Solid Rock Ministries

Removing Stumps

2007-09-02T04:17:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 16:17
My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.
While driving to Union UMC church I saw that a homeowner was taking on the huge task of removing a sizable stump from their front yard. They had a huge hole dug around the stump as piles of earth that once fed the tree, and kept it secure against many storms, now ringed it as if paying it homage. It had been awhile since I had seen anyone remove a stump in this manner. Most take the labor-saving method of hiring a stump grinder to grind the stump below the surface, and cover the remnant, and leave it to rot.
I realized that we do this with sin in our lives. We take the easier route covering our sin thinking we can hide it from the world controlling it on our own. The problem is we cover it with the same bad behavior that had nursed the sin in the first place, allowing it to sit just below the surface becoming a cancer in our lives until it controls us.
We can never hide our sin from God. He wants us to take the hard route digging the sin out and removing habits nursing sin. It is only then we can walk in the freedom we have received from the blood of Christ. We are never alone in this hard process as we wear out our knees in prayer overcoming backsliding. There is always a friend that will come along, grab a shovel, lend a hand, keeping us accountable. God, who sees all sin, is there to help dig at the root, removing it from our lives. So grab a shovel, pickaxe, and meet me on my knees to remove that stump. Pastor Brian Davis

Journey With Christ Part Two

2007-04-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

The Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-9)
Gaza Road (Acts 8:26-39)
Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13-35)
It is time to continue on our journey with Christ. Our last trip was on the Emmaus Road, this time we are going to travel towards Gaza where we will witness an encounter between Phillip the disciple of Christ, and an Ethiopian eunuch. We will be joined by an angel of the Lord, witness the working of the Holy Spirit, and see God’s perfect timing of this encounter on the Gaza road. I pray you haven’t worn out that walking stick, lace up the boots again, enjoy the sounds along the trial and keep the dog quiet as we see what we can take away from the conversation.

26Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a]eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." 30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. 31"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."[b] 34The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"[c] 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

The apostles had been in Samaria settling churches and appointing leaders and ministers to them. Upon completion of their work there they returned to Jerusalem except for Philip who decided to stay to break new ground in the country. Having made himself available for service, and we can assume had been in prayer, was ready for guidance.
We read in verse 26 that an angel, sent from God, came to Philip and offered the guidance he had been seeking. The angel probably spoke to him in a dream or vision, and said, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” The angel was very specific on the road to use but not the purpose of the journey. When we make ourselves available for service to God we should expect to hear from Him. Also Dr. Luke included the statement at the end of this verse, this is desert, or a deserted place. Too many times we say here I am Lord, send me, and when we receive direction from the Lord it doesn’t make any sense to us. This road Philip was asked to take led to nowhere. If we had been with Philip we might have tried to stop him from making this journey. “Phil, come on man! I know you have a heart for God, but are you sure you heard Him right? That road leads to the desert, what possible work can you do there?” I know myself that there are a lot of times I haven’t understood God’s direction, and it took a lot of faith to follow His leading not knowing the outcome. We want everything spelled out for us before we make the commitment to serve God. God doesn’t work that way. He wants to use us, and He wants to test our faithfulness at the same time. As someone who sometimes rushes in where even angels fear to tread, I can understand this better than someone who wants everything spelled out for them. They want to know the weather report, okay I do that. Are there any obstacles along the path, guilty again. Gee I guess my faith isn’t as strong as I confess. It really isn’t blind faith that we move forward in, as the world would say, but it is with faith knowing that we are in direction of the Lord, and He is with us. So Philip got up, not knowing the destination, nor whom he would meet, and started into the wilderness.
In verse 27 we meet another man, a man from Ethiopia returning home after spending some time in Jerusalem worshiping. He was a proselyte to the Jewish religion having renounced idolatry, and worshipped the God of Israel. The bible also says that he was a eunuch. When we think of a eunuch we think of a man who was castrated and put in charge of a harem. Those castrated were also put in service to perform other social functions such as domestic servants, treble singers, religious specialists, military commanders, or government officials as we see here. He had proven himself in service and Queen Candice of Ethiopia had promoted him over and again till he now was in charge of her whole treasury. He carried great respect in his own country, and had heard of the God of Israel and had come to worship him in his own country and make trips to Jerusalem to worship at the temple there.
So we find this man seated in his chariot reading from the scroll of Isaiah, which he purchased at a great price I am sure. You couldn’t walk into Borders book store and pick up a copy of the scrolls each was hand copied and came at a great price. It was not the fact that he was reading from the scroll that should amaze us but the text that he was pondering over that should spark our curiosity. As we read along with the eunuch from the book of Isaiah chapter 53, and verses 7, 8, we will be in awe of God’s timing. Let me explain. It is here that we meet another character in our story in the person of the Holy Spirit. It is here that Philip comes near the chariot and sees the reason that he was called to travel this road, the Spirit says to Philip overtake this chariot. The chariot was moving , but couldn’t have been at a very fast pace considering that the eunuch was reading on a road that was not paved, so Philip broke into a trot and caught up with the chariot and seeing the man reading asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” It was at this moment that God was about to introduce the eunuch to Jesus. He had his servant in the area, impressed upon him to go out and witness, and now brought him to the man at the exact time he was pondering over the scroll. God could have brought Philip south from Samaria to Jerusalem and brought the two together there, but the timing would not have been right. There are many times we are looking over movements of God in our lives and we are in awe at just how perfectly God brought things together. It is the same here. God had Philip leave Samaria at the precise time to meet a man on a desert road reading about Jesus who he was about to meet. Let’s listen in and see we can overhear their conversation.
Philip urged on by the Holy Spirit breaks into a run and comes near the chariot. Once he is within hearing distance he can hear the man reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip says to the man, “Do you understand what you are reading?” This is where pride would keep most of us from going any father with this conversation. First the Ethiopian could have turned to see this commonly dressed man sweating running up to his chariot. Our first thoughts would have been, here comes another beggar, or this man is going to rob me. We tend to think the worst of people without giving them a chance we turn our heads from them, ignore them, or turn and walk away. Or when we hear someone ask us, ‘Do you know what you are doing?’ we tend to get defensive and not care to hear what others have to say. The Holy Spirit was not only working in Philip but also in the Ethiopian, for the man did none of the things we might do, but invited this sweating, commonly dressed disciple, into his chariot to teach him. He said, “How can I unless someone guides me?”
The man was ready to meet the savior. God had softened his heart, opened his mind, and brought someone into his life willing to be led, that had the knowledge of life and death. The man pointed to the scripture he was reading and asked Philip, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” Read along and see if we know? "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." Having witness the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, Philip knew exactly who the prophet was speaking of, but the scripture didn’t say that Philip spoke from his experience. It says that Philip opened his mouth and preached Jesus to him. We must be careful that while our experiences enhance our relationship with Christ, nothing replaces the knowledge of the word of God.
We must be in the word reading and studying in order that we, as scripture teaches, can hide the word in our hearts. By hiding the word in our hearts we are not keeping it just for ourselves thinking that our relationship with the Father and the Word are just for us, but treating the word with respect and increasing in knowledge so that when God chooses to work through us we will have the truth within us. As a preacher I have been taught that the Holy Spirit brings the word to our minds that we might speak truth to others. Have you every witnessed and have been amazed by the words that have come out of your Mouth? That is what was happening here.
As we have followed these men down the road we have heard the scripture read, we have seen the Holy Spirit at work, we have witnessed the perfect timing of God. We have witnessed a man come to Christ, and be baptized as an expression of his new found faith. What do we take away from this experience? I leave that up to you. As you lace up your shoes for the trip home think over what you have seen, ponder it in your heart. Pray that God would lead you where He wants you to go. Hide the word in your heart, so that you will be ready for service. Finally don’t be afraid to venture down a road that doesn’t make any sense now and then. You may be amazed by the encounter along the way. So put your walking stick back in the corner, feed and tell the dog how good they were, put your hiking boots back in the closet where you can find them as we next journey with Christ.

Do we Value Life?

2007-03-12T08:36:00.000-07:00

I would like to share with you four stories. Three are found in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 15. 4“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? 5When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
8Or what woman, if she had ten coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it? 9When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.’ 10Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”
11He said, “A certain man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them. 13Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. 14When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. 15He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. 17But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. 19I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
20“He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; 24for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate.
25“Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. 27He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’ 28But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31“He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’’
Jesus told these three parables because of what He had heard the Pharisees say in verse two of chapter 15. They said, “This Man receives sinners and eats with.” Can you imagine these religious leaders sitting around observing Jesus and He accepts an invitation to eat with sinners? I can imagine their conversation was a little livelier than what Luke recorded. Here is this guy, supposed to be this great teacher and he sits down to eat with the likes of these! As they spread the news to others I can hear them saying, “You aren’t going to believe what He did next! He actually sat down and ate with these derelicts! Not only that He, oh you are really going to flip over this one, He served them! No really! The Man served them! Aren’t you glad we aren’t like that?”
These religious leaders, these church folks had a big problem that caused them to have this attitude, they devalued life. I decided to look around me and see if the world valued life. I remember the headlines a few weeks back that told of 1000 dead in Iraq in one week, mostly civilians. Who can forget September 11th when a group of men flew planes into the world trade center, the pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania? Did these men have any concern for the lives behind them, or in the buildings they were about to hit? In all these instances they devalued life so much they are willing to destroy it just to promote their agenda, their religion.
Okay that is the world, but here in the good old USA we value life. I looked around here as well. How many walk by a homeless person without even meeting their gaze, because we are afraid they may ask us for a dollar or two? How many babies, not fetuses, babies are aborted because they are an inconvenience to the parents? How many of our elderly are tucked away in assisted living wondering why their friends and family don’t visit them? How many children go hungry while we are full? Having taking a cruise recently, I found out that they feed you. We ate in a restaurant on ship, three times a day. Not just simple meals mind you each meal was a five course meal. If that wasn’t enough to fill you up than you could hit the 24 hour buffet on the top deck and have pizza, hamburgers, fruit, salads, or French fries. I was sick of eating. Yet that is something that a hungry child can not imagine. Do we really value life in this country?
Then I looked at the church, surely this institution of hope would not let me down. I knew if I looked at the church I would see a place that valued life above all else! How many families have left the church without someone trying to bring reconciliation? How many members missed two Sundays without someone calling them or at least dropping them an email, saying hey, missed you Sunday. Is everything all right? How many disagreements have been left to fester, rather then taking a biblical approach to repairing relationships? Do we value life in the church?
Let’s break down the stories Jesus told. In the lost sheep parable Jesus says, “who wouldn’t?’ As if it was common knowledge if you lost a part of your livelihood, which one of you wouldn’t leave the others behind and go search for the missing sheep. I learned that sheep when lost will lay down not making it easy for the Shepard to find them. So he really had to turn over some bushes to find this sheep. It was valuable to him, it was part of his income, and he wasn’t about to lose it. When he found it he rejoiced, he did a happy dance, high fived his companion, and called all his friends over to celebrate that something valuable to him was found.
I think in this world we sometimes value animals more than people. Oh I am just as guilty. As I got out of the car to preach at Kline church I was greeted by a beautiful brindle boxer female with no collar. She came to me and I bent down to fuss over her, telling her how beautiful she was and that I would love to take her home with me. Would I be so quick to kneel next to a homeless person and tell them how beautiful they were and I would love to take them home with me? Knowing that a brindle boxer is the dog that I love above all dogs, I feel God sent me that boxer to remind me that I would be preaching to myself as well. Sometimes I feel as though God doesn’t play fair.
This shepherd valued the life of the lost sheep so much that he was willing to leave the other 99 and search until he found it. I wonder what the 99 were doing while their shepherd was out looking for their wayward companion. Were they grumbling amongst themselves? “He never pays this much attention to me!” Or were they praying that the shepherd would be successful? I know sheep can’t pray, but Jesus was addressing the religious people of the day. Just a side note, as our leaders go out and bring the lost back to the fold, the leaders that are in place in the church should be stepping up to make sure the 99 left behind are cared for. I am sure that the shepherd had under shepherds who tended the flock as he was gone.
Just so you ladies don’t feel left out let’s look at the next story. We find a woman who was saving ten coins. We are not told why she is saving ten coins, just that she is. These ten coins could represent her retirement and she went to count it every day and thanked God that she would be secure in the future. She could have been saving for a trip to the mall, a vacation we just don’t know. One day she went to count it and realized that one of the coins was gone. She went into a panic because something valuable was lost to her. She began looking all over her house for the lost coin. When I want to find a coin that is lost the first place I consider is the couch. So she is feeling down in the cushions bringing up everything but her coin, sweeping the floor in hopes that she can hear the coin rattling in the vacuum cleaner. Her friends are calling her and she tells them she can’t talk right now, in other words she turns her life upside down to find what is lost.
She had placed great value on that coin and was willing to go to great lengths and put her life on hold so that it would be restored to her.
When she found it she called all her friends and told them to come over and celebrate with them that her future was once again secure. While she had them on the phone she looked around and realized what a mess she had made of the house and told her friends. While you are her can you help me straighten up a little bit.
Next we have a son who for whatever reason decides that living in dad’s house just wasn’t what he wanted out of life. When I was on my own for the first time I began to realize how good I had it at home, usually as soon as I had to pay for the things that I had long taken for granted. According to Jewish tradition the eldest son received 2/3 of his father’s estate and the younger son received 1/3. So being the younger son he may have been a bit jealous of his brother thinking that he work just as hard as his brother, loved his father just as much as the brother and deserved an equal share. He may have been tired of living under dad’s rules and thought that life would be better without dad telling him what to do. I can still remember my step dad telling me. “Boy.” He always called be that, I think to remind me who was boss. “Boy, as long as you’re in my house you live by my rules.” So this son might have been thinking well then maybe I won’t live in your house anymore. Oh but there is the matter of the inheritance. So he tells the Father give me what is mine and I will make a life for myself. He could have thought that dad was a great guy and all but I have some great ideas for how to make more money, and make him proud of me. For whatever reason he wanted his share then and there and was not willing to wait till his father passed to receive it. So the father relented and gave him his share and the son set off to make a life of his own.
The son began to live a prodigal life, or as we call it he became a backslider. He ran off to Vegas began throwing money around the casino’s, throwing lavish parties, spending his time in the bars and buying drugs. Now what happens when you come into a lot of money and begin to throw it around like there is no tomorrow? You gain a lot of friends. So here is the son, gaining friends, gaining popularity, until one day the money is gone and with it goes the friends. All those friends who loved the son as long as he was supporting their habits, now left him and forgot they ever knew him as they were concerned about how they were going to survive in hard times of their own. The son went from door to door looking for a hand out. Saying; “Hey remember me? We used to party together.” Only to have the door slammed in his face or hear how bad the other person had it, till he knocked on the door of a pig farmer looking for a handout. Now remember that Jesus is addressing the Jewish leaders at the time and every good follower knew that pigs were off limits, they weren’t to eat them, or even touch them.
Isn’t the wisdom of Jesus wonderful? Only He could tell this story and bring it right back to address the original audience. Can you imagine the anger that began to build as they listen to Jesus? Jesus never intended to anger them on bring them to a realization that they were valuing the law more than the people. Back to the son, how had obtained employment feeding the pigs. He became so hungry that he now lusted after pig feed. He had spent all his money on his lust and now he actually lusted after what nobody else wanted.
At this point he began to realize that maybe dad wasn’t so old fashioned after all. He begins to think that many dads’ rules weren’t so bad, that maybe being the younger son really wasn’t a burden. He began to realize that even dad’s servants were cared for better than he was. He had reached rock bottom and began to look at home. He did say, “Well I will just go back home and resume my life as though nothing had ever happened.” He didn’t say, “I will go back home and let dad take care of me.” He said, 18I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. 19I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’ The son swallowed his pride along with the corn husks and went to his father, he had become truly humble.
Let’s turn our attention to home as well, as we see what dad has been doing while his son was off finding himself. The father didn’t send his son off not caring what happened to him but I am sure he prayed for him, asked any travelers if they had any news of him and went out looking, and longing for his son’s return. In other words he valued his son’s life enough to let him make his own mistakes and long for the day he would return. I remember putting my daughter Ashley on a bus by herself headed for New Orleans and I new life for herself and can’t help but feel this father’s pain. I am sure you to can relate to the father as you have shared similar situations. Seeing her ride off was a beginning for her but an ending for me. I had to let go and allow her to make a life for herself.
On one of his journey’s he recognized a man walking towards him in the distance. His walk might have seemed familiar to him and I can imagine that as he first saw this figure his heart leaped at the thought that this could be his son. He also had time to think of what he would say to him. He might have heard stories of his exploits, and had to check himself that he would not be critical of his son. I remember the first time that my step-father let me drive his El Camino by myself. I was in a parking lot smoking the tires thinking that I was safe from detection till a few days later he came to me telling me someone had seen me, so it is not a stretch of the story to think that the father might have got wind of his son’s exploits.
When the two met the father didn’t criticize his son but lifted him up. He didn’t tell him that he knew he would come back with his tail between his legs; he didn’t ask what became of his fortune. He attempted to build him up by letting him know that he still belonged to the family, he still had a place at his table. He placed a ring on his finger so that everyone who saw that ring knew that he belonged to the family. If you look at my finger and see a wedding band attached to it you know that I am married. Teresa makes sure that whenever my picture is taken that the ring shows. She tells me she wants everyone to know that I am attached.
In each of these stories someone placed great value on the person or thing lost. What if the shepherd said, “I have 99 other sheep, I don’t need that other one, if it wants to go off on its own let it!” What if the woman said, “I have nine other coins and I can live just fine on it, besides that coin will turn up one day.” What if the father said,” I have another son, if my younger son wants to make a life for himself, let him go make a mess of his life.” Would they have valued life? What if a church member began to let sin rule their life? Would we go after them? Would we put our lives on hold as we searched for them till we brought them back to the fold? Would we value their lives enough to do that?
How would we react to once they returned? Would we behave as the other son and refuse to enter the Father’s house and worship with them? Would we remember their past and hold it over their heads for the rest of their lives? Or would we value you their lives to welcome them back into the fold? Would we lift them up, encouraging them in their renewed walk, asking them how we can help?
I promised you a fourth story. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like that she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "Leave me alone," he growled. To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked. "No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away." The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile." "Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it." Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by the table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this. Is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered. "Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place." The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?" ‘Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms." "And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" "What business is that of yours?" "I sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh." The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" "No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty." "Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer." The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes "I think so......I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." "Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy." "I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register. I knew then that everything would be all right." "So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a
visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet And if you ever need anything, my door is always open for
you." There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you," he said "Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. thank Jesus. He led me to you." Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways. "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said."On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered.
"Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And... And thank you for the coffee." She frowned. "I forgot to ask you whether you used cream or sugar. That's black." The officer looked at the steaming cup of coffee in his hand. "Yes, I do take cream and sugar......
perhaps more sugar than is good for me " He patted his ample stomach. "I'm sorry," she said. "I don't need it now," he replied smiling. "I've got the feeling that this coffee you bought me is going to taste as sweet as sugar."
You never know the impact you may have on one life. God may not be asking you to open a homeless shelter. He may not be asking you to feed every child in America. He may not be asking you to make it your responsibility to restore every one that has left the church. In all these stories one life was changed, one coin was found, one sheep was returned to the fold because someone placed great vaule upon what was lost. Could we not help one person out, just one? Surely we know one person that we can reach out to today. It’s a start.

Journey with Christ Part One

2007-02-08T19:28:00.000-08:00

The Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-9),
Gaza Road (Acts 8:26-39),
Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13-35)
Usually when I travel my wife says we never go back the same way we came. She is right, I like taking different routes. If I see a road I wonder where it leads, as a driver I always want to know if there is a shorter route, or some different scenery. I picked three different road experiences from the Bible and studied the traveler, the purpose of the trip and the encounter along the road. I would like to share them with you, so lace up your shoes, grab your walking stick you can even bring the dog along, and let’s take a walk along the Emmaus road, the Gaza road and the Damascus road.
Our first trip is on the Emmaus road found in Luke 24:13-35. Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
We meet two men along the way who are talking about the loss of their spiritual leader the one they thought to be the Messiah. Tradition identifies one of these men, Cleopas, as the brother of Joseph. So not only was he talking about the loss of their leader, but also the loss of a nephew. When they meet this stranger on the road they are blinded by their confusion and despair. Jesus was the last person they were looking for on the road. In our despair, when we don’t always understand what is going on around us, we tend to seek earthly consul, or talk amongst ourselves trying to find answers. What we should be looking for is Jesus, for He is traveling along with us.
As Jesus began to question as to the source of their despair, they wondered what cave he had been hiding in. As they began to spill their guts as to the cause of their despair, Jesus listened and let them finish before rebuking them for their lack of faith. They were on their way home full of despair, hoping for the Messiah and they now found themselves with a dead and missing prophet, leaving them with more questions than when they had begun their journey with Christ. Jesus took them right to the word of God, reminding them that Christ had to suffer these things and then enter glory. As they continued along the road Jesus walked with them and continued to encourage them with all that the prophets and Moses had to say about the Messiah. Often when we are in despair all we need is to be reminded of what we already know. Having studied the word we often forget it when times are hard and we are in a state of panic. There are other times that the only thing that can bring us out of our despair is an encounter with the risen Lord, as these men were about to experience. Let us journey on with them.
As they neared the town to which they were traveling Jesus acted as though He was going to go on ahead. But Cleopas and his friend wanted to hear more so invited Jesus to go with them and spend the night. There are a lot of times in our lives that Jesus tests us to see if we will invite Him to go a little further with us. When we go to visit a sick friend Jesus wants to see if we will invite Him to go with us. As we struggle with our finances, Jesus waits to see if we will ask Him to figure it out with us. As we go to work and witness for Christ, Jesus wants to see if we invite Him on the ride to work, throughout our day, in our meetings, and in our lives.
As they sat at the table Jesus went from the role of guest to the role of host as He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and served it to them. At this point they were able to see past their despair to see who was with them all along. As we go through times of despair we tend to focus upon the problem instead of the problem solver. But as we invite Jesus into our despair, are encouraged by the words He speaks to us, and are served by Him our hope is renewed, our faith is replenished, and we travel a different road.
Prayer: Lord, help to see Jesus has we journey through life, that we might invite Him into our despair, and be renewed, and served by Him. Also help us to take the good news of Jesus to a world that is hurting and in need of a healer. Amen

Next time we will journey with Philip on the road to Gaza.

Our Turn on the Wheel

2007-01-28T04:41:00.000-08:00

Jeremiah 18:1-11 18The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2‘Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.’ 3So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. 9And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it. 11Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
There are many times that God asks us walk out of our comfort zone and become what He desires us to be. We become Christians and we feel that we have arrived we have become what God wants us to be. Our feet are set in heaven and our names are written in the Lamb’s book, we are waiting for either death or the Lord’s return. My friends when we accept Christ our journey has just begun! Now that He has changed our eternal destination, He wants to mold us into what He wants us to be so that we can be used in His service. Many times that means stepping out in faith, leaving our comfort zones where we feel safe and secure. He wants to take us out of a place where life goes on just the way we like it and we feel we are in complete control.
While reading this scripture I realized how little I knew about what it takes to make a clay pot. I thought you dug the clay out of the ground, put it on the wheel, worked it with a little water, and threw it in an oven. As I learned the process for making one clay pot I began to see why God used this analogy to reach Israel. As we examine this process together perhaps you can hear God reaching out to you and wanting to change you and make you into a useful vessel for His service.
I first looked at mining clay and learned that you just didn’t dig a hole and use what you found. First you had to work out the impurities in the clay. You took one container of clay and one equal container filled half way with water and put the clay into the water mixing it till you had watery slurry. You then placed the screen over the empty container that contained the clay and poured the slurry over the screen removing the impurities you had found. After removing the screen you allow the container to set overnight while the slurry separated from the water and you could remove any other debris with the water.
God saves us just as we are with all the impurities still in our lives. We don’t wait till everything is right in our lives to come to God asking for forgiveness. We sing the hymn “Just as I am” and in the second verse we sing; just as I am, and waiting notto rid my soul of one dark blot, to Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, o Lamb of God, I come, I come. If we waited to come to God after we get our lives in order would we ever come? At what point do you say; “Okay, God I am ready now.” What is our measuring stick? When will we feel that we have everything ready for salvation? So we come to God with all our imperfection, all our baggage, asking for forgiveness and accepting Jesus as our savior. It is then that God begins to take these imperfections out of our lives. He begins to strain out the sin in our lives by pouring our lives through His screen, which is the bible. God places in us a hunger for His word and as we begin to read it, and it speaks to the imperfections in our lives, His word begins to strain these imperfections out of us.
At this point the clay is not ready to be thrown on the wheel, and God is still working out our imperfections. The potter has to work the clay till all the water is out and all the air bubbles have been removed. He has to fold it over and over till it reaches a consistency he can work with and all air bubbles have been worked out. If the potter leaves one air bubble in the clay it will crack, or explode when he fires the final piece ruining all his effort. There are times that we go back to our old lives because it is familiar to us, we feel comfortable in it, and what God is trying to do in us is making us face some things that are uncomfortable to us. There are things that we have hidden deep inside but have shaped our lives. We tell God what good does it do to bring these things out? God is not willing to leave us in our old lives these things are keeping us from becoming what God wants us to be. So he continues to work on us removing the desire for the old life and replacing it with a desire for a life centered on Him.
At this point the potter forms the clay into balls that is able to throw on the wheel. He has to throw it on the wheel with enough force that it sticks on the wheel, and as he throws it on the wheel it has to be centered. If the clay is not centered on the wheel it will begin to wobble as the potter works it, and he has to start all over again. God wants us to be centered upon His word so that no matter what comes in our lives we are able to withstand it. He wants us to in a bible believing church where the word of God is preached so that we have a community that supports us as we go on to become what He wants us to be. If we are not in the word we will fall for every false doctrine that comes along till we are far from the center of God’s will. At this point God moves us back to the center of his will and gets us back into His word, or we can stay forever wobbling not really sure of what we believe.
This process takes patience from the potter and from God. As the potter begins to shape the clay he has to keep a steady hand upon his work, for any movement will ruin his work and he again has to start all over. He begins to apply pressure to the clay and lift it up as he works it with his hands. He has a picture in his mind of what he wants the clay to become and he patiently yet forcefully moulds the clay and the pot begins to take shape. He keeps the clay and his hands wet ever mindful to keep the piece centered on the wheel. As God continues to shape us, His hands are never from us. We may feel at times that He is far from us, and even think that He has forgotten us but He is never far from us. He is watching our lives and shaping us into what He wants us to become.
This is where the similarities between the pot and the Christian cease for awhile. The pot can not be used by the potter until it is finished, but the Christian begins to explore how to be used of God. We begin to exercise the gifts that He has placed in us even while God continues to work on us. As we do we begin to serve Him other forces begin to shape as well. As we meet with success in our service we tend to look at ourselves doing the work and not God working through us. We begin to look at the creation as more important than the creator. The old life we led begins to pull at us, reminding us of the familiar life we led before all this church stuff began, calling us back to the sin we enjoyed like an old lost friend. We begin to think this is just too hard and we begin to give in to the familiar, the comfortable, and what is easier. We begin to wobble and get far from the center of God’s will, and God looks at what His creation has become and as the potter will do, smashes the creation and begins again. This is what happened to the nation of Israel as they got far from the center of God’s will He had devised a plan to bring them back to Him, back to the center of His will. In verse eleven we read; “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord; Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.’ ” they had begun to wobble and God was going to bring them back to the center of His will.
At long last the potter is finished with His vessel and he begins to adorn it and seal it with glaze, preparing it for the firing. He looks on his creation with pride as he inspects the work for any flaws that would ruin it as it goes into the fire. Somewhere at the beginning of this whole process God has sealed us, separated us from the world and set us about His service. In 1 Corinthians 1:21, 22 we read. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. We are sealed by the blood of Christ set aside for His service, and we have the pledge of the Holy Spirit that God will complete the work that He has begun in us. God has written our names in the Lambs book of life and they can never be removed. God does not have a big eraser that he takes up every morning opening the books and saying to Himself, “Let’s see who we can remove today.” Does this give us a license to sin? Certainly not, but there will be times that we will fall from the will of God and we have the Spirit to convict us and encourage us to get back to the center of God’s will.
The glazing makes us unique as well. The potter has to consider the content of the clay the temperature of the fire and the glaze he is using before he places the piece in the fire. He can take two identical pieces, glaze them the same way but once they are fired they come out looking completely different. We all react to God’s leading in different ways, yet God is able to work in the those differences to still create a product that is beautiful and unique, created to do what only we can do, as well as only we can do it. God saves us and uses us, changing our nature, but wants to leave our personalities intact, or even bring them out to the fullest of our potential. So is it any wonder that we respond differently to this whole process?
Finally the potter is ready to place the piece in the kiln. The potter knows how hot the fire can be, he knows that he has worked out all the imperfection in the clay , he knows that he has sealed the piece to preserve the beauty of the piece, and that the fire will bring out that beauty to its fullest. He knows his piece and he knows his work. God has prepared us for the tests and the trials that will come our way. He has readied us for the persecution that we can stand strong against it. He knows that we are centered in His word that we will be able to withstand false doctrine, and not settle for someone just tickling our ears and telling us what we want to hear. He has sealed us with the blood of His Son and has placed his Spirit in us that we will not settle for second best. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and knows we can withstand the fire. The potter never leaves the piece alone in the fire. The kiln the potter has placed his prized piece in has a sight glass in it that is able to check on the product and make sure that it is surviving the process and when he can remove it from the fire.
When God places us in the fire He goes in with us in order to keep a better eye on His precious creation. When Nebuchadnezzar fired up the furnace so hot that the guards that brought Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego, to it died, he intended to kill them. God had prepared the three to withstand the fire. When the king looked into the fire he saw the men not only surviving the fire but walking around in the fire with one who looked like the Son of God. When he brought them out of the fire their clothes weren’t singed and didn’t even smell of smoke. They had survived the fire.
Still sometimes the fire causes the piece to crack. The potter knows that despite his best efforts the piece is destroyed. Again this is where we are separated from the pot. Though we are weakened by the fire, though our weakness seem to keep us from becoming all that God wants us to be, God can work in that weakness. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 we read: And least I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak then I am strong.
No matter if it is a weakness we took in the fire with, something that we cling too refusing to turn over to God. Or if it something caused by the persecution from others because of our witness for God, His grace is there to work in our weakness, that He might become our strength. Though we pray that this one thing will keep us from becoming all that God intends us to become, God is telling us I want to work through that weakness to glorify my name. If you were abused, then God may want to work though you to reach others who are abused. If you have been divorced, God may want to reach others who are going through divorce. If you lost a loved one, God maybe sending you to comfort another who is grieving that you can comfort. The list can go on and on.
In our service to God we are encouraged to step out of our comfort zone to become what God wants us to be, forgetting our weaknesses, forgetting the past life and walking in faith knowing that is working on us to make us what He desires us to be. He never leaves us, and He will never lead us astray.
Prayer: Father help me to turn over to you today my weaknesses, so that you can make them strengths in my life that will bring you glory. In Jesus’ name amen.

Living With the New Gift

2007-01-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

Psalm 36:5-10
5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD. 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. 10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!

We all have one gift that we get for Christmas that we cherish above all other gifts. It is usually something we have been hinting at for months. We leave clues everywhere or when the thing we want is advertised we comment that we sure would like to have that. At last Christmas comes and we open the gift and we say, “How did you know?” or “This is just what I always wanted?” What we meant to say was if I didn’t get it someone was going to be in trouble.
We keep the present near to us caring for it and trying to keep it new. We go to great lengths to keep the present looking just as it did the day we opened it. Two Christmas’ ago I received just such a gift in a XM radio. I would keep it in its’ case, wipe it off when I used it, took it in and out of my truck. When I saw the first scratches on it I was upset. Despite my best efforts it looked used and the newness had worn off. All things, no matter how hard we try to keep them new, wear out and end up in the trash.
There are attributes of God’s nature that when in a relationship with Him we can consider gifts in our lives. What do I mean? If you were born into an affluent family you might by association of your birth to the family be entitled to an easier life, than someone who has to struggle for everything they get. Being born into the family of God and having a relationship with him does not entitle us to a more affluent life but because of His nature we benefit from his nature. The Psalmist writes in verse five, “Your mercy,” and “Your faithfulness,” these are attributes of God’s nature that are given to us. For what good is mercy without someone to extend it to, and what benefit is to be faithful if you have no one to benefit from that faithfulness. The gifts of God mentioned in the 36 Psalm are gifts that are eternal, they are new to us every day, and they never wear out.
Let’s look at the five attributes of God that are extended to us. The first mentioned in verse five is Mercy. God’s mercy is not something that is owed to us as some in the world think that everything is owed to them. Exodus 33:19 says; And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don't ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied. "Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." "Well, then," the emperor said, "I will have mercy." And he spared the woman's son. If we received what we are owed we would receive death, but because of God’s mercy He extends life to us. Not because of anything we do but in spite of what we do.
The second attribute that is mentioned in verse five is faithfulness. David writes your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. If we look up no matter where the cloud cover is that is as far as we can see. This is what David was trying to get across when he wrote this. As we look at each day that is ahead of us, each problem that will come our way, or every fear that confronts us, we can know that God is faithful to see us through it. We can walk forward knowing the God of heaven has gone before us, goes along side us, and comes behind us, as far as we can see God is there. These are comforting words to hear but how can we walk in the faith that no matter where we are God is there with us.
The only thing that that I can think of that would make us doubt God’s faithfulness is if we were not faithful to Him. If we had not walked in the way of the Lord and we sinned against Him this would cause us to doubt His faithfulness or make us feel that we didn’t deserve it. Reenter God’s mercy!! Psalm 37 says; “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” Even when we fail God he will not fail us. He is faithful to us even in our sin, by convicting us and leading us to repentance. So even when we fail to trust in Him and no not do good, we are to live each day feeding on his faithfulness that he will not leave us in our sin.
Still God’s faithfulness is sometimes hard for us to understand because it extends beyond what we can understand. When things are going our way it is easy to be faithful, when people treat us right it is easy to be faithful. But when things begin to get hard, and people tend to abandon us it becomes harder to focus on our faithfulness. We can only see our difficulties and we are blinded to see beyond them. Feeding on God’s faithfulness will enable us to see beyond the clouds of doubt. This takes prayer and practice, learning from our failures and trusting God for what we don’t understand.
The third attribute mentioned is in verse six. David writes; Your righteousness is like the great mountains. When we think of a mountain, we get the image of something that is steadfast and unmovable, not easily assailed, something that is difficult to get around, awe inspiring, it becomes an obstacle that we have to deal with, a beautiful landmark that inspires us to creativity. As we think of the attributes of God we come face to face with God’s righteousness and we are forced to take a look at it. As we marvel at a righteous God we are also forced to look at our own righteousness. Isaiah 64:6 says; But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. When we try and compare our righteousness to God’s we see that no matter how good we think we are, no matter how we try and excuse our behavior, compared to God’s righteousness, our righteousness is nothing. We can’t get under it, around it, over it, we are forced to look upon our righteousness and measure it against the righteousness of God.
God’s righteousness is more than an avenue for self exploration it is a refuge to us. Because God’s righteousness is steadfast, we can trust in it and that He will always make the best choice for our lives if we surrender to Him and learn not to trust in our own righteousness. Our choices are sometimes motivated by emotions and worldly influence, but God’s choices are always motivated by His righteous nature.
God’s righteousness become a blessing to us as we search for it and find it in Him. Jesus said in Matthew 5:6 “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Hunger is a desire that drives us, and as we hunger and search out righteousness we find faith. We have examined our own righteousness and compared it to God’s are left wanting. We are left hungry searching for a righteousness we can only have filled by faith. That faith is fueled by God’s righteousness and a promise that He will provide redemption for us and has in the person of Jesus.
As we continue to study the attributes of God’s nature found in Psalm 36 we come across Judgments. David says that God’s judgments are a great deep, and finishes his observation of God’s judgments by saying that you preserve man and beast. As David looked at the wickedness around him he had to wonder where the judgment of God is. I know that in my own life I have witnessed others, who seemed to get away with so much,
I wonder as much myself. In verses one thru four David goes on about the wickedness of man then turns his attention to the attributes of God, David had examined man and found him to be wicked and without fear of God. He had examined the judgments of God and wondered how He could allow such injustice to go on.
The illustration that David uses as he examined the judgment of God was that of a great deep. Those going to sea would take a rope knotted at certain intervals with a weight on the end. The distance between these knots was called fathom. As it was dropped in the sea they would call out the dept by how many knots or fathoms went under the water. David had found the judgments of God could not be measured and could not be understood. He found God to be sovereign and that He owed no account of how he administered His sovereignty to him. He found that God acts wisely in all matters, even though he could not always see the way God acted. Many times as we observe the wickedness of man we wonder where the judgment of God is, because we can not see how God is acting in each situation. It is enough for us to know that he is acting, and it is enough for us to know that in time all things will be revealed to us. It may not be in this lifetime, but in time we will have understanding.
Having measured the judgments of God and found them to be immeasurable, David turns his attention to the providence of God. David writes that God preserves man and beast. David found that God provided for the beast of the field, the righteous, and the wicked alike. We are not to wonder why God would provide blessings for the wicked any more than we are to fear that God will provide for good men. God’s provisions are just that God’s provisions and it is by His sovereign will that He would administer them.
We look at the lives of the wicked and wonder why they seem to have more than us. We wonder why their driveways are graced with new cars and they seem to have little worries. What David is saying is that God’s blessings fall on who He wills. We are to take courage in that the God who provides for the wicked will not let His children starve.
In this way God’s judgments become a gift to us that we can trust in and live our lives serving him not fearing for our own needs.
The last attribute in this psalm is loving-kindness. David says that God’s loving-kindness is precious to him. In Psalm 63:3 David continues this thought when he says that God’s loving-kindness is better than life itself. His loving-kindness is alluring in that it draws us to Himself. When we begin to date we are attracted by someone’s eyes, the perfume they wear, their looks, the car they drive, the way they carry themselves, and the list can go on. As we get to know this person and they begin to display love and kindness to us and we are drawn to that and begin to take the relationship further. We begin to trust this person, and begin to explore the feelings of love that we are starting to feel for them. As this feeling gets deeper we find ourselves not only trusting the other person but finding out we can’t get along without them.
In Jeremiah 31:3 we read: The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying; “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”
What good is to say that God appeared to us in the past and told us He loved us?
When we are in trouble, have lost a loved one, or feel so far from God, how can this comfort us? God says I love you with an everlasting love. The loving-kindness we felt that God drew us near to him is still present in times of trouble. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, not trouble, not debt, not fear, and as David found out not the loss of a child. As David was on his face praying for God to heal his child, it was the memory that God stilled loved him that carried him through the pain of losing a child, and the pain of the sin against God. It was that same love that allowed him to dust himself off and go on with his life after the child had passed. It is the memory that God’s love is still extended to us even when we can’t feel it.
To many times we can’t get past the lost of a child, the loss of a spouse, the pain of broken relationships. We feel that God has abandoned us and we blame Him for the pain we are experiencing. As I have confessed to you before that I was stuck in such in just such a place after my divorce. I felt that God had forgotten His promise to love me, but it was His persistent love that brought me back to the memory that His love was eternal. In this way God’s gift of loving-kindness was extended to me, and I was able to rest in it.
As these attributes of God become gifts in our lives, we become satisfied with them, but yet want more. How is this possible? How can you be satisfied with something but yet want more? In our attempt to keep up with the Jones, we want bigger and better. We get a 52 inch big screen and see that someone else has a 61 inch screen. We become dissatisfied with our big screen and we want a bigger one. We may want more of God’s mercy, faithfulness, righteousness, judgments, and loving-kindness but not to keep up with the Jones of the world, but because we crave the closeness to God that we experience from a relationship with Him. Because we have learned that it is all we will ever need. In God’s gifts we find a fountain of life not only to carry us into eternity, but our daily lives. As we drink in the gifts of God we are refreshed, renewed, and able to face what ever comes our way.
In verse nine David also talks about seeing light in God’s light. As we gaze at God’s light and live in it, it becomes reflective. In it we can see eternity and take hope that whatever happens to us that light and the love that glows from it will never fade. As we allow God’s light to live in us it becomes reflective in our lives as well, and as it shines out of us it catches on another, and yet another, and still another. We have received some precious gifts. What will you do with them? Will you place them on a self and marvel at them dust them off now and then? Or will you keep them new by sharing them with someone else?

The Coming Promise

2006-12-18T05:30:00.000-08:00

Luke
3:7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

The Coming Promise
What motivates us more, a threat or a promise? People are motivated in different ways. In the work place what motivates one might not get the same results out of another. A promise of a promotion will cause one to work harder, but for someone who is happy in their job and doesn’t desire a promotion these promises hold little effect. The promise of a raise might motivate many but a company can’t always afford to offer raises as incentives. To threaten with a lay off or termination ought to propel most to action, but there may me some who want the time off.
What motivates children? Teresa and I found out early in our marriage that we shared different ideas on child rearing. Where she would offer reward to achieve good behavior, I tended to take away privileges for bad behavior. In the store we tend to offer rewards to get our kids to behave, or we threaten them with no TV if they misbehave. We find out early on what motivates each child.
What about the church? What motivated the church to action? What causes us to take what we hear each week in a sermon, read in the bible, are led by the Spirit of God, and put it into action? Let’s see if we can tell how John motivated the people.
Here was this wild looking man, hair and beard all tangled, dressed in smelly camel skins, living in the wilderness, munching on bugs, and preaching a message of repentance. Might we listen to John more if he came to us clean shaven, with a fresh haircut, wearing a clean pressed suit and matching tie, or dressed in his priestly robes? When we do this we are in danger of paying more attention to the messenger than the message. Still John’s appearance had to draw curiosity. What do I mean? John reflected the image of Elijah in the way he dressed and his message of repentance. Where we would look at his appearance as odd, the people were reminded by his appearance of the stories they had heard of Elijah and were drawn to John. In Malachi 4: 5 it says; “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” So the nation of Israel was looking for a prophet to come and when John showed up in the spirit of Elijah, their curiosity was raised to go and see this man preaching repentance.
But how did John motivate the people? Did he use a threat or a promise? By going back and reading verses seven thru nine we can see that this was indeed a threat. 3:7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” I have talked to a few people who have told me that they need to have their toes stepped on now and then. So as the crowds began to gather and the religious leaders posed their questions to John of who he was, his verbal attack did not fall on deaf ears. There was already mistrust for those sent to question John, so when he posed his own questions to them the crowds took notice. When one attacks a trusted leader we respond in their defense, but because of the mistrust built by these leaders the crowds took notice and might have even cheered John on.
Still when their trust in Abraham’s lineage for their salvation was questioned, when the religious leaders were put in their place, when told if their lives did not bear fruits of repentance they would be cut off from God, John had their attention! John’s call to repentance was not a matter of ceremony as we see a lot of people who come to the altar just because everyone else does. It is a call to a changed life from one centered on themselves, full of greed, dishonesty, and discontent to one of a moral and ethical relationship with others.
The people’s response to John is found in verse ten: And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” When we find out that our world and everything we believe is turned upside down a lot of times we are left in despair. I know that in my own life when I was at rock bottom that I had no place to look but up, and there was the Father waiting on me to ask this same question. Too many times though we can’t see past the threat, past the despair, past the confusion in our lives to see the Father. We become lost in our own little world falling deeper and deeper into despair till it consumes us and becomes our life. That is not where God wants to leave us and He reaches out to us through His word, through His people, but when we are lost in despair we fail to see Him working. We tend to cry out Lord! Where are you?
When we finally look around us and see the Lord working in the situation we are filled with expectation. As the people came to be baptized they all asked the same question, “What do we do?” At this time we are open and ready to receive but we must be careful what we receive. In this state of suggestion a lot of scrupulous leaders come along and fill us with a doctrine that is not of God. They see a chance to push their own agenda and prey upon those who are open to whatever, not knowing the truth. To some that had not heard this teaching before and asked John if he was the Christ. John could have said; “Why yes. As a matter of fact I am.” I remember the comedian Jon Lovitz played a character on Saturday Night Live that seemed to be open to the power of suggestion, mainly his own, and always finished his conversation with; “Yeah that’s the ticket!” as if to convince himself. Jon’s character was subject to whatever wind was blowing his thoughts around and though he tried to convince himself, the audience was never convinced. If we are grounded in the word and test what others say with the word we will be less likely to blown by the wind of the day that is sent to tickle our ears.
Still not everyone had a positive reaction to John’s message of repentance. When Herod was told to repent he had John thrown in Jail. When the rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit the kingdom of God, he walked away when told to sell everything he had and follow Him. He trusted more in his riches than in Christ. When Jesus told those He was teaching to drink His blood and eat His flesh, they walked away rather than stay with Jesus and find the true meaning of Jesus’ teaching. Not everyone is going to respond to the gospel with the statement; “What do we do?” They may become defensive and ask who we are to accuse them, or tell them how to live. We as Christians must develop thick skin when others attack us for the gospel, for they are not attacking us but the gospel. It is not us that they are denying, but the truth. They are choosing to look at the threat as a personal attack and refuse to look ahead to the promise.
John gives us examples of how to treat others. He told us to give to those in need, don’t over burden others in our treatment of them, don’t intimidate, falsely accuse, and be satisfied with what we receive. In this we live the gospel and look forward to the promise, every life that is lived for Christ points to the promise that John alluded to. John told the people that he might minister to them but one was coming whose sandals he was unworthy to loose. Jesus is the promised one and the promise as well. He is the answer to our fears when we ask; “What shall we do?” He is the promise that lifts us out of despair and sets our life on a path that serves Him. He is the promise in our lives and He is the promise in the world today. Some may take it as a threat while others may look at it as a promise.

Brian Davis

The Waiting Room

2006-08-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

When Moses stood on Mount Horeb received his calling from God, he knew the people God was asking him to go to. God told Moses that He had heard His people’s cries, and He was going to use him to bring them out of Egypt, but what was Moses’ response? In Exodus 3:13 Moses says to God; “when I come to the children of Israel and say to them. ‘ The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” Moses had been with the people and knew their hearts, he knew their pain and suffering, and he knew that for some what they were going through had caused them to doubt God. He knew those four hundred years of crying out to God for deliverance had caused them to no longer know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So when he went to the people and told them, the God of your Father’s has sent me, what do you think would be their response? They were a generation of people that no longer knew God as their Fathers had. How do we know that? Look at Exodus 6:9; So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. What is God’s response to Moses’ question in verse three? In Verse fourteen God says; “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said. “Thus say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
God doesn’t offer a reason why He left the people in bondage for so long, He doesn’t spell out how He is going to do it, nor does He tell Moses to form a committee and figure out what is the best way to get Pharaoh to release the people. He simply tells Moses that I AM about to do something that staggers the imagination through you, that will deliver My people and establish them as a nation, and establish My name forever. God wanted to encourage the people, through Moses, that whatever they were about to encounter, not to look at the bondage that they were in, not to trust in their own understanding of the surroundings, but to trust in His name.
In John’s gospel Jesus uses these same two words to encourage the people and they echo down to us today that no matter what our problems are we can trust in His name. Jesus says I AM;
“the bread of life” 6:35,48
“the living bread that comes down from heaven” 6:51
“the light of the world” 8:12
“the gate for the sheep” 10:7
“the good shepherd” 10:11, 14
“the resurrection and the life” 11:25
“the way, and the truth, and the life” 14:6
“the true vine” 15:1
This bread is the sacrifice made for us by Jesus and any who believe on Him will never hunger. That longing in our spirits for an answer to the question; “Is this all that there is?” is answered in Him. This bread not only fills us to not longing anymore, but we are able to offer it to others by our faith in Him.
By Jesus saying that He is the living bread that comes down from heaven, He tells the people that He is the long awaited Messiah that takes away the sins of the world. He is the one sent by the Father, and foretold by the prophets. Jesus is the living bread that has gone back to the Father, and is alive forevermore in us.
Jesus is the light of the world in that He sheds his light on the darkness that surrounds us. While driving east in the morning I am blinded by the rising sun, so that it is all I can see. The reflection off the passing cars causes me to refocus my attention somewhere else. In the same way Jesus’ light shines on our lives and causes us to take our sight from our troubles till His light is all we can see.
We all come to Jesus from different walks of life, as God reaches out to us in a way that is unique to each of us, just as we enter the church from different doors. But as we gather together as a congregation we are united by our belief that Christ is the only gate that we can enter into heaven.
By trusting In Jesus as the good Shepherd we may not always understand where He is leading us, but we are trusting in His leadership. If we follow Him we trust that He will not lead us into harm. Is this blind faith? Certainly not, but it is a certainty in whom we trust. When we go astray we trust that He will seek after us and bring us back into the fold.
Jesus being the resurrection and the life goes beyond and everlasting life that is given to the believer, but pertains also to a spiritual resurrection, from a death of sin, to a life of grace. Because Jesus died for us, we being dead to sin might live unto God.
He is not only the way unto salvation through His obedience and sacrifice upon the cross, but is the way to a relationship with the Father and His blessings. He is also the way to heaven, entered into by His blood and opening the way through Himself to His people.
He is not only true, true to His calling, and true to the prophecies that are told of Him in the Bible, but he is truth. He being the truth is in direct opposition to all false truths and perverted gospels, devised by the devil and man.
Jesus being the creator of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal, is the way into that life. He gave us His breath to give us natural life, He gave us His Spirit to give us spiritual life, and He gave us His life to give us eternal life.
Jesus is the true vine and we are grafted into Him by our salvation being nourished and are able to produce fruit in our lives. And those fruits are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
It is not often I offer hope before giving the message, but we are given this promise and then sent into the waiting room where our faith is tested. It is those promises that are to carry us through as we wait on God’s answer to our prayers. Nobody likes to wait and we have become an impatient people. We have become a people that stands in front of a microwave and say to it; “Come on, I don’t have all minute!” We hate to sit through red lights, and one fellow being so impatient at red lights figured out that on average we spend two weeks of our lives sitting at a red light. We have fast food, but still feel that we shouldn’t have to be asked to pull ahead to wait on our fries.
In Psalm 62 David says; “Truly my soul silently waits for God.” When we are waiting on test results to come back silence is the last thing we experience. When we are waiting on a child to come home late at night that peace we are to experience seems so far from us. We think the worst and God says wait and see, and when the worst is what we hear, God says wait on Me. The people of Israel waited on the Lord and a generation that knew the God of Abraham passed away, and yet another, and still another, till they began to get distant from God until Moses was sure they would not know Him. One of the fruits available to us from being grafted into the true vine is longsuffering, but we look up to heaven and scream; “How long God?”
When we gain that trust in I AM and find that peace that surpasses our understanding. When the rest of the world screams for relief and we reach out to them and offer love to them, even in the midst of our pain, along comes a guy wearing a message board stating that the end is near and we are back to square one.
We are always going to have scoffers that look at trouble and say, “Where is your God?” How do we respond to the question? What answers do we have for a hurting world? I asked my wife this question, and her answer was; “I just tell people to think of the happy times in their lives.” It is the grace of God that sustains us in our times of trouble as we linger in the waiting room. Times of waiting will happen and God is there with us as we go through them, and He watches our reaction.
Psalm 130: 1Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. 2Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! 3If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? 4But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. 5I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. 7O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. 8It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
David begins his psalm crying out to the Lord to be heard and continues by praising Him for the forgiveness that is available to him. The world would have us believe that it deserves to be heard, while the Christian calls upon the mercy of God. So David waits and leans upon the word of God for his strength, while the word hopes that tomorrow may bring relief from their troubles. Having received peace from God, through prayer, David goes on to offer the same hope he has come to know to others. He tells them that God loves them and He will bring them through their troubles. What will we do in the waiting room? We will curse God for our troubles, or cry out to him out of them? Will we throw a pity party thinking that everyone has abandoned us or remind ourselves of where our help comes from?
Let me finish with a story. A man walked to a street corner and stopped looking up. Others came up to and joined him asking what he was looking for. The man replied; “I’m waiting for Him.” The others continued to watch with him till a storm came along and sent them dashing for the cover of an awning of a near by store. They stayed under the awning the rest of the day watching the man, until at the end of the day the man left without saying a word. The next day the man returned to the street corner and continued his vigil. Other’s would stop and join him and ask him what his was waiting for and he would tell them who he was waiting for and the love that He had for them. They continued on or joined the crowd that had gathered a short distance away under the safety of the store awning. Again at the end of the day the man left the street corner. This scene continued day after day as the man waited on Him and the crowds continued to gather, but had begun to mock the man. They would say; “Where is He?” “Has He forgotten you?”
Then one day the man did not show up. The crowd gathered under the awning but now they were silent as they waited to see if the man would show. They waited and as the day went on some left, but a few stayed till the end of the day and then left in silence. This was repeated for several days as the crowd waited to see if the man would return, till one day a man walked out of the crowd went to the corner and began to look up.
Jesus said in John 14:3; “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Jesus will return and we will go to Him, either in the clouds or in death. What will He find us doing as we wait?

Brian Davis
Lay Speaker
Logan Trintiy UMC

Wisdom

2006-01-26T13:14:00.000-08:00

Vision of the Ancient of Days
Daniel 7:9, 10
“I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; I fiery stream issued, and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”

Daniel’s vision of God on His throne with more people seated before Him than he could count reminded me of how I love to just sit and listen to older people tell stories of their lives and share in the wisdom they had gained. This of course took place after the teen years when I realized that I really didn’t know it all.
I realized that through their life experiences and learning from the mistakes that they had made, that something was to be learned here. As I try and partake of my wisdom to my oldest daughter, wanting her to learn from the mistakes that I made, I feel that she sometimes just patronizes me as I am sure I did my mother as I was growing up.
When Jesus had gone to Lazarus’ house as a guest for a meal, He listened to Martha complain that her lazy sister Mary just sat while she did all the work. Jesus told her that Mary had chosen to the right thing by sitting at His feet and partaking of His wisdom. Oh that we would take more time to sit before the Ancient of Days and partake of the wisdom that He has gained. What wonderful things might God impart upon you today if you just took the time to sit at His feet with His word opened, in prayer, or just being silent? Can you hear Him talking to you today?

Giving Thanks

2006-01-16T09:38:00.000-08:00

Luke 7:36-50
36. And one of the Pharisees requested him to take food with him; and he entered into the house of the Pharisee, and sat down at table. 37. And, lo, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that he sat at table in the house of the Pharisee, brought an alabaster box of ointment: 1 38. And sitting at his feet behind him, and weeping, she began to wash his feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment. 2 39. And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, said, speaking within himself, If this man were a Prophet, he would certainly know who and what sort of woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a sinner. 3 40. And Jesus answering, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to thee. And he said, Master, say on. 41. A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed five hundred pence, and another fifty. 42. And when they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Tell me then, which of them will love him more? 43. Simon answering said, I suppose that it will be he to whom he forgave more. And he said to him, Thou hast decided aright. 44. And turning to the woman, he said to Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest not water for my feet; but she hath moistened my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45. Thou gavest me not a kiss; but she, since the time that I entered, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 47. For which reason I say to thee, Her many sins are forgiven, for she hath loved much; but he to whom less is forgiven loveth less. 48. And he said to her, Thy sins are forgiven thee. 49. And those who sat at table with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins? 50. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Both Mathew’s and Mark’s account of this meal talk of the waste of the oil and how it could have been sold to feed the poor. John 11:2 goes so far as to tells that the woman was Mary the brother of Lazarus, this I didn’t know. But it was Luke’s account the God used to correct a wrong in my life and ease the trouble that my Spirit was having over it.
I had always thought that it was rude when I went to a family gathering where a meal was prepared to offer thanks for the meal without being asked. I have no trouble in my own home, at a restaurant, or even Teresa and I bowing our heads in prayer and giving thanks at a company Christmas party, but in another’s house I would wait and if no one gave thanks than it wasn’t offered. I would bow my head and thank God in silence and continue with the meal.
After talking to my Pastor about this and still being troubled in my spirit about it. God revealed to me one sentence. “Mary didn’t care whose house it was.” My thoughts were taken to Luke’s account of this meal and I had to search for the scripture and read for myself. What it revealed to me was that Mary, considered a sinner by Simon the host of the meal, didn’t care who owned the house or if she was asked to honor Christ. All she saw was Christ and knew the love she had for Him because of who He was and what He had done for her.
Simon had offered no water to clean Jesus’ dusty feet, which was the custom. Yet Mary washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Simon had not greeted his guest with a kiss as the custom, yet Mary had not ceased kissing His feet. Simon had not offered Jesus anything that one would extend to a guest. Yet Mary knowing where Jesus was eating couldn’t control herself but entered a house with one thought; giving thanks.
Giving thanks in a house where you are not asked should be done without thought of whose house it is, but with thought of who provided the meal. As I look at our full pantry, even if it is junk food at times, I give thanks. Though at times I tell my wife how great she is because she has placed a carton or two of wonderful ice cream in our freezer. As Teresa and I sit to a meal in a restaurant, I give thanks. I do not say I filled this pantry, or I paid for this meal, but give thanks to the One who gave me the ability to fill the pantry and pay for the meal, and I should give thanks to the one who brings us together at the table and provides a means to fellowship over a meal, wherever that may be.

A Touch Of the Master's Robe

2005-09-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

Matthew 9:20-22
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.”
I can imagine this woman upon hearing that Jesus was coming to town and hearing of all the miracles that He had preformed was excited and desperate to get to meet Him for a chance to be healed. She had consulted others and had no relief from her misery. She had prayed that this problem would be taken from her but for twelve years she had suffered on.
As the crowds began to gather around Jesus I am sure that she was frustrated to find that the opportunity to meet with Jesus was slipping away as she cried out to Him for help. I imagine that she said; “If I could only get to touch Him, just for a moment, I would be healed.” As she reached out through the crowds, her fingers stretching through the throng of people praying for just a touch.
I remember watching the movie Coal Miner’s Daughter as Loretta Lynn walked through a crowd one of the fans reached out to her with a pair of scissors and cut off a lock of her hair, screaming as she ran away excited about her encounter with the first lady of country music.
When Teresa and I went to Talladega for the NASCAR race she ended up with tickets for a chance to meet her favorite driver. Teresa, who does not get up early, was up at 4:00am pushing me out the door for a chance to be first in line to meet with Sterling Marlin and the thought of touching him as she got his autograph.
Jesus is still there waiting for us to come to Him for a touch of His garment to be healed, to be changed, to be made new. At the woman’s encounter with the Master, He stopped and turned to look at her and tell her she was made well because of her faith in Him. As the sinner comes to Jesus confessing their sins and seeking forgiveness, it is Jesus who reaches out and touches them and they are changed forever.

Prayer:
Father, help us to have the faith of this woman, and that we too would seek an encounter with you through your Son. Amen

Thought:
Are we reaching out for a chance of a lifetime or a life changing opportunity that lasts for eternity?

A Change is Coming.

2005-09-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 15:51,52

“Behold, I tell you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

As the clouds break on a stormy day I see a shaft of light pierce through the clouds and reach its way to the ground. I often wonder if that is the sight we will behold when Jesus comes to take His church home, then I remember how long a twinkling of an eye is. A half of a blink is not a long time to view anything and I realize that I will not see the Lord’s return but will be changed in a moment as I meet Jesus in the air.
When we accept Jesus as our savior we experience a change that is just as dramatic. We are lost in the darkness of sin, tossed in the storms of life with no hope for tomorrow. Yet God reaches into that darkness with a shaft of light that draws us to salvation and changes us forever, as we are born anew into His kingdom.
As the lost look at the cross and see the light that shines upon the savior, a change is given, hope is offered, and an eternity with Him is within their reach. Unfortunately, many will turn from that cross to the darkness of sin and an eternity separated from God. We are to be there to turn them back to the cross and encourage the lost to accept that opportunity to be changed forever.

Father, we long for that day when you will split the sky and take your church home to be with you forever. Our hearts break for those who refuse to accept your light, your love, and an eternity sharing in your glory. Help us to reach out to the lost and do our part to win the lost for you. Amen.

Accepting Jesus means never walking in darkness again.

Fruit Among the Thorns

2005-09-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

Fruit Among the Thorns

Matthew 13:22 says; “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
Jesus is talking about the word of God given to us who live in this world and are surrounded by influences that would keep us from being fruitful for the Kingdom of God.
The cares of this world He mentions here are anything that keeps us focused on our problems and keep us from focusing upon the work of the Kingdom. It is hard to focus on the needs of others when the bill collectors are knocking on your door. It is hard to help others deal with pain when your heart is breaking. But yet this is what we are asked to do? The poet Terrence writes; “So many cares hinder me which draw my mind different ways.” It is hard to focus on others when our minds are occupied with the thoughts of daily live.
The deceitfulness of riches which promise peace and contentment, but never give them, only leaves us wanting more. I know you think if I had more, the cares of this world would go away. I have thought this myself, if I only had my house, or car paid off I could live good. Yet I noticed that the more I made the more I spent and it still left me hungry for more. I hear so many and have said it myself; “If I could win the lottery.” Till one night the Lord impressed upon this thought; “Are not my blessings enough for you?” God has given me so much, a great job, a new home, and wonderful family, and a peace that money can not buy.
The seeds of the cares of this world have been planted in our lives sometimes long before the word of God has been sown. When we tend to the cares and ignore the word of God is it any wonder we produce the fruits of these cares? But when we tend to the word of God the cares of this world seem only temporary compared to the lasting rewards of a heavenly inheritance, and the fruits we are able to produce from a life center on God’s word.

Prayer:
Father, help us to hear your word above the call of this world. Help us to bear fruit from a life centered on your word, as you pour out your blessing on us. Thank you for the peace in our hearts, and the joy that comes from knowing you through your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen

Thought: Let God be a blessing to you, in order that you may be a blessing to others.

What is Rocking Your Boat?

2005-08-07T02:32:00.000-07:00

Matthew 14:22 “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitude away.”
There are several reasons why Jesus made the disciples go ahead of Him and I hope to address each of them in the coming verses. Since He strongly urged them to get in the boat before the crowds were dismissed, suggests that the disciples were unwilling to go without Him. I am sure they were caught up in the excitement that still buzzed around this meeting because of the miracle they had witnessed when the multitude of people were fed from a few loaves and fishes. Or perhaps Jesus knew that there was pressing business in Capernaum that they needed to go and prepare the way for Him, but the people there needed further instruction and Jesus was unwilling to leave.
There have been many times I have been talking to someone when I realized that they only heard about half of what I said because their mind was on the task that I was keeping them from. I also realize that there have been times that I have been guilty of this same thing and I have to stop myself and focus on what the person is saying. Our lives are so busy with things that we need to do and appointments we have to make that we forget that the most pressing thing we have to do is right in front of us. Our minds get occupied with where we need to be and we tend to forget that the most important thing to God may be our ministering to someone at that moment in time. We don’t have disciples to go ahead of us but we need to weigh what is more important, a meeting, our golf game, a TV show, getting home early, the sale at Wal-Mart or showing the love of God to another who just needs someone to listen to them.
Verse 23. “And when He had sent the multitude away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.” If you go back and read all of Chapter 14 you realize that Jesus had been trying to get alone with God since He had heard that John the Baptist was dead. One of the reasons that He needed to be alone with God was He needed to mourn for His cousin. There are many times in our pain from loss that the weight of what has happened doesn’t fully hit us till we are by ourselves and fully grasp the meaning of our loss. It is at these times that we need the comfort that only the Father can give us. We need that time to greave before God and allow His peace to lift us up.
After all that Jesus had witnessed God do at the meeting He needed to be alone with God to give him glory and reflect on God’s grace to His people. Whenever we see a great movement of God or an answer to prayer how do we respond? Do we get alone with God and give Him the glory and pray for further guidance or do we just brush it off. These things happen that we might draw nearer to God and gain a better relationship with Him.
God had worked some great things through Jesus and it would be very tempting to take the glory for Himself. The people had their needs met in a way that was miraculous, and from John 15:16 we read that Jesus realized that these people were going to make Him king by force. They wanted to lift Him up and place Him upon the throne of man and worship him as an earthly king, not because of who He was, but because of what He had done. Jesus knew the nature of His disciples, who were jockeying for position amongst themselves so much so that even James and John’s mother wanted them to have the seats of honor in Jesus’ kingdom. He knew that they would embrace this crowd’s excitement, so perhaps this is why He sent them ahead.
Jesus needed to get off by Himself to pray that God would keep him humble. If you read Matthew Chapter 4:8-10 you will see where Satan offered Jesus the same thing, that these people now did, and His response was; “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” The devil will come at times of great triumph for God and try and steal the glory away from the Father and place it somewhere that it does not belong. We need to give God the glory for His work in order that we are not tempted to boast in our works. We need to pray that God will keep us humble and show us how He can further be glorified in all His work. Our job as Christians is not to lift ourselves up, but to lift up the name of Jesus Christ.
Verse 24. “But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.” The sea that is mentioned here is the Sea of Galilee. The place where Jesus fed them was near Tiberias. John says they were going to Capernaum, located six miles to the north on the same side of the lake, Mark says they were going to Bethsaida, eight miles to the north on the East side of the lake. Matthew mentions the area as Gennesaret, which was the name for the area surrounding the lake. So they were going to one of the two towns from reading in scripture we can find them both mentioned but the works that Jesus did in Capernaum are recorded in the gospels.
Matthew says that they were halfway into their journey when the going became difficult. There are a lot of times when we are sent out to do the work of the Lord filled with high expectations, and urged on by God’s Spirit, only to find the task not as easy as we thought. We are met with resistance to the gospel, Satan’s attempts to come against the work of the Lord, and trouble in our own lives that make us question if we are doing the right thing. We start out on our journeys with Christ but as we meet with the troubles that rock our boat, we tend to loose our focus and question our faith as well as God’s faithfulness to us and we become fearful. These men were experienced fisherman and knew how to handle a boat in a storm and yet they were fearful. So the length of time of our journey with Christ does not ensure that our way will be smooth. The faith that propels us to begin our journey with Christ is soon questioned as the winds buffet our boat and we long for the safety of shore. As the disciples looked around them they only saw water, and the only safety they could cling to was in that boat, as they worked together to get to the other side. As the troubles of life surround us and it seems that it is all we can see, the safest place we can be is in the boat of Christianity rowing as hard as we can to get through this journey of life. We all have times in our lives that we feel that all we do is spend our days waiting for the other shoe to drop, the next problem to come along, the next wave to hit our boat that makes us question of faith, or drives us closer to God. I know that Teresa and I had that time in our lives that we dreaded getting up in the morning for fear of what would come at us that day.
Mark said something interesting in 6:48 of his gospel. He said; “Then He saw them straining at rowing,” I have been atop some hills and mountains where the view is so spectacular, as I felt I could see for miles. To believe that Jesus could physically see the disciples rowing on the lake is not that hard, except that Matthew says that it was the fourth watch of the night in verse 25, which was between the hours of three and six in the mourning. Jesus was alone with God in prayer when it was revealed to him in the Spirit that the disciples were struggling. There have been times in all our lives that we have felt the sudden urge to pray for someone. I have heard stories where people have awaken in the middle of the night with a burden for another that need their prayer, I have felt the burden on my heart for others that I wasn’t thinking of and went to prayer for them. We are never out of sight of the Father’s eyes and He cares for us. We are never alone in our struggles against the waves that crash against us seeking to destroy us each of those disciples could look around and find someone who was sharing the same burden they were. As we share our burdens with one another in the church we come together with a body of believers who will lift us up and share our grief, pain, and joy with us. I have said often that no matter how hard I have it I can always look around and find someone who is going through the same thing or worse. By going through a difficult time we are able to minister to someone who is sharing the same pain. I would never be able to know how it feels to loose a child, but I do know how it feels to suffer through divorce, so when another comes to me hurting from the sting of the waves of divorce I am able to understand a little of how they feel. Look around you any Sunday morning in worship and you will find a group of believers ready to come along side you and share your pain, your fear, and your joy.
Verse 25, 26. “Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.”
Jesus could have gotten in another boat and followed behind them for in John’s gospel it says that when the people realized that Jesus had left and which direction they had gone they got into boats and followed Him to Capernaum. I don’t know which would be the scariest thing to see, Jesus walking on the water, or a group of boats following after them. Jesus could have walked along the shore till He was beside them and waved them in to pick Him up, but that is not what the bible says. It says that He took the quickest route to them, which was walking on the water to get to them.
When you go to certain web sites to get directions for a trip, you are asked if you want the best route or the quickest. By car the quickest route is not always the best route. When we travel to Athens from Laurelville the quickest route is to take 56, but it is curvy and hilly and though it saves you a few miles, the best way is to take 180 to 33 and down to Athens. When we are in trouble we only care that our help comes fast, if your house was burning you wouldn’t care how the fire department got there as long as they got there as quick as they could. If you were in a boat and afraid you were going to sink as the waves crashed against you would you care where your help came from as long as it came fast?
The disciples had never seen anyone do this before so they thought it was a ghost. Perhaps they assumed since they left Jesus alone that the people had killed him and now they were seeing His ghost, and they were sunk. Who would help them now? When we feel that we are alone in our trouble, or that there is no relief insight we begin to loose hope. When all we can see is the waves that crash against us we begin to fear that we are lost. When everything that we have tried has failed to bring any end to our trouble we begin to think that trouble is all we’ll see. Or when an answer comes that we don’t understand we feel that God has forgotten us.
Verse 27. “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Jesus speaks to our fear and says don’t worry it is I. We don’t always understand why trouble comes, but sometimes we being who we are bring trouble upon ourselves. No really, there are times when we make mistakes that get us in trouble that we fear just as much, if not more for we feel we do not deserve help in them, than trouble that comes upon us for what seems no reason. We beat ourselves up thinking that we deserve what comes our way because of the sin that we commit. But Jesus died for our sins and took the punishment for them. We may still have to wrestle with the results of our mistakes, but we can call out to God and say, “Okay God, I did it again!” Jesus never tells the disciples that He will stop the waves here, He just says be of good cheer! Not because of the trouble we are in, but because Jesus is with us. Nobody shouts out Thank God I am in trouble again, but we should shout out thank God Jesus is mine, and He is with me. No matter what the circumstance you are going through Jesus is there to give you comfort in them. If He chooses to deliver you from them, or if He chooses to deliver you through them, praise God! God will deliver you, either through or from and we are to rejoice that He is with us in our troubles.
Verse 28, 29 “And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to You on the water’. So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”
Peter was displaying a weak faith, as he questioned the Lord saying, “if it is you?” A weak faith, demands a sign in order for us to trust. Gideon says the same thing in Judges 6:12, 13 when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you,” Gideon’s response was, “if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about?” I know we can say if an angel came to us and told us the Lord is with us that would be all we need to trust in Him in our trouble. But than wouldn’t we be just as guilty as Peter was in showing a weak faith? A strong faith, upon hearing Jesus’ voice, would cause us to heave ourselves over the side of the boat and run to Jesus. Ah but you say that kind of faith is rare, and you are right in thinking that, but it is available to us. Look at David when he faced Goliath, he told Saul that God had delivered him from the bear and the lion and He would deliver him from the hand of this Philistine. When David faced Goliath he told him this, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you.” That took incredible faith to stand before the giant and tell him that I am going to defeat you, and it takes incredible faith to look beyond our troubles and look to Jesus. That kind of faith is available to us to walk with the Lord despite our trouble.
In Mark 9:23and 24 we find one of the greatest statements of faith. “Jesus said to him, ‘If you believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with fears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” The man’s faith had been shaken because of the circumstances he was in and he was aware of his imperfection. So he asks Jesus to help him with his fear and help him to have unquestioning faith. It takes a lot of faith to look beyond our troubles and focus on Jesus, as long as we keep our eyes upon the Lord and focus on him we can walk with Him in our troubles. Notice Jesus didn’t calm the sea creating a path for Peter to walk on, He only told Peter to come.
Verse 30. “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’”
Peter did good as he walked out to the Lord until he realized what he was doing. I can imagine Peter saying, “I’m walking on water, I’m walking on water!” till his expression of joy became one of question to one of fear, “I’m wa-lk-ing on wa-ter?” Sometimes walking in faith means walking outside our comfort zone and doing something we do not understand. Jesus knows this and tells us to keep our eyes focused on Him. As long as we keep our eyes straight ahead and off our troubles we can walk with the Lord in faith. When I was working to overcome my fear of heights I went up the tower at King’s Island. As the elevator rose I keep my eyes focused straight ahead not looking down or to the left or right. As the door opened I stepped out in faith, slowly dragging my feet as I forced myself to walk out on the platform. After standing there for awhile I was able to work up enough courage to walk to the edge and look over. When I flew for the first time I wasn’t able to look out the window at first but as I realized that I wasn’t going to die I was able to enjoy the view from the air. When someone is encouraging another to overcome their fear of heights their advice to them is look straight ahead and don’t look down, Peter looked down and began to sink. Satan would love nothing more than for you to keep your mind on your trouble and tell you that there is no hope, you are lost, and there is no one to help you for your troubles are too great. Satan buffets us like the wind and once he has us focusing on our troubles he wants to keep us focused on our troubles. When we look down we see only trouble and our fear wells up in us and causes us to doubt the Lord. Jesus is still standing before us and telling us to come, to look at Him to stay focused on His mercy and grace, so the logical choice is to cry out to the Lord.
Verse 31 “and immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him. “O you of little faith, why do you doubt?”
When a loved one calls you and tells you of a problem that is too great for them do you listen and then hang up saying to yourself, “Man they got it bad”, without wanting to help them? I hope you don’t! Do you think that Jesus just was going to stand there and watch Peter sink and drown just because his faith wavered? I can not hear Jesus saying to Peter, ‘Oh, too bad you doubted me, can’t help you.’ Jesus stretched out His hand to catch Peter and lift Him up. Sometimes that is all that is needed is just to be lifted up, to be encouraged to know that someone is there for you and to pray for you. There is a big difference in praying for someone and praying with them. It is hard for me to have the courage to pray with someone at work when they come to me and ask me to remember them in prayer. I have no trouble praying for them once I am in the safety of my own truck, but what kind of witness it would be to come along side them and pray to the Father right there and then! Oh that I had that kind of courage, that kind of faith.
I had always heard Jesus’ statement to Peter and thought it one of rebuke till I began to study it the past few weeks. I could see His brow raised scolding Peter as He said, “O you”. When your child cries out in the middle of the night from a bad dream, do we go to their room yelling at them to be quiet, asking them what they are afraid of? I hope not, but you go to them sitting on their bed and comforting them, letting them know that you are there for them and it will be all right. This is what Jesus did for Peter as He wrapped His arm around him telling him that is was going to be all right I am here for you. Did you think I would let you drown?
Jesus does the same for us as we cry out in fear because of the troubles that seem to overcome us till we fear that we can’t go on one more day, one more minute, one more second, He comes along side us telling us that He is there, He understands. He sends others to come along side us to comfort us and share in our troubles and encourage us to take another breath, another step and live in faith.
Verse 32. “And when they got into the boat the wind ceased” Notice that the winds did not cease until they got into the boat. Jesus did not leave Peter to fend for himself sinking in his troubles. When Teresa and I began riding jet skis we took another person’s Jet Ski out for a ride so that we could ride double. I was on the back, which I think was my first mistake. After riding for awhile I told her we ought to give the nice people back their jet ski, she suggested that we take one more ride. She took of at full throttle turning the handlebar hard to the right. I was not ready for this move and we lost our balance and both went into the water, leaving the Jet Ski upside down in the water. The current was strong that day and she felt as if she was going to drown until she felt my hand reach for her and pull her to the surface. She said she knew she would be all right because I had a hold on her. The Jet Ski was still upside down and after I figured out how to right it and it dried out it ran again and is still running today, but I still won’t ride on the back with her driving. With the current as fast as it was and Teresa not knowing how to swim and top it off that I thought the Jet Ski was going to sink, we thought we were really in for it. Once we were safely in a friend’s boat and the Jet Ski was being towed to shore only then did we feel at ease. What made the difference was that we were there with friends and we had each other.
When Jesus got in the boat He still had a group of fellows there that feared the waves, and He calmed the wind and they continued on their way. They were still in the sea but what made the difference was Jesus was there with them. We may still experience trouble, but the difference is that Jesus is there with us. He is not afraid to get on the back of a jet ski with us and ride the waves, because even though we make mistakes, and show times of weak faith, he remains with us to pull us to safety and comfort us.
Verse 33. “Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Did the people want to make Jesus king because of who He was or because their need was met? Did the disciples call him “the Son Of God” because he was or because the wind died down? Do we come and worship God because of what He has done for us? Certainly. Sometimes I come to God in prayer telling Him I don’t have anywhere else to go because I have come to trust in Him and in trusting in Him I have come to know that there is no where else to go!

Why Can't I do That?

2005-07-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

I overheard a co-worker the other day talking about a u-haul truck passing him like he was standing still and later saw the same truck pulled over up the road and being glad that he was. This got me thinking of times when I too saw someone passing me by smiling when I saw them pulled over up the road. There are many times when I see someone doing something against the law on the road and wondering where a cop is when you need one. I think to myself that if I did that I would never get away with that. Do these thoughts come out of wanting to see the unlawful punished or that if I can’t get away with it why should others?
There are many times in the Bible when men and women of God wonder why the wicked prosper. The Bible teaches us that calamity falls on the unjust and the just alike, yet sometimes the ungodly prosper while the godly know little but suffering. Job in his response to his friend’s counsel says in Job 21:7 “Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power?” David seems to cry out to God for vengeance on those who prosper while he is oppressed. In psalm 17:10-14; “They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, as a lion is eager to tear his prey, and a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, O lord, confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with your sword, with Your hand from men, O Lord, from men of the world who have their portion in life. And those whose belly You fill with hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, and leave the rest of their possessions for their babes.” Again the Psalmist is calling on God to make things right, but right in God’s eyes or right in our eyes? When we are surrounded by the wicked we call on God to sic’em as David did the passage above when he called on God to confront them and cast them down. It is right to call on God to deliver us from the wicked, but we tend to go further and ask God to have vengeance on these people because they are getting away with something we know that we can’t.
This thought process begins when we are children as we see our siblings doing things behind mom and dad’s backs and we think that they are getting one over on them. I know that when I hear some kids now speak to their parents I think to myself that if I had talked that way I would be picking my teeth up. But many times the thing we do not see is that others aren’t always getting away with what we think they are. I know that my own kids marveled that I was able to find out things that they had done, and I relayed stories to my mother of the things that I did when younger, she was amazed that I was still alive. As we grow in age and in the Lord we are to put these childish thoughts behind us, I Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” but instead we still rejoice when others are caught in there sin, and resent them when they seem to get away with something.
Are these thoughts born out of a desire to see people do right or out of envy to return to the pleasures of the flesh. There are times when I want to speed down an empty stretch of road to see how fast I can get my truck up too, but the fear of a ticket and higher insurance rates keep me from doing so. It seems that as I am thinking these thoughts someone passes me and does the thing that I wanted to do and I look for them to be pulled over up the road, but they are not.
There are people all around us that walk in ways that are in direct disobedience to God, and yet they seem to prosper, and it seems that while we, following the Lord and His will for our lives, do not enjoy the same pleasures they do. Why are we surprised when we see those who are not God’s walking outside of His will? They are just doing what they feel is right, so is there something wrong with them or with us? Since the unrighteous are being true to there nature why are we upset that they are allowed to walk in that nature? Since we are born with a new nature, in Christ, then shouldn’t we be acting according to that new nature? So in fact they are more inline with their nature than we are with ours.
Take heart no one gets away with sin, even if you talk with someone who seems to have everything and act according to their own will there is still something missing, something that those who are born again enjoy, peace, joy, a relationship with the Father, and everlasting life with Him. Galatians 6:7-9 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” We tend to tug at the hem of God’s robe to show Him what others are doing as if He can’t see what is going on this planet that He created. God sees all, and knows all, and He has a timetable that is beyond our understanding.
What of those who we see in church every Sunday and yet we know that there walk at home does not match what others see on Sunday? We say how can God allow them to get away with that? Galatians 6:1 says; “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you be tempted.” So instead of complaining that they are getting away with something right under the nose of God than we should reach out to them in love to bring them back to a right relationship with the Father.
Still this whole problem is our way of thinking. When I mentioned that if I talked to my mother the way I hear some kids do I would be picking my teeth up, goes with this thought. I NEVER WANTED TO! Obedience to God is born out of a desire to serve Him out of love. I had more respect for my mother than to talk to her that way and I am to have more respect for God than to walk in disobedience to Him. Yeah there was that fear of getting slapped for sassing now there is a phrase that you do not hear any more. And there is that fear of God that keeps me inline, but my thinking is to be that I want to be obedient to God out of love. When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment, He replied; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matt. 22:37 To love God with all your heart is to place nothing in comparison to Him, and will go to great lengths to please and glorify him. To love God with your all your soul is to be ready to give up your life for him and also to live for Him giving him your service. To love God with all your mind, or as others translate as strength, is to employ all our power, gifts, and talents to service of Him. In all this we won’t want to break his commandments and walk in sin, nor desire to get away with something before God and man, for in reality all sin is sin before God.
Jesus added this thought in verse 39; “And the second is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Are our prayers for those caught or seeming to get away with sin “get’em God” in hopes that God will catch them in their sin? Or are our prayers for them that God would chase after them that they might be saved from their sin. If we truly love God and our neighbor than we won’t be worried if someone is getting away with something that we can’t, but that others and ourselves aren’t sharing in the joy that a right relationship to the Father brings. Our prayers are to be God chase after us, and never let go, pursue us Lord till we are yours.

Hey Old Man!

2005-07-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Old Man
Romans 6:1-10
1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2. Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3. Or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into death? 4. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6. knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7. For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9. knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10. For the death that He died, He died to sin once and for all; but the live that He lives, He lives to God.
I cringe when I hear someone introduce their spouse as their old man or old lady, but what if every time I sin and revert back to my old nature I just dismiss my behavior, by introducing my old man to everyone, when in fact this is just what I fear I do. That by “getting in the flesh” others will see how I used to behave and I fear what this does to my witness for Christ, when in truth I should rejoice that it reminds me of who I used to be and who I am in Him. Yet I agree with Paul when he says in Romans 6:1, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” or in Romans 3:8, “And why not say, ‘Let us do evil that good may come’?” And again in Romans 5:20, “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” So are we by sinning providing an opportunity for God to display grace? Some believed that by sinning more that they were providing God an opportunity to display His grace so they should sin more and more, when in fact they were looking for justification to continue living in their old nature that God by His grace had freed them from.
Paul in verse two answers his own question by saying; “Certainly not!” There are a lot of times that we are able to answer our question of can I do this or that and still be a Christian, by the conviction of the Holy Spirit that comes with the new nature that we receive at our conversion. Instead of asking how much of old nature can we display and still be called a Christian, we should ask how much of my new nature can be revealed to bring glory to God. For is it not better to bring glory to God out of obedience, than it is out of His obedience to His nature to forgive for then God only glorifies Himself. Paul continues in verse two by saying; “How shall we who have died to sin live any longer in it?” If we have died to sin with the death of our old nature, than sinning is harmful and contrary to our new nature.
And yet I still sin, so am I ruled by my old nature or my new nature. Dying to our nature means that that we have died to the love of sin and its ruling power over us, so much so that it brings conviction upon us that we no longer love the things that we once did. For example; I love ice cream, and if left alone to my love of ice cream I would eat a ½ gallon in one day. I spend much too long in that wonderful isle in the store that displays my passion, gazing at the different flavors of ice cream that cry out to me to be eaten. I finally pick out my prize and proudly display it to everyone, rushing home with the one thought of grabbing a spoon and ripping open that carton of frozen bliss. Yet I know that too much ice cream is not good for me, so I temper my love for ice cream with the realization that it is not the best thing for me. Impassioned as this account is it serves as a dramatization of how were ruled by our old nature that ever seeks to regain what it had lost. Yet the conviction of our new nature wrestles with this thought, till we put it aside or surrender to it.
I n Galatians 2:19 Paul says; “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.” The law brings us to an awareness of sin, but the law has no power to overcome sin, so we turn from the law and accept this new nature brought by the grace of God. One of the keys to faithful living is living the truth of our conversion by a faith that allows us to live as never before in our new nature. If this new nature were as easy to spot as adorning a new jacket, it would be easy for others to see when we put it on and walk in it and seem to take it off and walk in our old nature. Only through living for the good of others, born out of a love for them that comes from this new nature can others see a change. In verse three Paul tells us that we are not alone in this battle of the natures, Paul says: “as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus”. In Galatians 4:27 he repeats this thought when he says: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” To put on is to be identified with something. A baseball player puts on a uniform to be identified as a member of that team or a fan wears a hat, a shirt, a jacket to be identified as a fan of a certain team or person. We as Christians put on the nature of Christ and are identified with Him having received His Spirit, become interested in what He is interested in, and walking in His nature. We can adorn our cars with an outline of a fish, we can wear a cross around our necks, we can even display a honk if you love Jesus bumper sticker, but if you are continuing to act as you did before your conversion have you put on the nature of Christ?
Paul gives us this thought in verse three and four of Romans six; “were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Baptism identifies us with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection. In II Corinthians 5:21 is says; “For Him who knew no sin; God made to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus took on our old nature that we might take on His nature. Since we could not die for the atonement of our sins, Jesus stepped in and did it for us, allowing us to offer up His death as atonement for them. In baptism we are coming forward and making a declaration of our association to the Savior.
Paul goes on to say; “we were buried with Him in baptism into death;” When Christ was buried, the separation between men and God was put to rest with Him. The redemption work of Christ was finished and salvation was available to all who, through faith, accepted the savior. His work of redemption forever enabled us to put aside the old man and walk in the newness of being a new creature in Christ. By comparing this process to baptism Paul probably was alluding to the act of immersion, where the whole body was placed under the water, symbolizing drowning and death. I wanted to experience this process and was baptized this way and it was a humbling experience, not to say that one way of baptizing is better than the other, I just wanted to experience it.
Verse four goes on to say: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead,” and in I Corinthians 6:14, “And God both raised up the Lord and will raise us up by His power.” Just as Christ was raised from the dead we too are raised from the death of our old nature to become a new creature at our conversion. This is symbolized at our baptism by the coming out of the water to life. Verse four also says that this is done by the glory of the Father. Just as it required the power of God to raise Jesus from the dead, we also rely on that power to help us raise from the defeat of sin in our lives to walk in the newness of life. We believe because of what Jesus did for us and we can also walk in our new nature because of what He did for us. This is not done so that we can think we are better than anyone else and walk in piety, giving glory to ourselves because we go to church, sing in the choir, become baptized, or even write on a web page, but in order that we may walk in obedience to God and enjoy the fullness of our relationship to Him.
Life denotes not only a physical life but a spiritual life, which we can possess only through faith in Jesus. Eternal life not only refers to duration of life, but to quality of life. It is a present life of grace and a future life of glory. Will my old nature surface now and again? It will, but by the grace of God I received at my conversion, I am able to put aside this old nature and walk in the fullness of a new life dedicated to the service and in honor to the One who died for me.

You Are His Greatest Creation

2005-06-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

Romans 1:19-21
19. because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21. because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
By reading verse eighteen of Romans one we can see who Paul was talking about, but I want to talk about how God reveals Himself to us and more importantly how He reveals His Son to us. I know that He works individually in each of us to bring us to an understanding of who He is and who we can be in His Son, and each of us who have accepted Jesus as His personal savior, and even those who died in the faith waiting for the savior, have a story to tell that is unique to them.
This study was brought about by a conversation with a co-worker where he asked me a question that I did not have a good answer for and he thought I don’t know was the best answer. He asked me about the fate of those on remote islands who had never heard about God and I assume also about the saving grace of God through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In Mark chapter sixteen, verse fifteen Jesus tells His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” I believe that this message was given to each believer and to be repeated by everyone that came to Christ, and is still repeated to the saints of today. Still I realize that not everyone heard of the good news of the redeemers coming and died not receiving the message of salvation. These three verses hold an answer to the plight of these people, and by studying them we come away with a better understanding of how God reveals Himself to us.
In verse 19 Paul makes this statement; “what may be known of God” In Acts chapter 14:17 Luke says: “Nevertheless He did not leave himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” And in acts 17:24: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with human hands.” What may be known of God is revealed in His creation and this leaves us groping for Him as it says in Acts 17:27 “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us;”
Most of us use the expression “Thank God” for the check that comes just in the knick of time, for the rain that saves our lawns and gardens, for the life that is saved in an auto accident, for the warm weather, for the cool weather, and the list goes on and on. We have said those two words but most have put little thought behind why they are using a phrase that has become something you just say. Yet God who is the creator of all things is the master of all things and works and is revealed in his creation.
Paul goes to say in verse 19 “God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” Paul was talking about the wrath of God being shown to man, but I believe that He also has revealed His light to all. For how could a God of love reveal His wrath for the disobedient, which ignore His will for their lives, without revealing to them His love and grace and Himself to them? The word manifest, translated in other bibles as evident, refers to appears: also meaning to lay bare, reveal, uncover, make visible, make known what has been hidden or unknown, or make clear. As a truck driver when I receive a manifest it tells me what trailer I am hooking up to, the weight of the trailer, where it is going, and what is inside of the trailer. Many people in searching for God, following the need that is placed them, hook up to the wrong god, just as I have hooked up to the wrong trailer even going so far as to hook to an empty that I thought was a load. Those that hook to the wrong god are left just as empty as the trailer I hooked to. When we search for God knowing that He is not far from us, revealing Himself to us, and align our lives with His will, He reveals the content of His love for us in the person of Son. John 1:9 says; “That was the true light that gives light to every man coming into the world.” Or “that was the true light; coming into the world, gives light to every man.” The phrase gives light can also mean revealed or manifested. We also find the weight of following Christ, and where we are going by following Him, by searching his will manifested to us in His word and Spirit. Many find this weight too much to bear, just as some drivers complain about having to pull a heavy load, or as the rich young ruler who thought living with the weight of his possessions lighter than living without them, found in Matthew 19:16-22. Or out of misunderstanding God’s word, and not following farther till the meaning of what the bible teaches us is revealed, as many of the disciples did in John 6:53-60 upon hearing Jesus teach, said that is was a hard saying and turned from following Christ.
I did not mean to stray from how God reveals Himself, but wanted to show how we use a misunderstanding of who God is, and a misunderstanding of His will as a crutch to not follow Him as I have heard others say that they can not follow a God who allows sickness and death, or that forgets those stranded on an island, when in fact we are all stranded on an island of certain death, infected with the sickness of sin that separates us from God, when we refuse to accept salvation revealed to us through Jesus Christ.
Paul starts out verse 20 and suggests that God has always revealed Himself to His creation through His creation. The word creation; a founding, establishing, settling, or formation, is used to denote both the act of creating and the product of the creative act.
Psalm 19:1-6 states; “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line (business) has gone out though all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of the heaven, and its circuit to the other end, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.” In this psalm David reveals how God reveals Himself in the first six verses he tells us that He reveals Himself through His creation. The firmament mentioned in verse one is the stretched out expanse of the sky. I remember talking someone a few years ago who was searching for God, looked up at the stars and said; “You can not look at them and not believe in God.”
As a gardener I look at my plants as they poke through the soil and reach their way to the heavens, budding and opening to a magnificent flower. I remember how He revealed Himself to me in the life of my children, as I watched them grow. Even now I look at the richness of His blessing and marvel and grope for the words to give Him thanks.
In verse 20 of Romans one it goes on to say; “His invisible attributes are clearly seen, and being understood by the things that are made,” I watched a show that other day where an entire half hour was dedicated to the making of one mirror frame. I know that it took more than that a half hour to make this frame, but its beauty was revealed in that show and I marveled at the workmanship of the creator of that piece of art. People separated from society where the stories of God have faded over the years, need only look at creation and realize that there is a creator, and as they cry out to Him, searching for the meaning of their existence He further reveals Himself to them.
David says in Psalm 19 that there is nothing hidden, Paul echoes this sentiment in verse 20 when he says; “so they are without excuse.” You remember what was said in verse 19 where it says; “what may be known of God, is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” So if God has revealed Himself to all mankind through His creation, why did missionaries find so many who knew nothing of Him? I believe what most found was considered a pagan religion, in that they had began to realize that thanks was to be given to a deity but they did not worship the one true God. Many had even realized that there was a need for a sacrifice to appease their gods. Out this line of thinking that they had you begin to realize that God may have been revealed to them and had somehow stressed to them that there was a need for a sacrifice in order for them to fully know Him. But what happened to their line of thinking to pervert what God had intended for them in the first place?
In verse 21 Paul says that; “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, but became futile in their thoughts,” Somewhere in the history of mankind what was known of God and his plan for salvation became lost to them or they twisted the true revelation of God, to become something they imagine through their own reasoning, until it was passed down as truth. Jer. 2:5 says, “Thus says the Lord: ‘What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me. Have idols (vanities or futilities) and become idolaters.” Still I believe that God, out of His love for His creation, calls them back into a relationship with Him. This is why He sent His prophets to His people to remind them of His love for them. This is also why Jesus told His disciples to go throughout the earth proclaiming the Gospel, and He calls missionaries to go those who have not heard of Christ.
Paul finishes verse 21 with the words, “their hearts were darkened”, we have all heard the expression, “black heart or hard hearted”, to denote evil thinking or someone without love. The heart refers to a part of us where our emotions are centered it is the birthplace of thought, understanding, and our will. Also it is the dwelling place of the Lord and Holy Spirit. God sees into the heart of man where decisions are made concerning Him.
Salvation gives a person the status of being a new creation, and we are God’s handiwork where He has taken the time and care to mould us into a work of art, just as the craftsman did with the mirror frame I mentioned. James 4:8 says; “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” And in John 13:32 Jesus says; “And if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” Out of God’s love for His creation, He reveals Himself through His creation. So when we question the fate of those on a deserted island or why God allows pain and suffering is it a lack of faith or our reaction to the revelation of the creator to the creation? The depth of God’s love is beyond our understanding, but He has given us His word as a guide to His love and the nature of His love is revealed in it. As we draw near to God and accept the salvation offered through His Son, God draws near to us and reveals more of Himself to His most precious creation, YOU!

Being in the Right Place, With the Right Message, to the Right Person

2005-06-13T06:05:00.000-07:00

John 4:5-26
5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there, Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 For the disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You being a Jew, ask a drink from me a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, ‘give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir you have nothing to draw with, and the well is so deep. Where then do you get that living water?” 12 “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 “but whoever drinks of the water that I should give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become a fountain springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband,” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 “for you have had five husbands, and the one who you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” 19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is that place where one ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
There are times that we pick and choose people who we feel are worthy to associate with, the differences in lifestyles, social status, and many other factors that keep us from demonstrating God’s love to others. Not to forget those who have hurt us and we feel that they are unworthy of God’s love. After my divorce my ex-wife became just such a person and it took me a long time to realize that even though I didn’t want to have a relationship with her, God did, and it was then I was able to pray for her. I am not talking about those who would harm our walk with the Lord, or even cause us harm, for Jesus said in Matthew 10:16; “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the mist of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” But how can we decide who we are to show God’s love towards, how are we to decide who is worthy of God’s love? Jesus ran into one of these undesirables at the well in this passage that the Jewish community felt that it was wrong to have any dealings with at all.
In 2 Kings verse 17:24-41 we read where the King of Assyria, in order to prevent resistance, removed and mixed the people of Samaria with other groups. The relationships and intermarriage of the Israelites with these people caused them to serve other gods, even though they still feared the Lord God. The priests were allowed to preach of God, but instead of leading their culture to worship in the one true God, they ended up merging with other beliefs that caused the Jews to hate the Samaritans.
So how did Jesus respond to this person that the Jewish community considered undesirable? He began by opening a conversation, as we would when we ask another how they are doing or begin to discuss the weather. Jesus had a need and this woman was able to fill that need. How many times has God placed us in a situation to fill a need that we have the resources to fill, and simply tells us to give them a drink. We do not know as Jesus and the woman engaged in conversation that she gave Jesus this drink or not. We do not know if she even cared if Jesus had a need in his life, but Jesus knew that she had a need. First she was coming to the well alone and at an hour when she could come without the other women around. We begin to come to the conclusion that this woman was an outcast in her own town. Granted Jesus being God knew this woman’s life better than we ever could know the life of a stranger, but by observing others we can see that they have needs in their lives as well. By seeing friends behave differently we can tell when something is bothering them. Basically by getting our eyes off our own lives and focusing on their lives we can learn a lot about others, and their needs.
So what did Jesus offer to this woman? He offered her hope. When we see the needs in another’s life and we have the means to meet that need we are to respond in love towards them and offer them hope. Hope for today, tomorrow, and eternity. Jesus said to her; “If you knew the gift of God,” which is salvation. He took the opportunity to witness of God’s love for her by using the illustration of water. The woman’s response was one of defense, which we also receive from others when we try and witness of God’s love for them. I know from my past that my first reaction to pain was defensive, that when others tried to get close with a loving spirit, having been hurt before, I reacted with caution not letting anyone get close enough to know me and have the chance to hurt me. This woman reacted in the same manner having been shunned by her community, and hated by the Jews, had left her with a bad taste in her mouth towards people, and running from relationship to relationship finding people that only wanted to use her. Is it any wonder that she approached this conversation with Jesus with such caution?
So how do we react to walls that are put up to the gospel of Christ? If we make ourselves available to God, He will put us in the right situation to witness of His love. Through His Spirit He will give us the words to speak, in Matthew 10:17-20 Jesus is telling His disciples what will happen to them as they witness before rulers. In verse 19 and 20 He tells them; “When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who is speaking through you.” I believe that this words hold true to our witnessing to all, of God’s love. Remembering that the Father loves this person you are witnessing to more than you can imagine and if you allow Him to work through you to show His love for that person, than the words will come. I know that in my life there are times that while witnessing the words just seem to flow and I marvel that I am able to remember scripture, when I can’t remember to take out the trash, or say what is needed for that person at that time, when many times in my past I would say the wrong thing, and show anything but the love of God for another. At these times I realize that it is not me but the Spirit of a loving God witnessing of His love for the lost through me.
We have to remember that it is not about us, and as we go into a conversation, making ourselves available to the Holy Spirit, saying to yourself; “It is not about me, but about God’s love for this person.” This living water that Jesus offered to the Samaritan woman stills flows from and unending well of love for those who are lost to God, and He wants them for Himself, and He wants to work through you!

Why Can't I go With You?

2005-04-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

John 13: 36-14:6
36 Simon Peter said to him, Lord where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you can not follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.”
14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”
2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.”
3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, you may be also.”
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to Him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to he Father except through me.”
I remember when my children were little and I would go somewhere that they thought was exciting they would ask to go, and then whine when they couldn’t go. My youngest longed to ride with daddy in the big truck, but she wasn’t allowed to go along. I can remember when my oldest was old enough to know what was going on that she would be right beside me in my pick-up, standing on the seat (before seat belt laws mind you) beside me with her arm draped over my shoulder. Her eyes were full of wonder and she was full of pride knowing that she was experiencing a world that only daddy got to experience.
When I would return from the grocery they would go through each bag and want to sample everything that was in them as if they hadn’t eaten in days, which would lead to them being banished from the kitchen or all the boxes of cereal being opened at once as they searched for the toy inside.
I was reminded of this as I read Peter’s statement; “Lord, why can I not follow you now?” Peter as well as other disciples had heard Jesus’ call to follow Him and had headed that call, and now Peter only heard you can’t follow Me. In John 1:43 Jesus told Phillip, “Follow Me.” In Matthew 9:9 Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow Me.” In Matthew 8:22 Jesus told another disciple, “Follow Me”. In Mark 8:34 Jesus said to all His disciples, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” This is what Peter heard his entire walk with the Lord and now what he heard was you can’t follow me, are we that surprised at Peter’s reaction?
Peter had learned so much from Jesus, he had been fed, he saw the blind see, the lame walk, lives changed, and had even walked on water. He had experienced so much joy and love with the savior that he wanted this to continue. In Mark 9 we read that Peter witnessed Jesus transfigured right before his eyes, are we surprised that Peter wanted to have camp meeting right there on the hill? With speakers like Jesus, Elijah and Moses lined up that would be a fantastic revival, which could change the world. He even heard the voice of God telling him that Jesus was His Son and that he was to listen to Him. Knowing this how could Peter respond any differently than he did in verse 37, when he said, "I will lay down my life for your sake.”
Behind Peter’s question were likely feelings of loss and abandonment at the thought of losing the fellowship with Jesus. We enjoy our times of fellowship with God and want to remain on the mountaintop where we feel secure and spiritually alive as we experience the presence of God. Look at Moses experience on Mt. Horeb as the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame in the bush. Who would want to leave that experience as God communicated with him and told him of his will for his life? We know that Moses was changed forever and would never be the same again, but Moses came down off that mountain into the valley that promised hardship, but with the confidence that God was with him. I can remember my own experiences when I walked in the grace of God’s provision, and experienced His love. I remember times when worship was so sweet and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit that I did not want to leave the service and return to the ‘real world’. I attended a training course this past weekend and enjoyed the fellowship of believers and the movement of the Holy Spirit as we laughed, worshiped, and explored God’s call on each of our lives. I witnessed smiles on every face as we shared in God’s love and called each other brother and sister. After I left there I went to Wal-Mart and looked into the faces of the people there. I did not see the smiles that I had just witnessed, there was no laughter present, there was no feeling of fellowship with these people as I walked around and tried to see some hope and recognition that these people were believers as well.
I had come down off the mountain changed and ready to serve the Lord, but faced with the difficulty of how to witness of God’s love, and knowing that I confessed to Jesus that I would follow Him, I hear the words of verse 38 echo in my mind; “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.” These words had to hit Peter like a ton of bricks, but yet the bible does not say how he responded. As we worship and fellowship with others and share in that mountaintop experience those words would seem like nonsense to us as we pledged our undying love for Christ, but as we go down the mountain into the real world they echo in our minds as a reminder that the troubles and fears of this world will cause us to stumble. We look back up that mountain and want to race up the mountain into sweet fellowship with other believers and with the Holy Spirit, our Father, and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The reason for these mountain top experiences is so that we can go into the world, renewed and ready to serve God. These times of fellowship with the Father through the Holy Spirit and other believers gives us hope to face what the world and Satan brings our way. At the end of each of our services and also at the end of our training seminar this past weekend we are sent forth to be ambassadors for Christ, fueled with the knowledge of who we are in Christ Jesus and equipped to witness of His love, we go out into the world and tell others of the love that God has for them. This is what Jesus does for them in chapter 14 verse one. He tells the disciples; “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe in me.” He goes on to tell them where He is going and what He will be doing while there. These words also bring us hope as we realize that they are not only for His disciples but for us as well. No contractor builds a home intending for it to be empty. He fully expects that someone will occupy this building. So Jesus tells the disciples and us in verse three; “And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also,” This is the hope that we cling to and is promised here and in the book of Revelation, that Jesus will one day return for His church and take us home to be with Him forever.
Still this hope is not enough for many that find walking with the Lord in His absence to difficult. Thomas in verse five expresses these doubts when he says; “Lord, we do not know where you are going; and how can we know the way?” Jesus says to him in verse six; “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” I hear that there are many ways to heaven and for many who want to justify their existence and self worth they look and cling to any hope that will justify their worthiness. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 64:6; But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are filthy rags;” Our sin and guilt has left us like soiled garments in the light of the righteousness of God. If it is our hope to be with the Father in heaven, occupying the homes that Jesus is preparing for us, then how can we stand before the Father and claim to be members of His kingdom on our own righteousness, when He considers our righteousness to be dirt! Jesus is telling His disciples that the only way to heaven is through Him. He is the way to an eternity filled with His righteousness, His existence is the true path that leads to glory, and He is the key to a life filled with hope.
Phillip in verse eight still needs further encouragement when he says; “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus responds to Phillip, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Phillip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, show us the Father?” We come to the Father through the Son and share in sweet fellowship with Him, in prayer, in the gathering of fellow believers and in His worship. We see the Father in the lives of those who serve the Son and trust their eternity to Him. Jesus understands that we want to go where He is and to share in the glory of His righteousness and He understands the trouble that we will face in this world. In verses 15 and16 He offers Phillip and us this hope; “If you love Me, keep My commandments, and I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” This precious gift is the person of the Holy Spirit, who dwells with us and helps us in our walk as we wait for the Son to return and take us to be with Him forever. We have caught our dog on several occasions looking longingly out the window as we return home and witness the excitement he displays as we come into the house. May we be ever watchful for the return of Jesus so that we can share in the joy that His return will bring.

Walking the Right Path

2005-04-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

On the way home from Charleston the other day I saw a new born calf trying out his new legs. He would run in one direction a few yards from his mother and stop and look around, then turn and run in another direction and stop once again surveying his new world. This continued as he ran in every direction but never far from his mother, as she kept her head lowered into the pile of hay she was eating. It seemed to me that the calf just wanted to go somewhere but was unsure of the path to take.
I can remember when I was eighteen and had my first taste of independence, I wanted to make my own choices for my life so sure of what was right, as I look back I am positive that I would not have made the ones I had made. We would all like to have our paths in life laid out for us so that we can see where we would run into danger or the results of our bad choices. I can imagine looking over a map seeing where I stumbled along the path and saying to myself that I will be sure to avoid that area. We are not given a compass at birth that will direct us which path is the right one to take for our lives, we have our parents to guide us as we grow, but as we grow we see their guidance as a stumbling block in the way of our freedom.
There are sixty eight entries for the word path in the bible, so even I began to realize that God must have a lot to say about the paths we are to take. In the Garden of Eden man and woman were able to fellowship with God and this was an idea place, a sort of nature reserve, where man was to exist in harmony with God. There existed two trees, or paths, for man to choose from. One, the tree of life, is associated with experiencing the life of God, including immortality. The other, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, represents man’s self rule, which is his assumed independence from God in all areas of life.
As man began to explore his world he never strayed to far from God, as the calf didn’t stray to far from his mother. Adam and Eve explored all areas of the garden and choose the right path, as long as they walked with God. Enter Satan realizing that the only chance he has to get to man is to convince this couple to disobey God. So he offers them power telling Eve that the one thing that they lack is to be like God and that God is withholding that from them. The temptation for power can be a strong motivator, even for those who have their needs met. Satan convinced her that God was withholding this knowledge from them in order that they would remain dependant on God. The desire to become as wise as God seemed reasonable to Eve. Unfortunately, her definition of wisdom was self rule, and not dependency on God, which is taught as the path that we are to take.
God is not keeping anything from us but knowing the creature that He has created, knows what is best for that creature. Man where have I heard that before? As I struggled for independence from my parents, I grew to realize that their wisdom, which was always preached to me, was really wisdom indeed and not just an attempt to keep me chained under their authority. As I began to run in every direction from the safety of my parents I began to run further and further till I felt that I no longer needed to return to their rule but could make decisions for myself. I talked to a fellow worker the other night and he said that if had gotten this job while still at home his parents would have had to kick him out of the house, as his bank account grew and he was able to have everything he needed to start a life of independence before he began to make a life for himself. As I think about that statement I realize that few have the discipline to actually make that plan a reality.
So we are left standing at the head of two different paths staring into the future of each one trying to reason in our minds and with our senses which would be the best path for us to take. Self rule which will allow us to live a life as we see fit, making our own decisions, but fearing what lies ahead. And the path of God’s rule, still fearing what lies ahead but walking in the confidence that God knows what is best for us. Now go back to the conversation I had with my co-worker, and how hindsight was perfect. Knowing that I would have been better off to listen to my parents advice, and not walk the path of mistakes, I should know that I would be better off to walk with God, but again how many have the discipline to walk that path.
Jesus said in Matthew Seven verses 13 and 14; “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
In order to begin to know which path we are to take we have to enter the path with the narrow gate. Unlike the path at Old Mans Cave which has two ways to get through one section of the trial, one being a wide path, and the other being what is called fat man’s squeeze, the two roads we face do not end up at the same destination. Faced with high water and several road closures last year during the floods in Hocking and Athens counties, I was detoured over several roads, some of which I do not believe a truck should be on. I ended up right where I wanted to be, but I lost an hour and only gained seven miles, indeed a difficult road. Fortunately the wide road is the best road for a truck driver to take, unlike Christianity which points to the narrow road as the best choice for us to take. This disciplined narrow road has a gate that we must enter in by and that gate is Jesus Christ. But how do we know that this is the path we are to take? How do we not end up like the little calf and try each road without any sense of direction? I mean every one else is taking the wide path and they seem to be getting along just fine. God calls us to the road of Christianity and shows us the gate which we are to enter it by, His Son Jesus Christ, encouraging us to open that gate and embrace His Son and walk in His steps. Oh yeah did I forget to mention that there has been one who has gone on before us that we need not fear this narrow road. I knew that if other trucks had to run this detour than I too would be able to drive it. It is Christ who looks back to see if we are following Him, it is Christ who walks beside us encouraging us to stay the course, and it is Christ who is there to help us through every pitfall that is on this path.
It is the wisest traveler that obtains some sort of guide before they set out on a trip. Not only are we given a guide, in the person of the Holy Spirit, to walk this path, we are given a compass as well, in God’s word written out for us in great detail. In Deuteronomy 11:26, God is giving the nation of Israel a choice. “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse.” How many of us would choose a curse or a blessing? In my prayers I ask the Lord for His blessings, not His curses, but yet by my actions I end up with the curse in order to keep me on the right path. It is sort of like the electric fence that is set at the edge of the field, telling the livestock that they can come this far and no farther without risk of shock. But to most the temptation to stray from the path is worth the shock. So if we are not in fellowship with the Father, through the Son, and into his word daily, and trusting the Holy Spirit for wisdom, how can we even hope to stay the course?
Let us go back to that field where our little calf is exploring his new world and look at the mother. While her calf is running in every direction, she is seemingly unaware of his actions and is busy eating the hay placed before her. I know that as the calf got too far from the mother that the mother would raise her head and call the calf back to her side. David walks the path of life with this same confidence knowing that God is not unaware of our actions. In Psalm 16:11 he expresses this thought; “You will show me the path of life; In your presence is the fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” God is constantly calling us back to His side and at His right hand is the Son, so He is at all times pointing to Jesus and reminding us that He has walked this road that God asks us to now walk.
In Psalm 27:11 David asks of God: “Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.” It is the wise traveler who learns the path they are to travel. As a driver I know that there are many obstacles between me and my destination, on one trip to Pittsburgh I encountered rain, a mudslide, a truck fire that delayed me for two hours, and finally snow. As Christians we face many obstacles that keep us from having a smooth journey through life. If we are not in the word, and in prayer we will find it difficult to complete this journey still walking in the will of God.
If we like the calf get too far from the will of God, will God call us back? In psalm 119 verse 35 the psalmist counts on it. “Make me walk in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.” Most of us lack the discipline to walk in the way of the Lord, and it is the wise disciple that recognizes this and asks God to keep them on the path of righteousness, just as the calf looks back to see if its mother is watching. Too many of us take the word command as someone telling us what we have to do, but the psalmist delights in the commandments of God. This is because he has tasted the richness of the blessings of God for walking a life that is centered on his obedience to God’s word. We are born again into a new life and run to test out the limits of how far we can get from God before He calls us back to His side. Instead of seeking how far we can get from God and still be in His grace, we should ask God how close can we get to Him and still be on this earth. I have struggled with the discipline to get this message done, with distractions all around me I gave into them and strayed to far from what I feel God set before me. It is my prayer that God will keep me close to His side and on the right path.

What do we see at the Empty Tomb?

2005-03-28T08:59:00.000-08:00

In Philippians chapter two and verses 9-11 we read; “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This is something that has been preached to me every since I have been a Christian, and I have no problem bowing before the sovereign of the universe. How can I confess to do His work when I have not submitted to Him, and allowed Him to take this life and use it for His glory? How can I even hope to have an eternity surrounded by God’s glory if I have not recognized Jesus Christ as my personal savior? I want to look back at the final week of Jesus’ life and see how a few of the people that He came in contact with reacted to Jesus, and relate their experiences to those we see today.
In Matthew 26:14 we see a little bit of Judas’ reaction to the sovereign of the universe. “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces.” I don’t want to take this out of context nor do I want justify Judas’ action in the least little bit. Judas was motivated by greed and any attempts to soften this crime are useless. In verses 6-13 we read the story of the woman who anointed the Lord with expensive oil. The disciple’s first reaction was to see this as a waste, and this did not pass the eye of Judas, as we see his reaction by agreeing to betray the Lord. Perhaps Judas saw Christianity as a ride to riches and notoriety he saw the works and attention that surrounded our Lord as an opportunity for personal gain. Granted Judas was overcome with grief for this act and tried to give the money back, as the weight of the money matched the weight of conviction for his actions. Still his actions set in motion the events of the death of our savior.
Money and fame become a great motivator in the actions of man. This was not the first time that Christianity was seen as a way to gain personal recognition, nor will it be the last. In Acts 8:14-25 we read of a sorcerer that thought he could buy the rights to administer the Holy Spirit for his own personal gain. There have been times that I struggled with thoughts of having certain gifts that I see in others that I could do that too if I only had those gifts. These thoughts are motivated by thoughts of glory not for the Lord or his kingdom but for me alone. Visions of power and influence dance in my mind only to be humbled as I pray that the Lord will forgive me for these thoughts and use me to glorify His name. God has ways to humble the proud and once they recognize this, are still able to be used by God. The life of the church is filled with examples of the misuse of the gifts of ministry, and not only the life of the church but, everyday life as we see those step on everyone else to get ahead.
Judas had his own agenda and couldn’t see past his own needs to see the true ministry of Christ. He is not any different than other people who put of Christianity to follow their own plans for their lives thinking they have plenty of time for a relationship with God when they are older. They want to make gains in the political world, in their careers, or have a little fun first, and Christianity will just get in the way. I pray that God gives them that time, He doesn’t always.
What happened when the religious rulers of Israel met Jesus, did they bow before Him and confess Him as Messiah? In truth they saw Him upsetting everything they had worked their entire lives to establish. They had power and fame they had surrounded themselves with a set of rules to live by that had become their salvation. They longed and looked for a Messiah but anything short of an overthrow of Roman rule in Israel was unacceptable. They set about to discredit Jesus with a series of traps and when this didn’t work they knew He had to die. In short anything less than their preconceived notions of Messiah would not do.
We do not have to look far to see this theology in the lives of people around us. Here is the biggest one I hear; “I am a good person and God wouldn’t send me to Hell.”
When the rich young ruler came to Jesus and called Him good, Jesus says in Matthew 19:17 “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God.” Let’s look at the young man’s question for a minute, he asked Jesus: “Teacher, what good thing shall I do to that I may have eternal life?” I believe that this question arose from the teaching he received from the religious leaders of the time. We see this from reading on in the chapter and witness his response to Jesus. In verse 21 Jesus tells him what else he must do; “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” What Jesus is telling him is to give up his old life and follow Him. People can’t do that, they have become comfortable with how they have placed God in a box and told Him that He can come no father. They are good people and try and do good to others, sure they slip up now and then, but at least they are not killing anyone. What would happen if they peered into that box and tried to see God for who He really was? That He really loved us and wants the best for us, that we are the ones boxed into a life of sin separated from Him. That we are not good people but sinners in need of a Messiah, and all that Messiah asks of us is to follow Him. But that would mean we would have to admit that we were wrong. That our system of logic and rules were false, and that the box we place our notion of God in is covered with the stains of sin that keep us from seeing who God really is. We would have to give up control and that is something that most can not do. It is funny as I look back upon by life and think about how much control over it I had, I realize how little control I really had. In a code of ethics that I received from my company it sates that they can fire me for any reason or no reason at all. I depend upon my job but realize that I have no control over it. I fall upon the mercy of God and rely upon the sacrifice of His Son for my eternal life in glory, no set of rules will guarantee me that, no preconceived image of a Messiah will grant me grace, only the love of a good God for this forgiven saint.
What of Peter when he met the Lord his first reaction was to leave his job and follow Him. When Peter saw the Lord walking on water he wanted to go to Him and stepped onto the sea to greet Him. When Jesus told His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things, it was Peter who took Him aside and began to rebuke Him that this wouldn’t happen to Him. It was Peter who wanted to raise churches when he saw the Lord transfigured on a hill, it was Peter who confessed that he would die for the Lord rather than deny Him, it was Peter who pulled a sword at the arrest of Jesus and used it to defend the Lord, and it was Peter who denied he even knew Him.
Many of us come to salvation through Christ and serve Him with all of our heart and even defend Him to others. Jesus does not need us to defend Him He needs us to tell others of Him, to lead them into a relationship with Him, and to live in peace with those who would speak against Him. When Peter struck the servant of the high priest, Jesus said in Matthew 26:53; “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” We enjoy the love that God has for us through His Son, and enjoy the fellowship with other believers when we can, but when we are faced with persecution, how do we react? Are we silent, when others slander those who follow Him? Do we come to the aid of those who are hurting, in need, struggling with their own faith? Do we follow where the Lord leads us or do we say the road is too hard? Do we demonstrate with our lives that we would serve Him all of our days, or no we deny Him with our actions in front of others?
We all will have times when we are like Peter, first to speak out that Jesus is Lord, when we will jump in and defend the Lord with violence in speech and by our actions, and when we will deny that we are followers of Him. Oh maybe not in words, but people watch our actions more than they hear what we say. Finally we will all have times when we meet with Jesus after failing Him, and confess our love for Him as Peter did in John Chapter 21. When Peter realized that the Lord was standing on the shore and speaking to them, he jumped into the water to swim to Him. Peter found on that shore, a warm fire, nourishment for his bodies, and the One who he had come to know as the salvation of all mankind. When Jesus had restored Peter He told him to follow Him once again and feed His sheep, to share the good news with all those who need to hear it. The same things He asks of us, when we come to Him repented and ready to once again follow Him.
I can go on and on but I have always tried to keep this short for the readers. I could tell you how Pilate saw Jesus as a problem he wanted nothing to do with, or the soldiers who saw Him as a condemned prisoner who was to be ridiculed and tortured, or perhaps the thief on the cross who saw Jesus as his only hope for an eternity with God, and finally the women at the tomb who in Matthew 28 came to the tomb and found an angel telling them that He was not there, that Jesus had risen and invited them to look for themselves. And as they turned to go Jesus met with them and said; “Rejoice!” as they fell at His feet and worshiped Him.
Christ still meets with us today to show us who He is and that He wants to be a part of us. He is with us to encourage, equip, and send us to tell others of His glorious resurrection, and how they too can be a part of His kingdom.

Painting Pictures of Egypt

2005-03-21T05:42:00.000-08:00

Exodus 14:11, 12 Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt so with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?” “Is it not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
Exodus 16: 2, 3 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Exodus 17: 3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
It amazes me at fast how the people were so quick to complain to Moses, after they had received so much from God. They had begun to paint pictures of there past lives that were attractive to them in their minds, forgetting that the land they lived in was not their own, the livestock they owned was not their own, even their very lives were subject to the whims of the Egyptians. They failed to see that there were graves in Egypt and they were full of their friends, family and children. They forgot that they felt hunger and thirst for freedom in the land of Egypt. They saw only the sand and the way that they were being led was too hard and they wanted to go back to the comforts of slavery.
The people forgot or overlooked the glory that God had already revealed to them. I am not talking about years passing by and the people crying out against Moses, the time frame for this turn around in their thinking is a matter of a few months. In chapter fourteen they have raised their voices against Moses soon after experiencing the mighty hand of God against Pharaoh, in their deliverance from slavery.
In Chapter sixteen, after the Red sea crossing and the death of Pharaoh’s army, and after composing a song of praise to the Lord, which spoke of God’s mighty victories, plus witnessing God turn the bitter water into water that they could use for themselves and their flocks, they again raise their voice against Moses. The rumbling in their bellies was nearly loud enough to match their rumbling against Moses.
Again, in chapter seventeen the people cry out for water to wash down the manna that God was providing for them daily. How long before they began to cry out against the manna itself. Oh yeah numbers 11:1-6; Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord the fire was quenched. So he called the name of the place Taberah, because the fire of the Lord had burned among them. Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” God is more patient and loving then I am. My answer to this lot would have been; “Let me give you something to cry about! I’ll take away the manna and give you nothing, and then we’ll see how quickly you grave the taste of manna.”
There seems to be a pattern here, the people complain, the Lord provides. But are we that different from our Israelite brothers? We have been delivered from a certain death, and the bondage of sin. The Son of God dwells in each of us, who have invited Him into their life. We are able to approach the God of the universe just to fellowship with Him. His blessing, protection, and guidance are a part of the every day life of the believer, but yet we look back upon our past lives with passion saying; “Man I remember when?” Becoming a Christian does not always mean we are now living a life of ease, where our every want is given us, and we walk daily in the gardens smelling the roses, and sharing in fellowship with others that are enjoying the same existence we are, but we want it. So we complain, and the Lord provides, not what we want per say, but what we need. The Bible teaches us that God knows what we need even before we ask, and Jesus taught that we don’t have what we ask for because we ask for the wrong things.
The cost of discipleship is hard, we become a Christian and want to bring our old self right along with us into this new freedom we are experiencing, all the while God is trying to tell us that the old self is dead and I want to shape you into what I want you to become. We invite Jesus into our hearts and lives and complain when He wants to change the wallpaper and carpet. I remember when I first came back to the Lord in my twenties, if you remember from my testimony I was saved in my teens but fell away from the Lord, I still liked to drink and when drunk I would tell others about this new love I had for the Lord. This was such a turn off I soon lost a few friends, I also soon was able to get my drinking under control. I ached for the fellowship I had with my party crowd, but this is not what God wanted for me and found fellowship with other believers just as rewarding. I complained to God that my walk with Him cost me my friends, He provided new ones.
Jesus’ disciples found out the cost of discipleship wasn’t something they always understood early in His ministry. In Luke 14:26, 27 He tells them; “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brother and sisters, yes, and his own also, he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” That sounds so much like Jeff Foxworthy’s jokes. If you hate your parents and yourself, you might be a Christian. If you are able to pick up your cross and carry it all your life, you might be a Christian. Not that the Lord was joking when He said this He was telling His disciples that they must put their relationship with Him above all others even their own wants and needs and be willing to suffer for the cause of Christianity. This sounds like a hard road to walk for some and some do turn away, as is written in John 6:41-60. Jesus told then they had to eat His flesh and drink His blood to obtain eternal life. Now some of them were thinking that was just something they could not do, first of all that was gross, and second he was just one skinny Jewish guy, how could everyone get a piece of Him. We know what the Lord meant, but to them it seemed a very difficult thing to do. Even today when you tell others who desire to gain access into the Kingdom of God that it has to come trough Jesus, they turn away for they can not bear the cost of discipleship. I do not want to give up my Sundays for church, or there are a lot of things I like about my life and wish to keep them, and I just know that walking a life of Christianity will cost me those things. So they turn away and hope that they are a good enough person to make it to heaven. I would hate to stand before the Lord and tell Him I deserve to be there on my own merits, to tell Him I lived my own life and was a good person. To tell Him that I did not need saved from my old life, I liked it just fine. The hard truth is that any who do not accept God’s provision for salvation, will not enter into the Kingdom of God.
What of those who receive this precious gift and offer it back to God, but yet do not fully understand it? I like what Peter said to the Lord in John 6: 68, 69, when He asked the disciples if they too would turn away from following Him. Peter said; “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe that you are the Christ the Son of the living God.” Peter knew what we also know, that Jesus is the path of salvation. We do not always understand this journey we are on and long to go back to our old lives when it becomes hard to walk this path, but we have come to know the truth found in His Spirit, and His word, we have come to love Him more than our own lives. We stand on the road God has laid out before us and turn and look back at the lives we led and at times long for the past failing to see that it too was not always filled with ease. We paint a picture of our past that seems attractive and allow Satan to place these thoughts in our mind. For the enemy can mask the bad and show you only the good. Jesus hides nothing from us, He tells the disciple that the road is hard and few can walk it. Still we trod on putting one foot in front of another, walking a road we do not always understand. For we too have come to know that Jesus is the Christ, and our salvation. He is our rock, redeemer, a mighty fortress into which we can run and be safe.
The things that we have come to know as truth no longer will fit the lifestyles we lived in Egypt, but point to a future filled with His light, and His glory, filled with fellowship so sweet that the mind cannot imagine it. It is faith the propels us along this road, and it is faith that will bring us home.

The True Shepherd

2005-03-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

John 10:1-5
V. 1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
You can almost see the face of Jesus turn serious as He pronounces this truth. “Most assuredly, one of my favorite preachers says; “listen” every time he wants to get a point across. It is as if you are to sit up and pay attention, because something is about to be said that you no not want to miss. At all times our Lord speaks the truth, but when he delivers it in this manner it is either, because it is of greater importance, because man is more apt to disagree with it, or the small numbers of people that will practice this makes this truth seem hard to believe.
He spoke this truth in a way that the people would understand. A sheepfold was a fenced in area, probably rocks lined with brambles, or a natural occurring area that could have a gate placed in front of it to keep the livestock in and danger out. Christ assures us that whoever does not enter into the pastoral office through Jesus Christ are thieves and robbers in the sheepfold. As I look at the office of the pastor, I have to wonder why any one would want to do this, but there are those who would do this to just for personal recognition or gain. Some would enjoy the honor that goes along with being a pastor, or simply want to promote their own interest, or express their own believes. Jesus is saying that if they are not called by Him, and gifted by Him to do this work, they are there for their own reasons. Some are very good at deceiving many to believe that they are the real deal, but any who study the word of God are soon able to recognize their motives.
V. 2 “But he who enters by the other door is the shepherd of the sheep.”
The mark of a true pastor is that he has made a lawful entrance into the ministry by the internal call of Christ. How does one know that he is called into the ministry, do they have this flash of light or a burning bush experience? God calls each of into His service in a way that is unique to each of us, and in a way that is confirmed by the Spirit that we cannot deny. I remember my own call so clearly that several years later it remains with me as if it was yesterday. These individuals, gifted by God to do His work, have consideration only for God’s glory, and their motives are for the good of the church, the salvation of souls, doing the will of God, and sacrificing themselves entirely to the service of God.
V. 3 “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
Sir Isaac Newton observed that the Lord being near the temple, where the sheep were kept to be sold for sacrifices, spoke many things in parables of sheep, of their shepherds, and the door to the sheepfold. In the gatekeeper opening the door for the true shepherd we discover another mark of a true pastor, that his labor is met with success. The Holy Spirit opens his way into the hearts of his hearers, and he becomes the instrument of their salvation. Paul says in Colossians 4:3 “Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.” and again in 2 Corinthians 2:12 “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord.”
“The sheep hear his voice”, a further mark of a true minister of the gospel is that he speaks in a way as to instruct the people. He preaches Christ an in a way that is understandable to the people. Any who speak in a way that is above the people so as they can not understand what is being said is talking to hear himself speak. The greatest compliment I received lately is that I spoke in a way that simple and easy to understand.
“He calls his own sheep by name”, a good pastor is well acquainted with his flock. He takes care to acquaint himself with the spiritual state of all those that are entrusted to him. He speaks to them concerning their souls, and thus gets a better knowledge of their spiritual state in order to know how to instruct them, and further minister to them. One who is not acquainted with the flock is unable to lead them successfully.
“And he leads them out” A pastor leads his flock, he does not Lord over them or attempt by severity, or disciplines not found in the Gospel of Christ, to force them into a way of life, nor to drive them out of it. Many still do this which is a disgrace to the true gospel of peace. He leads them out of their lives into the life of Christ, out of the world unto the path of Christian holiness. He leads them by gentle persuasion that flows from the heart full of the word and a love for Christ, into the kingdom of God.
V.4 “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
“He Goes before them,” A good pastor leads by example, he not only preaches the word of God, he lives it. He enters into a relationship with God, and having explored the path of righteousness, knows how to lead those entrusted to his care. The minister, who is in a right relationship with God, has an understanding of the will of God for himself and the flock is able to lead the flock because they know his words to be true. It was the custom in the eastern countries for the shepherd to go at the head of his sheep, and they followed him from pasture to pasture. A true minister of the gospel is able to lead his flock through this life, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to become what God desires for them to be.
V. 5 “Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of a stranger.”
If anyone who is a stranger to the Gospel of our Lord, his preaching will soon give evidence to that fact. The hearts of those acquainted to the truths found in the gospel of Christ will recognize him as a thief, who has come to turn them form the truth that they have come to know. They soon cease to follow his leadership, and leave the flock or ask this leader to move on. A good leader will equip the flock with the knowledge of the word of God, but it is also up to us to be in the word, so that we are able to recognize the truth from fiction.

The Spiritual War

2005-03-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

2 Corinthians 10:1-6
V. 1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold towards you.
In this letter Paul addresses his critics in the church, who have slandered him in his absence. Paul speaks for himself, against whom the false apostles had begun to attack, yet in the midst of their attacks, Paul shows humility and mildness. He points to the example of Christ in responding to open attacks by showing humility and mildness, and hopes that this great example may have some influence upon the Corinthians. When we find ourselves to act in a manner that is considered severe towards anyone, we are to remember the meekness of Christ, that He displayed while here in the flesh, both in the carrying out of His ministry, and His attitude of grace towards sinners.
Paul speaks of himself as one being lowly among them, even as his enemies spoke of him with contempt, while they sought to undermine his influence on the church by their speech and attitude still he continues to take an attitude of humility. He even acknowledges their arguments with the last words of this verse as this was the claim of the false apostle that had risen up in the church. He seems to quote these as the words of his accuser, as if he had said; “This apostle acts humble among you, knowing how contemptible he is, but see how he brags and boasts in his letters.” How often are we misunderstood as we attempt to display the example that Christ has given us. Paul had the authority to act severely with this false apostle, yet wanted others to see him for what he was. May we act in like manner when men rise up against our stand for Christ, showing the same humility that Paul displays, mimicking Christ.
V. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
Paul asserts his power to punish those who would bring dissention in the church, but ask the church that he not be so with them. Paul does not wish to walk in the flesh as some would and act in a way that is contrary to the Spirit and the design of the gospel. The word of God and the Holy Spirit is the power by which Christians are able to defend their actions and change the world. Oh that we would walk in the boldness of the Spirit using the gifts that God has given to us.
V. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
That is: Although I am in the common condition of human nature, and must live as a human being, yet I do not war against the flesh. The flesh would have us react to attacks on our character, family, or person, in a way that is more aligned to the world than the word of God. This is what a good friend of mine calls; “getting in the flesh.”
V. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.
Paul often uses the metaphor of warfare to represent the trials of Christians, he encourages them not to get in the flesh, but rely upon the power of God. Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Sprit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
Our doctrines are true and pure, they come from God and lead to Him, and He accompanies them with His mighty power to the hearts of those who would hear them; and these strongholds-the apparently solid and cogent reasoning of the world, we, by these doctrines, pull down. The cause of Christ will triumph, and the enemies of Christ will be put to flight.
V. 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
The French Mathematician, Lecompte de Nouy, examined the laws of probability for a single molecule of high dissymmetry to be formed by the action of chance. De Nouy found that, on an average, the time needed to form one such molecule of our terrestrial globe would be about 10 to the 253 power, i.e. billions of years. "But," continued de Nouy ironically, "let us admit that no matter how small the chance it could happen, one molecule could be created by such astronomical odds of chance. However, one molecule is of no use. Hundreds of millions of identical ones are necessary. Thus we either admit the miracle or doubt the absolute truth of science." Quoted in; "Is Science Moving Toward Belief in God?" Paul A. Fisher, The Wanderer, (Nov 7, 1985), cited in Kingdoms In Conflict, C. Colson, p. 66.
Near the end of his life, Jean-Paul Sartre told Pierre Victor: "I do not feel that I am the product of chance, a speck of dust in the universe, but someone who was expected, prepared, prefigured. In short, a being whom only a Creator could put here; and this idea of a creating hand refers to God."
Protested fellow philosopher and long-time companion Simone de Beauvoir: "How should one explain the senile act of a turncoat?" HIS Magazine, April, 1983.
A recent Gallup Poll found that the greatest number of Americans (47% of those expressing an opinion) hold to the strict creationist view, that God created man pretty much in his present form within the last 10,000 years. Most other Americans believe in some combination of evolution and creationism, and only nine percent of Americans believe in strict evolution.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it is the way to death.
There are many arguments against the existence of God, and the need for a savior, but the funny thing about the truth, is that whether you believe it or not, it is still the truth.
And what is this truth? There is a God, He created all that we see and beyond. He has a love and desire for us and that we are with Him, unfortunately we can not, for sin has come into the world and separated us from the God who loves us. But God, out of His infinite wisdom and love for us, sent His only begotten Son, born of a virgin, without sin, to pay the penalty for our sin. He suffered and died upon the cross and was resurrected on the third day just as the Bible predicted. He ascended to a place that He enjoyed since the beginning of time and waits for a time appointed by God to come and take His church home to be with Him forever. Satan would seek to punch holes in this truth and offer a version that seems right to man, but in the end leads to an eternity separated from a God who loves us. Without receiving the gift of salvation from God and offering it back to God as the only atoning sacrifice for the sins that you and I have committed against a just and holy God, we too suffer this fate.
The word of God destroys all vain reasoning, and every high thing which exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are to bring every thought, or faculty of the mind, into the captive obedience of Christ. Doing this evil reasoning is destroyed, and the mind itself, being overcome and taken captive, lays down all authority of its own, and entirely gives itself up to perform, the will of Christ, in obedience of faith.

There are thoughts that enter our minds everyday that would steer us from the truth that we have come to know. I know that there are things in my life that I have given over to the authority of Christ, that seek to reenter into my life, I have become able to recognize these times and put these thoughts under the authority of Christ. Will these thoughts cease from returning? I doubt it, but I know that the Spirit of God is with me to help me recognize these thoughts and by my obedience to the will of the Father, I am able to overcome these temptations. Will we always succeed? No, but the God of the universe is willing and able to help us back on the path of righteousness. I think that is why this life is called a journey.
V. 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Paul was not willing to pull up the tares, for fear that he would pull up the wheat as well, but wanted the people to recognize sound doctrine and separate themselves from those who sought to destroy his witness. This is the obedience he was after that the people disassociate themselves from false doctrine. May it also be true of us that we would come to know the word of God, live it and be able to discern form what is true and false doctrine. I have found that the best way to combat false doctrine, through error in my own actions, is to walk away from it and give it no ear. I liked what was said at the trial of the two disciples. One said; “if this is not of God it will come to nothing, and if it is of God you can’t stop it.” These are not the exact words but you get the general idea.

Staying the Course

2005-02-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 5:8-14
V. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
To be sober is to govern the inner and outer man with temperance, and modesty being self-controlled. In Galatians 5:23 Paul states that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is gentleness and self-control. Strong’s defines gentleness as a disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control. The person who possesses this quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well.
God teaches us life lessons that we may recognize our faults and learn to govern our passions. Just last night, being annoyed with every little thing, and thinking I had made it through the night in control of an explosion of anger that lay just below the surface, a heard a comment directed in general, but I took as a personal attack. I blew up, and upon blowing up I hurt the witness, that I try so hard to protect. I should have turned to the Holy Spirit and sought help as this agitation began to build, but I let it fester under the surface until it became a sore and exploded in a fit of rage. I thought I could control the outer man without allowing the Holy Spirit to help me control the inner man, giving a foothold for Satan to destroy my witness. Guilt comes with our failures and the need to try and make the situation right takes over our thinking. I apologized to the guy for the explosion, and hope to continue to mend this relationship as time goes by.
To be vigilant is to be alert to this constant threat of attack from Satan. He is unwearied and restless in his malicious endeavors, for always, night and day, goes about studying us and contriving how he may ensnare us. We are not alone in our endeavors to be watchful of attack from our enemies, for God is with us and is there to fight the battles we can see and those we cannot see. He is beside us on the wall as we stand watch and recognize the impending attacks from our adversaries. We are no match for Satan, but there is one who lives within you who is more than able and has overcome such attacks.
Part of being vigilant is being sure of whom we are in Christ Jesus, being sure of our salvation. Some of the most common attacks make us doubt our salvation, and yet others make us question our need for a savior at all. We are to have a confidence that we are a part of the family of God through the blood of Christ, but show humility knowing that our salvation is not within ourselves, but based upon what Jesus did on the cross.
Being vigilant is also not being careless with our lives, and of those we love, learn to recognize danger and prepare yourselves for it. An active prayer live is key to our protection from danger, enlisting the help of the Father in recognizing and listening to the urging of others and the Holy Spirit, as well as the wisdom found in the Bible will put us well on the road to guarding our homes, families, and our witness.
v. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by the brotherhood in the world.
Peter has written about how to react to the trials that these people were going through as we read it we are encouraged that we are not alone in our endeavors to remain faithful to God, now Peter is revealed to them who the enemy really is. As they see their neighbors turn against them, they must realize that they are being set upon by the father of all lies, and that he is bent on their destruction. Our war is not against people, but yet Satan raises bitter persecutions and sets rulers of this world against us.
James echoes what Peter is saying about humility, and offers advice to defeat the devil in James 4:7; Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” By submitting to God we are releasing control unto Him, and bringing the full arsenal of His aid to our side. By resisting the devil and remaining steadfast in our faith, clinging to the promises of God for His people, we are building a front that Satan cannot defeat. We need to recognize the attacks of the devil and flee from temptation. I know that there are times when temptation comes upon me for things that God has delivered me from that I need to recognize and put under the authority of Christ.
Paul adds this advice in Ephesians 6:10-13; Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
The first part of warfare is to recognize our enemy, knowing that the devil uses people as his pawns in the battle for our souls. Second we need to take stock of our weapons, knowing that we have the power and might of God on our side. Paul goes on to list them in verses 14-18, they are; truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, our salvation, the word of God, the Holy Spirit, and prayer. This is a mighty armament to which the devil cannot stand, but we can, standing secure in whom we are in the Lord.
Also we must realize that we are not in this alone, but enlist the aid of the saints that suffer under the weight of persecution and temptation as we do. We have a cloud of witnesses that have gone on before us that leave their lives as a testimony to the ability of God to deliver us through any affliction.
Vs. 10,11 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Peter begins a prayer, which he addresses to God as the God of all grace. He is the author and finisher of every heavenly gift and quality, acknowledging, on their behalf, that God had already called them to be partakers of that eternal glory, which, being His own, He has promised and settled upon them, through the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ.
Notice what he prays for in their behalf; not that they might be delivered from sufferings, but that their sufferings might short. He also prays that after they had suffered a while, that God would restore them to a settled peaceable condition, and perfect His work in them-that he would establish them against wavering, either in faith or duty, that He would strengthen those who were weak, and settle them upon Jesus the foundation, so firmly that their union with Him might be everlasting. We must realize that all grace comes from God it is He who restrains, converts, comforts, and saves men by His grace. We that are called into a state of grace are also called to partake of eternal glory and happiness, also that we are called to be heirs of eternal life through Jesus Christ. We must, nevertheless, suffer in this world, but our suffering will be for a little while. I know that in times I thought I would never make through what was coming upon me that the Spirit of God was there to encourage me with the words, this too will pass. The perfecting, establishing, strengthening, and settling, of good people in grace, and their perseverance therein, is so difficult a work, that only the God of all grace can accomplish it, and is to sought by continual prayer, and the dependence upon His promises. Once we realize that we have received grace from the God of all grace, we are to ascribe to Him all power, glory, and dominion to Him for ever and ever.
Vs. 12-14 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you, and so does Mark my son. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen
He recaps why he is writing this letter to them by way of Silvanus, a brother who he esteemed faithful. He testifies, and in the strongest terms to assure them, that the doctrine of salvation, which he had explained and they had embraced, was the true account of the grace of God, foretold by the prophets and published by Jesus Christ. Also he wanted to exhort them that, as they had embraced the gospel, they were to remain steadfast in it.
Peter, being in Babylon as he wrote this letter, extends the greeting of the church there that they may know that they are being lifted up by them. It is encouraging to know that others are lifting us up in our trials, and it is more encouraging that members of different churches, who share the same salvation as we, would consider our plights, not as a reason to gossip, but are genuine in their love for us. Churches should have an affectionate concern for one another; they should love and pray for one another, and be as helpful to each other as they possibly can. Peter exhorts them to express fervent love and charity towards each other, and express this with a kiss of peace which was the custom of this time. He ends this letter by offer them peace and adds his Amen, in token of his earnest desire and expectation that the blessing of peace would be the portion of all the faithful.

Being Humble Before Man and God

2005-02-13T14:24:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 5:5-14 Part One
V. 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resist the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (Ps. 33:12)
Having given instruction to the spiritual leaders of the church Peter now turns his attention to the flock instructing them on how to behave towards their ministers and to one another. He calls them younger as generally being younger than their pastors, though this is not always the case. Peter wants them to remember that those appointed because of the recognition of their God given gifts are to be respected. He wants to put them in mind of their inferiority, as the term younger is used by our Lord to signify an inferior in Luke 22:26. “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” We are to submit ourselves to the elder, to give due respect and reverence to their persons, and to yield to their admonitions, reproof, and authority, in accordance with the word of God as found in Hebrews 13:17. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” Before we begin with our list of buts, remember that these leaders will be held accountable to God for the flock. So as we think of our list of doubts and exceptions, know that God will hold all leaders accountable for those they lead. This implies that we are to take our concerns to God and rely upon His mercy and justice.
We are also to be subject to one another, so far as to receive the reproofs and councils one of another, and bear one another’s burdens. We are also to perform all the offices of friendship and charity to each other. As I grew in the Lord my pride would raise up its defenses when confronted by another, saying to myself; who are they to reproof me, look at their lives? During certain times of honest reproof the Spirit of God is there to confirm what I am hearing, so that I must humbly accept this person honest reproof. Even now when I am know that I am right it is a struggle to not strike back when challenged.
The act of submission to superiors in age or office, as well being subject to one another, are contrary to our proud and selfish nature this is why Peter advises his readers and us to be clothed in humility, as a beautiful garment. Taking this attitude towards humility makes obedience and our duty to God and others easy and pleasant. When we are disobedient and proud, God sets Himself to oppose and drive that pride from us, God resists the proud. Our pride stands in the way of what God wants to do in our lives, and by His grace we are molded into a useable tool for the service of the Lord. Humility is a great preserver of peace and order in the church and society, therefore pride is the greatest disturber of them, and the cause of many dissentions and breaches in the church. There is a mutual opposition between God and the proud as they war against God and as He scorns them. They have become like Satan, enemies to himself and to His kingdom among men.
Where God gives grace to the humble, He will give more grace, more wisdom, faith, holiness, and humility, thus Peter adds verse six. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Since God resist the proud and pours out His grace on the humble we are to humble ourselves, not only to one another, but to God as well, for His judgments are coming upon the world, and must begin in the house of God, as Peter alluded to in the previous chapter. His hand is mighty, and can pull down the proud, and exalt the humble, and this He shall do as He promises either in this life, or at the Day of Judgment, according to His will. God is not slack in His promises, and what He says He will do, will be done, a brother and I where talking, how little we use the phrase; “as the Lord wills”. If we are to seek the Lord’s will for our life, and walk in the promises of God, shouldn’t this be our language as well? Perhaps……. as the Lord wills. The consideration of the omnipotent hand of God should make us humble and submissive to Him in all that He brings or allows in our lives.
James says in 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinner; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Humbling ourselves to God under his hand is the next step to deliverance, exaltation, patience under His chastisements, and submission to His pleasure, repentance, prayer, and hope in His mercy, that will engage His help and release in His timing.
V. 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Peter, knowing his readers were under persecution for their beliefs, knows that further and greater hardships might cause them to doubt what they have come to know. The issues surrounding these persecutions and the burden on themselves, their families, and their church, might cause them to become anxious and a source of temptation. He offers them this advice to cast all their cares and all care for themselves upon God.
The best of Christians are apt to labor under the burden of anxious and excessive care, Peter calls it, all your care, stating that the cares of Christians are various, and of varying degrees. The cares of even good people, are very burdensome, and too often very sinful; when they arise from disbelief, when they torture and distract the mind, leaving us unfit for the duties in life and steal our joy of service for the Lord.
Throwing all our cares which wound our soul, and pierce our hearts upon the wise and gracious providence of God, allows God to work in each of these situations for our good. Trust in Him, for He cares for you. He is willing to release you of your care, and take that care upon Himself. He will either avert what you fear, or support you under it. He will order all events to you so as to convince you of His paternal love and tenderness towards you.

Shepherding the Flock

2005-02-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 5:1-4
V.1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
Peter turns and addresses the leaders of the church at this time, and humbly does by refer to himself as a fellow elder. A good leader will not look down upon those he is given to lead, but remind them that they are in this together. I have heard a few pastors say that theirs would be a great job if not for the people, but if not for the sheep there would be no need of a Shepard. We must all remember that we are fellow servants in the Lord, gifted by God to do the work that He has set aside for us to do. We call each other brother and sister not only to remember that we are part of the family of God, but to remember that we are in this thing called life together. We love, laugh, cry, and rejoice together, sharing each aspect of life with each other. When we lift up our concerns before the congregation we are calling upon the family to share in our hurt and to pray with us. When we lift up our praise to the family of God we are allowing them to rejoice with us, and share in the glory of God. Peter is telling this church and its leaders that he is suffering with them, he is rejoicing with them, and he is look forward to the return of Christ with them.
As partakers in glory, we have a right to it through the blood of Christ, not as it is due us, but as in a will, an inheritance. We have an anticipation of it by the power of the Holy Ghost; and we have a promise of it from our Lord and Master. Many times in the Old Testament men of God cried out to God; “How long, O God!” how often do we cry out to God for the promise of God to be revealed, for Christ to split the sky and usher in His kingdom, for Jesus to return for His bride as He promised. Come even now Lord Jesus!
V. 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
Here the pastor’s job is described and the way it should be administered. Shepherd the flock, by preaching to them the Word of God, and leading them by such direction and discipline that is found in the Word of God. Both pastors and leaders in the church are to care for what has been appointed to them either by God or by man.
Leaders are to practice self-denial, holiness, and all other Christian duties which they preach or represent with their offices. For not only will God hold us accountable for the words we speak, but God will as well.
The duties described above must be preformed not out of compulsion, nor since of civil duty, but from a willing mind that takes pleasure in the work. This work is not to be done for dishonest gain. This does not always mean for gain of wealth, but also power, and to push error over the word of God. Paul warns Timothy of such leaders in 1 Timothy 6:3-5; If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. As men and women of God we are to not engage these leaders in debate, but approach them with love to bring them their error, being not judgmental, for God will judge them.
V. 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
In Ezekiel 34:1-5 God gives instruction to the prophet of what to say to those entrusted to the care of the people of Israel and the word of God. V. 1And the word came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds; “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? 3 “You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 “The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. 5 “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beast of the field when they were scattered.
These leaders became self centered and absorbed in their own agenda, that they forgot why they were shepherds. Not to be too hard on the leaders of Israel, this is a trap that has befallen many great leaders who start out with a pure heart for God and for one reason or another drift from the path that God has called them to. It is a trap that has tempted many of us for various reasons, perhaps it is simple pride that cause those called of God to stray from that calling and from the will of God for them. The reason I began this ministry was out of a need that I had to find more time to study the word of God. I realized that there were others out there who did not have the time to study as well, so I felt led to share my studies with others in hope that it would encourage them to dig deeper into the word of God. It has been tempting to say look at what I am doing in order to draw attention to myself. That is not the focus of this ministry but to draw focus on the word of God and the riches found within.
If the flock is not cared for in the manner that God explains above, they will scatter to the winds of false doctrine and be led away from the true word of God. Remembering that God has entrusted leaders to rightly administer the word of God, and leads us to where we can be fed, we need to be faithful to the will of God for our lives. What God has begun in us He will bring about to completion when we remain focused on the ministry He has given to us. Whether that be preaching, teaching, or offering a glass of water to a friend, do it with the same joy to which you began. By this we are becoming living examples to those we minister to. For if your walk does not match your talk, how can you expect to lead others?
V. 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Leaders are called by God empowered by the Holy Spirit to care for the flocks of the Master. It is a daunting task, to which we are to approach with humility and a pure heart for the flock. It is always to be our prayer for God to teach us to love His people. When we have used body, soul, spirit, time and talent to keep the flock, and work as God gives an increase to these flocks, we shall receive a crown of glory. We shall enjoy an eternal nearness and intimacy with God. Those faithful to the call of God upon their lives shall shine not as stars in the sky but as sons in the kingdom of the Father! We as Christians carry the seeds of the gospel and sow it according to the will of the Father. It is God who nourish those seeds and see His crop to a glorious harvest, where we shall rejoice, in God’s kingdom in glory which shall never become tarnished with time. What a wonderful thought that the same joy we experience our first day with the Lord in heaven shall be renewed each and every day for eternity. Oh that would be true of us today.

Suffering for the Glory of God

2005-01-30T23:20:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 4:12-19
V. 12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
Peter returns to the main issue of this letter, and that is to address the suffering of the church for the cause of Christ. As we see God’s will begin, or continue to, take shape in our lives, we begin to understand just how little we do understand. As we leave the old world behind us and strive to walk in the will of God, we should remember that these steps may be addressed with misunderstanding and even hatred by others. Those still outside of Christ see believers as weak willed, and judgmental, while still others see believers as good people as long as they keep their faith to themselves. God calls us to be none of the above, but to boldly make a stand for what we believe and to understand the word of God, and His will for our lives that we would have an answer for why we believe.
Common sense tells us that if we tell someone that their life’s course is wrong, being centered upon them and not on Christ, how do you think they will react? Matthew 10:22 says; “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” As we live in a world where prayer has been taken out of schools, and the Ten Commandments are removed from public view, how can we think it strange when these trials come upon us for our faith in Christ? As we study the rest of this lesson we will look to Peter’s insight on how to endure these fiery trials.
V. 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s suffering, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
James says in his epistle letter in 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall in various trials. When certain things happen in our lives that we do not understand, care for, nor enjoy, Teresa and I have begun to respond with the phrase, “Praise the Lord”. As ridiculous as that may sound at the time it is uttered, and no matter how inappropriate it sounds considering the situation, we are admitting that we no not understand all that we are going through and we are trusting in God’s wisdom.
A good example of one suffering for the cause of Christ can we found in Acts 5:33-42, when the apostles were ordered not to preach the name of Jesus and were beaten and released. Their response is found in verse 41, So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
We look forward to the second coming of Christ, I think looking forward in putting it mildly, maybe long for would be a better choice of words. At that time His glory will be revealed, and our suffering will be over. In second Timothy 2:12 Paul writes; If we endure, We will also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
This is the hope we are all to have as we face the fiery trials, that we are doing the will of the Father. That we are a witness of the truth that is in us, that we will be found in that truth when His glory is revealed, and that Christ will continually remember us before the Father, both in the hereafter, and today.
I add this thought that when others come to Christ and Christ’s glory is revealed in their lives, that our joy shall increase, and our suffering will not seem in vain. For nothing is to stir our hearts more, save our own salvation, then to witness the coming of others into the Kingdom of God.
V. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
To be reproached for the name of Christ, is to be reproached for being who we are called to be, a Christian, that is, for being Christ like. This is the highest honor to which anyone can arrive to in this life therefore Peter tells us we are blessed. There are those who strive for fortune and fame, expending all their energy for the goal they have set for themselves, for the reward of a greater paycheck, or medals. Oh that we Christians, would have that same fervor for the cause of Christ.
As the Devine Spirit rested upon Jesus, so does it upon His believers, and we in Him. This is our source of happiness and peace in all sorts of trials that propels us to face the next day and the next trial. It should be our prayer to thank God for the peace and joy that we rest in. As we pray for others we are to pray that God, through His Spirit would rest upon those in trouble that His peace may be found in them.
As God is spoken evil of, we are to continue to glorify God with our witness, in both our lives and our speech. It is too easy to go along with the crowd, when it becomes uncomfortable to make a stand for what we know to be the truth. In our witness of the truth that lives in us we continually glorify God.
What, then, is Peter saying? The call to Christ is a call to come and die. Part of the dying with Christ includes persecution for Christ. But the Christian is not alone in persecution. While the world is heaping up insult and shame, God is placing His Spirit of glory upon them. It is no surprise that this is the reported experience of many martyrs of the first centuries of the church. And because they have He identifies with them through His Spirit. Thus Peter can say, “Praise God that you bear that name, for which you are suffering!” Rejection is never pleasant, nor is it to be sought, but when it comes out of faithfulness to Christ it brings with it the presence of the Spirit. It is this idea that our strange expression in times of trial brings out. And it is in this, not the suffering itself, that a Christian can truly rejoice and praise God.
V. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a busybody in other’s people’s matters.
Peter is reminding his readers that the reason that they are suffering is not for the offences that they have committed against mankind. This also can be taken as a warning to stay the course and act in a manner not to bring suffering upon them selves. Of the list above we have no problem with sustaining from murder, theft, and for the most part evil doing. But when it comes to the last item on this list I had to say ouch as conviction came upon me. Proverbs 26:17 says; He who meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
Meddling in another’s life is likened to murder, in that any opportunity you have to witness to this person is dead. By being a busybody you are stealing a chance for God to use you as an instrument in leading another to Christ. The natural reaction to suffering at the hands of another is to strike back, to get even, but the Christian response is to suffer in silence and take your concerns to the Lord.
As Christians we are to remember that there is one who has taken the suffering for our sins, so that we do not have to. Jesus is the sinless one who understands what it is to suffer doing what the Father wanted Him to do.
V. 16 yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God.
If we are persecuted because we have embraced the Christian faith, we are not to be ashamed, but we are to glorify God for this reason, for Christ suffered because He was holy, and Christians suffer for their resemblance to Him.
V. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
This verse mentions a part of Christianity we do not like to talk about, but it is an important part of our growth to become what God desires for us to be, for it is not our perception of Christianity that is the ultimate goal for the church, but God’s. It is discipline and judgment that shows that we are indeed of the family of God, and purifies us to live more in the character of that family. The final judgment has begun, but it has begun with the purification of God’s people, just as it happened in the Old Testament. It will be consummated, however, not in condemnation for His people, we are His family and will be saved after purification, but in terrible conclusive judgments upon unbelievers, which Jesus described in verse 24 and 25 in Matthew’s gospel and in John’s picturesque visions received and relayed to us in Revelation 15-16:20.
I still do like the idea of judgment, but our suffering does not mean that we are more sinful. Since we are committed to Christ, the persecution we suffer is a sign that we are a part of the household of God. As a loving Father, He is purifying His family for our own good. How many of us can remember hearing our own parents tell us they are doing something we think is totally unfair for “our own good”. At the time I thought if you were that concerned about what was good for me than you would let me have my own way, how often I learned that my own way was exactly the last thing that I needed. This is a sign of our belonging to a Father who knows indeed what is best for us. We may not always enjoy the experience, but we can rejoice that we are among those who are facing judgment now, being purified for our preparation for our life in heaven, rather then among those who will suffer the full wrath of the judgment of God later.
V. 18 And “If the righteous man is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear?”
This general quote from Proverbs 11:31 gives us the idea that is suffering and judgment come upon the good people, what hope is there for the wicked? But the unbeliever points to our suffering as their case against Christianity. Having to pass through trying chastisements, as David for his sin, the righteous man has always more or less of trial, but the issue is certain, and entrance in to the kingdom of heaven will come. The scarcely marks the severity of the ordeal, and the unlikelihood of the righteous sustaining it, save for the grace of God.
V.19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful creator.
We suffer for righteousness sake, according to the will of God, and are not repay evil for evil, but trust God. We are to place our lives confidently in Christ’s hands, who being our savior is also our keeper, and will keep those entrusted to Him. God will fulfill His promises and withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly.

Serving for God's Glory

2005-01-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 4:7-11

V. 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
I think that Peter is keeping the thought of the flood before him as he continues in his letter to the church, as he parallels Gen. 6:13, where God says to Noah: “The end of all flesh has come before me,” The church saw that because of their believe they were suffering at the hands of former friends, also that they saw that the wicked still flourished. What Peter is alluding to is that the wicked will not also enjoy the lifestyle that they have chosen. Granted sin does bring its temporary pleasures, but they are just that, temporal. The things of the Kingdom of God are everlasting, and it is these things that we should endeavor to pursue.
In a few years after Peter wrote this letter, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. Literally the end was at hand, the end of the Levitical priesthood, the end of the temple, and the whole Jewish economy. In relationship to our day, we look for the second coming of Christ, when the church as we know it will be taken from this earth. Granted the buildings and books will remain, which will lead those left behind to God though Christ, but the true church of Christ will be gone. With all the different churches out there how are we to know which is the true church of Christ? The true church of Christ is a body of believers, who have admitted that they are sinners and have accepted the gift of salvation in the person of Jesus Christ.
So knowing that the end is at hand, we are to be watchful. In another thought we must realize that we may still suffer the fate of the unrighteous while still here in this life. Therefore Peter is telling his readers that they are to watch against all occasion to sin, do all they can to further the Kingdom of God, and pray for the supporting hand of God to be upon them that they may be saved from the wrath of God upon the unrighteous and be watchful for an opportunity to witness of the saving grace of God.
V. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
A loving spirit leads us to look past the faults of others, to forgive offences against us, and to understand that the greater goal is not our suffering but the salvation of the sinner. By prayer, and love for them we may become instrumental in leading them to Christ and away from sin.
Proverbs 10:12 says; Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sin. We have a choice to expose the sins of others and further the conflict between them and God, or love them and look past their sin and do right. Compare the conduct of Shem and Japheth to Noah in Gen. 9:23, in contrast to Ham’s exposure of his father’s shame. We ought to cover other’s sins only where love itself does not require the contrary. They could have joined in with Ham judgment of their father, our do what they did not looking upon their father’s sin, but covering Him as he slept.
So while others continue in their sin we are to pray for them, not expose their sins to others, and look for an opportunity to lead them out of their sin and to the cross of Jesus where they can lay their sin down and seek forgiveness.
V. 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
Always be ready to divide what you have been blessed with, with those in need. Be open to the urging of the Holy Spirit to give to others, not only material needs but love and understanding as well.
Do not give just because it is a command, but do it from your love for God and man, in this way we give without grumbling. I always notice those who grumble about being asked to do certain things but do it anyhow, and those who do not grumble but they also not do the task either. Which would you have rather have around? God wants those who do not need to be asked but see the need and do what is right.
Giving to others also means not holding it over their heads, and reminding them over and over what you did for them. Also not reminding God what you did for another, for God knows full well what you did and not only that, but knowing your heart, knows the motive behind your actions. For it is not enough to do good but to do good for the right reason.
V. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
The gift that Peter talks of is any blessing of grace, from God. Rather it is in the means of gifts for the work of the church, or any bounty from the mercy of God. These gifts are given to us not that we may use them for our own blessing alone, but to be a blessing to others as well. By ministering to one another we are simply taking what is given to us and using it to bless others, or applying the gifts that God has given to us in a way that He intends for them to be used. This means that we are to pray about what it is that God wants us to do with what we have been given. This not only applies to wealth, but gifts of the Spirit. A singer does not receive a gift of voice to hear their own vocies in the shower, nor does a preacher receive the gift to preach just to preach to himself. Abundances are not received in order that they can be merely saved but shared with others as God directs, for we are simply stewards of the gifts of God, to be used in His work, and to promote His glory.
V. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of god. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
As we see in Romans 12:6 and here, we are to speak, speak with the spiritual maturity that God has granted to us, and not out of fear or lack of knowledge. Wisdom is not only knowing when to speak but when not to.
It is also to mean that we are to speak and minister according to the Word of God, and not any other doctrine. The “oracles of God” that Peter refers to are what we refer to as Old Testament writings. What He is saying is that if you are not speaking as the Lord God inspires you to speak, than speak form the written word of God. Jesus being our ultimate example of how to minister to others did this in His ministry here on earth.
When Jesus said; “but I say to you,” you knew you were about to hear a bit of wisdom inspired from the Holy Spirit, complimenting from the writings that the people themselves knew. By doing the will of God in ministering the gifts that are given to us we bring glory to God, and further the Kingdom of God, but when we give out of our own needs, and glory we rob God of the Glory and ourselves of the blessings that God has for us. Also we risk being of further use to God, for we are stewards of God’s gifts and as wise stewards we are to administer God’s blessings for the glory of God.

Our Conduct Before God and Man

2005-01-17T11:50:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 4:1-6
V. 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
(since Christ suffered) Here is our pattern for suffering; we are to have the same mind as Christ towards suffering with patient willingness. We are to have the same forgiving spirit, as found in Luke 23:34 when Jesus was on the cross. “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Also the same meekness and gentleness that Christ displayed, with thoughts of the others well being.
(For he who suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.) This passage is to be taken literally. Those who suffer generally reflect on their own conduct. They become humbled, and begin to fear approaching death. They begin to beat themselves up for their past failures, and sins. I have realized through such behavior that the best way to put the past behind me is to forgive and walk in the victory that I have received from Christ. In this way I am becoming able to walk in the present and not in the past. For walking in the past can hinder our walk in the present.
In suffering they begin to lose the taste for sins of the flesh, becoming solely focused on the suffering at hand, and their impending death and judgment. Therefore they call upon God’s mercy and are delivered from sin.
The act of suffering for Christ makes the attractiveness of sin empty. We as believers have put our trust in Christ, and see the folly in returning to sin. If Christ is the one we are really following, and He has become our great example, than suffering will separate us more and more from sinful acts, until we come to a point when we are finished with the attractiveness of sin.
We may in fact still be sinning because we have not chosen to suffer and be done with sin. Perhaps when we come to the point of choice, we choose to compromise and are amazed that we are not able to overcome temptation. While we have chosen Christ and are making good progress in the battle against sin, we have not yet died. Therefore we may be longing for perfection that will only be ours in resurrection, and live in spiritual maturity that is possible in this world.
V. 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lust of men, but for the will of God.
Again seeing Christ as our example and forsaking the flesh and doing the will of God. (Luke 22:42 “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done.”) His will being, that now that we have obtained the truth, we are to live according to the truth, though we should suffer for it, coming down to whom will we fear. Will we fear God and walk in His will for our lives, our will we fear man and walk in his will for our lives. One will save us from eternal suffering, while the other may save us from temporary suffering.
Psalm 19:7-9 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether;
V. 3For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles-when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
This was the life that those who Peter was writing to had lived, and was still the state of those around them. The unbelievers had not changed their lifestyles at all, only the believer had changed, and were changed by the power of God. Even as citizens of heaven, we must still walk in the world, becoming light to a dark world and an example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Since we have spent our past living for the flesh, we should now live our lives living for God.
Is this to mean that we have become boring? According to the world standards perhaps, but the peace and the joy in our hearts, are to be exhibited in a way that attracts others to us. For it is more pleasing to be around someone who is joyful, even in suffering, than someone who bellyaches about the world around them, doing nothing to change their surroundings. We also may gain an opportunity to witness to the joy in our hearts, when others become curious about it.
V. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
I am sure that we have heard it all you think you are too good for us, they are part of the God squad, and the list can go on. Others may feel that you are rejecting them rather than that we are choosing the will of God for our lives.
They see it as we are giving up something to walk in a way that is pleasing to God, and many turn from God because they see this as too great a price to pay. We see our former lifestyles as leading to death and destruction, and others see it as releasing energy (letting off a little steam) or having a good time. It is this misunderstanding that leads them to speak evil of you and to look for every opportunity to witness against you. Take the fact that stories of leaders that have fallen are still used as examples for others not to follow in Christ footsteps.
V. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Our lives that have been given to us by God and it is this by which we shall be judged. What did we do with the life that was given us, with the gifts that were given us? Only one has earned the right to judge both those alive to Christ and those still dead in their sins, and that is Christ. Though I have been forgiven of my sins I still fear to have my life opened before The Lamb of God and the truth of what I did with this life that He gave me revealed. I pray that I have taken the gifts that God has given me and applied it to the work of the kingdom of God, but I know that this has not always been the case, and this causes me to have anxiety about facing Christ. Not that my salvation should be altered, but knowing that my life is pale in comparison to Christ, and I did not always act in a way that advances His kingdom.
Those still dead in their trespasses and sins have no savior to call upon, so they shall be judged outside of Christ, and have no salvation to be altered, but an eternity to live a life separated from God, as they chose to live their lives on earth.
V. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Those who are dead are those who heard the gospel preached while they were alive, and were given an opportunity to live according to God in the spirit.
Out of God’s compassion for men the gospel was preached to the dead, but as referenced to in chapter three verses 19, 20, God’s compassion will not always be available to men. Gen. 6:3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days will be numbered one hundred and twenty years. I have joked that the meaner you are the longer God lets you live. Though there is no biblical truth to this, it is encouraging that the spirit of God strives with unbelievers all of their days here on earth, that they would come to know Jesus as their savior and be given an opportunity to live according to God in the spirit, rather than spend an eternity separated from God, as they chose to live their lives. Not only that but as believers the Spirit of God strives with us that we may be faithful to the will of God, so that we will not fear to have our lives on display at the judgment seat. After seeing the antics of such NFL stars as Randy Moss displayed over and over again on our big screen, I do not want my antics to be displayed on the jumbotron, in the stadium of heaven.

Christ's Suffering and Ours

2005-01-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 3:18-22

V. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but being made alive by the spirit.

Jesus being the sinless lamb of God, spotless and without blemish upon His character, and His walk with the Father, took on our sin and died in our stead. For by one man sin came into the world and by one man sin was taken out of the world. We may not see the fullness of this in our lifetime, but we can walk in the victory over sin and death by a relationship with God through the Son. By bringing us to God Christ has become our mediator to God, an intercessor who prays for us to the Father that we may walk in the freedom of His victory over sin, in a world that has not discovered the freedom that we walk in.

His suffering was also an example to us, as proof to blessings received for suffering for well doing. There is nothing that we go through in this life that Christ does not go through with us, or has gone through before us. We ask the question; what would Jesus do? Instead perhaps we should ask; what did Jesus do? By searching the scriptures we can see how Christ answered temptation, and was able to walk free of sin. But He was the Son of God, you may say, and you are what? We are heirs of salvation, because of our offering of the sacrifice that Christ provided. Furthermore we die daily to sin are alive to Christ, forevermore.

V. 19, 20 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through the water.

These two verses have led to a lot of false doctrine that suggests that the dead have a chance of forgiveness, or that all shall be saved. Most Christians, however, have accepted two interpretations. I will include them both being unsure of this difficult passage myself. The bigger question I will try to address is why Peter would include these verses to a suffering church.

According to the first, Christ went to Hades in spirit between His death and resurrection, and proclaimed the triumph of His mighty work on the cross. There is a disagreement among proponents of this view as to whether the spirits in prison were believers, unbelievers or both. But there is a fairly general agreement that the Lord Jesus did not preach the gospel to them. That would involve the doctrine of the second chance which is nowhere taught in the Bible. Those who hold this view often link this passage with Ephesians 4:9 where the Lord is described as descending “into the lower parts of the earth.” They cite this as added proof that He went to Hades in the disembodied state and heralded His victory at Calvary. They also cite the words of the Apostles’ Creed- “descended into hell.”

The second interpretation is that Peter is describing what happened in the days of Noah. It was the spirit of Christ who preached through Noah to the unbelieving generation before the flood. They were not disembodied spirits at the time, but living men and women who rejected the warnings of Noah and were destroyed by the flood. So now they are spirits in the prison of Hades.

By whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison. The whom is referring to the Spirit of God, who enables us all to preach the word of God, and enabled Jesus to go to the Spirits in prison and preach. The spirits Christ preached to were the same people that Noah preached to. They rejected Noah’s message and were drowned because of it. They are now disembodied spirits in prison, awaiting the final judgment.

How do we know that these spirits were the same people who were living in Noah days? In verse 20 these spirits are identified as those who formerly were disobedient. They are further identified as being disobedient during the time that Noah built the ark. Out of Noah’s ministry only eight souls were saved. If a preacher today preached 120 years and only converted eight souls to Christ, he would have long ago been asked to leave. So consider the frustration that Noah and his band of believers had to be going through.

I feel that this interpretation bests fits the context in which Peter gives it here. We have to remember that Peter was writing to a group of believers who had discovered the truth in the person of The Lord Jesus Christ and were suffering at the hands of former friends and neighbors because of it. I am sure that they had begun to wonder if this was the truth and they had accepted it, why others didn’t grasp this reality. I felt this same way as I began to teach and preach and devour the word of God as though I hadn’t eaten in years. If I could have this same calling upon my life, why couldn’t everyone share in this exiting new venture? As I matured I began to realize that it is God who calls us to salvation, and calls each to His own purpose.

At the end of verse 20, we read that a few, that is eight souls, were saved through water. It is not that they were saved by water; they were saved through the water. Water was not the savior, but the judgment through which God brought them safely.

The ark is a symbol of Jesus Christ and the water is the symbol of the judgment of God. It is Christ who saves us from the judgment of God, when we rest in Him.

V. 21. There is also an antitype which now saves us-baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Most Christians have been baptized, but they disagree about how to baptize, when to baptize, and what baptism means. There are several statements in this passage that may be confusing. If baptism saves a person, how does it do this? Isn’t it salvation by grace through faith? This seems to add a ceremonial work, much like circumcision. And what then is the state of people who are not baptized?

Actually there is a baptism that saves us, but is not our baptism in water. It is Christ death at Calvary. His death is considered to be baptism in the waters of judgment. In Luke 12:50 He says; “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished.” In Ps. 42:7 The psalmist described this baptism; “Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all your waves and billows have gone over me”

In His death, Christ was baptized in the waves and billows of God’s wrath, and it is this baptism that is the basis for our salvation.

Just as Noah and his family had entered the ark, we must accept Christ death, and commit ourselves to the Lord as our only savior. When we do this we become identified with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. In a very real sense, we then have been crucified with Him (Gal. 2:20), we have been buried with Him (Rom. 6:4), and we have been brought to life with Him.

The ceremony of baptism is an outward sign of what has taken place spiritually; we have been baptized into Christ’s death. And as we go under the water, we acknowledge that we have been buried with Him. Finally, as we come out of the water, we show that we have risen with Him.

This antitype that now saves us refers to Christ’s baptism unto death on the cross and our identification with Him in it, which represents water baptism. This does not mean that the water saves us, but it is our statement that we are identifying ourselves with what Jesus did on the cross.

V. 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Jesus not only rose from the dead, but He also ascended into heaven to a place that He had enjoyed since before the beginning of time. Referring to Christ as ascending to the right hand of God is to refer to His having been given power, (Matt. 26:64) honor, Acts 2:33; 5:31), rest (Hebrews 1:3; 8:1: 10:12) has become our intercessor, (Romans 8:34) preeminence, (Eph. 1:20,21) and dominion. (Hebrews 1:13)

This is the lesson that Peter wants to convey to his readers and to us as well. That our Lord suffered for well-doing, He was rejected by man, He was baptized unto death’s judgment at Calvary, Risen from that death, and is now seated at the right hand of God in glory. We should comfort ourselves with the fact that if we suffer with Christ, we shall be glorified with Him. This is the reason that Peter included this passage in his letter to a suffering church, and it is encouragement to all that suffer at the hands of man for doing well.

Suffering for Right and Wrong

2005-01-02T05:46:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 3:13-17

V. 13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

There are 43 Listing in my concordance for the word fear, not including feared, fearful, fearful-hearted, fearfully, fearfulness, fearing, and fears. Jesus puts this thought better in Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” What Peter and our Lord are talking about is walking in fearless confidence in God’s protection from harm. Becoming followers of what is good is to walk in the ways of the Lord. It is seeking out His will for your lives and not following the ways of this world. Will this make you the subject of persecution? Certainly, I am sure that many of the things that have happened to me have come about because of my stand for Christ. Yet on the other hand I am sure that God has allowed some things in order that I would make a stand for Christ. Man can attack your reputation, cause you harm, financial ruin, or even death, yet we are to fear God, and walk in faith with boldness, knowing who we serve.

V. 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”

Calvin said; “The promise of this life extends only so far as it is expedient to us that they may be fulfilled” There is a difference between suffering at our own hands and suffering for the cause of Christ. Augustine said; “not the suffering, but the cause for which one suffers, makes the martyr.” Will God protect us from our own mistakes? Yes, if it is His will, and will God protect us persecution because of our stand for Christ? Yes if it is His will. These things will come upon us in order to fulfill God’s will, or man’s will, but they will come. The importance of walking in God’s will is the difference between being blessed or walking with a troubled spirit, not knowing that God’s will is being completed. Sin is born in the hearts of men, God tells us not to be afraid of the hearts of men.

V. 15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who ask you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Godliness sparks curiosity in others, to ask why we have so much hope, no matter what comes upon us. An example of this is when a loved one is taken from another by violence, the Christian offers forgiveness instead of hatred, and the world marvels at this. Others marvel at the peace in the heart of the Christian that allows them to forgive and go on as though it never happened. The events of everyday living shape us into what we are to become, but the heart of the believer sees that love is a better response then violence. When we are hurt deeply it is hard to let these things go and move on with our lives. There are feeling of vengeance, and pain that come from living that tend to come between us and our walk with God. It is faith that allows us to go on knowing that God understands and cares for us and wants to heal us of this pain. The hardest thing is to let it go. I remember an instance when I harbored anger towards another, and God’s Spirit kept telling me to let it go. I told Him I did not want to let it go and to leave me alone and let me be angry. Thankfully He did not and I was able to let it go and let the peace of God come back into my spirit. At other times pain and fear gripped me and would not release its grip upon me. It was only through faith that I was able to shout to the devil that he would have no victory in this. As a Christian our battles are not our own, we have one who will fight for us who is greater, than any adversary.

To sanctify is to set aside, to honor, so to sanctify the Lord in your heart is to set aside a place in our hearts for Him that nobody else can have. The greatest example of this is marriage, in that when we are joined to another we have given that person a part of ourselves that we should not give to another. When we hold that relationship sacred in our hearts we are honoring the other person. The reward for honoring God in our hearts is a peace that carries us through any situation, and causes curiosity in others. Perhaps we should entertain Peter’s words thus: Entertain just notions of God; of His nature, power, will, justice and truth. Do not think of God as being controlled by the same passions as men; separate Him in your hearts from everything earthly, human, fickle, rigidly severe, or unpredictably merciful. Consider that He can not be like man, feel like man, nor act like man. Do not confine God to your finite thinking, for God cannot be contained in the human mind. Too many people try to put God in a box, by thinking they know how God will act in every situation. I have heard preachers say that if God does not destroy this generation, then He owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology. This is to say we know the mind of God and that we are dictating the will of God to God Himself, this is a very dangerous attitude to take. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8, 9. The will of God will be done according to His mercy and grace, and who are we to dictate the will of God. We can know the will of God through prayerfully reading His word, but we can no more control the will of God than we can number our own days. Conceive God in your mind, as infinitely free to act or not act, as He pleases. Consider the goodness of God, for goodness in every possible state of perfection and infinitude, belongs to Him. Remember that He was wisdom without error, power without limits, truth without falsity, love without hatred, holiness without evil, and justice without severity on one hand or tenderness on the other. In other words, God is not one of us, not a slob like one of us, not a stranger on the bus tying to make His way home. Joan Osbourne’s song always troubled me thinking that we could put God on the same playing field as us. Sanctify God in your hearts in this way and you will always have a reason for the hope that is in you.

V. 16. having in good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a good conscience without offense towards God and men. Acts 24:15, 16.

Having a good conscience is essential to the readiness of your testimony. As believers we will sin before God, and the Spirit of God brings conviction upon us. It is a hard thing to give witness of the hope that is in you, when sin has come between you and God. Not to say that your salvation is lost, but that there is a separation in the fellowship that you enjoyed before that sin. Peter and Paul agree that a good conscience is something that we are to strive for. Once conviction comes upon us and we confess our sin before the Father, He is faithful to forgive us, for this is His nature as we discussed in the previous verse. There is also that fear that our sins will find us out before men and ruin our testimony. This is not to hinder our testimony to the hope that is in us, but when confronted by this sin we are to continue in meekness, still giving witness to the hope that is in us. We are to strive to have no offense between God and men, but when this offense does occur, we are to strive to mend the broken relationship, that we may continue in fellowship with God and man.

When your conscience is clear and others revile you and say evil things about you because of your testimony, take it in meekness that you do not give harm to the cause of Christ. In this way you do not hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in you and those that you are giving witness to. This is not to mean that all are called to preach and be vocal of their faith, but all are called to live right before man and God.

V. 17. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

One may object, I would not bear it so ill if I had deserved it. Peter replies, it is better that you did not deserve it, in order that doing well and yet being spoken against, you may prove yourself a true Christian [GERHARD]. This is the greatest testimony of our faith, and the last testimony Christ gave before His death, that He suffered in silence.

Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. 1 Peter 2:23

God is witness to our suffering, both of righteousness and unrighteousness, before Him and before man. We are to commit our hope to Him that He will judge between the unrighteous and righteous deeds of man.

A Christmas Story

2004-12-21T05:33:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a Christmas story with you this week, and found this one to be interesting. It tells the story that everyone at one or another wrestles with. Have a safe and blessed Christmas day. Brian

Seeking Christ at Christmas Time

(scene: bare stage except for a small end table on Amy's end of

the stage with Bible, cordless phone, TV remote control)

AMY --- (enters, wearing robe over pajamas and slippers, paces

briefly, picks up remote, turns on imaginary TV at back of

audience, changes channels, bored with each one, picks up phone,

dials number on TV screen, turns off TV; during the conversation

she alternately paces and stands still for emphasis and

variation)

JOSH -- (warm, confident, patient voiceover OR enters opposite

with phone to ear, remains near exit) Suicide prevention

hotline, this is Josh. How may I help you?

AMY --- Yeah, hi. Say, listen, you're going to think I'm a

little nuts, but I can't sleep and there's nothing on TV, and I

just thought that if you have nothing better to do, we could

just talk a little.

JOSH -- No problem. What do you want to talk about?

AMY --- Listen, I know you guys have, like, this 911 panic

button just in case I took a bottle of pills or something, but I

just want you to know I'm not going to kill myself or anything.

I just wanted to....

JOSH -- It's okay. We can just talk. It's not a problem. No

squad cars or ambulances will wake up your neighbors. I promise.

What do you want to talk about?

AMY --- Listen, if you get an urgent call from someone on a

fourteenth floor ledge ready to jump, you can just cut me off.

Okay?

JOSH -- Okay. It's a deal. My name is Josh. What's yours?

AMY --- Call me Babs. On TV the name Babs is always good for a

laugh.

JOSH -- Okay, Babs, what do you want to talk about?

AMY --- How about Christmas?

JOSH -- Do you have all your shopping done?

AMY --- I'm not talking about that Christmas.

JOSH -- You're not?

AMY --- Well, I am and I'm not. You must think I'm a psycho case

or something, calling at three o'clock in the morning just to

talk. And then I don't even know what I want to talk about....

JOSH -- Babs, I get a lot of people calling who just want to

talk. So, let's get back to Christmas.

AMY --- Actually, this happens every year at Christmas time.

JOSH -- What happens?

AMY --- I get restless. I can't sleep. I read somewhere that the

suicide rate really increases around Christmas time. Not that I

am suicidal or anything. You must really think I'm a wacko.

Maybe I shouldn't have called...

JOSH -- You called to talk, Babs. Let's talk. So, why do you

think you're restless and sleepless at Christmas time?

AMY --- I don't know. I think maybe I'm too analytical. I see

people spending money for gifts, half of which nobody needs. I

see all the hectic shopping and decorating and parties and for

what? It all started 2000 years ago as someone's birthday party.

And now, it seems everybody gets a gift except the birthday boy.

The first Christians didn't even celebrate Jesus' birthday.

JOSH -- Do you think it would be better if we didn't celebrate

Christmas?

AMY --- Yes. No. Yes. You must think I'm a few sandwiches short

of a full picnic.

JOSH -- Babs, I'm not judging you at all. Tell me first why you

DON'T think we should celebrate Christmas.

AMY --- Because the way we do it now, it doesn't mean anything.

It's just gifts and parties.

JOSH -- Okay. Now tell me why you DO think we should celebrate

Christmas.

AMY --- Because it's an important birthday. We celebrate the

birthdays of presidents and a lot of people thinks that Jesus is

way more important than presidents.

JOSH -- Do YOU?

AMY --- To tell the truth, I don't know. I mean, some of the

stuff they say about him is pretty fantastic, don't you think?

JOSH -- Like what?

AMY --- Like the miracles and stuff.

JOSH -- The miracles are not too fantastic if he was who he said

he was.

AMY --- You mean the son of God thing.

JOSH -- Yes.

AMY --- See that's what I don't get. I don't get how one God

could be Father, Son and Holy Spirit all at the same time. I

don't get how Jesus could be all God at the same time he is all

man.

JOSH -- You took college physics. How can there be light waves

and light particles at the same time?

AMY --- How did you know I took college physics?

JOSH -- Did you?

AMY --- Yes, but....

JOSH -- Is it possible for light to be both a particle and a

wave?

AMY --- Well, yes, under certain energy conditions light can be

explained better if we speak about it as a wave. And under other

energy conditions the photon particle explains it's behavior best.

JOSH -- But it's all light.

AMY --- So, you think Father, Son, and Holy Spirit might be just

God's way of explaining his nature to numb-nuts like us who only

have college physics to explain things?

JOSH -- Maybe.

AMY --- But that still doesn't explain Jesus. He didn't seem to

exist until he was born. There's no record of him in the Bible

before that.

JOSH -- You've got a Bible there. Look up Colossians 1:16.

AMY --- Sure. (picks up Bible, flips a few pages, straightens)

Wait a minute. How did you know I had a Bible right here?

JOSH -- Did you?

AMY --- Well, yes, but...

JOSH -- Well, what does it say in Colossians 1:16?

AMY --- (turning paging pages) This is, like, really spooky.

Do I know you?

JOSH -- Just tell me what it says in Colossians 1:16 about

Jesus?

AMY --- (reads while pacing) For by him all things were created:

things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether

thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were

created by him and for him.  (stops pacing)

JOSH -- Why did you stop pacing?

AMY --- (looks both ways) How did you know I stopped pacing? All

the drapes are drawn. How did you know I stopped pacing? Do you

have, like, a TV camera in here or something? (clutches lapels)

JOSH -- Babs, you're perfectly safe. I tell you what, you answer

my question first. And then I'll answer yours. Why did you stop

pacing?

AMY --- (points to Bible) Because this answers the question

that's kept me so restless and sleepless at Christmas.

JOSH -- What question?

AMY --- If Jesus was just a guy or even an angel; if he was just

created or invented, then what's all the fuss? Why bother with

Christmas at all? In fact, why bother with LIFE at all?

JOSH -- It was not just a mere coincidence that you called the

suicide prevention hotline, was it?

AMY --- (paces) Well, now that I've found the answer, I don't

mind admitting that every Christmas I keep thinking if it wasn't

really God who was born in Bethlehem, then it wasn't really God

who came to save the world. And I don't stand a chance of making

it to heaven. And if I'm not going to heaven then, all there is

left is gifts I don't need and parties with people I can do

without. Then, what's the point of going on living? But it

really WAS God who became a man, wasn't it?

JOSH -- Yes, it was, Amy.

AMY -- (stop, straightens) Wait a minute. You just called me

Amy. I told you to call me Babs. Mister, you have some

explaining to do! Who are you?

JOSH -- Would it help you to know that you were the only one in

the world who saw that phone number on television?

AMY --- (disbelief) Jesus.

JOSH -- Yes.

AMY --- (paces, arm outstretched) Oh, Man! Jesus!

JOSH -- My Hebrew name is JOSHUA.

AMY --- Why me? I mean, I know I called you, but, I mean, you

didn't have to answer.

JOSH -- Look in your Bible, there, Amy. Matthew 7:7.

AMY --- (turning pages) I was just reading that chapter this

morning.

JOSH -- I know.

AMY --- Here it is: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and

you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (looks

up) You heard my prayer after I read that.

JOSH -- I don't usually answer prayers by phone. But you did

ask, seek and knock.

AMY --- Oh, man! I'm talking to God himself. Oh, man!

JOSH -- So, Amy! Do we celebrate Christmas this year or not?

AMY --- (tearful pause) Happy Birthday, Jesus.

JOSH -- Thanks, Amy. Call me anytime.

(both exit)

©2004 Bob Snook. Conditions for use:

Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it.

Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances.

You may reproduce and distribute this script freely,

but all copies must contain this copyright statement.

http://www.fea.net/bobsnook  email: bobsnook@fea.net

Being a Blessing to Others

2004-12-18T07:58:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 3:8-12

Blessing to Others

V.8 (Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous :)

Be of one mind, there are times that I wonder if I am of one mind let alone being of like minded with all. To be of two minds is to be tossed about by every doctrine that comes along, unsure of truth and following the winds of popular doctrine instead of being grounded in the word. A double minded person is unstable in their thinking, and hurtful in their own witness. For how can anyone be convinced of the truth of the gospel, if one is unsure of it themselves? Prayerfully spending time in God’s word is the only cure for this disease of being of two minds. Spending time in the word, surrounded by prayer, allows God to open His word unto you in a way that you can understand it. God has given us a book, as a message from Him, and through the Holy Spirit, opens this word to His followers.

Peter is talking of being of one mind not only with ourselves, but with others as well. Does this mean everyone, or just those in the church? Does this mean every church or just our own? Peter is talking about the church and its unity, which is essential for growth, and peace in the church and our families. Though we may not agree with everyone outside and inside the church, or even in our own families, we should agree on the essentials of salvation. I am in fellowship with many believers that have different opinions of faith, and belong to many different denominations, yet we share in essentials of salvation, being salvation by faith through grace. I know one brother that believes that the King James Version of the Bible is the only one to use. Does this cause us to fall out of fellowship, because I have six different translations? No, we are connected by a common bond of being family, united by the blood of Christ and sharing in the same inheritance in Heaven. At this time we will be with Christ the living word, and translations will be meaningless. This is the question we should ask as we debate over the finer points of religion, when religion is gone and the truth of Jesus is revealed to all, will these things matter?

So how do we treat others in the churches that don’t share our opinions? Peter says to love one another as brothers, showing compassion on those that have differing opinions, and be courteous to them. Since we know from previous lessons, these were a people under persecution from those who did not understand there new faith, they were to show compassion to their persecutors as well, understanding that a good witness goes a long way to leading others to Christ. I talked to a friend recently, who told me he was beat over the back of the head by the Bible, not literally, and this caused him to walk away from the faith. He can quote scripture to you, but it has lost its meaning to him.

V. 9 (not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.)

Peter knew that his readers would be hated and treated with evil for Christ sake, but how are we to act when others revile us, and treat us unkindly for the sake of Christ, or just because they intend evil? This talks against revenge against those who harm us. The law will take care of those who seek to do us harm, but we are not to take the law into our own hands. Christianity tells us to go one step further, and bless those who seek to harm us. Matthew 5:44 says to love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those that persecute you.

In "Context," Mary Marty retells a parable from the "Eye of the Needle" newsletter: A holy man was engaged in his morning meditation under a tree whose roots stretched out over the riverbank. During his meditation he noticed that the river was rising, and a scorpion caught in the roots was about to drown. He crawled out on the roots and reached down to free the scorpion, but every time he did so, the scorpion struck back at him. An observer came along and said to the holy man, "Don't you know that's a scorpion, and it's in the nature of a scorpion to want to sting?" To which the holy man replied, 'That may well be, but it is my nature to save, and must I change my nature because the scorpion does not change its nature?" Joseph B. Modica.

Our calling as Christians gives us great reward both in our live and in heaven, but it also calls us to great responsibilities. One of the hardest tasks I had to learn as a Christian was to pray for my enemies. I had heard to pray for my enemies, so that hot coals would come down upon their heads. I liked this idea, of them being burnt up from fire from God. As I matured and began to realize that it meant conviction from God and not literal fire, praying for them became harder, yet it is my Christian duty, so I must. This also allows a release of anger, that I harbor in myself, so that the prayer is not only beneficial to my enemies, but to me as well. I feel that God allows certain thing to happen in our lives, just to see our reaction, when we don’t repay evil for evil, than our Father in heaven will bless us even as we bless others.

Vs. 10, 11, 12. (For “He who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”)

Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16 to drive his point home saying that those who wish to live long and prosper, to steal a line form Mr. Spock, must act in these ways: 1. They must refrain from evil speaking, this includes lying and slandering. 2. One must avoid flattery, which covers hypocritical speech with wicked intentions, or for self gain. 3. They must avoid evil, continuing in a life style that walks away from evil. 4. We must do good, and continue in a lifestyle that promotes righteousness. 5. One must live peaceably with all men, seeking peace where it has been lost, even within ourselves, restoring it where it has been broken, and pursue it where it seems to be fleeing. When we live by our passions and not by the word of God, we tend to shorten our days here on earth. Not that we can not act passionately for the cause of Christ, for this is what drives many of us to serve God, but not to live in the passions of this world. I have always believed that you can get so far from God, as a Christian, that He would shorten your days on earth rather then see you lost, in your sins. These verses seem to confirm my thinking, for if the Lord can lengthen your days, surely He can shorten them.

In a story taken from Clarke’s commentary, there was a certain person, traveling through the city, continuously calling out, “Who wants the elixir of life?” The daughter of a rabbi said, “What is this elixir of life that you sell?” He answered, “Is it not written, What man is it that loves life, and desires to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking evil. This is elixir of life, and is found in the mouth of man.”

James 1:26 says; If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own head, this one’s religion is useless.

The righteous person is continually under the eye of God, he attracts Divine notice, and where ever he is there is the ear of God. For every righteous person is indeed a person of prayer, and whenever they pray, as soon as they form the words enter into the presence of God. But the face of God is turned from the evil person and they literally have no prayer, as theirs fall upon deaf ears. The arm of His justice is against them, to draw them from the evil lifestyle, unto the grace of God.

Living Together and With God

2004-12-10T16:26:00.000-08:00

Living Together and With God

1 Peter 3:1-7

1. Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2. when they observe your conduct accompanied by fear. 3. Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-4. rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6. as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with and terror. 7. Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

When people read this passage they cringe and bristle up, saying that this way of thinking is archaic, and living in the past. The truth is they are trying to understand it living outside the will of God. We do not walk into marriage thinking it our goal to have a bad marriage, but to share the rest of our lives with someone that we can’t live without, and yet some claim that they can’t live with them. One of the big mistakes we make in striving for a perfect marriage is trying to change our spouse.

One bride-to-be was nervous about the wedding ceremony until the pastor gave her specific instructions. "When you enter the church, just focus on three things: the aisle, the altar and the groom." As she entered the church escorted by her dad, the people in the congregation overheard the bride saying over and over to herself, "Aisle, altar, him. Aisle, altar, him."
A great marriage does not come from changing our spouse it comes from changing ourselves. A successful marriage isn’t just finding the right person it’s also being the right person. It isn’t just focusing on how our spouse could do better it’s also focusing on what we could do better. I have heard spouses say that their mate has a few rough edges, but I can smooth them out. That is a horrible way to enter into a marriage.
God said it best when He looked at Adam fresh from His hand of creation. "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." (Genesis 2:18 NLT) The Bible account of the first marriage continues... "So the Lord God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam’s ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam. “At last!” Adam exclaimed. She is part of my own flesh and bone! She will be called "woman", because she was taken out of a man.” God knew man, having created him, and knew exactly what who be the perfect mate for him, now having created woman, He also knew the perfect mate for her, now all that was left to do was get the two together. This is a beautiful sight as God brings Eve to Adam, no better yet presents Eve to him, for if we start our marriage in the will of God, we first ask God who do you have for me? As a man stands at the altar as His bride comes into view, he sees the most beautiful creature ever created, as she is escorted down the aisle by her father and given to her groom, he repeats Adam’s words. “At last!” This is the scene played out in Genesis as God brings creation together and they become one. This is also the scene that will be played out as we, washed in the blood of Christ, spotless before God, as God delivers us to Jesus as His bride. Jesus will say there is my bride, as He tells all who will listen how beautiful she is. This will be the moment He has waited for, when we shall come to Him dressed in robes, washed white by His sacrifice for us.

If the first couple was brought together by specific acts of creation, it would appear logical that to enjoy a meaningful marriage we must begin with the first wedding planner - God Himself.

I never cease to be amazed at the attitude that this society is the peak of social development, so therefore if the Bible doesn’t agree with the prevailing attitudes so the Bible is wrong...In 1995, there were 6,400 marriages per day in the US...and 3,200 divorces...from 1970 to 1994 the number of divorced people quadrupled...half of all children live through a divorce, and half of those live through a second divorce...and more than 1 in 4 children live in single-parent households. And lest you think that this is just young people, the generation in America with the highest divorce rate is between the ages of about 55 and 75 today. But we still hear that the Bible is outdated and things are much more enlightened today.

So how do we add God into this equation? By first teaching our children that God cares who they will marry. I would tell my girls from an early age that their mate was alive today and that they needed to pray for them, and I too began praying for them, in hopes that God would bring them together one day. God knows our needs, and still today prepares our mate for us. I often wondered if God brings us together then why do so many marriages end in divorce. I have come to know that, though a person seems so perfect for us, this is not the person God has for. Seeking the will of God is not usurping His will for ours.
What the text suggests is good news for those who want to have a meaningful marriage. Husbands and wives who understand and meet the needs of their spouse will most often have their own needs met. The key word here is understand. There are times I look at my wife and think to myself, that I do not understand this stranger living in my house, yet it is my job to understand this person, that is wired completely different form me. This is where conversation comes into play by talking to each other we come to have a better understanding of who we are as a couple. Are there times I still do not understand her? Certainly, these are the times that love, trust, and honor come into play, my love for her, my trust in God, and my honor for my marriage. What about getting our needs met? Here are the needs as the scripture relates them.

The primary goal for women in the marital union, according to our text scripture, is inner beauty. The primary goal for husbands is to be considerate and respectful of their wives. Amazingly, both of these patterns are often the opposite of the way marriage is portrayed in the world around us. The Word of God says to wives: "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV)
Does this mean that women are to ignore their outward appearance? Thankfully, no! For men are sensual creatures and are moved by the eye more often than the heart. I appreciate when my wife takes time to look her best. The husband also values a wife who cultivates inner beauty. Problem is, all too often in our society, inner beauty is often left uncultivated while outer beauty is often overemphasized. Peter reminds his readers of the example of Sarah and Abraham to prove his point.
"For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." (1 Peter 1:5-6)

“Obeyed” and “master” are the two words in the text that causes many to dismiss the whole passage, yet we cannot dismiss the word of God, so we must try harder to understand it. Also we need to approach this text carefully, leaving any sinful selfish attitude behind. The Bible teaches us that the very first sin, the sin Satan committed that caused his fall from grace, was the sin of pride and pride results in selfishness, the “me, me, me” attitude so prevalent in today’s world. This attitude is prevalent in many marriages that claim to be on an even keel. But are marriages to be on an “even keel”? Many say that they do not have any problems, and that their marriage is 50/50, there is a problem with this attitude, and it is a selfish attitude. Marriage isn’t about balancing things out it’s about giving everything you have without reservation. So if we discuss the necessity of men loving their wives as Christ loved the church, or of wives submitting to their husbands, your first thought ought not to be, “Yeah but what do I get out of it?”

To make this all work we need to put our hope in God, and not give into fear. At one point in Abraham’s life, acting out of fear, he became a bad husband and gave his wife to another man to be a part of his harem by lying and claiming Sarah was his sister? (Genesis 20:2) Sarah "put her hope in God" and "did not give way to fear." She submitted to her husband in a way I would never counsel a wife to submit. She went along with her husband’s wishes. Was she right or wrong? God knows, I don’t." But God came to Abimelech (the man Abraham gave his wife to) in a dream one night and said to him, ’You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.’" (Genesis 20:3 NIV) God protected Sarah when her own husband wasn’t courageous enough to protect her. God protected Sarah because she "put her hope in God" and "didn’t give way to fear."

This glaring chink in the spiritual armor of one of the godliest men of faith who ever lived proves that there is no such thing as a perfect husband. What do wives do who live with imperfect husbands? "Trust in God" and "don’t give way to fear".
Extreme example? Yes definitely. But it proves a very, very crucial point. Wives don’t place your ultimate sense of security in your husband - place it where it belongs - in God. When your ultimate security is in God, you can be happy even if you’re married to a jerk. Pray for him yes. But keep in mind, part of what God will use to change him will be your very attitude in this instance.

1. “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,” (1 Peter 3:1) "Won without words". You can’t needle or cajole a man into doing what is right. Some of you disagree because you have successfully accomplished that at times. Well let me tell you as a man that it doesn’t pay off in the dividends you desire. You may win a temporary battle with a man by talking him into doing what you want. But you will win the war by your behavior, by your inner beauty - your attitude of love and assistance. God said that He would make a companion for Adam there is no doubt in any woman’s mind that a man needs a woman’s help. So what then does a wife need from a husband? “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”(1 Peter 3:7)

When it comes to relating to your wife nothing beats considering her way of thinking, her way of communicating, and her way of feeling. God is so wonderful in giving us opposite sexes and we are definitely opposites in so many ways. That’s why the husband especially needs a jolt here. A man is generally less considerate because of the way he is made. He isn’t wired to sense some of the things his wife senses. Some have called this "women’s intuition" and there is a lot to that. This is part of what Peter is getting at when he tells husbands to respect their wives as "the weaker partner".
Generally speaking Peter is simply stating the obvious. Across the board men usually are physically stronger than women. Husbands don’t run rough shod over your wife’s feelings. Just because you don’t feel what she feels doesn’t mean her feelings are real. Be considerate. Talk to her and touch her softly and tenderly. Be considerate. Respect her.
Show her how much you value her by watching one of her favorite movies instead of expecting her to watch sports with you. Treat her like you did when you were trying to get her to say "I do". Talk nice. Compliment her. Take her places. Open the door for her. Bring her flowers. We are "heirs together of the gracious gift of life." An heir is someone who has been left an estate. Jesus died and left us His estate. Let’s not fight over who gets what - let’s share it all together!

Servants Before God and Man

2004-12-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

I Peter 2:18-25

V. 18 (Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.)

John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, illustrates the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family's housekeeper: It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House. "Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson." "He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him." "Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him." "No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you. When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House." Houghton Mifflin in Reader's Digest, December, 1981

"Servant" in our English New Testament usually represents the Greek doulos (bond slave). Sometimes it means diakonos (deacon or minister); this is strictly accurate, for doulos and diakonos are synonyms. Both words denote a man who is not at his own disposal, but is his master's purchased property. Bought to serve his master's needs, to be at his beck and call every moment, the slave's sole business is to do as he is told. This probably included freedmen who remained in their master’s house. A master was not always a Christian, so Peter does not mention how they were to behave towards their servants. Paul, however, does mention the master’s conduct in Colossians 4:1-6, but these master’s were Christians. Christian service means, first and foremost, living out a slave relationship to one's Savior (1 Corinthians. 6:19-20). “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

I also believe that this carries over to the workplace and how we address our superiors. My terminal manager gave me some excellent advice, when we discussed being asked to do something that I felt was unfair. He told me to do what I was asked to do and then bring my concerns to him and he would address them. This is the issue Peter was addressing, do what you are asked to do as long as it does not compromise your faith, and bring your concerns to God and he will deal with it. This does not mean to sin against God if asked to, but if asked to go above what is normally considered in your job description do it. Remember that you are God’s and He will defend you.

V. 19 (For this commendable, if because of conscience toward God, one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.)

This verse speaks of performing our duties towards God rather than man, either in our personal lives or in the work place. There will be times that the world asks to act outside the will of God, at this time we have to remember who we serve man or God. This seems to tell us to act in the exact opposite of what Peter says in the previous verse. Peter is telling those he is writing to that they will suffer for their choice to follow God, and to endure such suffering. If asked to do something that contradicts the will of God, in the work place in order to keep ones job, we are better off to remember our duties to God, rather than man. This may cost you your job, a relationship, undue suffering, or even your life. In Acts chapter four we find Peter and John arrested for healing a man and preaching Jesus to the people. When asked to stop this behavior, Peter filled with the Holy Spirit says; “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.” Peter and John did not stop speaking the word of God and ignored the threats of the Jewish leaders to do so. Each and every one of us will face a test when we too must decide if it is right to listen to man or listen to God. When we choose to follow God He will remember our deeds and honor them, in His timing according to His will.

V.20 (For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your own faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.)

Peter is speaking directly to those servants who were punished for not worshiping their master’s idols as they were instructed to do. This also speaks to all of us who have no trouble paying a late fee for not paying a bill on time, grumble but pay a speeding ticketing, or apologize to our spouse for saying the wrong thing rather than endure the silence. We are to take to same attitude when we suffer for serving God.

Stephen a man filled with the Holy Spirit, preached Jesus, and did many signs and wonders in His name. When he angered those around him, he continued to preach to them and he was stoned for it. Did this go unnoticed before God or man? Certainly not, for God honors all who serve Him, no matter the costs. Also there was a man in the crowd who witnessed the stoning of Stephen, who God changed his name from Saul to Paul. We have to wonder if Stephen’s witness before Saul made an impact. We know that from reading that Saul witnessed the deaths and punishment of many Christians at his own hands. This did make an impact on Saul that at his conversation Jesus told him it was hard to kick against the goads. Jesus knew Saul’s heart and he mentioned this to remind Saul of the turmoil that was going on in his heart, because of the witness of those he persecuted. Saul upon his conversion spent the rest of his life honoring the lives of those he persecuted.

V.21, 22 (For this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth.”)

As new guys are hired on at my work place they go out and train with a driver who works every day and makes a good income. I have told them that this is a good job to have but a hard job to keep. When work is good, everyone works and is happy; as work slows down they begin to grumble. What kept me there during those times was that I could see the older drivers had reached where I wanted to be I was willing to endure the smaller paychecks in order to get to that spot.

In a way this is the life of many a Christian, we answer to the call of Christ to follow Him, and share in the experience and excitement of this new relationship, and look forward to a time when we will be with Him forever. Yet we still have to live in this world, even though we keep the goal in sight, it is only the encouragement of God through the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of the saints, that keeps us on the path to the goal. Peter is not beating his listeners up telling them that if Christ suffered and He was sinless, than why are you whining, but encouraging them to look to the Sinless One, for our strength and encouragement to continue in the faith.

V. 23 (who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;)

Jesus could have inflected any kind of punishment He wanted to upon His persecutors, yet he kept silent. Even when Peter struck out against those who came to arrest Jesus, He rebuked him and told him if this was not the Father’s will that all He had to do was pray and twelve legions of angels would have been available to Him. It was Peter’s acting in anger, or lashing out that Jesus was speaking against. To give us an example of how to deal with persecutors, that we should avoid acting in anger to avenge ourselves.

It is a great comfort to take our pain and fear to God, knowing He judges according to all truth. It is too easy to lash out against those who persecute you, or accuse you wrongly. When we are persecuted for the sake of Christ, which I feel that his verse refers to, it is Christ who is being persecuted as well. When Jesus met with Saul on the road to Damascus, He asked him why he was persecuting Him, and not why he was persecuting Christians. There are many in history and today that followed this example even to the point of death.

The ultimate goal is that the heart of the accused and accuser, be saved. What a witness this is that even when persecuted for our faith that we do not lash out, but pray for or accusers. Just as the witness of those Saul persecuted worked in his heart to bring him to salvation, it works, through God, in the hearts of men and women today. God never changes, He still loves as He did before the world was formed, and His will is that all should come to the saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ. Remember before you lash out against someone that your witness could affect their eternity, what an awesome responsibility.

V. 24,25 (who himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepard and Overseer of your souls.)

Christ is our redeemer and our example, His death makes our repentance possible, as well as our response to God of a righteous life. Peter puts in the simplest form, that by His stripes you were healed. His intent in quoting Isaiah 53:5 is to show that personal wholeness (mental, psychological, physical, and spiritual) flows from our conversion. We were lost separated from God, as we went about trying to control a life that we had no control over in the first place. This is why Peter says that we have returned to our Shepard and Overseer. God is in control of all humanity, and does not live in fear of what His creation will do next, but all things are working towards the return of Christ, the final redemption of mankind, and realization of the final victory over Satan and his assault on God’s children. Christ has won the victory over sin and death, and Satan’s time is short, come even now Lord Jesus!

Living Well Before Men

2004-11-28T05:48:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 2:11-17

V. 11 (Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.)

I imagine that there were those in the church, upon hearing this part of Peter’s letter were appalled. Here they had waited for word from Peter on how to deal with persecution in their lives, and he is telling them to clean up their lives, not realizing that this is the greatest witness before men to be faithful to God, in the face of persecution.

They had become strangers in there own towns, since accepting Christ as their savior. I remember the crowd I hung around with before recommitting my life to the Lord, I walked as they did, drank as they did, talked as they did, I was not a stranger to them, I was one of them. After I changed my life I quit getting invited to parties. Trying to balance both worlds, as an immature Christian, I began talking about Christ as I drank, the more I drank the more I talked. This was not uncommon for me, for as I drank my inner nature always came out only now my inner nature had changed. This is what Peter was trying to tell them, they were new creatures in Christ and their inner being was now at war with the way they used to be. Not only did their old nature not understand what was happening to them, their friends had new clue as well.

This is not an easy thing to do, as we all can attest to. The flesh was comfortable with the old us, and as new creatures in Christ the Holy Spirit had set up house keeping in us and was trying to make the house comfortable for Him. When Teresa and I moved into our home, we saw traces of the past occupants we did not like. A big thing was the purple walls in the back bedroom, they had to go. The Holy Spirit sees things in our lives that are contradictory to the will of God, and wants to paint those old walls as well. But the flesh likes the purple walls, and the Spirit says no, not going to happen, this has to go. I remark as men get remarried that everything changes, anything that reminds the new wife of the old wife has to go. I experienced this and we both laugh that the only thing I have left form my old life is a cigar box full of memories. This Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out over time so that we are pleasing to God. I look back over what I lost and realized that change was good as I now enjoy what my wife and I have accomplished together.

As strangers in our own bodies, homes, and work places we have a partner in our journey, The Holy Spirit is our guide to the will of God and we will be with us through the changes we face as new creatures in Christ. Not to leave us older, but not always wiser Christians out, remember that God is not finished with us. This process of becoming holy is a lifetime journey, and there are times I feel as a stranger to God, but I am not. He knows me better than I know myself and has been with me in my times of trouble, and persecution, to mold me into what He wants me to me. It is amazing how many who come out of trouble, develop ministries to help others going through the same thing. Only God can do that, as He takes our weaknesses and makes them our strengths.

V. 12 (having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.)

Matt. 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

As God helps us to overcome our past lives, and walk according to His will, those around us will also be watching our walk. Christ says to let our light shine before men, what does Christ mean by our light? It is to let the love that comes from God, come out in our conduct so others may see that we are different from the rest of the world and desire the same sureness, love, peace that we exhibit to the rest of the world. As you step out in faith and profess your faith in Christ, as your personal savior, others will begin to watch every detail of your life, and will judge you by your past and look to see if the old life will resurface in this new you. I have always believed that people will not care how much you know until they know how much you care. As they observe our lives they will see the good works that we do, not to be seen by men, but as we walk in the will of the Father, who has enabled us and called us to these good works, that despite the persecution that we suffer at their hands they will glorify God. This day of visitation Peter talks of is any time that God may come in a special act of judgment or mercy. In this context visitation is God’s time of dealing with the unsaved, or the glorious return of Christ.

V. 13,14 (Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of those who do good.)

Submit is a word that we have trouble with, right along with the word wrrrr- wrrr- wrong. Both words require humility, and find their roots in the word pride. It seems all our days are lived in pride and rebellion, even as Christians. In a book on parenting, written by Dr. James Dobsen he states that there are twice as many strong willed children as compliant children. He also says this rebellion against parents’ rules often starts at a very early age. Rebellion is not only a characteristic of the child, but most people, regardless of age, find it hard to submit to others. I had to deal with this in the work place till I realized that it was not my bosses’ problem, but mine.
So who is the biggest target of our rebellion, government officials, employers, teachers, police officers? These positions are positions of authority and fly in the face of prideful man. In these verses Peter addresses our submission to these people. Should we be submissive to government? Even though we are citizens of Heaven, we are citizens of this world as well, and therefore we are to accept the authority of our government. Jesus said in Matthew 22:21; “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s”
Peter wrote this epistle a few years before the persecution began under Roman Emperor Nero in 64 A.D. Nero was one of the most notorious rulers of all time. During his reign there was a fire that destroyed part of the city of Rome. There was a rumor that Nero had started the fire, and this rumor was so widely accepted by the people that Nero had to find a scapegoat. He diverted feeling against himself to the Christians by accusing them of arson and by persecuting them. Peter and Paul both died in this period.
There is another story of Nero which shows how evil he was. Halfway through his reign, Nero got the idea that he was a great chariot racer. So he built a track and raced all day. Soon he decided that he should race at night too, but electricity had not been invented yet. So Nero came up with a very sick plan. During the day he would get his soldiers to go into the city and find Christians. They would cover these Christians in pitch and tie them to poles around Nero’s track. As the sun set, these Christians were set on fire and became human torches.
Peter says that governments are to punish those who do evil and reward those who do good. Generally, this is true; however there are always exceptions. Obviously, Peter was not saying that we should compromise our beliefs in our submission to government. In Acts 5:29, when Peter and the other apostles were told by the Jewish leaders to stop preaching the gospel, they said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” We don’t always agree with everything that our government does but this is no excuse for not submitting to its authority. On election night I told another brother that no matter who won the election, they would be our president and needed our prayers.

Why should we submit to the authority of government? In Romans 13:1 we find these words: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” There is no governmental authority except that which is ordained of God. Proverbs 21:1 says, The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he wishes.” God controls the actions of rulers in the same way He controls the flow of the water in the rivers. This truth was strikingly illustrated by the Lord Jesus. In his anger Pilate said, “Are you not speaking to me? Do you not know that I have power to crucify You, and the power to release you?” Jesus put Pilate in his place when He answered, “You could have no power at all against me, unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:10-11). Since all power comes from God, the believer is to be subject to that power.

V. 15 (For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-)

There were many who said that by following God, they were not following the government, and that their religion made them bad subjects. By doing the will of God and being submissive to government, they put to rest any argument from those who spoke out because they did not understand this new faith. Should Christians have a part in government? Indeed they should, as we saw the country divided on values this past election.

V. 16 (as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.)

We are indeed free, free from sin and death, and citizens of God’s kingdom, but we are not free to use our religion as a mask to disobey civil authority. I can not speed ten miles an hour, over the speed limit and claim my freedom in Christ as a reason that allows me to do so. Nor can I pray that God would keep me from getting a ticket as I try to make up a little time.

We are not our own, we are bought, by God, with the priceless blood of His Son, and as slaves we are not free to walk outside of the will of God, without suffering the consequences, just as I would if I exceeded the posted speed limit. Still think we need not obey government? Jesus, living in a time when slavery was the norm, never spoke out against slavery. We all agree that slavery is an appalling practice, yet Christ instead of speaking against slavery talked about how servants were to behave towards their masters, and masters to treat their slaves.

What about the woman brought to Jesus who was caught in adultery? Jewish law said she was to be stoned, yet Jesus stopped this, and forgave her. Not really, He invited all around Him to stone this woman, yet spoke of their own guilt as reason to examine their own lives, and then they were free to stone her. Each of us as needs to examine our lives compared to the live of Christ before we justify our actions.

V.17 (Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.)

Give honor to whom it is due. At work we have a recognition program, where each employee has the opportunity to recognize the actions of another as they go above the norm in their duties at work. It is a simple thing, yet means a lot to the recipient as another recognizes that their hard work does not go unnoticed.

All Christians form a great family who have their roots in Jesus Christ. He is our bond that makes us a band of brothers and sisters. I have a brother in the Lord that I do not talk to near as often as I should, yet I know that when I call him, we pick up the friendship as if there was no gap in it at all, no matter now long the gap in our conversations.

Fearing God is not only to stand in awe of Him, but it is indeed to fear the consequences of our actions. God gave us a book that we should guide our lives by, He also gave us the live of His Son, that we should honor. By disobeying His commandments we walk in direct disobedience to God’s will for our lives. I believe that you can get so far from God, as a Christian, that God will take you out of this world rather than see you fall farther in sin, or He can let you live in your sin, the choice is His, and leaves us in fear and awe of Him. God gave me this ministry, and I know that my actions against His will for it could take it away from me just as quickly as He first gave me the idea for it. I give it back to Him each week and ask that He use it for His glory. The biggest fear I have is that sin in my life will break fellowship between the Lord God and I. Our obedience to God allows God to use us for His will. I leave you with the words from Hebrew 13:20, 21; “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ to whom be the glory forever and ever, Amen.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

2004-11-21T15:21:00.000-08:00

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People
2 Peter 2:4-10
V 4. (Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.)
Jesus is the foundation upon which our relationship with God is built, to come to God in any other way is to trust your eternal life on a foundation that shall crumble when faced with the reality of who Jesus is. He is a living stone that embraces us when we place our faith in Him. A foundation is not the end of a building but a beginning, so that when we receive salvation through Christ, we go on to build a life centered on Christ that interacts with God, through Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rejected by men, is a reference to Israel’s rejection of Him as the Messiah, which is a direct reference to a quote from Psalm 118:22: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” Any church which is built upon any other foundation is built upon a shaky foundation that shall crumble under the reality of who Jesus is.
Jesus is God’s choice to be savior of the world, chosen as the founder of the church and the foundation on which it rests. Chosen by God before the foundation of the world was laid. We know that Jesus is precious in the sight of God, “This is my beloved Son,” Matt. 3:17, those who choose Christ as their redeemer as just as precious.
V 5. (you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.)
To think that stones can live is something I am sure none of us think is possible, yet too many think that the church is a physical building, and all their resources go to the upkeep of the building, this is all and good, but it can and does get taken to an extreme. Christ is the foundation of the church a living cornerstone upon which the spiritual house is built upon. This spiritual house is the holy family of God, built upon the living Christ. As each stone of a building rests upon the foundation, and in turn relies upon the stone laid before it, held together with mortar, so does the church of Christ, rest in the salvation received in Christ, built upon the saints that came before us, and cemented together by the word of God. Christ is not only the foundation upon which this church rests, but He is its life blood, flowing through the spiritual building causing us not to act alone, but as one grand temple in which God is worshiped and He manifest Himself, as He did in the temple in Jerusalem. The metaphor is a direct link to the temple and its worship, and the temple an illustration of the spiritual church to come.
So every stone, or son and daughter, is a spiritual sacrificer, or priest, offering up praise and thanksgiving through Christ, who being the spotless one, and only mediator between God and the church holy and acceptable to God. Therefore such sacrifices, being offered up in the name, and the merit of His Son, are all acceptable in His sight.
V. 6 (Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” )
Jesus was called a chief cornerstone because this is the stone that was laid at an angle where it becomes both the foundation of a side and an end wall. The scripture is saying that Jesus was the foundation of the faith of the Old Testament saints, as well as the gentiles. This cornerstone adorns the building, as well as supports it, for Christ lives in the church as one to draw others to it, and as its chief instrument to adding to it. Peter returns to the same thought that he stressed in verse four, when he talks of Jesus’ election, remember that Jesus was God’s choice as savior. All that come to God through Christ will be accepted, for how can God who has chosen Jesus as a savior, refuse any who come to Him through the precious blood of Christ.
Some translation use confounded instead of put to shame, I feel this is a better translation. There are three things that confound man and put him to shame; disappointment, sin, and judgment. All these will cause us to stumble in our walk, but faith overcomes them all. Granted it is hard to understand while you are going through times when you struggle in your walk and as this time drags on, but faith in Christ overcomes it. We may even be put to shame in the eyes of man, as we suffer man’s judgment, but God who is faithful to forgive us, encourages us in that same faith. “But God”, are two words that should encourage us in our walk, as we struggle in the disappointments of life, but God is there to left us up, as we struggle in sin, but God is there as a light to lead us out of that sin, as we struggle with the judgment of man, but God accepts us and welcomes us into His home.
V.7, 8 (Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” and “”A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. )
It is funny that we carry around pictures of children and are so quick to tell others, with great pride of their accomplishments, but yet we keep Christ tightly tucked away in the corner of ourselves that we call private. Our faith is far from private, what Jesus has done for us, is to be shared with all, in our testimonies, and witness. He has saved you from eternity separated from the Father, and yet we keep it to ourselves. It is funny as I began to share my faith with others on the dock at work, how many other Christians I worked beside that I would have never known about. I meet many people who I feel are different in their mannerisms, and I have to wonder what makes them different? As we begin to share our faith and our love for Christ, we realize we share a common bond that our lives are built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. He has become not only the author and finisher of our faith but the center of our faith, our joy and our hope. Jesus is a precious stone that we do not wear on our finger, or around our neck, yet He should shine in each of us that others will see the difference in us.
A stone has another quality that we all have found out as we pick ourselves up and examine the cuts on our knees; it is a point of stumbling. Stumbling, falling, and being broken is the consequence of disobedience or unbelief. Because of God’s love for us He allows us to stumble and fall in order that we can be picked up. It is God who reaches out to us in our hurting and brokenness, to lift us onto the rock of Jesus Christ that He may become the foundation of our lives. 1 Corinthians 1:23 says; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness.
The Jews were looking for a great ruler in their Messiah who would rid them of Roman oppression, and when Christ came meek, lowly, and impoverished; not seeking worldly glory they were offended at Him. The rest of the world saw it as foolishness that Christians would place their hope in the hands of a man crucified.
Those appointed to stumble, were not decreed to disobey, that they might stumble, fall and be broken. They stumble and fall through their unbelief and thus their unbelief and fall were of themselves, so out of the consequence of this were appointed to be broken; this is God’s work of judgment. Man can not be lifted up unless he first realizes he has fallen.
V.9,10 (But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who were once not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.)
We were a lost people, lost in sin, and lost to God. Again, but God because of His mercy and grace has chosen us from sin and placed us upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, and because of this relationship we grow in faith and have become a holy nation, and God’s own. We did not become chosen and become the elect of God, until we obtained mercy, so those who walk without mercy, are one commitment away from an eternity with or without God, Jesus will become either a stumbling block to them or a firm foundation. We as a royal priesthood must reach this world for Christ, and be there to encourage all to come to the cross.

Our Witness of God’s Faithfulness

2004-11-14T05:46:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 2:1-3

“Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” I left this line out of last weeks message at the end of chapter 1, verse 25. I wanted to include it in this week’s lesson for it ties the two chapters together and says a lot about Christian witness.

In Acts 8:26-31 we read of Philip, who was urged by an angel to go on a mission trip, as he began he was urged further to witness to an Ethiopian man. This man was reading the word and was struggling with the meaning of it. In verse 35 it says that Philip opened his mouth, and preached Jesus to him. This is the gospel that is preached to many, that they may believe. First we see that Philip was sent, and then urged by the Spirit to witness. We must be opened to the urging of the Holy Spirit to give to others what is in our hearts and what He impresses upon us to share at that time. We may or may not have angels stopping us on the road, but we all should strive to find the will of God for our lives, study His word, and make ourselves available to God. Anyone can witness to the grace which was given to you by God, through His Son Jesus Christ.

Also we see that the Ethiopian man was struggling with the meaning of what he was reading. Many times during my Christian walk I have struggled with the meaning of certain scriptures, only to have them revealed to me sometimes years later by others, circumstances, or the Holy Spirit. I continued to come back to these questions as they bothered me and I searched the scriptures. It is good to talk about our questions with other believers, who may have the same questions themselves. God in His infinite wisdom will reveal the answers to us in His timing, in a way that we can not miss them. Sort of like getting hit by a truck, and saying: “Man, why didn’t I see that.”

V. 1 “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,”

Hebrews 12:1 says: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The saints that have gone on before us do not sit in the clouds and cheer us on, but the life that they led and how they overcame tribulation does. As we study their life and see their faithfulness to God, we are encouraged to keep the faith.

The actions that Peter lists in verse one, are like weights that drag us down and keep us from being all that God wants us to be and hurt our witness. Malice is the willful hurting of another person out of hate for them; this can not be a part of the Christian walk. Deceit can mean more than lying, it can mean misleading someone to do your will, or get your way, by means that do not honor God. A hypocrite is some who playacts, acting without sincerity, causing again, others to doubt not only you, but God. People will watch our walk to see if it matches our talk. There are hypocrites in the church, and when confronted by others about this, I tell them I can always move over to make room for one more. For as I look over this list of wrongs Peter lays out before us I realize he is talking to the church and I can look back to times I have been guilty of all of them, but yet God convicts me of them, forgives me, and still chooses to use me. These actions make our witness void of any meaning. Sin is a trap, which catches even the most faithful of believers. Christianity is not a sprint to the finish line, but a marathon that calls for us to prepare and endure to the end.

V. 2 “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”

Matthew 18:3 “and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Mark 10:15 “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

1 Corinthians 3:2 “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;”

A new convert has placed in them a hunger for the word of God. I remember this hunger, and that it was so great I devoured the Bible, as it became my constant companion. I took it to work and read it while unloading my trailer, I marveled at the words of Jesus and that I had never heard anyone speak with such wisdom, and authority.

Peter was writing to just such a people, new to the faith, and hungry for the word. Unfortunately their friends and family did not share in their joy, and I am sure that it confused them as they searched in their own wisdom for the words to express what they were feeling. This is why Peter says to desire the pure milk of the word, the pure doctrine of the gospel, which was being taught to them. Many have asked where to start reading the Bible. The majority of people told me to start wit the book of John, and I echo this advice.

When Jesus was telling His disciples to become as little children, He was telling them to become teachable, sponges absorbing all that He had for them. If they were not teachable, or pliable, how could they accept this doctrine that Jesus taught? If they remained hardened and stiff necked to the teaching of Christ, how could they enter into the kingdom of God? In some churches where God is trying to do a new thing, as His words reminds us, some cling to the ways in which they were brought to Christian faith. They become hardened, and unusable to God. God reached them in a way that was great for them, but God treats us as individuals, knowing our hearts and what will bring us growth. Salvation is not the end product of faith, but the beginning of a life serving God and walking in His glory.

Growing thereby, or as other translations state it as unto salvation, means looking forward to the day when Christ returns and salvation is complete. During our lives we are to desire the doctrines of the gospel, that they may help us in our growth, keeping the goal in sight. Nothing can effectually promote this lifestyle than a steady diet of the word, claiming the fulfillment of its promises, and acting upon what we have read.

V.3 “If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

Coffee is an acquired taste. Remembering back to a camping trip as a child, when I got my first taste of coffee to take the chill off the morning, I put cream and sugar in it and took my first sip and my last for several years. When I began driving I began drinking it again to stay awake, or to get going in the morning. I recently began drinking flavored coffees, and am now spoiled and want to drink nothing else.

When Teresa and I began looking for a house, we had a certain house in mind. We wanted modular, so that being over forty we didn’t have a big mortgage, but we didn’t want it to look like a modular. We wanted it with dry wall throughout and lots of woodwork. It had to have the master bedroom away from the rest of the house so that I could sleep during the day. I also wanted a garage and bathroom with a whirlpool tub. We agreed that this was what we wanted and made plans to begin saving for it. I prayed that God would bless our plans, but as time went by it looked like our plans would be delayed for anther year. I saw an ad in the paper for a home and was tempted to look at it. When we walked in we saw that it was a modular, with dry wall throughout, woodwork was abundant in the house, and it set atop a half basement and a two car garage. We smiled as we walked through the house and saw that it was set up just as we had wanted. Looking in the bathroom we realized that our prayers may be answered, as there was a whirlpool tub. Six months after we put our plans before the Lord and asked for His blessing, we moved in to our home, I have tasted of the gracious of the Lord and I have acquired a taste for His goodness. We had a plan for buying a home and God sat I have a better plan. My sister sat God doesn’t care if you have a whirlpool tub, but I say He does, praise His name.

Psalm 34:8 says: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trust in Him.” Remembering that these people were being persecuted, Peter is telling them rely upon the graciousness of God, as He echoes the words of this Psalm. We have gotten a taste of Glory in our salvation, and walk with God, we have read and poured over the words that Jesus spoke and marveled and them. We have had prayers answered and tasted that the Lord is gracious to those He loves. Peter is telling us that if you are indeed saved, born again of the righteousness of Christ, tasting of the fruits of that righteousness, walking in the truth that we find by devouring the word of God, rely upon all that you have experienced and read to carry you through all tribulation. Rely on the one who called you out of sin, and set you on the path of salvation, and rely on the one who will one day split the sky and return for you, His bride, dressed in the robes washed white by His blood, beautiful before the Lord, and takes you home to be with Him forever. The Lord is good, blessed be His name.

What is Eternal?

2004-11-07T15:23:00.000-08:00

V. 20 “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”

After the fall of man God did not worry about what to do with this creature that He loved and desired to fellowship with. He had before the foundation of the earth, before the law was given, or any sacrifice was given, had preordained that Christ, as the lamb, would take away the sins of mankind. Also from this sacrificial system, Christ was the significance and the virtue, from which God’s people would be saved. As each bull was slaughtered, and its blood sprinkled around the altar, God’s was pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of His Son preordained as the reconciliation of man to his God.

The last times, or the dispensation of grace, are a time of great change, but also a time of unity. This time stretches from Christ ascension to His coming in judgment.

V.21 “who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

The statement to believe in God, and believe there is a God can be confused. Many believe there is a God, and believe He is the God of the bible, but God wants us to more than just believe in Him as just existing. What good is it to believe that there is a God and not believe that He is an active part of your life? Jesus say in John 14:1; “you believe in God, believe also in me.” To truly believe in someone is to grasp the truth of their existence and support their lives. From reading Peter Pan and watching the many takes on the screen, I learned that in order for Peter to exist, others had to believe in him. Want to fly believe in him, want to defeat the pirates, believe in him, want to return to never never land believe in Peter. “I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it. There is no logical standing place between the two. Be satisfied with nothing less than a faith that swims in the deeps of divine revelation; a faith that paddles about the edge of the water is poor faith at best. It is little better than a dry-land faith, and is not good for much.” C.H. Spurgeon.

Faith is the action of belief, it is through faith that we believe in God, and it is that faith which leads us to love Him. It is out of that love that we desire a relationship with Him, and it is by faith that we realize that we can not have a relationship with Him, save by the blood of Christ, and it is by faith that we accept that sacrifice and offer it back to God, as the only atoning sacrifice for the sins that we have committed against a just and holy God. Furthermore, it is by faith that we believe that God is an active part of our lives and that Christ will return for His church and we shall be with Him forever.

The resurrected Christ is the substance upon which we base our faith on. By His resurrection, God has declared openly His acceptance of Christ as the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus also received power to enable Him to impart faith to us; our faith is not only in Christ, but also through Him. Our faith in God comes through the resurrected Christ, we come to God through the resurrected Christ, and we too one day will have complete fellowship with the Father through Christ.

V 22. “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,”

To purify something is to get all impurities out of it. The word of God received through the Holy Spirit, cleanses us of all untruths, and is manifested in our lives by our unconditional love to the brethren.

We first heard the truth, the gospel, as it was given to us, either through another, or through reading it ourselves. This is why we are called to witness to the truth that is found in us, and in the word of God, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There have been many times I shared in this truth with others that I was amazed that I was even able to remember all that I was able to share, and other times I stumbled for the right words to say. By making ourselves available to God, He will use us to spread the gospel to others, in a way in which He wants it spread, through the Holy Spirit.

Our faith is manifested by our obedience of the word, and by that obedience we believe on the one who came into the world to save us. To believe in something is one thing, but to believe on something is put your very existence on it. By believing in Jesus as our savior, we trust our eternal salvation to the fact of His death, resurrection, ascension, and return.

Peter mentions that we are to have a sincere love for the brethren. This love is given without hypocrisy; it is not put on as we would a play, but given without pretending. This love is born out of a relationship with God, and manifested through the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Loving with a pure heart also means loving without a motive, whether it is out of personal gain, or avoiding conflict, we tend to pretend to love someone, when in truth we confess with our mouths that we don’t even like them. How do we get to the point of expressing this love? Our prayer is “Lord, teach me to love.”

V 23,24,25. “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers away, And the flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Peter wants us to see as we were born into an earthly family with ties, and devotion to that family, we are reborn into the family of God with the tie that binds us together in Jesus Christ. We are to have the same devotion to each other, being brothers and sisters in Christ. For we have all received the same salvation, by the word of God. Not to say that the word of God is our salvation, but the word is the means by which we come to the need of a savior.

All flesh is perishable, and all our glory is pale compared to the glory of God. All things will pass away and the one thing that will be left is the eternal souls of believers. So if we are all that will be left, where should our investment be made? Shall we cut each other down and worry over petty arguments, or out of love for others, invest in them, listening to them, hurting with them, celebrating with them as we share in the joy of the Lord, and our salvation.

We are beginning to see Peter’s answer to the persecution they are experiencing, it lies in each other. Supporting one another in times of trial makes us stronger and helps our love for one another grow.

Living Before our Father

2004-10-31T11:39:00.000-08:00

Living Before our Father

V13. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Since the prophets searched diligently the prophecies, and ministered what they had found, knowing that they would not share in them, and that angels even desired to look into them, Peter tells the reader to be mindful of these things. To gird up ones loins, was to take the long outer rope and fasten it around your waist in order that you do not impede movement as your travel, fight, or work. To gird up the loins of your mind was to remind yourself that you could expect trouble as you stepped out in faith, but to remember who it is that saved you and lives within you. We are to be ready to face lives troubles with the sureness of who we are in Christ Jesus, protecting the word which has been given unto us. To be sober is to practice spiritual self-restraint, so as not to be tempted by the world’s allurement, and our own senses, resting patiently, solely in the hope of Jesus’ return, when again our salvation will be complete.

V14. “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance:”

Peter goes from being sober and enduring to being obedient as children. When I think of obedience, children are the last image that comes in my mind, but Peter is saying that we are to be obedient to our salvation, and not that obedience brings our salvation. Our obedience to God and His word comes out of our love for Him and for what He has done for us, also out of respect for who He is, and fears from the correction of a loving Father.

Lust is formed from the emptiness that came about from being alienated from God, since sin entered the world through self will, and not God’s will. Once salvation is achieved through faith, the greatest obedience of all, we enter back into a relationship with God, and that void is filled with His love, so we are not chasing our will, but His, we are not conforming to our old nature, but God’s nature. As Christians we no longer walk in ignorance, but in the knowledge of our salvation, as we explore God’s will for us.

V 15, 16. “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘be holy, for I am holy’.”

God, whose characteristic is holy, calls us to be holy. We are already holy consecrated to God in the inner man, but God is calling us to be holy in the outer man. God is the image that we are to base our walk in life upon. I remember the slogan that went around at the height of Michael Jordan’s popularity, “Be like Mike”. I also remember that rap singer Nelly put a bandage on his face as a message to a friend in prison, soon all the kids were wearing a bandage in the same spot. We are quick to go along with what is fashionable, wearing the latest fads, and going along with the crowd. God calls us to walk apart from the crowd, separated unto Him. The true nature of a man is found in the way he behaves when no one is around this is when he feels free enough to be his true self. Unfortunately at times this is also when God watches us most, for it is then that the true nature of our heart is displayed, free from the eye of man. We are at times more concerned by what people think about us then what God thinks about us. Then how do we mirror our Father? By first making sure that the inner man is right with the creator. I always thought that an interesting phrase, get right with God, what does it mean?

We have inherited from our birth a sinful nature that cannot exist with God, so in order to exist with God we must change that nature. To change by oneself is impossible, so how can this change be accomplished? One must be reborn, and accept a new nature, one that is holy even as the Father is Holy. By accepting Jesus as your personal savior, you are changed within, as the savior comes to live within you in the person of the Holy Spirit. To be holy in the outer man is something we accomplish, again with the help of the Father, by thinking as God thinks and living as God wills. To know the will of God, simply ask, and God who reveals things to us in a way in which He chooses, and is knowing of our needs, will reveal it to you. Jesus said in Matthew 11:15, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” I feel that God is speaking to us, but are we listening?

V 17. “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;”

Calling on someone is a phrase I don’t hear very often. It means to check in on someone to see how they are doing, but we do not call on the Father to see how He is doing, we do it to see how we are doing. There are times when I just need to feel close to God, that I call on Him to see how He and I are doing. I ask my wife from time to time how are we doing to make sure that our relationship is going in the direction that we both want to go, how wonderful it is, and fearful, to come to the Father and ask Him, “How are things between us Lord?”

In Acts 10:34 Peter makes this statement, “In truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality.” God does not judge us by class status or race, but judges us by the image of His Son Jesus Christ. Judges have a standard in the law that they decide their judgments upon. Unfortunately, a few judges try to push their personal opinions upon others, from their bully pulpits. Jesus is God’s standard in which He shall judge all mankind, since being born again, and saved by grace, we are no longer under the law, but under the grace. God’s judgment upon His people will be upon what we did with the life He has given us, and what we did with the gifts that He has given us, and what we did with His Son.

Conducting our lives in fear, is not hiding ourselves from the rest of the world, but walking in the world with the confidence of who we are in Christ Jesus. The fear Peter talks of is a reverential fear, God who is our Father is also our judge, this may cause us to fear, and this fear keeps us in check to walk in the will of God, I now that in my own life when I think of the freedom in which I am able to conduct myself, I wonder if God would approve of my actions. It is this fear and not wanting to displease God that keeps me honest before Him. There is no fear in love, but in our imperfect state, we need this fear to keep us in the will of the Father. It is also this fear that even though faced with death, many kept to their faith, and would not deny Christ. I can only imagine the thoughts that would pass through my own mind, if faced with death. I would not want to die, but I dread facing God knowing I chose my live over my love for Him.

V 18, 19. “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Another motive to conduct our lives in reverential fear is to consider the cost of our salvation. When an Israelite was sold as a bond-servant because of debt, he could be purchased back by his brethren. When we were bought from a life where we were prisoners to sin and death, we were bought with an imperishable ransom whose weight far outweighs that of silver or gold, in the precious blood of Christ. Christ took our nature to become our kinsmen and our redeemer. Remember that He by whom we are redeemed, is also He for whom we are redeemed. Therefore our life is not our own, for we are bought with a price and are servants to the one who has bought us. Christ came to live among us, was subject to the same influences of sin that we are today, and yet became the sinless one and therefore qualified to serve as our savior.

It is funny as I study the epistle letter that Peter wrote to those suffering from persecution that I am realizing that Peter has yet to address others, but addresses instead our conduct. It is as if to say not to worry about what others can do to you, but instead worry about your relationship to God. I don’t see the pity party that many require as they only look at their own situations, but to look upon God and remember who you are in His Son Jesus Christ. Peter is saying simply, stay focused, on God and His will for your life. As I sit here and study with the beautiful day on the outside, NASCAR playing in the background, and a list of things I need to, on my only full day off, these words ring true, focus.