility, kindness, and patience.

Finally, let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. Be convinced yourself that you are living to honor the Lord and you’ll not go far wrong.

Colossians 2:1-15

2011-10-19T04:30:00.000-05:00

Full vs Hollow

There are two ways of looking at things: through Christ and not through Christ. I know that there are a lot of competing voices in the world and that most people thing that they are either all OK or that at the very least they are all different. That is not how the Bible sees it.

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We are not just talking about Jesus’ statement, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” when we examine the New Testament’s claims to uniqueness for Christ. According to the passage before us today all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in Him. It is important for us to know this; otherwise, we might fall prey to fine sounding arguments.

There are a lot of fine sounding arguments out there but Paul calls these “hollow and deceptive philosophy”. They are hollow and deceptive because they are based on human wisdom (traditions) and mere basic worldly principles. This sometimes goes by the name “common knowledge”. But all of the fulness of the Deity dwells in Christ. So, all wisdom and knowledge are in Him as well as the fulness of the Deity. Anything that ignores, or distorts, Him is pretty much left out in the cold.

Take the cross for example. Human wisdom says that death as a criminal is a shame. Worldly wisdom would look at such an event and call it a defeat. But in Christ it became a smashing victory. By the cross He won forgiveness for our sins. He canceled the law code against us. He disarmed the powers and authorities of this world. That’s what the cross looks like through Christ.

The world doesn’t see it that way. The world is hollow. Christ is full.

Colossians 1:1-29

2011-10-18T04:30:00.000-05:00

Head of All

This passage is one of my favorites in all of scripture. Verses fifteen through twenty are a virtual anthem to the supremacy of Christ: the image of the invisible God and the first born over all creation.

All of God’s fulness dwells in Christ. This helps explain the term “only begotten son”. Jesus is God’s One and Only because everything is in Jesus. God cannot beget any more Sons because He put everything in Jesus. Fortunately, He can adopt sons and daughters. That is the message of the Gospel; an offer to be adopted as children of God. No wonder Paul later uses the well known phrase, “Christ in you the hope of glory.”

What I have found to be an extremely freeing revelation is the message that Christ is supposed to have the supremacy in everything. Our church has a theatre. It’s a real theatre. We basically only do secular plays because that is the audience we are trying to reach. We want the plays to have redemptive value (the message of the Bible is redemption) and we do pass out a card inviting the play goers to our services but otherwise it’s much like going to any good live theatre (only usually better). A lot of people don’t understand why we do this. They ask, “Is this a church or a theatre?” The answer is, “Yes.”

The arts are at least, and I would argue more, influential than politics or armies or sports. Think about it. Live theatre is one of the more powerful of the arts (in spite of the spectacle of the cinema) and the church has virtually abandoned it to the enemy except for pageants and skits. Nothing against pageants and skits but those are usually aimed at an already believing audience. Jesus is supposed to Head over everything so His body should manifest that. That is why we do “secular” plays and sponsor an art gallery.

We invade the “secular” on their turf and basically on their terms and we carry the love and message of Christ. What a privilege!

Philippians 4:1-23

2011-10-17T04:30:00.000-05:00

Peace

Jesus said that in the last days there would be wars and rumors of wars. Buy, is that the case right now or what? He said that men’s hearts would fail them for fear. And the #1 killer (in the USA anyway) is heart disease. Of course we know that is because of diet. Don’t we? I’m sure diet has something to do with many cases but in reality I suspect the levels of stress and fear we deal with are every bit as much to blame as diet.

Peace. What we wouldn’t give for some real peace. If ever we needed peace it is now. And once again the Bible comes through on the really important stuff. We see two keys in this passage.

One of the most often memorized (and deservedly so) passages in the Bible is Philippians 4:6-7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Here is the first key. Take everything to God. Ask Him to take care of whatever is troubling you. It may be a broken relationship, a job situation, a financial matter, a health issue, or really anything. Take it to Him and ask. And when you do ask don’t forget to thank Him. Thank Him for what He has done and thank Him for Who He is. And thank Him for hearing your prayer. Then receive your peace.

Understand that the key here isn’t necessarily getting stuff, or even seeing the prayer answered. He will answer the prayer and He will answer it in the best way possible though it may not be in the way you were expecting. But this is about a peace that passes understanding. The peace will come first. Why? I don’t know. It is beyond understanding. Wonderful.

The second key to peace comes in verse twelve. “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” What is the secret? Check out verses six and seven. If you are looking at circumstances then you will virtually never be content, or at best your contentment will depend on circumstances; an extremely fickle mistress. If you are looking at God you will find a peace based on Him, and He never changes. That is a peace too wonderful to understand.

Philippians 3:1-21

2011-10-16T04:30:00.000-05:00

Mature Thinking

When I was a kid I used to not think very much of the idea of becoming “mature”. I remember thinking that I would never stop watching Saturday morning cartoons. I would always be that kid who would eat the middle of the Oreo first and throw the cookie on the outside away. I was also sure that I would never like girls. Well, one out of three isn’t too bad.

In all honesty, I equated maturity with losing the ability to smile if not laugh. Mature people certainly did not know how to have fun, they lacked a sense of wonder and inquiry. Mature people apparently had it figured all out so they really didn’t need to hear from anyone else. They were mostly just placed in the world to make others unhappy. That’s how I saw it anyway.

Now that I am older (and no longer watch Saturday morning cartoons and discovered that girls aren’t so bad) I have observed that the problem was not maturity. I have known several friends who decided not to become mature and honestly they are not a pretty sight; quite sad actually. An immature person can be just as miserable as a mature one. One can be quite mature and still maintain a child-like wonder and perfectly splendid enjoyment of life. In fact, this is exactly what God intends.

How do mature people think? Paul makes it pretty clear here at least in one very important area. They forget what is in the past and press on toward what is in the future. This doesn’t mean that they forget the lessons or the joys of the past. It does mean that they are not trapped by the past. They do not hold on to past hurts or failures allowing them to cripple them. They have fond memories but are not forever trying to recreate them. This also does not mean that they so live in the future that they fail to enjoy the present and see the possibilities of the now. It does mean that they realize they have a future. There is more to do, more fruit to bear, and more glory waits up ahead for our God is infinite.

This is how mature people think. Don’t think that just because you disapprove of a lot of stuff that you are mature.

Philippians 2:1-30

2011-10-15T04:30:00.000-05:00

Christians With Attitude

In America we like attitude...as long as it’s not directed at us. My dad virtually never swore and he wasn’t a Democrat but spoke admiringly of “Give ‘em Hell” Harry Truman. Things haven’t changed much. We like the confident cocky hero...as long as he’s on our side.

God wants His children to have attitude as well. He can use a guy who has lost a few battles like Moses but how about David. Little David was too young to join his brothers in the army but had enough attitude to take on a giant! Or did he? For sure he fought the giant, but I seem to recall him thinking that he wasn’t really fighting alone. Something about the Lord being with him. He didn’t know if he would live or die, but he knew the Lord was with him and that was enough.

Yes, you should have attitude and plenty of it. Your attitude should be the very same as that of Christ Jesus. His attitude wasn’t to try and get the most or be the most or win the most. He became a servant, and a more complete and wonderful servant than had ever been seen before.

You don’t have to worry about winning when you have God. Regardless of what things may look like you cannot really lose. Winning is assured. You don’t have to worry about being better than someone else when you are a child of God. It is only those who aren’t sure of themselves who have to try and be above others. You don’t have to worry about getting...anything really...when you are an heir of God.

People with such attitudes are willing to humble themselves and to put others first. They will most assuredly experience what Peter meant when he instructed us to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand and He will lift you up. So, have all of the attitude you want, just be sure it is the attitude of Christ.

Philippians 1:12-30

2011-10-14T04:30:00.000-05:00

What Happens When We Die?

Which is it? Do we die and stay in our graves until the Resurrection of the dead or do we go straight to be with the Lord? There are verses that indicate both possibilities. Paul says here, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” That sounds like we go straight to the presence of the Lord. Ah, but we also read in Paul’s writings that the dead in christ will rise at the trumpet call of God. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

How about this for an answer: both? Once we move into eternity and into other dimensions there is no reason for us to expect that time moves or functions the same way we are used to here. Could we not go immediately to be with the Lord in eternity and yet “still” be present at the trumpet call here? Of course all of this is speculation, so let’s move on to what isn’t just speculation.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Regardless of the time frames for the believer to live should be Christ and to die is certainly gain.

This puts me in mind of my dad. He died in July of 2008 at the age of 92. He had essentially lived all of his life for the Lord and was a minister of the gospel for over 50 years. After my mom passed away in November of 2004 my dad lived on his own until about three months before his passing. I would see him everyday and occasionally we would talk about another living arrangement but he was quite independent and not willing to give up his house and move.

He was in reasonably good health but fell and broke his hip in late March of 2008. He spent the last three months in the hospital and in a nursing facility recuperating. He actually enjoyed those last three months because he enjoyed being around so many people. He felt like he had a mission field again. On the day he died I left the nursing home and prayed, “Lord, if you want my dad to live to a hundred I’m totally fine with that but if you are ready for him I think he’d like to go now.” When the phone rang at 3 AM the next morning I knew before I answered what had happened.

They had not been able to wake him at the nursing home and had sent him on to the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital the doctors were concerned about how I would react. It was OK. It was fine. I miss my dad but this was what he lived for. Because for him to live was Christ so indeed to die was gain.

Maybe I’ll live to be 92? Even if I do the separation won’t be a long one. And whether I go straight to the Lord or are still here at the trumpet, or both, is really irrelevant. What matters is for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:1-11

2011-10-13T04:30:00.000-05:00

Finish What You Start

I’m writing a book. Actually, I’m writing several books. Actually, I’ve thought about writing several books and have even gone so far as to set up a folder in Dropbox called “Books”. In that folder are four separate folders. Each of those four contains a book title and perhaps a bit of an outline. One of them contains a completed chapter! I am writing several books but don’t hold your breath.

Additionally, I am almost a hundred pages into War and Peace. I am going to turn our yard into an English Garden. I am going to clean up my office (both at home and at church). And some day I am going to wash the car. We haven’t even touched the Bucket List yet.

I suspect that anyone reading this could write paragraphs eerily similar to the two I just finished. (See, I do finish some things!) The truth is that we all start things with good intentions, and while the good intentions remain so does the project. There are things we just never seem to finish. This too is evidence that we are not God.

The passage today is short but it contains one of the most powerful and wonderful promises in all of the Bible. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Wow! I’ll just make three quick points and then you can think about them.

God is the One working to change us. We may think that we are doing something but in reality we cannot change ourselves. We can make some cosmetic changes but we are still fallen people.
The work that He is doing will result in us being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. (Try doing that yourself!)
He will do it. It will happen, because God finishes everything He starts. He is not like us.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think my garage needs cleaning out.

Ephesians 6:1-24

2011-10-12T04:30:00.000-05:00

The Real Enemy

When I was growing up and my parents used the phrase “the enemy” there was never any question who they were talking about. They were for sure talking about the devil and his minions. Unfortunately, this no longer seems to automatically be the case among believers. The enemy now could refer to those of a certain political persuasion, or even those from “another” church.

Paul talks in this passage about the “Full Armor of God”. This is a topic that often receives a fair amount of coverage from many pulpits but the purpose for this “armor” is too often glossed over. The reason we need these things is so that we can stand against the devil’s schemes.

Note that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. That means that out struggle is not against people. It is never against people. One of the devil’s favorite, and most successful, schemes is to get us to think that people are the enemy.

I’m not saying that some issues aren’t important but we need to realize what is at stake here and what the real issues are. What is really at stake isn’t some mere political issue. What is at stake is not a matter of national honor, much less national pride. What is at stake isn’t even the abortion debate. And what is at stake is certainly not somebody or others’ pet piece of dogma. What is at stake is eternity and who is going to stand with God and who will be separated from God forever. It’s hard to fight somebody and win them to Christ at the same time.

Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word; all of these are the devil’s doom but to people they are life. Take up the full armor of God but remember who you are fighting and why.

Ephesians 5:1-33

2011-10-11T04:30:00.000-05:00

Husbands and Wives

A number of years ago I read an interview with Bill Gates where he used the phrase “positive feedback spiral” to describe what had happened with his company Microsoft. Regardless of what you or I may think of Microsoft, their products and their practices, there is no denying that they were perhaps the most successful company of the last two decades of the 20^th century. We tend to think of a spiral as something that goes downward such as spiraling out of control down the drain. In fact a spiral is well suited to describe something once set in motion tends to feed off of itself. In the case of Microsoft success tended to breed success. In the case of marriage the same is true - if we follow the instructions given to us by the Bible.

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church...” Wow! Dose this fly in the face of modern Western thought or what? But consider the passage as a whole.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...”

The wife is to submit to her husband (as to the Lord) and the husband is to lay down his life for the wife (as the Lord did for us). It’s pretty simple and it is ridiculously powerful. It also can create a positive feedback spiral in both of their lives.

Here are the points to consider:

Being a wife and being a husband are not the same job. They each have different job description and as with pretty much everything else in life things go best when everyone is doing their job.
Marriage is not a democracy. If everyone gets a vote and only two people are voting then there are going to be many tie votes. At that juncture you can either:

Split up and go your own way.
Keep score. (Pure poison when it comes to love.)
Have a decision maker.

God has declared a decision maker to make things easy.
The husband is supposed to consider the needs and feelings of his wife above himself. When we say that Jesus laid down His life for us the cross was by no means the sole focus of such a statement. The life He lived among us was likely much harder than the cross.

Here is where the positive feedback spiral comes in. If the husband really does put his wife ahead of himself in his decisions then she is not going to have an issue submitting to his decisions.She is going to feel loved and cared for and she will absolutely flourish in such an arrangement. On the other side, if the wife will fully support her husbands decisions and he knows that he has her support come what may then he will become a secure man fully capable of making godly decisions to lead his family. The more each does their job the better the other becomes.

Microsoft has kind of lost its mojo these days. But marriage, in spite of our best efforts to mess it up is still one of the most popular institutions on the earth after many thousands of years. Imagine hoe good it can be if we just follow the instructions.

Ephesians 4:17-32

2011-10-10T04:30:00.000-05:00

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down

True or False? Never go to bed angry.

Today is a special day for me. It was on this day in 1976 that Margaret walked down the aisle of Glen Leven Presbyterian church to the glorious strains of the fourth movement of Beethoven's Ninth and we were joined together in the holy covenant of marriage. It’s been a great ride.

We spent our 10^th anniversary at our favorite restaurant in Harare, Zimbabwe. Our 22^nd anniversary we attended a Medieval Feast at the castle in Ruthin Wales. Our 25^th anniversary was spent on the extraordinary piece of rock known as Le Mont Saint Michel just off the coast of Normandy in France. We have had three wonderful children who have brought us much pleasure with little grief. We have been blessed to both do work suitable to our calling and passion. We are partners and it is a good marriage.

Still, even the best marriages are not all sunshine and roses. There have been a few rough spots and a few of “those” conversations. We have also discovered that we are each only “somewhat” perfect. There are some areas that can use some work. But by the grace of God, and by commitment to follow His Word where we have clear instruction, we are at well over three decades and counting - and still smiling.

One of the keys has been Ephesians 4:26b. “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” I was listening to an interview on the radio a few weeks ago and this marriage counselor was saying that this advice was wrong. She pointed out that you can’t always work things out in a day much less a few hours. She is right in saying that you can’t always settle things before going to bed every night; however, that isn’t what this verse says to do. It says to not go to bed angry. You don’t have to have everything solved in order to release your anger, or rather to have anger release its hold on you. An embrace. A kiss. An, “I love you.” An, “I’m sorry.” These may not totally resolve your conflict but they can go a long way toward defusing anger.

Whether it is concerning marriage or friendships or business or politicks, this is good advice.

Ephesians 4:1-16

2011-10-09T04:30:00.000-05:00

My First Sermon

On July 3, 1988 I preached my first sermon as the pastor of what was at the time First Assembly of God Church in Smyrna, TN. My text on that inaugural Sunday was Ephesians 4:1-16. (This was not the first sermon I had ever preached but it was my first sermon as a Senior Pastor. Actually, at the time I was the only pastor at the church but why quibble?)

Selecting the text that first Sunday morning was not difficult. I had known for quite some time that if I ever had the opportunity to pastor a church this would be my first sermon because this clearly spells out the vision and purpose for the church.

The tradition I grew up with (and the one those at First Assembly were familiar with) was one where virtually every service was aimed at winning the lost - during the service. This had struck me as quite odd for some time. Why were we supposed to preach salvation messages to those who were already saved? Of course, occasionally there might be an unsaved person present and they might hear the salvation message and respond to an altar call but that actually a pretty rare occurrence. More often than not those who responded to the altar call were ones who had been convinced of the need to doubt the salvation experience they had last month instead of genuine unbelievers. Besides, shouldn’t a “worship” service focus on the One being worshipped instead of on those who don’t believe in Him?

We are supposed to see the lost won to Christ; however, instead of trying to re-win the choir each week it might be a better plan to prepare God’s people for works of service. Most of their week is often spent out there where there are actually some unbelievers present. In fact, according to this passage that is exactly what those in the “so called” five fold ministry are supposed to do. As a Pastor my job is to prepare (train up, equip, encourage, challenge, inspire, etc.) God’s people to go out and be the Church! Be the Body of Christ in the world!

If we will do this then instead of playing religious games we will actually “become mature”. If we will do this then the church will not be so susceptible to false teaching even those its practitioners are cunning and crafty. If we will do this then the believers will begin to actually “speak the truth in love” and grow up. Christ will be the Head and He will strengthen and enlarge the Church as each one does their meaningful and fruitful job.

There was an old Rock and Roll hit in the 70’s that declared “One is the loneliest number.” But one is not the loneliest number when it refers to one Body, one Spirit, one Hope, one Lord, one Faith, on Baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 3:1-21

2011-10-08T04:30:00.000-05:00

Rooted and Grounded

Some of the most impactful sermons in my life were ones I heard from Youth Pastors speaking to fifty or so teens in a Youth group. The first came just a few months after I committed my life to Christ. I went to visit my High School friend David Busby who was a Youth Pastor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. During this visit I heard David speak about reading the Word. I was challenged and the result was a serious and meaning life long daily walk with the Bible.

The second such sermon came almost five years later. It was delivered by Bruce Coble to the Lord’s Chapel Youth Group. He took as his text Ephesians 3:17 and hammered home the phrase “rooted and grounded in love”. He hammered it home so hard that it became almost a mantra for the youth and for sure the youth leaders for quite some time. My friend Wayne wrote a song about it. My wife Margaret did a beautiful cross stitch of a tree with roots in the ground and this phrase as the caption. We framed it and gave to Bruce and his wife Jill for Christmas.

All of this talk about being rooted and grounded in love led us to actually strive to live it out. The results have been tremendous for us all. We’ve had trials and we have even had a few spats but over the years we have discovered the power. Paul prayed that they would be rooted and grounded in love so that they might have power “together with all the saints” to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. This is not something you can grasp in a vacuum. You can only start to grasp this in community.

It is in community, rooted and grounded in love, that we can actually know the love that...get this...surpasses knowledge. As that happens we start to be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God! Yes indeed, this is immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine but it can happen nonetheless because of His power working in us.

To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 2:1-22

2011-10-07T04:30:00.000-05:00

He is Our Peace

Chapter two of Ephesians is another passage filled with amazing statements:

God has raised us up to be seated in the heavenly realms with Christ and in Christ. And when you consider that the previous chapter told us that everything is under Christ’s feet that also puts everything under our feet. Remarkable.
It is by grace we are saved through faith...not by works s that no one can boast. It was this blindingly bright revelation that fueled Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.
We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Anything good we do is actually the result of God working in us.
We are one.

There were really only two types of people in the world: Jews and Gentiles. The Jews were God’s chosen and the Gentiles were not God’s chosen. It was just that simple. Jesus changed all of that. There is is no Jew or Gentile in Jesus. He is the peace that brought unity between the two. He is the peace that draws all near to God. He is the peace that turns foreigners and aliens into family and members of the same household. He is the peace that causes God to actually live inside of us by His Spirit.

And having all of this, He is in fact our Peace in all things.

Ephesians 1:1-23

2011-10-06T04:30:00.000-05:00

To the Praise of His Glory!

In Ephesians Paul soars to heights that, properly considered, boggle not only the mind but the senses as well. The first fourteen verses here are crammed full of words like: blessing, riches, abundance, pleasure, and glory! We would do well to spend a lot of time meditating on such things from God’s point of view. But today I want to go to the last third of the passage and focus on the prayer Paul offers up for his friends in Ephesus. It can serve as a great model for us in praying for others.

First, he gives thanks for these beloved saints. (Ephesus was where Paul spent more time than any other place on his missionary journeys.) Start by giving thanks to God for the people He has put in your life.

And these are the things Paul requests for those for whom he is praying.

The Spirit of wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to make the right decisions in life and then to actually follow through and make those decisions.
The Spirit of revelation. This is different from wisdom thought it can certainly assist in wisdom. Revelation is being shown things by God that cannot be known any other way.

The primary reason he asks for both of these is so these saints may know God better.

That the eyes of their heart will be enlightened to see God at work in the world and not simply be blinded by the spirits of the age as most are. When this happens they will see:

The hope to which we are called; which is nothing less than eternal life and being conformed to His glorious image.
The riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints. That is a curious turn of a phrase. Could he mean that we would actually see how wonderful the saints He has put in our lives are?
His incomparably great power for us who believe. Armies will fall. Nations will vanish. The rich and powerful of this world will come to nothing. His power toward us will never diminish. (It’s the power He used to raise Christ from the dead.

Oh yes, everything has been placed under Christ’s feet and He is the head over everything for the church. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Galatians 6:1-18

2011-10-05T04:30:00.000-05:00

What Really Counts

In following the way of the Spirit there is still some good advice to be followed in our everyday life. Here are some of Paul’s bullet points from this passage.

When someone else sins we should actually try to restore them rather than kick them while they are down. Moreover, we should restore them gently. (I wonder if this gets read very often?)
We are supposed to carry each other’s burdens but also carry our own load. In other words we should help others without expecting help in return, but also we willing to let others help us. What a world.
We shouldn’t think that we are “something”, at least not in the world’s way of thinking. Our boasting is in the cross f the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should be willing to share “all good things” with those who teach the Word.
You can’t mock God. If you try you will only end up mocking yourself.
Good will always ultimately produce good but just not always in the time or way that we expected.
We are to do good to all, and while this applies especially to other believers that by no means gives us a pass on doing good to those we consider enemies. Enemies are “all people” too.

Finally, you can do all the rituals and put on quite a show but the only thing that really counts is becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus and that only comes by the way of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:1-26

2011-10-04T04:30:00.000-05:00

The Fruit of the Spirit

There are two way to try and reach God: the law and the Spirit. Paul has made a strong case in this letter saying that you can’t really travel both roads at once. If you try the law then you are, as Paul says, “fallen away from grace”. Clearly, the way of the Spirit is the right way. Jesus Himself said that we have to be born of the Spirit.

There are multiple benefits that come with following the Spirit. The most obvious is being born into the Kingdom and baptized into Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul talked about gifts that come from the Spirit. Here Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit. Gifts are not resident in our lives but fruit is resident and over time is intended to grow.

When the Spirit is really present in our lives the results are reflected in the list Paul gives us here. I’ve known people who claimed to have the Spirit because they could manifest certain gifts; yet, there wasn’t a lick of love in them at all. Where the Spirit is present in a live there will be some evidence of love.

These are the things that Christians should be known for. Are we people of joy, or are sour and dour? Do we have peace or do we exude anxiety and fear? Are we patient or quick to react and judge? Are we known for our kindness? Let me ask that one again in case some missed it. Are we known for kindness? Is goodness a hallmark of the Christian life; not phony showy goodness, but sincere warm goodness? Are Christians known for being faithful? Can you count on them more than the normal? Are Christians known for being gentle or do we come over as harsh and proud of it? Do we exhibit selfcontrol?

Imagine if these were the things that most churches were looking for instead of bigger numbers and more worldly influence? There is the way of works and there is the way of the Spirit. One of these ways is not like the other.

Galatians 4:1-31

2011-10-03T04:30:00.000-05:00

Children of Promise

It is usually a bit dicey for us to take things from the Old Testament and treat them as allegories. There is only one great exception to this rule; that would be when the New Testament writers (under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit) have specifically given permission to do so. The passage before us today contains my favorite instance of the New Testament treating an Old Testament event by giving it a figurative interpretation.

Abraham had two sons. (Actually, he had eight if you count the sons of Keturah but they do not figure into the redemption story and are rarely considered.) Ishmael was born to the slave woman Hagar and came in the natural way. Isaac was born to Sarah and was a miraculous child because Sarah was both barren and well beyond the age of child bearing.

God told Abraham that he would have a son to be his heir. Abraham and Sarah considered that in the natural this was impossible. Sarah came up with the idea of having Hagar substitute for her. Because Hagar was her slave any children born to her by Abraham would belong to Sarah. Thus, they figured out how to make God’s promise come to pass. The problem is that we cannot make God’s promises come to pass. Only God can fulfill His promises. As Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, “Flesh can only give birth to flesh.”

Isaac was a type of Christ, the One to come. In Genesis 22 we see the powerful scene where Isaac is willing to be a sacrifice to God because it was his father’s will. He even carried the wood on which he was to be sacrificed up the hill to the place of sacrifice in the region of Moriah which is today known as Jerusalem. There is more to the type, but we’ll stop there.

Consider that Isaac was born in am impossible way to a woman who was barren and ninety years old! Jesus was also born in an impossible way to a young maiden who had never been with a man. But Paul doesn’t draw this conclusion. He says, “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.” We were not born in the natural way, nor were we brought into the kingdom by any natural means. We were born of the Spirit, or if you prefer, born again of the Spirit.

Beautiful. Powerful. So why would we ever want to go back again to those “weak and miserable principles” of the way of the flesh. Let us be done with trying to fulfill God’s promises for Him as if He needed our help. We are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman. We are children of promise.

Galatians 3:15-29

2011-10-02T04:30:00.000-05:00

In Christ

Abraham was told that through his seed all nations would be blessed. The blessing being promised wasn’t something Abraham could have imagined. It was just peace, or life, or provision for material needs. It was all of the above plus everything else needed to take us all the way to being heirs of God and join heirs with Jesus Christ. This promised blessing was in fact, the Gospel.

Paul makes the excellent point here that this promise was given over four centuries before the law was given. Therefore, the law had nothing to do with the promise which was fulfilled in the Gospel of Christ. The law is good, but it is not a factor in obtaining eternal life.

Being in Christ does another remarkable thing. It makes us one. What Paul is saying here is that there are no racial boundaries when we are in Christ. Under the law there were some racial restrictions but that was clearly for another time and place. We have moved beyond that place. In Christ there are no gender boundaries. The races are still different, and what a glorious variety of difference there is, but no boundaries. Also, the genders are still different, and as the French say, “vive la différence” (long live the difference); however, there are no boundaries.

The same blessings promised to Abraham are available to us all regardless of race or gender. What a wonderful thing to be in Christ!

Galatians 3:1-14

2011-10-01T04:30:00.000-05:00

Wow!

My friend Greg Wilson likes to say “Wow!” twice. After saying it the first time he precedes the second time with, “Let me say it backwards. Wow!” Paul is really bringing it here regarding the difference between faith and works.

Did you get saved by works? If you did then that’s the way to go. If you didn’t then why would you switch over to something that couldn’t even get you started? (By the way, you weren’t saved by works.)

Did God give you the Holy Spirit because of what you earned? Does He do miracles because you earned them? That would be “No,” and “No.” You received the Holy Spirit by faith and miracles come by faith. Just not seeing exactly where works are fitting in just yet.

How about Abraham? How did he become righteous before God? Oh, that’s right, by faith. Abraham saw the gospel in advance, believed, and God considered him to be righteous. It’s right there in Genesis 15. It’s fitting that what Abraham believed was that God was indeed going to give him an offspring. This offspring (Isaac) embodied the promise of the gospel as well shall see later on.

Observing the law, which is works, can only bring a curse if that is what you are depending on to save you. But Christ became a curse for us even though He observed the law perfectly, for He never sinned. We are saved through faith in this fact and it is the new path of faith that we now tread.

Finally, God wanted to redeem the Gentiles. Even Abraham saw this. He couldn’t possibly redeem the Gentiles through the law because the law wasn’t given to the Gentiles. But by faith even the Gentiles can receive the blessings of Abraham and the promise of the Spirit.

Forward or backwards it still spells “Wow”!

Galatians 2:1-21

2011-09-29T04:30:00.001-05:00

Did Christ Die for Nothing?

As we mentioned yesterday, the letter to the Galatians was written because this church was being weaned away from the grace of the Gospel into a religion of works and Paul was not about to stand for it. Knowing this it becomes easy to connect the dots in this chapter.

When he went up to Jerusalem after fourteen years in the ministry he took Titus along. Titus was evidently a gentile and uncircumcised. The leaders of the Jerusalem church accepted Titus without insisting that he follow this ritual in order to belong. It did become an issue but the church leaders rejected the idea that this outward work of righteousness was required.

Paul only mentions that the “leaders” sided with him in this because the Galatians were apparently impressed by human credentials. God, however, does not judge based on externals. God looks on the heart.

One of these leaders, in fact the chief leader, Simon Peter even started to go back to works and rituals, but Paul set his straight. (A side note here: Peter’s besetting sin seemed to be fear. That is not unusual in people with brash personalities. Even after receiving the fullness of the Spirit he apparently stumbled occasionally. He’s kind of like us.)

Peter was in Antioch enjoying the revival along with all of the saints until the hard liners arrived from Jerusalem. Then Peter started to not be so friendly with the gentile believers for fear of this group. Believe it or nor that is not how God works in our lives. The poison started to spread through out the whole group in Antioch until Paul put a public stop to it. Apparently, once he was called on it Peter got back on track. (Good old Peter.)

It is by grace, friends. If we make it about anything else then we set aside God’s grace and Christ died for nothing. But it is never for nothing. Christ died to do what we could never do. Receive it. Enjoy it. Flourish in it.

Galatians 1:1-24

2011-09-29T04:30:00.000-05:00

Angel Preachers

The letter to the churches of Galatia was written for a specific purpose. The letter to the Romans covered much of paul’s theology and many other topics as well, The letters to the church at Corinth covered a broad range of topics. The letter before us today mainly focuses in on one topic. These churches had apparently been led away from the gospel by teaching that salvation is based on human works. Paul was mightily and justly upset by this occasion.

Before going into greater detail later in the letter he starts off by calling this a perversion of the gospel. He ten makes a startling statement that many would do well to take to heart, even today. “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” Think about it. If an angel appears, or even the apostle Paul himself, and brings a “different” gospel then let him suffer the damnation of hell. (That is what “eternally condemned” means.)

He then goes on to make another point which believers for all time need to understand. The gospel wasn’t man’s idea. Men did not “make up” the gospel, nor did they reason it out. It came by revelation from God. That is the only way it could have come because it simply doesn’t make sense to the purely rational mind.

This is why Paul goes to length to explain the history for the few years following his conversion. He didn’t get this gospel by collaboration with the other apostles. He didn’t really meet the apostles for over three after his conversion. Yet, the gospel that he preached was the same gospel they preached. How could that be? Revelation from God.

Of course you could present a rational case that Paul was lying. And if you believe that then there isn’t much I can do for you. You can also make a rational case the salvation “must” involve works, but the apostle Paul wouldn’t think too kindly of your teaching. Is it really by faith alone? Does even the Old Testament support such a position? We have come to the right book to examine that question. Let’s do it together.

2 Corinthians 12:1-13:14

2011-09-28T04:30:00.000-05:00

“My Grace is Sufficient”

Did Paul go to heaven? It certainly sounds like he did. He doesn’t mention this “man” by name but it is pretty clear that he is talking about himself. Exactly when this happened is also pretty clear. In Acts 14 Paul and Barnabas were on their first missionary journey. They were in the town of Lystra and the crowd turned against them. It was here that Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city. The Bible doesn’t actually say that Paul was dead but it does say that all of those involved sure thought he was dead.

That would have been an excellent time for a trip to be caught up to the third heaven (whatever that is). I love the fact that Paul doesn’t come back ready to write a best seller or do the interview tour. In fact, he really had nothing to say because he “heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.” Perfect!

I also love the fact that God put some ballast in his life. This ballast was Paul’s famous “thorn in the flesh”. No one really knows what it was. Here he mentions something about a “messenger of Satan,” but we don’t know for sure what that means. We only know that Paul prayed for it to be removed and it wasn’t. I suspect that Paul was pretty fervent in his prayer life. I also suspect that there was little lacking in his faith. This should strike a pretty hard blow to the notion that if we believe enough then we can get anything we want. Sometimes God insists on us getting what He wants, and I suspect that the closer we are to Him the more often those times crop up.

Some have speculated because of his comments in Galatians that he had physical trouble with his eyes. That would be fitting for the man who had seen the most in the spirit to be infirm in his natural sight. It is more than fitting; it is perfect. God uses the weak things to bring down the “strong”. He uses the foolish things to confound the “wise”. His power is made perfect in our weakness. That’s good news because it means that there are plenty of opportunities for His power to be displayed in my life. It also means that whatever may come our way - His grace is always sufficient for the need.

2 Corinthians 11:16-32

2011-09-27T04:30:00.000-05:00

After All You’ve Been Through

Every time I read this chapter I am reminded of a story told by Judson Cornwall about himself. Judson came from a family of preachers. He was not only a third generation pastor but he also had a brother and sister who became pastors. I had the rich privilege of hearing both Judson and his sister Iverna Tompkins speak at our church in the early 1980’s.

This story was one that Judson told concerning a particularly difficult time in his life. I don’t remember the specifics, and am not sure he actually shared them, but the situation was so bad that he pleaded with the Lord to allow him to leave this life and “go home”. Apparently, the Lord agreed to Judson’s prayer and a certain date was selected for when this would happen. (I’m not quite sure how you arrange these things with God, but it’s not my story.)

Shortly after the “arrangements” were made Judson received an invitation to speak on one of those Charismatic Christian Cruises in the Caribbean. His sister Iverna was also a featured speaker along with David du Plessis who was considered one of the main founders of the Charismatic movement. Judson agreed to go thinking it would be nice to see his sister again before his departure.

On the first day of the cruise Judson encountered Iverna in the dinning room. After a few minutes of conversation Iverna stopped and stared at Judson. “You’ve heard something from God!” she exclaimed. “What did He tell you?” Judson was a little peeved that Iverna had discerned this and was not about to tell her that he had an agreement for God to take him home on a certain day. After a few minutes of trying to pry the information out of her brother Iverna exited with the line, “Well, if you won’t tell me I’ll ask Him myself.”

The next morning at breakfast Iverna entered the dinning room with a somewhat smug expression. She sit down by Judson and said, “So! You’re going to go home to be with the Lord?” At this Judson was fairly ticked off at God for blabbing to his sister, but it was going to get worse. “Well, I have a word from God for you,” she continued, “they don’t want you up there! He only agreed to this because you’re such a cry baby.” (You have to know Iverna.)

Judson stormed out of the dinning hall and went up to the top deck thinking he could be alone. Close, but not quite. When he arrived at the top deck he saw David du Plessis standing with his back to him looking out to sea. Even more miffed Judson went to the opposite end of the deck and looked out the other side still steaming at God. A few minutes later Judson felt the arm of David du Plessis slip over his shoulder and heard David’s grandfatherly voice say, “So, you’re going home to be with the Lord?” At this Judson broke and poured out his heart about all of the trials and tribulations he had endured as a minister. When he finished, du Plessis simply said in a calm reassuring voice, “I understand, but would you do me one favor? When you get there would you please go up to the apostle Paul and explain to him everything you have suffered for the gospel?”

Now, read today’s passage again and you will understand why Judson canceled his reservation. (FYI, Judson Cornwall did go home to be with the Lord on February 11, 2005. He was 80.)