Becoming

Going, Going, Gone

2007-01-04T22:44:00.000-06:00

"Becoming" has moved to a new location--right here. This site will remain as an archive to all the old stuff since Wordpress cannot import from the New Blogger. Please update your bookmarks. See you there. (Or, right here.)

The Valley of the Shadow of Death

2007-01-04T08:27:00.000-06:00

Matthew 4:12-17

Have you ever had a near death experience? Have you ever been surrounded by the valley of death as a loved one slipped through to the next life? The shadow of death is an awful place to be. It is lonely. It is painful. It is nerve-racking. It is sad and angering at the same time--some are broken in the valley while others shake their fists in defiance.

We run from the valley. We live our lives in such a way as to avoid it at all costs. It usually sneaks up on us despite all our actions to fight it off--the right diets, the right make-up, the right clothes, the right plastic surgery, the right partner, etc. Make no mistake about...we reject the valley of the shadow. We do not want to be there.

The fact of the matter is this: we are surrounded by the shadow everyday. People all around us everywhere we go are living in the valley's darkness. Don't let them fool you by all the gimmicks designed to stave off the darkness (diets, make-up, clothes, plastic surgery, sex, etc.)--they dwell right there in the darkness.

In one sense they are privy to the valley because their lives are given to covering it up. In another sense, however, they are blind to exactly what it is they are trying to cover up. Darkness means there is no light. Without light, there is no exposure to the source of the problem. The source of the problem and the answer to the problem must be exact opposites.

The answer to the problem...the answer to the darkness...is the presence of Jesus ("on them a light has dawned"); the source of the problem is the lack of the presence of Jesus ("those dwelling in darkness").

The application is two-fold:

For we on whom the light has shined (who enjoy the presence of Jesus)--this truth changes the way we face our valley of death. Those trials and struggles and pains and losses we experience are lived out under the light of Christ. We can and we must (if we claim Christ) face those dark times under the realization that they are all exposed by Christ. He is our Great Shepherd in the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23)!
For those around us who do not enjoy the presence of Jesus--this truth changes the way we look at the lost. We must not look down our pious, judgmental noses! We must become broken-hearted for those living in the valley. We must realize the answer to their darkness has dawned; the light of life has come. And just as Jesus began (in the above passage) to preach the Kingdom at hand AND call fishers of men to His service, we must see our place in Jesus' light coming to shine upon and expose the valley of the shadow of death for those around us.

The answer to the problem and the problem itself are polar opposites. The answer is 'Jesus'. The problem is 'no Jesus'. If the problem is 'no Jesus', then how can we do anything but point them to the answer? Without Jesus, they will just remain lost in the valley of the shadow of death!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

2007-01-03T06:07:00.000-06:00

Genesis 8:20-22; 9:8-17

Do you realize that every human being on the face of the planet lives under the grace of Almighty God? Every day, as morning breaks and each person yawns at the edge of their bed, we all enjoy a dose of God's grace--from the highest eschalons of rulership to the tiniest baby in the most remote and archaic tribe. Every rainbow is a reminder of it. In fact, every human being--whose heart's intention is evil from his youth--deserves the judgment of God right now. Paul's letter to the Romans even tells us that God has made Himself known in Creation in such a way that all men (who do not turn to Him) are without excuse. But the rainbow is a reminder of God's universal grace (note: not universal salvation).

Although judgment is deserved, God promised that He would never again curse the ground because of man. That's interesting, because my Bible says that a day of judgment is coming; that a day is soon coming in which the whole earth will be burned up with fire; that every man will give an account to God; that all those whose faith is not in Jesus Christ will face an eternal judgment flood. The rainbow reminds us of God's heart toward man...the flood reminds us of God's heart toward sin.

How can we not recite John 3:16 here--"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

The rainbow tells the whole world of God's love. Christians tell the whole world about Christ. The world has an obligation to trust in the Creator rather than creation (Romans 1:18-25). Jesus has an obligation to vindicate his death. The flood was God's curse against the ground because of man. The soon to come separation of sheep and goats, earth consuming fire, and Great White Throne of Judgment is because of the glory of Jesus Christ. He who was made low for our sake will be gloriously exalted for every eye to see.

"What are you talking about?" We Christians tend to think that all that lies ahead is judgment. We fault ourselves in this to the point that we spend more time behind four walls sitting in pews casting judgment upon the lost. "Oh, they'll get theirs...unless, of course, they become like us." We paint the picture that all God is is a God of judgment; that God is out to get everyone that isn't like us. But, Genesis 8:21 clearly tells us that never again will God curse the ground because of man. As a matter of fact, today's history is all about God desiring everyone to turn to Him through Jesus. That is God's heart toward man. The judgment to come is not because of God's mean spirited judgment (which is the way we have led most people to think about God). The judgment to come is not to curse the ground because of man. The judgment to come is for the vindication of Jesus' glory for all the world to see. Every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord. It's not because of man, but Jesus.

"What about it?" Isn't it interesting that the sun rises on both the Godly and the ungodly? The rainbow covers both the Godly and the ungodly? God loves the world. Our job, as Christ followers, is not to cast judgment but to share God's love with the world and to warn them of Christ's vindication (his return and his eternal home). Somewhere, over the rainbow, we must learn that it's not because of man (not about us) but it's all about Jesus!

Must Read

2007-01-02T16:07:00.000-06:00

To get a taste of current Southern Baptist life, read this by my friend Marty Duren.

Happy New Year

2007-01-02T08:13:00.000-06:00

Genesis 1:1-2

Well, an old year is gone and a new one has officially begun. What does 2007 hold for you? Better yet, what plans of old has God now set in motion to be fulfilled in your life this year?

It didn't start out so well for the Sooners. What a mess they found themselves in last night. We were all so excited about having Adrian Peterson back...even though we played better with him on the injured list. "We, we, we." You'd think I (or we) were also wearing shoulder pads last night in Scottsdale.

At least for the Sooners, yesterday was the END of a season. There will be no looking back. The seniors will graduate. The recruiting team will be hard at work to get the cream of the high school crop signed. The coaches will be doodling in their playbooks. There will be a brand new season coming fast. No looking back to last season--only a fresh start with every other team at 0 wins and 0 losses.

As I start another year by beginning again to read the Bible through, I'm struck with the glory and beauty and majesty of Creation. I haven't preached many sermons on Creation because I just can't wrap my mind around it. Genesis 1 makes it sound so simple--6 days and poof, it's all done. As simple as Creation was for our endless God, to meditate upon the stars in the skies and Grand Canyon and the tiny molecules that hold all things in place--it is much more than just impressive. Creation is incomprehensible. And yet in the midst of such glory, we find a Creator that is very much personal with the apex of Creation--man. They talk. They walk. God even senses a need for man to have a companion--and poof!

Without much pontification or Creation exposition--such is beyond the scope of my comprehension--I must simply meditate on the glory of God's Creative power and the beauty of God's personal love for man. A season has gone--2006--with all of it's baggage (good and bad). A new season is here. I have no ability to create a beautiful scene in the next 12 months--but God can. And with the heart of love for His people, God--as I surrender my life to Him--can and will create a beautiful scene with my life in 2007.

I pray you join me in committing 2007 to the canvas of God's personal and creative agenda for our lives.

Is Christmas here yet?

2006-12-13T15:25:00.000-06:00

We'll get this thing going again soon. Things are always crazy for all of us through December. In the mean time, check out the latest article about Grandad that Baptist Press has released. You can find it here.

Amen

2006-11-21T16:48:00.000-06:00

R evelation 4:6b-11

Monday morning, at about 1 a.m., my grandad passed to the next life. It was my night to spend with him, so, when the nurses notified me that things were coming to an end I had the opportunity of a few moments by myself with him.

By the time the rest of my family arrived he was no longer responding. But, for just a few minutes, weeping alone by his side, we had a sweet time together as he responded to my words with simple whispers.

I told him I loved him and that he was the greatest grandad who ever lived. He whispered that he loved me. I told him that it was ok for him to go and that I would make sure my grandmother was well taken care of. He whispered "yes." Then I just talked about heaven. I talked about Jesus, our only hope and salvation. I told him that he was going to be with Jesus in just a moment; that I was jealous but that I would join him very, very soon. He said, "Amen."

And that was it. For the next 25 minutes or so, as the rest of my family surrounded his bedside and cried, the pneumonia he contracted on Saturday filled his lungs and he stopped breathing. We joined hands around him as my dad led us in a Thanksgiving prayer that will not be outdone at any gathering any where this Thursday.

It's fitting that grandad's last word was "Amen." I'll never forget his voice hollerin' out "Amen." It always sounded to me like he was saying "aaaMAN"--but there was never any doubting what he meant. He meant "let it be." He meant "that's right." He meant "preach it, brother."

Today he is saying "aaaMAN" to the four living creatures and twenty-four elders who continually cry out the greatness and glory of Him who is on the Throne.

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come.

Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to recieve glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.

Today, as I think about the life of my grandad--all the sermons he preached, all the souls he witnessed to, all the lives he touched--all I can say is "amen." As I realize that I do not mourn like others do who have no hope, all I can say is "amen." As I mourn my loss and celebrate grandad's gain, all I can say is "amen." As I celebrate Thanksgiving minus one who has always been a big part of it, all I can say is "amen." As I think about the day that will come when I will join grandad around the throne of God, all I can say is "aaaMAN."

More New (and less old) Every Day

2006-11-17T10:19:00.000-06:00

Colossians 3:18-4:1

About as soon as Paul seemingly covers all the things we should and shouldn't do, he then begins to meddle in the intricate details of our lives. Verse 17, which at first glance strikes us as merely a simple summary statement, is taken to levels which prove that none of us have yet to encounter true discipleship because none of us have mastered the truth that "Christ is all" in every area of life. For example...

In the marriage relationship: Has Christ been all at every moment of this week as you have related to your spouse. Submission? Harshness? Absolute Christ-like pursuit of our wives and Church-like service to our husbands?

In the parental relationship: Have we perfectly honored our parents? Have we been pastors to our children? Has there been complete obedience and encouragement in everything?

In the work relationship: Have we sincerely and fearfully worked heartily or did we play even one round of solitaire on our computers while on the clock? Good and bad masters will get what they deserve--but so will good and bad employees! Employers, have you treated your employees with absolute fairness?

I have to believe that these were just three examples Paul was giving to prove the point that we cannot limit our righteousness to a list--true discipleship encompasses all of life. These three examples are, probably, three main examples...but there are many more (i.e. student/teacher; neighbor/neighbor; buyer/seller; etc.). We would do well to be perfect in these three areas, but to limit ourselves to these three is not enough. Our life consists of the constant battle between the old self and the new. The believer is evidenced by a life where the new is winning more and more everyday. That is the life in which Christ is all.

How can we pursue such living? Well, again, we can't form a list of legalistic do's and don'ts. If we do, the heart will eventually be left on the side of the road and our pursuit will become mere duty--the very thing we are fighting against right now. But, Paul gives us an idea of how we can continue a fresh encounter of the beauty of Christ; such that will keep us moving toward a life where Christ is all. We'll get there next week.

2006-11-16T12:29:00.001-06:00

A good word on Community from Rick Thompson. Read it here.

Christ's Sufficiency to be Our All

2006-11-16T09:22:00.000-06:00

Colossians 3:12-17

There has literally not been an opportunity to continue our search for the beauty of Christ since the last post. I finally, at least for the moment, have a bit of solitude in the office to record some thoughts. I pray that you, too, have continued at least to think about the beauty of Christ that flows from a captured heart and not from legalistic duty. Christ is all.

When Christ is all--when Jesus has our hearts--everything changes. The evidence that Christ is all is every crevice of our lives being affected. The earthly things die (vs. 5) and the heavenly things radiate. Humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, thankfulness, mutual submission, mutual accountability--just to name a few. And those things are not done begrundingly--they are automatic when Christ has our heart. They are not things to work on and try harder at; they are the evidence that Christ is all.

Lately, I have found myself thinking about my responses and reactions. Don't get me wrong--I fail very much; more than I'll ever admit to you--but, I would like to think that God is really teaching me to relinquish everything to Him so that He is all. I really want Christ to be my all. The way I react to (or yell at) my kids. The way I touch (or take for granted) my wife. The way I listen to and dialogue with (or dictate to) my congregation. The true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy things (or ugly, disgusting, impure, unjust things) I think on. Is Christ all or not?

You see, I can keep my little list of do's and don'ts and put on a pretty good show for those around me. I can fool them into thinking that I am quite righteous. But that's not what God looks at. God looks at the heart. Is Christ all or not?

The beauty of Christ is that He is more than sufficient enough to be our all. It's not like we're choosing between some small choice against some other small choice. We are choosing between finding satisfaction in something that is not fully satisfying, and finding satisfaction in something that is fully satisfying--the beauty of Christ. He is fully able to be our all--in every area of our life. And that is the abundant, Kingdom life; that is the opposite of the legalistic, religious life.

Tomorrow, Paul will start meddling and helping us see that everything must be affected--taken over--by Christ. But, it ought to be enough for him to simply say: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christ Is All

2006-11-09T08:22:00.000-06:00

Colossians 3:5-11

What will you cling to on your death bed? The pride of good works? The record of church attendance? The number of people you witnessed to? I think, in studying the Bible, that when it comes right down to it we, people of faith--in Christ alone--can only cling to Christ alone. I think, the hope of glory rests on our testimony of "Christ is all."

All of us, so Paul says, were bent on sin--sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness--prior to Christ. Those things are what our "old nature" consisted of. Those things are deep seated in the darkness of fallen hearts and all of us became guilty of such selfish sinfulness at birth. "But now," Paul writes, "you must put them all away..."

So, we make our lists.

No pre-marital sex.
No consumption of alcohol.
No cheating on taxes.

But what about our hearts? We can uphold these three rules and still be guilty before God because of the lust, desire, and discontent in our hearts. At least, that's what Jesus taught us. And so, along with putting on the new self, Paul continues, is a constant "renewal in knowledge after the image of its creator." Christ wants our hearts--not our ability to keep external rules/religiosity.

I referred, perhaps distastefully, to Ted Haggard in the previous post. In one of the articles I read he spoke of this part of his life "that is so repulsive and dark" that he's been "warring against it" all his adult life. That's right. That's right for all of us in some way, is it not? If we are all, in Christ, being constantly in a state of renewal after the image of our creator, it should be that we are all warring against our old nature.

Here's the thing. I don't know if it's fair to put this on Haggard, but I will--along with all of us. If we have reduced our Christian life to the things we do or don't do, we have inevitably missed something, because Christ wants it all. But, in our minds--consciously, subconsciously, unconsciously, whatever--we have become legalistic and we do this: "Alright, I've kept 9 of the 10 rules this week. What a Christian I am!" Something always gets left out. Something Christ died to redeem. Something God wants to renew. But our spirituality is reduced to our own regulations (3:20-23) leaving some "repulsive and dark" part of our hearts out and the little Ted Haggard in all of us still lives. (Not "repulsive and dark" like with Haggard, necessarily; but "repulsive and dark" because it is of the old nature--perfect love, perfect forgiveness, a bit of anger, discontent, impure thoughts, being Christ to our wives, being pastors to our children, being perfect employers and not playing solitaire on the clock, etc.)

But Christ died that you and I might have life. Real life. Abundant life. Kingdom life now. Not a life of internal darkness and repulsivity (I don't think that's a word, but I like it.).

What is the key to faith? What is the key to faith on the death bed? What is the key to the life of faith? What is the key to real, abundant, Kingdom-at-hand, faith? It is to live out, in every crevice of our souls, the declaration "Christ is all."

Your Life

2006-11-07T08:31:00.000-06:00

Colossians 3:1-4

As we continue through Colossians, seeking the beauty of Christ, we must slow down to smell all the roses of chapter 3. I hope, in joining in this search of the beauty of Christ, that you will spend several days meditating with me on this most excellent of chapters contained in Holy Writ.

I think Paul is making the case that "do's and don'ts" kind of Christianity is not what following Christ is about. Christ exchanged His life for ours that we might live the Kingdom life--hearts that are transformed in every single way. That's why we "put to death" certain things (3:5ff). It's not to check them off our list, but because Christ--"who is your life"--lives through you; we are Kingdom people who live focused on things above and therefore our minds and hearts are transformed and renewed (we're new people--Kingdom people). Some list of do's and don'ts is not where it ends; the Kingdom life affects EVERYTHING, which is why starting in 3:12 and going all the way to the closing of the book Paul starts meddling not just with a list of do's (3:12-16) but says "whatever you do, do in the name of the Lord Jesus"--wives, husbands, employers, employees, etc. More on that later.

Today, let's focus on 3:1-4.

"If then you have been raised with Christ..." Literally, co-resurrected. That's right. When we come to Christ in faith we have died and been born-again. We are new creatures. We are Kingdom creatures--transformed and renewed.

"...seek the things above...set your mind on things above...for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God..." Our life, having come to Christ in faith, is now bound up in Christ. We are Christians. We are Kingdom people. We're not church attenders. We're not pro-lifers. We're not a voting block. We're not anti-this or that. We are of Christ. We live on the earth now, but belong to the Kingdom, nonetheless, because are lives are hidden with Christ in God.

"When Christ who is your life..." Is your life bound up in Christ? Do you define your "Christianity" by the things you do or don't do, or is your life bound up in Christ? Do you see the difference? There may seem to be just a subtle difference to you, but I believe this to be a huge difference. This is where we have missed the boat in modern Amercian evangelicalism--in all of our comfort seeking, legalistic imposing, self-righteous judgmentalism, pious asceticism...--all while within us remains our own little Ted Haggard. Jesus did not die for a voting block. Jesus did not die for a denomination. Jesus did not die for a picket line. Jesus died that we might have life. Abundant life. Christ is life. Christ is our life. If our lives are bound up in Christ, everything is changed. Our lives are not dictated by our lists but by Christ.

The beauty of Christ is seen in this: Coming to Him in faith, my life was slain at the altar. Killed off. Sounds bad, doesn't it? But Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, laid His own life at the altar, also. At the altar an exchange took place--His life for mine. Now, Christ is my life. Christ stands in my stead in the face of sin's judgment. His righteousness has become mine. My sin has become His. His righteousness imputed to me means there is now no condemnation for me. My sin, placed upon Christ, has been vanquished because Christ had power over the curse of sin--death. And, so, now my resurrected Christ is alive. His life is my life because He is my Living Savior. What is earthly in me dies. What is heavenly in me lives. This changes everything. And in that context, Paul writes in verse 17: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." My life is not dictated by do's and don'ts--but by Christ who is my life. What say you?

Set Your Minds on the Beauty of Christ

2006-11-06T08:35:00.000-06:00

Colossians 2:16-23

What makes a Christian? Can a Christian only be described by the rules he keeps or the events he attends? How could others prove that you are a follower of Christ?

"He doesn't drink, smoke, chew, or hang out with girls that do."

"These things," Paul says, "have an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body."

"Well, he attends church at least 75% of the Sundays in a year."

Paul wrote, "These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ."

What makes a Christian--what ought to be the proof that you are a follower of Christ--is that we "hold fast to the Head"--Christ. With Christ, you and I died to the curse of the law. To make Christianity a check-list of do's and don'ts is to forget the heart that holds fast to Christ. Such things have an appearance of wisdom, "but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."

The only way for our sinful natures to be curbed is to hold all the more tightly to Christ--not to the checklists of self-righteousness. We can get so focused on doing this and not doing that that we forget Christ who freed us from such slavery. Only the satisfaction found in the beauty of Christ will stop our sinful hearts from seeking satisfaction in the things of this world.

The substance of those things belongs to Christ. Those things are only of worth insomuch as they direct us to pursue Christ all the more. He is the beautiful treasure. Rather than seeking such legalistic, outward religiosity, Paul says (in chapter 3) to seek the beauty of Christ--"the things that are above, where Christ is seated...For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ." We live a certain way and act a certain way and think a certain way and do certain things and don't do certain things, not because of self-imposed religiosity, but because the beauty of Christ exudes from us--"let Christ dwell in you richly" (3:16).

Christ Internally, Not Religion Externally

2006-11-03T08:24:00.000-06:00

Colossians 2:6-15

It is so easy for us, in the name of Christ, to walk in the rules and regulations we create for ourselves. In our own culturally unique way we have created a list of do's and don'ts that, if we'll only follow them, then we can be pleasing to God. Don't get me wrong, those do's and don'ts are not bad things. Most of them are quite commendable actions that should be expected of Christ followers. But they are not the only things. When we make our list, we inevitably leave something out. Our list, therefore, becomes an incomplete, personally biased tool we use to judge ourselves and others concerning spiritual maturity.

All the things we think must be done for good standing can all be done without the right heart motivation--which is what the Lord looks at anyway. And it's not just the kind of heart that leads us to good worship attendance. The Lord looks at the heart when your wife burned the bread or when your husband left the seat up or when your kid got marker on her wall or when your co-worker recieved your promotion. Our life of discipleship cannot be measured by our church schedule--discipleship encompasses all of life.

Paul is writing to dispel false teaching at Colossae. Many externalities, very simply put, were being leveled at the Colossians and packaged as "this + this + this = Godliness". These things, however, left out the heart changed by the beauty of Christ.

So, Paul writes, "as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him"--not by works but by faith. Be rooted in Him, established in the faith, abounding in thanksgiving--not meaningless external activity separate from a contrite heart.

Christ is God--in Him the fullness of deity dwells bodily--and you are filled in him. He is the head of all rule and authority. He has circumcised you spiritually; don't rely on that external stuff anymore because He has made you new by circumcising your hearts.

The beauty of Christ is this: he has nailed all that external stuff--the law, rules, regulations, legalism--to the cross. He triumphed over those who would impose such religiosity on you when He rose from the death they gave Him. Don't fall for that stuff anymore.

I guess the question for us is this: is our "Christian life" defined by our checklist of religious activity or by a heart and life changed in every aspect by the beauty of Christ? As you go through your day, ask yourself, "Is this [action, word, thought, etc.] a display of the beauty of Christ or of my own selfish desires?" The answer will tell you whether you have compartmentalized your "Christian life" or if the beauty of Christ has changed your whole heart and life. That is real discipleship--when our whole heart and life is an effort to display the beauty of Christ.

Christ In You

2006-11-02T08:43:00.000-06:00

Colossians 1:24-2:5

I wonder if when people look at our church they see the beauty of Christ?

Christ endured affliction for the sake of His body, the Church; He bore the entire judgment of sin in Himself. For the first time the Holy God of all things--who cannot look upon sin--turned His back on His Son who had become sin for us on the cross. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" There must be something special about the Church, the Body of Christ.

Somehow, as His body, the Church is to display the beauty of Christ. For many generations, this mystery of atonement was hidden; but now it is revealed. "Christ in you" (lit. 'among you') is the testimony of the riches of His glorious atonement. The beauty of Christ is seen not only in His sacrifice for sins, but in His people assembled as His body. Paul's struggle was that the body of Christ would realize this; that they would be knit together in love and reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery--Christ. The goal is that the body of Christ would display the beauty and glory of Christ to a world without Christ.

"...Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the repository of all that is needed today. In Him is found pleasures forevermore. In Him is found perfect peace. In Him is found eternal life. In Him is found the Kingdom at hand. In Him is found better husbands and wives, better parents and children, better employers and employees, better teachers and students, etc.

Jesus is beautiful. The Church is Christ incarnate. The beauty of Jesus is made known by the Church. "Christ in you, the hope of glory." May we be saturated with the beauty of Christ and display that beauty to all the world that they might come to obtain the hope of glory.

To The Ends of the Earth

2006-10-31T23:08:00.000-06:00

Here are some pics from tonight's commissioning service. Please pray for my sister and her family as they prepare to move to Tanzania. They are Scott, Jennifer, Luke, and Brennan Ward.

Beauty in Becoming

2006-10-31T08:53:00.000-06:00

Colossians 1:15-23

What a morning this has been to concentrate on the beauty of Christ. We arrived in Cape Girardeau last night in order to attend tonight's IMB commissioning service where my sister and brother-in-law will be appointed to full-time service in Tanzania. The service is in conjunction with the Missouri Baptist Convention, and so the Cape is full of folks. There is no room in the inn. We have had several rooms reserved for quite sometime, but, since we were the last to check-in, they had given all but one of our rooms to others. (What is, by the way, the definition of reservation? And why, may I ask, would someone overbook a hotel, and then give away reserved rooms even when the reservee has called in our late arrival time?) Anyway, the night was eventful as me, Rachelle, Hannah, and Isaac--along with my mom, dad, and 2 nephews--had a little slumber party in the same room. Needless to say it was a short night. I got up at 5 for my study time--along with everyone else. So, a quiet time I have not had.

However, I did get a few minutes with our passage this morning--which, by the way, is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. THE description of Christ. I hope you'll take a moment to meditate on it, and then comment on your own observation of Christ's beauty. A few thoughts...

Jesus is the pre-eminent Creator who created all things for Himself. He sovereignly holds all things together as His Kingdom--the church over which He is Head--is developed. He is God come to man and THE vessel through which all things are reconciled. The horror of the cross is also the good news of peace to all.

That really is good news for us. That really is, this morning, a wonderful reminder of the beauty of Christ. Lest we forget, verse 21-22 reminds us that we, too, desperately needed that peace of the cross. Only by and through His death are we reconciled. And that reconciliation is for one reason: that you and I might be presented holy and blameless and above reproach before Him--that is, before the Creator who created us for Himself.

There is one qualification: verse 23 says, "if indeed you continue in the faith" standing firm in the single hope of the gospel--the Kingdom of Heaven at hand.

There is beauty. The reason for the reconciliation is that we become holy, blameless, and above reproach. The qualification is that we are always continuing toward this end. The beauty is in the process. King Jesus is pleased with the process. We are always "Becoming" for the glory of Christ. He who died for our reconciliation doesn't sit on His throne waiting for us to become holy and perfect, but is with us through the process, molding us and developing us into His bride by His Holy Spirit (Remember Abraham's servant going and seeking a bride for his son and the journey they embarked upon before she was presented to Isaac?).

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21

May we find peace in the cross as we continue to become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for his own possession.

Jesus Is Beautiful

2006-10-30T05:56:00.000-06:00

Colossians 1:1-14

On Wednesday, my mom had a memorable experience at Grandad's bedside. At a moment of great pain and deep confusion, the conversation is worth repeating...

"Daddy, what do you see?"

"Heaven."

"What does it look like?"

"It's beautiful."

"Daddy, can you see Jesus?"

"Yes."

"What does He look like?"

"Oh, He's beautiful."

I want to see all of Jesus' beauty. My devotional times (and therefore this blog) for the next little while will be devoted to that task. I ask you to join me in prayer and contemplation toward seeking this end. I'm convinced more and more that it requires all of us in community to discover such beauty; that learning about Jesus is not something that can happen merely by sitting in a sermon or lesson--it's in the community of believers where Christ moves and works and teaches and shows off His beauty.

Which leads me to another point entirely. This trek after the beauty of Christ which we embark upon today will begin by walking through Colossians. In reading part of Colossians this morning, I was reminded of the beauty of Christ in His community of people. And I must say, I am so grateful for the Immanuel community. This month has been "pastor appreciation month," and our congregation has blown me away with something special each Sunday in October. I am so grateful for all of you and believe God has brought us together for a special time. He is showing us His beauty juxtaposed against the lostness of Sequoyah County; and somehow, in some way, He is leading us in new directions that we and the other churches of Sallisaw might impact the 92% of our county that is unchurched (some 36,000 of 39,000). Let me tell you, there is no one I would rather be on mission with than Immanuel Baptist Church. I'm so grateful for you. Let me end by echoing the words that Paul wrote to the church at Colossae:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

I love you all.

No Hope

2006-10-24T09:57:00.000-05:00

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

It's been a difficult 10 days since my grandad went into the hospital. From fine to comatose twice each has been a hard thing to watch. Right now, with a hematoma on his brain from the fall he took 12 days ago, he is basically in an induced coma. The doctors had us call the family in on Sunday night, making us think that was it. But grandad is still hanging on. It's like we're just all sitting around his bed waiting for him to die.

After being unresponsive for two days, I decided to go home to sleep last night. Before I left his room I got right in his face and hollered at him. "Grandad, are you ready for some football?" Grandad and I are football fans and have spent many hours together yelling and screaming for the Sooners. He actually tried to respond for the first time. He grunted and rustled a bit. "We're all right here with you!" He tried to say something else. "I love you Grandad!" And then he mumbled "I love you."

I have never lost a loved one as close as my grandad. I've never before found myself next to a deathbed searching the Scriptures for comfort. I know to die is gain and to want grandad to stay here is selfish, but it's hard. I've read 1 Thessalonians 4 at literally hundreds of funerals. I've quoted it many, many times to church members as they said goodbye to loved ones. But never before in such a personal way has the Lord soothed me with His life-giving words.

The one short moment I had alone with grandad yesterday I told him, "I'll see you soon." What a welcome grandad will have when Jesus tells him, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master." That is the hope we have as Christians. That is the finish we must set our eyes upon. That is what we live for.

How can anyone face death without that hope? We need not grieve like those without it, for our hope is in the eternal glory of Christ. He will see us all the way to Beulah.

Good 'ol Gramps

2006-10-18T21:51:00.000-05:00

I've been out of pocket for several days as my grandad has been quite ill. I'll get back on track sometime on Thursday, but here's some reading material about my grandad--Garth Pybas. Read this Baptist Press article from a few years ago.

You?

2006-10-13T07:54:00.000-05:00

Acts 4:7

Jesus had promised power for witnessing by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had come at Pentecost in power and many were saved. Now, that power by the Holy Spirit--through faith in the name of Jesus--had healed a man, and many more believed. This caused problems for the religious leaders, and they arrested Peter and John.

There was something about Peter and John. The common folk looked to them as somehow powerful in their own right (3:12). But these high-brow elitists knew that such lower class, uneducated lay-folk as Peter and John could not have such ability. You can sense their tone in our passage...By what power or by what name did YOU do this?

They had to admit that something mighty had happened. Verse 16 says they could not dispute the fact that a notable sign had taken place. Sign in this sense meant some visibly awesome display that points to something else...evidence that something big was going on. There was no way that these lowly Galileans could conjur up anything of spiritual significance (vs. 13). By what name did YOU do this?

Of course, Peter and John would never have taken credit for what had happened. They knew they had nothing of worth. They were quick to stand in front of the same folks that had crucified Jesus and simply say that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well.

In our attempt to act like we've got it all together, let us remember that we are nothing more than servants of the King. Our role is not to play the spiritual authority, but merely to proclaim the Spirit's presence through Jesus! Oh for the day when we each might stand before the critical how in the world can YOU do such and such? By what power and name do YOU live by, because we know YOU could never accomplish such heavenly things, and in such a moment, whether at work or school or play, proclaim that "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Jehovah-Sabaoth

2006-10-12T07:16:00.000-05:00

1 Samuel 17:41-47

I was asked last week about the significance of the Lord of Hosts. While this name of God is not one we will have the time to study in LIFEgroups, it is a significant name regarding the power of our Creator and the confidence we can have in Him. The revelation of this name comes at a peculiar time in the history of Israel.

Most of the names we have looked at so far have been revealed through the patriarchs. This Sunday's name, Jehovah-Rapha, is found at the Exodus event. Jehovah-Sabaoth, Lord of Hosts, is found further into Israel's history--1 Samuel to be exact. Elkanah and Hannah, Samuel's parents, invoke the name of the Lord of Hosts when they go to pray at Shiloh. In each instance, Eli's sons--Hophni and Phineas--are also mentioned. What we see here is what the other appearances of this name convey (Jehovah-Sabaoth appears mostly in the prophets...80 times in Jeremiah): Jehovah-Sabaoth is revealed not through the Patriarchs, not in their 400+ year sabbatical in Egypt, not in their 40 year wilderness wandering, not in their conquest. Jehovah-Sabaoth appears at the time when Israel begins to put their trust in man's power rather than God's. Hophni and Phineas, Eli's evil yet priestly sons, play a big part in moving people's minds toward desiring an earthly king so that they could compete with their surrounding neighbors. They wanted to feel powerful by having a physical king. I can't get into it here, but the name Jehovah-Sabaoth is invoked mostly during the time of the divided kingdom--both in relation to Israel's discipline (the Lord of Hosts casts His heavy hand upon His disobedient people who fail to trust in Him) and in Israel's deliverance (the Lord of Hosts teaches His people through their discipline and they again rely upon the Lord of Hosts to deliver them from exile).

Our passage (1 Samuel 17:41-47) gives us a perfect example. The "hosts" refers to something more than just the heavenly host. I think there is a ring to it that includes, somehow, all of God's army--heavenly and otherwise. David, here, is speaking of the army of Israel in addition to the heavenly army. The army had no faith, but David did. He saw no intimidating enemy--just an uncircumcised Philistine who was no match for God and His hosts.

You know what, it doesn't matter the battle you face; it doesn't matter the size of your enemy. God plus nothing is always greater! When in faith and obedience you line up with Jehovah-Sabaoth...Goliath's will fall all day long!

That sounds great, doesn't it? The fact of the matter is, however, that it's way too easy for us to focus on our physical allies and lose our faith in the Lord of Hosts. Sometimes we prefer to draw lines and count how many are on our side...and if our side is fewer than the other side, we panic. David won a victory against Goliath, but soon changed his tune from faith in Jehovah-Sabaoth to faith in David-Sabaoth. 1 Chronicles 21 is a powerful chapter which concerns the Lord of Hosts working for His people in a strange way. Sometimes the "hosts" includes, along with the heavenly army, NOT Israel's army BUT Israel's enemy's army. (Think about the exiles. God used His host against Israel to teach them that He alone is Jehovah-Sabaoth that they would again turn to Him and trust in Jehovah-Sabaoth.)

The Lord of Hosts reminds us that all the world--every king, every army, every government are merely pawns in the hand of a sovereign King. To put your faith in Him alone and in nothing of our own devise is to slay Goliath. To stand in the midst of a terrible storm, crying out for an answer as to why we must go through such a struggle, is to be schooled by the King that we might learn not to put our faith in our own strength or in any other earthly thing but to truly look to Jehovah-Sabaoth.

All the names of God are fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ. I don't know how we could end this discussion without reading Revelation 19:11-21 (especially verse 14).

In Jesus' Name

2006-10-11T07:21:00.000-05:00

Acts 3:16

What's in a name? We are studying the names of God in our LIFEgroups on Sunday nights, and have learned that God revealed Himself to us by many different names in order to teach how He wants to relate to us through His multi-faceted character. God has always become for man whatever His greatest need required.

"The name of Jesus" speaks less to social identification and more to character identification. It refers to His authority, ability, truth. Faith in His name is recognizing that Jesus is who He always described Himself to be: Christ, Lord, Immanuel, Son of God...

Naming the name of Jesus isn't what healed this lame man, but faith in his name. In other words, this man exericised faith in all that Peter proclaimed to the crowd...Jesus is Messiah, you rejected Him and traded Him for a murderer; God selected Him and exalted Him (He is Christ and Lord) and this man's faith in that fact brought about this healing. The real miracle was faith in who Jesus was. He exericised faith and became a living illustration of Peter's sermonic point: Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

What does Jesus' name describe for you? What does Jesus' name mean to you? What refreshment do you find when you operate your life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

In this passage there are four different descriptions, or names, of Jesus: 1) His servant Jesus (i.e. suffering servant); 2) Holy and Righteous One; 3) Author of life; 4) prophet like Moses. If you get a minute or two, I'd like to host a discussion on what these names mean to you and what heavenly refreshment we might find from them.

Check This Out!

2006-10-10T16:06:00.000-05:00

My friend Rick Thompson has once again put into words what I continue to ponder. This is what I want to say but fail to articulate. I pray you hear what he is really saying in this article right here. Tell me what you think.

Fearless or Fearful?

2006-10-10T08:48:00.000-05:00

Acts 4:1-4

We tend to have such a great fear in living our faith out loud. There are obviously several reasons: fear of rejection, fear of confrontation, fear of knowledge, fear of embarassment, etc. Those fears are human nature. But Paul, in 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3, lays out the differences between human nature and spiritual nature. It seems, as the beginning of Acts is teaching us, that we who are filled with the Spirit are filled so that there might be a powerful witness to Jesus as Christ and Lord. These post-pentecostal followers can't help but talk about Jesus (Acts 4:20).

They had much to fear; these to whom they were witnessing had very recently crucified the Christ--why should they fare any better? But the Holy Spirit in them changed their outlook and they witnessed nonetheless. Acts 4 speaks of their very first confrontation from the anti-christs who rejected their message and arrested them. But, many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Our witnessing fears are all wrapped up in, I think, the fear of defeat. We don't want to mess it up. We don't want to fail in the results. What if everyone says no? I don't want to be a subpar witness.

Here's the plain facts: we will be rejected, we will be embarrassed, we will be defeated; our fears are valid...BUT, the Spirit will move and work and breathe life into dead places through our obedience to witness anyway. Yes, obedience. If we long to be obedient we must be a witness to Jesus as Christ and Lord. We cannot be obedient without attesting to Jesus as Christ and Lord. And we cannot base whether we will witness on whether we think there will be results. You and I will never have results because we are merely messengers; the Soveriegn God of the universe does His own perfect work in hearts. Somehow, for some reason, He has chosen to use us in the process of planting faith in people's hearts. We must not fear defeat for God's work of salvation cannot be defeated.

What opportunities do you have today to proclaim your faith in Jesus as Christ and Lord?

Big God

2006-10-06T09:58:00.000-05:00

Sorry I'm so late and have been absent since Wednesday. I upgraded the blog to a newer version and have been having trouble getting logged in. I may have to follow the crowd and switch to WordPress. Anyway...

Amos 4:13

As we prepare for Sunday, I am meditating on how great our God is. Nothing is beyond His grasp. He knows our thoughts. He rules the world. All creation is His playground. How great is our God!

I pray that in preparation for Sunday, God is causing our hearts to contemplate His greatness; that as we gather together it will be an experience of awe, wonder, expectation, and deliverance in His presence; that the Holy Spirit will fill and inspire and convict and direct; that Christ will be lifted high and exalted as King and Savior. Worship is a privilege we far too often neglect--even though we attend the services.

May God show Himself mightily in this place!

We Must Die

2006-10-04T09:35:00.000-05:00

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Last night I had the chance to go and hear the well known evangelist Bill Stafford preach this passage at First Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He reiterated one of the many principles of being disciples...you must die in order to live.

What a great reminder for us. We who think we deserve more comfort and less heartache; more friends and less enemies; more health and less sickness; more happiness and less sadness; more "blessing" and less burdens...no, we must die. God allows His people---places His people in the fire that we might learn to die in order that Christ might live through us.

Listen, it's not about me or you; it's about Him. It's about the supremacy of Christ in all things. Life for the Christian is a life of death so that more and more Christ might be made manifest. That causes us to view our surroundings differently. That causes us to love our families differently. That causes us to view our church differently. That causes us to spend money differently.

We must die. We must place our lives continually on the Spirit's anvil and allow God to chip away at us until it is not we who live but Christ.

Fruitfulness

2006-10-03T06:01:00.000-05:00

Mark 4:8

Yesterday we posed a question as to what constitutes fruitfulness--seed planted in the good soil. Thanks to those who replied. Leslie, you are right on sister; I'm excited about how God has been challenging you. I didn't realize you had a LIFEgroup going in Tahlequah...that's awesome.

I appreciate the kind words concerning Sunday. It's funny, some seem to have gotten out of it that I was discouraged. That's not what I intended to convey. The fact is, I am quite excited and wanted to do some vision casting. My prayer is that we all will begin seeing with the eyes of Christ the mission field He has placed us in. The question is, "how will we affect it?" I do not have the answer, but believe that it lies not in building up but in stretching out.

Anyway...

The verse we looked at yesterday was part of Jesus' explanation to his disciples about the parable of the sower. The verse today is the parallel verse from the parable itself. The thing about this seed that was lacking in the other seed was three-fold: growing up, increasing, yielding. I guess the reason this is so important to me is that we need to rethink our measure of success (as well as evaluating our own lives in view of Christ). The number of people we pile into a building on Sunday is not the measure. As a matter of fact, just getting people into a building has the potential of giving people a false sense of security. In other words, they may feel they are alright with the Judge just because they are at church. I don't think that is what pleases the Judge, in and of itself. What pleases the Father is the gathering of a Bride for His Son. Rather than being at church it is in being the church.

You must read the rest of the parable and see where the other seed failed in order to really get into this, but it seems, perhaps, that this is what is meant...growing up refers to a strong root system (foundation, below the surface) so as to stand (rather than blow to and fro with every wind and doctrine) against tribulation and persecution; increasing could refer to living by eternal perspective rather than storing up for themselves things on this earth; yielding must refer to the spiritual seed one's life leaves for the Spirit to increase (fruit leaves seeds, right?).

By just looking at these in my devotional time without my Greek N.T. or any other helps, those, perhaps, could be somewhat of an idea concerning the fruitfulness Jesus was talking about. What do you think? Are you coming along in all three areas? Do you think those are necessary areas of life for believers? How would those be measurable in our lives? Should we just stick with Sunday School attendance to measure "success"?

True Believers

2006-10-02T06:36:00.000-05:00

Mark 4:20

The measure of success the sower uses is whether the seed bears fruit. Other seed proves to be useless, but only the good seed grows deep roots, is not easily plucked away by the cares of the world, and then bears fruit.

I read some figures yesterday concerning the county in which we live. There are about 39,000 people in Sequoyah County. Our state convention tells me that only 8.1% of our county's population attend church on any given Sunday--about 3200--leaving 35,800 unchurched. Talk about a mission field!

One of our men took me out over the afternoon and we spoke about this. He said, "Pastor, you know what they say; can it really be that there are only about 1000 true believers in our county?" Wow. Who knows? None of us have the responsibility to take that to task in the personal lives of those claiming Christ in our county, but we do have a responsibility with ourselves. And Jesus said only that seed which bears fruit is acceptable.

So help me out on this one; take a second and respond. What constitutes fruitfulness? What things would you say give evidence of true salvation? Would you count yourself in the fruitful category? Are we consumed with the wrong things in the church, counting dress, SS attendance, and giving records, etc., as the test of commitment? What say you?

What Are We Doing?

2006-09-28T05:56:00.000-05:00

Mark 2:13-17

Since when did the church life become specifically seperate from society? A subculture? A retreat from the "filthiness" of the world? It seems that the sort of life Christ conveyed was one that touched the filthiness, not just handed gospel tracks to them--with latex gloves on. Yet so many churches, including ours, are set up to reach the reached. We shuffle members from one church to another and then brag about our "growth." But with all the "growth" we have hardly been out seeking the lost. When we fail in that, we are nothing but a country club for saints.

What are we doing? We think of growth in terms of multi-million dollar buildings while there are more unreached people groups in the world than international missionaries. We think of growth in terms of the number who fill out a card while most of our church members do not search the scriptures daily or live a prayful life daily or live a witnessing life daily. But if we can add a new "member" picture to our bulletin board, then we must be doing the Lord's work; we have no concern about the fact that while our pews may be full, they're only an inch deep.

We continue to fuss and argue over aesthetics because where the Lord's Supper table sits and what color the paint is makes US comfortable. When is the last time we thought about how our lost co-worker feels as they writhe in the pain of another broken relationship while all we do is don our Sunday smile and treat them as a leper? Is there any comfort for the lost?

Or better yet, what have we to do at all with "sinners" (like we're not sinners)? Jesus "reclined at table" with them. Do you know what that means? He fellowshiped with them. He became a part of their lives. People are not saved because they get yelled at from a pulpit. Jesus taught us that they are saved through relationships.

Jesus looked at the lost and saw what they could be by grace; we look at the lost and see sinners.

What are we doing?

I'm so sick of playing church. What say you?

Rejection

2006-09-27T07:10:00.000-05:00

Acts 2:23, 36

On Sunday I asked the question, "Who crucified Jesus?" Without going into great detail and repreaching Sunday's sermon, let me quickly say that from our two verses above it seems that anyone who has rejected Jesus--and all of us have--had a hand in crucifying Jesus. Jesus is the dividing line, and to reject Him is to be guilty of the greatest sin.

Let's bring that thought out of the area of soteriology (salvation) and put into the realm of everday discipleship. This is a quote by Catherine Marshall that I read in the book The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on the Holy Spirit linked to the right.

...Then the Spirit showed me that every time I rejected Jesus' ability to handle any problem or problem area in my life, I am rejecting Him as the Lord of Life as truly as did the three thousand on the Day of Pentecost. He claimed to be the Savior, to be able to save us form any sin, any bondage, any problem. By disclaiming that with regard to any one of my problems, I am calling Jesus a liar and a charlatan--a fake prophet--as truly as did those who long ago howled for His death before Pilate and who drove in the nails.

Would you agree that even as Christians we struggle with rejection? What is going on at the workplace? What is going on in your marriage? What is going on in your heart and mind? Do you reject Jesus' ability to handle it or are you trying to bear the full burden yourself?

That's a powerful word for me. I pray that it cuts to your heart also.

Love ya.

Out of the Pit

2006-09-26T07:20:00.000-05:00

Genesis 39:1-6

A slave from a foriegn land is what Joseph was. Found in a pit by a band of Ishmaelites, put there by his jealous brothers who sold him and faked his death, and hauled all the way to the famous "Slaves of the Nile" sale somewhere around Pithom or Ramses--he was a kid nobody in a far away place without even the shirt (or robe) on his back.

But God raised him up.

Only God can take a slave nobody and make him a saved somebody. Only God could have exalted Joseph in such a way. Only God can take you from the pit of slavery and defeat and despair and raise you to freedom and victory and hope. Only the LORD--Yahweh (note Yahweh's place in this passage in vv. 2, 3, 5).

Reminds me of Psalm 40:1-5

I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.

Perhaps you are in a place (emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, etc.), a pit you need rescued from. Only the LORD can take slave nobodies and make them into saved somebodies. Only He can raise you up, give you secure steps, and put a song in your mouth so that you can praise Him.

And when He does, many will see and fear. Joseph's master did (v. 3). It could be that God has placed you in this pit so that He could show Himself off for others through you! Don't miss the opportunity to see God work mightily in you. Look to Him. He makes slaved nobodies into saved somebodies.

On Eagle's Wings

2006-09-25T09:04:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 40:27-31

Aren't there times when all of us wonder if God really does care? Does He even know what's going on in my life? Where is God?

In our LIFEgroups last night, we studied the name Yahweh and learned that God is not just Elohim--the awesome, mighty, enthroned God of creation; God is also Yahweh--the immutable, self-existent, covenant God. Our God is one Who relates to His created people. He is what He is and becomes for us exactly what we need.

He does not grow weary of us. I must admit, I fear at times that God must get worn out with me. I don't know why He would put up with me. But then I remember that His understanding is unsearchable. I'm reminded that He has a perfect and wise plan for all the world--every created thing. He will not grow weary...His plan will not fail...He is always on overtime...nothing is kept hidden from Him...He disregards nothing...He is in perfect control.

When we are tired, attacked, judged, treated unjustly, lied to, gossipped about, whatever, the everlasting Creator is on the watch. He is the only source of strength. He is the only rejuvenator of energy. He is the only rest from exhaustion. Upon His wings we must soar. In His strength we must run and walk and continue to serve.

She Began to Serve Them

2006-09-22T05:47:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:29-34

The thing that strikes me about this passage is the reaction of Simon Peter's mother-in-law. How would you respond to Jesus' working in your life? What do you think should have been her first order of business.

Jesus told many he healed to not tell anyone--yet they did. Lepers ran to see their families, the blind were caught up with sights that matched the familiar sounds and smells. The raised up dead were probably mobbed by loved ones. Let us not forget that in at least one instance, Jesus told a man what to do--go to the cheif priest and offer "the gift that Moses required."

It is so easy for us, in our exuberance over Christ's blessing, to simply believe that our excitement about Jesus is all He really wants in return; that if as long as we have a "yippee-ky-yeah" attitude and occassionally tell people how nice Jesus is that we have "repayed Jesus."

"She began to serve them." How did she serve them? It doesn't say exactly. I'm sure she got them a drink and a snack and a place to rest. She also opened her home to all the sick and demon possessed. Her service and hospitality provided an opportunity for Jesus to heal a whole lot of folk.

All in all, I think she realized that Jesus did not heal her for her own sake but for His glorification! Let us not be so selfish to think that whenever Jesus works in our life it is just because He loves us so much. He does, but He works primarily that His glory might shine and be exalted. His work in our life is our opporunity for Him to be glorified in and through us!

SPF6000

2006-09-21T06:32:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:21-28

The Son exposes. I think that is what is meant by the amazing teaching authority of Jesus. The illustrative example Mark gives is that Jesus rebuked an evil Spirit, to which the reply of the people was, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."

What got the attention of the people at their first glimpse of Christ was his authoritative teaching. He did not teach them like one of the scribes who were the regular academicians for the people of Israel; he taught them differently--namely, he called evil evil and rebuked it!

The scribes and the Pharisees were busy imposing religious rules on the people; they were busy with keeping the outside of the glass "clean". These are the heavy burdens Jesus refers to when He says, "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." There was something restful in the authoritative teaching of Jesus. Does that sound odd to you? In a day when the style of psychological cheerleading in the pulpit is praised and honest exposition of Scripture which all points to the supremacy of Christ in vanquishing the sin problem is put down as unloving, non-relevant, and a nuisance?

When we allow Christ to sift through the crevaces of our lives and expose our deepest fleshly needs, it draws us closer to Him; in our souls we are reminded of how much we are in need of a Savior, how dependent we are upon Jesus' righteousness. When we miss out on that authority we become ever so self-dependent, buying the lie about our own goodness and self-worth.

Don't reject the authority of Jesus in the expounding of His Word. Don't allow pride to convince you that such is unloving, mean-spirited, judgmental, non-relevant, too deep, and a nuisance. Allow the Son to expose every nook and cranny so that all the more Christ can be supreme in all of life!

Leaving In Order to Arrive

2006-09-20T06:52:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:16-20

...immediately they left their nets...and they left their father...

It seems that an aspect of the Kingdom of God which Jesus preached contained a call to leave that of finite worth in order to gain that of infinite worth (Philippians 3:8); to turn from those pleasures which were fleeting in order to turn toward truly satisfiying pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11); the disciples understood that to arrive, they must leave their present lives in the kingdom of self in order to begin a new life in the Kingdom of God.

I suggest that we must face the dilemma of leaving in order to arrive everyday. Everyday we choose from which world we will draw our sustenance and satisfaction--our daily bread and our daily joy. One world offers what seems to be sweet but in the end only lasts for a season; the other world offers what seems to be difficult and hard and not as enjoyable but in the end supplies infinite joy, peace, and real pleasure.

When we do begin to understand this we are on our way to arriving where the Holy One desires us to be--that is, the place where we can say with Paul, "To die is gain;" the place where nothing in this life compares to the eternal prize of being with Christ.

I visited with a man yesterday who has been given a short time to live until his cancer is expected to overtake him. His testimony is "to die is gain." He will honor Jesus in his death just has he has in this life. I'm not sure about you, but I know that my life does not reflect the conviction that "to die is gain." When I really evaluate it, my life fails to proclaim the choosing of another world over and against this one. Materialism, keeping up with the Joneses, finite thinking--we arrive when we finally leave.

Let us not wait until our deathbed to realize how the stuff of this world has failed us and pales in comparison to the next World. Let us today, and everyday, leave self and cling to the Savior.

The Great Sympathizer

2006-09-19T06:38:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:9-15

In our meditations on the Spirit (through Acts on Sunday mornings), we have stressed the Holy Spirit's role in filling people for the sake of evangelism. I don't want to stretch things, but in looking at these passages, I see that pattern exemplified in Christ. Notice the emphasis on the Holy Spirit--descended upon Jesus, driving Jesus into the wilderness of preparation, and then the Kingdom, the Gospel of God, is proclaimed. I believe that sheds some more light on the importance of the phrase we looked at yesterday, "but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit, the comforter, in us is not just for our own discomfort. The Holy Spirit exalts Christ--not persons. It is the reminder of the exalted Christ that brings us true comfort in any circumstance; and when Christ is exalted, the Gospel of God, the Kingdom, is proclaimed--and that is what the Holy Spirit accomlishes in God's people.

I can't help but think of the implications of vv. 12-13. "The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him." What a struggle. What a fight for truth. What a time of trial and heartache. Why would the Spirit, in His role to exalt Christ (the anointed one, the promised one) drive Jesus into the wilderness for forty days of temptation? What does this have to do with the Gospel and the Kingdom?

I think it's a reminder of God's love for the world. I heard John Piper say in a sermon yesterday as I drove to Tulsa and back something to this effect...the cross is not about your value but God's grace. In other words, we cannot look at the cross and say, "Wow. God loved me that much. I am so important to God that He crucified His Son. I am so very special." That is unbiblical. We must look at the cross and say, "Wow. My sin is that great. The only thing that could atone for my filthiness, my unworthiness, my sinfulness was the death of Jesus!"

And here's the reminder of God's love for the world. "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to helpin time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16) Jesus, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, went into the wilderness of temptation so that He could make a perfect transfer of sin and righteousness. The wilderness doesn't show us our value, but reminds us that even as sinners we have a great High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses--He doesn't overlook sin, but is right there for us as we struggle with sin, reminding us "I know what you are going through. I had victory over that in my struggle. I have conquered sin. Look to me and my righteousness. Here at my throne you will find mercy and grace." Is this not part of the Gospel of God and of the Kingdom?

"The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him." God's love and mercy and grace and hope and good news is all over that. What a reminder as we go back out into the wilderness today and struggle with sin.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

2006-09-18T00:17:00.000-05:00

Mark 1:1-8

Prophecy fulfilled--a man did indeed appear and preached the coming of the Lord. John the Baptist, the great herald of the coming Kingdom, came to the people of Israel "proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."

It seems there was quite a revival which occured in connection with John's services. Many were coming to him to be baptized, confessing their sins. Many (all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem) obeyed the call and entered the Jordan for immersion to show publicly what had confronted their hearts spiritually. Though John was a mighty preacher and pointed many people to a straight path, his ministerial role was merely to exalt the Christ..."After me comes he who is mightier." We know that it simply was not enough to be baptized by John (Acts 19:1-7); He who John pointed to held the power of salvation. He, the Christ, would baptize not only with H2O, but with the Holy Spirit.

We get real excited in explaining our belief in baptism by immersion. I believe that immersion is indeed the proper mode and holds significant meaning for what baptism is all about. It seems even Jesus "came up out of the water" after his baptism, and it follows that such should be the mode we use to follow in obedience, signifying that we have died and been given new life in Christ.

One of the first baptisms I conducted will always be a memorable one. The church services where I was youth pastor were televised, and for some reason the pastor had delegated a certain woman's baptism to me. She was, you know, just a little different. I could tell there was something not right when I extended my hand for her to enter the pool with me--she was scared of the water. And as I went through our rehearsed motions--her pinching her nose, me using her arm as a handle, her bending her knees--she locked up and decided she wasn't going under the water. She was sort of a big gal and had a big determination not to go under. Well, I had already committed and was nearly right on top of her pushing her straight down while she held on to the sides with her feet floating. It could not have been more than just a few seconds, but on television it seemed like several minutes. There were even beads of nervous sweat already rolling down my face. Finally, with all my might, I pushed everything underwater except for a little poof of hair. Since I didn't want to leave any part of her unbaptized, I sort of just sprinkled/splashed that part and called it a done deal. Needless to say, we take our immersion seriously--and we won't settle for anything less than a 100% baptism. I think it was General Sam Houston that said when he was baptized, so was his wallet.

To plunge, to dip, to immerse, to submerge--whichever way you choose to describe it the result is the same--baptism can only reflect a full surrender to the Lordship of Christ. "Buried with Christ in baptism; raised to walk in the newness of life."

So, if we are willing to make such a big deal of full water immersion, what are we to make of the last phrase in our passage..."but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit"? What does it mean to be fully submerged in the Holy Spirit? What does it mean to be immersed, plunged, completely covered in the Holy Spirit?

Without going into a debate over charismaticism, I think it is safe to say that to be baptized with the Holy Spirit is for every part of our lives to exalt Jesus Christ. Isn't that the role of the Holy Spirit? Isn't the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives the evidence of the reality of Jesus Christ? I understand the impartation of the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion (Ephesians 1:13-14). But do you think it is possible for us to still lack a complete baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Could you, perhaps, even have a "little poof of hair" in your life that fails to give evidence to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

2006-09-14T16:55:00.000-05:00

I appreciate those who read this blog and for the discussions we enjoy together around God's Word. There have been quite a few emailing me and posting here, wondering when we'll be back up and running. I plan to start back on Monday--it's even been announced in the church bulletin, so I'll have to keep my word! Thanks for sticking--I look forward to next week.

Getting Back Into the Swing

2006-08-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

My schedule has been changed in the past couple of weeks, and I'm having a hard time getting this blog to fit in. I am moving some things around so that my early morning times can be re-devoted to first devotion, second study, and third this blog, moving my exercise time to later in the day. Hopefully, this week I can make some of the changes. Sorry for the inconsistency.

I encourage you to read the two previous posts by my friend Rick Thompson. I've waited several weeks for him to post anew and in the past several days he has come through. His thoughts are exactly what I want to say but just can't seem to find the words for. Read these two posts here and here.

The Attitude for Spiritual Power

2006-08-24T08:20:00.000-05:00

Acts 5:27-32

Menno Simons , whose reformation teachings eventually led to the Mennonite movement, wrote in 1541...

Besides this, when we were yet ungodly and enemies, He did not punish us as He did the angles that sinned, nor as the first depraved world, nor as Sodom and Gomorrah, nor as those who worshiped the calf, nor as those in the day of provocation, nor as the rebellious and adulterers, nor as those in the wilderness who acted contrary to His will and Word; for He destroyed all these. But us He spared through His great mercy, led us by His right hand, drew us by His goodness, renewed us by His Word, begat us by the Holy Ghost, and enlightened us by the clear light of His truth. Thus by His grace we bade farewell to the world, flesh, devil, and all and freely entered upon the path of peace, beneath the easy yoke of the Gospel. Methinks this is grace, if ever there was any.

Dearest children, take heed. If now the gracious Father, according to His great mercy, has dealt so kindly with us and has manifested His love toward us without any merit on our part, then it is right and proper for us to love in return; to fear, praise, honor, and serve such a benevolent Lord, and merciful Father with all our powers; to be obedient to Him according to our little power.

It seems that Christ pours out the empowerment of the Holy Spirit upon those who are committed as obedient witnesses. I don't mean those who are sure to knock on three doors a week, or those who are sure to spout off their memorized ABC's of the Gospel, for those things can be done out of duty so as to check off one's good deed for the day.

What is meant by obedient witnesses is what seems to appear in the lives of these early believers--their lives were defined by Jesus. Their lives were defined by His life, His death, His resurrection, and His return. Their lives were defined by His commission and His command (Matthew 28:18-20 & Acts 1:8). Their lives were defined by the Kingdom of God. Their lives were defined by obedience to Jesus. Therefore, their lives were defined by the power of the Holy Spirit.

That first paragraph of Menno Simons says enough, doesn't it? "Methinks this is grace, if ever there was any." Isn't that grace enough to drive us in pursuit of a life defined by Jesus? The attitude for Spiritual power is obedient witness. I've got some things to work on...how about you?

Spirit of the Living God, Fall Fresh on Me

2006-08-23T09:19:00.000-05:00

Romans 8:1-17

William Barclay writes:

This passage gives us the perfect summary of the relationship between the Spirit of God and the spirit of man. Without the Spirit of Christ a man cannot begin to be a Christian at all (verse 9). It is the Spirit who makes him a son of God (verse 14), and who assures him of the reality of that sonship (verse 16). For the Christian man the Spirit must be the law of his life, his director, the standard by which he judges all things, the person whose gifts he most of all desires (verses 4, 5, 9). The Spirit brings him certain great gifts. The Spirit brings him liberation from the law of sin and death (verse 2). The man into whose life the Spirit has come is the man set free. The Spirit brings him peace (verse 6). The Spirit brings him victory in the warfare of the soul. The Spirit brings him life. His mortal body becomes alive with the life of Christ (verse 11). The non-Christian man without Christ and the Holy Spirit may be said to exist; he cannot be said to live. The Spirit brings him power (verse 13) and enables him to put to death the deeds of the body. The peace which the Spirit brings is the peace of conquest.

It may be said that for Paul the spirit of a man is the indwelloing of the power of God in that man, or, to put it in another way, it is the risen Christ resident within him. The spirit of man is that part of a man which has kinship with God, and which therefore gives a man fellowship with God and power to win the victory in the warfare of the soul.

By the Holy Spirit (Jesus' presence in and with us), in place of sin and death we have recieved life and peace. By the Holy Spirit, in place of condemnation we have become adopted heirs with Christ.

You know, no one really "walks with Jesus." Jesus is at the right hand of glory. He promised, however, that He would never leave us or forsake us; He promised He'd be with us to the end of the age. He is with us by the Holy Spirit.

To say you walk with Jesus is to say that you have life and peace; true sonship to the Father.

To say you walk with Jesus is to say that your life evidences love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To say you walk with Jesus is to say that fleshly desires and passions have been crucified and replaced with Spiritual desires and passions. (Galatians 5:22-25)

Life, peace, kinship, fruit, spiritual desires and passions--those things describe the life that "walks with Jesus" for those things reflect a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

Lying to the Spirit

2006-08-22T09:18:00.000-05:00

Acts 5:3, 9

The early church, guided and enveloped by the Holy Spirit, was of one mind and one heart in the matter of possessions. They looked at nothing they had as their own but shared communally so that no one went in need. Through submission to the Holy Spirit, great power came upon them which caused them to live as dynamic witnesses of the grace and mercy of God which was made known through Jesus Christ. Now, the Holy Spirit in them was bearing witness to Christ as they remained unified around the Word and one another.

In Acts 4, well-known Barnabas, who truly exemplified his name sake (son of encouragement) gave evidence to the Spirit cutting loose in lives by selling some property and giving all the proceeds to the church in order to meet the needs of believers. Remember, these believers had lost all their livelihood due to the faith, so this sort of communal mindset was necessary. I don't believe it was easy. It was, however, a truly spiritual thing; people just don't give away all their stuff unless they're nuts or the Holy Spirit has control of them.

No one had to sell their property and give all the proceeds to Christian charity. Ananias and Sapphira were not required to do what they did. They did, however; and the way in which they did so was condemned as lying to the Spirit. It seems there are several things here which, somehow, add up to lying to the Spirit.

They were led by Satan. They were putting on a front so as to look spiritual to the congregation but in their heart only desired the accolades of Barnabas. They wanted to look it but not be it. Jesus called this hypocrisy--an actor wearing a mask.
They were opposed to the oneness of mind and heart of the congregation. They showed themselves to not really be a part of what the Spirit was doing among the people of God. They were motivated by pride and not partnership.
They were messing with Christ's church. You don't mess with Christ's bride. These two saw the church as an opportunity to finagle a deal. Christ is present among the Church by His Spirit. You mess with the Church, you're messing with the Spirit.

Questions for my personal application:

What masks do I wear?
What is God doing among believers that I withhold my support from.
How might I use the church for my own promotion?

The above are personal questions; please don't answer them for me. But I would ask this--how else might we apply this passage to our lives as we seek the filling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit?

Prayer and the Power of the Holy Spirit

2006-08-21T10:02:00.000-05:00

Acts 4:31

We know the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost and church history began. I believe that is a reference to the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaks to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and not to the seal of salvation. All believers are filled with the Spirit at the moment of conversion, but the disciples evidenced an outpouring of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. I have argued in our Sunday series in Acts that that same empowerment is available to us today. Yesterday, I argued that if we are not pursuing this outpouring but are rather living and acting outside of the work of the Spirit, then we are merely "gazing into heaven" (Acts 1:10-11)--staring into space, if you will, regardless of how religiously busy we may be.

Prayer, apparently, is the place where the power is appropriated. That is the model seen in Acts. Believers would meet together in one mind and singular purpose of continued, consistent prayer and the Spirit would come.

In Acts 4:31, they are filled yet again with the Spirit in a prayer meeting. What about this and other prayer meetings in Acts brought the filling and the empowerment? I think it is because of what was contained in their hearts, evidenced by what was contained in their prayers. And it wasn't just their prayers; their actions lined up with their prayer.

They prayed for boldness that they could be obedient witnesses. They prayerfully longed for the power of the Holy Spirit, understanding that that power was for the purpose of fulfilling Acts 1:8. They longed for boldness that they might be witnesses by proclaiming the word of God. They were obedient and lived it out, having just returned from their first arrest for the faith.

"And when they prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."

We all want to live spirit-filled lives. But the spirit's filling and empowerment is for the sake of being obedient witnesses. So, it seems, that if you long for the filling of the Spirit, you must honestly desire to be an obedient, powerful witness.

What do you think?

Prayer Meetings

2006-08-17T08:14:00.000-05:00

Acts 1:14

Last night at prayer meeting I shared some points from a message preached by CH Spurgeon on the prayer meeting. In the message, he scoured Acts for all the different uses of corporate prayer meetings. There really were some good thoughts. And being that last Sunday, in our verse-by-verse through Acts, we were challenged to seek the empowerment of the Holy Spirit through prayer, I thought it fitting to share some of Spurgeons points.

I followed up Spurgeons thoughts with my own questions. "When we pray for the sweeping revival of the Holy Spirit, what are we really praying for?" "What will things look like when that happens?" "And, do we really want it?" Blank stares are about all I got in response to those questions. I'm not sure we are really ready for what will happen. Whatever it looks like, I know it would require this: absolute surrender--we would have to repent as a body, really giving our hearts up to be changed; we would have to lose control, really giving our plans and purposes up to be changed; we would have to step out in faith, really obedient to do things that may not make much earthly sense. Do we really want to risk all those things?

We have so much to offer as a church. We continue to steadily grow. We have more and more ministries available. We're on mission globally. But, in my estimation, we lack the power of the Holy Spirit. The power comes with prayer--genuine confession, brokeness, anticipation, hunger.

Here's what Spurgeon said:

Again, if you look at the second chapter of the Book of Acts, you will perceive that the prayer-meeting is the place for the reception of divine power. "They were all together in one place," (Acts 2:1) lifting up their prayer, and, as they waited there, "Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them," (Acts 2:2-4) and they were clothed with the power which Jesus had promised them.

And what a difference it made in them! Common fishermen became the extraordinary messengers of heaven. Illiterate men spoke with languages that they had never heard. They began to reveal mysteries which had not been revealed to philosphers or kings. These men were lifted out of the level of ordinary humanity, and became God-inspired, filled with the Deity himself, who came to dwell in their hearts and minds. The result was that poor wavering Peter became bold as a lion, and the impetuous John, who would have called fire down from heaven upon the Samaritans, had another fire fall upon him; one not to destroy, but to rescue and bless.

Now, the great need of the Church at all times is the power of the Holy Spirit. "We believe in the Holy Spirit," says the doctrines of most churches, but how many, or rather how few, are there who really do believe in him? There is a mysterious, supernatural energy which comes from the Third Person of the blessed Trinity which really in this age falls upon men and women, as truly as when Peter spoke in languages unknown to him or performed miracles; and though the power of working miracles is not given now, yet spiritual power is given, and this spiritual power is just as evident, and just as surely with us today, if we possess the Holy Spirit, as it was with the apostles. Now, if we want to get this, the most likely place in which to find it is the prayer-meeting...Oh! yes, this is the place to meet with the Holy Spirit, and this is the way to get his mighty power. If we would have the Holy Spirit, we must meet in greater numbers, we must pray with greater fervency, we must watch with greater earnestness, and believe with firmer determination.

Would you join me in seeking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the life of our church? If you run into a fellow church member, have a little prayer meeting today. If you haven't made it to your prayer closet today, make sure you get there--and pray for power, realizing what all that requires of you!

Alone With God

2006-08-16T09:39:00.000-05:00

Matthew 6:6

More words from Andrew Murray:

Humankind was created for fellowship with God. God made us in His own image and likeness that we might be capable of understanding and enjoying God, entering into His will and delighting in His glory. Because God is everywhere present, we could have lived in unbroken fellowship with Him. But sin robbed us of this fellowship. And nothing short of it can satisfy us or the heart of God. It was this fellowship that Christ came to restore; to bring back to God His lost creatures.

This communion with God is meant to be ours every day, no matter our state of mind or the circumstances that surround us. But its enjoyment depends upon the reality of our fellowship in the quiet place. The power to maintain close fellowship with God all day will depend entirely upon the intensity with which we seek to secure it in the hour of secret prayer. The one essential in the morning watch is fellowship with God. Of course, there is the danger of substituting prayer and Bible study for fellowship with God. True fellowship is giving your love, your heart, and your life to Him and receiving from Him His love, life, and Holy Spirit. Your needs may so distract you that the light of His countenance and the joy of His love cannot enfold you. Your Bible study may so pique your interest and so awaken pleasant feelings that the Word of God may become a substitute for God himself. If this happens, we will go out into the day's work without the power of an abiding fellowship because in our morning devotions the blessing was not secured.

What a difference it would make if everything in our prayer life were subject to the one goal: I want to walk through the day with God. What strength would be imparted by the awareness that God has taken charge and He is with us: We are going to do His will all day in His strength.

That's a good word for us today.

2006-08-16T05:43:00.000-05:00

I am headed out the door to be with a couple having a c-section early this morning. I'll record our devotional a little later today.

Thank you for all the encouragement yesterday. It means so much to be a part of a church like ours--a church that truly loves one another.

Be praying for Dewayne and Robyn Fair. Their home was destroyed in last night's storm. We will all need to pitch in for them when it comes time. We'll try to get the word out once we know how we can all help.

Will Someone Please Turn On The Fan?

2006-08-15T06:34:00.000-05:00

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I wasn't very consistent with the blogs last week. Sorry. It was one of those weeks with many heart struggles. I determined this morning to get back in the saddle. I'm reminded what Paul told Timothy--"fan into flame the gift of God." He didn't say "pray about it". He said to do it. I think part of the problem is that my personal time with God (aka quiet times) have slowly and subtly turned into finding-something-for-the-blog time. So, I'm determining to seek God and journal it--which was the original purpose of this blog.

Have you ever had those times? You know, when you feel just sort of cold and lifeless spiritually? When your Bible study doesn't seem very fruitful? When your prayers seem to not make it past the ceiling? When your going hard after God is just unmotivated?

I think sometimes we tend to blame that on many different things, all of them wrong. We might blame it on God, believing that He is far away (I also read Psalm 145:14-20 this morning--check it out). We might blame it on others--those who have treated us badly or not paid enough attention to us or who have stressed us out or who have not done what we wanted or whatever. You might even blame the pastor. I mean, someone must be responsible.

And yet, Scripture seems to teach us that we personally have the responsibility to seek the Lord. Scripture promises us that if and when we do, we will find the Father. (See James 4:7-10)

I can barey begin to comprehend the struggles that caused Timothy's fire to cool off. We get a bit of an idea reading the two letters. He was ready to give up. Due to the struggles, his heart had grown so dull that Paul even had to remind him that he really was saved (v. 5). Then he said, "fan into flame the gift of God which is in you."

Can I be honest with just the few of you who read this blog? This week, I'm trying to fan the flame. Pray for me as I pray for you, that passion for God will burn in our hearts.

Love ya.

A Proper Knowledge of What Sin Is

2006-08-10T08:02:00.000-05:00

This is another thought from a devotional by Andrew Murray that I'm working through. I must say I have never thought of sin in this way. Wow! What do you think?

Romans 5:8

To understand grace and to understand Christ aright, we must understand what sin is. How can we come to this understanding? Through the light of God and His Word.

Come with me to the beginning of the Bible. We see man created by God after His image and pronounced by his Creator to be very good. Then sin entered. It was rebellion against God. Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden and brought, along with untold millions, under the curse and utter ruin.

When we visit Mount Calvary we see the hatred and enmity with which the world cast out and crucified the Son of God. Here sin reached its climax. Christ was made sin and became a curse as the only way to destroy the power of sin. In the agony of Gethsemane, when He prayed that He might be spared the terrible cup, and in excruciating pain on the cross with its deep darkness and desertion by the Father, we get a faint glimpse of the curse and the indescribable suffering sin brings. If anything can cause us to hate and detest sin, it is seeing Christ on that bitter cross.

Remember that you are a child of God. Sometimes you commit sin: you allow it to fulfill its desires. The great power of sin is that it blinds us so that we do not recognize its true character. Remember what God thinks about sin: His holiness burns against it; He sacrficed His Son to conquer sin and to deliver us from it.

Nothing except constant fellowship with God can teach you as His child to hate sin as God hates it. Nothing but the close fellowship of the living Christ can make it possible for you to understand what sin is and to detest it. Without this deeper understanding of sin, we cannot truly appropriate the victory that Christ made possible for us.

You want to know what sin looks like? You want to know the death it brings? You want to know God's perspective on sin? Look at the cross. That's the greatest illustration of the debt of sin. That's the picture of sin's wages.

I want no part of that. "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19-20a

Cut to the Heart

2006-08-08T12:11:00.000-05:00

Acts 2:36-38

We tend to cast much doubt upon those who have never "done" those things we think they must do to be right with God. I guess rather than "doubt" I should say "judgment." We hold the lost accountable, despite their being dead in their sins and therefore unable to work the works of righteousness. They haven't repented. They haven't been baptized. They haven't walked an aisle. They haven't prayed a prayer. They haven't signed up in triplicate. Therefore, they are "unrighteous," "ungodly," "worldly," "sinful," "pagan," whatever. We know they need Jesus, and since they haven't "given their lives to Him" they somehow deserve our finger pointing and hellfire and brimstone.

Notice, here, though, that the "what shall we do?" follows the "they were cut to the heart." Conviction must precede profession. The work of faith--which is the free gift of God (Eph. 2:8)--must be done in one's soul before their conviction (on the inside) can be turned into repentance and baptism (the outside symbol of inside faith).

So, before we place the responsibility and judgment upon the lost--who are dead and unable to accomplish anything for righteousness sake--let's take a closer look at whom is really responsible. Before there could be repentance, their had to be conviction. Before there was conviction, there had to be proclamation. Somehow through the proclamation of the Gospel, God works to bring to life saving faith in the soul, which is evidenced through repentance.

Let us not judge the lost--that is God's business. We must judge ourselves. We have the responsibility. Read Acts 4:29-30. We proclaim. He acts.

Romans 10:13-17 says it all!

What Are You Living For?

2006-08-07T07:46:00.000-05:00

Hebrews 12:1-2

Hannah hates to clean her room. And, boy, she can sure mess it up. It's unbelievable. We've been trying to enforce some new rules, but it is really a fight. We have been planning for her friend Claire to spend the night last night--one last little brewhaha before school starts this week. On Friday, however, her room was such a mess that we had to lay down the law: Claire's not spending the night unless your room gets cleaned, and we're not cleaning it.

All day Saturday she made excuses and messed around and never cleaned her room. We told her, "Claire's not coming over!" "I'll clean tomorrow after church," she replied.

Finally, at about three o'clock on Sunday, she finally started cleaning and in a mad dash got that huge pile of tornado aftermath picked up. She didn't clean it because she wanted to clean. The only thing that can explain why she actually got her room picked up is that she had her sights set on Claire spending the night. Claire coming over defined her motivation.

What defines your motivation for life? Why do you do what you do?

Why did Jesus do what He did? He had His eyes set on "the joy that was before Him." Jesus was not defined by the here and now, but His eyes were set on glory.

Our passage tells us that we are to look to Him. He is our model. As Jesus lived not for the day but for the Great Tomorrow, we, too, must learn to live with eternal perspective. We must not live for the here and now, but with our eyes set on glory. What must define our actions today cannot be the comforts and rewards of this earth but the heavenly treasures being stored up for enjoyment at a later date.

What are you living for? To make another buck? To buy a bigger house? A newer car? More stylish clothes? A job promotion? Or for the joint inheritance of glory with Jesus?

That's Funny Stuff

2006-08-05T15:10:00.000-05:00

My buddy Micah Fries has posted a couple of good jokes. If you need a bit of humor in your life, click here and here.

Living Death

2006-08-04T09:15:00.000-05:00

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Jesus brings life to dead places. God incarnate, Immanuel, brought life and redemption and peace to man by way of the manger. He lived, spoke, touched, changed, restored, and breathed life into many who believed in Him during his three and a half years of earthly ministry. As Acts 1:2 teaches us, those things were merely the beginning of Jesus' work, for today He continues to bring life. Through the Spirit, Jesus becomes incarnate in places--hearts--that are dead.

We who have found that life, have found it through death. Death is at work within us, allowing the Life that is Light to shine through. It is a treasure in jars of clay. The power belongs to God and not to us. (Power. Can you say that power is at work in and through you? The power over death?) We are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal selves. Death, for Jesus' sake, means life. Our death experience at salvation is to become our lifestyle from then on, allowing the life of Christ to live through our death. "...take up your cross daily..."

John Calvin wrote (in his commentary on Psalms):

"And, although we must continue to drag out our life amidst continual distresses, we have abundant consolation to aid us in bearing all our afflictions, provided we lift up our minds to heaven. But still it is to be observed, in the first place, that it is certain, considering our great weakness, that no man will ever do this unless he has first tasted of the Divine goodness in this life..."

Our loving Father does not ask us merely to die. He invites us to taste of His goodness. Having tasted of His goodness that perfectly satisfies, we cannot help but give up our lives of worldly pleasure in exchange for what is exceedingly greater. In our pursuit to conquer sin...in our pursuit to die to self...in our pursuit to be holy...let us chase the goodness of the love of God. Our loving Father does not ask us merely to die. He invites us to LIVE. The Christian life isn't about "dont's"; it is about "do's"!

The more we enjoy the pleasures of God, the more we will die to the false pleasures of earth. You will never give up a pleasure of earth unless you replace that God-given desire with a God-given pleasure. Reminds me of my life-verse.

"You make known to me the path of life;
in Your presence there is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Psalm 16:11

From Beersheba to Bethel

2006-08-03T08:38:00.000-05:00

Genesis 27

It's amazing what a mess we can make of the blessings of God. We can take the most good and perfect gifts and really make a mangled milieu of things--to the point even where God's presence is unrecognizable.

Isaac (my son) just climbed up on the coffee table and fell off. We've been trying to not allow him to climb up there; we knew he could fall and hurt himself. He's hard headed (like his mother), though, and just refused to listen. With our backs turned, he did it. And he felt it.

Sometimes God let's us fall. Sometimes God must allow us to come low in order that we might look up to Him once again. That's what happened in Genesis 27 and 28. But despite the mess, God's plan remained. His love was steadfast. His eternal purpose was not and could not be thwarted.

Isaac, the son of the promise, was blind--physically and spiritually. He became self-serving in his old age. Rather than heeding God's promise of Genesis 25:23, he followed the desires of his belly (27:4).

Rebekah, who first received the aforementioned promise, was quite a manipulative woman. She may or may not have been acting in faith; regardless, she had a poor relationship with her husband and her other son, Esau.

Esau, who had already despised his birthright, was an ignorant and hedonistic fellow. He was ignorant of the things of God (which is mostly Isaac's fault), evidenced by his poor choice of wives in Genesis 26:34-35.

Jacob, who had prioritized the family blessing in seeking the birthright, was like playdo in the hands of his mother--the ultimate momma's boy. He, too, was blind. God was not his God; God was only his father's God (Genesis 27:20).

What a dysfunctional and faithless family! If we were God, we would have just let them to their own devise and found someone a little more worthy of carrying on the plan for world history and redemption.

One thing is certain, we can never thwart God's plan. He will see His purposes through despite dysfunctional families. He will accomplish His plans despite our manipulative manuevering. He will finish His eternal path despite our ignorant and blind faith. What's amazing is that God will use our mess to accomplish His plans.

I'm sure Jacob's leaving town was painful (Genesis 28:1-5). Rebekah loved him, and never saw him again. Isaac, though he showed favortism toward Esau, surely loved Jacob and longed to have him near during the remainder of his life. And Jacob, I'm definitely sure, was not ready to be confined to another land far away with a bunch of cousins. But God was at work despite the mess. God had a purpose for Jacob and could not allow the ignorance, the manipulation, the hedonism of people to get in the way. He brought Jacob and his family low and there He transformed his life.

God took the initiative (as He always does) and brought the promise of Abraham and Isaac in Jacob's life. He showed Himself to Jacob in a fantastic dream (Genesis 28:10-22). Yahweh was no longer Isaac's God; the awesome and fearful God was now Jacob's God. Jacob was no longer Isaac's son and Esau's twin, he was now on his way to becoming Israel (a "company of peoples", 28:3)

What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into? Turn to God. Look to Christ. Allow Him to accomplish His will in you. You have not messed it up too much. The moment you turn to Him and see things from His perspective is the moment you'll realize He's been there all the while. At that place you'll realize you are exactly where you're supposed to be and in the right place for God to take you where He has already planned for you to go.

Jesus Is Still Working...What About You?

2006-08-02T07:27:00.000-05:00

Acts 1:1-2

"...I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach..."

---NOT---

"...I have dealt with all that Jesus did and taught..."

When Jesus said "It is finished" He was not speaking of His work in the world. When Jesus ascended to the right hand of God His concern with earthly things did not cease. There is no finis in the story of Immanuel. Christ Jesus is still alive today. Our Lord is still at work today. God is still with us in the person of the Son, calling people to Himself, restoring, healing, touching, changing. The history of Jesus did not end when He was taken up...it was the end of the beginning.

Jesus is still at work today. He works through His people by the power of the Holy Spirit. He still is doing and teaching through the Spirit; His work continues in and through those who call Him Lord and Master...King Jesus. As Luke penned an account of what He did and taught prior to His ascension, he picked up part 2 (Acts) and penned what Jesus continued to do through His people by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is still at work today. The book of Acts is an open book. Luke wrote all that he witnessed, and then stopped writing. We continue to write Acts everyday...we who call Jesus "King". What will the history of the Spirit's work in this world through the lives of Christ's people have to say about you?

You Are My All In All

2006-08-01T08:20:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 15:28

It lies in the very being and nature of God that He must be all. From Him and through Him and to Him are all things.

Sin consists in nothing but this, that man determined to be something and would not allow God to be everything; and the redemption of Jesus has no other aim than that God should again become everything in our heart and life. Christ himself showed in His life on earth what it means to be nothing and to allow God to be everything.

The all of God is what we must seek. There should be no use of our time, no word on our lips, no motivation of our heart, no satisfying of the needs of our physical life that is not the expression of the will, the glory, and the power of God. God must not be merely something to us or even a lot, but all.

Even as believers we often make it our first aim to find out who we are, what we desire, what pleases us and makes us happy. Then we bring in God in the second place to secure this happiness. We do not discern that God must have us at His disposal even in the most trivial details of our life to manifest His divine glory in us. (Remember what we have learned about worship?) We are not aware that this entire filling with the will and operation of God would also prove to be our highest happiness. We do not know that the very same Christ, who once lived upon the earth as the obedient, lowly servant of God, is prepared to abide and work in like manner in our heart and life now.

Take Christ afresh today as the one who has given His life that God may be all, and yield your life for this supreme end. God will fill you to overflowing with His Holy Spirit.

These words are from Andrew Murray (1828-1917), missionary and pastor in South Africa. They are timely for us as we begin to study the history of the moving of the Holy Spirit. I pray, as we start Acts this Sunday, that our church, too, will experience the power of the Holy Spirit. It happens not because we have had some "awesome worship experience", but because we have yielded our all to Him. Make Christ your all in all today.

Steadfast Love

2006-07-31T09:33:00.001-05:00

Psalm 36:7-9

Throughout our week at Falls Creek, I was given the opportunity to have some alone time to reflect on the love of God. It truly is amazing, the love of the Father for His children--especially me! This particular passage really speaks to me. In fact, we reflected on this as we knelt and prayed and focused ourselves at the outset of our worship time yesterday.

His love is refuge. Jesus wept outside Jerusalem because he longed to gather the people like a mother hen gathers her brood (Matthew 23:37-39). They wouldn't have it, because they did not belong to Him. We, however, who are His through the faith-gift, have the shadow of His wings for protection. That is the place of rest. That is the place of provision and protection. That is the very best place!

From the shadow of His wings of love we are provided the "abundance of His house". The riches of the Kingdom are ours when He is the King. When we drink from the "river of His delights", we become like trees producing endless fruit (Psalm 1:3). Our roots grow deep and strong. Our branches grow high and thick. He is the "fountain of life". He is not the icing on the cake. He is not the sprinkles on top. He is the center of who we are. He is the source of who we are. Our lives flow from Him. We have no life apart from Him.

The wings of protection. The river of delights. The fountain of life. All this through the love of God that is steadfast. His love is consistent. His love is patient. His love is determined. His love is merciful. His love is faithful. His love is strong, and it is for you and I--we who hope in Him. We need not wonder about it. We need not ever doubt it. We need only to dwell within it.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

Friday @ the Creek

2006-07-28T11:46:00.000-05:00

Our week is almost over; returning to the real world is immanent. It's been a great week and the Lord has really moved in this place. It has been a blessing to be with our students and get to know them. I'm convinced we have some of the greatest students in Oklahoma; God will do great things through them this year,

I will continue blogging daily devotionals on Monday. It ha been difficult to do it at Falls Creek, but I enjoy sharing God's lessons to me with you and I appreciate all your wise words in the comment section. Your iron sharpens mine!

See you Monday.

Tuesday Night @ the Creek

2006-07-25T19:15:00.000-05:00

As I sit here just before our evening worship, with all the noise and excitement and crazy students, I realize God is preparing to do something amazing in this place. Our students lives will be changed, and we would be wise to begin now praying for them. School, undoubtedly the greatest mission field on earth, will be starting in just two weeks. I believe what God will do this week will have great influence on the direction of Sallisaw schools.

Throughout Scripture, God has done amazing things by using the most unexpected in spectacular ways. Those are the places Jesus becomes incarnate through the Spirit.

You know, I believe our church could be such a place. I pray we will allow the Spirit to fill us. Will you join me in such expectant praying? Let's not leave the excitement to the youth.

Falls Creek Bound

2006-07-24T08:09:00.000-05:00

We're headed to the Creek in just an hour. I will be trying to post each morning from my Blackberry, but cannot promise anything.

Be praying for our students this week, that God would do great things in their lives. We will be unveiling their new youth pastor. I'm praying that God would meld a strong group of Immanuel students for missions at Sallisaw/Central High and Middle Schools. This will be an exciting week.

Love ya.

Is That All It Takes?

2006-07-20T10:11:00.000-05:00

Romans 10:9-13

This morning, 7 children of various ages prayed to recieve Christ at our VBS. Yesterday, 2 others did the same. As I was sharing the plan of salvation with them, I tried carefully not to lead them along or put words in their mouths. Using the ABC's I tried to explain how we are sinners in need of a Savior, all-the-while greatly concerned that these rote quips and repeated prayers were an x+y+z = salvation kind of approach.

Is that all it takes? Is it even fair to drag little children through such equations? Were they really transformed into new creations? Did they even really understand the levity of their sin? Do they realize they have just been granted innocence in lieu of condemnation? Do they know they have now begun a lifelong process of sanctification?

Romans 10:9 makes it pretty simple. Confess that Jesus is Lord. Believe God raised Him from the dead. Romans 10:13 says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Can little children simply call on that name without knowing all the finer points of theology and have a genuine conversion experience? Are we manipulating impressionable children to do something that is not real, personal conversion to discipleship under Christ Jesus?

All I know is this. As two of the little girls left the sanctuary to tell their teachers and classes what they had done, they were overheard saying, "I'm a Christian now; I'm a Christian now."

All it takes...I believe it takes the wooing of the Spirit who plants the gift of faith in hearts to belong to the Kingdom. I believe it takes total life-surrender to the Lordship of Christ. I beleive it takes a changed life to give evidence of true salvation.

When it comes down to it, however, from the other side of the cross, all it really takes is for one to call on the name of the Lord. All the rest is assumed. Praise God for our new little brothers and sisters in Christ, and pray that their lives from here on will give evidence of inner faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Catastrophe in the Frozen Arctic!

2006-07-19T11:58:00.000-05:00

Just reported...a wild moose was seen ravaging the sanctuary of Immanuel Baptist Church in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Uh-oh, the moose on the loose has just fallen, knocking over the Christian flag near the stage area. The professional wildlife officer, Greg Burnsed, who doubles as the church's music minister, has just safely tackled down the beast, bringing an end to the horrific nightmare.

The good news is that the moose seems to be OK and no children were injured. Unfortunately, however, the cross atop the Christian flag was broken off.

Sovereign Complications

2006-07-19T08:35:00.000-05:00

Acts 8:4

Pentecost came, the promise of Christ was delivered, the Church was started, and the Spirit moved and worked and many came to the Lord. At first those new Believers continued to move safely around town, even attending the Temple to have their own times of prayer and teaching in the name of Christ. These "true Jews" enjoyed their new life in Jesus, but those days were short lived. Stephen was arrested and preached a fiery sermon to his captors, enraging them to the point of martyrdom. That day "a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem" broke out; "Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison."

As persecution began, not only did those first Christians find themselves no longer welcome among friends in the Temple, they also found a cold shoulder among their own families and were eventually "scattered" away from their homeland. The preaching of the Gospel caused this antagonism, and those doing the proclamation were only energized the more.

These scattered believers lived out what Paul would later describe in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12. They left Jerusalem--life as they knew it--for a place unknown; but their place unknown became their mission field. Even detestable places, such as Samaria (Acts 8:5)!

Now, that doesn't seem like the hand of God upon His newly devoted followers, does it? It sure does! In fact, because of this persecution and subsequent scattering, Jesus' followers became witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but "in all Judea and Samaria" and eventually "to the end of the earth." The persecution was God's plan for the fulfillment of Acts 1:8! It was all part of God's soveriegn plan. The providence of God brought it about.

What kind of sovereign complications has God built into your life for the purpose of propogating His fame? What is your mission field? How are you living the Gospel in the midst of that opportunity?

Christian Pharisees

2006-07-18T08:39:00.000-05:00

Acts 15:5

"But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees...

On Sunday, preaching on our corporate worship experience, a point was made about personal preferences. Yesterday, I commented that the worship service has been an always-evolving thing depending upon context--historical, political, sociological, etc. There is nothing necessarily wrong with the varying degrees of differences between the worship practices of others, as long as they are biblical and the integrity of the Gospel is upheld. Many of our practices in corporate worship are driven by preferences, whether you are traditional OR contemporary.

The problem with preferences is not that we enjoy them. Personal preferences are not sinful in and of themselves. Personal preferences are sinful when we begin to worship the preferences! If it's not a certain way we don't like it. "If it's not the way we've always done it, well that's just not the way church ought to be." Why not? Is it unbiblical? Is it faithful to the Gospel. Or is it just not what you prefer?

You see, when we exalt our preferences to such a place, we are really saying, "Unless you do it like this, you are not as Godly." "Unless we do these certain things, it's not quite as holy." "Unless you look more like me, you are not quite as pleasing to God."

It's possible to be a believer and be a Pharisee at the same time! Jesus spent His whole ministry preaching against the Pharisees! Let's be careful not to allow our traditions and preferences to replace authentic worship. You can choose to live a life of worship or not...it's really up to you. But remember this: corporate worship serves a two-fold purpose--edification and evangelism. Don't allow your preferences to interfere with that...whether you like it loud or like it on the organ or like it from the hymnbook or like it in shorts or in a suit. All of us must stay true to the word, true to one another, and true to the world! Don't be a Christian Pharisee.

Day-by-Day Favor

2006-07-17T09:42:00.000-05:00

Acts 2:47

"...and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

We often look at this passage with much appreciation for the practices of that first church. Though through the centuries the traditions of worship have ever-evolved into many differing indigenous flavors, some of the aspects found in Acts 2:42-47 continue to be the height to which we aim as we seek to be a vibrant expression of the visible church.

There was partnership, participation, power, and productivity found in this first church at Pentecost (sound like a four-point sermon?). There was worship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, fellowship; it is wise for us to keep an eye firmly placed on the dynamics of the ancient church.

One thing I hope we never overlook, however, is the impression of this church upon the community. They were not a sub-culture or anit-culture; they made lasting impressions on all the people. Because of such cultural impact, there were those being saved day-by-day!

Andrew Murray, the well known missionary/pastor of the late 19th century, once wrote,

"Christ was the revelation of the Father on earth...
Believers are the revelation of Christ on earth...
We are His representatives, His revelation to the
world that Christ loves us with an infinite love..."

Day-by-day evangelism doesn't happen if all we do is wait for Sunday's invitation, hoping that someone will walk the aisle. Day-by-day evangelism happens when believers live as Christ's representatives, attesting to the fact that God loves us with an infinite love. Let's live lives that reveal Christ today! Let's not seclude ourselves from culture, but rather impact the culture around us. Let's have favor with this whole community by loving them, serving them, and taking Jesus to them.

The Nations Are Coming to Us!

2006-07-14T07:21:00.000-05:00

Psalm 46:10

In an hour I will leave, along with our Director of Missions, for Oklahoma City. We have an appointment today with a few of the big dogs at the BGCO to present a three-year evangelism plan for our Association. We are asking the BGCO to partner with us financially--subastantially! It looks as if all systems are go; today is just a formality.

Part of our discussions today will include the Hispanic Mission plant our church is overseeing. I know the BGCO is excited about it. I know our DOM is excited about it. I know the Hispanic population is excited about it. I pray our church will get excited about. The success of this mission, as others with experience have told me, is our consistent presence. We need missionaries from our church to give their lives to this mission plant. We need several of our members to give up the comforts of familiarity and go to a Spanish speaking church to teach children's classes (the kids speak English) and to drive a van and pick up these precious folks, among whom few drive. Several of our members have begun to be burdened about it. Please be praying for them--and for all of us. What an opportunity God has placed in our laps!

We've talked alot about missions the past several years. The above passage of Scripture has been our theme verse. Missions is always successful, because God promises He will be exalted among the nations. As we have made great efforts to be the vessel through which He could be glorified among those whom have never heard (in two years...3 trips to Africa, 1 trip to Mexico, 1 trip to New Orleans, many "home" mission experiments) we have seen something unique happening in our little community. Something you would expect in NYC or even Tulsa. But now, God has brought the nations to us! A non-english speaking culture with no evangelical church seeking to take to them the Gospel, right here in little ol' Sallisaw.

God may just be calling you to the mission field--and you don't even have to leave home or quit your job! What an opportunity!

Where Is Thy Sting?

2006-07-13T05:26:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

In just a few hours, I will bury one of our old saints--Velma Cole. Ms. Cole was 96 when she passed away on the Fourth of July. The one thing I can say about Velma is that she was confident about her future.

You know, fear and worry are human nature. We can see examples of fear and worry in the lives of so many. The way people react to fear and worry can be very dangerous. Fear and worry ruins relationships--whether it be marriages, business deals, or politics. "Wars and rumors of wars" are all on account of fear and worry. Fear and worry ruins lives--you just can't live in fear and worry. It will kill you!

Velma, in my observation, didn't live out of fear and worry but rather out of confidence. When her husband died, she faced boldly that loss because of her confident future. Even when just a couple of years ago she left her home to live in an assisted living village, Velma didn't react in fear and worry.

Velma was confident about her future. Her future was in Christ. She lived for him, knowing such a life was not in vain but secure...steadfast and immovable. She lived in confidence, not because of some fantastic hope about heaven, but because she had come to grips with her death. She knew she would die someday, but just as well knew that the sting of death was gone. She lived in confidence because of a dependable Savior who bore the sting of death and exchanged Velma's sting for victory. Having come to grips with the reality of death, and knowing that death held for her victory in Jesus, she was then able to live a life steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord her labor was not in vain.

At this very moment, her soul is with the Lord while her body awaits a burial. One day very soon, however, that old body will be remade imperishable and will serve her for eternity in the presence of the Lord. Having known that for years and years, Velma left fear and worry and lived in confidence of her victory in Jesus.

If we were to learn a lesson from Ms. Velma, it would be this: to live confidently in the Lord, exemplified by a life which abounds in the work of the Lord, knowing that there is no need for fear or worry but that the victory is already ours. Let's live victorious lives--lives exemplary of our faith in Jesus' victory!

Presuming Upon Grace

2006-07-12T07:14:00.000-05:00

Luke 7:1-10

v. 7 "Therefore I did not presume to come to you."

How guilty are we of presuming upon God's grace?

The centurion, not a usual fan of the Jewish folks, had a need. The centurion understood Jesus to be a healer; the fame of the Lord had spread quickly once His earthly ministry began. The centurion was sure of Jesus' ability--you could say the centurion correctly presumed upon Jesus' sufficient power. But the centurion did not presume upon grace. He did not expect Jesus to accept such a sinner as he on a personal basis. He had faith that Jesus could heal; he did not expect Jesus to heal based upon his righteousness. He was unrighteous, plain and simple--and approached Jesus in complete humility.

I think one danger we have, especially as Southern Baptists, is to, in our passion for the 'security of the believer', presume upon God's grace. In other words, we act sinfully (whether it be outright and flagrant stuff or just secretive manuevering, even simple inner bad attitudes) with the confidence of forgiveness after the fact.

Another danger that may plague us as Christians in general is an attitude of arrogance that fails to recognize our unworthiness to ask God for anything. The only access we have to God is through Jesus. Do we dare to approach the Father through the Son when our lives are tainted unapologetically with sinfulness, expecting God to hear our pleas when our lives are an affront to the cross? There is much humanistic philosophy sprinkled with a bit of theology that makes us to feel as if we deserve God's prosperous blessings in our life. Can we really believe that we measure up to such deservedness?

On the other hand, God's grace is a promise for those lives which recognize their own unworthiness and unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). There is a cleansing fount that cannot be held back according to the promise of God for those who bow low with penitent, contrite hearts. We can presume upon God's ability--for that is the evidence of faith in His Word. But to presume upon God's action is to put ourselves in a position other than "sinner in need of grace." Our lives must not be lived upon presumption, but on our knees before a Holy God.

Acts of Worship

2006-07-11T06:28:00.000-05:00

Luke 2:36-38

Hannah was up at the crack of dawn for some reason, so my devotional time was shared. As she sat and slurped her KIX cereal, I tried to read my Bible in several places. When she finished eating, she climbed onto my lap and said, "Daddy, read me the Jesus part." "Which Jesus part?" "When he was born," she replied. So, to Luke 2 we went, reading the "Christmas story."

Verse 37 says something pertinent for our discussion about worship. One of the words we have studied that is translated worship in the New Testament, is latrueo. That is the word for service to the Lord. It is worshiping the Lord by serving the Lord. It's not the word for serving others because of the Lord; latrueo is specifically service unto the Lord as an act of worship.

Anna the prophetess, so says verse 37, was busy worshiping the Lord with prayer and fasting night and day.

Making all of life an act of worship is more than just a mindset. Another Greek word translated worship in the New Testament is proskuneo, which means 'to kiss towards.' You know, presenting yourself before the King whose hand is extended for you bow down and kiss it. Worship is, on one hand, the constant reminder of humility before our awesome King (proskuneo). But that's not all--it is also service unto our King (latrueo).

Ana lived a life of worship (night and day it says) by serving the Lord with fasting and prayer. She was an old woman who never left the temple. Granted, few of us if any have that luxury. But, she does leave us an example of a worshiping life. I wonder, what acts of worship-service might I begin to regularly practice? Might I be able to fast a meal once a week and give that time to prayer and meditation? Might I be more disciplined to protect my appointments with God, prioritizing these times which allow me to personally serve Him? Might I be more apt to make these designated times of prayer less about me and even less about others and more about God (latrueo) realizing that He does not exist for me but that I exist for Him?

How might you do the same? I would appreciate your ideas--I'm not too creative. How would you employ more of a worshiping life in light of the example of Ana the prophetess?

Jesus Is Life

2006-07-10T09:06:00.000-05:00

Colossians 3:4

"...Christ who is your life..."

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Taking my sin my cross my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your name

Please God

2006-07-07T06:19:00.000-05:00

Colossians 3:17

My prayer for you today is that through our summer study God has brought you to a full understanding of what it means to be a true worshiper. I don't know that that is a place we will ever arrive this side of heaven, but such must be the longing of our hearts as disciples--to be a true worshiper. The simple little devotional we've been using for our summer is called, "Please God." Notice there is no comma between the two title words; this is not a plea to God. The title is a play on words.

Too often our lives as Christians are summed up by "Please, God, do this...please, God, do that..." Listen--God doesn't exist to please us; we exist to please God. To be a true worshiper is to please God. My prayer is that such a mindset would saturate our thinking as we begin to come around the homestretch of our study on worship.

To please God is not to check off your church attendance. To please God is not to check off your to-do list of religiosity. To please God is to connect all the dots of life to worshiping Him. It takes determination. It takes perseverance. It takes humility and repentance. It takes constant reminders. It takes conformity in all areas of life to the will of God. What it doesn't take is the attitude of, "Well, I hope I get something out of the service this Sunday." Listen, you get out what you put in! If you're not putting in during the week, your Sunday time of Family worship will let you down every week. Alright, I've left devotionalizing and gone to meddling. I'll save that for Sunday! For now, I'd encourage to read Colossians 3:1-17 in light of our emphasis on living a life of worship.

Certainty

2006-07-06T06:51:00.000-05:00

Luke 1:1-4

In my study of the book of Acts this morning, I returned to this passage in Luke which stands as the purpose statement of Luke in writing Luke-Acts. The two books originally were presented as a two-part historical presentation to Theophilus that he might have certainty concerning the things he had been taught.

Certainty about the thing you have been taught. How certain are you about the things you know concerning Jesus? Granted, there are some far out stories...healings, water to wine, transfiguration with Moses, feeding 5,000 with a few fishes and loaves, walking on water, coming back to life after an extreme beating and stabbing (and also a mummifying process) that none of us would ever survive. How certain are you of the things you've been taught?

We use a lot of Jesus-talk in our ramblings. "Washed in the blood of the Lamb." "Saved." "Born Again." "Rapture." "Second-coming." "Redeemed." "Propitiation." Even "forgiven" is a not muched used word outside of our church language. The question isn't "How many religious descriptives can you use to describe yourself?" but rather, "How certain are you of those things you've been taught?" You really believe the Lamb's blood cleans? You really believe you have been saved? You really believe you are a new creation by second birth? You really believe Jesus is returning to get you and take you to where He is? How certain are you of the things you've been taught?

If you don't really believe it, then, by all means, don't wake up on Sunday mornings so early. Don't beat yourself up when you say a bad word. You have too little time in your life for something extra that isn't really real. Live it up! Don't waste your time with all this Jesus stuff if you are not certain about it.

But if you are certain, as I am, that Jesus did do extremely miraculous works by the power of the Spirit of God...healings, water to wine, transfiguration, feeding 5,000 with basically some crumbs, dying on a cross and coming back to life; if you do believe, as I do, that the blood of Jesus washes our sin clean, makes us new creations by a second birth--a spiritual birth, and is returning one day very soon to redeem me completely and take me to His Heavenly abode...if you are certain about the things you've been taught...

then give your life to serving Him.

If you are certain, don't be half-hearted about it. What a slap-in-the-face to Jesus half-hearted commitment is. Don't be half-hearted to His church. Don't be half-hearted toward sin and holiness. Don't be half-hearted in serving Him. Don't be half-hearted toward discipleship, evanglism, or missions. If you are certain, then what Jesus has done and what He offers to you requires your whole life being thrown into the fire of commitment. Half-hearted commitment means you are NOT certain. Uncertainty in the things of eternity is a dangerous place to be.

Let's all check our hearts today. How certain are you?

Plastic Christianity

2006-07-05T16:32:00.001-05:00

Please click this link right here and read this heart-felt plea for authenticity. Kiki Cherry puts into words the very things that plague our community. Pray that we would not be such plastic Christians, but rather ones which long for the sweetness of a genuine, daily, relationship with our Heavenly Father.

The Constant Friend of the True Worshiper

2006-07-05T07:54:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 5:21-23

This has been a very special summer for our church. Personally, our emphasis on worship has been a needed time of special devotion with the Lord and fellowship with other believers. I pray that you have grown in both of those areas as well. My LIFEgroup has been such a great tool in my family's life; I hope you have plugged into one.

As we are now into the homestretch of our summer worship study, we all are realizing the depth and breadth and height and width of the subject. Worship is so much more than attending a service weekly. It is so much more than a emotional feeling. It is life.

It is quite easy for us to focus on the in's and out's of defining worship and describing how to do it and why we need it--and we need to talk about those things. But there is one huge thing that must be dealt with and often. If worship is a way of life, then our battle against sin must remain constantly vigilant.

Wise 'ol Solomon knew this. He understood that our every step is always before the Lord. Our every step is made either toward or away from worshiping the Lord. Those steps away from worship--those steps we make toward sin--ensnare us and hold us back from enjoying the fullness of God in our lives.

We cannot be true worshipers without dealing with our sin--constantly vigilant against the "wiles of the devil". Solomon wrote, "He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray." Discipline. What life disciplines do you employ against sin?

Repentance (which is not a half-hearted activity) is the constant friend of the true worshiper. Being honest with ourselves and with God about ourselves and our sin is the only path to living a worshiping life daily. Repentance. Oh for the Sunday when we all finally bow on our knees for prayer, hungry for "the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

Splendor and Majesty and Righteousness

2006-06-30T06:16:00.000-05:00

Psalm 111:3

The literal translation of that first phrase is "Splendor and majesty is his work." In all that God does, each work or act is full of splendor and majesty. In creation, in providence, in redemption--the splendor and majesty of God radiates.

"And his righteousness endures forever." That means "it will be found upon investigating every area of God's work that he is unchangeably righteous and just." No mistakes. No abuse. No unneccesary acts of meaninglessness. Every act of God radiates splendor and majesty and accomplishes His perfect will in the execution of each and every intra-global and inter-cosmic concern--from the beating of our hearts to the placement of the stars.

Now that is a worshiping heart! That is the heart of one who has learned to view every part of life as an act of worship! It's a heart that seeks to see everything from God's perspective of perfect redemption and not man's own logic.

You know, it takes a great deal of faith to see things from God's perspective of perfect redemption. Not everything appears to be perfect. There are many things that definitely do not take place the way we think they should. So, to view all of life as an act of worship requires great faith. It requires vulnerability. We must make ourselves vulnerable to God, knowing that his righteousness endures forever...it does not lapse momentarily just for us. Everything God does is perfect and just from His perspective of perfect redemption.

The life of worship is a life lived in great anticipation of God's perfect redemption; and be sure of this--it is coming. You cannot live a worshiping life and be consumed merely with the anticipation of those things which will dissipate in the fire of God's redemption. The worshiping life is a life of great faith in a perfect God who acts in every molecule of oxygen to bring about His perfect plan of redemption--and to that end we must live our lives, worshiping Him who will bring us to such redemption.

The Great Works of the Lord

2006-06-29T05:14:00.000-05:00

Psalm 111:2

In your opinion, how great are the works of God? If you were to recount the wonder of God in your life, what would you include? Start with the "little" things...the blessing of your family, your home, your church, your job, a day off...how about your Sunday School class, your LIFEgroup, your friends...how about a new morning, a beautiful sunrise, the trees and mountains and lakes and beaches...think about the wild animals, the sea creatures, the birds in the air...even photosynthesis, metamorphisis, or the sound of a new born crying...

Let's think a little deeper. How about the blessings of fresh-every-day mercies from God, the cross, free grace, salvation...

How great are the works of God? From every leaf on a tree to every hair on your head, God's signature has been signed. The works of God, no doubt, are vast and broad and cover everything that touches your life.

While verse 1 helped us to reflect on corporate worship, this verse points us to the life of worship--without which corporate worship is impossible. The life of worship is one which always keeps perspective; the worshiping life always remembers that the works of God encompass everything in life, delighting in them to the point that they are "studied." I think that word studied means that perspective is always kept. The worshiping life is constantly lived from the perspective of God's greatness upon all things.

How would that perspective change the way you live and work and play today? That perspective would consecrate everything unto God, wouldn't it? That perspective would seek God's glory in everything. That perspective would transform our entire lives into an act of worship.

Read it again, and realize the emphatic statement the psalmist makes: Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Do you delight in the great works of the Lord?

With My Whole Heart

2006-06-28T07:15:00.000-05:00

Psalm 111:1

As a church, we have been learning now for two weeks about worship and the indelible connection it has with every part of life. Worship is life, and not a weekly routine. All of life is an act of worship. Some things in our life need to be removed for they are sinful hindrances to our worshiping lives. Some things in our life need to be "baptized"; they are not sinful in and of themselves but need to be redirected as God-ward acts rather than selfish acts of service.

Worship is life; it is a never-ending private act. But, worship is also something we do corporately. There is a priority given in Scripture to the public, congregational worship service. There is something to coming together with other believers in a corporate act of exalting and praising God. The corporate time of worship is the fruit of praise overflowing from our individual experiences of God throughout the week. I look forward every week to coming together with my church family and celebrating what God has done in and through our lives and recieving a challenge to experience more of what God has to offer between this Sunday and next. I need that corporate time.

"I will give thanks to the Lord WITH MY WHOLE HEART, in the company of the upright, in the congregation."

Here's the rub. We cannot worship God corporately with our WHOLE hearts if our life has remained detached and disconnected from worship throughout the week. When our life is disconnected from God throughout the week, we have then made Sunday merely a ritual we do in order to check the worship box off of our list of religious duties. At that point, we have then circumvented the whole process and purpose of worship which in turn causes the Lord to see our lives of religiosity as burdens which He is weary of bearing (Isaiah 1:11-15).

Let's prepare our hearts for a magnificent time of corporate worship this Sunday by committing every part of our lives to acts of worship to our King between Sundays. The Psalmist was resolute about his commitment (I WILL give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart...).

Last Sunday was indeed a magnificent time of corporate worship, wasn't it? No doubt, it was due the fact that each of us are changing the way we view our worship. I'm so grateful that all of us are growing together in seeking to connect with God in a deeper and more profound way.

Some Were Persuaded

2006-06-27T06:49:00.000-05:00

Acts 17:1-4

"...and some of them were persuased."

Paul was reasoning with mostly Jews. Most of these Jews understood (misunderstood) the Law and Prophets to be pointing toward a Messiah of political stature. One who would conquer Rome and deliver the Jews back to the soveriegn rule of God. There is no way that one who was murdered--on a cross no less--could ever measure up to their idea of Messiah. Paul, no doubt one of the greatest of Christian philosophers and evangelists ever, reasoned with them from the Scriptures about the necessity for Messiah to die and resurrect. This necessity was realized in Jesus the Christ or Messiah.

Can you imagine having Paul throw down on you? Could you imagine Paul standing in our pulpit and preaching some Sunday? Wouldn't you think the whole congregation would be mesmerized? Wouldn't you expect that every lost person present would "get saved" twice over? I mean, he would rock the house! Right?

"And SOME of them were persuaded..." Paul didn't bat .1000. Neither are we expected to bat .1000! We're not expected as Christians to convince everyone that Jesus is the Christ. What is expected of us is to try.

I'm intrigued with that word persuaded. "And some of them were PERSUADED." That word carries with it a sense of effort. Paul's conversation didn't go like this: "Would you like to pray and recieve Christ?" "No." "Well, O.K. Have a nice day." It went more like this: "What do you think about Jesus?" "Well, I think he was a crazy nut with a messiah-complex who was crucified along with the scum of the earth. He was no leader. He was definitely no king." "Well, let me show you what Scripture says (and oh, I'll just use my pocket Old Testament because the New Testament hasn't been written yet). Turn to and read with me Isaiah 53. Now, let me tell you what I saw with my own eyes--right before I became temporarily blinded on a road to Damascus."

Fear of rejection. Fear of lacking knowledge or answers. Fear of failure. These, apparently, are the reasons we fail to share the Gospel. Well, let me tell you. You and I will be rejected. Only "some" will respond in faith to Messiah's salvation. But you and I also need to be ready to persuade. We live in a day that most folks will not simply accept a free offer. There's always strings attached. Most today will not just accept an ancient story about someone who was murdered for no apparent reason--and then rose from the grave..."are you kidding?" We'll write them off, call them sinners, and preach their demise by judgement. What they need are people who love them enough to persuade them from the Scriptures that what has happened to us is real and is available to them--free of charge.

Oh, and yes, there are some strings attached. In exchange for filthy rags you recieve abundant life starting right now!

Who needs persuasion today? I'm heading right now to the hospital to persuade my friend Harold.

Believing vs. Turning

2006-06-26T08:40:00.000-05:00

Acts 11:21

This verse caught my eye this morning in my quiet time. I ran a check through multiple translations, and most do not have the word "who" after "and a great number." In the Greek text, however, there is a definite article which, for some reason, is left untranslated in many Bibles. The more literal translations--NAS, RSV, and ESV--do include the word "who."

That simple little word brings a new understanding to the whole verse, doesn't it? It seems possible that there were some in the "great number who believed" but did not turn. There is a difference between believing and turning, isn't there?

I've been sharing the Gospel with a man in the hospital. I know he believes but he's not ready to turn. He's been, in my opinion, at that same place for years. His wife and children have witnessed to him. Many in our church have witnessed to him. As I spoke with him last week, tears rolled down his face as he said, "I'm about to get to that place. I just don't think I can live up to it." Pray for him, that today would be the day of salvation; that the Lord would break this man's psuedo-pride, that he humble himself, and turn to the Lord.

Question for Discussion: Do you think we have done a disservice to the Gospel by focusing on the believing part ("making Jesus your Savior") and not pressing the turning part ("making Jesus your Lord")? If repentance is making a U-turn, can one come to saving faith without turning--or at least a willingness (known only by the Spirit) to turn? Have we (the modern day Church) been guilty of preaching "easy believism" by not compelling others to count the cost (Luke 14:25-33)?

The Crescent City

2006-06-23T15:30:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures from New Orleans. Our team will return Saturday, worn out from hard work. Their service to the people of the Big Easy, however, exalted Christ; continue to pray for this dark place. They need Jesus--and we need to be Jesus to them.

He Hears, He Hears, He Hears

2006-06-22T09:18:00.000-05:00

Psalm 18:6

I can rest today knowing that my cry has been heard in the heavenly temple. God has listened.

I still have distress in my heart, but I also have confindence, because God has listened and my cry has reached Him.

I still have questions and confusion, but God has completely gripped this distress and accepted my petitions--He heard me.

Is there any greater rest to be found than knowing that Almighty God, from His heavenly throne, hears me? When I need Him most, He is not too busy with other things; God accepts my humble pleas.

Remember today: He hears, He hears, He hears!

Hands of Jesus

2006-06-20T14:07:00.000-05:00

Acts 4:29-30

This post is coming a bit late in the day, I know. Greg and I drove down to New Orleans yesterday to work a day with our team and will head back early tomorrow morning. The team rose early today, leaving our compound at 6 AM to go and work like dogs until about 2 PM. Let me tell you--they indeed worked like dogs! This is incredibly hard work, and there is such an unbelievable amount that needs to be done. It's hard to believe that Katrina hit nearly one year ago. To be here reminds me of being in a third world country or a war zone.

Be praying for our team. They will return to us on Saturday. I don't know how they can keep up this pace (and they are only half way done).

I did read Acts 4 prior to our early departure, and have been meditating on the above passage. What a great passage. I just want to leave you with this thought--then I need a nap.

As we are obedient to be living testimonies of Jesus Christ, God uses us as the hands of feet of our Savior. We can't worry about those things around us that could keep us from being faithful. We just merely are to be faithful in each situation/opportunity presented to us. We cannot worry about our ability, but know that by our obedience, our testimony becomes that which God has chosen to use to reach the world with His love.

Somehow, as our team in New Orleans works like dogs, God is using them to bring the healing encouragement of the Father that is only available through the Son. I'm so proud to watch them--sweat and dirt from head to toe--hugging the hopeless, serving the helpless, and loving the godless. Jesus is the answer, and by their obedience God is able to reach out and touch someone with the hands of Jesus.

May we all live lives obedient unto to Him who called us and saved us. May He shine through us.

Renovation

2006-06-19T05:25:00.000-05:00

2 Chronicles 34:1-7

Greg and I must be on the road by 6 a.m. in order to make it to New Orleans by dinner tonight, so I will keep this short. Be praying for our mission team that is already there working hard to renovate people's homes.

The point of worship we are meditating on this week in our church devotional is "Worship: Why Do I Need It? Well, we need it for many reasons. One reason we need it is because we need renovation of our hearts.

As Josiah sought the Lord, he was forced to renovate. Hinderances had to be torn down. Things which were displeasing to the Lord had to be removed. Sin was exposed by worship, allowing Josiah to take action in order to continue his path of a deeper connection with God.

When we begin to understand that all of life is worship, and we truly seek God on that level, God will begin to expose the need for renovation in our hearts. If we think of worship as only a Sunday activity, without another thought or concern any other time, we will continue to feel empty and unaccomplished--"unfed", "not spoken to", and other comments will enter our mind. Deeper and more meaningful connections with God require renovation, and only as we open our hearts and seek Him does He lead us to renovate. But as we renovate, tearing down those hindrances in our lives, God continues to reveal Himself to us in more and more drastic ways. That's what happened in Josiah's life.

Ask God today to begin showing you what renovation needs to take place in your life.

And pray for our mission team as they renovate New Orleans.

What Have You Turned Worship Into?

2006-06-16T08:57:00.000-05:00

Psalm 114

I am afraid that a mistake is made by many of us when thinking of worship. The first is that for most, worship is merely a Sunday morning event; worship is something you attend. Whether or not it was "good" depends upon your subjective opinion concerning the level to which the music or preaching or service as a whole was enjoyable. We have adopted an entertainment mentality when it comes to worship, and if the desired goal is not attained--namely, a pleasurable sense of involvement (a good feeling)--then worship must not have taken place. (Never mind that we call our Sunday event a worship service, implying the sacrificial responsibility of attendees.)

Last night, Rachelle and I went to see Mission Impossible III. It was our last evening in North Carolina and without the kids, and our only free day all week long. We spent all day in Old Salem (which was wonderful. I'll speak sometime about all I learned about this Moravian village. I spent about an hour just in their church which was founded in 1777, learning about their ecclessiastical practices. We could learn much from them.) Last night we saw the movie. We really liked the first two Mission Impossible flicks. We had great expectations about this one. Lots of explosions and high-adrenaline action--bring it on!

All of our great anticipation, however, remained unmatched. It was alright, just a bit of a let-down. We think it may have had more to do with all the personal weirdness Tom Cruise has revealed recently than the actual production. But, we left feeling let down, like we hadn't been fed, like our expectations were ignored by the makers and entertainers responsibile for this movie event. "They didn't have my preferences in mind."

Church is the same. We leave let-down when we were not fed our preferences. You see, we have turned worship into an entertainment event rather than a living, daily relationship.

I submit to you this: on our part, worship is less what we "get out of it." Oh, we get something out of it, but it's not what you think. After reflecting on this Psalm this morning, I think (which I would appreciate your dialogue on, because what I think is neither here nor there) that what we should "get out of it" the most is a healthy and trembling fear before God. How dare we take the God described in this Psalm and use Him to make us feel entertained. He entertains us all week by the beauty of His creation, by His never-ending patience, by His more than sufficient grace and mercy, by His blessings materially (food to eat, roof over our head), physically (even every breath), mentally, spiritually, geneologically (our families), et cetera, ad infinitum. Our worship corporately on the Lord's Day is the coming together of the saints and the overflow of our individual lives in chorus to lift up and proclaim how great our God is. When we look around and see God at work in each life present, reminded that we are His body and His sanctuary, and in us is His dominion manifested, we must not limit Almighty God to entertainment value but tremble before His throne.

It is enough to tremble before Him. That is the evidence that you and I have received all we really needed to "get out of it."

True Worshipers in a Sea of Lostness

2006-06-14T05:28:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 44:18-20

This passage reminds me of several things.

The lost are lost.
The absurdity of allowing the lost to influence the saved.
The absurdity of the saved not influencing the lost.

If you read on, you hear wonderful things used to described the people of God as those who have their way; those who live in confidence, who live with direction and purpose to the glory of God, for indeed God did save them and make them and they are His merely by undeserved mercy. What a contrast.

What a sadness. The lost are helpless. The lost cannot help their wandering and wondering ways. While we sit in church and discuss how lost lost people are, amazed by their blindness and actions of what seems to us as stupidity (reread the passage), the fact is that the lost are lost. They cannot help but meander meaningless lives, all the while oblivious to their sad state and without any hope of finding their way out.

Please meditate a moment on Romans 10:13-14.

A comment for your discussion. Please comment as you have time. I'm genuinely seeking to expand my vision of God as we explore worship. How does this emphatic statement strike you? True worshipers are broken over the lost. True worshipers are not influenced by the lost. True worshipers seek to influence the lost by proclaiming Jesus in all they do.

My Mouth Will Speak

2006-06-13T05:04:00.000-05:00

Psalm 145:21

I do not have a great deal of time to share all of my meditations this week. The Convention keeps us all running a pretty constant race. Rachelle and I were back in our rooms last night after midnight and must quickly get around in order to join thousands of others in flocking back for the first business session at 8:00 am (it's already 6:20 here).

I just completed a couple of readings from Scripture and also our worship devotional which included a selection from Psalm 145. I went ahead and read all of that Psalm and in thinking about worship would like to just say a word about verse 21.

Of course, I would imagine that all of us would gather that in seeking to become true worshipers that a commitment of our human faculties to uplifting the praise of our Lord would be necessary. "My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord."

Is this a commitment to DOING something that is NOT already being done? Do we need to recommit our lives to singing praises? How about to praying praises? Or even saying good things about God? Is that what the Psalmist is calling us too? If I were a bettin' man, I would wager that most of us already do those things--at least once a week.

I think this is more about a commitment to STOP doing what IS being done. Let me just quickly reference James 3:1-12. I would argue today that becoming true worshipers, for many of us who have been doing it for many years, is less about what we need to start doing and more about what we need to stop doing.

My prayer is that many of us--and that includes myself--would connect with God these next few weeks on an incredibly profound level. Perhaps the reason that is a present need is not because we haven't been doing the right things but because we have contaminated those actions with impure motives, impure thoughts, impure ambitions, impure attitudes. Perhaps what we are looking for is right there waiting for us to stop what we are saying about others and to commit to only speaking the praise of the Lord. Wouldn't that make a significant difference in our worship? Wouldn't that make a significant difference in our church? Wouldn't that make a significant difference in our world?

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 145:21

If you haven't already, I encourage you to read Psalm 145:1-7. If you have, I would encourage you to read it again in light of the above. It says a little more to me now.

Nehemiah on Criticism

2006-06-12T05:32:00.000-05:00

Nehemiah 6

I love the Word of God. God is so good to bring timely messages to my heart. As this is merely a journal of my personal devotional life, I must simply continue to record what God uses to feed my soul. I am praying and studying toward a verse-by-verse exposition of either Nehemiah or Acts once we finish our summer worship series. I have begun reading through Nehemiah while here in North Carolina, and want to share some of the encouragement I have recieved.

This is a word for those facing criticism. If anyone ever experienced the nastiness of nay-sayers, it was Nehemiah. Called by God to do a great work of God, he was surrounded by those who questioned his ability, who questioned his motives, and who questioned his leadership authority. There were two in particular that spread the word and begun to rally people against Nehemiah. I'm sure for Sanballat and Tobiah and those that were a party to their dissension, it seemed like "everybody" was unhappy with Nehemiah. You know why? Because to them, they were "everybody." Negativity attracts and breeds negativity. Whoever you are surrounded by is your "everybody" because few else really matter for they are neither as smart or as Godly as you.

Anyway, Nehemiah gives a good word by example for we who also face such critical reviews.

What God thinks is all that matters. Do not lead by consensus but by conviction, and let the chips fall where they may. When the criticism comes, just keep doing the work that God has called you to. (Verse 3)
It's hard to keep going, however, when that criticism comes. It's much easier to go with the grain (consensus). To go merely on conviction, one must remain focused on the task, all the while praying that God would strengthen your hands as you seek to be obedient to Him. (Verse 9)
Not only does ones hands need strengthening, but so does his heart. It's one thing to stay after the work; it's a another thing to be able to sleep at night when you're surrounded by critics. When you don't know who to trust, you must depend upon God to not only take care of you but also the enemies around you. So, rather than living in emotional fear, one must allow God to strengthen his heart. (Verse 10-14)
Lastly, finish the work. Stay on course and finish the work. Never look back. Never go with consensus. Never fear the critics. Just finish the work. When all is said and done, if you have genuinely followed God in obedience, the enemy will know it--when the work is finished. (Verse 15-16)

That's just the word I needed. I pray it speaks to you.

I'm praying for all of you as we continue our worship study. May God mold us and make us into true worshipers, binding us together as a community of faith that He might use to impact many of our neighbors and friends this summer. I love you guys.

Worship Is A Verb

2006-06-09T06:42:00.000-05:00

Matthew 24:36-51

Worship involves action. I'm not just talking about singing, clapping, praying, listening, or putting $$ in an offering plate. Worship is a lifestyle. Worship is a life that takes God at His Word--"...be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect"--and lives responsibly as a servant of the Master.

Part of being a true worshiper must include:

Watchful anticipation of Christ's return. (45a, 46)
Obedient participation in Christ's work. (45b)
Close communion with Christ's people. (45b)

That could almost become a three-point sermon at some point, huh?

These three things are not Sunday activities--they are lifestyle activities.

We will begin learning different biblical terms that are translated "worship" in our English Bibles over the next couple of weeks. One of those words we translate into worship comes from the Old English word worthshippe. You can easily understand the meaning which is brought along with it--to ascribe worth.

The first four days of our journey (in our church's summer devotional guide on worship) has reminded us of God's greatness. So, what is God worth? What does He deserve when we "worship" Him? Can we merely go through the Sunday actions of corporate worship--separate from a life that is watchful, obedient, and in community--and be ascribing worth that measures up to the greatness of God? Our Sunday actions, unless they are an overflow of a lifestyle, are merely an act.

Our worship is intricately linked to our entire lives!

Theocentricism (I'm just trying to sound smart)

2006-06-08T07:13:00.000-05:00

Matthew 23:16-22

Concern for the non-essentials. I pray God is tearing down our ideas about worship and replacing them with His. It is so easy for me to confuse empty religious acts for true worship. What is true worship? We are on a quest to discover it. For the time being, God is working to tear down in me what I have conjured up as pleasing to Him.

As much as the preacher in me would like to apply the above passage to certain things, I realize that would be offensive to many. There are things we hold dear, isn't there? There are things we can remember from our church days as kids that hold much meaning for us. But rather than me applying it, we'll let the Bible.

Matthew 23:23-24

Our "acts" of worship are good but are not real if not accompanied by a worshiping life--the vertical worship which is evidenced by our horizontal love (remember the last paragraph of Tuesday's devotional). There are religious "acts" that are good. Jesus praises the Pharisees for their tenacious tithing. But that's not enough. The act in and of itself is not worship. The act is considered worship when giving from a heart that is worshipful--which views all of life as an act worship. The act must be an overflow of one's relationship with God. The act is not something we do in order to manipulate God; it is a response to God. Oh, that our entire lives would merely be living responses to who God is!

Matthew 23:25-28

It's so easy for us to live our own lives during the week, clean up with our "Sunday best," and stroll into "worship" looking like true worshipers. In all that, somehow we think we're doing God a favor and that somehow He takes favor of us for doing such a thing. Jesus calls such "hypocrites." You know the definition. The greek word for hypocrite was used for an actor that wore a mask. Apparently, we can't wear masks and worship God; true confession AND repentance are required.

Theocentric worship--God centered worship. May God teach us how to be true worshipers, "for the Father is seeking such people to worship him" (John 4:23).

Anthropocentricism (I think that's a real word)

2006-06-07T08:27:00.000-05:00

Matthew 23:13-15

"For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces!"

It looks as if the Pharisees sought converts (proselytes) and then tried to mold them to look like them and talk like them and dress like them and do everything like them. After evanglization, the process of discipleship was not teaching the things of God but teaching the things of them. They were worshiping worship--their own defined and branded form of religiosity, and if you didn't fit that mold you would not be considered as a true worshiper. But Jesus rips them up: "For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in."

Aren't we much the same way? We have our "Sunday School" answers to the things of life--the pat answers we know to be the correct reply--but while our lips pay homage our hearts can still be far away. When that happens, we're merely trying to fit a presupposed formula that somehow equals "worship". That is anthropocentric--man centered. It's doing what will make us feel better in our religiosity, but in fact really has nothing to do with God. We need theocentric worship--God centered.

It reminds me of Hannah (isn't that awful?). Our whole church is involved in these daily worship devotionals this summer, and we've been doing ours in the mornings. I tell Hannah when we begin, "Listen, and then tell me what you learn about God." For all three devotionals I have gotten the same replies. "God loves us and is not mean to us. Jesus died for us and His hands were all bloody." And so on. She starts each reply with "Because" even though I have not asked her a "Why?" question. Those are her Sunday School answers. She can always whip one of those out and know she's speaking correctly. The problem, however, is that those replies had nothing to do with our devotionals. She was simply stating her prepackaged, premolded, presupposed "right" answers. She's not quite 5, so I'll cut her some slack.

Listen, I, and probably we, tend to do that very thing in our lives. We know the right answers and actions and we use them as needed; however, we remain detached from a living relationship with the author of those answers and actions. As religious as we think we look, such worship is anthropocentric and not theocentric.

What's worse, when new Christians come around, we try to mold them into us! "Wear these kinds of cloths, say these kinds of things, sing these kinds of songs, attend these kinds of services, watch these kinds of shows, vote for these kinds of politicians, and never, ever curse the Southern Baptist Convention!" What? Is that what makes a true worshiper?

I pray God is tearing down our mold so that by the end of July we can see the way to becoming true worshipers.

Deeds to be Seen

2006-06-06T06:44:00.000-05:00

Matthew 23:1-12

The Pharisees were the reigning religious class of the Jewish people. For the most part, they had stolen the title and somehow held the rights that allowed them to set the pace for the religious lives of the people of Israel. Jesus tore down piece by piece everything they taught. There are many lessons for us to learn from them in our seeking to become true worshipers; we learn from them mostly what not to do.

To their credit, the Pharisees were zealous for God. We are all too quick to crucify them without understanding their righteousness. They did great acts of worship, but lost sight of what it was all about. So, in focusing the lens through which we view worship, taking a peek at the Pharisees in chapter 23 will help us be on guard from taking the right motive and doing the wrong things with it.

Verses 5 says "They do all their deeds to be seen by others." All of life is connected to our worship of God. In all we do, we are either pleasing Him or not pleasing Him. In the Pharisees effort to lead the people of Israel to worship God in every movement of life, they had developed a very burdensome formula. "Do this, do that, don't do the other." They themselves, to be acceptable to God, made great strides to look the part. If you were to have seen their clothes, their public predominance, and even noticed their title by which they required others to address them, you would have thought, "Wow, what a righteous, spiritual, true worshiper. He has it all together. Look how pleasing he is to God." Jesus, however, says to have nothing to do with these things. The specifics will come tomorrow as we unpack the "seven woes" that Jesus pounds them with.

As I read these, what I am forced to do--and I record my conviction as a challenge to you--is to call into account every so-called act of worship I commit and to evaluate it. What do we do that was merely learned by rote (by growing up and seeing it done) but has really nothing to do with whether we are true worshipers? What do we do that is merely for show, so that others will see us as worshipers? What do we do that is just part of our tradition, but are really heartless acts of ritual? That goes for everyday, not just our Sunday activities (Jesus even speaks about feasts [social events], the marketplace [out and about], AND the synangogue ["church"] in verse 6).

So, today, that's the call: let's begin to evaluate the things we have counted all along as worship and ask God if those things truly please Him or only make us to feel like we're doing what we're supposed to do. What we'll see as we finish this chapter, I think, are the worship parameters of loving God and loving people (22:37-40). Our daily worship is evaluated upon our vertical (between me and God) exaltation of God as evidenced by our horizontal (between me and others) exaltation of others.

Jesus On Worship

2006-06-05T06:27:00.000-05:00

Matthew 22:34-40

Our church, starting today, has begun a daily journey that will take us through July in an exploration of worship. Our goal: Becoming true worshipers of God, since such is what the Father seeks. For several weeks, my devotional time has been seeking to read the Gospels and view Jesus through the lens of the Kingdom life. Now, I will change my contacts for several weeks in order to view Jesus through the lens of worship. Is there any better man to learn about worship from?

It's easy to focus on the wrong things with this subject, and any lens other than Jesus takes us off subject. Music is not the lens. Preaching is not the lens. Physicality is not the lens. Jesus is the lens to focus our lives on worship. I believe that was Jesus' point (and my conclusion yesterday) in John 4:25-26.

I went to the optometrist last Thursday to renew my contact prescription. I have a slight astigmatism that slightly changes my prescription now and then. I also have a hard time finding contacts that don't drive me nuts. Despite the pain of always having dry eyes, I hate wearing glasses so much that I endure it. Anyway, the Doc wanted me to try out two different pairs of contacts to see which feel most comfortable. So, since Thursday I have worn two different kinds of contacts--one in each eye. The problem is that in one brand, the Doc didn't quite have the right prescription--close, but not correct. So, since Thursday my eyesight has been a little weird--out of focus. Rather than focusing on the object in front of me, you know what I've been focused on? I've focused on the fact that I'm not focused!

I believe, given certain things I've heard from people or through the rumor mill, that there are many of us who are focused on not being focused. It's easy to focus on the periphery. It's easy to, in the state of religiosity, not focus on the essentials of worship and lose sight. When that happens, our spiritual lives feel out of gas. There's no longer that, that, you know, spiritual drive. We blame it on a lot of things. I'm praying that these next two months we'll get refocused on Jesus and worshiping the Father through Him.

OK, back to our passage...

Jesus teaches about worship. He's dealing with the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Tomorrow we will see Him apply this very personally to the Pharisees and we'll see how in their fervor of religious ritual they were not actually loving God, despite thinking they did.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Take EVERYTHING in your life. Do you love God more?

Love your neighbor as yourself. Do you require of those around you, or do you inquire? Do you merely recieve from those around you or do you reciprocate?

With Jesus as our lens to learn about worship, we find here that worship is not just a scheduled act of ritual, but a LIFE LIVED in vertical exaltation of God evidenced by horizontal exaltation of others. We'll see better examples and explanation of this tomorrow in chapter 23.

Loving God and Loving People--that's the life of a true worshiper.

Kingdom Call

2006-06-02T07:35:00.000-05:00

Matthew 19:10-12

What an interesting passage. Paul takes a whack at this over in 1 Corinthians 7:6-7. Neither place says that marriage is bad or sinful, just that there's something to NOT being married and that few can handle that. Paul even says that the single life (for spiritual reasons) is a spiritual gift. Jesus said that only those to whom this call is given can handle it.

There were, for example, eunuchs by force, eunuchs by choice, and eunuchs by choice of the Kingdom life.

My devotional meditation here is causing me to go in a very broad direction with this text. The subject here is marriage purity. Jesus responds to the disciples response concerning the subject, making this statement about the eunuchs. I think the different eunuchs could be described like this: Some accept their mutilation as a complete tragedy that happened to them. It wasn't their choice; this cruel, cruel world has forced this upon them. Some accept their mutilation as a complete opportunity for self-promotion. Eunuchs served royalty. Self-mutilation for these eunuchs was merely part of their kingdom agenda. Some, however, were Kingdom seekers. They were eunuchs based upon God's call upon them to lifelong chastity. For the sake of the Kingdom, they died to self and bore the cross of Christ and waved the banner of God's Kingdom (I realize Christ hasn't been crucified yet in Matthew, so that last statement isn't quite right, but I do think that's the lesson Christ is trying to teach the disciples.)

The point: there is a Kingdom call upon our lives. There is something, I believe, we each are called to accept for the sake of the Kingdom. There are things in our life we can blame on the world. There are things in our life we can allow for the promotion of our own agendas. Or, there are things presented to us that we can accept for the sake of the Kingdom!

Painful? Every guy reading this has their legs crossed! In fact, to take the Kingdom Way pretty much guarantees exactly the opposite of what the health-n-wealth, name-it-n-claim-it preachers will tell you. But it's the Kingdom call, nonetheless.

Interesting. Jesus said, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given." God's Kingdom "gift" might not always be pleasant, but the most wonderful way for us to display the Kingdom in our lives--and in return accept the abundance of the Kingdom! Only in Christ can that statement not be contradictory.

What must you accept right now for the sake of the Kingdom? What must you accept so that others around you can see in you the banner of the Kingdom flying high and proud from atop your cross?

Kingdom Partner

2006-06-01T08:09:00.000-05:00

Proverbs 31:10-31

Today is our 10 year wedding anniversiary. I'm reminded that I have married the most excellent mate. I'm reminded of Jesus' promise of abundant life. I promise this--my eternal, abundant, Kingdom life on earth is rooted in the gift of my Proverbs 31 wife. God is so good.

I must spend my reflection today in thanksgiving. I'll not bore you with such. I'd only encourage you to think about your Kingdom partner (if you're already married; if not, you might think about the one you'll one day have) and thank God for the abundant life.

Rachelle, "Many women have done excellently, but you have surpassed them all."

Kingdom Forgiveness

2006-05-31T05:34:00.000-05:00

Matthew 18:21-35

What a strong word! "Use or lose it" seems to be the point of this parable. Can that really be? Is verse 35 literal or is it just a ploy at our emotions? "So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

I know all of us are aware of the details of this parable, such as the exorbitant debt the master forgave and the piddly debt the servant failed to forgive. My bible notes says a talent was about 20 years worth of wages. So, we're talking about 200,000 years worth of salaries this guy owed the king. His buddy, however, only owed him what amounted to about a hundred day's wages.

You know, when someone sins against us it's a big deal. It consumes our thoughts and emotions for quite sometime. It hurts. It angers. It damages us. When it happens to me, no one else can understand. And I want recompense. I want retaliation. I want payback.

I think the point of this parable is to give us some perspective. As hard as a personal attack is, it is nothing in comparison with the forgiveness the King has lavished on us. All these things will make better sense to the disciples in just a short time when Christ appears to the them after the resurrection. But as you and I read this we know what's going on. The debt Christ paid for our sin; the lavish riches of Christ's grace by His blood is incalculable. Any wrong a "brother" commits against us is shadowed by the wrong we have committed against our King. For us to recieve His forgiveness means that we must reciprocate His forgiveness--or else it was never really recieved in the first place.(?) It's a heart matter, as the last three words point out; either our hearts have been changed by the love of Christ, or they haven't been changed.

I think the whole chapter is tied together with this point--it's not about me (or you), it's about the King. "Who's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (18:1-6). In other words, the greatest is he/she who becomes NOTHING before the King. 18:7-20 is about those who fail to humble themselves, and consequently begin to put themselves in the priority seat and in so doing sin against another (or causes them to sin). Jesus says a few things about them, but for the one sinned against he says (my paraphrase) "just keep humble." "Don't let self raise its ugly head; just be humble and reciprocate my forgiveness. Let me take care of the other person."

And now the hard part. Again, the last verse: So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you , if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. There's no faking it. There's no just saying some words. There's no continuing to harbor bitterness or ill-will. There's no conditions. There was, however, repentance (v. 29). If there is no repentance, we have a responsibility to point out the issue until there is (vv. 15-17). But the motive must always be forgiveness and not revenge--because it's about the Kingdom and not you. God knows the heart!

Kingdom Exchange, Part II

2006-05-30T06:42:00.000-05:00

Matthew 16:13-28

The disciples confess Jesus as the Christ. They admit that He is the anointed, promised one; the one all Jews had been waiting for to bring deliverance. Jesus was the one, it seemed to them, who was striking up the right alliances and challenging the right authorities and garnering the right support to lead the rebellion. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." The disciples were pretty lucky; with such a close relationship with the soon-to-be king, surely they would have a high-ranking cabinet post when the dust settles.

Starting right then, however, and continuing throughout the rest of His earthly ministry, Jesus began trying to teach them the necessity of His death and resurrection. That just didn't fit in their plans for hostile takeover. How could their General die and they still gain the political peace they so longed for? Jesus even called Peter "Satan" for questioning His death, saying that he only had in mind "the things of man." And now we begin to see a difference in The Kingdom and our kingdoms. They are two separate lists of priorities. They are two separate lists of life-purposes, "the things of God" and "the things of man". They are two separate agendas. They are two polar opposites that cannot both be pursued at the same time. They are diametrically opposed.

And the alternative to "setting your mind...on the things of man?" That's what Jesus speaks of in vs. 24-28. "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me..."

You see, there is no Lordship (v. 16) without a cross (v. 24).

"Whoever loses their life for [Christ's] sake will find it" (v. 25).

The real, abundant, Kingdom life only comes in exchange for our kingdom.

It seems that taking up our crosses is a daily thing. Each day must be rededicated to the Lordship of Christ. Each day must be a fresh start, a new effort, another striving after Christ and His Kingdom. Today, let's set our minds on the things of God and not ourselves; right now, let's take up our crosses, crucifiying the things of man and losing our lives in exchange for abundant life.

Kingdom Scraps

2006-05-29T09:39:00.000-05:00

Matthew 15:21-28

The past couple of weeks, while studying Matthew, we've been seeking to get a glimpse of the abundant life offered to us by way of the Kingdom of Heaven which is "near" and "at hand." Oh, to think that there is so much more to this life if only we were to gain eternal and Kingdom perspective.

The fault with this is that we can get caught up with seeking the blessings of the Kingdom and lose sight of the King. We must remember that the parameters of the Kingdom life is true discipleship and followship of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

No doubt many in Jesus' time wanted his healing power. Many sought his presence, following him from place to place. Even in Chapter 14, when Jesus loses his prophetic cousin, John the Baptist--obviously a trying emotional trial as he withdrew to be by himself (v. 13)--the crowds followed him "when they heard it", apparently seeking Jesus' perspective on the loss of a loved one. But in the end, few wanted true discipleship, which begs the question: Which do we desire more? The blessings of the Kingdom or the presence of the King?

This Canaanite woman was satisfied with the scraps. She just wanted Jesus.

I'm convinced that our pursuit of Kingdom lives is a worthy one. If we do not check our motives, however, we run the risk of leaning toward a health and wealth theology. We don't chase the Kingdom because of all the material or physical bonuses, but for "abundant" lives. We must not confuse those things. Persecution, sickness, calamity is all part of living in a fallen world; our circumstances are reminders of the redemption which is ours through Christ. It's easy to look around at our trials, taking our eyes off Jesus, and focus on our own kingdom development--if we're in it for the blessings of the Kingdom. If we're in it for the presence of the King, well, that gives us different perspective. That is faith at work. That is hope when all seems hopeless. He is our abundant life.

I'm reminded of Mephibosheth. I'll not retell the whole story. You can read it here in 2 Samuel 16:1-4 & 19:24-30. When it came down to it, David (as a type of Christ) was willing to return the Kingdom blessings to Mephibosheth (the crippled type of you and me). Mephibosheth basically said, "I don't want your blessings, I only want you!" (2 Sam. 19:30)

Let me ask you this: Is it enough that sinless Jesus became sin for you, dying on a cross to pay the debt of that sin, taking upon Himself your unrighteousness so that you might stand before God righteous in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21)? Is it enough that Jesus has taken the initiative to come to us when we would never have looked for Him on our own (Ephesians 2:1-10)? Is it enough that Jesus has promised to come back for us and take us to be with Him (John 14:1-6)? Is it enough that Jesus has promised to be with us here until then (Matthew 28:20)?

I'm satisfied with just the scraps that fall from the Master's table. But you know what? Jesus is NOT satisfied in merely giving us Kingdom scraps. He is life. He is the Kingdom and abundant life. Don't lose sight of Jesus. Without Jesus there is no Kingdom.

Kingdom Treasure

2006-05-26T08:10:00.000-05:00

Matthew 13:44-46

The parable we looked at yesterday had to do with all the different ways people accept the Kingdom after hearing the Word. The parable about the wheat and tares (vv. 24-30) reminds us of the reality of the Kingdom and that not everyone accepts it, but that the Lord will sort it all out. The parables about the mustard seed and the leaven (vv. 31-33) tells me that the Kingdom will reach its fullness before the ingathering takes place.

Our two parables this morning say one simple thing. While the previous ones could cause us to look around at how others respond, these two parables put it back in our laps.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like finding such a precious, priceless, beautiful, meaningful, fulfilling, extravagant prize that you give up everything else in order to have it. Verse 44 says the person "in his joy" gives up everything to possess it.

Do we realize the treasure we have? It's much more than just going to heaven some day. We tend to think of heaven as the prize for praying some prayer or walking some aisle. Heaven is only part of it. The Kingdom, the abundant life, the eternal life is already here! But...you can only have The Kingdom or your kingdom. And if we really understood what a priceless, beautiful, meaningful, fulfilling, extravagant prize The Kingdom is, with joy we would forsake our lives for Real Life.

So, here's my meditation for the day as I seek all of the Kingdom I can get: what of my kingdom am I still holding onto? Lord forgive me and remind me that only You make known to me the path of life; only in Your presence is there fullness of joy; only at Your right hand are there pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).

Have a great weekend.

Kingdom Hearing

2006-05-25T08:35:00.000-05:00

Matthew 13:18-23

Is all this talk about the Kingdom really necessary? It seems that Jesus makes it of utmost importance in these Chapter 13 parables. The disciples asked Jesus if these parables were really necessary. His answer was "to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given" (13:11). Our passage this morning is actually the explanation of the parable told by Jesus in vv. 1-9. The point seems to be found in v. 19; what do you do with the word of the Kingdom once you hear about it? The other parables are about the Kingdom, each beginning with, "The kingdom of heaven is like..."

You know, I really have to fight trying to be the Holy Spirit. You can't make people get keyed into the Kingdom life, but you sure want everyone to. These verses explain the reason I continue to hear "Your hair keeps getting grayer" whenever my family gets together on holidays. These verses include the ongoing consternation in my soul for the congregation I am responsible for and for which I will one day give an account. My greatest challenge (v. 19), my greatest frustration (vv. 20-21), my greatest heartache (v. 22), and my greatest joy (v. 23).

These verses also show the reality of, not just my congregation but every congregation, and more than that an important evaluation key ALL of us must use on a regular basis. The question is, "What are you doing with the knowledge of the Kingdom?"

Vs. 19 Understanding--some just don't get it. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says these things are spiritually discerned; the natural person does not accept the things of God's Kingdom. It's a spiritual problem. What a challenge! I'm going to step way out on a soteriological limb for some of you and point back to Matthew 11:27. I don't want a debate; just want to make the point that proclaiming and praying is about all we can do.

Vv. 20-21 Depth of Soil (see 13:4-5)--some just don't give themselves to discipleship. We call this "easy believism." We give invitations to come and have your sins forgiven but not to make Jesus Lord of everything. We have folks who get really excited about what they can get, but when the call for giving (discipleship) comes they aren't as excited and eventually fall away. When we start trying to go deeper, really digging into the word, really challenging all the forces of sin in our lives, all of a sudden we start just wanting encouragement and not conviction; we want rapture without repentance. "Another sermon on 1 Peter 2:4-5? Haven't we gone deep enough?" Can you tell this is my great frustration? It's also the very thing I battle. It's much easier to skim the surface, believe me!

V. 22 Earthly Perspective--some just prefer the world to the Kingdom. This is my greatest heartache. We tend to sugar-coat it and call it backsliding, but it is really a dangerous place to be. We either belong to the Kingdom or we don't. I'm not saying Christian's can't backslide; I'm saying some labeled as backslidden think they are backslidden, but in reality aren't backslidden at all. They have their names on a church roll, but is it in the Lamb's Book of Life? It breaks my heart.

V. 23 Fruitful--my greatest joy. To see Jesus followers who live abundant lives; fruitful lives through which Jesus continues to move and work on this earth. Folks who really understand the Word of the Kingdom.

It's easy for me to give a personal perspective about others, isn't it? How about when I turn those four points around on myself? I would like to think I'm a fruitful Christian. Does the Devil tempt me with the world? Yes. Are there times when I am tempted to just take the easy road and not dig too deep into the challenging parts of Scripture? Absolutely. In fact all of us must turn this evaluation key around on ourselves and answer the question, "What am I doing with the knowledge of the Kingdom?"

Kingdom Perspective

2006-05-24T10:17:00.000-05:00

Sorry this is late. I typed something up this morning and somehow deleted it before it was published. Now there is something else that's on my heart; something all of us must face. Because of a phone call I just received, I must return to our passage from Sunday's message.

John 8:58-9:3

Jo and Robert have faced one fight after another for about two years. Those who know them know this--their challenges are inexplicable. Numerous trips to MDAnderson in Houston. Many multiple weeks in the hospital. When one finally bounces back from some bout, the other picks a new fight.

In the past two years, Jo has fought eye cancer, some cancer that forced the removal of part of her liver, and she just now called to tell me that the lump removed from her neck last week is melanoma. They are in the process of getting to Houston as quickly as possible, just as Robert apparently begins to face another battle himself.

You know what Jo, through her tears, just told me? "God will get us through it. I'm just worried about Robert." You know what Robert told me a couple of weeks ago in his hospital bed (while Jo was in Memphis for treatments)? "I don't understand why all this keeps happening; I guess God has His reason." (I have to remind you that in the middle of all this mess, probably about a year ago, I had the privilege of baptizing Robert. God is always mysteriously at work for His perfect purposes!)

Yesterday afternoon I counseled with a couple of our college students who are facing some difficult family circumstances. One of them brought up John 9:3--that God was speaking to her through the verse late last week, but that she was so concerned on Sunday that she didn't really listen to the message; however, God's word confronted her again with that verse on Monday and that she knows somehow God is going to work through this very difficult situation for His glory.

What hope do we have if not in the eternal Kingdom of God? What life do we live if not the Kingdom life on this earth? If we can't live with eternal perspective, seeing in all things the "rumors" of eternity--life is a meaningless, temporary mess of challenges faced for no reason. (Rumors is a great book by Philip Yancey that I recommend. I have a couple of copies in my office if you want to check it out.)

If, however, there is more to this life--if the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and I can have it and live in it now, and if I can view my God as Soveriegn and my circumstances as His playground--then and only then I can really have hope.

I dare not say something trite to Jo and Robert. But I'm so thankful that their faith in God is established in such a way that they do not lose hope by focusing on the here and now. No, rather than that they simply trust God; that God wants to do something so awesome in the midst of this circumstance that everyone will have to say, "God is awesome." Without that hope, we are damned to nothing but a fleeting and futile life. With that hope, we live and breathe and enjoy Life more abundant.