The Word of God is the only offensive weapon mentioned in the list of armor. Since Paul used rhema instead of logos for "word" in Ephesians 6:17, I believe Paul is referring to the spoken Word of God. We are to defend ourselves against the evil one by speaking aloud God's Word.
Why is it so important to speak God's Word in addition to believing it and thinking it? Because Satan is a created being, and he doesn't perfectly know what you're thinking. By observing you, he can pretty well tell what you are thinking, just as any student of human behavior can. And it isn't difficult for him to know what you're thinking if he put the thought in. But he doesn't know what you're going to do before you do it. He can put thoughts into your mind, and he will know whether you buy his lie by how you behave.
Satan can try to influence you by planting thoughts in your head, but he can't read your thoughts. If you're going to resist Satan, you must do so verbally so he can understand you and be put on the run.
You can communicate with God in your mind and spirit because He knows the thoughts and intents of your heart (Hebrews 4:12). Your unspoken communion with God is your private sanctuary; Satan cannot eavesdrop on you. But by the same token, if you only tell Satan with your thoughts to leave, he won't leave because he is under no obligation to obey your thoughts. You must defeat Satan by speaking out. The good news is that most direct attacks occur at night or when you are alone.
One night I woke up absolutely terrified for no apparent reason, and I knew it was an attack from Satan. Without lifting my head from the pillow, I applied the two-step remedy suggested in James 4:7. In the sanctuary of my heart, I submitted to God. Then I was able to resist Satan with one spoken word - Jesus - and the fear was instantly and totally gone. I went back to sleep in complete peace. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
I Corinthians 1:18-31; Psalm 15; Matthew 5:1-12
O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and in the longing of our hearts, by the words of my lips and in the thoughts that we form. Speak, O Lord, for your servants listen. Amen.
"For consider your call, brothers and sisters, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth, but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are..."
Consider your call. Consider who you were - who you are - and what God has promised to do for you and through you.
And consider too these words
"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.... For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."
What God has chosen is a confounding thing. A thing which overturns the wisdom of the world. A thing which overturns all social expectation, all scientifically determined truths, all human strength and power - And establishes in its place the inexplicable.
Blessed are the poor in Spirit - Blessed are they that mourn - Blessed are the meek. - Blessed are they who are persecuted because of righteousness. - Blessed are you when people insult you and say all manner of evil against you falsely because of me...
That which God has chosen - that which God blesses - is not what the world would choose or what the world would bless - and God states that straight up front when he says: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
God has chosen you
- you with your worries and anxieties about the future
- you with your grade school education
- you with your bad back and your aching neck and feet -
- you with your private thoughts - and your secret past -
- you with your desperate needs and your hidden fears,
just as he chose so long ago Peter with his bull headed stubborn bravado
- and Matthew with his unsavoury background as a tax-collector,
- Simon, with his reputation as a Zealot
- and James and John, two fishermen with a strange ambition to somehow be first in the Kingdom they thought Jesus was going to establish somewhere in the middle of the Roman Empire.
The Lord chose nobodies to be the first to know his teaching, the first to witness his miracles, and the first to spread the good news - the good news concerning the message of the cross. - the good news that God has acted to bring salvation to the world and that all we have to do is to believe and trust in him.
God chose nobodies to be the first to know and to spread the good news that eventually would change the world.
We all look my friends, for salvation - for wholeness.
But some look, not to God, but to other things they look not to faith in Christ Jesus and in the message of the cross, but to programs and blueprints and clever items of organization to doctors and lawyers and those wise in the ways of science and technology.
They look for better jobs, bigger pay cheques, more interesting hobbies, different marriage partners, and while all these things have an appearance of wisdom, while they all, in turn, may indeed be very good and even very necessary things they do not save anyone - often they do not even make us very happy...
In Corinth the church was divided in various factions and groups as the people there became captivated by one or another viewpoint concerning what was good and what was true and what was of saving benefit.
As we heard last week some boasted of how they followed Apollos, how he had the better way - and indeed Apollos was an eloquent and persuasive person, a person who planted many seeds of faith in the lives of others.
Others thought the way the message was preached by Peter was best that heeding him was the only thing to do - that because he was one of the twelve he should be heeded before all others - and so it went.
There was a group of people who insisted that all moral codes were irrelevant because the written law had been superseded by the spiritual law of freedom and of life, and others who were incredibly strict about what a person could or could not do - for the exactly same reason, and they argued back and forth incessantly about who was right and who was wrong and whether or not it affected one's status in the eyes of God, whether or not it affected one's salvation or the salvation of the entire community.
In our day and age and after close to 2000 years of faith in Christ Jesus you might think that we are exempt from such disputes - from such misunderstandings about what is important and what is helpful to us before God - but sadly we are not.
There are still those who believe that all the problems that they have and all the problems that our church and our community and indeed our city has can be solved by following one person instead of another; that they can be solved by changing one's minister or mayor - or by promoting one kind of theology or promoting one particular way of doing things over another.
There are still those who believe that if they could only change the programs that are offered, if they could only do things in a modern manner - or if they could only do them in the old fashioned way - or if they could only do them in the way that they are personally comfortable with then everything would be fine in the church or in their lodge or club - or even in their families...
I do not know, my friends, if the message of the cross is modern or old fashioned. But I do know that it isn't always comfortable.
It isn't always comfortable because it tells us that we are a people in desperate need - that we are a people who easily descend to acts of rejection - and ultimately to violence - to silence the voices we do not like to hear.
The message of the cross isn't always comfortable because it tells us not just that we are forgiven by God, but because it tells us well that we need forgiving in the first place.
And because it tells us that salvation is not something that we can win or earn, but rather that it is something free and gracious and ultimately only available to those who humble enough and hungry enough, to accept it.
Some people don't like that.
They think that they are pretty good, that they have good ideas, and that while they are not perfect, they still have a valuable contribution to make, one that will help set things straight - and well they might; but as long as you think that it is from you or from so other human agency or effort that the goodness comes - that healing power comes, you are missing the good news concerning the cross of Jesus Christ - you are missing all the marvellous freedom that comes when you embrace the truth concerning God's love.
Consider your calling my brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are..."
These words do not mean that God does not use people of status and stature as well.
"He does - but only, remarkably enough, when they have learned that their usefulness does not derive from their position or their abilities, but rather from his presence in their lives."
It is God's presence that makes the difference. And it is to God that we should turn when we have a problem, or when we are looking to promote healing and wholeness in ourselves and in those around us.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who was for many years an outstanding pastor in London, England, says this:
"We Christians often quote 'not by might nor by power, but by my spirit saith the Lord,' and yet in practice we seem to rely upon the mighty dollar and the power of the press and advertising. We seem to think that our influence will depend on our technique and the program we can put forward and that it would be the numbers, the largeness, the bigness that would prove effective. We seem to have forgotten that God has done most of his deeds in the church throughout its history through remnants. We seem to have forgotten the great story of Gideon, for instance, and how God insisted on reducing the 32,000 men down to 300 before he would make use of them. We have become fascinated by the idea of bigness, and we are quite convinced that if we can only stage, yes, that's the word, stage something really big before the world, we will shake it and produce a mighty religious awakening. That seems to be the modern conception of authority."
There are many different things that we turn to for salvation - many different things that we seek out as a means of solving our problems - both those that are personal - and those that linked to our life together as church or a community.
"I find people everywhere who seem to think that it takes money to do God's work, that nothing can happen unless you get money first - "If we could only get so much money, then we could begin a great ministry." It seems to me that is a reversal of the whole position of scripture, for in scripture you do not begin with money, you begin with ministry. Anybody can be a minister of God. That is the glory of the Church, because God has put us all in the ministry. If you begin to do what God wants you to do, right where you are, and God begins to work through you, all the money that is ever necessary, will come.
God has chosen what seems foolishness and weak to save the world. He has chosen to use the way of faith and of trust to bless the world. And he calls us to rely upon him, and his Spirit, his presence in our lives, for everything.
He calls us to understand that
- no programs and devices,
- no surveys and samples
- no methods of government or organization
- no raw use of power
- or clever use of technology
- no fund raising nor system of taxation
- no single leader or person
can gain us what we need, what we all need.
What the Lord requires - what we require - is that we act justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
Believe my friends
- believe that God can help
- believe that only God can help
- and believe that God does help
and ask him to do so - ask him, and seek to follow the in the way of Christ - in the way of justice and mercy and salvation will come to you - and to your household - and indeed to the church and the world.
Blessed Be God, Day by Day, Amen
"For consider your call, brothers and sisters, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth, but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are..."
Consider your call. Consider who you were - who you are - and what God has promised to do for you and through you.
And consider too these words
"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.... For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."
What God has chosen is a confounding thing. A thing which overturns the wisdom of the world. A thing which overturns all social expectation, all scientifically determined truths, all human strength and power - And establishes in its place the inexplicable.
Blessed are the poor in Spirit - Blessed are they that mourn - Blessed are the meek. - Blessed are they who are persecuted because of righteousness. - Blessed are you when people insult you and say all manner of evil against you falsely because of me...
That which God has chosen - that which God blesses - is not what the world would choose or what the world would bless - and God states that straight up front when he says: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
God has chosen you
- you with your worries and anxieties about the future
- you with your grade school education
- you with your bad back and your aching neck and feet -
- you with your private thoughts - and your secret past -
- you with your desperate needs and your hidden fears,
just as he chose so long ago Peter with his bull headed stubborn bravado
- and Matthew with his unsavoury background as a tax-collector,
- Simon, with his reputation as a Zealot
- and James and John, two fishermen with a strange ambition to somehow be first in the Kingdom they thought Jesus was going to establish somewhere in the middle of the Roman Empire.
The Lord chose nobodies to be the first to know his teaching, the first to witness his miracles, and the first to spread the good news - the good news concerning the message of the cross. - the good news that God has acted to bring salvation to the world and that all we have to do is to believe and trust in him.
God chose nobodies to be the first to know and to spread the good news that eventually would change the world.
We all look my friends, for salvation - for wholeness.
But some look, not to God, but to other things they look not to faith in Christ Jesus and in the message of the cross, but to programs and blueprints and clever items of organization to doctors and lawyers and those wise in the ways of science and technology.
They look for better jobs, bigger pay cheques, more interesting hobbies, different marriage partners, and while all these things have an appearance of wisdom, while they all, in turn, may indeed be very good and even very necessary things they do not save anyone - often they do not even make us very happy...
In Corinth the church was divided in various factions and groups as the people there became captivated by one or another viewpoint concerning what was good and what was true and what was of saving benefit.
As we heard last week some boasted of how they followed Apollos, how he had the better way - and indeed Apollos was an eloquent and persuasive person, a person who planted many seeds of faith in the lives of others.
Others thought the way the message was preached by Peter was best that heeding him was the only thing to do - that because he was one of the twelve he should be heeded before all others - and so it went.
There was a group of people who insisted that all moral codes were irrelevant because the written law had been superseded by the spiritual law of freedom and of life, and others who were incredibly strict about what a person could or could not do - for the exactly same reason, and they argued back and forth incessantly about who was right and who was wrong and whether or not it affected one's status in the eyes of God, whether or not it affected one's salvation or the salvation of the entire community.
In our day and age and after close to 2000 years of faith in Christ Jesus you might think that we are exempt from such disputes - from such misunderstandings about what is important and what is helpful to us before God - but sadly we are not.
There are still those who believe that all the problems that they have and all the problems that our church and our community and indeed our city has can be solved by following one person instead of another; that they can be solved by changing one's minister or mayor - or by promoting one kind of theology or promoting one particular way of doing things over another.
There are still those who believe that if they could only change the programs that are offered, if they could only do things in a modern manner - or if they could only do them in the old fashioned way - or if they could only do them in the way that they are personally comfortable with then everything would be fine in the church or in their lodge or club - or even in their families...
I do not know, my friends, if the message of the cross is modern or old fashioned. But I do know that it isn't always comfortable.
It isn't always comfortable because it tells us that we are a people in desperate need - that we are a people who easily descend to acts of rejection - and ultimately to violence - to silence the voices we do not like to hear.
The message of the cross isn't always comfortable because it tells us not just that we are forgiven by God, but because it tells us well that we need forgiving in the first place.
And because it tells us that salvation is not something that we can win or earn, but rather that it is something free and gracious and ultimately only available to those who humble enough and hungry enough, to accept it.
Some people don't like that.
They think that they are pretty good, that they have good ideas, and that while they are not perfect, they still have a valuable contribution to make, one that will help set things straight - and well they might; but as long as you think that it is from you or from so other human agency or effort that the goodness comes - that healing power comes, you are missing the good news concerning the cross of Jesus Christ - you are missing all the marvellous freedom that comes when you embrace the truth concerning God's love.
Consider your calling my brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are..."
These words do not mean that God does not use people of status and stature as well.
"He does - but only, remarkably enough, when they have learned that their usefulness does not derive from their position or their abilities, but rather from his presence in their lives."
It is God's presence that makes the difference. And it is to God that we should turn when we have a problem, or when we are looking to promote healing and wholeness in ourselves and in those around us.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who was for many years an outstanding pastor in London, England, says this:
"We Christians often quote 'not by might nor by power, but by my spirit saith the Lord,' and yet in practice we seem to rely upon the mighty dollar and the power of the press and advertising. We seem to think that our influence will depend on our technique and the program we can put forward and that it would be the numbers, the largeness, the bigness that would prove effective. We seem to have forgotten that God has done most of his deeds in the church throughout its history through remnants. We seem to have forgotten the great story of Gideon, for instance, and how God insisted on reducing the 32,000 men down to 300 before he would make use of them. We have become fascinated by the idea of bigness, and we are quite convinced that if we can only stage, yes, that's the word, stage something really big before the world, we will shake it and produce a mighty religious awakening. That seems to be the modern conception of authority."
There are many different things that we turn to for salvation - many different things that we seek out as a means of solving our problems - both those that are personal - and those that linked to our life together as church or a community.
"I find people everywhere who seem to think that it takes money to do God's work, that nothing can happen unless you get money first - "If we could only get so much money, then we could begin a great ministry." It seems to me that is a reversal of the whole position of scripture, for in scripture you do not begin with money, you begin with ministry. Anybody can be a minister of God. That is the glory of the Church, because God has put us all in the ministry. If you begin to do what God wants you to do, right where you are, and God begins to work through you, all the money that is ever necessary, will come.
God has chosen what seems foolishness and weak to save the world. He has chosen to use the way of faith and of trust to bless the world. And he calls us to rely upon him, and his Spirit, his presence in our lives, for everything.
He calls us to understand that
- no programs and devices,
- no surveys and samples
- no methods of government or organization
- no raw use of power
- or clever use of technology
- no fund raising nor system of taxation
- no single leader or person
can gain us what we need, what we all need.
What the Lord requires - what we require - is that we act justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
Believe my friends
- believe that God can help
- believe that only God can help
- and believe that God does help
and ask him to do so - ask him, and seek to follow the in the way of Christ - in the way of justice and mercy and salvation will come to you - and to your household - and indeed to the church and the world.
Blessed Be God, Day by Day, Amen
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by sodoing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2
Today as I was reading my Bible this verse jumped out at me. To me it is saying let the love of God shine through me. In Hebrew times it was a common practice for people to take strangers in overnight. They showed the Love of Christ, not knowing if who they were helping was a spy or a brother or sister in the Lord.
Today we would say times are very different, but we can still show the Love of Christ in many ways in our daily lives. Many people cross our paths in a day's time. We don't know the struggles they are going through. Most of the time we see the bad side of people. But this might be from being let down or from being hurt so many times by others. If we would start by offering to open a door for them or say a kind word, offering a word of encouragement to a person whom is hurting. Trying to have a smile on your face, a pleasantness that will allow others to see Christ in us.
Helping others without expecting anything in return can bring many blessings. Getting to know people has been a blessing to me. After we befriend a person, we get to see through the hard and ruff shell that all of us have. The Lord has brought many people into my life, just at the time I needed encouragement or someone to talk with. TO ME THEY WERE ANGELS SENT BY GOD. By taking a step in faith, by letting Gods Light shine through you. You might be an angel that someone needs today. LET THE LIGHT OF THE LORD SHINE THROUGH YOU TODAY.
Father God, we thank you for how you bring people into our lives. For the many ways you bless us in and through others. Help us to entertain strangers and show them your love through us. Shine through us (I want to be in the Light as You are in the Light... ) each and every day Lord. Even in times when people treat us rudely and unfairly. Show us ways to help and encourage others. Amen and Amen.
Today as I was reading my Bible this verse jumped out at me. To me it is saying let the love of God shine through me. In Hebrew times it was a common practice for people to take strangers in overnight. They showed the Love of Christ, not knowing if who they were helping was a spy or a brother or sister in the Lord.
Today we would say times are very different, but we can still show the Love of Christ in many ways in our daily lives. Many people cross our paths in a day's time. We don't know the struggles they are going through. Most of the time we see the bad side of people. But this might be from being let down or from being hurt so many times by others. If we would start by offering to open a door for them or say a kind word, offering a word of encouragement to a person whom is hurting. Trying to have a smile on your face, a pleasantness that will allow others to see Christ in us.
Helping others without expecting anything in return can bring many blessings. Getting to know people has been a blessing to me. After we befriend a person, we get to see through the hard and ruff shell that all of us have. The Lord has brought many people into my life, just at the time I needed encouragement or someone to talk with. TO ME THEY WERE ANGELS SENT BY GOD. By taking a step in faith, by letting Gods Light shine through you. You might be an angel that someone needs today. LET THE LIGHT OF THE LORD SHINE THROUGH YOU TODAY.
Father God, we thank you for how you bring people into our lives. For the many ways you bless us in and through others. Help us to entertain strangers and show them your love through us. Shine through us (I want to be in the Light as You are in the Light... ) each and every day Lord. Even in times when people treat us rudely and unfairly. Show us ways to help and encourage others. Amen and Amen.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Romans 13:8
"Owe no one anything except to love one another,for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8
Many people demonstrate that their need to win when trying to resolve conflicts with others is greater than their regard for relationships. Why is winning so important to us? Why must we always be right? The person who is driven to win, to be right, or to be first is insecure. Insecure people are driven to perform.
Security comes from relationships, not achievements. A secure person is a person who is comfortable with himself and others. It is easy to communicate with a secure person, but you often end up clashing with a driven person. Would you rather be a lover or an achiever? Which would you prefer your spouse, children, coworkers and friends to be?
Relationships are more important than achievements to God. Jesus declared that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love people (Matthew 22:36-40). The purpose of the Word of God is to govern our relationships with God and man. If our achievements in life don't enhance our relationships with God, our spouse and children, and others, then we are not fulfilling God's commandments.
Is there ever a time when we need to assert ourselves in conflicts? Yes, we need to stand our ground on moral issues. But we never have the right to violate the fruit of the Spirit in doing so. If what you do can't be done in love and self-control, then maybe it's better left undone. And remember: Your authority does not increase with the volume of your voice. When you resort to shouting in conflict, you are reacting in the flesh. You have lost control of the only person you can control: yourself. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Many people demonstrate that their need to win when trying to resolve conflicts with others is greater than their regard for relationships. Why is winning so important to us? Why must we always be right? The person who is driven to win, to be right, or to be first is insecure. Insecure people are driven to perform.
Security comes from relationships, not achievements. A secure person is a person who is comfortable with himself and others. It is easy to communicate with a secure person, but you often end up clashing with a driven person. Would you rather be a lover or an achiever? Which would you prefer your spouse, children, coworkers and friends to be?
Relationships are more important than achievements to God. Jesus declared that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love people (Matthew 22:36-40). The purpose of the Word of God is to govern our relationships with God and man. If our achievements in life don't enhance our relationships with God, our spouse and children, and others, then we are not fulfilling God's commandments.
Is there ever a time when we need to assert ourselves in conflicts? Yes, we need to stand our ground on moral issues. But we never have the right to violate the fruit of the Spirit in doing so. If what you do can't be done in love and self-control, then maybe it's better left undone. And remember: Your authority does not increase with the volume of your voice. When you resort to shouting in conflict, you are reacting in the flesh. You have lost control of the only person you can control: yourself. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2
Today as I was reading my Bible this verse jumped out at me. To me it is saying let the love of God shine through me. In Hebrew times it was a common practice for people to take strangers in overnight. They showed the Love of Christ, not knowing if who they were helping was a spy or a brother or sister in the Lord.
Today we would say times are very different, but we can still show the Love of Christ in many ways in our daily lives. Many people cross our paths in a day's time. We don't know the struggles they are going through. Most of the time we see the bad side of people. But this might be from being let down or from being hurt so many times by others. If we would start by offering to open a door for them or say a kind word, offering a word of encouragement to a person whom is hurting. Trying to have a smile on your face, a pleasantness that will allow others to see Christ in us.
Helping others without expecting anything in return can bring many blessings. Getting to know people has been a blessing to me. After we befriend a person, we get to see through the hard and ruff shell that all of us have. The Lord has brought many people into my life, just at the time I needed encouragement or someone to talk with. TO ME THEY WERE ANGELS SENT BY GOD. By taking a step in faith, by letting Gods Light shine through you. You might be an angel that someone needs today. LET THE LIGHT OF THE LORD SHINE THROUGH YOU TODAY.
Father God, we thank you for how you bring people into our lives. For the many ways you bless us in and through others. Help us to entertain strangers and show them your love through us. Shine through us (I want to be in the Light as You are in the Light... ) each and every day Lord. Even in times when people treat us rudely and unfairly. Show us ways to help and encourage others. Amen and Amen.
Today as I was reading my Bible this verse jumped out at me. To me it is saying let the love of God shine through me. In Hebrew times it was a common practice for people to take strangers in overnight. They showed the Love of Christ, not knowing if who they were helping was a spy or a brother or sister in the Lord.
Today we would say times are very different, but we can still show the Love of Christ in many ways in our daily lives. Many people cross our paths in a day's time. We don't know the struggles they are going through. Most of the time we see the bad side of people. But this might be from being let down or from being hurt so many times by others. If we would start by offering to open a door for them or say a kind word, offering a word of encouragement to a person whom is hurting. Trying to have a smile on your face, a pleasantness that will allow others to see Christ in us.
Helping others without expecting anything in return can bring many blessings. Getting to know people has been a blessing to me. After we befriend a person, we get to see through the hard and ruff shell that all of us have. The Lord has brought many people into my life, just at the time I needed encouragement or someone to talk with. TO ME THEY WERE ANGELS SENT BY GOD. By taking a step in faith, by letting Gods Light shine through you. You might be an angel that someone needs today. LET THE LIGHT OF THE LORD SHINE THROUGH YOU TODAY.
Father God, we thank you for how you bring people into our lives. For the many ways you bless us in and through others. Help us to entertain strangers and show them your love through us. Shine through us (I want to be in the Light as You are in the Light... ) each and every day Lord. Even in times when people treat us rudely and unfairly. Show us ways to help and encourage others. Amen and Amen.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Romans 13:8
"Owe no one anything except to love one another,for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8
Many people demonstrate that their need to win when trying to resolve conflicts with others is greater than their regard for relationships. Why is winning so important to us? Why must we always be right? The person who is driven to win, to be right, or to be first is insecure. Insecure people are driven to perform.
Security comes from relationships, not achievements. A secure person is a person who is comfortable with himself and others. It is easy to communicate with a secure person, but you often end up clashing with a driven person. Would you rather be a lover or an achiever? Which would you prefer your spouse, children, coworkers and friends to be?
Relationships are more important than achievements to God. Jesus declared that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love people (Matthew 22:36-40). The purpose of the Word of God is to govern our relationships with God and man. If our achievements in life don't enhance our relationships with God, our spouse and children, and others, then we are not fulfilling God's commandments.
Is there ever a time when we need to assert ourselves in conflicts? Yes, we need to stand our ground on moral issues. But we never have the right to violate the fruit of the Spirit in doing so. If what you do can't be done in love and self-control, then maybe it's better left undone. And remember: Your authority does not increase with the volume of your voice. When you resort to shouting in conflict, you are reacting in the flesh. You have lost control of the only person you can control: yourself. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Many people demonstrate that their need to win when trying to resolve conflicts with others is greater than their regard for relationships. Why is winning so important to us? Why must we always be right? The person who is driven to win, to be right, or to be first is insecure. Insecure people are driven to perform.
Security comes from relationships, not achievements. A secure person is a person who is comfortable with himself and others. It is easy to communicate with a secure person, but you often end up clashing with a driven person. Would you rather be a lover or an achiever? Which would you prefer your spouse, children, coworkers and friends to be?
Relationships are more important than achievements to God. Jesus declared that the two greatest commandments are to love God and love people (Matthew 22:36-40). The purpose of the Word of God is to govern our relationships with God and man. If our achievements in life don't enhance our relationships with God, our spouse and children, and others, then we are not fulfilling God's commandments.
Is there ever a time when we need to assert ourselves in conflicts? Yes, we need to stand our ground on moral issues. But we never have the right to violate the fruit of the Spirit in doing so. If what you do can't be done in love and self-control, then maybe it's better left undone. And remember: Your authority does not increase with the volume of your voice. When you resort to shouting in conflict, you are reacting in the flesh. You have lost control of the only person you can control: yourself. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Hebrews 13:8
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8
The fact that you claim to believe is not the issue of faith. It's what you believe or in whom you believe that will determine whether or not your faith will be rewarded. Everybody walks by faith every day. Every time you drive on the highway, you do so by faith. Are the objects of your faith on the highway reliable? Most of the time they are because most drivers drive safely. But you may have been involved in an accident because you placed your faith in another driver who proved to be untrustworthy.
What happens when the object of your faith fails you? You give up on it - maybe not immediately, but how many failures would you tolerate before saying never again? Once faith is damaged or lost, it is very difficult to regain. Your belief isn't the problem; it's the object of your belief that either rewards or destroys your faith. If your marriage partner has been unfaithful to you, or a friend or relative has hurt you badly, your faith in that person is weak because he or she did not live up to your trust. When faith in a person is shattered, it may take months to rebuild it.
The ultimate faith-object, of course, is not the sun, but the Son. It is His immutability--the fact that He never changes - that makes Him eminently trustworthy (Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6). He has never failed to be and do all that He said He would be and do. He is eternally faithful. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
The fact that you claim to believe is not the issue of faith. It's what you believe or in whom you believe that will determine whether or not your faith will be rewarded. Everybody walks by faith every day. Every time you drive on the highway, you do so by faith. Are the objects of your faith on the highway reliable? Most of the time they are because most drivers drive safely. But you may have been involved in an accident because you placed your faith in another driver who proved to be untrustworthy.
What happens when the object of your faith fails you? You give up on it - maybe not immediately, but how many failures would you tolerate before saying never again? Once faith is damaged or lost, it is very difficult to regain. Your belief isn't the problem; it's the object of your belief that either rewards or destroys your faith. If your marriage partner has been unfaithful to you, or a friend or relative has hurt you badly, your faith in that person is weak because he or she did not live up to your trust. When faith in a person is shattered, it may take months to rebuild it.
The ultimate faith-object, of course, is not the sun, but the Son. It is His immutability--the fact that He never changes - that makes Him eminently trustworthy (Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6). He has never failed to be and do all that He said He would be and do. He is eternally faithful. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Matt 6:13
"And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matt 6:13
When I was a child, there was a series on TV based on the Superman comic books. The show began with a description of Superman's powers and one line said, "More powerful than a locomotive." This was supposed to be impressive. But the imagination of a child cannot match the reality of God.
We find it hard to even imagine the power of God. This is because we are limited creatures trying to understand an infinite creator. It boggles the mind. Which, of course, is what we should expect to happen. A friend of mine often said, "I wouldn't want to serve a God that I could understand." What he means is that, if we were capable of understanding God, then He would be no greater than us. That is hardly a very powerful God.
I like the construction of this verse. Jesus simply says, "Yours is the power." It's as if all other power, hardly deserves the name. It also tells us very clearly where real power resides. Even the power I believe I have in this life depends on God. We think the power of the atom is mighty, but what about God who made the atom and who is holding the atom together. In Colossians 1.17 Paul tells us that "by Him all things consist." The Greek word for "consist"
literally means, "held together." In other words, everything would just blow apart if God withheld his power. Now, that is power. So, Our Father in Heaven has at his right hand infinite power. How does a loving parent use the power he or she has available? That parent uses it to guide, nurture, and shower gifts on his or her child. Right? Do you think our heavenly father is any different.
So, we know that God is a loving father. We also know that he has all power in heaven and in earth. Given those two facts, why do we worry about what we need. God wants to provide our needs and he has the power to do so. What more needs to be said? Amen.
When I was a child, there was a series on TV based on the Superman comic books. The show began with a description of Superman's powers and one line said, "More powerful than a locomotive." This was supposed to be impressive. But the imagination of a child cannot match the reality of God.
We find it hard to even imagine the power of God. This is because we are limited creatures trying to understand an infinite creator. It boggles the mind. Which, of course, is what we should expect to happen. A friend of mine often said, "I wouldn't want to serve a God that I could understand." What he means is that, if we were capable of understanding God, then He would be no greater than us. That is hardly a very powerful God.
I like the construction of this verse. Jesus simply says, "Yours is the power." It's as if all other power, hardly deserves the name. It also tells us very clearly where real power resides. Even the power I believe I have in this life depends on God. We think the power of the atom is mighty, but what about God who made the atom and who is holding the atom together. In Colossians 1.17 Paul tells us that "by Him all things consist." The Greek word for "consist"
literally means, "held together." In other words, everything would just blow apart if God withheld his power. Now, that is power. So, Our Father in Heaven has at his right hand infinite power. How does a loving parent use the power he or she has available? That parent uses it to guide, nurture, and shower gifts on his or her child. Right? Do you think our heavenly father is any different.
So, we know that God is a loving father. We also know that he has all power in heaven and in earth. Given those two facts, why do we worry about what we need. God wants to provide our needs and he has the power to do so. What more needs to be said? Amen.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27; I Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and in the longing of our hearts, by the words of my lips and in the thoughts that we form. Speak, O Lord, for your servants listen. Amen.
When Christ called the first disciples he set himself a task - the task of making them into fishermen.
"As he walked by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea - for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "follow me, I will make you fish for people."
That is what God wants us all to do. - It's what Jesus did - in Galilee and in Samaria and in Jordan and Judea and Jerusalem, - And it's what we are all supposed to do - in John and in Nancy, in Edward and in Charles.
We are supposed to fish for people, to seek to bring them into that great net known as the Kingdom of God - into that creel known as salvation, as redemption, as everlasting peace.
But are we? Are we fishing that is? And if we are fishing - who are we fishing for? For God and God's glory? For the sake of those we talk to each day? Or for ourselves and for the sake of those people to whom we are loyal - albeit in a worldly way?
There is so much power that flows when you witness to the love of God - when you share with others what it does for you and what it can do for them - when you have an chance to engage someone who is troubled, or curious, or hungry, and bring them before the one who can sooth their pain, satisfy their yearnings, and feed their soul.
I was talking to someone who lives in Cheung Chau the other day whose father is an alcoholic. He was sharing with me how his family coped with the problem - and naturally Alcoholics Anonymous Hong Kong came up in the conversation. From that it was but a short step to the concept of the Higher Power which is at the heart of that program - and then to the concept of believing that the Higher Power can help you with your problem and that one should surrender to that Power - to "Let go and let God."
What a prescription for life that is - and how wonderful it was to be able to share it - as any believing person is able to share it - whether or not they have read through the AA program.
It was wonderful to be able to share with someone that God ready and able to help them.
There is power in witnessing - in sharing one's faith - in being a person who fishes for people, because there is power in the message and power in the God the message is about.
But sometimes we don't experience that - most often - perhaps - we don't experience that.
We don't experience the power and we don't succeed at the task of fishing for people - indeed most often we don't even begin that task, because we are involved with and committed to the wrong things in life.
Although every one of us believes in God - our energy - our focus - is all too often fixed elsewhere.
It is as if we belonged to another - and indeed we often do. We often belong to other things - to other people - to other teams - and God gets the short end.
But my friends, when God gets the short end from us, so do the people around us, so do our families, so does our church, and so do we ourselves.
When Paul wrote his First Letter to the Corinthians there were a lot of problems in the congregation.
There was arrogance, there was pride, there was indifference. There was gluttony and laziness and intolerance, and there was depression, and anger, and despair. And it all tracked itself down to one simple fact - the people in the congregation at Corinth had fixed their focus on themselves and on one another instead of fixing it on Christ and on the power of his cross.
That's not to suggest that the Corinthians never paid attention to God - or that they totally ignored Jesus. Far from it. It's simply to say that most of their attention went elsewhere.
Instead of using the gospel as a filter by which to see the world around them and of asking God at each moment of decision to direct their words and their actions - they fell into their old routines, routines that are programmed into us by our genes and by the expectations that others have of us and by our own reluctance to really trust God for everything.
They relied upon the teachings of others for their own understanding of the gospel. They formed loyalties with those who first showed them the love of God and quite naturally they defended those teachers when questioned about them. And because their was a contrary spirit in Corinth, they soon began to quarrel about who was better and who was worse - some saying Paul, others Apollos, and still others Cephas, and even some entered the fray saying that they belong to the party Christ and that he was, and therefore they were, better.
In short the Corinthians missed the point of what the gospel is all about and instead of knowing the joy and the peace that comes with the fellowship of the faithful - instead of being powerful in their witness and being to catch people for God - their congregational life collapsed and their sense of well being evaporated.
People complained about each other and about their leadership, they became confused about what was right and wrong, and they bickered about issues that made no sense then and even less now.
The King James Version of the Bible says that problems at Corinth could be traced to the believers there having a party spirit.
I once heard a young brother joke and said that this meant that the Corinthians stayed up too late and drank and danced a bit too much - that they played even more than they worked - but really it is no joking matter.
The Corinthians placed their loyalty in things other than the things of God - in persons other than the person of Jesus Christ, and they suffered because of it - they suffered a loss of power - they suffered a loss of love - they suffered a loss of joy in believing and in sharing.
The Corinthians did this - they misplaced their loyalty - they missed the point of the gospel - they formed up into party, cliques, and factions, not because they were wicked or mean or stupid, but because they looked elsewhere and forgot what they were to be about, because, most of all, they forgot who they believed in and what who they believed in was, and is, about.
The effective Christian life is based on three simple facts:
- the fact that God loves us unconditionally,
- the fact that apart from God we can do nothing that is worthwhile,
- and the fact that God is pleased to work through us if we allow him to, and around us if we will not.
Sometimes we look out upon our families, or upon our congregation, or upon our club or lodge, or upon our place of employment, and we say to ourselves:
- "things would be better if only Irene would cut x and y out", or
- "if only Stephen would do this or that everything would be fine".
Who hasn't heard the old song that is sung by close to everyone - if only my father hadn't been so stern, if only my parents hadn't gotten divorced, if only my mother had been more affectionate, if only my secondary school had a better program, if only my boss wasn't such a hard person to please.
Who do we belong to? What holds onto us because we hold on to it?
Do you look out and assign blame for what problems exist upon some people - and apportion credit for what good is happening to still others instead of alternately - either asking God to work through you to make things better or thanking God for making things as fine as they are.
Too many judge things, too many judge people just as they always used to instead of judging them by the standard show them by Christ when he went to the cross for them
We prefer our friends to our enemies, quite naturally. We prefer our comfort to our discomfort, quite naturally. We would rather fit in than stand out. We would rather be praised than be criticized, and we would rather be served than serve - all quite naturally.
But we are not meant to be natural people any longer - we are meant to be the children of God -
to be a spiritual people who live by spiritual principles to be a people who live by the power of the cross of Christ rather than a people who live by the ways of the world.
Do you recall what it is like to wake up in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar place?
Sometimes a night light glows down the hall, providing a small amount of light, of security, against the darkness of the night. Sometimes a light has been left on in the den down the hall and its steady glow allows you to navigate safely when you have rise to raid the fridge or do what is necessary. And that is great.
But what foolishness it would be if you got up, as you do when you are at home, and, ignoring the fact of whether there is any light on or not, you try to navigate your way to the kitchen or the bathroom by making all the usual twist and turns. It's a sure fire way to experience some form of pain - I mean think of what happens if someone simply moves something in your home without telling you about it, if for some reason they leave the seat up instead of down, or some other unexpected thing...
But we do this all the time - in a metaphorical sense at least.
We forget that we have been called to a new way of living, and that we are meant to navigate our way through our new life by the light that God provides rather than by our old channel markers.
Do you have a problem - don't worry about fixing blame - check out the possible solutions in the word of God. Do we have something that is hampering our life together - let not accuse one another - lets pray together and then let's work the works that God calls us to, both individually and collectively.
The church at Corinth was a weak church.
It was weak because the people there forgot that they were called to a new way of life. It was weak because they forgot that the true and only real source of transforming and healing power comes from the cross of Jesus Christ. And it was weak because they forgot that their sole and only task as his followers was to show HIS love to others - that they were to live in such a manner and to speak in such a manner that others might be touched by God - that others might know the lure - the attraction - the wonder of God through us -and so be moved to claim Christ as their own.
I started this message today by saying we are supposed to fish for people, to seek to bring them into that great net known as the Kingdom of God into that creel known as salvation, as redemption - as everlasting peace.
That is, my friends, the central calling of every disciple and every apostle, and every teacher, and every evangelist, and indeed of everyone who bears the name of Christ.
And it is a wonderful calling - a calling in which we have the privilege of witnessing God at work, - a calling in which we are shown a portion of the love and the joy that exists in heaven.
Turn to Christ and place your allegiance in his person, your focus on his cross, your energy on his work, and all that God has in mind for you will be yours in this life as well as in the next.
Blessed Be God, Day by Day, Amen
When Christ called the first disciples he set himself a task - the task of making them into fishermen.
"As he walked by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea - for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "follow me, I will make you fish for people."
That is what God wants us all to do. - It's what Jesus did - in Galilee and in Samaria and in Jordan and Judea and Jerusalem, - And it's what we are all supposed to do - in John and in Nancy, in Edward and in Charles.
We are supposed to fish for people, to seek to bring them into that great net known as the Kingdom of God - into that creel known as salvation, as redemption, as everlasting peace.
But are we? Are we fishing that is? And if we are fishing - who are we fishing for? For God and God's glory? For the sake of those we talk to each day? Or for ourselves and for the sake of those people to whom we are loyal - albeit in a worldly way?
There is so much power that flows when you witness to the love of God - when you share with others what it does for you and what it can do for them - when you have an chance to engage someone who is troubled, or curious, or hungry, and bring them before the one who can sooth their pain, satisfy their yearnings, and feed their soul.
I was talking to someone who lives in Cheung Chau the other day whose father is an alcoholic. He was sharing with me how his family coped with the problem - and naturally Alcoholics Anonymous Hong Kong came up in the conversation. From that it was but a short step to the concept of the Higher Power which is at the heart of that program - and then to the concept of believing that the Higher Power can help you with your problem and that one should surrender to that Power - to "Let go and let God."
What a prescription for life that is - and how wonderful it was to be able to share it - as any believing person is able to share it - whether or not they have read through the AA program.
It was wonderful to be able to share with someone that God ready and able to help them.
There is power in witnessing - in sharing one's faith - in being a person who fishes for people, because there is power in the message and power in the God the message is about.
But sometimes we don't experience that - most often - perhaps - we don't experience that.
We don't experience the power and we don't succeed at the task of fishing for people - indeed most often we don't even begin that task, because we are involved with and committed to the wrong things in life.
Although every one of us believes in God - our energy - our focus - is all too often fixed elsewhere.
It is as if we belonged to another - and indeed we often do. We often belong to other things - to other people - to other teams - and God gets the short end.
But my friends, when God gets the short end from us, so do the people around us, so do our families, so does our church, and so do we ourselves.
When Paul wrote his First Letter to the Corinthians there were a lot of problems in the congregation.
There was arrogance, there was pride, there was indifference. There was gluttony and laziness and intolerance, and there was depression, and anger, and despair. And it all tracked itself down to one simple fact - the people in the congregation at Corinth had fixed their focus on themselves and on one another instead of fixing it on Christ and on the power of his cross.
That's not to suggest that the Corinthians never paid attention to God - or that they totally ignored Jesus. Far from it. It's simply to say that most of their attention went elsewhere.
Instead of using the gospel as a filter by which to see the world around them and of asking God at each moment of decision to direct their words and their actions - they fell into their old routines, routines that are programmed into us by our genes and by the expectations that others have of us and by our own reluctance to really trust God for everything.
They relied upon the teachings of others for their own understanding of the gospel. They formed loyalties with those who first showed them the love of God and quite naturally they defended those teachers when questioned about them. And because their was a contrary spirit in Corinth, they soon began to quarrel about who was better and who was worse - some saying Paul, others Apollos, and still others Cephas, and even some entered the fray saying that they belong to the party Christ and that he was, and therefore they were, better.
In short the Corinthians missed the point of what the gospel is all about and instead of knowing the joy and the peace that comes with the fellowship of the faithful - instead of being powerful in their witness and being to catch people for God - their congregational life collapsed and their sense of well being evaporated.
People complained about each other and about their leadership, they became confused about what was right and wrong, and they bickered about issues that made no sense then and even less now.
The King James Version of the Bible says that problems at Corinth could be traced to the believers there having a party spirit.
I once heard a young brother joke and said that this meant that the Corinthians stayed up too late and drank and danced a bit too much - that they played even more than they worked - but really it is no joking matter.
The Corinthians placed their loyalty in things other than the things of God - in persons other than the person of Jesus Christ, and they suffered because of it - they suffered a loss of power - they suffered a loss of love - they suffered a loss of joy in believing and in sharing.
The Corinthians did this - they misplaced their loyalty - they missed the point of the gospel - they formed up into party, cliques, and factions, not because they were wicked or mean or stupid, but because they looked elsewhere and forgot what they were to be about, because, most of all, they forgot who they believed in and what who they believed in was, and is, about.
The effective Christian life is based on three simple facts:
- the fact that God loves us unconditionally,
- the fact that apart from God we can do nothing that is worthwhile,
- and the fact that God is pleased to work through us if we allow him to, and around us if we will not.
Sometimes we look out upon our families, or upon our congregation, or upon our club or lodge, or upon our place of employment, and we say to ourselves:
- "things would be better if only Irene would cut x and y out", or
- "if only Stephen would do this or that everything would be fine".
Who hasn't heard the old song that is sung by close to everyone - if only my father hadn't been so stern, if only my parents hadn't gotten divorced, if only my mother had been more affectionate, if only my secondary school had a better program, if only my boss wasn't such a hard person to please.
Who do we belong to? What holds onto us because we hold on to it?
Do you look out and assign blame for what problems exist upon some people - and apportion credit for what good is happening to still others instead of alternately - either asking God to work through you to make things better or thanking God for making things as fine as they are.
Too many judge things, too many judge people just as they always used to instead of judging them by the standard show them by Christ when he went to the cross for them
We prefer our friends to our enemies, quite naturally. We prefer our comfort to our discomfort, quite naturally. We would rather fit in than stand out. We would rather be praised than be criticized, and we would rather be served than serve - all quite naturally.
But we are not meant to be natural people any longer - we are meant to be the children of God -
to be a spiritual people who live by spiritual principles to be a people who live by the power of the cross of Christ rather than a people who live by the ways of the world.
Do you recall what it is like to wake up in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar place?
Sometimes a night light glows down the hall, providing a small amount of light, of security, against the darkness of the night. Sometimes a light has been left on in the den down the hall and its steady glow allows you to navigate safely when you have rise to raid the fridge or do what is necessary. And that is great.
But what foolishness it would be if you got up, as you do when you are at home, and, ignoring the fact of whether there is any light on or not, you try to navigate your way to the kitchen or the bathroom by making all the usual twist and turns. It's a sure fire way to experience some form of pain - I mean think of what happens if someone simply moves something in your home without telling you about it, if for some reason they leave the seat up instead of down, or some other unexpected thing...
But we do this all the time - in a metaphorical sense at least.
We forget that we have been called to a new way of living, and that we are meant to navigate our way through our new life by the light that God provides rather than by our old channel markers.
Do you have a problem - don't worry about fixing blame - check out the possible solutions in the word of God. Do we have something that is hampering our life together - let not accuse one another - lets pray together and then let's work the works that God calls us to, both individually and collectively.
The church at Corinth was a weak church.
It was weak because the people there forgot that they were called to a new way of life. It was weak because they forgot that the true and only real source of transforming and healing power comes from the cross of Jesus Christ. And it was weak because they forgot that their sole and only task as his followers was to show HIS love to others - that they were to live in such a manner and to speak in such a manner that others might be touched by God - that others might know the lure - the attraction - the wonder of God through us -and so be moved to claim Christ as their own.
I started this message today by saying we are supposed to fish for people, to seek to bring them into that great net known as the Kingdom of God into that creel known as salvation, as redemption - as everlasting peace.
That is, my friends, the central calling of every disciple and every apostle, and every teacher, and every evangelist, and indeed of everyone who bears the name of Christ.
And it is a wonderful calling - a calling in which we have the privilege of witnessing God at work, - a calling in which we are shown a portion of the love and the joy that exists in heaven.
Turn to Christ and place your allegiance in his person, your focus on his cross, your energy on his work, and all that God has in mind for you will be yours in this life as well as in the next.
Blessed Be God, Day by Day, Amen
Saturday, January 22, 2011
2 Corinth 3:17
"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Corinth 3:17
I believe that our freedom in Christ is one of the most precious commodities we have received from our spiritual union with God. Because the Spirit of the Lord is in you, you are free to choose to live a responsible and moral life. You are no longer compelled to walk according to the flesh as you were before conversion. And now you are not even compelled to walk according to the Spirit. You are free to choose to walk according to the Spirit or to walk according to the flesh.
Walking according to the Spirit implies two things. First of all, it's not passive. We're talking about walking in the Spirit, not sitting in the Spirit. One of the most dangerous and harmful detriments to your spiritual growth is passivity - putting your mind in neutral and coasting. Sitting back and waiting for God to do everything is not God's way to spiritual maturity.
Second, we're talking about walking in the spirit, not running in the Spirit. The Spirit-filled life is not achieved through endless, exhausting activity. We mistakenly think that the harder we work for God, the more spiritual we will become. That's a subtle lie from the enemy. Satan knows that he may not be able to stop you from serving God by making you immoral, but he can probably impede your service by simply making you busy. Our service for God can become the greatest detriment of our devotion to God. Amen and Amen.
I believe that our freedom in Christ is one of the most precious commodities we have received from our spiritual union with God. Because the Spirit of the Lord is in you, you are free to choose to live a responsible and moral life. You are no longer compelled to walk according to the flesh as you were before conversion. And now you are not even compelled to walk according to the Spirit. You are free to choose to walk according to the Spirit or to walk according to the flesh.
Walking according to the Spirit implies two things. First of all, it's not passive. We're talking about walking in the Spirit, not sitting in the Spirit. One of the most dangerous and harmful detriments to your spiritual growth is passivity - putting your mind in neutral and coasting. Sitting back and waiting for God to do everything is not God's way to spiritual maturity.
Second, we're talking about walking in the spirit, not running in the Spirit. The Spirit-filled life is not achieved through endless, exhausting activity. We mistakenly think that the harder we work for God, the more spiritual we will become. That's a subtle lie from the enemy. Satan knows that he may not be able to stop you from serving God by making you immoral, but he can probably impede your service by simply making you busy. Our service for God can become the greatest detriment of our devotion to God. Amen and Amen.
Friday, January 21, 2011
James 4:17
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17
There are two types of sin - sins of commission and sins of omission. The first we know all about. You lie, you sin. You steal, you sin. You cheat, you sin. The other is a little more mysterious. A while back I was in a donut shop in Central here in Hong Kong, and an old white man of about 90 years came into the shop and asked the girl if they gave senior citizen discounts, she replied yes, but before serving the man I said to check his ID, cause he didn't look like a senior. With that he turned to me with a huge smile on his face and said son, you just made my day, as a matter of fact, you just made my year. Oh, what a feeling. Now that was not a sin. I blessed that fellow.
But, if I hadn't said what I did. . . now that would have been a sin of omission - a sin because I didn't do something that I knew I should have done. Let's think of some other such sins. How about the time you intentionally forgot your wife's (or husband's) birthday so you could do your own thing? How about the money you spent on new fishing gear (or perfume) instead of paying the electric bill? Oh, here's a good one. What about staying home from Sunday worship because you had spent Saturday night partying? Now my intention is not to have you pack your bags and lay a guilt trip on you - but if the Holy Spirit is convicting you - well as they say, "if the shoe fits, wear it." Of course, we all know that conviction leads us to repentance. And repentance leads us to forgiveness. And forgiveness leads us to sanctification. And sanctification leads us to a right relationship with God. If, however, you are suffering from condemnation because of sins of omission - things you should have done and didn't - well, that comes from Satan.
He is the author of such thoughts as "and you call yourself a Christian!" and "see, I told you that you didn't have what it takes to be a child of God." or "look at you, holding a pity party. My, aren't we a cutie sitting there with tears of remorse streaming down our faces?" If you are having these thoughts, STOP! DO NOT PASS GO! GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE FATHER AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. TELL THE DEVIL WHERE TO GET OFF. AND REJOICE IN THE GOD OF YOUR SALVATION! Halelujah, Amen and Amen.
There are two types of sin - sins of commission and sins of omission. The first we know all about. You lie, you sin. You steal, you sin. You cheat, you sin. The other is a little more mysterious. A while back I was in a donut shop in Central here in Hong Kong, and an old white man of about 90 years came into the shop and asked the girl if they gave senior citizen discounts, she replied yes, but before serving the man I said to check his ID, cause he didn't look like a senior. With that he turned to me with a huge smile on his face and said son, you just made my day, as a matter of fact, you just made my year. Oh, what a feeling. Now that was not a sin. I blessed that fellow.
But, if I hadn't said what I did. . . now that would have been a sin of omission - a sin because I didn't do something that I knew I should have done. Let's think of some other such sins. How about the time you intentionally forgot your wife's (or husband's) birthday so you could do your own thing? How about the money you spent on new fishing gear (or perfume) instead of paying the electric bill? Oh, here's a good one. What about staying home from Sunday worship because you had spent Saturday night partying? Now my intention is not to have you pack your bags and lay a guilt trip on you - but if the Holy Spirit is convicting you - well as they say, "if the shoe fits, wear it." Of course, we all know that conviction leads us to repentance. And repentance leads us to forgiveness. And forgiveness leads us to sanctification. And sanctification leads us to a right relationship with God. If, however, you are suffering from condemnation because of sins of omission - things you should have done and didn't - well, that comes from Satan.
He is the author of such thoughts as "and you call yourself a Christian!" and "see, I told you that you didn't have what it takes to be a child of God." or "look at you, holding a pity party. My, aren't we a cutie sitting there with tears of remorse streaming down our faces?" If you are having these thoughts, STOP! DO NOT PASS GO! GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE FATHER AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. TELL THE DEVIL WHERE TO GET OFF. AND REJOICE IN THE GOD OF YOUR SALVATION! Halelujah, Amen and Amen.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
James 4:14
"Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." James 4:14
Years ago, I saw a scene that was a definite Kodak moment and I wanted to take a photograph. On this particular morning the rising sun was muted by a fog that rose from the water. The water was perfectly still, reflecting the pleasure boats docked on the opposite shore. The mist caused a sleepy, mellow, winsome feeling to come over me. On that particular day I did not have my camera with me. I thought to myself"surely this scene will be repeated sometime this summer.
So, every day thereafter my camera was my ever present companion - and was never used! The only place I can visit that particular moment is in my memory. So it is with our lives. James says we are a vapor - a mist - a mellow fog. We are here today and gone in an hour or so never to return again. Even so, our lives are not to be wasted. The fog on that morning so long ago had a purpose. If nothing else, I can retreat to that river bank and refresh myself in it's coolness.
James tells us that it is important to live our lives for today - not in dissipation and self-centeredness - but in service to the King of kings. It does no good to fret over yesterday - it's gone and can never be brought back, like the fog in my missed photo. There is no practical purpose served in worry about tomorrow. It will come in it's own time bringing with it sufficient things for us to do. Such worry only drains our energies that we need for today. James says today is where it's at! We need to direct our efforts into today, for today and what we do with it is the only thing that we can do something about. Another thing about our lives being a vapor, what we do on this earth will be short lived. Very few of us will ever be written up in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Very few of those who do will be found in it 10 years after our first appearance. Only what we do today that has eternal value will last. That job that is so important to get out this week - it will be forgotten by next month. That cake that has to be just perfect will be nothing but crumbs at the end of the meal. The car that we spend so much time and effort on - just a pile of rust in 10 or 20 years. What's important is the love we give our spouses and our children.
What's eternal is the Word of God that we plant in their lives. What makes a difference is what we do for Jesus today.
These can not be measured in dollars and cents, but in treasures laid up in heaven where bugs and rust cannot destroy them. That's how we need to view the "vapor"we call today. Amen and Amen.
Years ago, I saw a scene that was a definite Kodak moment and I wanted to take a photograph. On this particular morning the rising sun was muted by a fog that rose from the water. The water was perfectly still, reflecting the pleasure boats docked on the opposite shore. The mist caused a sleepy, mellow, winsome feeling to come over me. On that particular day I did not have my camera with me. I thought to myself"surely this scene will be repeated sometime this summer.
So, every day thereafter my camera was my ever present companion - and was never used! The only place I can visit that particular moment is in my memory. So it is with our lives. James says we are a vapor - a mist - a mellow fog. We are here today and gone in an hour or so never to return again. Even so, our lives are not to be wasted. The fog on that morning so long ago had a purpose. If nothing else, I can retreat to that river bank and refresh myself in it's coolness.
James tells us that it is important to live our lives for today - not in dissipation and self-centeredness - but in service to the King of kings. It does no good to fret over yesterday - it's gone and can never be brought back, like the fog in my missed photo. There is no practical purpose served in worry about tomorrow. It will come in it's own time bringing with it sufficient things for us to do. Such worry only drains our energies that we need for today. James says today is where it's at! We need to direct our efforts into today, for today and what we do with it is the only thing that we can do something about. Another thing about our lives being a vapor, what we do on this earth will be short lived. Very few of us will ever be written up in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Very few of those who do will be found in it 10 years after our first appearance. Only what we do today that has eternal value will last. That job that is so important to get out this week - it will be forgotten by next month. That cake that has to be just perfect will be nothing but crumbs at the end of the meal. The car that we spend so much time and effort on - just a pile of rust in 10 or 20 years. What's important is the love we give our spouses and our children.
What's eternal is the Word of God that we plant in their lives. What makes a difference is what we do for Jesus today.
These can not be measured in dollars and cents, but in treasures laid up in heaven where bugs and rust cannot destroy them. That's how we need to view the "vapor"we call today. Amen and Amen.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Luke 9:1-2
"Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." Luke 9:1-2
Notice how Jesus equipped His disciples for ministry. He knew that when they began preaching the kingdom of God and healing the sick, demonic powers would bring opposition. So He specifically gave them power and authority over demons.
Later Jesus sent out 70 of His followers on a similar mission, and they "returned with joy, saying 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name'"(Luke 10:17). These missionaries were spiritually in tune enough to know that demons existed and that they were a force to be reckoned with in their ministry. Jesus' followers had been eyewitnesses as the evil spirits opposed the Master, and they probably anticipated the same treatment. Perhaps they even started out on their mission with pangs of fear and doubt about encountering demonic resistance. But they came back astonished at the victory they experienced over evil spirits.
But Jesus quickly brought the issue of spiritual conflicts into perspective: "Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Jesus sent out the 70 to preach the gospel and to heal, but all they could talk about when they came back was how they sent the demons running. "Don't be demon-centered," Jesus replied. "Be kingdom-centered, be ministry-centered, be God-centered."
That's a good warning. As you learn to exercise authority over the kingdom of darkness in your life and in the lives of others, you may be tempted to see yourself as some kind of spiritual freedom fighter, looking for demons behind every door. But it's truth which sets you free, not the knowledge of error. You are not called to dispel the darkness; you are called to turn on the light. You would have no authority at all if it weren't for your identity as a child of God and your position in Christ. Amen and Amen.
Notice how Jesus equipped His disciples for ministry. He knew that when they began preaching the kingdom of God and healing the sick, demonic powers would bring opposition. So He specifically gave them power and authority over demons.
Later Jesus sent out 70 of His followers on a similar mission, and they "returned with joy, saying 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name'"(Luke 10:17). These missionaries were spiritually in tune enough to know that demons existed and that they were a force to be reckoned with in their ministry. Jesus' followers had been eyewitnesses as the evil spirits opposed the Master, and they probably anticipated the same treatment. Perhaps they even started out on their mission with pangs of fear and doubt about encountering demonic resistance. But they came back astonished at the victory they experienced over evil spirits.
But Jesus quickly brought the issue of spiritual conflicts into perspective: "Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Jesus sent out the 70 to preach the gospel and to heal, but all they could talk about when they came back was how they sent the demons running. "Don't be demon-centered," Jesus replied. "Be kingdom-centered, be ministry-centered, be God-centered."
That's a good warning. As you learn to exercise authority over the kingdom of darkness in your life and in the lives of others, you may be tempted to see yourself as some kind of spiritual freedom fighter, looking for demons behind every door. But it's truth which sets you free, not the knowledge of error. You are not called to dispel the darkness; you are called to turn on the light. You would have no authority at all if it weren't for your identity as a child of God and your position in Christ. Amen and Amen.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
John 5:19
"Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner." John 5:19
In today's verse Jesus says that He can do nothing but what He sees the Father doing. Isn't that something. If it is true that Jesus only did what His Father did, then shouldn't we be exactly doing the same? But how different we run our lives. How often we drive down the road of life doing our own thing, happy as can be - until something happens - something goes wrong. Then who do we blame? Where do we turn? Ever prayed this prayer? "Lord, help me! I've gotten myself in a big mess. I need you to fix it for me." Something is wrong here.
First of all, I never see Jesus praying that prayer! Why didn't He? He didn't have to. He always sought the Father's advise before He did anything. Remember he would spend all night in prayer even after the disciples would be fast asleep. Even - no especially - before the day of His death, He spent the night in prayer. What did He pray? "Lord, if it is your will, take this cup from me. But not my will but Yours be done." Even in this trying time, He was willing to do the Father's perfect will.
This leads to the second thing that is wrong. We seldom ask God for direction before we set out. We seem to think we know everything - until we are proved wrong. Instead, we need to be like Jesus. We need to seek the Father's will before we act.
Imagine the difference in our lives if we knew what God wanted in every circumstance. We can, you know. The Father is more than willing to tells us when and where to go. What and whom to do it with - everything. Even if there seems to be no obvious answer, this prayer always seems to work: "Father, it looks like a door is open to me. I have sought Your will and still don't have a clear direction. I will proceed to go through this door, but I ask that You close it if You don't want me to." Trust me, I have had more doors closed because of this prayer - but I have also pried open a few that He had nailed shut!
I suggest that you avoid this action at all cost! Let's follow Jesus pattern. Let's watch the Father and do what He does. Let's ask Him and do what He says. I can guarantee that our lives will be safer, fuller and richer than ever before. Amen and Amen.
In today's verse Jesus says that He can do nothing but what He sees the Father doing. Isn't that something. If it is true that Jesus only did what His Father did, then shouldn't we be exactly doing the same? But how different we run our lives. How often we drive down the road of life doing our own thing, happy as can be - until something happens - something goes wrong. Then who do we blame? Where do we turn? Ever prayed this prayer? "Lord, help me! I've gotten myself in a big mess. I need you to fix it for me." Something is wrong here.
First of all, I never see Jesus praying that prayer! Why didn't He? He didn't have to. He always sought the Father's advise before He did anything. Remember he would spend all night in prayer even after the disciples would be fast asleep. Even - no especially - before the day of His death, He spent the night in prayer. What did He pray? "Lord, if it is your will, take this cup from me. But not my will but Yours be done." Even in this trying time, He was willing to do the Father's perfect will.
This leads to the second thing that is wrong. We seldom ask God for direction before we set out. We seem to think we know everything - until we are proved wrong. Instead, we need to be like Jesus. We need to seek the Father's will before we act.
Imagine the difference in our lives if we knew what God wanted in every circumstance. We can, you know. The Father is more than willing to tells us when and where to go. What and whom to do it with - everything. Even if there seems to be no obvious answer, this prayer always seems to work: "Father, it looks like a door is open to me. I have sought Your will and still don't have a clear direction. I will proceed to go through this door, but I ask that You close it if You don't want me to." Trust me, I have had more doors closed because of this prayer - but I have also pried open a few that He had nailed shut!
I suggest that you avoid this action at all cost! Let's follow Jesus pattern. Let's watch the Father and do what He does. Let's ask Him and do what He says. I can guarantee that our lives will be safer, fuller and richer than ever before. Amen and Amen.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Gal 5:14-15
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!" Gal 5:14-15
In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus is asked to define the greatest commandment. His response, in brief, is "Love God and love your neighbor as yourself." He said all the law "hangs" on these two. Visualize a ladder hanging on a wall. For it to remain in a horizontal position above the floor, it has to have two hanging points. So it is with the Old Testament Law. It hangs upon these two commandments every bit as much as that ladder hangs on the wall. Jesus is indicating that if we love God with all our heart, soul, and body - everything we have - we will not sin against God.
Likewise, if we love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves, we will never sin against them. In short, we would be perfect if we could just keep these two commandments. Paul simplifies the law a bit more. He says if we love our neighbor as ourselves, we fulfill all the law.
Let's think on this last statement a bit. If I love my neighbor as I love myself, I would never think about stealing his nice new car - after all, I wouldn't want him to steal from me. There's one of the commandments - thou shalt not steal. If I love my neighbor as I love myself, I would not commit adultery with his wife - I wouldn't take kindly to him flirting with mine. Another of the ten commandments is fulfilled - thou shalt not commit adultery. Get the picture? Of course, we've discussed it before when we say that we should prefer each other over ourselves - we need to put others before ourselves in all things. That's just a different way of saying the same thing. But, a funny thing happens when two people get together. Sooner or later one of the pair will become jealous of the other. Grumbling to yourself is one of the first steps towards destruction. Gossip is the next step. Back biting, hatred, perhaps even a knock down drag out fight may conclude the friendship's demise. So follow the law and Love one another. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus is asked to define the greatest commandment. His response, in brief, is "Love God and love your neighbor as yourself." He said all the law "hangs" on these two. Visualize a ladder hanging on a wall. For it to remain in a horizontal position above the floor, it has to have two hanging points. So it is with the Old Testament Law. It hangs upon these two commandments every bit as much as that ladder hangs on the wall. Jesus is indicating that if we love God with all our heart, soul, and body - everything we have - we will not sin against God.
Likewise, if we love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves, we will never sin against them. In short, we would be perfect if we could just keep these two commandments. Paul simplifies the law a bit more. He says if we love our neighbor as ourselves, we fulfill all the law.
Let's think on this last statement a bit. If I love my neighbor as I love myself, I would never think about stealing his nice new car - after all, I wouldn't want him to steal from me. There's one of the commandments - thou shalt not steal. If I love my neighbor as I love myself, I would not commit adultery with his wife - I wouldn't take kindly to him flirting with mine. Another of the ten commandments is fulfilled - thou shalt not commit adultery. Get the picture? Of course, we've discussed it before when we say that we should prefer each other over ourselves - we need to put others before ourselves in all things. That's just a different way of saying the same thing. But, a funny thing happens when two people get together. Sooner or later one of the pair will become jealous of the other. Grumbling to yourself is one of the first steps towards destruction. Gossip is the next step. Back biting, hatred, perhaps even a knock down drag out fight may conclude the friendship's demise. So follow the law and Love one another. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40; I Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42
O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and in the longing of our hearts, by the words of my lips and in the thoughts that we form. Speak, O Lord, for your servants listen. Amen.
The scripture readings for today are each so rich.
We have the prophet Isaiah declaring how the promised one - was called from his mother's womb to be the one who brings salvation to the people of Israel - and more - who is appointed to be a light to the gentiles.
It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
And we have Paul speaking to people of Corinth - to the believers in that city - and saying that they will be kept strong and blameless till the time of the promised one's return - strong through the spiritual gifts that God has poured out on Christ's people through the Holy Spirit - and blameless because of the what Christ has done for us on the cross.
Rich materials. As is today's Gospel lesson with it's account of the testimony that John the Baptist makes about Jesus - and it's description of how Andrew first visited with Jesus and then, on the following day, brought his brother - Simon Peter - to meet Jesus.
Today I want to focus mainly on the gospel lesson - and within that - mainly upon part of the testimony that John the Baptist made about Jesus on two separate days. The first part.
"Look" said John on the first day, pointing to Jesus as Jesus draws near to him and his disciples "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
And on the second day John again says to his disciples as Jesus approaches. "Look, the Lamb of God".
What does John the Baptist mean when he calls Jesus the Lamb of God? What is a Lamb of God - that Jesus could be called "The Lamb of God?
Is John referring to the thousands of lambs that were sacrificed daily at the temple in Jerusalem? - Those lambs whose blood was spilled as a means of connecting the people with God? - Those lambs whose death expressed the worshipers' acknowledgment of God's power over life and death?
The lambs that were sacrificed at the temple each day died as a way of thanking God for the abundance of the harvest, for the increase in the people's herds and flocks, and as a thank offering for the birth of a new child.
The time of sacrifice was a time of communion - of communion between those who came to worship as the law required - and of communion between them and God.
The flesh of the lamb was consumed by the worshipers and by the priests who offered the sacrifices. Much as we do today as we gather to commune with God and to thank God for being our God - prayers were said, psalms were sung, scripture was read, and the people affirmed by their presence and by their offering that they were the children of God and brothers and
sisters to one another.
Is it these lambs of thanksgiving - of communion that John refers to when he calls Jesus 'The Lamb of God'?
Or is John referring to another kind of lamb - to the Passover Lamb, - that lamb that every household in Israel slaughtered each year and whose blood was then painted on the doorposts of their homes as a way of remembering the first Passover - that time when the angel of the Lord passed over the homes of the children of Israel as they suffered in slavery in Egypt and struck down the first born of their taskmasters?
The flesh of the Passover Lamb was entirely consumed on the night of the Passover - thus commemorating the strength that God gave the people to make their escape from bondage in Egypt - an escape that led them to the land of promise - to the land where God would give to them - in abundance - every good thing they needed.
Which kind of lamb is 'The Lamb of God'?
We believe that it is both kinds of lambs - but in particular - we believe that the is the Passover Lamb that John the Baptist had in mind - that Lamb whose blood signified that those who sheltered behind it were to be spared death and given new life in a new land.
But when John points at Jesus and says "behold the lamb of God" - he says something more about Jesus than the images of the Passover Lamb and the Lambs of Thanksgiving might suggest to us. He says that this person, this Lamb of God, provided by God's own hands, does more than simply spare the lives of his chosen people and help to bring them to the promised land.
He is saying that this particular lamb - this particular person - has been given by God to take away the sins of the whole world.
Sin, as every child of Israel knew, leads to death. Permanent Death. Final Death. Caput. Fini.
That is - indeed the point of the story of Adam and Eve - who upon eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - come under the sentence of death. And that is the message of the story of Noah and the flood and the message of every prophet sent by God to the people of Israel.
Sin leads to death. Not just for the people that God has chosen - but for all humankind.
As the Apostle Paul so simply puts it in his letter to the Romans "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"
What John is indicating when he points to Jesus and says "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" is that this man - this Jesus - is the one promised by Isaiah and so many of the other prophets: - that he is the one who is sent by God to bring salvation to the ends of the earth - the one who will free all people from slavery to sin and reconnect them to the perfect and holy God who created and sustains us.
He is saying that Jesus will free all people from the sentence of death, not just those people God chose at the beginning to be his people - and he is giving to those who hear him - to his own disciples - an indication of how that would come about, namely by the offering of his body and his blood.
Just as the Passover lamb is slain so that it's blood may cause death to pass by the homes of the children of Israel and it's flesh may sustain the people as they escape from their bondage, and just as lambs in the temple were killed so that the prayers of thanksgiving and dedication might be heard by God and so that the people might rejoice and eat together. So the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World will offer his body and his blood for us - and to us - once and for all.
From the time of his baptism by John, Jesus is led like a lamb to his eventual slaughter in Jerusalem.
His teachings and his healings, the miracles he works and the journeys that he makes, all of his ministry, leads to one moment - his sacrifice on the cross.
"Here is the Lamb of God" we say, as we stand stunned, watching our Saviour's blood drain from his body for our salvation.
Here is one who was unblemished - one who was with out sin - an innocent one taking upon himself the punishment that should be ours; giving his life that we may have life.
As all the saints and the angels in heaven say
"Worthy is the Lamb, the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!"
A story I want to share with you this morning:
A tourist visited a church in Germany and was surprised to see the carved figure of a lamb near the top of the church's tower.
He asked why it was there and was told that when the church was being built, a workman fell from a high scaffold. His co-workers rushed down, expecting to find him dead. But to their surprise and joy, he was alive and only slightly injured.
How did he survive? A flock of sheep was passing beneath the tower at the time, and he landed on top of a lamb. The lamb broke his fall and was crushed to death, but the man was saved.
To commemorate that miraculous escape, someone carved a lamb on the tower at the exact height from which the workman fell.
That expresses a tiny bit of what it means when John says "Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" The sense indicated by Isaiah with his promise of one "who will bring salvation to the ends of the earth".
And with it's visible symbol, the carving on the bell tower that gives testimony to what happened, it expresses a tiny bit of another important part of the gospel reading today - that of John calling out to his own disciples - and to all those who would hear his voice: "Look - the Lamb of God."
As you know it was because John the Baptist said "look" that Andrew and another disciple - most likely the Apostle John - turned and followed Jesus and became excited by what they experienced with him and became his disciples.
And it was because of Andrew telling his brother Simon "We have found the Messiah" and then bringing Simon to him - that Simon became Peter - the Rock of the Church.
I call you to behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Like John the Baptist, I do not want you to follow me - I want you to follow the one who gives everyone who comes to him life and that abundantly. - I want you to follow the innocent one, the pure one, the one of God and from God who offered himself as the unblemished sacrifice for our sins, once and for all.
I want you to follow Jesus and have the angel of the Lord's judgement pass over your house and for you to escape from bondage and enter the promised land.
And more - I want you to be like John - and Andrew - and Simon Peter - and every disciple.
I want you to call to those who trust you and to those who will hear your voice - I want you to call to them and say "look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is still with us - to make us free and to make us holy and to give us eternal life"
There is not one of us who does not need to draw closer to the Lamb of God. There is not one of us who does not need to come to Jesus and be cleansed and forgiven and given life. There is not one of us who does not need to experience Jesus and his transforming love on a deeper basis - day by day.
The Lamb of God my friends is here - here in the book we read
here in the songs we sing and the prayers that we pray
here in the love that we share and the forgiveness we grant in his name
here in the laughter and here too in the pain.
He is here in the Spirit that God poured out upon the world in response to his sacrifice.
He is here - and he is in heaven above, interceding for and protecting his people and calling to all the world to come and be healed.
Blessed be his name - now and forevermore. Amen.
The scripture readings for today are each so rich.
We have the prophet Isaiah declaring how the promised one - was called from his mother's womb to be the one who brings salvation to the people of Israel - and more - who is appointed to be a light to the gentiles.
It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
And we have Paul speaking to people of Corinth - to the believers in that city - and saying that they will be kept strong and blameless till the time of the promised one's return - strong through the spiritual gifts that God has poured out on Christ's people through the Holy Spirit - and blameless because of the what Christ has done for us on the cross.
Rich materials. As is today's Gospel lesson with it's account of the testimony that John the Baptist makes about Jesus - and it's description of how Andrew first visited with Jesus and then, on the following day, brought his brother - Simon Peter - to meet Jesus.
Today I want to focus mainly on the gospel lesson - and within that - mainly upon part of the testimony that John the Baptist made about Jesus on two separate days. The first part.
"Look" said John on the first day, pointing to Jesus as Jesus draws near to him and his disciples "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
And on the second day John again says to his disciples as Jesus approaches. "Look, the Lamb of God".
What does John the Baptist mean when he calls Jesus the Lamb of God? What is a Lamb of God - that Jesus could be called "The Lamb of God?
Is John referring to the thousands of lambs that were sacrificed daily at the temple in Jerusalem? - Those lambs whose blood was spilled as a means of connecting the people with God? - Those lambs whose death expressed the worshipers' acknowledgment of God's power over life and death?
The lambs that were sacrificed at the temple each day died as a way of thanking God for the abundance of the harvest, for the increase in the people's herds and flocks, and as a thank offering for the birth of a new child.
The time of sacrifice was a time of communion - of communion between those who came to worship as the law required - and of communion between them and God.
The flesh of the lamb was consumed by the worshipers and by the priests who offered the sacrifices. Much as we do today as we gather to commune with God and to thank God for being our God - prayers were said, psalms were sung, scripture was read, and the people affirmed by their presence and by their offering that they were the children of God and brothers and
sisters to one another.
Is it these lambs of thanksgiving - of communion that John refers to when he calls Jesus 'The Lamb of God'?
Or is John referring to another kind of lamb - to the Passover Lamb, - that lamb that every household in Israel slaughtered each year and whose blood was then painted on the doorposts of their homes as a way of remembering the first Passover - that time when the angel of the Lord passed over the homes of the children of Israel as they suffered in slavery in Egypt and struck down the first born of their taskmasters?
The flesh of the Passover Lamb was entirely consumed on the night of the Passover - thus commemorating the strength that God gave the people to make their escape from bondage in Egypt - an escape that led them to the land of promise - to the land where God would give to them - in abundance - every good thing they needed.
Which kind of lamb is 'The Lamb of God'?
We believe that it is both kinds of lambs - but in particular - we believe that the is the Passover Lamb that John the Baptist had in mind - that Lamb whose blood signified that those who sheltered behind it were to be spared death and given new life in a new land.
But when John points at Jesus and says "behold the lamb of God" - he says something more about Jesus than the images of the Passover Lamb and the Lambs of Thanksgiving might suggest to us. He says that this person, this Lamb of God, provided by God's own hands, does more than simply spare the lives of his chosen people and help to bring them to the promised land.
He is saying that this particular lamb - this particular person - has been given by God to take away the sins of the whole world.
Sin, as every child of Israel knew, leads to death. Permanent Death. Final Death. Caput. Fini.
That is - indeed the point of the story of Adam and Eve - who upon eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - come under the sentence of death. And that is the message of the story of Noah and the flood and the message of every prophet sent by God to the people of Israel.
Sin leads to death. Not just for the people that God has chosen - but for all humankind.
As the Apostle Paul so simply puts it in his letter to the Romans "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"
What John is indicating when he points to Jesus and says "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" is that this man - this Jesus - is the one promised by Isaiah and so many of the other prophets: - that he is the one who is sent by God to bring salvation to the ends of the earth - the one who will free all people from slavery to sin and reconnect them to the perfect and holy God who created and sustains us.
He is saying that Jesus will free all people from the sentence of death, not just those people God chose at the beginning to be his people - and he is giving to those who hear him - to his own disciples - an indication of how that would come about, namely by the offering of his body and his blood.
Just as the Passover lamb is slain so that it's blood may cause death to pass by the homes of the children of Israel and it's flesh may sustain the people as they escape from their bondage, and just as lambs in the temple were killed so that the prayers of thanksgiving and dedication might be heard by God and so that the people might rejoice and eat together. So the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World will offer his body and his blood for us - and to us - once and for all.
From the time of his baptism by John, Jesus is led like a lamb to his eventual slaughter in Jerusalem.
His teachings and his healings, the miracles he works and the journeys that he makes, all of his ministry, leads to one moment - his sacrifice on the cross.
"Here is the Lamb of God" we say, as we stand stunned, watching our Saviour's blood drain from his body for our salvation.
Here is one who was unblemished - one who was with out sin - an innocent one taking upon himself the punishment that should be ours; giving his life that we may have life.
As all the saints and the angels in heaven say
"Worthy is the Lamb, the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!"
A story I want to share with you this morning:
A tourist visited a church in Germany and was surprised to see the carved figure of a lamb near the top of the church's tower.
He asked why it was there and was told that when the church was being built, a workman fell from a high scaffold. His co-workers rushed down, expecting to find him dead. But to their surprise and joy, he was alive and only slightly injured.
How did he survive? A flock of sheep was passing beneath the tower at the time, and he landed on top of a lamb. The lamb broke his fall and was crushed to death, but the man was saved.
To commemorate that miraculous escape, someone carved a lamb on the tower at the exact height from which the workman fell.
That expresses a tiny bit of what it means when John says "Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world" The sense indicated by Isaiah with his promise of one "who will bring salvation to the ends of the earth".
And with it's visible symbol, the carving on the bell tower that gives testimony to what happened, it expresses a tiny bit of another important part of the gospel reading today - that of John calling out to his own disciples - and to all those who would hear his voice: "Look - the Lamb of God."
As you know it was because John the Baptist said "look" that Andrew and another disciple - most likely the Apostle John - turned and followed Jesus and became excited by what they experienced with him and became his disciples.
And it was because of Andrew telling his brother Simon "We have found the Messiah" and then bringing Simon to him - that Simon became Peter - the Rock of the Church.
I call you to behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Like John the Baptist, I do not want you to follow me - I want you to follow the one who gives everyone who comes to him life and that abundantly. - I want you to follow the innocent one, the pure one, the one of God and from God who offered himself as the unblemished sacrifice for our sins, once and for all.
I want you to follow Jesus and have the angel of the Lord's judgement pass over your house and for you to escape from bondage and enter the promised land.
And more - I want you to be like John - and Andrew - and Simon Peter - and every disciple.
I want you to call to those who trust you and to those who will hear your voice - I want you to call to them and say "look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is still with us - to make us free and to make us holy and to give us eternal life"
There is not one of us who does not need to draw closer to the Lamb of God. There is not one of us who does not need to come to Jesus and be cleansed and forgiven and given life. There is not one of us who does not need to experience Jesus and his transforming love on a deeper basis - day by day.
The Lamb of God my friends is here - here in the book we read
here in the songs we sing and the prayers that we pray
here in the love that we share and the forgiveness we grant in his name
here in the laughter and here too in the pain.
He is here in the Spirit that God poured out upon the world in response to his sacrifice.
He is here - and he is in heaven above, interceding for and protecting his people and calling to all the world to come and be healed.
Blessed be his name - now and forevermore. Amen.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Mark 15:37-38
"And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." Mark 15:37-38
There is a difference between being alone and being separated. Jesus had been separated from His Father, but He was on a mission. He was doing His part in God's great plan to redeem mankind from his sinful ways. That was fine. Every day He could communicate with the Father. He did what His Father asked. He was separated from the Father but He was not alone.
That all changed on a Friday afternoon. Jesus was hanging on a cross, the result of a set of rigged trials. He was unjustly accused, convicted with false testimony, beaten unmercifully by the Romans and finally hanged on that cross. It was there that He became truly separated from His Father.
All of a sudden, He looked heavenward through pain filled eyes, and Daddy wasn't there. Why? It wasn't the suffering or the injustice. It was the sin. No, not Jesus' sin for He was sinless. It was deeper. Just as the priest would lay his hands upon a sacrificial lamb and transfer the guilt of a person orthe nation from them to that lamb, on the cross all the sins of all mankind - past, present, and future - were placed upon Jesus.
In effect, Jesus became sin - and that is what the Father could not tolerate or look upon! That is when Jesus was alone and lonely. That is why He cried "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" But note what happened when Jesus died - literally when He took His last breath! The veil of the Temple was torn in half. That may not seem significant at first, but follow these questions.
"What was the purpose of the veil?" It separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. "What was the Holy of Holies?" It symbolized the dwelling place of God. "So when the veil was torn, what happened to the Holy of Holies?" It was exposed to every man - there was no longer a partition that separated man from God. EXACTLY! Jesus' sacrificial death was what was needed to break down the barrier between God and YOU! You and I no longer need to be lonely. We have direct access to the Father. We do not have to approach Him through a priest or pastor or intermediary of any type. We can approach Him directly - if we approach Him through the blood, the sacrifice of Jesus. To that I say "Hallelujah!" I will never again be lonely. I always have the Father with me. He no longer resides in a Temple made with human hands. He resides in my heart where there is no separation but what I put up - and I willingly, openly tear them down so that I can rest in the Fathers arms. And YOU can do the very same thing! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
There is a difference between being alone and being separated. Jesus had been separated from His Father, but He was on a mission. He was doing His part in God's great plan to redeem mankind from his sinful ways. That was fine. Every day He could communicate with the Father. He did what His Father asked. He was separated from the Father but He was not alone.
That all changed on a Friday afternoon. Jesus was hanging on a cross, the result of a set of rigged trials. He was unjustly accused, convicted with false testimony, beaten unmercifully by the Romans and finally hanged on that cross. It was there that He became truly separated from His Father.
All of a sudden, He looked heavenward through pain filled eyes, and Daddy wasn't there. Why? It wasn't the suffering or the injustice. It was the sin. No, not Jesus' sin for He was sinless. It was deeper. Just as the priest would lay his hands upon a sacrificial lamb and transfer the guilt of a person orthe nation from them to that lamb, on the cross all the sins of all mankind - past, present, and future - were placed upon Jesus.
In effect, Jesus became sin - and that is what the Father could not tolerate or look upon! That is when Jesus was alone and lonely. That is why He cried "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" But note what happened when Jesus died - literally when He took His last breath! The veil of the Temple was torn in half. That may not seem significant at first, but follow these questions.
"What was the purpose of the veil?" It separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. "What was the Holy of Holies?" It symbolized the dwelling place of God. "So when the veil was torn, what happened to the Holy of Holies?" It was exposed to every man - there was no longer a partition that separated man from God. EXACTLY! Jesus' sacrificial death was what was needed to break down the barrier between God and YOU! You and I no longer need to be lonely. We have direct access to the Father. We do not have to approach Him through a priest or pastor or intermediary of any type. We can approach Him directly - if we approach Him through the blood, the sacrifice of Jesus. To that I say "Hallelujah!" I will never again be lonely. I always have the Father with me. He no longer resides in a Temple made with human hands. He resides in my heart where there is no separation but what I put up - and I willingly, openly tear them down so that I can rest in the Fathers arms. And YOU can do the very same thing! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Psalm 106:15
"And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul." Psalm 106:15
There are a great many people who do not pray because they simply do not feel any sense of need. One of the great signs that the Holy Spirit is in us is that we realize that sense of absolute need. The Spirit will awaken that sense of need whenever life challenges us. The Spirit may bring us a sense of fullness, yet we realize how empty we have been, and in that emptiness the Spirit directs us to prayer.
When we learn how to pray in the Spirit, there may come a sense of restraint. Never push beyond, determining in your mind that it is God's will and I will stick to it. Remember the above scripture, God may be reluctant but grant your request anyway. Allow the Spirit of God to teach you, He is your source, He knows your need, and do not grieve Him with your determination. Beware; if you are ever free from that sense of need, it may be that you have become satisfied with the way you are.
If you are truly abiding in Jesus Christ you will learn to ask for what He wants you to ask for, whether we are conscious of doing so or not. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
There are a great many people who do not pray because they simply do not feel any sense of need. One of the great signs that the Holy Spirit is in us is that we realize that sense of absolute need. The Spirit will awaken that sense of need whenever life challenges us. The Spirit may bring us a sense of fullness, yet we realize how empty we have been, and in that emptiness the Spirit directs us to prayer.
When we learn how to pray in the Spirit, there may come a sense of restraint. Never push beyond, determining in your mind that it is God's will and I will stick to it. Remember the above scripture, God may be reluctant but grant your request anyway. Allow the Spirit of God to teach you, He is your source, He knows your need, and do not grieve Him with your determination. Beware; if you are ever free from that sense of need, it may be that you have become satisfied with the way you are.
If you are truly abiding in Jesus Christ you will learn to ask for what He wants you to ask for, whether we are conscious of doing so or not. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Ezra 5:15
"And he said to him, "Take these articles; go, carry them to the temple site that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its former site." Ezra 5:15
What a strange verse for today. What could ever be there to inspire? Well, let's take a look. Ezra is talking about utensils that were taken from the Temple when Jerusalem fell some 70 years before. These are the same items that were displayed by Nebuchadnezzar's son at a national party. It was that night that God wrote on the walls of the banquet room - and the kingdom fell into enemy hands. It is those same utensils that Solomon commissioned to be made for the Temple. The same ones that had been used by the priests when the Glory of God fell upon the Temple on dedication day.
You see, these were important historical and spiritual items to the Jews. Now they are being returned to Jerusalem. The only problem is that the Temple has not been rebuilt - but it will - in part because the sacred items are being returned. This is a most generous gesture of the king - he is turning loose of a great wealth in gold alone (for these items were made of solid gold!) The prophets foretold the day when that which the canker worm had eaten would be returned. This is it. They spoke of the days that the riches of the Gentiles would be given to the Jews. This is it. They spoke of the time when the Temple would be rebuilt and sacred sacrifices would once again be offered. That day is come. All because a king in a far land heard of the injustices done to a small nation - one that had given birth to men and women who found favor in the king's eyes.
These same promises and more have been passed on to you and me. And here is the value of today's verse. If God did it for the Jews in exile, He will do it for us. God is a keeper of promises - even if we fail to keep our end. His promises are "yes and amen". What God speaks is truth and what is truth will be fulfilled. Perhaps you find yourself in a bit of bondage. There is that "pet" sin that plagues you. You simply cannot turn loose of it no matter how hard you try. God will take it away. He promised that we should be made white as snow. "How? When?" you may ask. I don't know. Sometimes it seems to be forever, sometimes it is instantaneous. It's all up to the Father. He may want more effort from those of us who show signs of strength. He may require none from those who have no strength at all. Some of us have struggled with smoking, drinking, or other sins for years and have not found freedom.
God has promised to lift you up. Understanding that He knows what is best for us and we don't, then allowing Him to do things His way and letting Him do the worrying. Which is more relaxing, driving cross country or flying? Most will answer flying. Why? Because the pilot and crew get to do all the hard stuff. We simply lean back trusting that the pilot will find the proper airport and take us to our destination. Simply lean back, put your confidence in the Lord, trusting that He will find the best way to our destination. That's the promise of today's verse - God keeps His promises. Always has - always will. All we have to do is trust. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
What a strange verse for today. What could ever be there to inspire? Well, let's take a look. Ezra is talking about utensils that were taken from the Temple when Jerusalem fell some 70 years before. These are the same items that were displayed by Nebuchadnezzar's son at a national party. It was that night that God wrote on the walls of the banquet room - and the kingdom fell into enemy hands. It is those same utensils that Solomon commissioned to be made for the Temple. The same ones that had been used by the priests when the Glory of God fell upon the Temple on dedication day.
You see, these were important historical and spiritual items to the Jews. Now they are being returned to Jerusalem. The only problem is that the Temple has not been rebuilt - but it will - in part because the sacred items are being returned. This is a most generous gesture of the king - he is turning loose of a great wealth in gold alone (for these items were made of solid gold!) The prophets foretold the day when that which the canker worm had eaten would be returned. This is it. They spoke of the days that the riches of the Gentiles would be given to the Jews. This is it. They spoke of the time when the Temple would be rebuilt and sacred sacrifices would once again be offered. That day is come. All because a king in a far land heard of the injustices done to a small nation - one that had given birth to men and women who found favor in the king's eyes.
These same promises and more have been passed on to you and me. And here is the value of today's verse. If God did it for the Jews in exile, He will do it for us. God is a keeper of promises - even if we fail to keep our end. His promises are "yes and amen". What God speaks is truth and what is truth will be fulfilled. Perhaps you find yourself in a bit of bondage. There is that "pet" sin that plagues you. You simply cannot turn loose of it no matter how hard you try. God will take it away. He promised that we should be made white as snow. "How? When?" you may ask. I don't know. Sometimes it seems to be forever, sometimes it is instantaneous. It's all up to the Father. He may want more effort from those of us who show signs of strength. He may require none from those who have no strength at all. Some of us have struggled with smoking, drinking, or other sins for years and have not found freedom.
God has promised to lift you up. Understanding that He knows what is best for us and we don't, then allowing Him to do things His way and letting Him do the worrying. Which is more relaxing, driving cross country or flying? Most will answer flying. Why? Because the pilot and crew get to do all the hard stuff. We simply lean back trusting that the pilot will find the proper airport and take us to our destination. Simply lean back, put your confidence in the Lord, trusting that He will find the best way to our destination. That's the promise of today's verse - God keeps His promises. Always has - always will. All we have to do is trust. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Matt 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Matt 28:19
In Ephesians 4: 11, Paul relates the five-fold ministry of the Church as leaders having the ability to be teachers, pastors, evangelists, prophets and apostles. Each having their own function and duties within the Church and while each of us may be used in some area of each of these functions, there seems to be specific gifts given to those whose sole ministry is functioning in at least one of these areas of ministry. Some are teachers, some are pastors, some are prophets, etc. While we are all able to go out and be instruments of salvation for some, the Evangelists seems to have a special ability and calling to perform their special function of preaching the good news and bring into salvation the lost, while the pastor and teacher has other special functions.
Many feel that going out and getting souls saved is the same as going out and making disciples. It is not the same. It is comparatively easy to proclaim salvation from sin, but Jesus comes along and says, "What about you-if you would be My disciple, deny yourself, take up that cross daily, and follow Me."
Being a disciple of Christ may begin with eternal salvation, but discipleship means much much more to a believer in terms of sanctification, and giving over the right to SELF and spiritual growth for the church. While being saved from hell and put right for heaven is an incredible and wonderful event, becoming a disciple of Christ is infinitely grander as we grow into temporal value to God giving up our right to ourselves for Him. Amen and Amen.
In Ephesians 4: 11, Paul relates the five-fold ministry of the Church as leaders having the ability to be teachers, pastors, evangelists, prophets and apostles. Each having their own function and duties within the Church and while each of us may be used in some area of each of these functions, there seems to be specific gifts given to those whose sole ministry is functioning in at least one of these areas of ministry. Some are teachers, some are pastors, some are prophets, etc. While we are all able to go out and be instruments of salvation for some, the Evangelists seems to have a special ability and calling to perform their special function of preaching the good news and bring into salvation the lost, while the pastor and teacher has other special functions.
Many feel that going out and getting souls saved is the same as going out and making disciples. It is not the same. It is comparatively easy to proclaim salvation from sin, but Jesus comes along and says, "What about you-if you would be My disciple, deny yourself, take up that cross daily, and follow Me."
Being a disciple of Christ may begin with eternal salvation, but discipleship means much much more to a believer in terms of sanctification, and giving over the right to SELF and spiritual growth for the church. While being saved from hell and put right for heaven is an incredible and wonderful event, becoming a disciple of Christ is infinitely grander as we grow into temporal value to God giving up our right to ourselves for Him. Amen and Amen.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
James 4:15
"Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." James 4:15
The Apostle Paul was traveling from his last mission trip to Jerusalem. Two times he received prophecy that he would be bound in chains in Jerusalem. Two times people encouraged him to not go to Jerusalem. He went anyway.
When He reached that holy city, he went to the holiest place of all - the Temple - where he fulfilled a vow he had previously made. Then he was arrested, bound in chains and cast into prison. Why? Why did Paul not listen to the prophets? Why did he not stop somewhere else until the prophets said it was OK to proceed. Why didn't he return to Galatia, or Corinth, or . . . anywhere but Jerusalem?
Paul had learned a lesson. The Lord told Him to go to Jerusalem - and so he would. The Lord told him he would go to Rome - and so he did . . . from Jerusalem . . . in chains . . . with Rome picking up the travel expenses! But the prophets? Wasn't their word valid? Yes, they were right. Paul was bound in chains. But why didn't Paul stay away? Because God told him to go. You see, Paul's lesson was that he was in the hands of God. Whatever God wanted, Paul wanted. Whatever God said, Paul did. If God said, "Go to Jerusalem." To Jerusalem he went. If God said, "You will be bound in chains." That didn't bother Paul. It had happened before. It would probably happen again. James says that we should not say "I will do this and that." (my paraphrase.)
Instead he says, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." Note the difference . . . it's found in four little, single syllable words, "if the Lord wills . . ." If the Lord wills, I will become a millionaire. If the Lord wills, I will be a teacher. If the Lord wills, I will be healed. If the Lord wills, I will marry. If the Lord wills, I will . . . be bound in chains and cast into prison. That was Paul's attitude. It should be ours.
I fear that we think entirely too much of ourselves and our ability. How often to we presume to tell God how to run our lives - or the lives of others? What if His will is different? Is it any wonder that some of our prayers go unanswered? How can God answer our prayer if it is in direct opposition to His will? Why do we ever think that we know more than the God of the Universe - the God of Creation? When God speaks, we need to respond with the words of "Jean Luke Piccard" Captain of the USS Enterprise, "Make it so", Lord. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
The Apostle Paul was traveling from his last mission trip to Jerusalem. Two times he received prophecy that he would be bound in chains in Jerusalem. Two times people encouraged him to not go to Jerusalem. He went anyway.
When He reached that holy city, he went to the holiest place of all - the Temple - where he fulfilled a vow he had previously made. Then he was arrested, bound in chains and cast into prison. Why? Why did Paul not listen to the prophets? Why did he not stop somewhere else until the prophets said it was OK to proceed. Why didn't he return to Galatia, or Corinth, or . . . anywhere but Jerusalem?
Paul had learned a lesson. The Lord told Him to go to Jerusalem - and so he would. The Lord told him he would go to Rome - and so he did . . . from Jerusalem . . . in chains . . . with Rome picking up the travel expenses! But the prophets? Wasn't their word valid? Yes, they were right. Paul was bound in chains. But why didn't Paul stay away? Because God told him to go. You see, Paul's lesson was that he was in the hands of God. Whatever God wanted, Paul wanted. Whatever God said, Paul did. If God said, "Go to Jerusalem." To Jerusalem he went. If God said, "You will be bound in chains." That didn't bother Paul. It had happened before. It would probably happen again. James says that we should not say "I will do this and that." (my paraphrase.)
Instead he says, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." Note the difference . . . it's found in four little, single syllable words, "if the Lord wills . . ." If the Lord wills, I will become a millionaire. If the Lord wills, I will be a teacher. If the Lord wills, I will be healed. If the Lord wills, I will marry. If the Lord wills, I will . . . be bound in chains and cast into prison. That was Paul's attitude. It should be ours.
I fear that we think entirely too much of ourselves and our ability. How often to we presume to tell God how to run our lives - or the lives of others? What if His will is different? Is it any wonder that some of our prayers go unanswered? How can God answer our prayer if it is in direct opposition to His will? Why do we ever think that we know more than the God of the Universe - the God of Creation? When God speaks, we need to respond with the words of "Jean Luke Piccard" Captain of the USS Enterprise, "Make it so", Lord. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Psalm 25:1-2
"To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me" Psalm 25:1-2
I remember as a kid how I learned to trust someone. I was on a high place (5 feet seems high to a little kid of 24"!) and I was afraid to get down. It was so far to the ground and I could get hurt if I jumped. But there was my Mother standing just a little bit away. She told me to jump to her. I looked into her eyes and I knew I could trust her to catch me. So I jumped into my mother's arms. I thought she was the strongest woman alive! Later in life, when I became a father myself, I passed the lesson on to my kids. They learned they could trust me, because I could catch them and not drop them! All of a sudden I was the strongest man alive! That trust in Daddy's physical strength eventually translated into trust in Daddy's wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual strength. All five of our children know they can trust Dad.
Trusting the Lord is similar. We learn by trusting Him in small ways. When we see that He is faithful in the small things, we can trust Him in the larger things. Sooner or later, we come to the conclusion that we can trust Him in ALL things. As a little child lifts his arms up to his Mommy or Daddy wanting to be held in their strength, so we need to lift up our souls to Him, the Creator of the universe. When we trust in Him, we will not be afraid - even when our enemies surround us and there seems to be no hope for salvation. We can trust Him because He has proven that He is faithful. We can trust Him to protect us from our enemies. There is none like Him in all of heaven or earth. He will not allow us to suffer without His strength. He will never allow our enemies to gloat over us, for He assures us of the final victory! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
I remember as a kid how I learned to trust someone. I was on a high place (5 feet seems high to a little kid of 24"!) and I was afraid to get down. It was so far to the ground and I could get hurt if I jumped. But there was my Mother standing just a little bit away. She told me to jump to her. I looked into her eyes and I knew I could trust her to catch me. So I jumped into my mother's arms. I thought she was the strongest woman alive! Later in life, when I became a father myself, I passed the lesson on to my kids. They learned they could trust me, because I could catch them and not drop them! All of a sudden I was the strongest man alive! That trust in Daddy's physical strength eventually translated into trust in Daddy's wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual strength. All five of our children know they can trust Dad.
Trusting the Lord is similar. We learn by trusting Him in small ways. When we see that He is faithful in the small things, we can trust Him in the larger things. Sooner or later, we come to the conclusion that we can trust Him in ALL things. As a little child lifts his arms up to his Mommy or Daddy wanting to be held in their strength, so we need to lift up our souls to Him, the Creator of the universe. When we trust in Him, we will not be afraid - even when our enemies surround us and there seems to be no hope for salvation. We can trust Him because He has proven that He is faithful. We can trust Him to protect us from our enemies. There is none like Him in all of heaven or earth. He will not allow us to suffer without His strength. He will never allow our enemies to gloat over us, for He assures us of the final victory! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Isaiah 42:1-9 and Matthew 3:13-17
Let us Pray: Bless O God, the words of my lips and the meditations of our hearts that they be of profit to us and acceptable to thee, our rock and our redeemer. Amen
We started off the service with a call to worship in which we recalled the essential message of God to us - the story of Jesus and how forgiveness and salvation come through his name.
It is the message of the cross that we proclaim - of the cross and the resurrection; yet for many of us proclaiming the message is difficult.
We know what the message is - but we find it difficult to express it to others, - to get others to really feel and sense the importance of it, sometimes, even to get others to listen to us.
It is about this last - about getting others to listen to us, that I want to speak of today and I want to do so by looking at one of the great riddles of Jesus' life - the riddle of his baptism.
Theologians, scholars, and just ordinary people like you and I are puzzled as to why Jesus was baptized.
Jesus himself tells us that he was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness", but that term is never explained by him, and there is nothing else in the passage to help us understand why Jesus, who was sinless, received, at John's hands, a baptism for the repentance of sins.
What theologians and bible scholars are all agreed on however, is the fact that the baptism of Jesus by John at the Jordan marked the beginning of his ministry - it was his debut as it were - his coming out ceremony - and that at the end of it he received the approval of God, who speaks from heaven, and says: "this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
There is no question that the baptism of Jesus was a significant event, a turning point in his life and through him - a turning point in our own lives.
So what does the baptism of Jesus show us? How does understanding it lead us to being more able to communicate the gospel to others - to be able to get others to listen to us?
The answer is contained in the reason that Jesus gave for his baptism when John says to him - in verse 14 of today's reading:
"I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
and Jesus responds
"let it be so, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness."
Righteousness is an interesting word.
It is found 232 times in the bible - and in close to half of these occurrences it refers to the righteousness of God - to his love and his justice, to his saving activities and purposes.
In other words, contrary to the popular understanding, the word "righteousness" does not primarily refer to someone who is living a good life, rather it refers to a state in which the way of redemption is actively offered or illustrated by someone.
To be righteous is not just to be good - it is to be in the right kind of relationship with God and with others - to be a relationship which brings salvation, which brings wholeness, which brings the good news of God's love, to others.
Righteousness is something active - not simply a description of one's moral state.
Proverbs 11:4 says - "Righteousness delivers from death."
and again in Proverbs 15:9 we read, - "God loves the one who pursues righteousness"
and in Proverbs 21:3 we see these words - "To do righteousness and justice, is more acceptable to God than sacrifice."
So when Jesus says to John: - "let it be so, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness" what he is saying is - "do it, it is a good thing to do - because in this way we will go further towards saving others, we will deliver them from death, we will make God's loving purpose more evident, more accessible to others."
And indeed the baptism of Jesus does help bring the healing word of God to others; and it shows us, as well, how the saving message of Jesus is best delivered.
There are three points I would like make to today. (yes - I do occasionally give an old fashioned three point sermon)
First - the baptism of Jesus shows us that Jesus truly did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped - to be held on to. His baptism, there in the muddy old Jordan - shows that he identifies with us and with our sins - and not only with God and God's perfection.
Jesus did not need to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins - all agree about this - but he chose this path - he chose to be seen with us - as one of us - because in this way - so Jesus says - righteousness is fulfilled.
Pause for a moment and think about this with me.
Each one of us here has had pronounced upon us the forgiveness and acceptance of God, we need not have anything more to do with thinking about ourselves as sinners.
In fact, according to the bible, we can think of ourselves as chosen by God, as being selected by him for glory. Yet, think some more with me - in our communication with others - with those who have not yet really listened to the word of God's love - would this be helpful?
Who gets the better hearing? - The perfect person, the one who has never made a mistake?
- Or the one who can stand and say - I know where you have been, let me help you. I know how difficult it is.
In his baptism Jesus identifies with us. He shows us the way of righteousness, the way of saving others, is a way of empathy and understanding - of putting ourselves in someone else's shoes.
Jesus does not "lord" his superior knowledge or virtue over others.
Instead he sits with them in their homes, he eats their food, he answers their questions, he laughs with them in their joy, and he cries with them in their grief. And with them, and with us, he descends to the Jordan and is washed for the forgiveness of sins.
Do you want to proclaim the message and be heard in it as was Jesus?
Then you need to identify with the people you are speaking to. You need to remember how you have "been there" before, and if you have not actually been there - well, you still need to try to put yourself in the other persons shoes, and try to really understand what it going on in their hearts as well as in their heads.
True communication can't be done in an atmosphere of judgement, it requires understanding, acceptance, and the willingness to link hearts and minds together.
Second - Jesus shows us in his baptism that it is important to go beyond ourselves when seeking to do the work of God - he shows us that we should turn to God and seek God's help when we are trying to point the way to God to others.
Jesus seeks John out at the Jordan river - it is no accident that he is there.
Jesus deliberately goes to a place where God's power and love were being proclaimed and he asks for that power and that love to be poured out upon him in a special act - an act performed by a special man - a man who was filled with God's spirit.
It is then, and only then, after this has been done, that Jesus goes on to help others.
We often forget this in our attempt to communicate to others the love of God.
We want to tell the story of Jesus, we want to share the salvation of God, but we ignore, neglect, or just plain downgrade the resources of our faith.
We speak to others - but we do not prepare ourselves to speak: - we do not pray for God's help, - we do not pause to ask ourselves what Jesus would have said or done in this circumstance, - we do not call upon God's power to assist us in touching their hearts.
Further, when we speak with others we all too often do not offer them anything special; - we do not show them anything different than that which they already have. - we do not offer anything that they have not already been offered.
Too often we offer common sense, pop psychology, and the wisdom we receive from self-help books - instead of the way of God that is found in the bible and in our traditions.
My friends, the gospel we seek to communicate, the saving message we want to share, the righteousness we are called to fulfill with Jesus, is not something that is based on a "self help" model.
Salvation is something that ultimately comes from beyond us. Righteousness is something that is given to us by God, given as gift through the very Jesus whose baptism we are looking at
today.
When Jesus wanted to make a beginning, he turned to a spiritual resource.
When he wanted to fulfill all righteousness, he turned to a spiritual man speaking spiritual words. When he wanted to communicate a spiritualmessage he was first baptized in a spiritual river - the river Jordan through which Israel had passed to enter the Holy Land.
Jesus turned to these things, and he also pointed them out to others - which leads me to the last point.
Third - Jesus in his baptism reminds us that we need to set the example.
Jesus was, above all things, authentic in his communications.
When he spoke of being able to help us carry our burdens - he had already experienced the same trials and tribulations as we do, When he spoke of how trusting in God could help one overcome anxiety, - he had already trusted in God for his daily bread, his physical safety, and his spiritual power.
People listened to Jesus - not just because he understood and identified with him, - and not just because he pointed out the way to God but also because he lived his own message.
He didn't just tell others to turn to God - he himself sought out God blessings: at the Jordan and in lonely places away from others - and regularly in places of worship - the synagogues on the Sabbath each week and at the temple at Passover Time.
He didn't just tell others to pray for people, - he himself prayed for them. - as he did for the disciples before going out to the Garden of Gethesame.
He didn't just tell others to forgive each other, - he himself forgave them - even from the cross when he was in the midst of his agony.
He didn't just tell others how important it was to heal others - he himself did healings. He spat on the clay and anointed a beggars eyes. He reached out and touched the lepers. He laid his hands upon the sick and anointed them with his prayers.
Jesus did everything he asked others to do.
And he was respected for this,
And he was heard by many because of it.
My friends - not everyone will listen to us.
No matter how good we are, how righteous we are, there will be some who will take offense at us - as they did at Jesus. But the message of Jesus to us is that we ought to be trying as he did.
And when we do when we humble ourselves - like Jesus - and identify with others, when we tell others about the source of saving power and go to it and accept it for ourselves then God will be well pleased with us. And his Spirit will indeed be seen to rest upon us as it did upon Jesus
Thanks be to God - for his living word - Jesus Christ our Saviour And for his Spirit - which gives up power day by day. Amen
We started off the service with a call to worship in which we recalled the essential message of God to us - the story of Jesus and how forgiveness and salvation come through his name.
It is the message of the cross that we proclaim - of the cross and the resurrection; yet for many of us proclaiming the message is difficult.
We know what the message is - but we find it difficult to express it to others, - to get others to really feel and sense the importance of it, sometimes, even to get others to listen to us.
It is about this last - about getting others to listen to us, that I want to speak of today and I want to do so by looking at one of the great riddles of Jesus' life - the riddle of his baptism.
Theologians, scholars, and just ordinary people like you and I are puzzled as to why Jesus was baptized.
Jesus himself tells us that he was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness", but that term is never explained by him, and there is nothing else in the passage to help us understand why Jesus, who was sinless, received, at John's hands, a baptism for the repentance of sins.
What theologians and bible scholars are all agreed on however, is the fact that the baptism of Jesus by John at the Jordan marked the beginning of his ministry - it was his debut as it were - his coming out ceremony - and that at the end of it he received the approval of God, who speaks from heaven, and says: "this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
There is no question that the baptism of Jesus was a significant event, a turning point in his life and through him - a turning point in our own lives.
So what does the baptism of Jesus show us? How does understanding it lead us to being more able to communicate the gospel to others - to be able to get others to listen to us?
The answer is contained in the reason that Jesus gave for his baptism when John says to him - in verse 14 of today's reading:
"I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
and Jesus responds
"let it be so, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness."
Righteousness is an interesting word.
It is found 232 times in the bible - and in close to half of these occurrences it refers to the righteousness of God - to his love and his justice, to his saving activities and purposes.
In other words, contrary to the popular understanding, the word "righteousness" does not primarily refer to someone who is living a good life, rather it refers to a state in which the way of redemption is actively offered or illustrated by someone.
To be righteous is not just to be good - it is to be in the right kind of relationship with God and with others - to be a relationship which brings salvation, which brings wholeness, which brings the good news of God's love, to others.
Righteousness is something active - not simply a description of one's moral state.
Proverbs 11:4 says - "Righteousness delivers from death."
and again in Proverbs 15:9 we read, - "God loves the one who pursues righteousness"
and in Proverbs 21:3 we see these words - "To do righteousness and justice, is more acceptable to God than sacrifice."
So when Jesus says to John: - "let it be so, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness" what he is saying is - "do it, it is a good thing to do - because in this way we will go further towards saving others, we will deliver them from death, we will make God's loving purpose more evident, more accessible to others."
And indeed the baptism of Jesus does help bring the healing word of God to others; and it shows us, as well, how the saving message of Jesus is best delivered.
There are three points I would like make to today. (yes - I do occasionally give an old fashioned three point sermon)
First - the baptism of Jesus shows us that Jesus truly did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped - to be held on to. His baptism, there in the muddy old Jordan - shows that he identifies with us and with our sins - and not only with God and God's perfection.
Jesus did not need to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins - all agree about this - but he chose this path - he chose to be seen with us - as one of us - because in this way - so Jesus says - righteousness is fulfilled.
Pause for a moment and think about this with me.
Each one of us here has had pronounced upon us the forgiveness and acceptance of God, we need not have anything more to do with thinking about ourselves as sinners.
In fact, according to the bible, we can think of ourselves as chosen by God, as being selected by him for glory. Yet, think some more with me - in our communication with others - with those who have not yet really listened to the word of God's love - would this be helpful?
Who gets the better hearing? - The perfect person, the one who has never made a mistake?
- Or the one who can stand and say - I know where you have been, let me help you. I know how difficult it is.
In his baptism Jesus identifies with us. He shows us the way of righteousness, the way of saving others, is a way of empathy and understanding - of putting ourselves in someone else's shoes.
Jesus does not "lord" his superior knowledge or virtue over others.
Instead he sits with them in their homes, he eats their food, he answers their questions, he laughs with them in their joy, and he cries with them in their grief. And with them, and with us, he descends to the Jordan and is washed for the forgiveness of sins.
Do you want to proclaim the message and be heard in it as was Jesus?
Then you need to identify with the people you are speaking to. You need to remember how you have "been there" before, and if you have not actually been there - well, you still need to try to put yourself in the other persons shoes, and try to really understand what it going on in their hearts as well as in their heads.
True communication can't be done in an atmosphere of judgement, it requires understanding, acceptance, and the willingness to link hearts and minds together.
Second - Jesus shows us in his baptism that it is important to go beyond ourselves when seeking to do the work of God - he shows us that we should turn to God and seek God's help when we are trying to point the way to God to others.
Jesus seeks John out at the Jordan river - it is no accident that he is there.
Jesus deliberately goes to a place where God's power and love were being proclaimed and he asks for that power and that love to be poured out upon him in a special act - an act performed by a special man - a man who was filled with God's spirit.
It is then, and only then, after this has been done, that Jesus goes on to help others.
We often forget this in our attempt to communicate to others the love of God.
We want to tell the story of Jesus, we want to share the salvation of God, but we ignore, neglect, or just plain downgrade the resources of our faith.
We speak to others - but we do not prepare ourselves to speak: - we do not pray for God's help, - we do not pause to ask ourselves what Jesus would have said or done in this circumstance, - we do not call upon God's power to assist us in touching their hearts.
Further, when we speak with others we all too often do not offer them anything special; - we do not show them anything different than that which they already have. - we do not offer anything that they have not already been offered.
Too often we offer common sense, pop psychology, and the wisdom we receive from self-help books - instead of the way of God that is found in the bible and in our traditions.
My friends, the gospel we seek to communicate, the saving message we want to share, the righteousness we are called to fulfill with Jesus, is not something that is based on a "self help" model.
Salvation is something that ultimately comes from beyond us. Righteousness is something that is given to us by God, given as gift through the very Jesus whose baptism we are looking at
today.
When Jesus wanted to make a beginning, he turned to a spiritual resource.
When he wanted to fulfill all righteousness, he turned to a spiritual man speaking spiritual words. When he wanted to communicate a spiritualmessage he was first baptized in a spiritual river - the river Jordan through which Israel had passed to enter the Holy Land.
Jesus turned to these things, and he also pointed them out to others - which leads me to the last point.
Third - Jesus in his baptism reminds us that we need to set the example.
Jesus was, above all things, authentic in his communications.
When he spoke of being able to help us carry our burdens - he had already experienced the same trials and tribulations as we do, When he spoke of how trusting in God could help one overcome anxiety, - he had already trusted in God for his daily bread, his physical safety, and his spiritual power.
People listened to Jesus - not just because he understood and identified with him, - and not just because he pointed out the way to God but also because he lived his own message.
He didn't just tell others to turn to God - he himself sought out God blessings: at the Jordan and in lonely places away from others - and regularly in places of worship - the synagogues on the Sabbath each week and at the temple at Passover Time.
He didn't just tell others to pray for people, - he himself prayed for them. - as he did for the disciples before going out to the Garden of Gethesame.
He didn't just tell others to forgive each other, - he himself forgave them - even from the cross when he was in the midst of his agony.
He didn't just tell others how important it was to heal others - he himself did healings. He spat on the clay and anointed a beggars eyes. He reached out and touched the lepers. He laid his hands upon the sick and anointed them with his prayers.
Jesus did everything he asked others to do.
And he was respected for this,
And he was heard by many because of it.
My friends - not everyone will listen to us.
No matter how good we are, how righteous we are, there will be some who will take offense at us - as they did at Jesus. But the message of Jesus to us is that we ought to be trying as he did.
And when we do when we humble ourselves - like Jesus - and identify with others, when we tell others about the source of saving power and go to it and accept it for ourselves then God will be well pleased with us. And his Spirit will indeed be seen to rest upon us as it did upon Jesus
Thanks be to God - for his living word - Jesus Christ our Saviour And for his Spirit - which gives up power day by day. Amen
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Acts 5:1
"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession" Acts 5:1
Here's a couple with a problem. It wasn't that they were rich, though they probably were. It wasn't that they sold some property. It wasn't even that they lied about the selling price - though that was a serious problem. Their problem was that they loved themselves more than they loved God. Let's recap the story. Ananias and Sapphira had witnessed the act of one Barnabas who sold his property and gave it all to the apostles. I imagine that it created quite a stir among the saints. "Did you hear what Barnabas did? Wasn't that fantastic?" I suspect that the next time he entered the assembly a hearty round of applause erupted spontaneously in his honor. Barnabas didn't do it for the attention or the adulation. He did it to meet a need. I suspect that he was rather embarrassed by the praise heaped upon him.
Having seen all this, our wonderful couple decided to do the same. They wanted the attention. They wanted the praise. They wanted to bask in the spotlight for a few moments. Maybe they wanted mentioned in the "Chronicles of the Early Church" when it was published. (This they were - but not in the way they expected!) So they found a piece of property they didn't particularly need and sold it. It probably went for a few shekels more than they expected and the weight of their coin purse began to feel mighty good. That night in bed after the kids were tucked in and the candles were out a conversation such as this might of taken place.
"Wow, I never thought that piece of junk property would bring that much," said Ananias. "That was a lot. It humored me to see the expression on your face when you came through the door!" replied his loving wife. "My look? You should have seen yours when I poured the contents of the coin purse on the table! I've never seen that many coins at one time in all my life." Sapphira pauses for a moment, "Do you think we really have to give it ALL to God? Couldn't we keep some of it ourselves?"
"Sure, we could. But we wouldn't get the spotlight treatment. No one honors those who give half of the proceeds of the sale. Isn't that why we did it?" "Yes, but . . . ." "I've got it, Sapphira. No one knows what I got for that property. They wouldn't believe it if they did. Here's what we will do. I'll go to the apostles and tell them I sold it for such and such. They won't know the difference. We will get the praise - and we will keep the balance! We'll be rich!" Sapphira again pauses. "I don't know Ananias. It sounds like a good plan - but lying to Peter? He's pretty insightful. . . . . . . . . Well, that is a lot of money . . . ..Ok. Let's do it." The next day the transaction is completed with the apostles. Ananias dies. Sapphira follows him to the grave. So WHAT'S THEIR PROBLEM IF IT WASN'T LYING! Their problem was they were stuck on themselves. They wanted the praise, the adoration, the attention. They wanted to be in the spotlight. They wanted . . . .
"Oh, I see. They were selfish." You got it. "But I'm not like that." Really? I'm afraid that I am. I suspect that you are. Haven't you ever done anything for God to get the praise - the honor - the glory. Sure you have. Was it when you were a kid, a young adult, last year? Or was it yesterday or today? What really cooked Ananias' and Sapphira's goose was that they lied to the Holy Spirit. That God couldn't tolerate. He would have worked with them on their selfishness, their greed. But He couldn't work with their affront to Him. If He had, everyone would have taken up the example and lied to God. No one could be trusted - and God would have been knocked off His throne!
So God did what He had to do. He put down the insurrection in the very beginning. Now about you and me. We had best rein in our selfishness because sooner or later we will allow it to come above God in such a way that He will not be able to tolerate it. He may not strike us dead, but He will discipline us in a serious manner. Amen and Amen.
Here's a couple with a problem. It wasn't that they were rich, though they probably were. It wasn't that they sold some property. It wasn't even that they lied about the selling price - though that was a serious problem. Their problem was that they loved themselves more than they loved God. Let's recap the story. Ananias and Sapphira had witnessed the act of one Barnabas who sold his property and gave it all to the apostles. I imagine that it created quite a stir among the saints. "Did you hear what Barnabas did? Wasn't that fantastic?" I suspect that the next time he entered the assembly a hearty round of applause erupted spontaneously in his honor. Barnabas didn't do it for the attention or the adulation. He did it to meet a need. I suspect that he was rather embarrassed by the praise heaped upon him.
Having seen all this, our wonderful couple decided to do the same. They wanted the attention. They wanted the praise. They wanted to bask in the spotlight for a few moments. Maybe they wanted mentioned in the "Chronicles of the Early Church" when it was published. (This they were - but not in the way they expected!) So they found a piece of property they didn't particularly need and sold it. It probably went for a few shekels more than they expected and the weight of their coin purse began to feel mighty good. That night in bed after the kids were tucked in and the candles were out a conversation such as this might of taken place.
"Wow, I never thought that piece of junk property would bring that much," said Ananias. "That was a lot. It humored me to see the expression on your face when you came through the door!" replied his loving wife. "My look? You should have seen yours when I poured the contents of the coin purse on the table! I've never seen that many coins at one time in all my life." Sapphira pauses for a moment, "Do you think we really have to give it ALL to God? Couldn't we keep some of it ourselves?"
"Sure, we could. But we wouldn't get the spotlight treatment. No one honors those who give half of the proceeds of the sale. Isn't that why we did it?" "Yes, but . . . ." "I've got it, Sapphira. No one knows what I got for that property. They wouldn't believe it if they did. Here's what we will do. I'll go to the apostles and tell them I sold it for such and such. They won't know the difference. We will get the praise - and we will keep the balance! We'll be rich!" Sapphira again pauses. "I don't know Ananias. It sounds like a good plan - but lying to Peter? He's pretty insightful. . . . . . . . . Well, that is a lot of money . . . ..Ok. Let's do it." The next day the transaction is completed with the apostles. Ananias dies. Sapphira follows him to the grave. So WHAT'S THEIR PROBLEM IF IT WASN'T LYING! Their problem was they were stuck on themselves. They wanted the praise, the adoration, the attention. They wanted to be in the spotlight. They wanted . . . .
"Oh, I see. They were selfish." You got it. "But I'm not like that." Really? I'm afraid that I am. I suspect that you are. Haven't you ever done anything for God to get the praise - the honor - the glory. Sure you have. Was it when you were a kid, a young adult, last year? Or was it yesterday or today? What really cooked Ananias' and Sapphira's goose was that they lied to the Holy Spirit. That God couldn't tolerate. He would have worked with them on their selfishness, their greed. But He couldn't work with their affront to Him. If He had, everyone would have taken up the example and lied to God. No one could be trusted - and God would have been knocked off His throne!
So God did what He had to do. He put down the insurrection in the very beginning. Now about you and me. We had best rein in our selfishness because sooner or later we will allow it to come above God in such a way that He will not be able to tolerate it. He may not strike us dead, but He will discipline us in a serious manner. Amen and Amen.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Acts 8:37
"Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said,"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:37
It was difficult to understand - that passage from Isaiah. Who was the prophet talking about? Who was this suffering servant? Would the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob really be interested in an Ethiopian? Would He take time to explain it to a sinful, mutilated eunuch? These were questions that possibly passed through the Ethiopian eunuch's mind as he traveled from Jerusalem to his native country. He was confused and doubtful of ever understanding this mysterious religion.
From the side of the road, the eunuch heard a voice. "What was that you asked?" "Do you understand what you are reading?" asked the stranger for the second time. "Honestly, no. I don't understand it. Can you explain it to me?" With that invitation,Philip stepped into the foreigner's chariot and explained the Gospel (the Good News) about Jesus to the seeker. Passing a wide spot in a small stream, the Ethiopian expressed his comprehension by asking, "What hinders me from being baptized? See, here is the water." And Philip baptized him - then disappeared!
The Gospel is not really hard to understand. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and you may be saved. That is not that hard. The eunuch could do it with a few moments of explanation. But there are a couple of keys to this fantastic conversion. 1st the eunuch was seeking. 2nd the Spirit of God was listening. 3rd Philip was willing. 4th God put it all together. These four keys are the same for any conversion. 1st it is useless to preach to a man hardened against the Gospel. It is very fruitful to explain that same Gospel to a man who is wanting answers. 2nd if the Spirit isn't in it, there is no profit. Only the Holy Spirit can properly direct a conversion. You can't and I can't and the greatest preacher in the world can't. 3rd you have to be willing to move with God. Philip left a growing revival to go to the wilderness to reach one man. You may have to travel around the world to reach the one God wants you to talk to - then again you may only have to talk across the fence. 4th God must put the circumstances together. It does no good to force a conversation about God even though the hearer is a seeker, the Spirit is working, and you are willing unless God has put everything together. He knows the circumstances and the times and the moods of every man, woman, and child.
All four of these keys must be used in proper sequence if a soul is to be won to Christ. Perhaps you have beat your head against a locked door because you didn't use these keys. Now you know. Your head will thank you for it. Perhaps you are a seeker and God has sent this Scripture thought just for you. Perhaps it is the final key to your salvation. If so, accept Him now!
Trust your life to God the Father today. You can do it by trusting in His Son, Jesus Christ. Go ahead. Right now. Ask Jesus to be your Savior. A simple prayer like "Jesus,I am a sinner. I have failed to live my life in a right manner. I know that. I know that I can never make it right. Please,forgive me. Purify me through your Blood which cleanses me of all my sins. I accept you as my Savior - my redeemer - the only one who can make me right with God. I receive you as my Lord - my Master - I desire to serve you all the rest of the days of my life. Thank you, Jesus! Amen." If you prayed that prayer for the first time, please e-mail me and let me know. Welcome into the family. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
It was difficult to understand - that passage from Isaiah. Who was the prophet talking about? Who was this suffering servant? Would the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob really be interested in an Ethiopian? Would He take time to explain it to a sinful, mutilated eunuch? These were questions that possibly passed through the Ethiopian eunuch's mind as he traveled from Jerusalem to his native country. He was confused and doubtful of ever understanding this mysterious religion.
From the side of the road, the eunuch heard a voice. "What was that you asked?" "Do you understand what you are reading?" asked the stranger for the second time. "Honestly, no. I don't understand it. Can you explain it to me?" With that invitation,Philip stepped into the foreigner's chariot and explained the Gospel (the Good News) about Jesus to the seeker. Passing a wide spot in a small stream, the Ethiopian expressed his comprehension by asking, "What hinders me from being baptized? See, here is the water." And Philip baptized him - then disappeared!
The Gospel is not really hard to understand. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and you may be saved. That is not that hard. The eunuch could do it with a few moments of explanation. But there are a couple of keys to this fantastic conversion. 1st the eunuch was seeking. 2nd the Spirit of God was listening. 3rd Philip was willing. 4th God put it all together. These four keys are the same for any conversion. 1st it is useless to preach to a man hardened against the Gospel. It is very fruitful to explain that same Gospel to a man who is wanting answers. 2nd if the Spirit isn't in it, there is no profit. Only the Holy Spirit can properly direct a conversion. You can't and I can't and the greatest preacher in the world can't. 3rd you have to be willing to move with God. Philip left a growing revival to go to the wilderness to reach one man. You may have to travel around the world to reach the one God wants you to talk to - then again you may only have to talk across the fence. 4th God must put the circumstances together. It does no good to force a conversation about God even though the hearer is a seeker, the Spirit is working, and you are willing unless God has put everything together. He knows the circumstances and the times and the moods of every man, woman, and child.
All four of these keys must be used in proper sequence if a soul is to be won to Christ. Perhaps you have beat your head against a locked door because you didn't use these keys. Now you know. Your head will thank you for it. Perhaps you are a seeker and God has sent this Scripture thought just for you. Perhaps it is the final key to your salvation. If so, accept Him now!
Trust your life to God the Father today. You can do it by trusting in His Son, Jesus Christ. Go ahead. Right now. Ask Jesus to be your Savior. A simple prayer like "Jesus,I am a sinner. I have failed to live my life in a right manner. I know that. I know that I can never make it right. Please,forgive me. Purify me through your Blood which cleanses me of all my sins. I accept you as my Savior - my redeemer - the only one who can make me right with God. I receive you as my Lord - my Master - I desire to serve you all the rest of the days of my life. Thank you, Jesus! Amen." If you prayed that prayer for the first time, please e-mail me and let me know. Welcome into the family. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Psalms 119:105
"Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." Psalms 119:105
The ancients knew about walking in the dark. That is why they developed foot lamps. These were small lamps that were tied onto the feet. They did not cast much light, but they did shed enough for the night walker to see where he was putting his next foot. I can almost imagine seeing little bits of light rising and falling with each foot fall on trails across the hills leading to a village - perhaps Bethlehem - in the middle of a dark night.
It could be a bit humorous if you picture it just right. This is the picture David had as he wrote today's verse - and one of my all time favorites. On a spiritual level, David says that the Word of the Lord is a lamp to his feet. It is that little bit of sight that makes faith possible. Paul says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The truths of the Bible are that bit of flame that fires up the faith. As a believer, can you imagine life without faith? Perhaps you can if you remember your life before Jesus. Remember the darkness and the hopelessness? Then someone opened the Word of God to you and it was as though someone switched on a light. All of a sudden, you could see, not just the sin, but the solution to that sin. You could see Jesus.
Perhaps even now you are groping in the dark. You seem to have lost your faith. The light has grown dim and you don't know where you are or how you got there. May I make a suggestion? Open the Word. Anywhere. Just open it. Begin to read wherever you find your finger. Let God speak to you. If you persist, He will turn on the light again. Not only that, He will show you where you are and where you should be and how to get there.
God has not abandoned you. He is there with you - He always has been. There is no place that you can set your feet that God will not follow you. He loves you so much that He will follow you to the gates of Hell in one last attempt to bring you back home to Himself. You don't see Him? He's there. If you pick up His Word, He will speak to you. Ever been in a dark room and someone struck a match? Quite bright wasn't it? That's how a single verse can be for you today. It will shed enough light for you to see where the light switch is. When you make your way to the Father, He will illuminate your entire being with floods of wonderful, bright, purifying light. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
The ancients knew about walking in the dark. That is why they developed foot lamps. These were small lamps that were tied onto the feet. They did not cast much light, but they did shed enough for the night walker to see where he was putting his next foot. I can almost imagine seeing little bits of light rising and falling with each foot fall on trails across the hills leading to a village - perhaps Bethlehem - in the middle of a dark night.
It could be a bit humorous if you picture it just right. This is the picture David had as he wrote today's verse - and one of my all time favorites. On a spiritual level, David says that the Word of the Lord is a lamp to his feet. It is that little bit of sight that makes faith possible. Paul says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The truths of the Bible are that bit of flame that fires up the faith. As a believer, can you imagine life without faith? Perhaps you can if you remember your life before Jesus. Remember the darkness and the hopelessness? Then someone opened the Word of God to you and it was as though someone switched on a light. All of a sudden, you could see, not just the sin, but the solution to that sin. You could see Jesus.
Perhaps even now you are groping in the dark. You seem to have lost your faith. The light has grown dim and you don't know where you are or how you got there. May I make a suggestion? Open the Word. Anywhere. Just open it. Begin to read wherever you find your finger. Let God speak to you. If you persist, He will turn on the light again. Not only that, He will show you where you are and where you should be and how to get there.
God has not abandoned you. He is there with you - He always has been. There is no place that you can set your feet that God will not follow you. He loves you so much that He will follow you to the gates of Hell in one last attempt to bring you back home to Himself. You don't see Him? He's there. If you pick up His Word, He will speak to you. Ever been in a dark room and someone struck a match? Quite bright wasn't it? That's how a single verse can be for you today. It will shed enough light for you to see where the light switch is. When you make your way to the Father, He will illuminate your entire being with floods of wonderful, bright, purifying light. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."Ephesians 2:8-9
After Jesus told them that he sent by God, some were seeking to seize Him, having come to the conclusion that He was not a good man. But others did believe in Him, "and they were saying, 'When the Christ shall come, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?'" (John 7:31). All the evidence was there. Some chose to believe; others chose not to. People do the same today. Faith is a choice. We choose to believe or not believe.
Faith is the operating principle of life. It is the means by which we relate to God and live our lives in freedom. Notice the variety of ways stated in Scripture by which faith affects our lives. First, we are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Second, we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
After Jesus told them that he sent by God, some were seeking to seize Him, having come to the conclusion that He was not a good man. But others did believe in Him, "and they were saying, 'When the Christ shall come, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?'" (John 7:31). All the evidence was there. Some chose to believe; others chose not to. People do the same today. Faith is a choice. We choose to believe or not believe.
Faith is the operating principle of life. It is the means by which we relate to God and live our lives in freedom. Notice the variety of ways stated in Scripture by which faith affects our lives. First, we are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Second, we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Phil 4:12
"I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" Phil 4:12
Ah, sweet contentment! What would it take to make you contented? A new house? A new car? A fully equipped bass boat? A new dress? In size xs?! Happy children? The perfect job? The perfect Church? The perfect wife? The perfect husband? If we stop to think about it, we could probably come up with a lot of things. A winning Mark Six lottery ticked might be at the top for some of us. Will these really make you contented? I can guarantee if you had one or all of the above, you wouldn't be contented very long. Why? Because contentment can not be found in physical things. All of these things will become less alluring with time. The house will age. The car will rust. The dress will "shrink". The children will be children. The job will grow old. The Church - well if you join it, you will ruin its perfection. The wife, she will get fat after three kids. The husband won't do anything but sit in front of the TV watching soccer. The 8 million dollars will soon be spent. These things only offer temporary contentment.
Paul has learned a bit about contentment. He has found it in poverty and riches; in what ever situation in which he has found himself. He has found contentment in hunger and plenty; in ease and suffering. What is his secret? Paul has learned that contentment is found in Jesus. Paul had such a hunger for God that nothing else would do. He was so sold out to Jesus that whatever He wanted was fine with Paul. Would you sing if you were beaten, bleeding, and cast into a stinking, wet, rat infested prison cell? Paul did. Would you return to the city that beat you, stoned you and cast you out of the city gates thinking you were dead? Paul did. Would you witness to the men who held you captive, awaiting a trial that would likely deliver you to the executioner? Paul did - and won the majority of Caesar's personal guard to Jesus!
See the difference? Paul's contentment never changed, never rusted, never died, never argued, never faded away. His contentment was based upon the Jesus who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! We could learn a lot from Paul. The next time we look at our "want list" let's ask the question, "Will it bring real contentment? Or will it only provide temporary happiness?" Then decide if you really want or need it. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Ah, sweet contentment! What would it take to make you contented? A new house? A new car? A fully equipped bass boat? A new dress? In size xs?! Happy children? The perfect job? The perfect Church? The perfect wife? The perfect husband? If we stop to think about it, we could probably come up with a lot of things. A winning Mark Six lottery ticked might be at the top for some of us. Will these really make you contented? I can guarantee if you had one or all of the above, you wouldn't be contented very long. Why? Because contentment can not be found in physical things. All of these things will become less alluring with time. The house will age. The car will rust. The dress will "shrink". The children will be children. The job will grow old. The Church - well if you join it, you will ruin its perfection. The wife, she will get fat after three kids. The husband won't do anything but sit in front of the TV watching soccer. The 8 million dollars will soon be spent. These things only offer temporary contentment.
Paul has learned a bit about contentment. He has found it in poverty and riches; in what ever situation in which he has found himself. He has found contentment in hunger and plenty; in ease and suffering. What is his secret? Paul has learned that contentment is found in Jesus. Paul had such a hunger for God that nothing else would do. He was so sold out to Jesus that whatever He wanted was fine with Paul. Would you sing if you were beaten, bleeding, and cast into a stinking, wet, rat infested prison cell? Paul did. Would you return to the city that beat you, stoned you and cast you out of the city gates thinking you were dead? Paul did. Would you witness to the men who held you captive, awaiting a trial that would likely deliver you to the executioner? Paul did - and won the majority of Caesar's personal guard to Jesus!
See the difference? Paul's contentment never changed, never rusted, never died, never argued, never faded away. His contentment was based upon the Jesus who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! We could learn a lot from Paul. The next time we look at our "want list" let's ask the question, "Will it bring real contentment? Or will it only provide temporary happiness?" Then decide if you really want or need it. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Monday, January 3, 2011
1 Corinth 2:12
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." 1 Corinth 2:12
Most Christians do not know much about the realm of the Spirit. It is as if they are separated from the Promised Land by the Jordan River. Once in a while, when no giants are around, they may rush across the water and take some fruit from the trees and then run back. This is a long way from dwelling in the land!
Perhaps they hear a rousing sermon by a strong evangelist. For a brief time their spirits are stirred up, and they reach out and take hold of their healing, their strength, their joy, their peace or their deliverance. But when the stirring fades, they go back to walking in the natural. We were not meant to rush in and out of the spiritual realm; we are meant to live there.
Why wonder where your spiritual blessings are. They are in the spiritual realm. Enter in and take hold of what is yours. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Most Christians do not know much about the realm of the Spirit. It is as if they are separated from the Promised Land by the Jordan River. Once in a while, when no giants are around, they may rush across the water and take some fruit from the trees and then run back. This is a long way from dwelling in the land!
Perhaps they hear a rousing sermon by a strong evangelist. For a brief time their spirits are stirred up, and they reach out and take hold of their healing, their strength, their joy, their peace or their deliverance. But when the stirring fades, they go back to walking in the natural. We were not meant to rush in and out of the spiritual realm; we are meant to live there.
Why wonder where your spiritual blessings are. They are in the spiritual realm. Enter in and take hold of what is yours. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 147:12-20; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:1-18
O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and in the longing of our hearts, by the words of my lips and in the thoughts that we form. Speak, O Lord, for your servants listen. Amen.
"This is Lisa," whimpered the voice on the other end of the phone. "I cannot stop crying. Do you have some time to talk to me?"
"Of course," I said. "What's up?" Lisa was a middle-aged woman who had just ended a 15 year-long relationship with her husband. Three attempts at couple counselling had failed to make a dent in Arthur's defensive, angry shell. He had been raised by a very religious and extremely abusive mother and had had huge problems trusting women ever since. Lisa had given it her best; but now it was the end of the road. She and the children could not take any more of his abuse.
As she had indicated a month earlier, Arthur had agreed to move out. They had followed the plan with a minimum of conflict. Then, just recently, Lisa found out that he has a younger mistress in Shenzhen and confronted him angrily. Arthur had told her that his mistress meant nothing, but that he had not loved Lisa in a long time.
"I feel so betrayed," she said. "It's the cruelest thing anyone has ever done to me! How could anyone put me through so much grief!?"
I had spent time earlier explaining the problem of co-dependency to Lisa and had predicted that she would have trouble letting go. You don't just assume a mothering role for a grown man for most of fifteen years and then give it up overnight. "You'll let go when you no longer feel the need to be responsible for him," I had said. But it was more than just a
co-dependent relationship. A part of her had truly loved him just as a part of him had truly loved Lisa. It was this that was tearing her apart.
"Why couldn't he let me help him?" she wept.
"Because part of him is too afraid," I said. "For the first time in his life he came across a woman he could trust and who demanded the same trust from him. The thought of being exposed, of having to come out and actually stand in the light of such a love was too much for him to bear."
Well, I resist as much as I can getting all 'psychological' on you; but we are looking at John's gospel for this second Sunday of Christmastide because the authors of the Lectionary argue that fair is fair. Matthew and Luke have had their turn at it. Finally John gets to tell his story of Christmas. The problem with John is, well, John. He doesn't tell stories.
He gives speeches. He doesn't preach three-point sermons. He preaches fifty-three-point sermons. John never does anything small. And as for psychological? John is the most psychological treatise of all four gospels.
John, quite simply, likes to write things large. Mark goes back to Isaiah and Malachi to begin his gospel. Matthew goes back to Abraham. Luke - not to be outdone - goes all the way back to Adam. But John is in a class by himself. When he tells the story of how Jesus came into the world, he goes back to the dawn of time.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
Do you see what I mean? In John, Jesus doesn't just come into the world because of two people, Mary and Joseph. He isn't just the Messiah Israel has been longing for and for which the prophets held out hope. He is the logos, the Word of God himself. He is that very part of God that reveals, that very part of God that speaks, that very part of God that makes himself
heard.
What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
It is an often repeated and stark contrast in John, this metaphor of light and darkness. This light that Jesus was, John says, turned out to be a threat to many, so threatening, in fact, that the forces of darkness tried to overcome it. Behind this pattern, of course, we hear the struggle that was going on in John's church, a Jewish church, many of whom would not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Throughout John we will hear about not only how Jesus was persecuted by his own people but how his followers were equally mistreated. What we have in such stories is a lens through which we can view the struggle that went on in the emerging church, a time in
which followers of Jesus were experiencing a severe estrangement from their religious and cultural roots.
Why did this happen? That is the question. If you read John carefully, you will find clues dropped here and there about why people found Jesus so threatening. But, in the end, he simply doesn't come out and explain why. All he says is:
He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.
It is left to us to explain why the self-professed children of light were closed to the light of God's truth when it shone. How do we answer such a question without becoming guilty of the very same kind of self-righteousness that Jesus' opponents embodied? The only way that makes
sense to me is 'psychological', that is to say, by looking deep into that placed called 'soul' that is the deepest place inside you and me. What is it that happened when the light that was Jesus came into the world that is still happening today whenever the light that is Christ begins to shine?
Light is not only the revelation of the logos; it reveals the nature of all who come in contact with it, and the judgment upon each person is determined by his or her response to it. Light shines in darkness. It reveals. It also exposes, aays Alan Culpepper (Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel).
The way I think it works is this. Light comes into the world and it's as if everyone and everything is seen in a new and penetrating way. Suddenly we are connected with each other and the source of divine love precisely because this light comes as an invitation to grow in connectedness. Just as suddenly, however, we are also alienated because of everything about us
that insists on remaining entrenched in isolation. This is the contrast John is talking about. It is the contrast we, no doubt witness, every passing day.
Like Lisa and her husband Arthur, we are, all of us, a mixture of light and darkness. There is much that has happened to us since we came into the world that encouraged trust in us or damaged it deeply. It is that sense of trust that allows us to put our ignorance and fear into the larger context of struggle and growth. When we trust, we risk, moving toward the
light, letting it draw us out of the darkness of ego and fear into the warmth of self and love. It is as if we know that the light is where we belong. That is why we journey toward it. It is why Arthur fell in love with Lisa. For the first time in his life he saw where he belonged.
But there are those of us who love darkness more than we love light. Like those who love the light more, they are also a mixture of good and evil. The problem is that they have begun to identify with their own darkness, to love their own evil more than their own good. The light that shines on them, then, from another human being, appears harsh and glaring. It exposes their mistakes and inadequacies. In terror they flee from it and scheme to keep themselves covered - even from their own goodness.
Lying to themselves and to others is the only strategy they can envision. They cling to their own darkness out of fear. In this perverted sense they love it. it allows them not to be seen. Eventually they realize the only way to secure the darkness is to kill the advancing light. They think this will protect them, but it proves to be their undoing. - John Shea, Gospel Light: Jesus Stories for Spiritual Consciousness
It is how judgment works. It is not about going before a Judge who will weigh our good deeds and bad. It is about the choice we make every single day about whether or not to step into the light or retreat into the darkness.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world and human beings loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. - John 3:19
In the end Arthur felt the need to retreat into his angry, abusive shell because he simply would not trust the invitation of love. It is the kind of story that gets repeated in countless places, in countless places every single day.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
That was John's Christmas message to his own church, a people who were tempted to despair before this awful struggle going on in their own church and their own hearts. It is the message that there is something about this light that has come that will not be stopped even by the human refusal to accept it. Even in a world like ours. Even people like us. Eventually, all those of us who insist on living in the dark will have to give in to
that advancing light of love. Praise be to God day by day. Amen.
"This is Lisa," whimpered the voice on the other end of the phone. "I cannot stop crying. Do you have some time to talk to me?"
"Of course," I said. "What's up?" Lisa was a middle-aged woman who had just ended a 15 year-long relationship with her husband. Three attempts at couple counselling had failed to make a dent in Arthur's defensive, angry shell. He had been raised by a very religious and extremely abusive mother and had had huge problems trusting women ever since. Lisa had given it her best; but now it was the end of the road. She and the children could not take any more of his abuse.
As she had indicated a month earlier, Arthur had agreed to move out. They had followed the plan with a minimum of conflict. Then, just recently, Lisa found out that he has a younger mistress in Shenzhen and confronted him angrily. Arthur had told her that his mistress meant nothing, but that he had not loved Lisa in a long time.
"I feel so betrayed," she said. "It's the cruelest thing anyone has ever done to me! How could anyone put me through so much grief!?"
I had spent time earlier explaining the problem of co-dependency to Lisa and had predicted that she would have trouble letting go. You don't just assume a mothering role for a grown man for most of fifteen years and then give it up overnight. "You'll let go when you no longer feel the need to be responsible for him," I had said. But it was more than just a
co-dependent relationship. A part of her had truly loved him just as a part of him had truly loved Lisa. It was this that was tearing her apart.
"Why couldn't he let me help him?" she wept.
"Because part of him is too afraid," I said. "For the first time in his life he came across a woman he could trust and who demanded the same trust from him. The thought of being exposed, of having to come out and actually stand in the light of such a love was too much for him to bear."
Well, I resist as much as I can getting all 'psychological' on you; but we are looking at John's gospel for this second Sunday of Christmastide because the authors of the Lectionary argue that fair is fair. Matthew and Luke have had their turn at it. Finally John gets to tell his story of Christmas. The problem with John is, well, John. He doesn't tell stories.
He gives speeches. He doesn't preach three-point sermons. He preaches fifty-three-point sermons. John never does anything small. And as for psychological? John is the most psychological treatise of all four gospels.
John, quite simply, likes to write things large. Mark goes back to Isaiah and Malachi to begin his gospel. Matthew goes back to Abraham. Luke - not to be outdone - goes all the way back to Adam. But John is in a class by himself. When he tells the story of how Jesus came into the world, he goes back to the dawn of time.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
Do you see what I mean? In John, Jesus doesn't just come into the world because of two people, Mary and Joseph. He isn't just the Messiah Israel has been longing for and for which the prophets held out hope. He is the logos, the Word of God himself. He is that very part of God that reveals, that very part of God that speaks, that very part of God that makes himself
heard.
What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
It is an often repeated and stark contrast in John, this metaphor of light and darkness. This light that Jesus was, John says, turned out to be a threat to many, so threatening, in fact, that the forces of darkness tried to overcome it. Behind this pattern, of course, we hear the struggle that was going on in John's church, a Jewish church, many of whom would not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Throughout John we will hear about not only how Jesus was persecuted by his own people but how his followers were equally mistreated. What we have in such stories is a lens through which we can view the struggle that went on in the emerging church, a time in
which followers of Jesus were experiencing a severe estrangement from their religious and cultural roots.
Why did this happen? That is the question. If you read John carefully, you will find clues dropped here and there about why people found Jesus so threatening. But, in the end, he simply doesn't come out and explain why. All he says is:
He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.
It is left to us to explain why the self-professed children of light were closed to the light of God's truth when it shone. How do we answer such a question without becoming guilty of the very same kind of self-righteousness that Jesus' opponents embodied? The only way that makes
sense to me is 'psychological', that is to say, by looking deep into that placed called 'soul' that is the deepest place inside you and me. What is it that happened when the light that was Jesus came into the world that is still happening today whenever the light that is Christ begins to shine?
Light is not only the revelation of the logos; it reveals the nature of all who come in contact with it, and the judgment upon each person is determined by his or her response to it. Light shines in darkness. It reveals. It also exposes, aays Alan Culpepper (Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel).
The way I think it works is this. Light comes into the world and it's as if everyone and everything is seen in a new and penetrating way. Suddenly we are connected with each other and the source of divine love precisely because this light comes as an invitation to grow in connectedness. Just as suddenly, however, we are also alienated because of everything about us
that insists on remaining entrenched in isolation. This is the contrast John is talking about. It is the contrast we, no doubt witness, every passing day.
Like Lisa and her husband Arthur, we are, all of us, a mixture of light and darkness. There is much that has happened to us since we came into the world that encouraged trust in us or damaged it deeply. It is that sense of trust that allows us to put our ignorance and fear into the larger context of struggle and growth. When we trust, we risk, moving toward the
light, letting it draw us out of the darkness of ego and fear into the warmth of self and love. It is as if we know that the light is where we belong. That is why we journey toward it. It is why Arthur fell in love with Lisa. For the first time in his life he saw where he belonged.
But there are those of us who love darkness more than we love light. Like those who love the light more, they are also a mixture of good and evil. The problem is that they have begun to identify with their own darkness, to love their own evil more than their own good. The light that shines on them, then, from another human being, appears harsh and glaring. It exposes their mistakes and inadequacies. In terror they flee from it and scheme to keep themselves covered - even from their own goodness.
Lying to themselves and to others is the only strategy they can envision. They cling to their own darkness out of fear. In this perverted sense they love it. it allows them not to be seen. Eventually they realize the only way to secure the darkness is to kill the advancing light. They think this will protect them, but it proves to be their undoing. - John Shea, Gospel Light: Jesus Stories for Spiritual Consciousness
It is how judgment works. It is not about going before a Judge who will weigh our good deeds and bad. It is about the choice we make every single day about whether or not to step into the light or retreat into the darkness.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world and human beings loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. - John 3:19
In the end Arthur felt the need to retreat into his angry, abusive shell because he simply would not trust the invitation of love. It is the kind of story that gets repeated in countless places, in countless places every single day.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
That was John's Christmas message to his own church, a people who were tempted to despair before this awful struggle going on in their own church and their own hearts. It is the message that there is something about this light that has come that will not be stopped even by the human refusal to accept it. Even in a world like ours. Even people like us. Eventually, all those of us who insist on living in the dark will have to give in to
that advancing light of love. Praise be to God day by day. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
