"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again" Mark 10:33-34
Writers often us a technique called "foreshadowing" to hint at things to come. Sir Conan Doyle uses such gimmicks to lead the reader in correct - or misleading - paths on the way to the solution of a mystery. Another writer, Angela Lansbury often did the same in the "Murder, a series she wrote for the television. It is a wonderful tool for the fiction writer.
Today we see the same tool used by Jesus as He and His disciples are on their way to Jerusalem. To us, it seems that these verses are rather obvious. Jesus is telling His disciples that He will be betrayed into the hands of His enemies. He will be tortured, mocked, ridiculed, beaten, condemned to death, and hung on a cross. He also tells them that He will rise from the grave.
The only problem was that the disciples did not seem to be listening. James and John were seeking a favor of Jesus - "when you come into you kingdom, can we have the places of honor?" They missed the point Jesus was making - totally! Sure, He would have a kingdom - but it would come at a great price. And that kingdom would not be of a nature that they thought. They could see themselves sitting on golden thrones on either side of Jesus' much larger and glorious jewel studded throne. They never heard Jesus say he was about to die.
Surely the others thought James and John were a bit out of line. The ten weren't listening to Jesus either. They were indignant at the request of James and John! Their anger burned towards their toward brothers - and justly so. Those two had been Jesus' favorites from the very beginning. The ten wanted their share of the kingdom too. It's really too bad the twelve didn't listen to the only person worth listening to. It would have certainly helped them understand what would happen in a few short days. They would not have been so frightened when Judas betrayed Jesus. They wouldn't have fled when Jesus was taken captive. Peter might not have denied Jesus three times before dawn on that eventful Friday. Sure, Jesus would die - but the final clause of His statement was so very important: "and three days later He will rise again."
Imagine what would have happened if the disciples had paid attention. The crucifixion could have been a victory celebration. The resurrection an expected climax to a most important week. But they didn't - and they would soon suffer the consequences because they did not hear the foreshadowing statement of their Master.
Jesus often gives us a foreshadowing of what is to come in our lives. Our pastor might be talking about sorrows coming to believers to make us strong. We are drawing cartoons on our bulletin. He tells us to be "prayed up" in advance of the coming troubles. We are telling the kids to quit fighting. Then, when the sermon is over and the invitation sung, we exit the sanctuary thinking the pastor failed to tell us a thing. Three weeks later we wonder why he didn't warn us that the enemy would be having a field day at our expense. If he had only warned us, we would have been praying!
If we can learn anything from today's verses it is this: when God speaks, we had better listen. Amen and Amen.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Repaint and Thin no more
Lord of light – shine upon us. God of love fill our hearts with your wisdom. Holy Spirit, bring yourself closer to us in my words and how we hear them, in our thoughts and how we think them. Use this time – and uses us to accomplish your good will. Amen.
The life we are having in this world is not all that there is to it – there is a lot more to come, and what is to come is based on – to a very large extent to what we do here and now – it is basically based on the kind of foundation that we are building for ourselves with the help of God.
The two Scripture readings we heard this morning speaks of the future life and of what lies beyond this mortal coil of ours. And the Scripture readings do so in a most solemn manner – one with the story of Lazarus and the rich man, the other one with a reminder to us of what it is we should all be about, what we should be doing in this life.
Reading from Timothy –
As for you – pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith – take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called…
And again –
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everyone for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Pursue righteousness – godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Set your hops on God rather than riches. Do good, share with each other.
Very simple instructions – ones in fact contained in the Law and the Prophets. Yet how often in our daily lives do we really go about building the foundation of our future using these set of instructions?
Let us all take into consideration the story of Lazarus and the Rich man for a moment –
Lazarus, a poor beggar – ends up in heaven, while the Rich man – ends up in hell.
Do you know what happened? What is all seems to come down to is that the rich man failed to share even the crumbs that fell from his table with the beggar who was laying right at his gate during his lifetime – the Rich man failed to have any compassion for his neighbour.
The Law and the Prophets tell us to feed the hungry. We are to look after the widows and the orphans. We are to do justice to those who are foreigners and the strangers in where we are living in. We are to take car of those who are suffering. We are to love God and to we are to love our neighbour as ourselves.
The Rich man probably knew what he was supposed to do. He probably obeyed most of the Law and the Prophets, but for some reason or other, the beggar at his gates did not seem to be worthy of his attention. For some reason or other the beggar was not even worthy to be given the leftovers of his feast. How about us?
Do we ever notice the poor people who are in our community? Do we ever notice the suffering of some of the people in our community? Do we ever notice the hardship of the orphans and widows? Do we do justice to those who are foreigners and strangers here in our community?
As we eat our fast food meals, as we go out to nice restaurants and watch television shows like “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. As some of us may be dreaming of winning the great Mark Six lottery prize or some other lotteries so that we might become even richer – do we spare a thought – let alone a few crumbs – a few dollars – to help those who se sores are fill of puss – whose bellies know little but dirty water and the odd bit of bread that others may from time to time have provided for them?
I heard recently a story of a Texan who, after a whole lifetime of striving, finally struck I struck it rich in oil. The first thing he did was to take a trip to Dallas and got himself an outfit that he has been dreaming for all his life – boots, spurs, a 10 gallon hat, together with all the trimmings – including a nice big Cadillac with a set of Texas Longhorn horns mounted on the front end of the car. No sooner had he got home from his trip to Dallas, he had a heart attack and died. His wife, knowing of her late husband’s new found pride and joy, decided that the only appropriate thing for her to do is to have him bury with his new finery. Accordingly a concrete vault was prepared, and a large crane was hired for the occasion. With his hat, his boots, and all the trimmings, the body was placed behind the wheel of the Cadillac. As the crane lifted the car and began lowering the Cadillac with his body in it into the vault, a friend of the deceased nudged someone standing close by and said “Man, that is living.”
I am afraid that there are many people in the world who think that way. They think that life is all about living affluently. They think that living is all about having a DVD player and a television, a nice car and a nice apartment or house, not to mention a nice funeral when it is time to go.
But that, my dear sisters and brothers in Christ, that is not living, that is dying.
Andrew Carnegie, who amassed a fortune of over 400 million dollars, ended up giving away 99.5% of his fortune away. When interviewed as to the reason for his doing so, he said – “The man, who dies rich, dies in disgrace.”
The bible seems to give us an indication that only does the rich man died in disgrace, but he also ended up in hell. While the very people that the rich man very likely despised during his lifetime, the poor beggars of our society, the welfare cases that a lot of people only talked about but never lift a finger to help, the millions of children around the world who die each year for lack of basic sanitation and a lack of food, all ended up in heaven.
What do think are riches worth in the very end of our lives? Riches that have not been shared with the needy?
Some of you here sitting here in church this morning are probably thinking – “this teaching of Jesus does not apply to me. I am not rich. I only earn very little money every month. I do not have sumptuous feasts or live in a big mansion.” However, please allow me to remind you, wealth is a relative thing – and I dare say to you that most of us sitting here are rich beyond measure when you compared yourself to 90% of the world’s population, and not doing too bad if you compared yourself to about 40% of people in Hong Kong or in your own country.
What good will all that does to us in the end? Unless we are first rich, as Paul so puts it in verses 18 and 19 of today’s Epistle reading, and unless we are rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, and thus have stored up for ourselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future.
Some people may say that this is a hard teaching, and I do not doubt that at all, for it is. However, again using the words of the Apostle Paul, it is the way to take hold of the life that really is life.
Jesus, in another passage in the Scriptures tells us that a rich man is as likely to get into heaven as it is for a camel to get through the eye of a needle.
Some interpreters of the Bible say that what Jesus was referring to in this particular passage was an ancient gate that went through the walls of Jerusalem and into the city. This gate so we understand was so small, that anyone wanted to pass through with his camel will have to first get off the camel, unload his camel, and then have to have the camel kneel down and basically go through the gate by repeated crouching down and rising up movements. There are interpreters who rejected the idea of there ever being such a gate in existence. However, the message to us is very clear, whether this gate existed or not, you cannot be so attached to your possessions, to your wealth and your pride and your position in life, and hope to be able to enter the Kingdom of God. You rather have them put aside, you rather that you give them away, you rather that you get down from your high place and in an attitude of humility, then walk through the gate.
There are many people in this world who would love to be able to have their hunger satisfied with what falls from our table. And there will be come a time when we will all be reduced to being equal with all those people
A time of dying
A time of judgment
Although the mercy of Christ is there for those who will seek it, but personally I doubt whether it is going to do us much good, if we do not prepare ourselves during this lifetime, if we have not laid a good foundation for ourselves, a foundation that is based on the love of God and the love of our neighbours. I am talking of all our neighbours, not just the ones whom we think as being worthy of our love.
A deacon of a church went out one day to paint his house. He purchased five gallons of white paint and began the job. As he got to the third side of the house, he notice that he was running out of paint, so he added some turpentine to the remainder of the paint and kept on painting. On the final side of the house, he noticed that he was again running out of paint, so he added a bit more turpentine and succeeded in finishing off painting. After the paint dried, he noticed that the last two sides of the house were streaky, the whole thing looked awful. Being a religious man, he bowed his head in prayer, and asked God what he should do. A voice came from heaven and said to him – REPAINT AND THIN NO MORE.
This is also the message of Christ for us. He calls us on us to repent and sin no more. We are called by Christ to repent of our selfishness, of our lack of caring for those who do not fit our concept of deserving, of our tendency to pass judgment in such a way that we can justify ignoring those who are outside our gates.
Where does the Grace of God fit into all that I have talk about today?
It is in the very fact that all of us can enter the Kingdom of God, and this is the will of God for each and every one of us.
As Paul wrote in his epistle:
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Set your hope in God, and build a good foundation for the future, by using what God has given for our enjoyment to increase the enjoyment of others. Visit those who are sick. Cloth those who are naked. Feed those who are hungry. Give a cup of cold water to those who thirst. And bless God’s name for the fact that God has made it possible for you to show His love and His grace to those who are in such deep need for it.
The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your many good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us. The rich man then said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house – for I have five brothers – that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied – “They have Moses and the prophets, they should listen to them.” The rich man said, “No father Abraham, but if someone should rise from the dead, they will repent.” Abraham said to him – “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convince even if someone rises from the dead.”
Listen my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to Moses and the Prophets. Their message is the same as that of the one who rose from the dead. Listen – do what they have told us to do, and thereby build a good foundation for the future.
Blessed be God – day by day. Amen.
The life we are having in this world is not all that there is to it – there is a lot more to come, and what is to come is based on – to a very large extent to what we do here and now – it is basically based on the kind of foundation that we are building for ourselves with the help of God.
The two Scripture readings we heard this morning speaks of the future life and of what lies beyond this mortal coil of ours. And the Scripture readings do so in a most solemn manner – one with the story of Lazarus and the rich man, the other one with a reminder to us of what it is we should all be about, what we should be doing in this life.
Reading from Timothy –
As for you – pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith – take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called…
And again –
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everyone for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Pursue righteousness – godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Set your hops on God rather than riches. Do good, share with each other.
Very simple instructions – ones in fact contained in the Law and the Prophets. Yet how often in our daily lives do we really go about building the foundation of our future using these set of instructions?
Let us all take into consideration the story of Lazarus and the Rich man for a moment –
Lazarus, a poor beggar – ends up in heaven, while the Rich man – ends up in hell.
Do you know what happened? What is all seems to come down to is that the rich man failed to share even the crumbs that fell from his table with the beggar who was laying right at his gate during his lifetime – the Rich man failed to have any compassion for his neighbour.
The Law and the Prophets tell us to feed the hungry. We are to look after the widows and the orphans. We are to do justice to those who are foreigners and the strangers in where we are living in. We are to take car of those who are suffering. We are to love God and to we are to love our neighbour as ourselves.
The Rich man probably knew what he was supposed to do. He probably obeyed most of the Law and the Prophets, but for some reason or other, the beggar at his gates did not seem to be worthy of his attention. For some reason or other the beggar was not even worthy to be given the leftovers of his feast. How about us?
Do we ever notice the poor people who are in our community? Do we ever notice the suffering of some of the people in our community? Do we ever notice the hardship of the orphans and widows? Do we do justice to those who are foreigners and strangers here in our community?
As we eat our fast food meals, as we go out to nice restaurants and watch television shows like “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. As some of us may be dreaming of winning the great Mark Six lottery prize or some other lotteries so that we might become even richer – do we spare a thought – let alone a few crumbs – a few dollars – to help those who se sores are fill of puss – whose bellies know little but dirty water and the odd bit of bread that others may from time to time have provided for them?
I heard recently a story of a Texan who, after a whole lifetime of striving, finally struck I struck it rich in oil. The first thing he did was to take a trip to Dallas and got himself an outfit that he has been dreaming for all his life – boots, spurs, a 10 gallon hat, together with all the trimmings – including a nice big Cadillac with a set of Texas Longhorn horns mounted on the front end of the car. No sooner had he got home from his trip to Dallas, he had a heart attack and died. His wife, knowing of her late husband’s new found pride and joy, decided that the only appropriate thing for her to do is to have him bury with his new finery. Accordingly a concrete vault was prepared, and a large crane was hired for the occasion. With his hat, his boots, and all the trimmings, the body was placed behind the wheel of the Cadillac. As the crane lifted the car and began lowering the Cadillac with his body in it into the vault, a friend of the deceased nudged someone standing close by and said “Man, that is living.”
I am afraid that there are many people in the world who think that way. They think that life is all about living affluently. They think that living is all about having a DVD player and a television, a nice car and a nice apartment or house, not to mention a nice funeral when it is time to go.
But that, my dear sisters and brothers in Christ, that is not living, that is dying.
Andrew Carnegie, who amassed a fortune of over 400 million dollars, ended up giving away 99.5% of his fortune away. When interviewed as to the reason for his doing so, he said – “The man, who dies rich, dies in disgrace.”
The bible seems to give us an indication that only does the rich man died in disgrace, but he also ended up in hell. While the very people that the rich man very likely despised during his lifetime, the poor beggars of our society, the welfare cases that a lot of people only talked about but never lift a finger to help, the millions of children around the world who die each year for lack of basic sanitation and a lack of food, all ended up in heaven.
What do think are riches worth in the very end of our lives? Riches that have not been shared with the needy?
Some of you here sitting here in church this morning are probably thinking – “this teaching of Jesus does not apply to me. I am not rich. I only earn very little money every month. I do not have sumptuous feasts or live in a big mansion.” However, please allow me to remind you, wealth is a relative thing – and I dare say to you that most of us sitting here are rich beyond measure when you compared yourself to 90% of the world’s population, and not doing too bad if you compared yourself to about 40% of people in Hong Kong or in your own country.
What good will all that does to us in the end? Unless we are first rich, as Paul so puts it in verses 18 and 19 of today’s Epistle reading, and unless we are rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, and thus have stored up for ourselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future.
Some people may say that this is a hard teaching, and I do not doubt that at all, for it is. However, again using the words of the Apostle Paul, it is the way to take hold of the life that really is life.
Jesus, in another passage in the Scriptures tells us that a rich man is as likely to get into heaven as it is for a camel to get through the eye of a needle.
Some interpreters of the Bible say that what Jesus was referring to in this particular passage was an ancient gate that went through the walls of Jerusalem and into the city. This gate so we understand was so small, that anyone wanted to pass through with his camel will have to first get off the camel, unload his camel, and then have to have the camel kneel down and basically go through the gate by repeated crouching down and rising up movements. There are interpreters who rejected the idea of there ever being such a gate in existence. However, the message to us is very clear, whether this gate existed or not, you cannot be so attached to your possessions, to your wealth and your pride and your position in life, and hope to be able to enter the Kingdom of God. You rather have them put aside, you rather that you give them away, you rather that you get down from your high place and in an attitude of humility, then walk through the gate.
There are many people in this world who would love to be able to have their hunger satisfied with what falls from our table. And there will be come a time when we will all be reduced to being equal with all those people
A time of dying
A time of judgment
Although the mercy of Christ is there for those who will seek it, but personally I doubt whether it is going to do us much good, if we do not prepare ourselves during this lifetime, if we have not laid a good foundation for ourselves, a foundation that is based on the love of God and the love of our neighbours. I am talking of all our neighbours, not just the ones whom we think as being worthy of our love.
A deacon of a church went out one day to paint his house. He purchased five gallons of white paint and began the job. As he got to the third side of the house, he notice that he was running out of paint, so he added some turpentine to the remainder of the paint and kept on painting. On the final side of the house, he noticed that he was again running out of paint, so he added a bit more turpentine and succeeded in finishing off painting. After the paint dried, he noticed that the last two sides of the house were streaky, the whole thing looked awful. Being a religious man, he bowed his head in prayer, and asked God what he should do. A voice came from heaven and said to him – REPAINT AND THIN NO MORE.
This is also the message of Christ for us. He calls us on us to repent and sin no more. We are called by Christ to repent of our selfishness, of our lack of caring for those who do not fit our concept of deserving, of our tendency to pass judgment in such a way that we can justify ignoring those who are outside our gates.
Where does the Grace of God fit into all that I have talk about today?
It is in the very fact that all of us can enter the Kingdom of God, and this is the will of God for each and every one of us.
As Paul wrote in his epistle:
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Set your hope in God, and build a good foundation for the future, by using what God has given for our enjoyment to increase the enjoyment of others. Visit those who are sick. Cloth those who are naked. Feed those who are hungry. Give a cup of cold water to those who thirst. And bless God’s name for the fact that God has made it possible for you to show His love and His grace to those who are in such deep need for it.
The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your many good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us. The rich man then said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house – for I have five brothers – that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied – “They have Moses and the prophets, they should listen to them.” The rich man said, “No father Abraham, but if someone should rise from the dead, they will repent.” Abraham said to him – “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convince even if someone rises from the dead.”
Listen my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to Moses and the Prophets. Their message is the same as that of the one who rose from the dead. Listen – do what they have told us to do, and thereby build a good foundation for the future.
Blessed be God – day by day. Amen.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Rom 3:23
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Rom 3:23
I had done my best, honest. I had worked that clay just like the teacher said. I turned it just so. I rolled it just right. I shaped it and formed it and . . .well I don't understand why she didn't like my pottery. Sure, it didn't look like hers. She was 75 or 80 and I was 10 (well at 10 anyone over 20 is ancient!). She had an edge on experience. How humiliating to get a "D" in art! And my English at that age was just as bad!
I had missed the mark - fallen short - I had sinned by not being able to meet my art teacher's expectations.
We've all done that - missed the mark. We most likely do it every day. We set goals for ourselves and don't get them all finished. We missed the mark. The boss tells us to get this done before we go home - and we fail. We missed the mark. We have sinned. Now don't get me wrong. These are not life threatening "sins" - at least most of them aren't. But they are "sins" none the less. But there are more important "sins" that we must consider - we have all committed our share of them.
We have missed God's idea of perfection. He says "do not lie", and we have all told lies in the past. He gives us a list of 10 things that we should not do - or do. We have failed in more than one. But let's imagine for a moment that there is some wonderful person out there who has managed to sin only one time. "That's wonderful" you may say. And indeed it would be. But there is only one problem. One sin is as bad as a hundred - or a thousand - or a million. That one sin will keep that near sinless guy out of heaven. Why? Because God set the standard - and He set it high.
"Then no one can get to heaven! Right?" It would seem like that - until we understand that Jesus is standing between you (and me) and God. If we have accepted Him as our Lord and our Savior, He will speak to the Judging Father and say something like this, "Daddy, this man is indeed a sinner. However, at the age of 10 he accepted Me as his Lord. He has been washed in My blood. I have redeemed him. Therefore he stands before you spotless - sinless. You must accept Him into Heaven." And the Father will look beyond Jesus, and say to us, "Well done. You are a good and faithful servant. Enter into your reward!"
But, if you haven't put your trust in Jesus. If you have rebelled against God and have rejected His provision for salvation, no amount of good works on your part will change the words of the Father as He speaks "You are unworthy of the kingdom of God. You have not taken advantage of My provision for your purity. You shall not enter into this perfect world. Instead, you must spend all of eternity in hell." If this latter describes your current condition, admit that you are a sinner. Call upon Jesus to save you. I don't want to spend an eternity without ever meeting you in Heaven. Amen and Amen.
I had done my best, honest. I had worked that clay just like the teacher said. I turned it just so. I rolled it just right. I shaped it and formed it and . . .well I don't understand why she didn't like my pottery. Sure, it didn't look like hers. She was 75 or 80 and I was 10 (well at 10 anyone over 20 is ancient!). She had an edge on experience. How humiliating to get a "D" in art! And my English at that age was just as bad!
I had missed the mark - fallen short - I had sinned by not being able to meet my art teacher's expectations.
We've all done that - missed the mark. We most likely do it every day. We set goals for ourselves and don't get them all finished. We missed the mark. The boss tells us to get this done before we go home - and we fail. We missed the mark. We have sinned. Now don't get me wrong. These are not life threatening "sins" - at least most of them aren't. But they are "sins" none the less. But there are more important "sins" that we must consider - we have all committed our share of them.
We have missed God's idea of perfection. He says "do not lie", and we have all told lies in the past. He gives us a list of 10 things that we should not do - or do. We have failed in more than one. But let's imagine for a moment that there is some wonderful person out there who has managed to sin only one time. "That's wonderful" you may say. And indeed it would be. But there is only one problem. One sin is as bad as a hundred - or a thousand - or a million. That one sin will keep that near sinless guy out of heaven. Why? Because God set the standard - and He set it high.
"Then no one can get to heaven! Right?" It would seem like that - until we understand that Jesus is standing between you (and me) and God. If we have accepted Him as our Lord and our Savior, He will speak to the Judging Father and say something like this, "Daddy, this man is indeed a sinner. However, at the age of 10 he accepted Me as his Lord. He has been washed in My blood. I have redeemed him. Therefore he stands before you spotless - sinless. You must accept Him into Heaven." And the Father will look beyond Jesus, and say to us, "Well done. You are a good and faithful servant. Enter into your reward!"
But, if you haven't put your trust in Jesus. If you have rebelled against God and have rejected His provision for salvation, no amount of good works on your part will change the words of the Father as He speaks "You are unworthy of the kingdom of God. You have not taken advantage of My provision for your purity. You shall not enter into this perfect world. Instead, you must spend all of eternity in hell." If this latter describes your current condition, admit that you are a sinner. Call upon Jesus to save you. I don't want to spend an eternity without ever meeting you in Heaven. Amen and Amen.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Deut 6:16
"You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah." Deut 6:16
Sometimes the Israelites argued against anything and anyone. So it was at Massah (aka Meribah). The people had just escaped from Egypt and were roaming in the wilderness. At some point, their water was a growing a bit strong... and they complained to Moses. No, really they were about to string Moses from the nearest tree, if there happened to be one nearby. Moses did what all men of God should do. He went to his knees supplicating the Father to do something about this situation.
God instructed Moses to take the rod he had used to strike the Nile and a few trusted elders to a nearby stone. Once there, Moses was to strike the stone with the rod. Sounds a bit strange, but then Moses was used to the strange and unusual from God. After all, that rod, when it hit the Nile, caused the river to turn into blood, and that was after the same rod had turned into a viper and devoured the snakes of the Egyptian sorcerers!
Expecting something strange to happen, Moses walked up to the rock, struck it and stood back from a gusher of a crack in the stone! From within the rock flowed the sweetest water in sufficient quantities to feed the multitude. Before you picture a nice little stream of water like you might see in an Italian fountain, realize that this stream was sufficient to water over a million people and to do it on a daily basis. Wouldn't that rod come in handy if you live in the desert.
The people managed to "snooker" God, or so they thought. They tested God and found they could manipulate Him. "Grumble enough and God will give you the desires of your heart," or so the people thought. But God was not to be "snookered" and would not be manipulated by a rowdy crowd. Moses tells the next generation, before they entered the Promised Land, that they had best not "put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah." Ah. So they tested God. Other references add some light to the meaning of the word "tested." Deuteronomy 9:22 says that the people "provoked" God. That sounds a bit stronger than "tested." Provoking indicates that the people were pushing God to the limit. He was on the verge of anger, AND I DON'T THINK I LIKE AN ANGRY GOD. Deuteronomy 33:8 says that the people "contended" with God. That sounds like a brawl. They started arguing unreasonably and inconsolably with God. Finally Psalm 95:8 says that the people "hardened their heart" against God. That is a serious charge. Hardened hearts are not only inconsolable; they are nearly murderous in nature, as if a person could kill the One True God!
In conclusion, don't you just love it when I conclude? In conclusion, it is ok for God to test us. But we had best not get in the habit of testing Him, except when Malachi gives us instruction: "Bring the whole offering into the warehouse.. test me in this." (Malachi 3:10) Don't test God... except in the tithe. Only in this test will you be permitted to put God on the spot, and He will invariably bless the tither. Amen and Amen.
Sometimes the Israelites argued against anything and anyone. So it was at Massah (aka Meribah). The people had just escaped from Egypt and were roaming in the wilderness. At some point, their water was a growing a bit strong... and they complained to Moses. No, really they were about to string Moses from the nearest tree, if there happened to be one nearby. Moses did what all men of God should do. He went to his knees supplicating the Father to do something about this situation.
God instructed Moses to take the rod he had used to strike the Nile and a few trusted elders to a nearby stone. Once there, Moses was to strike the stone with the rod. Sounds a bit strange, but then Moses was used to the strange and unusual from God. After all, that rod, when it hit the Nile, caused the river to turn into blood, and that was after the same rod had turned into a viper and devoured the snakes of the Egyptian sorcerers!
Expecting something strange to happen, Moses walked up to the rock, struck it and stood back from a gusher of a crack in the stone! From within the rock flowed the sweetest water in sufficient quantities to feed the multitude. Before you picture a nice little stream of water like you might see in an Italian fountain, realize that this stream was sufficient to water over a million people and to do it on a daily basis. Wouldn't that rod come in handy if you live in the desert.
The people managed to "snooker" God, or so they thought. They tested God and found they could manipulate Him. "Grumble enough and God will give you the desires of your heart," or so the people thought. But God was not to be "snookered" and would not be manipulated by a rowdy crowd. Moses tells the next generation, before they entered the Promised Land, that they had best not "put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah." Ah. So they tested God. Other references add some light to the meaning of the word "tested." Deuteronomy 9:22 says that the people "provoked" God. That sounds a bit stronger than "tested." Provoking indicates that the people were pushing God to the limit. He was on the verge of anger, AND I DON'T THINK I LIKE AN ANGRY GOD. Deuteronomy 33:8 says that the people "contended" with God. That sounds like a brawl. They started arguing unreasonably and inconsolably with God. Finally Psalm 95:8 says that the people "hardened their heart" against God. That is a serious charge. Hardened hearts are not only inconsolable; they are nearly murderous in nature, as if a person could kill the One True God!
In conclusion, don't you just love it when I conclude? In conclusion, it is ok for God to test us. But we had best not get in the habit of testing Him, except when Malachi gives us instruction: "Bring the whole offering into the warehouse.. test me in this." (Malachi 3:10) Don't test God... except in the tithe. Only in this test will you be permitted to put God on the spot, and He will invariably bless the tither. Amen and Amen.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Gen 17:21
"But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year." Gen 17:21
Sometimes it's very hard to put a promise on the shelf and wait until God does His work. As we have seen, Abraham had that problem. He tried to promote a trusted slave. He and Sarah contrived to produce Ishmael. Now there was nothing wrong with Ishmael - except that He was not God's way to fulfill God's promise. It would seem that Ishmael would have fallen by the wayside and never been heard from again.
WRONG! To this day the descendants of Ishmael are thorns in the side of Israel, God's chosen people. God is not one to back down from a promise, so he extended a secondary promise to Abraham that would be fulfilled through his first born son. He, too, would become a father of nations - just not the chosen nation. Those nations have worked for centuries trying to claim the land God gave Abraham. Their claim is that they are the rightful heirs - being the first-born. If you have understanding this conflict, check the international news stories detailing the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian and Muslim worlds.
Sometimes when we get in the way of God, we make problems that can never completely be undone. Abraham always had his Ishmael. We will always suffer the consequences of our own sins. Some we can escape. They can be reversed. Forgiveness can be petitioned. Restitution can be made. Others are much more complicated. Trusted friendships once broken are often irreconcilable. Confidences once made and broken can never become a confidence again.
When you receive a promise from God, wait on Him to fulfill it. He will. If you take the fulfillment upon yourself, you will only make things worse - if not impossible. If you have already muddied the waters with your own efforts, STOP! Step back and confess to the Father that you have sinned. Ask Him to forgive you. Be willing to accept the consequences - and let God do His work. He is faithful to fulfill all His promises and covenants. Amen and Amen.
Sometimes it's very hard to put a promise on the shelf and wait until God does His work. As we have seen, Abraham had that problem. He tried to promote a trusted slave. He and Sarah contrived to produce Ishmael. Now there was nothing wrong with Ishmael - except that He was not God's way to fulfill God's promise. It would seem that Ishmael would have fallen by the wayside and never been heard from again.
WRONG! To this day the descendants of Ishmael are thorns in the side of Israel, God's chosen people. God is not one to back down from a promise, so he extended a secondary promise to Abraham that would be fulfilled through his first born son. He, too, would become a father of nations - just not the chosen nation. Those nations have worked for centuries trying to claim the land God gave Abraham. Their claim is that they are the rightful heirs - being the first-born. If you have understanding this conflict, check the international news stories detailing the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian and Muslim worlds.
Sometimes when we get in the way of God, we make problems that can never completely be undone. Abraham always had his Ishmael. We will always suffer the consequences of our own sins. Some we can escape. They can be reversed. Forgiveness can be petitioned. Restitution can be made. Others are much more complicated. Trusted friendships once broken are often irreconcilable. Confidences once made and broken can never become a confidence again.
When you receive a promise from God, wait on Him to fulfill it. He will. If you take the fulfillment upon yourself, you will only make things worse - if not impossible. If you have already muddied the waters with your own efforts, STOP! Step back and confess to the Father that you have sinned. Ask Him to forgive you. Be willing to accept the consequences - and let God do His work. He is faithful to fulfill all His promises and covenants. Amen and Amen.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Deut 13:1 - 3
"If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, "Let us go after other gods" "which you have not known" "and let us serve them," you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Deut 13:1 - 3
So you think that beautiful woman or man is a godsend. That person is perfect in every way. You know that this person was meant just for you. Yes, indeed, God sent her just for you. That may be so, but the reasons might be a bit confusing. So what if you are already married? This person is perfect, the way your spouse used to be...
CUT!
I always wanted to be a movie director and this little scene would make a great little clip from a powerful flick. Too many of us have been in this person's shoes. We have thought that a certain event, item, person, or situation was just so perfect that it had to be sent from God. However, if we look closely at today's verse, we might just come away with a different idea.
The perfect preacher has just come on the scene. His words are eloquent. His message is from the Bible. His life is stellar. His board of directors is composed of names that you recognize and trust. You follow him without question... at least after a period of testing. There is no doubt that he preaches the truth. Then, WHAM!
After he has you under his spell, he proposes that there are multiple ways to God's perfection. He introduces "meditation" into the services telling you that it is a way to get in touch with the Father. A while later, he introduces some suggestive dancing explaining that the movement of the dancers is a demonstration of God's grace and beauty. A few Sundays later the Communion Table has been replaced with smaller "altar" that is used to celebrate the sacrifice to the divine. So far you have followed the logic and it seems to be fine. You have abandoned reading the Word of God yourself because the preacher is doing a much better job... and he does it so deeply. You never dreamed that all of this is in the Bible.
Finally, the preacher places a "Buddha" on the altar and tells you that this is a better way to God.
Do you swallow his progression without question? Answer honestly using the logic of our dear actor and deceived friend. Without a doubt the answer is "yes." Why not? The man's logic is so well presented... including Book, Chapter, and verse. Was the "man" sent from God? He certainly led this believer away from the truth. But WAS HE SENT BY GOD? "... for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
Not all that is bright and shiny and perfect looking is good. Not all that is bright and shiny and perfect is from the devil. That bright and shiny and perfect thing just might be a "plant", a decoy to test your love. Is your love wrapped up in God...or your own desires? Who is on the throne of your life?
The next time the attractive, the beautiful, the perfect fit comes your way, watch carefully what is being said. He, she, they, it just might be a temptation. "So," you ask, "how do I know the difference?" Search the word. Bury it in your heart. Know the truth. Not only will the truth "set you free," it will keep you free! The truth will reveal the works of darkness. The truth will open your mind to all the good things God has for you. The truth will allow you to know a fake... in a heartbeat. When the perfect appears... and it is not Jesus descending from Heaven, keep your eyes open and you mind tuned to God's Word. Resist temptation and it will flee from you! Amen and Amen.
So you think that beautiful woman or man is a godsend. That person is perfect in every way. You know that this person was meant just for you. Yes, indeed, God sent her just for you. That may be so, but the reasons might be a bit confusing. So what if you are already married? This person is perfect, the way your spouse used to be...
CUT!
I always wanted to be a movie director and this little scene would make a great little clip from a powerful flick. Too many of us have been in this person's shoes. We have thought that a certain event, item, person, or situation was just so perfect that it had to be sent from God. However, if we look closely at today's verse, we might just come away with a different idea.
The perfect preacher has just come on the scene. His words are eloquent. His message is from the Bible. His life is stellar. His board of directors is composed of names that you recognize and trust. You follow him without question... at least after a period of testing. There is no doubt that he preaches the truth. Then, WHAM!
After he has you under his spell, he proposes that there are multiple ways to God's perfection. He introduces "meditation" into the services telling you that it is a way to get in touch with the Father. A while later, he introduces some suggestive dancing explaining that the movement of the dancers is a demonstration of God's grace and beauty. A few Sundays later the Communion Table has been replaced with smaller "altar" that is used to celebrate the sacrifice to the divine. So far you have followed the logic and it seems to be fine. You have abandoned reading the Word of God yourself because the preacher is doing a much better job... and he does it so deeply. You never dreamed that all of this is in the Bible.
Finally, the preacher places a "Buddha" on the altar and tells you that this is a better way to God.
Do you swallow his progression without question? Answer honestly using the logic of our dear actor and deceived friend. Without a doubt the answer is "yes." Why not? The man's logic is so well presented... including Book, Chapter, and verse. Was the "man" sent from God? He certainly led this believer away from the truth. But WAS HE SENT BY GOD? "... for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
Not all that is bright and shiny and perfect looking is good. Not all that is bright and shiny and perfect is from the devil. That bright and shiny and perfect thing just might be a "plant", a decoy to test your love. Is your love wrapped up in God...or your own desires? Who is on the throne of your life?
The next time the attractive, the beautiful, the perfect fit comes your way, watch carefully what is being said. He, she, they, it just might be a temptation. "So," you ask, "how do I know the difference?" Search the word. Bury it in your heart. Know the truth. Not only will the truth "set you free," it will keep you free! The truth will reveal the works of darkness. The truth will open your mind to all the good things God has for you. The truth will allow you to know a fake... in a heartbeat. When the perfect appears... and it is not Jesus descending from Heaven, keep your eyes open and you mind tuned to God's Word. Resist temptation and it will flee from you! Amen and Amen.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Earning a place in the Kingdom of God
It is not fair! My children love to tell me. It is a fact that almost every child in the world will say that, regardless of what their race may be and where they might be from or living in. Have you ever experienced your children or nephews or nieces telling you that “it is not fair”?
It is not fair! When my children tell me this, I often tell them that life is not fair, not fair at all. Some children have more toys and some have less toys and some none at all, some have more friends and some not as many, some have less talent and some with more talent, and so on and so on.
Let us think for a moment, life is not fair, is it? We often see good things happening to bad people and bad things happening to good people. We see some people working for hours and hours and hours and they get hardly enough to make ends meet. All you have to do is to look at the cleaners of public toilets in Hong Kong, they work very long hours, and they get less than HK$4,000 a month, with no food or lodgings provided by the employers, on the other hand we see people making thousands of dollars with just a simple phone call. My ex-eldest sister-in-law, who in her lifetime never drink, never smoke, never eat excessively, physically fit and died of cancer at the age of 37, and yet there are people who smokes, drinks, eats a lot and never did any exercise in their life living to a ripe old age. And so on and so on. So many things are not fair in this life.
That is why I thank God that we have a God who is fair. We have a God who can be trusted to do the right thing for us. A God who promised to correct all the wrong things and even things up for us, if not later, maybe a bit later. We have a God who tells us that whatever you sow, that is what you will get. In other words, what goes around comes around!
WE have a God who is fair…..Or do we?
If we have a God that is fair, then why do we have all those complaints? Why the story that Jesus tells his disciples, the story about what the Kingdom of God is like? Why the story about how a landowner of a vineyard who goes to town early in the morning at harvest time to hire labourers at the usual rate of minimum pay, and because of his need to have more labourers, make an additional three more trips to town throughout the day to look for more labourers? Consider this, he must have hired all that he could find on each trip, and yet, he still goes to town for more people. Except for the first lot of labourers, whom he agreed to pay them minimum wages, the others he hired them with the promise of a fair wage.
Why the story about how at the end of a very long and hot day in the vineyard the labourers who were hire for just one hour of work got their wages first, and were given a whole day’s wages?
Why all the complaints from the ones who were hired at 6 am in the morning? They were complaining as they had been working for the whole day, and got the same wages as those who only worked for one hour.
And most of all why the words that Jesus ends his story with “Everyone who is now first, will be last, and everyone who is last will be first?”
Is this fair? Is it right? I do not think so.
I would like you to think about it for a moment. Labour leaders, human rights activists, church leaders, and socialists has for years and years been fighting to bring about a day’s wages for a day’s work, as well as equal pay for equal work. It was not that many years ago that a female civil servant here in Hong Kong would be getting less pay than her male counterpart just because of the differences in their sex gender. And here we have Jesus telling a story that threw the entire concept that we have been fighting for outside the window. Have all those good people been wrong all the time? Should those who work half a day get the same pay as those who have worked twelve hours in a day? Or maybe if I start a new job on the 20th of the month ask my boss for a full month’s pay, as this seems to be what the story is telling us?
DO YOU REALLY HEAR THE GOSPEL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS?
DO YOU REALLY HEAR WHAT JESUS IS TRYING TO TELL US?
“The kingdom of God is like a man who went out to hire some workers for his vineyard…and when the day ended he paid those hired last the same as he paid those hired first.
In fact I may be tempted to say that this parable sets a very bad example. Just like so many of the other things that Jesus said and did:
- Like being together with prostitutes and known criminals.
- Like eating with tax collectors.
- Like performing healing on a Sabbath day.
- Like telling sinners that they are forgiven because they repented from their ways and trusted in him and believed in him.
- Like challenging people whoever had no sin to cast the first stone.
This Jesus of ours sets a poor example, poor by the standards of the world, especially the standards set by the Pharisees for a good Jew.
And as for God, our Father in Heaven, the same God that we said AMEN to today, as well as many other days, is He not the one who sends the rain upon the just and the unjust and makes the sun to shine upon the righteous and the unrighteous?
What is fair in that? Why should the evil and the proud and the greedy and the hateful get the same refreshing rain that the good and humble and the generous and the loving ones get? Why should those people who worked for one hour be receiving the same as those who have been working under the sun for the whole day?
Rev. Susan Moxley, an Anglican church Minister in Nova Scotia, Canada once said the following, and I quote from her:
“Stop looking for a Fair God, and Be Thankful for the One you Got!”
Stop looking for a fair God, and Be Thankful for the One you Got. That sounds provocative, does it not?
Provocative. I think Jesus was trying to provoke us when he tells us the story about the generous landowner who owns the vineyard.
Did you know that all of the stories that Jesus told us are meant to provoke a reaction in us. They are supposed to shock us and make us think. Make us feel. Make us take sides! They come, after all, from the one who said in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 3, verses 15-16, “I know everything that you have done, and you are not cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other. But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out….
A minister once told me that if a sermon does not get to you, if it does not make you feel angry, or ashamed, or lifted up, and hopefully all of the above, then maybe the sermon is in need of something more.
Who are you with? Who do you feel for?
Are you with the labourers who worked in the fields and sweated under a very hot sun for the whole day and received what they agreed upon? Or the ones who were hired later in the day and received what they could not have possibly earn?
Are you with the oldest son who worked hard at his father’s place and did not waste away his inheritance, or the poor sinner who was delivered from the pig sty and pollution of his own foolishness?
Or are you with Jonah, who sat on a hill side and sulked because God had mercy on the Ninevites, or the people of that wicked city who were surely doomed to die had they not repented of their sins?
Or are you somewhere else? Perhaps with the one who told us the parable of the labourers and the parable of the prodigal son? Or with the one who sent Jonah to Nineveh, even though Jonah did not want to go?
A story that maybe you can relate to is one told by the former Anglican Bishop of Los Angeles, Rev. Frederick Borsch. He told us that when his wife got pregnant, he found that he had a desire to have a son. He felt sorry about that now, as it seems rather sexist…but he had two sisters and no brothers as he was growing up, and he wanted so much to have a brother, but when you want something that much, you figure that it will probably not be happening.
But it did! His first son Benjamin was born and all his parental heart when out to him with more love than he knew he had inside him. When his wife got pregnant again, he discovered that he had a very worrisome problem. He was thinking that when the second child was born, and as it grew, how was he going to hide from the second child that he could never love the second child as much as his first?
He must have thought that love was like a birthday cake. The more people that came to share it, the smaller the slices would have to be.
Then, as though to make matters worse, he had twins! But most of us will have guessed what happened. It was like a miracle to him. Suddenly he found that he loved the twins, Matthew and Stuart as much as he loved Benjamin. This was as though the birthday cake had suddenly become larger.
This is what the love of a parent is like. To be able to love all your children with the same level of love.
Stop looking for a fair God, and Be Thankful for the One you got. Provocative! Is it not?
The trouble is that we, in the church often fall into the trip of believing deep down that we deserve God’s grace, which is, when you think about it, how ridiculous it is. We deserve God’s love??? We deserve God forgiveness???
Perhaps that is because when we come to God for forgiveness we are really only paying lip service to our sinfulness. We do not really think that we are all that bad, after all, we come to church, we give to the church a part of our income, we perform service in the church, we give to charity, we help other people when they needed help, and we do not steal, lie, cheat, murder people, dishonour our parents, or commit adultery. We are ok after all. We are certainly better than the people who are living next door to us.
But we are not, are we? Or maybe we are! But does it really matter when it comes to the heart of a parent? Does it really matter when it comes to the heart of God? Are we not the ones whom he saved? Are we not the ones whom Christ calls to, “come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest”?
Are we not all his dearly beloved children? Even though some of us may have been around longer and have done good things all their days? And others are second or third or fifth born Christians, and maybe have not done as much? No matter when we were born into God’s family, we are all his children, and God loves us all!
That is a hard thing to believe in when we have burdened ourselves with a merit system, and want to see some extra reward for our efforts, rather than seeing things from the point of view of the God who loves us so much, that he spares not even His own Son for our sake.
We are all His children, and we all need His love, we all need His forgiveness. WE all need a day’s wages if we are to live…
And praise is to God, forgiveness is what we receive when we turn to God. Forgiveness is given to us by the Grace of God, and never could be earned, no matter how much merit you think you might have, for Heaven has no merit system. When we receive Christ into our lives, and do the work that he has set before us to do, the work of the vineyard, the work of pointing the way to salvation, to wholeness, by worship, by prayer, by testimony, by example, by love and care for one another and for God Himself.
Before I finish off my sermon I will like to share a story with you about Heaven:
A man dies and goes to Heaven. Saint Peter
meets him at the Pearly Gates and says, "Ok,
here's how it works. You need 100 points to
make it into Heaven. You tell me all the good
things you've done, and I'll award you a certain
number of points for each item, depending on
how good it was. When you reach 100 points,
you get in."
"Okay," the man says...."I was married to the
same woman for 50 years and never once
cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says Saint Peter, "That's
worth three points!" "Three points?" he asks.
"Well, I attended church all my life and
supported its ministry with one tenth of my income and service."
"Terrific!" says Saint Peter, "That's certainly
worth a point." "One point?!!
Hey, I started a soup kitchen in my city and
worked in a shelter for homeless people!"
"Fantastic, that's good for two more points, "
Saint Peter says. "Two points?!!" the man
cries.
"At this rate, the only way I'm going to get
into Heaven is by the Grace of God!"
"Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!"
My brothers and sisters, we do not earn God’s love, we respond to it. After all, it was Him who first loves us!
God loves you. End of story.
God loves you. Beginning of a brand new story.
Let us all live that new story. Let us come to God in gratitude every day for what he has done for us all, and in thanksgiving for what he does for everyone who turns to him. Amen.
It is not fair! When my children tell me this, I often tell them that life is not fair, not fair at all. Some children have more toys and some have less toys and some none at all, some have more friends and some not as many, some have less talent and some with more talent, and so on and so on.
Let us think for a moment, life is not fair, is it? We often see good things happening to bad people and bad things happening to good people. We see some people working for hours and hours and hours and they get hardly enough to make ends meet. All you have to do is to look at the cleaners of public toilets in Hong Kong, they work very long hours, and they get less than HK$4,000 a month, with no food or lodgings provided by the employers, on the other hand we see people making thousands of dollars with just a simple phone call. My ex-eldest sister-in-law, who in her lifetime never drink, never smoke, never eat excessively, physically fit and died of cancer at the age of 37, and yet there are people who smokes, drinks, eats a lot and never did any exercise in their life living to a ripe old age. And so on and so on. So many things are not fair in this life.
That is why I thank God that we have a God who is fair. We have a God who can be trusted to do the right thing for us. A God who promised to correct all the wrong things and even things up for us, if not later, maybe a bit later. We have a God who tells us that whatever you sow, that is what you will get. In other words, what goes around comes around!
WE have a God who is fair…..Or do we?
If we have a God that is fair, then why do we have all those complaints? Why the story that Jesus tells his disciples, the story about what the Kingdom of God is like? Why the story about how a landowner of a vineyard who goes to town early in the morning at harvest time to hire labourers at the usual rate of minimum pay, and because of his need to have more labourers, make an additional three more trips to town throughout the day to look for more labourers? Consider this, he must have hired all that he could find on each trip, and yet, he still goes to town for more people. Except for the first lot of labourers, whom he agreed to pay them minimum wages, the others he hired them with the promise of a fair wage.
Why the story about how at the end of a very long and hot day in the vineyard the labourers who were hire for just one hour of work got their wages first, and were given a whole day’s wages?
Why all the complaints from the ones who were hired at 6 am in the morning? They were complaining as they had been working for the whole day, and got the same wages as those who only worked for one hour.
And most of all why the words that Jesus ends his story with “Everyone who is now first, will be last, and everyone who is last will be first?”
Is this fair? Is it right? I do not think so.
I would like you to think about it for a moment. Labour leaders, human rights activists, church leaders, and socialists has for years and years been fighting to bring about a day’s wages for a day’s work, as well as equal pay for equal work. It was not that many years ago that a female civil servant here in Hong Kong would be getting less pay than her male counterpart just because of the differences in their sex gender. And here we have Jesus telling a story that threw the entire concept that we have been fighting for outside the window. Have all those good people been wrong all the time? Should those who work half a day get the same pay as those who have worked twelve hours in a day? Or maybe if I start a new job on the 20th of the month ask my boss for a full month’s pay, as this seems to be what the story is telling us?
DO YOU REALLY HEAR THE GOSPEL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS?
DO YOU REALLY HEAR WHAT JESUS IS TRYING TO TELL US?
“The kingdom of God is like a man who went out to hire some workers for his vineyard…and when the day ended he paid those hired last the same as he paid those hired first.
In fact I may be tempted to say that this parable sets a very bad example. Just like so many of the other things that Jesus said and did:
- Like being together with prostitutes and known criminals.
- Like eating with tax collectors.
- Like performing healing on a Sabbath day.
- Like telling sinners that they are forgiven because they repented from their ways and trusted in him and believed in him.
- Like challenging people whoever had no sin to cast the first stone.
This Jesus of ours sets a poor example, poor by the standards of the world, especially the standards set by the Pharisees for a good Jew.
And as for God, our Father in Heaven, the same God that we said AMEN to today, as well as many other days, is He not the one who sends the rain upon the just and the unjust and makes the sun to shine upon the righteous and the unrighteous?
What is fair in that? Why should the evil and the proud and the greedy and the hateful get the same refreshing rain that the good and humble and the generous and the loving ones get? Why should those people who worked for one hour be receiving the same as those who have been working under the sun for the whole day?
Rev. Susan Moxley, an Anglican church Minister in Nova Scotia, Canada once said the following, and I quote from her:
“Stop looking for a Fair God, and Be Thankful for the One you Got!”
Stop looking for a fair God, and Be Thankful for the One you Got. That sounds provocative, does it not?
Provocative. I think Jesus was trying to provoke us when he tells us the story about the generous landowner who owns the vineyard.
Did you know that all of the stories that Jesus told us are meant to provoke a reaction in us. They are supposed to shock us and make us think. Make us feel. Make us take sides! They come, after all, from the one who said in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 3, verses 15-16, “I know everything that you have done, and you are not cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other. But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out….
A minister once told me that if a sermon does not get to you, if it does not make you feel angry, or ashamed, or lifted up, and hopefully all of the above, then maybe the sermon is in need of something more.
Who are you with? Who do you feel for?
Are you with the labourers who worked in the fields and sweated under a very hot sun for the whole day and received what they agreed upon? Or the ones who were hired later in the day and received what they could not have possibly earn?
Are you with the oldest son who worked hard at his father’s place and did not waste away his inheritance, or the poor sinner who was delivered from the pig sty and pollution of his own foolishness?
Or are you with Jonah, who sat on a hill side and sulked because God had mercy on the Ninevites, or the people of that wicked city who were surely doomed to die had they not repented of their sins?
Or are you somewhere else? Perhaps with the one who told us the parable of the labourers and the parable of the prodigal son? Or with the one who sent Jonah to Nineveh, even though Jonah did not want to go?
A story that maybe you can relate to is one told by the former Anglican Bishop of Los Angeles, Rev. Frederick Borsch. He told us that when his wife got pregnant, he found that he had a desire to have a son. He felt sorry about that now, as it seems rather sexist…but he had two sisters and no brothers as he was growing up, and he wanted so much to have a brother, but when you want something that much, you figure that it will probably not be happening.
But it did! His first son Benjamin was born and all his parental heart when out to him with more love than he knew he had inside him. When his wife got pregnant again, he discovered that he had a very worrisome problem. He was thinking that when the second child was born, and as it grew, how was he going to hide from the second child that he could never love the second child as much as his first?
He must have thought that love was like a birthday cake. The more people that came to share it, the smaller the slices would have to be.
Then, as though to make matters worse, he had twins! But most of us will have guessed what happened. It was like a miracle to him. Suddenly he found that he loved the twins, Matthew and Stuart as much as he loved Benjamin. This was as though the birthday cake had suddenly become larger.
This is what the love of a parent is like. To be able to love all your children with the same level of love.
Stop looking for a fair God, and Be Thankful for the One you got. Provocative! Is it not?
The trouble is that we, in the church often fall into the trip of believing deep down that we deserve God’s grace, which is, when you think about it, how ridiculous it is. We deserve God’s love??? We deserve God forgiveness???
Perhaps that is because when we come to God for forgiveness we are really only paying lip service to our sinfulness. We do not really think that we are all that bad, after all, we come to church, we give to the church a part of our income, we perform service in the church, we give to charity, we help other people when they needed help, and we do not steal, lie, cheat, murder people, dishonour our parents, or commit adultery. We are ok after all. We are certainly better than the people who are living next door to us.
But we are not, are we? Or maybe we are! But does it really matter when it comes to the heart of a parent? Does it really matter when it comes to the heart of God? Are we not the ones whom he saved? Are we not the ones whom Christ calls to, “come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest”?
Are we not all his dearly beloved children? Even though some of us may have been around longer and have done good things all their days? And others are second or third or fifth born Christians, and maybe have not done as much? No matter when we were born into God’s family, we are all his children, and God loves us all!
That is a hard thing to believe in when we have burdened ourselves with a merit system, and want to see some extra reward for our efforts, rather than seeing things from the point of view of the God who loves us so much, that he spares not even His own Son for our sake.
We are all His children, and we all need His love, we all need His forgiveness. WE all need a day’s wages if we are to live…
And praise is to God, forgiveness is what we receive when we turn to God. Forgiveness is given to us by the Grace of God, and never could be earned, no matter how much merit you think you might have, for Heaven has no merit system. When we receive Christ into our lives, and do the work that he has set before us to do, the work of the vineyard, the work of pointing the way to salvation, to wholeness, by worship, by prayer, by testimony, by example, by love and care for one another and for God Himself.
Before I finish off my sermon I will like to share a story with you about Heaven:
A man dies and goes to Heaven. Saint Peter
meets him at the Pearly Gates and says, "Ok,
here's how it works. You need 100 points to
make it into Heaven. You tell me all the good
things you've done, and I'll award you a certain
number of points for each item, depending on
how good it was. When you reach 100 points,
you get in."
"Okay," the man says...."I was married to the
same woman for 50 years and never once
cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says Saint Peter, "That's
worth three points!" "Three points?" he asks.
"Well, I attended church all my life and
supported its ministry with one tenth of my income and service."
"Terrific!" says Saint Peter, "That's certainly
worth a point." "One point?!!
Hey, I started a soup kitchen in my city and
worked in a shelter for homeless people!"
"Fantastic, that's good for two more points, "
Saint Peter says. "Two points?!!" the man
cries.
"At this rate, the only way I'm going to get
into Heaven is by the Grace of God!"
"Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!"
My brothers and sisters, we do not earn God’s love, we respond to it. After all, it was Him who first loves us!
God loves you. End of story.
God loves you. Beginning of a brand new story.
Let us all live that new story. Let us come to God in gratitude every day for what he has done for us all, and in thanksgiving for what he does for everyone who turns to him. Amen.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Gen 12:1-2
"Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing." Gen 12:1-2
Promises are good. Everyone like to be promised something they want. The problem with promises is that they are only as good as the one who makes the promise.
In our society we find many broken promises. It seems there is nothing keeping a husband and wife from breaking their matrimonial promises. Divorce is at an all time high. Infidelity is even more common.
Many fathers feel there is no problem breaking a promise of a fishing trip to a son or daughter when there is something more important - like free tickets to a professional soccer game or a little extra work at the office. After all, there are more weekends for fishing and those tickets are a one time thing. (They never consider the effect broken promises have on the heart of a child.) Employers are always promising more pay and less work when the reality is just the opposite. Store advertisements promise to have a certain product at a really good price - the product "didn't come in on the last shipment - and no we don't give rain checks on sale items."
Have you paid close attention to commercials lately? What do they sell? Looked at a flower advertisement? Have you ever received a package from them that looks like the product on the advertisement? All of these are selling a promise. "Buy this and you will get that." Often the promises are unfulfilled.
Abram (later called Abraham) was offered a promise, "Go to a country I will show you in the future and I will bless you." Sounds a lot like a telemarketer I talked to the other day. The only difference was that I was talking to a human with a slick line and Abram was talking with the Almighty God. Evidently Abram had had dealings with God before. He trusted Him. Was the promise fulfilled? Certainly. Has God made promises to you? Has he fulfilled them? (Careful before you say "no." His promises are recorded in Scripture. Any other promises you may claim He made - personal prophecy - are subject to human emotion and error.) God promises salvation. He delivers. God promises eternal life. He delivers. God promises answers to prayer. He delivers - but not always the way we want Him to answer. Our God is faithful and true. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Promises are good. Everyone like to be promised something they want. The problem with promises is that they are only as good as the one who makes the promise.
In our society we find many broken promises. It seems there is nothing keeping a husband and wife from breaking their matrimonial promises. Divorce is at an all time high. Infidelity is even more common.
Many fathers feel there is no problem breaking a promise of a fishing trip to a son or daughter when there is something more important - like free tickets to a professional soccer game or a little extra work at the office. After all, there are more weekends for fishing and those tickets are a one time thing. (They never consider the effect broken promises have on the heart of a child.) Employers are always promising more pay and less work when the reality is just the opposite. Store advertisements promise to have a certain product at a really good price - the product "didn't come in on the last shipment - and no we don't give rain checks on sale items."
Have you paid close attention to commercials lately? What do they sell? Looked at a flower advertisement? Have you ever received a package from them that looks like the product on the advertisement? All of these are selling a promise. "Buy this and you will get that." Often the promises are unfulfilled.
Abram (later called Abraham) was offered a promise, "Go to a country I will show you in the future and I will bless you." Sounds a lot like a telemarketer I talked to the other day. The only difference was that I was talking to a human with a slick line and Abram was talking with the Almighty God. Evidently Abram had had dealings with God before. He trusted Him. Was the promise fulfilled? Certainly. Has God made promises to you? Has he fulfilled them? (Careful before you say "no." His promises are recorded in Scripture. Any other promises you may claim He made - personal prophecy - are subject to human emotion and error.) God promises salvation. He delivers. God promises eternal life. He delivers. God promises answers to prayer. He delivers - but not always the way we want Him to answer. Our God is faithful and true. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Friday, November 27, 2009
2 Cor 3:3
"Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." 2 Cor 3:3
My life is an open book, so is yours. It's open because it is still being written. If your life is anything like mine, it will be pretty boring reading when it is finished, but it will be read. In all honesty, that last statement is probably not true. I think it will be boring reading, but if God is writing it, I'm sure it will be valuable reading to anyone who is led to read it.
The fact is, God is writing His message to the world, our world, upon our hearts. And this message is expressed in our daily lives. It may not seem like much to us, but every day the Father writes a new chapter and every chapter is different. For example, my daily routine was disrupted some time ago when I went to church (I was in charge of little church on an island). One of our sisters was sitting by herself. I knew her father was in bad shape in the hospital, not expected to live. I sat next to her and she began to cry. Suffice it to say that I was God's messenger for the moment, bringing a message of encouragement and hope. Not that her father would be healed, she's had plenty of that. This hope was that God was in control and that He was there to encourage her and help her through this struggle.
I can see that some of the past chapters of my life, dull though they were, were written for just this occasion. She read part of my book. I think it helped. She smiled on the way out the door after the service had ended.
Now I bring you hope. Those chapters, the boring ones, the hard ones, the sad ones, the happy ones... all of them, were written for a purpose. The lessons in them might be needed for such a time as you will have tomorrow or next week or next year. One thing I have learned about God, He is a master conservationist. Nothing goes to waste with Him. He uses all things for good, our good and His good. He wants to use you.
Be available. Amen and Amen.
My life is an open book, so is yours. It's open because it is still being written. If your life is anything like mine, it will be pretty boring reading when it is finished, but it will be read. In all honesty, that last statement is probably not true. I think it will be boring reading, but if God is writing it, I'm sure it will be valuable reading to anyone who is led to read it.
The fact is, God is writing His message to the world, our world, upon our hearts. And this message is expressed in our daily lives. It may not seem like much to us, but every day the Father writes a new chapter and every chapter is different. For example, my daily routine was disrupted some time ago when I went to church (I was in charge of little church on an island). One of our sisters was sitting by herself. I knew her father was in bad shape in the hospital, not expected to live. I sat next to her and she began to cry. Suffice it to say that I was God's messenger for the moment, bringing a message of encouragement and hope. Not that her father would be healed, she's had plenty of that. This hope was that God was in control and that He was there to encourage her and help her through this struggle.
I can see that some of the past chapters of my life, dull though they were, were written for just this occasion. She read part of my book. I think it helped. She smiled on the way out the door after the service had ended.
Now I bring you hope. Those chapters, the boring ones, the hard ones, the sad ones, the happy ones... all of them, were written for a purpose. The lessons in them might be needed for such a time as you will have tomorrow or next week or next year. One thing I have learned about God, He is a master conservationist. Nothing goes to waste with Him. He uses all things for good, our good and His good. He wants to use you.
Be available. Amen and Amen.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
1 Kings 3:9
"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 1 Kings 3:9
Discernment is an overlooked spiritual discipline in many churches. But in reality, spiritual discernment should be our first line of defense against deception. It's that "buzzer" inside, warning you that something is wrong. For example, you visit someone's home and everything appears in order. But you can cut the air with a knife. Even though nothing visible confirms it, your spirit detects that something is wrong in that home.
The first step to understanding discernment is to understand the motive which is essential for employing it. In 1 Kings 3:9, Israel's king Solomon cried out to God for help. God answers: "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart" (verses 11, 12). The motive for true discernment is never to promote self, to amass personal gain, or to secure an advantage over another person - even an enemy.
The Greek word for discernment - diakrino - simply means to make a judgment or a distinction. Discernment has one primary function: to distinguish right from wrong. In 1 Corinthians 12:10 discernment is the divinely enabled ability to distinguish a good spirit from a bad spirit.
Discernment is not a function of the mind; it's a function of the Holy Spirit which is in union with your soul/spirit. When the Spirit sounds a warning, your mind may not be able to perceive what's wrong. Have the courage to acknowledge that something is wrong when your spirit is troubled. Share what you are sensing with others, and ask the Lord for wisdom. Amen and Amen.
Discernment is an overlooked spiritual discipline in many churches. But in reality, spiritual discernment should be our first line of defense against deception. It's that "buzzer" inside, warning you that something is wrong. For example, you visit someone's home and everything appears in order. But you can cut the air with a knife. Even though nothing visible confirms it, your spirit detects that something is wrong in that home.
The first step to understanding discernment is to understand the motive which is essential for employing it. In 1 Kings 3:9, Israel's king Solomon cried out to God for help. God answers: "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart" (verses 11, 12). The motive for true discernment is never to promote self, to amass personal gain, or to secure an advantage over another person - even an enemy.
The Greek word for discernment - diakrino - simply means to make a judgment or a distinction. Discernment has one primary function: to distinguish right from wrong. In 1 Corinthians 12:10 discernment is the divinely enabled ability to distinguish a good spirit from a bad spirit.
Discernment is not a function of the mind; it's a function of the Holy Spirit which is in union with your soul/spirit. When the Spirit sounds a warning, your mind may not be able to perceive what's wrong. Have the courage to acknowledge that something is wrong when your spirit is troubled. Share what you are sensing with others, and ask the Lord for wisdom. Amen and Amen.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Lev 20:7-8
"Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the LORD who sanctifies you." Lev 20:7-8
A member of the Royal Family and a big bottle combine to consecrate a big ship - commission it - set it aside for service in the Royal Navy. When the big bottle of champagne has been smashed on the bow of the huge ship, it becomes an official warship.
Ceremonies like this happen all the time. Our daily newspaper shows "ribbon cutting" ceremonies that mark the grand opening of new businesses. Board members dig the ceremonial "first shovel" of dirt to commemorate the beginning of a building project. Photos are taken of the people who built the first product off a new production line.
We like to consecrate things, set them aside. We hold holy convocations and ordain deacons, elders, ministers, missionaries and church secretaries! We anoint the doorposts of our church buildings and homes to consecrate them, set them aside, to the Lord.
How often do we consecrate ourselves? "Oh," you say, "I did that when I was baptized as a child." Or, "My parents did that when I was born." Yeah, sure. But have you done it lately? I find that I have to consecrate myself daily. Why? Because I am continually de-consecrating my self! How can that be? The Royal navy can de-commission that new ship at any time simply by saying so! I can de-consecrate myself by becoming unholy, loosing my sanctification, my purity, and I do it far too frequently.
The Lord is calling for His people, you and me included, to consecrate ourselves and BE HOLY! Why? Because He is God, our Lord and Savior.
So, what happens when I'm consecrated? I'm set aside for the service of the King. I do whatever He asks of me. I study His Words so that I may know Him. It is our job to consecrate ourselves, set ourselves aside, for the King's service. It is His job to sanctify us, that is to make us holy. He can't do the first job for us. We certainly can't do the second! Amen and Amen.
A member of the Royal Family and a big bottle combine to consecrate a big ship - commission it - set it aside for service in the Royal Navy. When the big bottle of champagne has been smashed on the bow of the huge ship, it becomes an official warship.
Ceremonies like this happen all the time. Our daily newspaper shows "ribbon cutting" ceremonies that mark the grand opening of new businesses. Board members dig the ceremonial "first shovel" of dirt to commemorate the beginning of a building project. Photos are taken of the people who built the first product off a new production line.
We like to consecrate things, set them aside. We hold holy convocations and ordain deacons, elders, ministers, missionaries and church secretaries! We anoint the doorposts of our church buildings and homes to consecrate them, set them aside, to the Lord.
How often do we consecrate ourselves? "Oh," you say, "I did that when I was baptized as a child." Or, "My parents did that when I was born." Yeah, sure. But have you done it lately? I find that I have to consecrate myself daily. Why? Because I am continually de-consecrating my self! How can that be? The Royal navy can de-commission that new ship at any time simply by saying so! I can de-consecrate myself by becoming unholy, loosing my sanctification, my purity, and I do it far too frequently.
The Lord is calling for His people, you and me included, to consecrate ourselves and BE HOLY! Why? Because He is God, our Lord and Savior.
So, what happens when I'm consecrated? I'm set aside for the service of the King. I do whatever He asks of me. I study His Words so that I may know Him. It is our job to consecrate ourselves, set ourselves aside, for the King's service. It is His job to sanctify us, that is to make us holy. He can't do the first job for us. We certainly can't do the second! Amen and Amen.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Mark 12:42
"Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. Mark 12:42
In some churches the offering plate is not passed. Instead those who wish to give march to the front of the sanctuary and place their offering in the plate. Imagine for a moment that you are in one of those churches. The offering prayer has been uttered. The organist begins the peppy offering march. People begin to gather in the center isle and make their way to the front. Nothing out of the ordinary happens until fellow steps from the back pew of the building. Heads turn. The room hushes of all but the melodious strains of the pipe organ. The man is dressed in the finest silk suit, obviously hand tailored to fit him and him only. The mass of humanity opens before him like the sea at Moses' command. Reaching the front, this fine fellow dramatically reaches into his coat pocket, pulls out pen and checkbook, and with a flourish writes a huge check.
Immediately behind him, un-intimidated by the show, slowly and painfully creeps a little old widow who cares for three abandoned grandchildren, all on her pittance of a social security check. Few notice. Some snicker. "What do we need with her coins after that huge check?" some ask. Finally reaching the front, the widow carefully opens a worn coin purse, pulls out its contents. Silently, timidly she drops a couple of coins into the plate. The organ plays on. The people murmur about the generosity of the rich man. The deacons rejoice that the new roof is paid for.
Who put the most in the offering? Of course we know that it was the widow - she gave her all - everything she had. The man gave petty cash! One made a show. The other made a sacrifice.
The New Testament never really talks about tithing. (Tithing is the practice of giving 10% of one's income to the Lord.) It does talk about giving. The reason tithing is never mentioned is that something greater is demanded of the Christian believer. Jesus uses the example of the widow and her two coins to illustrate the principle. He expects our all, every cent, every possession, every ounce of flesh, every breath we breath, every drop of our blood. He expects us to be a "living sacrifice." After all, He set the example of giving. He gave His very life for us. What less could we offer Him?
The next time the offering plate is passed your way, stop and think about the widow. Compare her gift to yours. Then remember that your offering is just a token of what God wants - everything! Amen and Amen.
In some churches the offering plate is not passed. Instead those who wish to give march to the front of the sanctuary and place their offering in the plate. Imagine for a moment that you are in one of those churches. The offering prayer has been uttered. The organist begins the peppy offering march. People begin to gather in the center isle and make their way to the front. Nothing out of the ordinary happens until fellow steps from the back pew of the building. Heads turn. The room hushes of all but the melodious strains of the pipe organ. The man is dressed in the finest silk suit, obviously hand tailored to fit him and him only. The mass of humanity opens before him like the sea at Moses' command. Reaching the front, this fine fellow dramatically reaches into his coat pocket, pulls out pen and checkbook, and with a flourish writes a huge check.
Immediately behind him, un-intimidated by the show, slowly and painfully creeps a little old widow who cares for three abandoned grandchildren, all on her pittance of a social security check. Few notice. Some snicker. "What do we need with her coins after that huge check?" some ask. Finally reaching the front, the widow carefully opens a worn coin purse, pulls out its contents. Silently, timidly she drops a couple of coins into the plate. The organ plays on. The people murmur about the generosity of the rich man. The deacons rejoice that the new roof is paid for.
Who put the most in the offering? Of course we know that it was the widow - she gave her all - everything she had. The man gave petty cash! One made a show. The other made a sacrifice.
The New Testament never really talks about tithing. (Tithing is the practice of giving 10% of one's income to the Lord.) It does talk about giving. The reason tithing is never mentioned is that something greater is demanded of the Christian believer. Jesus uses the example of the widow and her two coins to illustrate the principle. He expects our all, every cent, every possession, every ounce of flesh, every breath we breath, every drop of our blood. He expects us to be a "living sacrifice." After all, He set the example of giving. He gave His very life for us. What less could we offer Him?
The next time the offering plate is passed your way, stop and think about the widow. Compare her gift to yours. Then remember that your offering is just a token of what God wants - everything! Amen and Amen.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Prov. 26:1
"As snow in summer and rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool." Prov. 26:1
Some things are just meant to go together: love and marriage, joy and happiness, grace and peace, mercy and forgiveness. These are but a few of the Siamese twins of rightness.
Other things just don't mix well: oil and water, cats and dogs, frogs and little girls, hate and love, rain and drought, war and peace, grace and hatred, honor and a fool. Hey, that is just what Solomon said in today's verse.
It has been said that opposites attract... and I suppose there is some truth to that statement. Without opposites, magnetism would not be valuable in electric motors. Without opposites, all electricity would be direct current. Without opposites, everyone would be like everyone else. Opposites create a sense of excitement, mystery, and intrigue. Where would every author be if there were no opposites? Authors live and die with conflict. Conflict is a direct result of opposition. The good guy is always opposed by the bad guy. If ultimate truth is subscribed to, the good guy will ultimately win while the bad guy, in due course, gets what is coming to him. There are a few successful authors who make a living by creating a story in which the bad guy wins... but they haven't read the last chapter of Revelation!
Solomon declares that snow is totally foreign to the nature of summer. While we can wish for it on a 33 degrees C August day, it isn't likely to happen. And rain in the harvest time? Any farmer will tell you that rain will ruin a good harvest. Rain will beat down a good stand of wheat making it impossible to reap. Too much rain in the harvest season will cause the corn to rot on the stalk. Excessive rain will prevent the farmer from entering the field for days and maybe weeks until the crop is totally destroyed and not worth gathering at all. No, rain and harvest do not belong together any more than snow and summer.
Neither is honor to be granted to a fool. The fool is not worthy of such recognition. The fool is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. He always opens his mouth and says the wrong thing. His actions destroy and never redeem. No, the fool is unworthy of honor. Should he receive recognition, he is emboldened to try harder... and the results are even greater acts of foolishness.
Jesus said it another way, "Don't cast your pearls before swine." At best a pig will trample a string of pearls into the mud. At worst, he will devour such a prize thinking it dessert after a wonderful meal of slop! The interpretations of Jesus' proverbial saying are many. The most common is that we should not preach the Gospel to those who will obviously reject it. The Gospel is "the pearl of great price." The hardened non-believer is the "swine." The unbeliever will not recognize the value of salvation, thinking he can earn his own way into some version of heaven. Why waste our time? Don't get me wrong. I am not against evangelism. We should all be preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. However, we need to recognize that sometimes our particular calling is to "preach and run".
Remember, one man's fool is another man's mission field. God will not suffer anyone to die without having multiple opportunities to receive the love of God into his life. Amen and Amen.
Some things are just meant to go together: love and marriage, joy and happiness, grace and peace, mercy and forgiveness. These are but a few of the Siamese twins of rightness.
Other things just don't mix well: oil and water, cats and dogs, frogs and little girls, hate and love, rain and drought, war and peace, grace and hatred, honor and a fool. Hey, that is just what Solomon said in today's verse.
It has been said that opposites attract... and I suppose there is some truth to that statement. Without opposites, magnetism would not be valuable in electric motors. Without opposites, all electricity would be direct current. Without opposites, everyone would be like everyone else. Opposites create a sense of excitement, mystery, and intrigue. Where would every author be if there were no opposites? Authors live and die with conflict. Conflict is a direct result of opposition. The good guy is always opposed by the bad guy. If ultimate truth is subscribed to, the good guy will ultimately win while the bad guy, in due course, gets what is coming to him. There are a few successful authors who make a living by creating a story in which the bad guy wins... but they haven't read the last chapter of Revelation!
Solomon declares that snow is totally foreign to the nature of summer. While we can wish for it on a 33 degrees C August day, it isn't likely to happen. And rain in the harvest time? Any farmer will tell you that rain will ruin a good harvest. Rain will beat down a good stand of wheat making it impossible to reap. Too much rain in the harvest season will cause the corn to rot on the stalk. Excessive rain will prevent the farmer from entering the field for days and maybe weeks until the crop is totally destroyed and not worth gathering at all. No, rain and harvest do not belong together any more than snow and summer.
Neither is honor to be granted to a fool. The fool is not worthy of such recognition. The fool is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. He always opens his mouth and says the wrong thing. His actions destroy and never redeem. No, the fool is unworthy of honor. Should he receive recognition, he is emboldened to try harder... and the results are even greater acts of foolishness.
Jesus said it another way, "Don't cast your pearls before swine." At best a pig will trample a string of pearls into the mud. At worst, he will devour such a prize thinking it dessert after a wonderful meal of slop! The interpretations of Jesus' proverbial saying are many. The most common is that we should not preach the Gospel to those who will obviously reject it. The Gospel is "the pearl of great price." The hardened non-believer is the "swine." The unbeliever will not recognize the value of salvation, thinking he can earn his own way into some version of heaven. Why waste our time? Don't get me wrong. I am not against evangelism. We should all be preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. However, we need to recognize that sometimes our particular calling is to "preach and run".
Remember, one man's fool is another man's mission field. God will not suffer anyone to die without having multiple opportunities to receive the love of God into his life. Amen and Amen.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Eph 4:1-3
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Eph 4:1-3
As I was pondering the "prisoner" aspect of this verse, I began to realize that Paul's comments were not only about his prisoner status, but also about you and me. As a prisoner of Jesus Christ, Paul is calling us to walk worthy of our calling.
What is our calling? We are called to be a child of the King. Now that's a calling. Some time ago, I was reading an article in a business newsletter by August A. Bush IV - the great, great, great grandson of the founder of the Budweiser Brewery in St. Louis. I almost didn't read it because it was written by a beer monger, but my curiosity got the best of me. One of the things that struck me is how Mr. Bush IV walks in a manner worthy of his calling. He is a fourth generation beer man. He is in the business. He is the chief salesman for the business - just like his fathers before him. He started at the bottom of the business and worked his way up. He will most likely replace his father at the top. His son Mr. Bush V, will start at the bottom - and replace him in due course. Mr. Bush IV is most worthy of the name he carries and is proud of it, I could tell by the way he spoke of his role and his business.
So, how should we walk since our calling is greater? Humbly, without pride in our own efforts giving all the glory to our Father and preferring each other above ourselves. Gently, careful to do no damage, but to do all things well. Patiently, perfection, whether our own, or the work we do, or the work God is doing in us or other people, takes time. Be willing to wait. Lovingly, Peter says love covers a multitude of sins. Our love can help someone else overcome his sin. I've seen it happen many times. Someone is lost and antagonistic towards the kingdom, but because a friend or loved one keeps on loving, even when it hurts, that person is eventually brought to the Father for adoption as one of God's children. Preserving unity, how can you preserve unity? By keeping all the other items in this list. Above all, walk as a child of the King of Kings would walk!
Who is more worthy of the calling? August A. Bush IV or you? I believe you have the greater calling. And I believe you are worthy of that calling - because you are chosen by God to be His son or daughter! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
As I was pondering the "prisoner" aspect of this verse, I began to realize that Paul's comments were not only about his prisoner status, but also about you and me. As a prisoner of Jesus Christ, Paul is calling us to walk worthy of our calling.
What is our calling? We are called to be a child of the King. Now that's a calling. Some time ago, I was reading an article in a business newsletter by August A. Bush IV - the great, great, great grandson of the founder of the Budweiser Brewery in St. Louis. I almost didn't read it because it was written by a beer monger, but my curiosity got the best of me. One of the things that struck me is how Mr. Bush IV walks in a manner worthy of his calling. He is a fourth generation beer man. He is in the business. He is the chief salesman for the business - just like his fathers before him. He started at the bottom of the business and worked his way up. He will most likely replace his father at the top. His son Mr. Bush V, will start at the bottom - and replace him in due course. Mr. Bush IV is most worthy of the name he carries and is proud of it, I could tell by the way he spoke of his role and his business.
So, how should we walk since our calling is greater? Humbly, without pride in our own efforts giving all the glory to our Father and preferring each other above ourselves. Gently, careful to do no damage, but to do all things well. Patiently, perfection, whether our own, or the work we do, or the work God is doing in us or other people, takes time. Be willing to wait. Lovingly, Peter says love covers a multitude of sins. Our love can help someone else overcome his sin. I've seen it happen many times. Someone is lost and antagonistic towards the kingdom, but because a friend or loved one keeps on loving, even when it hurts, that person is eventually brought to the Father for adoption as one of God's children. Preserving unity, how can you preserve unity? By keeping all the other items in this list. Above all, walk as a child of the King of Kings would walk!
Who is more worthy of the calling? August A. Bush IV or you? I believe you have the greater calling. And I believe you are worthy of that calling - because you are chosen by God to be His son or daughter! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Luke 8:48
"And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace." Luke 8:48
There's just something about a touch - both given and received. Note the next time you are in the presence of a newborn baby. Everyone wants to touch it. Men will rub the soft cheeks with the back of a finger. Women will touch the child with the front of a finger. All make comments about how soft the newborn skin is. That feel is the closest to perfection man will ever know on earth! We all like to be touched. The human touch is more than a contact, it is an emotional link.
The woman in today's verse was no different. All she wanted to do was touch Jesus. She didn't want to talk to Him. She didn't want to shake His hand. She didn't even want Him to know she did it. All she wanted was to touch the hem of His garment! The unusual thing about this was that she was an "unclean" woman, shunned by society. She had been sick for years. Everyone knew her. Everyone stayed away from her. If they had realized she was there, she could have been stoned to death for her social infraction. Still she persisted. She pressed her way through the potentially hostile crowd. She finally reached the back side of Jesus, reached down, and touched Him. Her intention was to slip away silently, but Jesus stopped. "Who touched me?" He asked. In that crowd, many people touched Him. They were all grabbing for Him.
But this touch was different. It was not a greedy touch. It was not a pushing touch. It was a touch of faith. Who touched Him? Who could tell? But He knew. He wanted to talk to the individual. Shyly, fearfully, the little, sick woman stepped forward. "I touched you, sir." "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." Her faith - because she said "If only I could touch the hem of His garment." Her faith - to fight the crowd. Her faith - that Jesus could do some thing for her. Her faith - had made her well.
How about you. Do you need a touch from Jesus? Are you one of those who are reaching just to get a touch of the hand. Are you one of those who are bumping into Him? Or are you willing to just get a touch of that dirty, grimy, grass stained hem of His garment. Is your touch greed? Or is it a touch of faith. Jesus knows the difference. Let your faith make you whole! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
There's just something about a touch - both given and received. Note the next time you are in the presence of a newborn baby. Everyone wants to touch it. Men will rub the soft cheeks with the back of a finger. Women will touch the child with the front of a finger. All make comments about how soft the newborn skin is. That feel is the closest to perfection man will ever know on earth! We all like to be touched. The human touch is more than a contact, it is an emotional link.
The woman in today's verse was no different. All she wanted to do was touch Jesus. She didn't want to talk to Him. She didn't want to shake His hand. She didn't even want Him to know she did it. All she wanted was to touch the hem of His garment! The unusual thing about this was that she was an "unclean" woman, shunned by society. She had been sick for years. Everyone knew her. Everyone stayed away from her. If they had realized she was there, she could have been stoned to death for her social infraction. Still she persisted. She pressed her way through the potentially hostile crowd. She finally reached the back side of Jesus, reached down, and touched Him. Her intention was to slip away silently, but Jesus stopped. "Who touched me?" He asked. In that crowd, many people touched Him. They were all grabbing for Him.
But this touch was different. It was not a greedy touch. It was not a pushing touch. It was a touch of faith. Who touched Him? Who could tell? But He knew. He wanted to talk to the individual. Shyly, fearfully, the little, sick woman stepped forward. "I touched you, sir." "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." Her faith - because she said "If only I could touch the hem of His garment." Her faith - to fight the crowd. Her faith - that Jesus could do some thing for her. Her faith - had made her well.
How about you. Do you need a touch from Jesus? Are you one of those who are reaching just to get a touch of the hand. Are you one of those who are bumping into Him? Or are you willing to just get a touch of that dirty, grimy, grass stained hem of His garment. Is your touch greed? Or is it a touch of faith. Jesus knows the difference. Let your faith make you whole! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Acts 17:26 - 28
"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring." Acts 17:26 - 28
There he was, standing in the middle of a hostile crowd. No one believed what he was saying. No one expected to hear anything sensible from him. Everyone knew more than he did, everyone. Still, he continued in exactly the same manner that he always did. A bit brash, a bit humble, a bit arrogant, a bit extravagant, a bit extreme. That was Indiana Jones. If you know Jones, you know that he always managed to bungle into some outrageous situation and just as bunglingly made his way out of it.
Paul was no Indiana Jones. He stood before the learned Greek philosophers on their own territory. He was confident of what he was doing. He never bungled, never. In the midst of these hostile intellectuals, Paul stood firm, argued the facts of the Gospel using their own language... and their own literature... to prove that there is but one God and He is the Father of all. Paul didn't back down. He spoke of the creation and the God who set the universe in motion. He spoke of a God who did not abandon man to his own devices. He spoke of a God who knew the sinful plight of mankind... and never thought of turning His back on His finest creation. However, Paul also spoke of a God who set boundaries... times and seasons... and announced that "this is the time" and that the window of opportunity might close. He spoke of a people who were "groping" for that One God...searching in all the wrong places, and finding nothing but futility and despair. He spoke of a people who, if they kept groping, would find that the feet of the Father were nearby and could be grasped. He spoke of a Father who was so big that the people lived in Him, moved in Him, and had their being in Him. Yet, that God was so personal that He could dwell within them... if they allowed Him too. And the scoffers scoffed; the philosophers laughed; and fools heckled. But Paul preached on, undaunted, unafraid, thoroughly convinced of the Truth he preached. And a few believed, some wanted to hear more.. and Paul secured a victory in the midst of the enemy's camp.
So you have responded to the call. You have sought. You have found. What will you do with this Jesus? Will you take Him for granted, calling upon Him when times get rough? Will you accept Him as a regular fixture in the temple of your heart... but place Him on a pedestal to be viewed and appreciated on special days? Will you use Him as your personal prophet, seeking His advice when you need answers, going your own way when you "know what you want"? Or will you take Him as the Son of God? Will you let Him be the one who sits on the throne in your temple? Will you follow Him wherever He leads you... across the street or around the world?
What will you do with this Jesus you have found? Amen and Amen.
There he was, standing in the middle of a hostile crowd. No one believed what he was saying. No one expected to hear anything sensible from him. Everyone knew more than he did, everyone. Still, he continued in exactly the same manner that he always did. A bit brash, a bit humble, a bit arrogant, a bit extravagant, a bit extreme. That was Indiana Jones. If you know Jones, you know that he always managed to bungle into some outrageous situation and just as bunglingly made his way out of it.
Paul was no Indiana Jones. He stood before the learned Greek philosophers on their own territory. He was confident of what he was doing. He never bungled, never. In the midst of these hostile intellectuals, Paul stood firm, argued the facts of the Gospel using their own language... and their own literature... to prove that there is but one God and He is the Father of all. Paul didn't back down. He spoke of the creation and the God who set the universe in motion. He spoke of a God who did not abandon man to his own devices. He spoke of a God who knew the sinful plight of mankind... and never thought of turning His back on His finest creation. However, Paul also spoke of a God who set boundaries... times and seasons... and announced that "this is the time" and that the window of opportunity might close. He spoke of a people who were "groping" for that One God...searching in all the wrong places, and finding nothing but futility and despair. He spoke of a people who, if they kept groping, would find that the feet of the Father were nearby and could be grasped. He spoke of a Father who was so big that the people lived in Him, moved in Him, and had their being in Him. Yet, that God was so personal that He could dwell within them... if they allowed Him too. And the scoffers scoffed; the philosophers laughed; and fools heckled. But Paul preached on, undaunted, unafraid, thoroughly convinced of the Truth he preached. And a few believed, some wanted to hear more.. and Paul secured a victory in the midst of the enemy's camp.
So you have responded to the call. You have sought. You have found. What will you do with this Jesus? Will you take Him for granted, calling upon Him when times get rough? Will you accept Him as a regular fixture in the temple of your heart... but place Him on a pedestal to be viewed and appreciated on special days? Will you use Him as your personal prophet, seeking His advice when you need answers, going your own way when you "know what you want"? Or will you take Him as the Son of God? Will you let Him be the one who sits on the throne in your temple? Will you follow Him wherever He leads you... across the street or around the world?
What will you do with this Jesus you have found? Amen and Amen.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Phil. 1:21
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" Phil. 1:21
We don't talk about providence much any more. In the old days people did, and people attributed a lot of events to providence. It wasn't just any providence; this was THE Providence of God. If a storm blew up out of the west and hail destroyed a house, it was God's providence. If the crops produced more than enough food for the winter, it was God's providence. If a wondrous sight appeared in the night sky, it was God's providence. As you can see, God's providence was deeply ingrained in their lives. But what IS God's providence?
Providence is the understanding that God is in total control. Everything that happens is first filtered through God's purposes and plans. Satan's work in our lives... approved by God. Natural occurrences that change our lives... approved by God. Illness, health, marriage, death, success, failure, victory, defeat... all approved by God. We don't believe much in providence anymore.
We believe we are in control of our circumstances. We want to be in charge of every aspect of our lives and we are all like that... if we are perfectly honest.
But that is not God's way. The Bible uses a word we translate as "trust". It is the same word that we also translate "faith". God asks us to trust Him... put our complete faith in His ability to run our lives. Most of us can heartily accept God's ability to forgive us and save us from our sinful natures. We firmly believe (have faith in) that God paid the price for our transgressions. Where we fail is in trusting Him with our finances, our marriages, our children, our purchases, our needs and wants. We say we have faith in God... but by our actions, our insisting on controlling our own lives, we are telling Him, and the world, that we can do a better job of it ourselves.
Paul didn't have that problem. He totally entrusted his life to the Father. More than once he faced death in the midst of his ministry. He lived to tell us about it. He was stoned to death (he himself doesn't know but what his spirit had left him and he visited heaven) but God sent him back to the same town to finish his ministry there. Three times he faced shipwreck, the most severe on the way to Rome as a prisoner. Each time he trusted God to take care of him. He lived only to be bitten by a viper. Even that did not kill him but opened doors to preach the Gospel. Now, as he faced the death penalty for doing no wrong, he was satisfied that whatever God wanted to do was fine with him.
"For me to live is Christ... " Paul says he is satisfied to live if that is what God wants for in living he is free to testify of the great things God has done for him. "... but to die is gain." And if he should be crucified on the next day, or the next, or the one after that, he is satisfied that he will hear Jesus say, "Enter in good and faithful servant. Great is your reward in Heaven." Paul believed in providence...God's providence.
Do you? Amen and Amen.
We don't talk about providence much any more. In the old days people did, and people attributed a lot of events to providence. It wasn't just any providence; this was THE Providence of God. If a storm blew up out of the west and hail destroyed a house, it was God's providence. If the crops produced more than enough food for the winter, it was God's providence. If a wondrous sight appeared in the night sky, it was God's providence. As you can see, God's providence was deeply ingrained in their lives. But what IS God's providence?
Providence is the understanding that God is in total control. Everything that happens is first filtered through God's purposes and plans. Satan's work in our lives... approved by God. Natural occurrences that change our lives... approved by God. Illness, health, marriage, death, success, failure, victory, defeat... all approved by God. We don't believe much in providence anymore.
We believe we are in control of our circumstances. We want to be in charge of every aspect of our lives and we are all like that... if we are perfectly honest.
But that is not God's way. The Bible uses a word we translate as "trust". It is the same word that we also translate "faith". God asks us to trust Him... put our complete faith in His ability to run our lives. Most of us can heartily accept God's ability to forgive us and save us from our sinful natures. We firmly believe (have faith in) that God paid the price for our transgressions. Where we fail is in trusting Him with our finances, our marriages, our children, our purchases, our needs and wants. We say we have faith in God... but by our actions, our insisting on controlling our own lives, we are telling Him, and the world, that we can do a better job of it ourselves.
Paul didn't have that problem. He totally entrusted his life to the Father. More than once he faced death in the midst of his ministry. He lived to tell us about it. He was stoned to death (he himself doesn't know but what his spirit had left him and he visited heaven) but God sent him back to the same town to finish his ministry there. Three times he faced shipwreck, the most severe on the way to Rome as a prisoner. Each time he trusted God to take care of him. He lived only to be bitten by a viper. Even that did not kill him but opened doors to preach the Gospel. Now, as he faced the death penalty for doing no wrong, he was satisfied that whatever God wanted to do was fine with him.
"For me to live is Christ... " Paul says he is satisfied to live if that is what God wants for in living he is free to testify of the great things God has done for him. "... but to die is gain." And if he should be crucified on the next day, or the next, or the one after that, he is satisfied that he will hear Jesus say, "Enter in good and faithful servant. Great is your reward in Heaven." Paul believed in providence...God's providence.
Do you? Amen and Amen.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Isaiah 55:7
"Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon" Isaiah 55:7
Some things are predictable. I flip the switch in my bedroom... and the lights come on. I turn the key in my door... and the door opens.
Isaiah tells us of one thing that is very predictable. When a person seeks the Lord, he abandons his evil ways. How does this happen? Why is it predictable? Simple. Only those who truly desire to have their sin-burden lifted will seek God. Only those who truly seek God will have the burden lifted. And only those who truly have their burdens lifted will desire to walk in a new way. We call this process "conversion." Conversion involves "repentance." And repentance is indicated by a complete change in direction.
Isaiah tells us that God will have compassion on him. Our heavenly Father is longing to receive new children into His household. His "adoption agency" is never closed. He has already filled out all the paperwork and has paid all the fees. Nothing is left except for individuals to "seek Him and forsake their evil ways." God's love will overflow any such individual and cleanse him from the sins that have stained him from birth. God will "abundantly pardon" those sins. They will be wiped off the books and there will remain no trace of them on Judgment Day!
My friends, if you know you are walking in the wrong direction, turn around. Repent. Seek God. He is waiting for you. He has been waiting a long time. His arms are open wide longing to hold you close. Call on Him. The time has not yet passed. Amen and Amen.
Now, I have a question for You.
Are YOU Right with God?
True Christianity is not about attending a particular church, or how your parents raised you, or what country you were born in. Being a Christian means that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that He is your Savior. It's not good enough that your priest, pastor, mother, or aunt knows Jesus, you must know Him for yourself. They cannot believe in Him for you, you must believe for yourself. They cannot repent for you, you must repent for yourself.
Jesus is everywhere all the time. He can hear you now if you ask Him for forgiveness. Please turn your life over to Him NOW. Time slips by so quickly, don't miss this opportunity. If you want to pray and ask Jesus to be your Savior, you can say a prayer something like this:
"Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you. I know the truth is that I have sinned by my own choice, and I am the one responsible for it. I know that I have earned punishment from You, and that the fair punishment would be death. Jesus, I believe that You died in my place. Forgive me for my sin. I cannot cover or take my sin away, I am relying totally and only on You. You are the only one who can save me. I reject my sin, I turn away from it, I repent. Come into my life, take away my sin, and show me how to live my life in a way that is right and pleasing to You." Thank You Jesus, Amen
If you have prayed this, YOU ARE SAVED! You are now completely forgiven, a new creation, innocent in the eyes of God, please e-mail me and let me know and I will guide you toward Fellowship and Baptism. Welcome to the family of God! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Some things are predictable. I flip the switch in my bedroom... and the lights come on. I turn the key in my door... and the door opens.
Isaiah tells us of one thing that is very predictable. When a person seeks the Lord, he abandons his evil ways. How does this happen? Why is it predictable? Simple. Only those who truly desire to have their sin-burden lifted will seek God. Only those who truly seek God will have the burden lifted. And only those who truly have their burdens lifted will desire to walk in a new way. We call this process "conversion." Conversion involves "repentance." And repentance is indicated by a complete change in direction.
Isaiah tells us that God will have compassion on him. Our heavenly Father is longing to receive new children into His household. His "adoption agency" is never closed. He has already filled out all the paperwork and has paid all the fees. Nothing is left except for individuals to "seek Him and forsake their evil ways." God's love will overflow any such individual and cleanse him from the sins that have stained him from birth. God will "abundantly pardon" those sins. They will be wiped off the books and there will remain no trace of them on Judgment Day!
My friends, if you know you are walking in the wrong direction, turn around. Repent. Seek God. He is waiting for you. He has been waiting a long time. His arms are open wide longing to hold you close. Call on Him. The time has not yet passed. Amen and Amen.
Now, I have a question for You.
Are YOU Right with God?
True Christianity is not about attending a particular church, or how your parents raised you, or what country you were born in. Being a Christian means that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that He is your Savior. It's not good enough that your priest, pastor, mother, or aunt knows Jesus, you must know Him for yourself. They cannot believe in Him for you, you must believe for yourself. They cannot repent for you, you must repent for yourself.
Jesus is everywhere all the time. He can hear you now if you ask Him for forgiveness. Please turn your life over to Him NOW. Time slips by so quickly, don't miss this opportunity. If you want to pray and ask Jesus to be your Savior, you can say a prayer something like this:
"Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you. I know the truth is that I have sinned by my own choice, and I am the one responsible for it. I know that I have earned punishment from You, and that the fair punishment would be death. Jesus, I believe that You died in my place. Forgive me for my sin. I cannot cover or take my sin away, I am relying totally and only on You. You are the only one who can save me. I reject my sin, I turn away from it, I repent. Come into my life, take away my sin, and show me how to live my life in a way that is right and pleasing to You." Thank You Jesus, Amen
If you have prayed this, YOU ARE SAVED! You are now completely forgiven, a new creation, innocent in the eyes of God, please e-mail me and let me know and I will guide you toward Fellowship and Baptism. Welcome to the family of God! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Prov. 26:2
"Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight." Prov. 26:2
Like all of you, I have gone through various "stages" in my spiritual development. The new believer stage happened for me some years ago. That moved into the next stage, you know the one; the stage where you wonder why you exist, why God chose you, and why does anyone care? The key statement in this stage, seems to be, "Does anyone love me?" After this stage, I moved into the serious stuff. I call it the "late adolescent, early adulthood" stage. That is the time when we are really struggling with what God wants us to do with our lives. Does He want us in "specialized Christian ministry"? You know; does He want me to be a preacher or something?
Later on we really get into the crazy things. I moved into a charismatic spiritual church. We talked about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.. and wondered which one or ones we had. We experimented with all of them. We played like we were "super spiritual" not wanting anything we said to be negative lest the door be opened for the enemy to get a hold of our souls and cause us serious problems. We were content to look at the Charismatic verses and the promises and live by those.
It is during this stage that I began to examine the subject of demons and demonology. Did demons exist? Jesus dealt with them. Do they exist now? There is no reason to believe they don't. Do they possess people like they did in Jesus' day? It sure seems like it. Can they possess God's children? That one was up for debate. I studied many arguments either way...and concluded that as is often the case, the arguments came down to semantics. How did the writer define "possess" and "oppress"?
In the process of this examination, I found today's little verse toward the end of Proverbs. You see, we honestly believed that we could be cursed by some evil person and some great calamity would befall us. We certainly watched who we spend time with! We also spent a lot of time "pleading the blood of Jesus" over ourselves, our families, our homes, our houses, our pets, our friends, our church... Today's verse gave me a great relief from this spiritual schizophrenia that plagued me.
Solomon tells us that curses are like sparrows. Have you ever watched one of those little fellows? They never stand still. Watching one in the fields the other evening. He was rustling through the mulch under a bush. It sounded like some kind of animal was digging to the Philippines! For such a little fellow, he sure made a loud noise... and he did it for many minutes, never resting, always scrounging for bugs. After a thorough search of the area, he flitted to another area... never once stopping for breath. He just dug and flitted, dug and flitted. If I only had half of his energy!
Solomon tells us that unwarranted curses are like that. They can't land and hang upon the unsuspecting believer, because there is no just cause. Some witch or warlock can't lay a curse on any believer just because that individual is a believer in Jesus. A past president of the United States was known as the "Teflon president" because none of his indiscretions would stick to him.
Well, I have news for you. You are a Teflon Christian if you do your best to remain pure in Jesus. No curse can stick to you! You are indeed "covered by the blood of Jesus!" And the best part is this: you don't have to plead for it on a daily basis. It is given to you freely by our Savior. He took the curses for us. He paid the penalty. He covers us with His protective coating! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Like all of you, I have gone through various "stages" in my spiritual development. The new believer stage happened for me some years ago. That moved into the next stage, you know the one; the stage where you wonder why you exist, why God chose you, and why does anyone care? The key statement in this stage, seems to be, "Does anyone love me?" After this stage, I moved into the serious stuff. I call it the "late adolescent, early adulthood" stage. That is the time when we are really struggling with what God wants us to do with our lives. Does He want us in "specialized Christian ministry"? You know; does He want me to be a preacher or something?
Later on we really get into the crazy things. I moved into a charismatic spiritual church. We talked about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.. and wondered which one or ones we had. We experimented with all of them. We played like we were "super spiritual" not wanting anything we said to be negative lest the door be opened for the enemy to get a hold of our souls and cause us serious problems. We were content to look at the Charismatic verses and the promises and live by those.
It is during this stage that I began to examine the subject of demons and demonology. Did demons exist? Jesus dealt with them. Do they exist now? There is no reason to believe they don't. Do they possess people like they did in Jesus' day? It sure seems like it. Can they possess God's children? That one was up for debate. I studied many arguments either way...and concluded that as is often the case, the arguments came down to semantics. How did the writer define "possess" and "oppress"?
In the process of this examination, I found today's little verse toward the end of Proverbs. You see, we honestly believed that we could be cursed by some evil person and some great calamity would befall us. We certainly watched who we spend time with! We also spent a lot of time "pleading the blood of Jesus" over ourselves, our families, our homes, our houses, our pets, our friends, our church... Today's verse gave me a great relief from this spiritual schizophrenia that plagued me.
Solomon tells us that curses are like sparrows. Have you ever watched one of those little fellows? They never stand still. Watching one in the fields the other evening. He was rustling through the mulch under a bush. It sounded like some kind of animal was digging to the Philippines! For such a little fellow, he sure made a loud noise... and he did it for many minutes, never resting, always scrounging for bugs. After a thorough search of the area, he flitted to another area... never once stopping for breath. He just dug and flitted, dug and flitted. If I only had half of his energy!
Solomon tells us that unwarranted curses are like that. They can't land and hang upon the unsuspecting believer, because there is no just cause. Some witch or warlock can't lay a curse on any believer just because that individual is a believer in Jesus. A past president of the United States was known as the "Teflon president" because none of his indiscretions would stick to him.
Well, I have news for you. You are a Teflon Christian if you do your best to remain pure in Jesus. No curse can stick to you! You are indeed "covered by the blood of Jesus!" And the best part is this: you don't have to plead for it on a daily basis. It is given to you freely by our Savior. He took the curses for us. He paid the penalty. He covers us with His protective coating! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Matthew 13:33
"Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." Matthew 13:33
This is truly an intense message in the power of the Truth - God's 'life' saving grace. I believe we do not always recognize what a miracle He has wrought in us, for He has blessed us abundantly twice over. We consider the word 'life' with little regard for its profoundness. And it is so often in Scripture that His message is contained in a single word. Life. This word rolls off our tongues with such ease we barely conceive its truth any longer. When we read in scripture any reference to 'life', we hardly pause to think about what we have just read. And yet, the entire Bible is based on this simple word - Jesus came that we might have 'life.' The world plagiarizes its meaning, giving it a definition wholly unintended by God. We walk further and further away from the miraculous impact of this divine wonder.
In the beginning, before time was, before we were, He knew us, and so we were given 'the breath of life.' This in itself is a miracle beyond imagining. There isn't a DNA experiment ever designed, nor one that will ever be conceived that will enable man to 'breath life' into anything. We must take that breath of life already given. It cannot be found for it belongs solely to the Creator of all things.
What egotists we are to even consider that we might be able to recreate 'life.' How slowly does the mind of the most intelligent species on earth sometimes work. Man has yet to acknowledge that which we so desperately seek, "that which causes life to be," is not ours to give, and will never be. We live simply because our Father God determined that we should and 'gave us life.'
We are then doubly blessed with one more miracle of miracles. The One True God chooses to give us, for all eternity, a renewed life, a new life in His Son, Jesus Christ. With this, the breath of life that is us, is transformed, made new, polished until its light shines forth. We are now the embodiment of the truest definition of 'life' - living as a child of God by the grace of His Holy Spirit in love and forgiveness.
With this second miracle, we have come full circle, and are now one with the Father in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. So whenever we see the word 'life' written so quietly in the pages of His Word, perhaps we should pause for a moment, and praise His Holy Name for the unfathomable miracle He has wrought in us - His gift - His breath of life become eternal in Jesus, - Immanuel - God with us. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
This is truly an intense message in the power of the Truth - God's 'life' saving grace. I believe we do not always recognize what a miracle He has wrought in us, for He has blessed us abundantly twice over. We consider the word 'life' with little regard for its profoundness. And it is so often in Scripture that His message is contained in a single word. Life. This word rolls off our tongues with such ease we barely conceive its truth any longer. When we read in scripture any reference to 'life', we hardly pause to think about what we have just read. And yet, the entire Bible is based on this simple word - Jesus came that we might have 'life.' The world plagiarizes its meaning, giving it a definition wholly unintended by God. We walk further and further away from the miraculous impact of this divine wonder.
In the beginning, before time was, before we were, He knew us, and so we were given 'the breath of life.' This in itself is a miracle beyond imagining. There isn't a DNA experiment ever designed, nor one that will ever be conceived that will enable man to 'breath life' into anything. We must take that breath of life already given. It cannot be found for it belongs solely to the Creator of all things.
What egotists we are to even consider that we might be able to recreate 'life.' How slowly does the mind of the most intelligent species on earth sometimes work. Man has yet to acknowledge that which we so desperately seek, "that which causes life to be," is not ours to give, and will never be. We live simply because our Father God determined that we should and 'gave us life.'
We are then doubly blessed with one more miracle of miracles. The One True God chooses to give us, for all eternity, a renewed life, a new life in His Son, Jesus Christ. With this, the breath of life that is us, is transformed, made new, polished until its light shines forth. We are now the embodiment of the truest definition of 'life' - living as a child of God by the grace of His Holy Spirit in love and forgiveness.
With this second miracle, we have come full circle, and are now one with the Father in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. So whenever we see the word 'life' written so quietly in the pages of His Word, perhaps we should pause for a moment, and praise His Holy Name for the unfathomable miracle He has wrought in us - His gift - His breath of life become eternal in Jesus, - Immanuel - God with us. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Matt. 7:15-17
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit"
Matt. 7:15-17
Have you ever read MacBeth? MacBeth was an interesting character of our friend William Shakespeare. He was unlovable, unlikable, unconscionable, and unforgivable. But he didn't start out that way. He was a conquering general, and a favorite of King Duncan. Great favors were heaped upon him, and more were to come. But, out of his own greed, his own imagination, his own unholy thoughts, MacBeth killed his king. And, like all murderers, he left behind some evidence. Two bloody daggers were found with the king's two drunken bodyguards - both later killed by MacBeth supposedly out of revenge for killing king Duncan.
Unfortunately for the inhabitants of Scotland, there were no crime scene investigators and the rudimentary evidence collected pointed in the wrong direction. MacBeth was honored by being made king of Scotland in Duncan's place. But that is not the end of the story. MacBeth could not stand what he had done. He became paranoid and his paranoia caused him to eventually die.
Why do I give you a lesson in Shakespearean literature? I do it to show you that the evil man will be known by his fruit. I truly believe that the problem with the perfect crime is that the criminal cannot be satisfied with just one. Greed eventually drives the perpetrator to commit another, and another, and eventually he makes a mistake. That mistake brings and end to his crime spree.
Jesus agrees. He encourages us, while not being judgmental, to be inspectors of peoples "fruit." By that He means that our actions show what is in our hearts. Granted, our acts of kindness will never buy us free passes to heaven. But, our free pass to heaven WILL cause us to do good deeds.
Anyone can do something good - perhaps even on a regular basis. But, like our greedy criminal, eventually we will show the true color of our hearts and some word, some action, some indicator of our sinful nature will show it's ugly self to the world. There is no way around it. Only a cleansing in the blood of Jesus will remove that sin and cause our fruit to always be fresh and good. And that goodness, or lack thereof, will tell the brothers and sisters of the faith volumes about our spiritual lives.
Now, don't rush out and condemn anyone who commits a sin. We all do that. Instead, Jesus is telling us to be wary of our leadership (the prophets of today's verses) lest they be ravenous wolves setting out to destroy the flock of Jesus. How can we tell the difference? By their fruits. What fruits? The works they perform, whether they are good and wholesome and wise. Or whether they are self-centered, overpowering, and destructive.
We must all be fruit inspectors - and we can do it without judging - as long as we do not condemn a man for his works, but pray for his salvation out of a sincere love. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Matt. 7:15-17
Have you ever read MacBeth? MacBeth was an interesting character of our friend William Shakespeare. He was unlovable, unlikable, unconscionable, and unforgivable. But he didn't start out that way. He was a conquering general, and a favorite of King Duncan. Great favors were heaped upon him, and more were to come. But, out of his own greed, his own imagination, his own unholy thoughts, MacBeth killed his king. And, like all murderers, he left behind some evidence. Two bloody daggers were found with the king's two drunken bodyguards - both later killed by MacBeth supposedly out of revenge for killing king Duncan.
Unfortunately for the inhabitants of Scotland, there were no crime scene investigators and the rudimentary evidence collected pointed in the wrong direction. MacBeth was honored by being made king of Scotland in Duncan's place. But that is not the end of the story. MacBeth could not stand what he had done. He became paranoid and his paranoia caused him to eventually die.
Why do I give you a lesson in Shakespearean literature? I do it to show you that the evil man will be known by his fruit. I truly believe that the problem with the perfect crime is that the criminal cannot be satisfied with just one. Greed eventually drives the perpetrator to commit another, and another, and eventually he makes a mistake. That mistake brings and end to his crime spree.
Jesus agrees. He encourages us, while not being judgmental, to be inspectors of peoples "fruit." By that He means that our actions show what is in our hearts. Granted, our acts of kindness will never buy us free passes to heaven. But, our free pass to heaven WILL cause us to do good deeds.
Anyone can do something good - perhaps even on a regular basis. But, like our greedy criminal, eventually we will show the true color of our hearts and some word, some action, some indicator of our sinful nature will show it's ugly self to the world. There is no way around it. Only a cleansing in the blood of Jesus will remove that sin and cause our fruit to always be fresh and good. And that goodness, or lack thereof, will tell the brothers and sisters of the faith volumes about our spiritual lives.
Now, don't rush out and condemn anyone who commits a sin. We all do that. Instead, Jesus is telling us to be wary of our leadership (the prophets of today's verses) lest they be ravenous wolves setting out to destroy the flock of Jesus. How can we tell the difference? By their fruits. What fruits? The works they perform, whether they are good and wholesome and wise. Or whether they are self-centered, overpowering, and destructive.
We must all be fruit inspectors - and we can do it without judging - as long as we do not condemn a man for his works, but pray for his salvation out of a sincere love. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Neh 4:2
"And in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble - burned as they are?" Neh 4:2
There it was, public humiliation. The Jews were no builders. They had been captive in Babylon - but they lived lives of relative ease. Now they come to a destroyed city, scraped together a few stones for a house, but they had no experience in rebuilding a city. The Jews had two choices, step up and finish the task or buckle under the pressure and give up. Some chose the latter option.
Judah cried out in agreement (sound familiar? "Let's go back to Egypt. At least we had food on the table -- not this manna!") Fortunately, Nehemiah was a good and faithful leader who saw things as they were meant to be - rebuilt! He called the people to ignore the insults and keep on building. We've all faced discouragement. Perhaps we face it today.
We have two choices. Step up or give up. The latter brings defeat and death. The former brings victory and life. When the enemy shouts insults at us, we need to do as Nehemiah did. First, he set guards. Second, he armed the people. Third, he kept building. We need to guard against the enemy's attacks. We need to always be alert to his presence and tactics. If he gets too close, we need to take up the sword - the Word of God. Satan cannot take continual strikes from the Sword of the Spirit - it penetrated too deeply into his weaknesses.
Finally, we need to keep on keeping on doing the will of God. Sure, there are times when it seems like nothing happens and we're getting no where. But if we keep trying, God will bring the results. He will support our sagging spirits. He will be our encouragement and our strength. The next thing you know, the walls of God's protection will be around us and the gates of His splendor will be our protection from the enemy and victory will be secure! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
There it was, public humiliation. The Jews were no builders. They had been captive in Babylon - but they lived lives of relative ease. Now they come to a destroyed city, scraped together a few stones for a house, but they had no experience in rebuilding a city. The Jews had two choices, step up and finish the task or buckle under the pressure and give up. Some chose the latter option.
Judah cried out in agreement (sound familiar? "Let's go back to Egypt. At least we had food on the table -- not this manna!") Fortunately, Nehemiah was a good and faithful leader who saw things as they were meant to be - rebuilt! He called the people to ignore the insults and keep on building. We've all faced discouragement. Perhaps we face it today.
We have two choices. Step up or give up. The latter brings defeat and death. The former brings victory and life. When the enemy shouts insults at us, we need to do as Nehemiah did. First, he set guards. Second, he armed the people. Third, he kept building. We need to guard against the enemy's attacks. We need to always be alert to his presence and tactics. If he gets too close, we need to take up the sword - the Word of God. Satan cannot take continual strikes from the Sword of the Spirit - it penetrated too deeply into his weaknesses.
Finally, we need to keep on keeping on doing the will of God. Sure, there are times when it seems like nothing happens and we're getting no where. But if we keep trying, God will bring the results. He will support our sagging spirits. He will be our encouragement and our strength. The next thing you know, the walls of God's protection will be around us and the gates of His splendor will be our protection from the enemy and victory will be secure! Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Prov. 26:4-5
"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes." Prov. 26:4-5
Just when you think you have the Word of God figured out a pair of verses like today's jumps up and bites us! "Do not answer... Answer..." What is a man to do? Like I tell my bible study class before, "Let's take a dig a little deeper."
The obvious observation is that Solomon is out of his mind. One of his wives must have given him a hard time the night before he came up with this word of wisdom. Which are we to do? Answer the fool or don't answer him?
The first verse seems to indicate that we should not answer him. Why? "You will be like him." Hummm. If a fool comes up with some sort of idiotic statement or idea and we play along with him, wouldn't we look like a fool... just like he does? On the other hand, the proverbialist tells us to answer a fool! Why? So that the fool's actions are made apparent to him and he realize that those actions are not in any way wise. We want to educate the fool. We want to improve his state. It is not impossible... just difficult.
It seems that Solomon knew what he was talking about. Our response to the fool determines whether we have become like him or helped him out of his foolishness. While the proverbs seem contradictory, they are actually complimentary... like two pieces of the puzzle that appear to be incompatible, until they are turned in just the right relationship. Then they fit perfectly! Amen and Amen.
Just when you think you have the Word of God figured out a pair of verses like today's jumps up and bites us! "Do not answer... Answer..." What is a man to do? Like I tell my bible study class before, "Let's take a dig a little deeper."
The obvious observation is that Solomon is out of his mind. One of his wives must have given him a hard time the night before he came up with this word of wisdom. Which are we to do? Answer the fool or don't answer him?
The first verse seems to indicate that we should not answer him. Why? "You will be like him." Hummm. If a fool comes up with some sort of idiotic statement or idea and we play along with him, wouldn't we look like a fool... just like he does? On the other hand, the proverbialist tells us to answer a fool! Why? So that the fool's actions are made apparent to him and he realize that those actions are not in any way wise. We want to educate the fool. We want to improve his state. It is not impossible... just difficult.
It seems that Solomon knew what he was talking about. Our response to the fool determines whether we have become like him or helped him out of his foolishness. While the proverbs seem contradictory, they are actually complimentary... like two pieces of the puzzle that appear to be incompatible, until they are turned in just the right relationship. Then they fit perfectly! Amen and Amen.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Prov 25:4-5
"Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness" Prov 25:4-5
Purity. It's more than a bakery! It is a way of life. It is a virtue that will stand the test of time. A jeweler can't use silver that is laced with dross - impurities. When he begins to draw it - pull it into wire, it will break. When he wants to solder it together, the dross splatters and causes the joint to fail. Or, the dross will turn a different color and spoil the appearance of the silversmith's creation. Dross will not due. The removal of imperfections start in the purifying process. Incomplete refining produces an inferior end product.
So it is in the hearts of man (the king in this case. Easily translated Governor, Mayor, King, Queen, President, Chief Executive, Judge, etc.). Improper refining of the heart produces inferior men and women. They are not necessarily inferior on the basis of outward appearance, but a rottenness of soul. Some of the worlds most beautiful people are rotten at the core. Just look at some of the most popular movie stars. I don't have to name them. You can come up with a list of your own. Some of the most successful have the foulest vocabulary, the most repugnant reputations. The old saying "beauty is only skin deep," though not scripture, is oh so true, non the less.
Or take a look at some of today's highest paid athletes. They sport freaky hair styles, and even more bizarre lifestyles. They fight on the court and party off of it. There is much dross there - if they were a silver ornament, we would certainly call them "ugly," "flawed," and even "worthless."
Righteousness comes from the purifying of the blood of Jesus. Only that cleansing action will produce results worthy of the Master Jeweler's craft. The interesting part is this: you have the choice as to how pure you will be. You can jump out of the refiner's fire any time you want. However, rest assured it is easier to go through it with God the first time around than to endure the refiner's fire a second, third, or fourth time. Amen and Amen.
Purity. It's more than a bakery! It is a way of life. It is a virtue that will stand the test of time. A jeweler can't use silver that is laced with dross - impurities. When he begins to draw it - pull it into wire, it will break. When he wants to solder it together, the dross splatters and causes the joint to fail. Or, the dross will turn a different color and spoil the appearance of the silversmith's creation. Dross will not due. The removal of imperfections start in the purifying process. Incomplete refining produces an inferior end product.
So it is in the hearts of man (the king in this case. Easily translated Governor, Mayor, King, Queen, President, Chief Executive, Judge, etc.). Improper refining of the heart produces inferior men and women. They are not necessarily inferior on the basis of outward appearance, but a rottenness of soul. Some of the worlds most beautiful people are rotten at the core. Just look at some of the most popular movie stars. I don't have to name them. You can come up with a list of your own. Some of the most successful have the foulest vocabulary, the most repugnant reputations. The old saying "beauty is only skin deep," though not scripture, is oh so true, non the less.
Or take a look at some of today's highest paid athletes. They sport freaky hair styles, and even more bizarre lifestyles. They fight on the court and party off of it. There is much dross there - if they were a silver ornament, we would certainly call them "ugly," "flawed," and even "worthless."
Righteousness comes from the purifying of the blood of Jesus. Only that cleansing action will produce results worthy of the Master Jeweler's craft. The interesting part is this: you have the choice as to how pure you will be. You can jump out of the refiner's fire any time you want. However, rest assured it is easier to go through it with God the first time around than to endure the refiner's fire a second, third, or fourth time. Amen and Amen.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Colossians 3:23
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" Colossians 3:23
One of the characteristics of the Christian life should be enthusiasm. The origin of the word enthusiasm is enlightening. It comes from the Greek word enthusiasmis. This word literally means to be possessed by a god or to be given over to poetic or prophetic frenzy. There is something about touching the eternal which produces enthusiasm.
It's impossible to be cool about meeting the creator of the universe face to face, and he calls you his child. There is an excitement resident within the gospel message. It is "good news," "glad tidings," full of "great joy." It is not to be whispered about in the basement. It is to be shouted from the rooftops.
The Christian is enthusiastic because he or she carries this God- Consciousness within his or her heart. This person exults in the mere fact of existence knowing that every breath taken is a gift of the creator. This person sees God's handiwork in all of creation. This person sees God's handiwork in the mirror. Every new day is a cause for excitement. The adventure is continuing. The journey has turned another corner. Exciting things are waiting just around the next turn. Sure there are rocks in the road and danger along the path. There may be battles ahead. But these are but other forms of excitement. Because beyond the rocks lies a beautiful meadow. And following the battle is the victory celebration. So we clamor over the rocks and we run to the battle with as much enthusiasm as when we play in the meadows and celebrate the victory.
It is all one. The rocks and the meadows. The battles and the victories. They are all part of the great adventure. They are all causes for excitement and for enthusiasm. And we know, that the enthusiasm of the present is but a foretaste of that great. final, everlasting celebration. The call to the party is imminent, and with spiritual ears we listen for that call. Is that a trumpet I hear? It is faint, but growing nearer. I guess Gabriel is just tuning up. Amen and Amen.
One of the characteristics of the Christian life should be enthusiasm. The origin of the word enthusiasm is enlightening. It comes from the Greek word enthusiasmis. This word literally means to be possessed by a god or to be given over to poetic or prophetic frenzy. There is something about touching the eternal which produces enthusiasm.
It's impossible to be cool about meeting the creator of the universe face to face, and he calls you his child. There is an excitement resident within the gospel message. It is "good news," "glad tidings," full of "great joy." It is not to be whispered about in the basement. It is to be shouted from the rooftops.
The Christian is enthusiastic because he or she carries this God- Consciousness within his or her heart. This person exults in the mere fact of existence knowing that every breath taken is a gift of the creator. This person sees God's handiwork in all of creation. This person sees God's handiwork in the mirror. Every new day is a cause for excitement. The adventure is continuing. The journey has turned another corner. Exciting things are waiting just around the next turn. Sure there are rocks in the road and danger along the path. There may be battles ahead. But these are but other forms of excitement. Because beyond the rocks lies a beautiful meadow. And following the battle is the victory celebration. So we clamor over the rocks and we run to the battle with as much enthusiasm as when we play in the meadows and celebrate the victory.
It is all one. The rocks and the meadows. The battles and the victories. They are all part of the great adventure. They are all causes for excitement and for enthusiasm. And we know, that the enthusiasm of the present is but a foretaste of that great. final, everlasting celebration. The call to the party is imminent, and with spiritual ears we listen for that call. Is that a trumpet I hear? It is faint, but growing nearer. I guess Gabriel is just tuning up. Amen and Amen.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Col. 3:23
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" Col. 3:23
The other day I was in a five star restaurant, and quite frankly the service was very slow. I heard a couple of waitresses talking. One of them was complaining about being reprimanded by the manager for not serving a customer expeditiously. Apparently she let the customer sit for 10 or 15 minutes before waiting on them because she was talking to a friend on the cell phone. She was very upset about the fact that she was reprimanded and she was saying to the other waitress "I don't see why I needed to be that anxious to work after all if it's just a part-time job."
Sad to say, I think a lot of Christians treat the work they do as being only important enough to get by. However, I think if we read scripture we can see clearly that God expects us to do more than simply get by
In Colossians Paul tells is that we are to do everything heartily as unto the Lord. That word heartily means from the very depths of your soul with great enthusiasm. That means it doesn't matter how much you're getting paid on the job or how many hours that you're spending there, you still do that job with all of your energy.
If you're doing something in church, if you've taken on a job teaching a Sunday school class, leading a song service, being in the worship team, whatever you do, you do it heartily as unto the Lord with great enthusiasm, with great excitement. Paul goes on to say that it is of the Lord that you will receive it your reward. Think about this when you go in to work today don't think about doing your job for the boss, for the manager, for the supervisor or even for the customer or client. Think about doing your job for God.
If Jesus walked into the store where you are a clerk, how would you wait on him. If Jesus was a student in your class ,how would you teach that class? If Jesus was a patient coming into your medical office how would you treat him? I am quite sure that we would treat him with all our skills, we would be most courteous to Him. Well, Jesus says "in as much as you have done it unto me least of these my brethren you have done it unto me."
So today, let's decide on a different way to do our work. Let's do our job as if Jesus Christ was supervisor. I can guarantee that if you do the it will radically transform the way you do business. Who knows, you might also find a greater degree of satisfaction in the work that you do. Lord, today let me do my job as unto you and not as unto men, knowing that it is from you that I will receive my reward. Amen and Amen
The other day I was in a five star restaurant, and quite frankly the service was very slow. I heard a couple of waitresses talking. One of them was complaining about being reprimanded by the manager for not serving a customer expeditiously. Apparently she let the customer sit for 10 or 15 minutes before waiting on them because she was talking to a friend on the cell phone. She was very upset about the fact that she was reprimanded and she was saying to the other waitress "I don't see why I needed to be that anxious to work after all if it's just a part-time job."
Sad to say, I think a lot of Christians treat the work they do as being only important enough to get by. However, I think if we read scripture we can see clearly that God expects us to do more than simply get by
In Colossians Paul tells is that we are to do everything heartily as unto the Lord. That word heartily means from the very depths of your soul with great enthusiasm. That means it doesn't matter how much you're getting paid on the job or how many hours that you're spending there, you still do that job with all of your energy.
If you're doing something in church, if you've taken on a job teaching a Sunday school class, leading a song service, being in the worship team, whatever you do, you do it heartily as unto the Lord with great enthusiasm, with great excitement. Paul goes on to say that it is of the Lord that you will receive it your reward. Think about this when you go in to work today don't think about doing your job for the boss, for the manager, for the supervisor or even for the customer or client. Think about doing your job for God.
If Jesus walked into the store where you are a clerk, how would you wait on him. If Jesus was a student in your class ,how would you teach that class? If Jesus was a patient coming into your medical office how would you treat him? I am quite sure that we would treat him with all our skills, we would be most courteous to Him. Well, Jesus says "in as much as you have done it unto me least of these my brethren you have done it unto me."
So today, let's decide on a different way to do our work. Let's do our job as if Jesus Christ was supervisor. I can guarantee that if you do the it will radically transform the way you do business. Who knows, you might also find a greater degree of satisfaction in the work that you do. Lord, today let me do my job as unto you and not as unto men, knowing that it is from you that I will receive my reward. Amen and Amen
Monday, November 9, 2009
Isaiah. 35:1
"The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose" Isaiah. 35:1
Jonathan Edwards in his great sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" asserts that the earth, animals, and plants long to kick man off the face of earth - man is that far from the perfection that God created. It seems that I came upon a few people who did not like that idea. First, they said, the earth is not a person and thus has no emotions or thinking ability to WANT to kick man off. Second, they said, man is not that bad.
In light of today's verse, I propose that the earth DOES have emotions. Isaiah says that the wilderness and the desert will be glad - glad for what? They will be glad for the return of the Messiah as He sets the earth aright. He continues to say that the desert or "Arabia" - the great southern desert separating Israel from Egypt - will rejoice and blossom. Sure sounds like emotion to me; do you not agree? Isaiah continues with other personifications of the earth and its natural inhabitants and how they will be glad at the return of the Messiah's reign. Allow me to show you with another scripture:
"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now" Romans. 8:19-22
Paul tells us that the whole of creation is straining under the sins of man and is longing for the day it will be delivered from that burden. Indeed, Mr. Edwards was a powerful preacher with a very deep insight into the ways of God.
Unfortunately, man today does not have that great insight. We, as a whole, believe that we have the ability to fix ourselves and the world. Many people in this world follow the example of Benjamin Franklin who thought he could master thirteen "virtues" and thus become nearly perfect. He failed. And even if he succeeded to become "nearly" perfect, that would not have been good enough to get him into Heaven. Only that which is absolutely perfect can stand before the unstained God of the Universe. No man is that good.
Only through the application of the cleansing blood of Jesus can we be made pure enough, whole enough, perfect enough to stand in God's presence. Fortunately, THAT perfection is attainable to those who believe and are willing to die to themselves and live for Jesus and Him alone. Only then will we find that creation is willing to support us and yield to our control. Until that day, the day we ALL are purified by Jesus' sacrifice, the earth would rather cease producing gravity and fling us out into the universe. As Edwards said, we are here only because of the grace of God, and an angry God at that. Amen and Amen.
Jonathan Edwards in his great sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" asserts that the earth, animals, and plants long to kick man off the face of earth - man is that far from the perfection that God created. It seems that I came upon a few people who did not like that idea. First, they said, the earth is not a person and thus has no emotions or thinking ability to WANT to kick man off. Second, they said, man is not that bad.
In light of today's verse, I propose that the earth DOES have emotions. Isaiah says that the wilderness and the desert will be glad - glad for what? They will be glad for the return of the Messiah as He sets the earth aright. He continues to say that the desert or "Arabia" - the great southern desert separating Israel from Egypt - will rejoice and blossom. Sure sounds like emotion to me; do you not agree? Isaiah continues with other personifications of the earth and its natural inhabitants and how they will be glad at the return of the Messiah's reign. Allow me to show you with another scripture:
"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now" Romans. 8:19-22
Paul tells us that the whole of creation is straining under the sins of man and is longing for the day it will be delivered from that burden. Indeed, Mr. Edwards was a powerful preacher with a very deep insight into the ways of God.
Unfortunately, man today does not have that great insight. We, as a whole, believe that we have the ability to fix ourselves and the world. Many people in this world follow the example of Benjamin Franklin who thought he could master thirteen "virtues" and thus become nearly perfect. He failed. And even if he succeeded to become "nearly" perfect, that would not have been good enough to get him into Heaven. Only that which is absolutely perfect can stand before the unstained God of the Universe. No man is that good.
Only through the application of the cleansing blood of Jesus can we be made pure enough, whole enough, perfect enough to stand in God's presence. Fortunately, THAT perfection is attainable to those who believe and are willing to die to themselves and live for Jesus and Him alone. Only then will we find that creation is willing to support us and yield to our control. Until that day, the day we ALL are purified by Jesus' sacrifice, the earth would rather cease producing gravity and fling us out into the universe. As Edwards said, we are here only because of the grace of God, and an angry God at that. Amen and Amen.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Acts 7:47-49
"But Solomon built Him a house. "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest?" Acts 7:47-49
The Old Testament concept of God included a dwelling place. His house was first a tent, then, through Solomon, it became a Temple. The prophets came to realize that God could not be kept in a box - no matter how beautiful and stoutly built. God's throne was the vastness of the heavens and the earth was simply His footstool. This demonstrates the awesome "bigness" of God.
The New Testament saw God as big - but human - in the form of Jesus - God in man form. He dwelt on earth. He walked the same roads and sailed the same seas as they did. This Man-God was big, not because He towered over all others when He stood in a crowd (like Saul), but because He spoke with such authority on topics that the rabbinical school of the day either avoided or reiterated the teachings of others. Jesus was a "fresh voice" promising deliverance from the kingdom of this earth. The Jews interpreted this to be Rome. We know it to be Satan's power.
Jesus put a new twist on the matter when He introduced the necessity of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit had all the attributes of God the Father and God the Son with one simple change. Being spirit, He would dwell in the heart of man. We can now see God in all of His majesty, perfect humanness, and indwelling power - from the great big to the invisible, God was and is and is yet to come.
It is important for us to remember all three of these attributes. We need to recognize that God is bigger than we are - or any nations - or our world. He created it. He dwells in it. He controls it. We need to remember that God, in the form of Jesus, took on the shape of man - and did it victoriously. He neither stumbled nor fell to the temptations that we face every day. This should give us hope that, when we have the Holy Spirit, God in spirit form, dwelling in - indeed, possessing - us, we can be victorious like Jesus.
I encourage you to let the Spirit possess you. Give Him complete control. Let Him run your life. He will not fail. Amen and Amen.
The Old Testament concept of God included a dwelling place. His house was first a tent, then, through Solomon, it became a Temple. The prophets came to realize that God could not be kept in a box - no matter how beautiful and stoutly built. God's throne was the vastness of the heavens and the earth was simply His footstool. This demonstrates the awesome "bigness" of God.
The New Testament saw God as big - but human - in the form of Jesus - God in man form. He dwelt on earth. He walked the same roads and sailed the same seas as they did. This Man-God was big, not because He towered over all others when He stood in a crowd (like Saul), but because He spoke with such authority on topics that the rabbinical school of the day either avoided or reiterated the teachings of others. Jesus was a "fresh voice" promising deliverance from the kingdom of this earth. The Jews interpreted this to be Rome. We know it to be Satan's power.
Jesus put a new twist on the matter when He introduced the necessity of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit had all the attributes of God the Father and God the Son with one simple change. Being spirit, He would dwell in the heart of man. We can now see God in all of His majesty, perfect humanness, and indwelling power - from the great big to the invisible, God was and is and is yet to come.
It is important for us to remember all three of these attributes. We need to recognize that God is bigger than we are - or any nations - or our world. He created it. He dwells in it. He controls it. We need to remember that God, in the form of Jesus, took on the shape of man - and did it victoriously. He neither stumbled nor fell to the temptations that we face every day. This should give us hope that, when we have the Holy Spirit, God in spirit form, dwelling in - indeed, possessing - us, we can be victorious like Jesus.
I encourage you to let the Spirit possess you. Give Him complete control. Let Him run your life. He will not fail. Amen and Amen.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Micah 6:8
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
What an opening! I don't know about you, but if the Lord requires something of me, I want to know what that is. What is this requirement? Church attendance? Good deeds? Giving money to the poor? All those things are good, but God tells us something even more profound. What does the Lord require of me? "...to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God."
Think about it. If we master these three things, our church attendance, good deeds, giving, working in the kingdom will all take care of themselves. Let's look a little closer at each of these.
First, we are called on to "do justly." This literally comes from the field of civil law and it means to render a verdict which is right and fair. By extension, it means to live in a way which considers first what is right and later what is profitable. Unfortunately in this modern world of ours what is right is often treated as being secondary to that which "works." Practicality and profit have become the twin gods of business, politics, family life and even, sad to say, some organized religious groups. I heard a minister once defend lying to his congregation because it worked. This scripture says that God requires that we do right regardless of our assessment of its practicality.
Secondly, God requires that we "love mercy." In the process of holding myself to a high standard of moral and ethical conduct, I must be careful not to despise those who fail to meet those standards. I have failed and depended on others (especially God himself) to show me mercy. If I expect to receive mercy I must show it. One of the beatitudes says, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy." This showing of mercy doesn't mean excusing wrongdoing. Rather, my act of mercy directs the person to the one who can give full forgiveness of sin by demonstrating in my life that forgiveness in word and deed.
Finally, we are required to "walk humbly with thy God." Humility before the Father says, "I'm afraid as hard as I try. I can't walk justly all the time, and my mercy is inconsistent and shallow. I need help. Take me and shape me into the type of person who can truly live up to the requirements you have set before me." Fortunately, God has made a provision for our inability to meet his requirements. He sent his Son to die on a Cross so that we might "be made the righteousness of God." If you're having trouble meeting God's requirements, turn to Him today and ask His Son to come into your heart. It's easier to walk a difficult path, if you have the road builder with you on the journey. Lord, please help me to simply do what you require of me in my daily life.
Help me to remember justice and mercy and humility as I draw closer to you each day.. Amen and Amen.
What an opening! I don't know about you, but if the Lord requires something of me, I want to know what that is. What is this requirement? Church attendance? Good deeds? Giving money to the poor? All those things are good, but God tells us something even more profound. What does the Lord require of me? "...to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God."
Think about it. If we master these three things, our church attendance, good deeds, giving, working in the kingdom will all take care of themselves. Let's look a little closer at each of these.
First, we are called on to "do justly." This literally comes from the field of civil law and it means to render a verdict which is right and fair. By extension, it means to live in a way which considers first what is right and later what is profitable. Unfortunately in this modern world of ours what is right is often treated as being secondary to that which "works." Practicality and profit have become the twin gods of business, politics, family life and even, sad to say, some organized religious groups. I heard a minister once defend lying to his congregation because it worked. This scripture says that God requires that we do right regardless of our assessment of its practicality.
Secondly, God requires that we "love mercy." In the process of holding myself to a high standard of moral and ethical conduct, I must be careful not to despise those who fail to meet those standards. I have failed and depended on others (especially God himself) to show me mercy. If I expect to receive mercy I must show it. One of the beatitudes says, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy." This showing of mercy doesn't mean excusing wrongdoing. Rather, my act of mercy directs the person to the one who can give full forgiveness of sin by demonstrating in my life that forgiveness in word and deed.
Finally, we are required to "walk humbly with thy God." Humility before the Father says, "I'm afraid as hard as I try. I can't walk justly all the time, and my mercy is inconsistent and shallow. I need help. Take me and shape me into the type of person who can truly live up to the requirements you have set before me." Fortunately, God has made a provision for our inability to meet his requirements. He sent his Son to die on a Cross so that we might "be made the righteousness of God." If you're having trouble meeting God's requirements, turn to Him today and ask His Son to come into your heart. It's easier to walk a difficult path, if you have the road builder with you on the journey. Lord, please help me to simply do what you require of me in my daily life.
Help me to remember justice and mercy and humility as I draw closer to you each day.. Amen and Amen.
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