BETHANY

SURVIVING IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT – II

2012-01-22T11:55:00.000-05:00

Sermon Series: Lord, I want to be better

Nehemiah 4:1-15

1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” 4 Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. 6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. 10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” 11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” 12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” 13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” 15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.

One of the most insidious creatures that God ever created is the viper. They are cunning and adapt hunters. It is amazing that a creature with poor eyesight is able to render such a lethal blow with one strike. They identify and lock in on their prey primarily relying on their sense of smell and the body heat of their prey. The real problem with vipers is not their bit, but the toxin they release into the bloodstream of their victims is deadly.

Like vipers, hostility can at first seem insidious and even benign. There are some environments where the hostility that exists appears to be very subtle and is more of a nuisance than a problem. As the exiles where returning to Jerusalem and engaged in the process of rebuilding the walls around their city they encountered opposition to the rebuilding project. Initially the news of the rebuilding project was meet with ridicule. The opponents of the project Sanballat and Tobiah released their toxin into the environment in the form of putdowns and insults. The old saying is that “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” While there is an air of truth to that statement, ridicule, putdowns and insults especially in the company of others is a passive-aggressive attempt to devalue a person and/or their work. There is a vast difference between critique and ridicule/criticism. Critique has the goal of making a person or their work better. Critique recognizes that there is inherent value in the ability and effort of others but it needs to be focused, challenged, channeled, or fleshed out in order to get the best possible outcome. On the other hand, ridicule and criticism seek to teardown, destroy confidence and halt the individual and their efforts in their tracks. Critique says, here is what you are doing well, and here are the areas for improvement. Ridicule and criticism says, why are you even bothering? You know you cannot do that?

Unfazed by ridicule and criticism mild opposition turned to open hostility. The Bible says that when Sanballat and Tobiah heard that the people had continued working they went to get reinforcements. They formed an alliance with the Arabs, Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod and “Plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.” So now, ridicule and criticism evolved into intimidation. The opponents of the rebuilding project, after seeing that the Jews had reached the midway point in their work, no longer talked about what the Jews could not do but began talking about what they were going to do to the Jews. Those in opposition to the project attempted to flex their collective muscle by proposing threats of violence. The environment was growing increasingly hostile. It is one thing to ridicule and criticize, but it is an entirely different ballgame when we are confronted with threats made against our person or threats to create problems for us. These we must take very seriously.

Following the threats made by Sanballat, Tobiah and the others, the workers complained that they were getting tired and the job was becoming overwhelming. Couple this with the fact that their enemies continued to make known their intent to put an end to the work, and people who were living near them would come up and remind them of their enemies intent and prowess. They say, when things are good they are really good, and when things are bad they are really bad. The toxic poison released by Sanballat and Tobiah had now paralyzed the body and rendered it immobile. Long and/or short-term exposure to a hostile environment will eventually wear us down. There always seems to be fires that need to be put out and we are required to expend precious energy doing our job and trying to keep things together. At some point we start thinking, why am I killing myself? Is it possible they are right? Is the reward really worth the risk?

As Nehemiah surveyed the situation he saw an environment that was not only hostile, but also it was toxic. One of the problems with a hostile environment is the toxic nature of hostility contaminates the good within the environment and can transform good workers into people with bad attitudes. You cannot shake toxicity once it gets into your system and so even though we leave the environment it is still with us. Wherever we go we become agents who transmit toxins into that environment. Have you ever noticed how a bad day at work turns into a bad month? What started out as a petty annoyance on the job carries over into our homes and other areas of life? Everyone seems to get on our nerves or we simply do not want to be bothered. Things that we used to find pleasure and enjoyment in now seem like drudgery or we are too distracted to engage in these activities. It is almost impossible to operate in an environment where poison exists and not be affected or contacted by it. One of the solutions is that we need to detox and purge ourselves we need an anti-toxin.

Nehemiah in this text helps us to see that we are not powerless. Even if the poison within an environment should infect us we can overcome it and survive in a hostile environment. Nehemiah provides us with some survival tips that we can use to ensure our survival.

1. Every act of aggression regardless of how mild it may be needs to be met with a response – Notice that after Sanballat and Tobiah ridiculed and criticized the workers Nehemiah and the workers did two things, a) they prayed and b) they set their mind to keep working. Nehemiah prayed an imprecatory prayer. An imprecatory prayer is a prayer that acknowledges God’s sovereignty and power over a situation where the man or woman of God is experiencing wrong doing or persecution. The purpose of an imprecatory prayer is to turn the situation over to God with the hope that God will work out His justice and a favorable outcome. Some things we simply should not give life to, and ridicule and criticism are two of those things. When people try to disrupt us with ridicule and criticism the response is turn it over to God and keep on working.

2. The greater the threat the more tactical we need to become – Sanballat and Tobiah became incensed when they saw that their initial ploy did not work and so they went to get reinforcements and resorted to intimidation. Again, Nehemiah and the workers did two things, a) they prayed and b) they set watch. Since this was a different act of aggression it required a different response. We cannot treat prayer as a one size fits all. Different situations call for different types of prayers and we must not forget that even though God may deliver us from one situation there are many more that we will also need God’s help and assistance with. Some would say well if you pray why do you need to watch? The Bible says, “Faith without works is dead.” Even if you and I pray, there is still work that we need to do following our prayer. While God promises to protect His people, Jesus reminds us that, “We must watch and pray.” If you and I were to go into a neighborhood with a high crime rate, we would not leave our car windows down or walk around with our wallets in our hand. We would take precautions to ensure our safety. We would watch as we walked. The Bible says, “The Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over,” what the enemy was going to do – God will tell us what to watch for if we are listening.

3. In addition to addressing our spiritual and practical needs, we also need to address our personal needs – The toxicity that permeated the environment was such that it began to affect the workers and the entire community. Nehemiah brought everyone together and said three things, a) do not be afraid, b) remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and c) fight back. While we need to be encouraged, reassured, and inspired, we also need to find a reason to fight. Sometimes it is not enough to say, do it for God. Some things we need to do for ourselves, for our family and for what God has given us. There is no better motivation or reason to fight back then for our own personal survival.

Nehemiah used a three-pronged approach that addressed the spiritual, practical, and personal needs of the people. Using this approach Nehemiah demonstrated that we could overcome opposition, survive in a hostile environment and beat back those who try to bully us. No one likes a bully and the best way to beat a bully is to stand up to him or her. While our situations may differ from Nehemiah’s there are still some basic principles that we can apply, when people are increasingly hostile towards us spend less time getting even and devote more of our energy and focus to becoming successful. Remember, success is the best revenge.

SURVIVING IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT

2012-01-15T06:24:00.001-05:00

Sermon Series: Lord, I want to be better
Esther 4:1-17

1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
9 Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Have you ever wondered where does hostility come from? In the case of Haman it stemmed from an interaction with Mordecai. Haman was a high-ranking official within the Persian Empire under King Xerxes. On one occasion following Haman’s promotion, the king commanded his royal officials to kneel before Haman as an act of tribute and honor. Mordecai refused to kneel down or pay him honor. Haman proceeded to use his position of influence to persuade the king to sanction a plan of genocide against Mordecai and his people.

The hostility that Haman directed toward Mordecai was the by-product of anger that eventually turned into rage. Essentially, Haman did not like the fact that Mordecai had showed him up and it made him angry. Haman’s anger was fueled by those close to him prodding him to make an example of Mordecai and save face. The more Haman thought about it the angrier he became until ultimately his unchecked anger turned into rage. Anger is a God-given natural human emotion that needs to be expressed appropriately. Anger that is left unchecked or has no outlet for expression could or will become something far worse like rage. Rage, which is anger to the extreme, has the power to transform an otherwise rational person into an irrational person. It can turn a peaceful loving environment into a battlefield or war zone. Haman whom the Bible describes as “Enraged” decided rather than getting rid of Mordecai alone, it would be better to eliminate all Jews or everyone like him.

I want to share three experiences with you. First, when I was about 14, a friend and I went to the mall. We rode our bikes and parked them outside and went in to shop. When we returned an hour or so later our tires had been slashed. We went to the nearest gas station to fix them. As we were in the process of fixing them a group of five young men surrounded us and stated point blank, “We want you out of our neighborhood.” To emphasize their point, they had tire irons and chains in their hands. Second, some years later a gentleman walked up to me and told me in no uncertain terms, I don’t like you and what he was going to do to me. Third, a few years later, I was working for a social services agency and their was a change in directors over my division. The outgoing director and I had a very good relationship, but that was not the case with the incoming director. He made it very clear from the beginning that whatever success the department I was the head of had experienced it was not good enough and we could do better. The new director, who had never worked in social services prior to this appointment, found something wrong with everything that I did or the way in which it was done. The Bible says, “When Mordecai learned of all that had been done…he went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.” When people are openly hostile towards you because you are different from them, you think, feel, express yourself, or believe differently then they do it is a bitter and difficult pill to swallow. Haman’s issues with Mordecai had more to do with the differences that existed between them than what Mordecai actually did. Mordecai’s only crime was that he was different. He believed something different and he subscribed to a different set of principles for his life. Sometimes, the hostility we experience has nothing to do with what we have done, but it has everything to do with the fact that others cannot accept the reality that we do not think like them, feel the way they feel, or act in the manner they think we should act. They cannot handle the fact that we are different.

This raises the question, how do you deal with being in an environment where you are devalued because you are different? Mordecai initially chose to deal with it by wallowing in self-pity. The text points out that not only did Mordecai breakdown, but he put on mourning clothes. “He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes.” This would be the equivalent to putting our pajamas on crawling up in bed and pulling the covers over our head. When we discover that people are intent on bring about our demise or making our lives exponentially more difficult, self-pity and suffering in silence are not options.

While Mordecai was being primarily driven by grief, the hand of God was also moving him into position so that he and those who shared his plight would come to the attention of Queen Esther. You and I can take comfort in the promises that Jesus gave to His disciples when he said “I will not leave you comfortless,” and “I will send a comforter.” One of the reasons we should not allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity is because God will always provide someone to comfort us in our moments and times of distress. The challenge is that we need to be open to the sources of comfort that God sends. Esther initially sent a change of clothes for Mordecai, but he refused them. Esther then sent to inquire as to the exact nature of Mordecai’s troubles. We cannot presume that everyone close to us knows what we are going through or how we are feeling unless they have been informed. How many times have loved ones asked, what’s wrong and we either got upset because they could not deduce the problem or simply said nothing is wrong. If you and I expect that others will be able to read us or figure out what is wrong with us we may be setting ourselves up for additional unintended pain and suffering. If people who love us reach out to us in our distress we need to let them in and not shut them out. It is Jesus making good on His promise to send a comforter.

They say if you want to know who your friends are look and see who is with you when things are going bad. Mordecai informed Esther of Haman’s plan and implored her to intercede. Esther responded by outlining the hurdles and limits of what she could actually do. She pointed out, a) the law forbade a man or woman from approaching the king without being summoned; b) violation of the law meant death; and c) the king had not summoned her for 30 days. The obstacles that Esther faced are similar to what we face today. There are some situations where the only way we can get to the person who can impact our situation is by appointment only. In other situations if we breach the chain of command we run the risk of getting fired. Sometimes we simply are no longer the flavor of the month or the person we need to see is inaccessible. One of the lessons we can pick up here is that even unconditional relationships have their limitations. The truth is it doesn’t matter how strong the bond between family members or friends is, there are limitations as to how much they can do or how far they can go for us. Some will say this is why I do not share what I am going through, because I know that people can only do so much. Good point! Now here is the counter point, when family, friends, loved ones, or even our neighbors ask us to help them and we say we can’t what we really mean is we are afraid, we don’t know how, or simply we don’t want to get involved. Whatever reasons we give, let us keep in mind:

a) At some point you and I are also going to need help
b) We are not exempt from being in the same position as those who seek our help
c) If God has put us in the position to help, then God expects us to do whatever we can and go as far as we can to help

After Esther informed Mordecai of her limitations, Mordecai responded by saying, “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Nothing in God’s world happens by accident. When we are in a hostile environment we need to take notice of where God has positioned us, we are either in the position of Mordecai where we need help, or we are in the position of Esther where we can provide help. If the person we seek out declines to help us, it just means that God will send relief and deliverance from another source, but we first need to ask for help. Remember, if we need help then we need to go as far as we can to get help and if we can help then we need to do as much as we can to provide help.

How do we survive in a hostile environment? Esther called for a total fast. She called on Mordecai and all in Susa, who were affected by Haman’s plan, to abstain from eating and drinking anything for three days. Esther called on Mordecai and everyone else involved to engage in the spiritual discipline of fasting. John Wesley taught that God communicates His grace to His people through the spiritual disciplines of prayer, reading the Scriptures, fasting, and partaking in the Lord’s Supper. Spiritual discipline is the conscious decision to adopt God’s Biblically proscribed lifestyle for the purpose of drawing closer to God and realizing God’s will for us and His power in our lives. Esther understood she needed to be changed before God could change her outcome. Our attitude, our behavior, and our approach to whatever we are facing and dealing with all have to be changed first and abstaining from things we want, desire, and can control us helps to bring about our change. Esther also understood that fasting and spiritual disciplines in general do not necessarily change outcomes. She said, “If I perish, I perish.” The purpose of this fast was for God’s guidance and protection as she navigated within her environment. In any hostile environment we are in there are at least three positions we need God to assume:

1) We need God to be our shepherd – to lead us through the minefields by navigating and directing our path
2) We need God to be our covering – the covering of God protects us from things coming crashing down all around us when we are our most vulnerable
3) We need God to be our rearguard – to make sure that nothing sneaks up behind us or catches us off guard should we become distracted

Some would say, couldn’t they have just prayed? Let’s be honest, no matter how hard we try not to let it happen, God gets lost in the daily shuffle of us trying to manage all of the things we have to get done. Spiritual disciplines like fasting help us to get our priorities in order and acknowledge our own limitations and inadequacies while letting God know how much we really need Him at all times and in all places.

REBOUNDING FROM _______________

2012-01-09T04:37:00.001-05:00

Sermon Series: Lord, I want to be better

Genesis 50:15-21
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Picking up the pieces after we have been abused, betrayed, devastated, wounded, or wronged in any way is never easy, but it is possible. Genesis 50 provides us with a picture of a rebounded Joseph. The portrait of Joseph in Genesis 50 is of someone who has overcome and made a full recovery. The question is how did he do it?

The Law of Inertia – a body at rest will stay at rest and a body in motion will stay in motion for as long as force is being applied. Joseph’s brothers were worried that he would attempt to get even with them for all of the things they had done to him. Joseph, on the other hand, saw himself as a body in motion being propelled by the force of God’s hand. Objects in motion will pass things by as long as they are moving. In order to interact with other objects we need to come to a complete stop and then go over to the other object and engage the other object. Joseph realized that God had propelled him beyond what was in his past. Since God had propelled him beyond his past, in order for Joseph to get even he would have had to:
a) Go back in time
b) Bring past wrongs into the present
c) Re-feel and relive the past pain, hurt and suffering
d) Devise a plan to make them feel what he felt
e) Carry it out

Essentially, Joseph would have to play God. This explains Joseph’s response to his brothers, “Am I in the place of God.” The Bible says, “Vengeance is mine says the Lord, I will repay.”
Joseph made a conscious decision to live in the now and continue moving in the direction that God was propelling him. It would mean that Joseph had to leave retribution to God and let the opportunity to get even pass him by. One of the challenges to rebounding from a past hurt is the tendency to bring the past into the present. We need to keep in mind that after something has been done to us, it’s done. It is history. There is no point in keeping it going. Yet, we keep talking about it, thinking about it, and continue to re-feel and relive the pain associated with the action. Joseph, made a conscious decision to live in the now and not try to rewrite what had already become history.

Newton’s third law of motion says, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Joseph pointed out, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Joseph’s response to his brothers here is an evolved mature response. It is the result of years of seasoning, growing, and developing. Evolution and personal growth take time and preparation. Let us remember that the picture of Joseph we see in Genesis chapter 50 is a different picture then what we see in his early years. Early on Joseph was a different person. Joseph was the youngest of his father’s sons and the Bible says that because he was a child of his father’s old age he was his favorite. Joseph’s favorite status tended to make him arrogant and cocky. His father did not help the situation any, Jacob gave Joseph lavish gifts such as a coat of many colors. All of these things made Joseph an easy target. Joseph had two dreams. In one dream there were twelve sheaves, one representing Joseph and each of his brothers and the eleven sheaves representing his brothers all bowed down to Joseph’s lone sheave. In another dream, the sun, which represented Joseph’s father and the moon, which represented his mother and eleven stars again representing each of his brothers all bowed down to his lone star. We all have dreams, but some things we need to keep to ourselves. Joseph apparently missed that memo and so as he retold the dreams it clear that he was the star in his own dreams. Joseph like most young men was very naïve. The Bible describes him as a good-looking man and while there is no indication that he was a womanizer, it is reasonable to believe that women were attracted to him. Therefore the situation he found himself in while living in Potiphar’s house was more of naivety then anything else. He was also too put too much trust in other people. Consider that everyone Joseph put his trust in let him down, his brothers, Potiphar, and the chief cupbearer all failed him when he counted on them most.
Years ago before meat tenderizer came in a bottle, people used to use a hammer like object to tenderize meat. I remember seeing my mother and grandmother taking a piece of steak and beating it with a meat tenderizer. The purpose of this was to loosen up the meat so that it would absorb the seasoning and bring out the flavor. I myself noticed that if you skipped this step the steak was not as tasty because the seasoning was not properly absorbed. It is amazing how involved the process of preparation was years ago. Another example was the baking of bread. After the ingredients were mixed together the final step was the kneading of the bread. My mother and grandmother would ball up their two fists place them in the dough and continue to work the ingredients into the mixture. Joseph needed to be tenderized and kneaded so that he could become the person we see in chapter 50. God’s tenderizing and kneading process for Joseph involved:
a) Humbling and arrogant and cocky young man – he was left for dead by his brothers
b) Grounding someone who thought they were the star of their own dreams – he was sold into slavery by his brothers
c) Helping a naïve little boy grow-up into a man – he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife
d) Learning how to trust people less and how to trust God more – he was forgotten by the chief cupbearer

According to Newton’s third law, for every bad thing that happens to us God uses it to produce something good in us. The ingredients to do good need to be added to us, mixed in, and worked together with in you and I. The mixture then needs time to settle and come together. Spiritual maturity always looks to see the good that God is attempting to bring about out of what is seemingly a bad situation. Joseph’s response teaches us to look beyond the pain and see the bigger picture of how God is working through our pain to produce something good in and through you and I.

Gandhi said, “If the whole world lived by the law of an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth then everyone in the world would be eyeless and toothless.” How do we see the bigger picture? One of the ways we can see the bigger picture is by moving on. Joseph’s brothers were still stuck in the past living with what they had done to him, but Joseph had moved on. One day when I was a child, my mother asked me to do something for her and after I did it I said, OK ma that will be five dollars. My mother told me to wait a minute and went into her record collection and pulled out a record titled “No Charge.” It was the story of a son who gave his mother an itemized bill for all the things she had asked him to do for her. The mother’s response to the list was, for carrying you for nine months, no charge; for going through the pain of childbirth with you, no charge; for caring for you when you are sick, no charge; for sacrificing my wants to make sure you have what you need, no charge.– We see the bigger picture by applying the principles of Scripture – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you and Love your neighbor as you love yourself – Treat people right regardless of how they treat us and do the right thing by others because it is the right thing to do. Joseph told his brothers, I have moved on, so “Don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.”

You will notice that in the title of this message there is a blank line. The reason for that is I do not know what you personally have experienced of what you are still harboring or holding on to that has be done to you. The blank is for you to fill it in with whatever wrong has been committed against you. To recap what we have learned from this text, how do we rebound from ___________________________

1. We need to forgive – a) the perpetrators; b) ourselves; and c) God-forgiveness is a two-way street, at some point you and I are going to need to be forgiven and therefore, we also need to be able to extend forgiveness. In some cases, God will be the one we need to forgive because we have blamed Him for what we have experienced. How do we forgive? We forgive by letting go, releasing, and giving the offender a pass or a pardon. If it helps, let us remember that God through Jesus Christ has given us a pass for the wrongs we have committed against Him.

2. Accept the fact that we are not God – there is only one God and we are not it; therefore, we cannot control or determine outcomes or punishment for offenses committed against us, but God can and will handle all actions perpetrated against His people

3. Look at life through a telescope and not a microscope – rather than focus on isolated events let us make every effort to see the big picture. Let us ask, what is God’s purpose for me in allowing this thing to happen? Instead of asking why me, let us ask, how is God using this to make me better? Remember, whatever you and I go through today it is in preparation for something we will face tomorrow, “For such a time as this.”

4. Be an over comer and not a martyr – over comers use their pain to help make others better not bitter. Martyrs by contrast sit around reveling in self-pity feeling sorry for themselves. Every experience that God allows you and I to have in the larger scheme of things is not only for our personal growth and development, but meant to be shared with other saints in God’s kingdom here on earth - how are we using our pain to make others better?

The real question is, do we want to live in yesterday’s pain or tomorrow’s promise and possibilities? Even Jesus rebounded. Jesus was crucified on one day and then a few days later after going down He came back, he rebounded. Jesus proved that you and I could also rebound if we want.

BETTER BEGINS WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION

2012-01-01T06:49:00.001-05:00

Sermon Series: Lord, I want to be better

2 Timothy 3:10-17

10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

How strong is your foundation? The most important part of any structure is the foundation. The strength and durability of any structure depend on the strength of the foundation. The role of the foundation is to support the structure that rests upon it. If the foundation of a structure fails, the structure itself no matter how strong it may be will also give way along with the sinking foundation. When we see the failure of a structure, in most cases it can be attributed to the failure of the foundation.

Again, I ask you, how strong is your foundation? Foundations that are pre-made can be laid in place or those that are made on the spot are poured into the designated area. In either case, they both need time to settle and become anchored to the surrounding soil. Such is the case with us, our foundation is the result of someone else’s pouring into us that has settled over time and become an anchor for the way we live, operate, and do business. If we want to check our foundation in any area of our life, all we have to do is take a quick three-question self-assessment. Ask ourselves, a) what have we been taught? b) what do we believe, and why? c) in what areas do we struggle? For me, one of the areas I struggle with is what happens to us after death? The apostle Paul says, “Absent from the body present with the Lord.” This is what I want to believe, but then in the Old Testament we read that every time someone died, they rested with their father’s. That’s one of my struggles, what about you? We all have things we struggle with and have difficulty reconciling, the question we need to answer, are we aware of our areas of struggle?

The truth is that much of what we believe and know to be true we have received from others. How many of you remember film? You know that thing they used to use in cameras. Essentially, we would point our camera at an object and as we pressed the button the shutter would close capturing a reflection of the light from the object. That light would then make an impression on the film allowing us to freeze a moment in time. Of course, the image still needed to be processed and developed. As we listen and interact with others the things they say, the way they handle their business and the feelings they convey regarding life and issues in life leave an impression on us that we process and develop over time. This impression will either stay with us or be modified, but it becomes a part of us.

Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why in verses 10 & 11 the apostle Paul reminds his protégé Timothy of the importance of knowing something about the people who are pouring into us. Paul points out that there are specific things Timothy has learned about him. While Timothy has been with Paul, he has had an opportunity to lean about Paul’s teaching, way of life, how he lived, purpose as a preacher of the gospel, his faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings, and life experiences. Timothy has also had the opportunity to observe how God delivered Paul from the trials he has faced.

This raises the question, what do we know about those who have poured into us? Do we know anything about how they lived, what they have been through and experienced? What about whom they studied under and were taught by, not to mention what was the source of their teacher’s teachings? What do they believe and why do they believe what they believe? What has God delivered them from? If others are shaping our person, faith, and walk then it would be wise on our part to know something about those that are pouring into us.

Have you ever wondered why the godly are persecuted? The desire of all people is to avoid persecution. However, the apostle points out those who desire to please God should expect to experience challenges, hardships, and difficulties in life. Some theologians and Biblical commentators would suggest that the apostle Paul was a bit of a martyr and took especial delight in showcasing the fact that he experienced what some would term as extreme suffering in his work to advance the gospel. From the rendering of verse 12 “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” I think that Paul is advising believers to prepare for life’s difficulties so that when they happen we are not caught off guard. The reality whether we want to believe it or not, we all have the capacity to handle anything that we have prepared for and know is coming. The stuff that generally gives us the greatest difficulty is that which catches us unaware and unprepared. It would seem as though the apostle is informing believers that suffering and persecution is part of the job description. Usually, the last line of any job description reads “other duties as assigned.” This means that stuff we do not like, care for, or want to do can be thrown at us at any time and we need to be prepared for it and prepared to handle it when it comes. It is interesting that when our bosses ask us to do stuff we really do not want to do, we often look around at others feeling persecuted and ask why me?

Imagine being engaged in a conversation with someone about the economy, family, or some other topic of the day. Now, imagine out of the blue the other person begins to talk about their corns and bunions. In verse 13 the apostle Paul appears to off on a tangent. He digresses and interjects a comment about evil men and imposters. Within every digression there is a message. Paul offers Timothy a message in a message. It would seem that the salient points of Paul’s message to Timothy in verse 13 are that not everyone is what they seem or appear to be, we need to not only listen to what people say, but also pay attention to how they live, and watch out for foreign objects. Foreign objects are things that have no substance or place and if they are allowed to settle they will over time compromise the integrity of our foundation. They say, those who can, do and those who can’t teach. Much like politicians, there was a statistic that said 47% of congress are millionaires compared to one percent of the total population of the United States. Talk about being out of touch with regular people. Whatever we hear it must be filtered through the screen of what we see. A good rule of thumb is, do they practice what they preach? The apostle Paul uses the words imposters, deceiving and being deceived. An imposter is someone who pretends to be something they are not, and to deceive is to intentionally promote something that is false or not true. Beekeepers are interesting people. Beekeepers use smoke when they are working with bees. The smoke basically helps to disarm the bees so that the beekeeper can work in and around the hive without getting stung. People who promote and practice deception are actually a lot like beekeepers blowing smoke to disarm their victims. The truth is hidden behind a cloud of smoke and only after the smoke clears can you see the truth. Paul encourages Timothy to watch out for these kinds of people. As we listen to those who proclaim the gospel let us inquire of what we are hearing, a) am I receiving the word or the world? If I want the world I can watch the news; b) am I receiving the breadth of the word or personal baggage? One builds up and the other weighs us down; c) do I see the sermon or am I only hearing a sermon? Is it practical or preachy? People who practice and promote deception usually are good at offering medicine to others, but have tremendous difficulty taking their own medicine. Do they take their own medicine?

The apostle Paul comes back in verses 14,15 & 16. He says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it.” Paul encourages Timothy to stay the course because the foundation that has been poured into Timothy has been tested and proven to be strong. It is no secret that Paul was the one who helped to lay the foundation for Timothy, but Paul does not place the emphasis on himself, but rather on the ingredients that were used to shape, mold and form Timothy’s foundation. In verse 15 the apostle reminds Timothy of those ingredients. He says, “from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. When we take verses 14 & 15 together, we see that the four ingredients that were used to form Timothy’s foundation are:

a) Consistent teaching – Timothy’s teachers lived what they taught, they were templates that modeled their own teaching

b) A steady diet of Scripture – While there are many things we can omit from our diet, the word of God is not one of them

c) Applying what he learned to his own life – Any Bible teaching or sermon that does not contain a how to section that can be practically applied has missed the mark – The purpose of teaching is instruction and the purpose of preaching is application

d) The primary source used was the word of God – While we may consult other source material for reference purposes, the word of God should be the primary source for godly living

Now that the apostle has laid out the materials we need for a solid foundation, the question is how do we use them? Have you ever noticed that shovels, picks, and rakes, do not come with instructions? The presumption is that the buyer already knows how to use them. Fortunately for us, Paul explains how to use our ingredients. In verse 16 he states, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” This is a very curious statement but it is meant to assure Timothy of the authority of Scripture. It is easier to receive something from a trusted source than a source that is unreliable. The Scriptures can be trusted because they are the words that God spoke and still uses to speak to us today. They are formed from the breath of God. Paul then points to four ways we can use the Scriptures as our primary source:

1. Teaching – the goal of teaching is to provide instruction in a specific area, the Scriptures offer instruction in all areas of life

2. Rebuking – have you ever gone off course and not known that you are off course? The Scriptures provide us with God’s established boundaries and parameters for what is acceptable, unacceptable, right, wrong, moral and immoral – they help to keep us accountable

3. Correcting – the truth is that we all make mistakes and for as long as we live we will make mistakes, the Scriptures help us to fix what we have broken, get back on course if we have gone off, and right the wrongs we have committed – part of being accountable is making the necessary corrections and adjustments after they have been pointed out

4. Training – athletes who want to be the best in their sport engage in a series of repetitious exercises and drills called training, the Scriptures, like training, help us to hone the things we do well and strengthen those areas we need to improve upon. They offer godly reinforcement for godly living

One of the essential questions this text answers is how can I become better? The answer according to the text is, I can become better by using the word of God as my primary source of instruction. When we use the word of God as our foundation for life we not only become better but we also will be better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.

FOLLOW THE WORD

2011-12-25T06:47:00.000-05:00

Sermon Series: Taking the Training Wheels off of our faith

Luke 2:8-20

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The first verse in our text opens by informing us that, “There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby.” The writer of the text points out that these shepherds were doing what shepherds do, keeping watch over their flocks by night. As I read this I wondered out loud if it is possible to want more out of life if you have never been exposed to any thing more than what you are doing or have seen? It would appear that these shepherds did not necessarily aspire or have any great ambition to be or do anything else and were probably quite content being night watchmen over sheep. One of the by-products of travel is revelation. They say, “Your world is as far as your eyes can see.” So, if we want to go farther then perhaps we need to see more. Traveling opens us up to information that we previously did not possess it opens our mind and eyes to see other places and possibilities. Since the shepherds were operating under the principle that they were shepherds it is not conceivable that they would have considered being something else or doing anything else unless it was revealed to them that something else existed for them.

The Bible says that, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them.” In the next scene the shepherds receive an angelic visitation. The angel proceeds to reveal the purpose for his visit. He points out that, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.” “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” “This will be a sign to you…you will find a baby,” and “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God.” From these verses it seems that the purpose of the angelic visitation was four-fold:

a) To inform the shepherds that God has something in-store for all people – before we can pursue more or something else it needs to be revealed to us

b) To make the shepherds aware that their salvation had come – one of the pitfalls that often thwarts our best efforts is timing, we can accomplish anything when the time is right
c) To tell them what signs to look for – even though timing is critical, doubts will still exist and so we also need to see that things are lining up and are as they should be so that our doubts can be overcome

d) To inspire them to investigate and see if God’s word was true – as we pursue the things that God reveals to us and we see those things becoming a reality it should motivate us to go further in our pursuit of the fulfillment of God’s word

While there is no indication that these shepherds were men of faith, it is clear that a broader application of the angelic visitation in this passage is that faith and life go together. In order for us to grow and develop our faith in God and God’s word we have to live life. In each of the birth narratives in Luke’s gospel, Zechariah, Mary, and now the shepherds, angelic visitations were the chosen method God used to inform them that He was changing their destination and laying out the course God wanted them to pursue. It helps when God reveals the destination and lays out the pathway, because all we have to do is follow God’s word. Whatever changes God proposes are designed to help us maximize our living. God challenges us to believe that God’s pathway will lead us to better than what we have now.

After the angel and the company of heaven left the shepherds they decided to accept God’s challenge. “The shepherds said to one another, let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing…which the Lord has told us about.” My grandmother used to say, “You never give up sure for unsure.” In most cases we need to be prompted or strongly convinced that the proposed change is in our best interest. It is interesting that prior to the angel and the company of heaven’s departure they engaged in praise and worship. Worship that includes praise is inspiring. It was after worship that the shepherds were inspired to go and follow God’s word. Inspiring worship is the fuel that fills and motivates us with a desire to go and find out. Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” It is always easier to follow God’s word when we are motivated or filled with the joy of the Lord. Remember, the shepherd’s initial reaction was fear, but after worship they found the strength to overcome their fears. Behind fear is concern of the unknown. We wonder how things are going to work out and what is going to happen, or how will others see and perceive us. The truth is that all of these things are beyond the scope of our control and if we allow them to exist they will be stumbling blocks in our pursuit of progress. However, the shepherds help us to see that when we embrace the reality that God takes great joy in pointing us in the direction we should go it helps us to overcome our fear of the unknown.

In the final scene of our text, the shepherds learned that pursuit of God’s path and/or purpose leads to new discoveries. The Bible says that did not just go, but they “Hurried off.”
As they followed God’s word they made some startling discoveries. What did they discover? They discovered:

1. The Savior and their salvation – They were introduced to someone who changed their person and the trajectory of their lives. These shepherds were never the same after meeting Jesus. After they had spent time in the presence of Jesus they found out that wherever they were and whatever they were going through would not last forever. They found out that Jesus is a liberator and possesses the power to set us free from whatever has us bound. The shepherds were bound by their mindset. They were bound by their job. They were bound by their location. They were bound by their ignorance. However, while they may not have believed going in, they certainly were changed when they came out. While they may have been bound going in, they emerged from their time with Jesus free men living in the gift of the salvation the savior had given them. Jesus helped them to see that there was more to life than chasing sheep all of their days. Jesus helped them to see that they could do something else, be something else and they could do it now.

2. A New Purpose and New Meaning to Life – Prior to embarking on this journey the shepherds led and were living a rather hum drum existence. They were essentially night watchmen whose lives had reached their ceiling. It is challenging to go farther than you believe you can go when you believe that you have gone as far as you can possibly go. When everything points to the fact that we have reached our ceiling then our ceiling needs to be raised. After the shepherds spent time with Jesus they discovered a new purpose and their lives gained new meaning. The Bible says, “They spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” They became the first evangelists. After spending time with Jesus, Jesus raised the ceiling for the shepherds. They thought they were only shepherds, but the word revealed to them that God had more for them and wanted them to become more than what they were. Whatever you and I think of our lives, God has more for us. However we feel about our lives, God has more. Wherever we are in life, God has more. More is on the other side of the ceiling. To get to the more God has for us, Jesus has to raise our ceiling and we have to be willing to follow God’s word to find it.

3. That God could use them to become people who make an impact – As they operated in their new calling and sense of purpose the Bible says, “All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” The shepherds found out that by following the word they could reach people they had never reached and touch people in a way they had never done before. For every problem that we face there is a solution in the word. For every question that we have there is an answer in the word. For every situation and every circumstance there is a response in the word. Instead of trying to tell people what we think, feel and believe, we just need to follow the word and the word will tell us what to say and how to say it.

4. They found fulfillment – There are many things in life that have the potential to make us happy, but there is nothing like the joy we can experience from the fulfillment of God’s word in our lives. God told them and then God showed them. It is in the telling that we become aware of what God has for us, and it is in the showing that we actually experience what God told us about. However, it is in our going after what God has told us about that we will realize God’s showing. If there is something else that God has for us and God has instructed us on how and where to find it, then unless we go after it we will never obtain it.

Faith is not static. Like all organisms faith needs to be fed, nurtured and nourished. Faith also needs to be challenged to help it grow and develop. Challenges often require that we go to places we have never been, take and assume roles we are not used to, and follow a path filled with unknowns. As far as the shepherds were concerned, they probably did not aspire to be anything more than what they were – shepherds. The problem with training wheels is that they limit where and how far we can actually go. The shepherds found out that when you take the training wheels off by following the word, the potential for where and how far we can go is limitless. If you and I want to go further then where we are lets do what the shepherds did, they followed the word.

PRAISE, AN EXPRESSION OF FAITH

2011-12-18T06:10:00.000-05:00

Sermon Series: Taking the Training Wheels off of our Faith

Luke 1:39-56

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

How do you respond to God? When we read God’s word, hear the Lord’s message proclaimed to us, or sense and perceive God’s presence in our midst, what is your reaction? Do we react like Zechariah with mock skepticism after hearing what God declares He wants to do for us? Do we react like Mary with shock that God would consider using us to fulfill His plan and purposes? Or, do we respond like Elizabeth who offered spontaneous praise after an encounter with the Holy Spirit? How do we respond to God? As we have seen thus far throughout the birth narratives, our response to God is predicated on what we know and believe about God and God’s ability to fulfill His word in our lives.

Zechariah wanted to believe, but he needed more evidence. Mary believed in the absence of evidence, and Elizabeth gave thanks after God provided the evidence. One of the differences between a master’s degree and a doctorate is that a master’s degree indicates you have mastered your field and a doctorate suggests that you are an expert in your field. Clearly, Zechariah, Mary, and Elizabeth did not possess a master’s or doctorate in faith. One of the burning questions that faith asks is, what do you do until the evidence comes? Even though Mary accepted the angel’s report and Elizabeth initially gave thanks, there was an in-between period for both of them. There was a period in-between the promise God made to them and the fulfillment of God’s promise. This is the place I believe we most often find ourselves. After we have heard God’s promises proclaimed to us there is a period of time that passes before the promise comes to fruition. This is called the in-betweens. The question is how can we respond to God in faith when we are in the in-betweens. For forty years the Nation of Israel lived in the in-betweens. For forty years they were in-between the promise God made to them and realizing its fulfillment. For forty years all they heard was God has a land flowing with milk and honey and will give it to us as an inheritance because we are God’s people. Of the over two to three million people that left Egypt only twelve ever saw the land and two of them actually made it to the promise land. The in-betweens can be a tough place to be sometimes. In-between college and your career, you finished college but there are no career opportunities in your field. In-between your credential and your promotion, you don’t have your credential so you cannot get the promotion they promised you. In-between where you are and where you want to be, you have done everything you are supposed to do to get to where you want to go but the decision making power rests in the hands of someone else. One of the things that made the in-betweens so challenging for both Mary and Elizabeth is that after Gabriel spoke to Mary he left her alone. After Elizabeth got pregnant she was in seclusion for six months.

Faith cannot grow or develop in a vacuum. Biology teaches us that any living thing that is not nurtured, nourished and cultivated will eventually die of deprivation. Living things need contact with other living things and when they are deprived of that contact they will eventually die of starvation. The Bible says that after Gabriel left, Mary went to the home of Elizabeth. These two expectant mothers got together and formed a community. One of the ways you deal with life in the in-betweens is by cultivating your faith. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth helped to encourage Elizabeth and inform Mary. Faith is a living, breathing organism that needs to be nurtured, nourished and cultivated. Even though they dared to believe the impossible, they still had questions. Whatever questions regarding faith that you and I have we cannot answer them in solitude, but we can find answers, encouragement, nurturing and nourishment in community. When the people of God come together in community the seeds of faith that are sown into us through our hearing receive the necessary nutrients to help them grow and develop. As Mary saw for herself what God had done for Elizabeth and Elizabeth perceived the presence of God in Mary they both received confirmation that yes, God is a keeper of His word. Their faith was being cultivated. When we come together in community we can see for ourselves what God is doing, hear how God is doing it, and gain the courage to believe that God can and will do it for us too. A faith that is fed in community will grow and develop, but a faith that is neglected will eventually wither and die. Who is God using to feed your faith? Who is your Mary and who is your Elizabeth?

It is important that we see faith as an organism and not an ideal. Ideals are things we strive for and if we do not reach them we can be content with coming close. When we view faith as an organism we learn to treat it like a living being and as something that is a part of our make up. Seeds that are not anchored into the soil they are sown can be easily uprooted. Likewise, if we want our faith to grow and develop it must be anchored in the reality of who God is and the awareness of God’s activity in and around us. We will know that our faith is anchored in the reality of God when we are able to see God’s activity in and around us. Remember, Gabriel only told Mary what God planned to do, and Mary prior to visiting with Elizabeth had not seen any evidence, she was still in the in-betweens. To be honest, there are times when it is difficult to grasp a solid understanding of who God is and identify exactly what God is doing in our lives and in our environment. One of the questions that faith asks is, can we see how God’s grace and mercy has been and is being applied to us and those around us? The good news is that our text provides us with some things we can and should look for in verses 42-44. When we are trying to identify God’s presence and activity in our lives one of the first things we should look for are special people. “In a loud voice she (Elizabeth) exclaimed: Blessed are you among women.” God, who is Spirit, works in the spirit realm, but God also works through people. God will send and bring us together with people whose sole mission is to encourage, empower, educate, inform, and challenge us. Sometimes the same people we do not want to deal with are the people we need to deal with because God wants to work through them to help us get to where we need to go. Another thing we should look for is unusual activity. Elizabeth said, “Blessed is the child you will bear.” There will be opportunities, situations and circumstances that only God can create and doors that only God can open. We need to be sensitive to the fact that God works on an entirely different level then we are able to comprehend. When we encounter or experience the incomprehensible check to see if God orchestrated it. We also need to embrace the idea that what we consider bad situations are really divine opportunities. While God was going to use Mary to be the vehicle through which Christ would be presented to us, Mary still had to explain it to her family and husband to be Joseph. I’m sure that was uncomfortable for her but the discomfort Mary felt was overshadowed by the blessing the entire world received. Tomorrow’s blessing is waiting behind today’s discomfort. Elizabeth then makes a curious statement she refers to Mary as “The Mother of my Lord.” When we are looking for God and God’s activity it is helpful to see others as God sees them. While we see each other as Joe, John, Susie, and Ann, God see us as brothers, sisters, vessels, and blessings. When we make an effort to see each other through the eyes of God we will also see God in others. As we see God in others we begin to realize that God is not up there or over there, but God is right here living and dwelling in and among us. One of the most important things we need to look for is confirmation. Elizabeth said, “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” If we want a deeper understanding of God, then we have to pay attention to God and what God is doing in and around us. When we start paying more attention to God and what God is doing our faith will become rooted and anchored in the reality and knowledge of whom God is.

Deep roots produce mature fruit. Roots that grow deep are able to draw and extract the necessary nutrients from the soil where they are planted thereby feeding the fruit. In the same way the testimony and witness of God’s activity in and around us feed a faith that grows deep in God. Let us consider the mere sight of Mary coupled with the sound of her voice and what Elizabeth felt inside her prompted Elizabeth to conclude that God is a keeper of His word. Elizabeth declared, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” The realization and awareness that God had stepped into the everyday affairs of people caused Elizabeth to respond to the reality of God in the form of praise. Praise is not only an expression of faith, but it also the fruit of a faith whose roots are anchored in the belief and reality that God is at work in and around us. While Elizabeth’s expression is the result of what God is doing (twice she says, blessed is and once blessed are – both present tense terms), Mary on the other hand also bursts out in praise. Mary expresses a deep awareness of who God is, what God has done, and what God will do not only for her but also for all people who call God Lord. Mary’s praise does not come from her lips, but rather it comes from her soul. Mary’s heart is overwhelmed by the thought of what God has done and will do for her and others even though she personally does not deserve or has done anything to earn it.

As we examine both Elizabeth and Mary’s response to God this much is clear something profound happened to them that day in Elizabeth’s home. Both of them were relatively docile and reserved women who adhered to the cultural norms of their day. There are some who are uncomfortable with the idea of verbal expression in church outside of singing and other portions of the service where we are prompted to speak. I was one of them. However, we cannot ignore the witness of Scripture. When our soul becomes full with the reality of whom God is, the awareness of what God has done, is doing, and will do, out of our heart will flow the praises of God as we express our belief and gratitude to Him. The reality is that no two people will praise God or express their faith the same way. Elizabeth offered blessings and Mary offered a song. The point is that praise, an expression of what we believe, think and feel about God transcends culture, tradition, space and time and will eventually come out.

Elizabeth and Mary had no trouble expressing to God how they felt about God. What about you and I? Can we or do we express to God how we feel about Him? If you find it difficult or challenging, start by thinking about who God is and then think about what God has done, is doing, or promises to do for you. If that does not work, plug into a community of believers where the seeds of faith can be sown into you, cultivated, anchored, and ultimately bear fruit in the form of praise, an expression of faith.

LET GOD USE YOU

2011-12-11T11:44:00.000-05:00

Sermon Series:Taking the training wheels off of our faith

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Why does call us to do things we have not asked for? Why does God ask us to abort the path we have gone to great pains to plan and plot for ourselves? And, why does God seemingly put us in positions that make us feel uncomfortable and usually are outside of our comfort zone? The short answer is that God wants to use us. In the course of God using us God also wants to develop us as individuals and people of faith. In essence, God wants to take the training wheels off of our faith so that God in Christ can take us to places we have never been before.

In our last installment we examined the Biblical character Zechariah. We learned that Zechariah, who served in the church or Temple, heard the word of God but experienced difficulty accepting God’s word because his religion and life experience got in the way. God helped Zechariah overcome those stumbling blocks by teaching Zechariah some important lessons about God’s character.

Today, we turn our attention to Mary the mother of Jesus, our Lord and savior. One of the first questions we must ask is who was Mary? Verses 26 & 27 tell us “God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth…to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.” These two short verses reveal that Mary was a poor young woman who had a plan for her life. It is important that we identify and connect with Biblical characters on some level. It is through our identification with them that God speaks to us through His word and we are able to apply the lessons gleaned from the text. While most of us may not be able to identify with Mary on any other level, we can all identify with the fact that she had a plan for her life. Mary had dreams, hopes and aspirations regarding where the choices and actions she was preparing to make would eventually lead her. God, however, had other ideas and another plan for her life. God sends the angel Gabriel to visit her and inform her of His intent to change her plans. In verse 31 the angel Gabriel says, “You will be with child and give birth to a son.” God uses the angel Gabriel to break the news to Mary that He, God is altering her life plan and that she must give up her plan in favor of God’s plan. One of the maxims of life is that in order to live we must die. The apostle Paul put it this way, “When I was a child I did childish things and when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Successful living requires daily dying. As we consider the stages of human development, we see this principle played out. In order for a child to become an adult, they must go pass through the different stages of the life cycle. The transition is not complete until they have completely closed the door on the previous stage. God was informing Mary you are not who you are going to be and who you thought you were going to be is not who you will become. Mary thought she was going to be the wife of Joseph, but God intended for her to be the mother of Jesus. Mary thought she would live her life in the shadow of her husband Joseph and stay connected to the family she had always known, but God intended for her to play a prominent role that required her to come out of the shadow of others. In order to become who God wants us to be, God asks us to put away who we would like to be. We also see that whatever God wants us to be is more than what we would like to become.

In essence, God was informing Mary that He had a higher calling for her and her life. Mary’s challenge was different than Zechariah. Zechariah’s challenge was moving from head religion to heart faith. The issue for Zechariah was moving from faith as an idea in his head to something he embraced and believed in his heart. In Mary’s case, her challenge was overcoming the social stereotypes and boundaries imposed on her by society and her family in order to embrace God’s divine plan. Mary’s family and society had carved out and predetermined Mary’s role but God wanted to take Mary beyond what others though she could do and where she should go.

The selection of Mary for such a high calling is very curious when we consider Mary was inexperienced. Up to this point in her life, she had lived with her family and never had to make a decision for herself. Someone else always made decisions for her. Mary was uninformed. Mary had no formal education and whatever she knew it was what someone else had told her. Mary lived an insular life; she only heard the voices of her family, friends, relatives, and neighbors. Mary was still a child herself. She had just entered puberty and was still playing tag, red light – green light, with Barbie and Ken dolls, and her easy bake oven. And so, the task that God selected Mary for would cause her to be viewed in less than a favorable light by society and put a tremendous strain on her relationship with her family. Transformations and change are never easy, but they are necessary. In order to get someplace else we must leave the place we are currently occupying. In order for God to transform Mary into a woman, she had to stop being a little girl.

Mary asks, “How will this be?” God understood that before a person can be something else, they must first be exposed to something else, hear other voices, see other places, and experience other things. The angel Gabriel makes two statements, a) The Lord is with you and b) do not be afraid. The thought of doing something we have never done or going somewhere we have never been alone can be frightening. Therefore, to help Mary overcome her challenges Gabriel begins to educate and inform Mary about the presence of God. Prior to engaging in any activity for God we need to know something about the presence of God. Gabriel says in verse 35 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” One of the first things we learn about the presence of God is that God is Spirit. Spirits cannot be seen or heard. The question is, if God is Spirit then why do we keep looking for a person? This is perhaps one of the areas where people who want to believe struggle the most, trying to comprehend the presence of God in human terms. Gabriel points out that God encounters and engages people spiritually and to try and understand God in human terms is to miss an encounter and the engaging presence of God. Gabriel goes on to say in the same verse 35 “The power of the Most High will over-shadow you.” Here we learn that when God is with us His presence is over us, in front of us and behind us. Literally, the presence of God covers us. The truth is that we do not have to see a person to know they are there. When I was a child, my father would sneak up on me and scare the life out of me. Prior to saying boo, he was there I just did not realize he was there. There are times when my wife will stand at the doorway as I am working on the computer and I am totally unaware she is there because I am engrossed in whatever I am doing, but she is present. Gabriel concludes by saying, “The Holy one to be born…” In order for a child to be born they must first be carried inside their mother’s womb. We learn that the presence of God indwells us or resides inside of us. The indwelling presence of God is the believer’s direct connection and link with God. This text provides a picture of the triune presence of God. God the Father over-shadows us and covers us with His presence. God the Son dwelling and living on the inside of us operating as our personal link to the presence of God, and God the Holy Spirit encountering and engaging us as the initial contact with God’s presence. While we may try to approach and understand God intellectually, Gabriel teaches Mary and you and I that it is through the senses that we encounter, perceive, and experience the triune God. A God who only appeals to the intellect is a sterile God, for it is with our senses that we feel love and experience compassion, warmth, and tenderness.

We like Mary will encounter people who feel we are not ready, do not have enough experience, or are making a mistake in our life choices. Yet, we must remember that it is not people who call us to serve them, but it is God who calls us to serve Him. Mary was faced with a very difficult decision, she could have said no and continued to live the life that her family and others had chosen for her or she could give herself over to God and allow God to take her someplace she had never been. In most cases the choice for us is not so dramatic, for us the question is do we understand that God wants to use us, and how do we get to the place where we believe, accept and embrace what God wants to do in and through us? To help us get to that place we must examine Mary’s response, “I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said.” Mary saw herself not as Mary the future wife of Joseph, not as Mary the daughter, Mary the sister, or Mary the friend, but Mary the servant and vessel of God. Mary teaches us that servanthood is a privilege and not a right. Let us consider that, of all the women in Nazareth and the region of Galilee, God chose Mary. Whenever God chooses you and I to serve Him in any capacity we must first understand that it is a privilege to serve and not a right. We do not deserve to serve God, but rather we are chosen to serve God. The reason Mary found favor with God was because she was available, not because of any other reason. Mary simply said, in spite of my inexperience, my lack of formal training, and my age, I am available. Mary provides us with a profile of what it means to be a servant of God. God’s servant gives up their will in favor of the will of God. God’s servant gives in to the directives of God. God’s servant gives him or her self over completely to God for the accomplishment of God’ plan and purposes.

John Calvin reformer and theologian said, “The obedience which is rendered to him as to our father, he calls by his prophet “honor.” The service which is done to him as to our master, he calls “fear.” “A son,” he says, “Honors his father, and the servant his master. If I am your father, where is the honor which you owe me? If I am your master, where is the fear? Malachi 1:6 Even though he distinguishes the two, he unites them at the beginning, comprehending the one and the other under the word, “honor.” Consequently, the fear of God is for us a reverence mixed of such honor and fear.

According to John Calvin, to honor God is to obey Him. It is in our obedience to God we show God honor and we declare to God that He is our father. Likewise, to reverence, respect, and/or fear God is to serve Him. It is in our service to God we show reverence, not by keeping silent in worship, and through our service to God we declare that God in Christ is our master.

Are we too big, important, busy, or afraid for God to use us? Are we unavailable for God? If we are unavailable for God we may find God unavailable when we really need Him. For homework, I want us to ask ourselves are we experiencing the favor of God? Is God pleased with us and do we feel the closeness of God’s presence in our lives? Can we say, Lord, here I am use me however you want? Do we believe the presence of God in us will overcome every obstacle outside of us that can hinder us from God using us?

Remember, God says, let Him use us and His presence with us, around us, and in us will empower us to overcome whatever challenges we face. If we want to grow in our faith we have to be willing to let God use us and take us where we have never been.

TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD

2011-12-04T04:16:00.000-05:00

(Sermon Series: Taking the training wheels off of our faith)

Luke 1:5-20
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”

Why do we ask God for things and do not believe God will do what we ask Him to do? Is it possible that we have been religiously conditioned? From the time I was in Sunday school, I was told to ask for what I wanted and God would do it for me. As a child growing up, my mother and father drilled into me the idea ask for what you want. However, I do not remember at any point either in Sunday school or at home anyone saying that it is also important for you to believe you will receive what you have requested. We are taught to ask for what we want, but not necessarily believe that we will be the recipients of what we want. And so, we go through life with a tempered enthusiasm when it comes to believing that we will receive our requests. The specter that we may not get what we have asked for looms and we are cautious with regard to getting our hopes up in fear we will be disappointed. It only takes one major disappointment to scar a person for life and turn trust into skepticism. It only takes one broken promise, one broken heart or one betrayal to change our perspective and cause us to doubt all who come after the perpetrator including God. We begin to treat God like we treat others, when I see it I will believe it.

In the opening chapter of the gospel of Luke, we are introduced to a couple by the name of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Today, we will spend some time getting to know Zechariah and my hope is that you will identify with him on some level. Identification with Biblical characters helps to broaden our understanding of a text and provides insights for personal application. As we examine the information provided to us about Zechariah, I think that everyone will find some level of identification with our brother Zechariah.

The description provided in the text of Zechariah is the profile of a person who was religiously conditioned and took a secular or worldly approach to faith. According to Dr. Luke, Zechariah was a priest. He ministered and served in the Temple, and he carried out his religious obligations. If you and I have ever served in any capacity at a church we can identify with Zechariah. The Law of Moses guided his life, and so he was sound morally and ethically in his approach to life. Everyone is guided by some code of ethics and moral standards. We all subscribe to principles that shape our attitudes and behaviors. Some are more conservative, moderate, and others are liberal, but on some level a moral and ethical compass guides everyone. Yet, when it came to faith and believing what God could do Zechariah was a bit of a skeptic. He wanted to see some proof. He needed some evidence to help him understand and know how God was going to accomplish what God said he would do. Again, we all have heard things about what God is capable of doing and if we are honest, we have also wondered how God could have done it or how God was going to do it. When you and examine Zechariah the person, I believe we can find identification with him on some level.

If we go a little deeper into Zechariah the person we also learn that while religious instruction can help to make us morally and ethically sound, or better people it will not necessarily strengthen our faith. Religious instruction provides the mechanics for better living, not stronger faith. The portrait of Zechariah helps us to see that it is possible to believe in the existence of God and still question the efficacy of God’s power in our lives. Clearly, Zechariah was not an atheist but an agnostic. The atheist disavows the reality of God or even the possibility that God exists. The agnostic believes in the existence of God, but wants some proof or evidence to confirm their belief. This is the definition of a secular approach to faith, will God or won’t he do it for me.

The challenge Zechariah faced was moving from a head religion to a heart faith. One of the questions this text raises is how do you move from faith as a concept or ideal in our head to something we embrace and that becomes a way of life.

The angel Gabriel told Zechariah, “Your prayer has been heard,” and “You did not believe.” Religion says ask for what you want and faith says believe that you will receive. Religion says pray for what you want and faith says when you pray believe you will receive. There is an obvious divide between religion and faith. Why? In the case of Zechariah, he had been denied of the one thing he really wanted. Therefore, his past experience dictated there was no evidence of him getting what he asked for and why should this time be any different. The lack of evidence had given birth to a growing skepticism. Zechariah asked and God had not answered in the affirmative. If you hear no enough times you either stop asking or you begin to believe it probably will not happen. The lack of evidence coupled with a growing skepticism was fueled by time. According to the scriptures both Zechariah and Elizabeth “Were both well along in years.” Zechariah was an old man and Elizabeth was postmenopausal. Even if he could, Elizabeth could not. When Zechariah looked at where he and his wife were in life, the laws of biology and nature declared that their time had come and gone.

And so, while Zechariah prayed I’m sure that at some point he stopped believing it would ever happen. He was religiously conditioned to pray, but in his heart he had abandoned all hope of it ever becoming a reality. Zechariah helps us to understand that realism, reason, and logic will not interfere with our religion, but they can be the undercurrent that sucks the heart out of our faith. Unlike places where the waters tend to be calmer, the beaches here in the northeast are notorious for their undercurrents. The undercurrents are so powerful that they have caused many good swimmers to lose their life. One of the problems with undercurrents is that once you get caught in one it pulls you away from the shore and out into the ocean. Realism, reason and logic work the same way they pull you away from faith and where you end up is anyone’s guess.

Ok, now that we know a little bit about who Zechariah was and the challenges of a head religion, the next question we have to answer is how do we get to the place where we believe what God says with all of our heart?

One of the things we have to keep in mind is that while God is far and away unlike human beings, God does have a character. Prior to developing or a prerequisite for developing a heart faith means that we have to know something about the character of God. A good place to start is by asking ourselves, what do we know about God and His character? Fortunately for us the text provides us with some information. In verse 13 the angel Gabriel says, “Your prayer has been heard.” One thing we know or learn about God is that God always answers prayers, even if the answer is no or not right now. There is no prayer that you and I pray in earnest that God does not answer. An earnest prayer is a prayer prayed from the heart or out of the depths of human pain and experience. The Bible says, “The fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much.” This is one of the arguments against canned prayers. A canned prayer is any preprinted prayer. Preprinted prayers are only meant to be guides and used occasionally, they are not meant to supplant our own thoughts, feelings and words. No other person can speak to God for us or in the way we need to communicate with God. God wants to hear from you and I, and when God hears from us God will respond to us. The real question is, are we willing to accept God’s answer? Zechariah struggled with God’s answer. Struggling with God is also necessary for faith development. All of the saints who have gone before us struggled and people throughout the scriptures struggled with God. If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

In verse 14-17 the angel Gabriel begins by saying, “He will be…” and then provides a rather detailed description of the child that will be born to Zechariah and Elizabeth. The second thing we learn about God is that God always goes beyond our request. We ask exclusively, but God acts inclusively. We ask for ourselves, but God uses our request to benefit, reach, save, or bless others. Zechariah and Elizabeth asked for a child, but God gave them a prophet. God gave them someone who would be a blessing to the entire nation and the world even to this day. God is not a selfish God and God does not cater to selfish people. One of the principles of utilitarian ethics is, the greatest good for the greatest number of people. God takes what we ask for and then multiples it so that it will do the greatest good for the greatest number of people. I asked God for a car and God gave me a cab. I often have to use my car to chauffer others around. I asked God for a job and God gave me a ministry. All I wanted was to teach and instead, God put me in a position where I have to counsel some students, mentor some, be a father or brother to others, or just a sounding board. God goes beyond our selfish request and multiplies them to serve and meet the needs of others.

Verse 19 Gabriel reminds Zechariah, “I have been sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.” We learn that God will inform us of His response and then confirm His intent or will. If you and I are paying attention, the actions of God will never catch us off guard. One of the problems is that we often look and expect God to speak or act the same way all the time. We need to be open to the various ways in which God can and does speak to us. I am sure that Zechariah was not used to seeing the appearance of angelic beings. That is why Gabriel tried to calm him down by telling him, “Do not be afraid.” Just like this was a different manifestation of the presence of God for Zechariah we also need to be open to God’s different manifestations, such as the impression of God’s word. There are times when you and I will hear things or read things in the Bible and it will stay with us and resurface again and again. This is an indication that God has made an impression on us with His word. There are times when God will speak to us through emissaries. God will send people into our lives to communicate a message, provide counsel, direction or an answer to a problem. If it is of God there will be confirmation. It will not only be one person, but others who are not even connected will repeat what has already been stated. There are times when God will speak to us through situations. We really need to be careful here so as not to misread and misinterpret. Look to see how God is working things out, are things going smoothly or is there resistance and opposition. In some cases resistance and opposition may mean not right now and in other cases is could be God trying to help us determine if this is something we really want. Adults are big kids sometimes. Like children we ask for things because we see someone else with it and we decide we need to have it too. There are times when God speaks to us through music and prayer. Music is perhaps one of the most profound ways in which God speaks to us. Music has the power to change and impact our moods, attitudes, feelings and behavior and prayer has the same power and ability if we are open and listening. God also speaks to us through nature. We will not all have a burning bush experience like Moses, but the God of creation has a way of getting our attention through His creation.

In verse 20 Gabriel says, “My words…will come true at their proper time.” We learn that God works according to His timetable. God who is infinitely wiser than we are never makes mistakes and always acts at the proper time which is usually sooner than we expect or later than we would like.

In so far as the character of God is concerned, we have learned that:
a. God always answers prayers prayed in earnest, even if the answer is no or not right now
b. God always goes beyond our selfish request by multiplying our request to cause the greatest good for the greatest number of people
c. God will always inform us of His response and confirm His intent and will
d. God only moves according to His timetable

When we know the character of a person it helps us to understand how they operate and respond to us and situationally. In the case of God, knowing His character helps us to:
1. Trust Him because he does not lie
2. Believe Him when He speaks because He does not change His mind (God is not a flip-flopper)
3. Take Him at His word because He keeps His promise

Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? The big three, do we trust God, do we believe God when He speaks to us, and do we take God at His word? For homework, I want us to take a self-assessment and honestly answer these three questions. If our answer to any or all of these questions is no, then we must find our why and then work to change that, because unless we are willing to trust God, believe God when He speaks, and take God at His word we cannot grow and develop in our faith. We serve a great big God who wants to do great big things in the lives of His people, but as long as the training wheels are on our faith we will be limited in what and how we experience what God does.

THANK GOD FOR TOMORROW

2011-11-23T05:16:00.001-05:00

Habakkuk 3:16-19

16 I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

When you and I are confronted with life’s problems, what do we see? I can imagine that some would say that question sounds ridiculous. The truth is that every problem, situation, and circumstance that we face or encounter has at least two views. The first view in any problem is the reality of the problem and its accompanying issues. Yet, no matter how great or small, all problems at some point must run their course. This is the second view in any problem is at some point it will cease to be a problem. How well or poorly we deal with the problems, issues, or challenges we face will depend on which view you and I choose to focus on.

The prophet Habakkuk heard and saw the Babylonian army coming and he became paralyzed with fear. He said, “I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones and my legs trembled.” The Babylonian army relied on numbers, they would send wave after wave after wave of soldiers to storm cities and eventually wear their opponents down. They had a reputation for overwhelming their enemies. When you go to visit your parents and you notice one of them exhibiting some memory issues, here comes the Babylonians. When your supervisor informs you that due to budget cuts you have to give back, or furlough some days and time, here comes the Babylonians. When your creditors expect you to still make payments even though you are bringing home less money, here comes Babylon. We will know that the Babylonian army is coming when whatever you and I face overwhelms and paralyzes us with fear. We will feel powerless.

Whenever we receive news that is less than desirable it causes a shock to our system. Habakkuk’s initial reaction to the news of the Babylonian army’s presence overwhelmed him and caused his system to go into shock. One of the laws of gravity and physics state, “What goes up must come down.” Apparently, Habakkuk remembered this fact and regained his equilibrium. In the later portion of verse 16 he says, “Yet, I shall wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.” As Habakkuk applied the laws of gravity and physics to his situation he came to the conclusion that even Babylon must fall at some point. I have to presume that Habakkuk reflected on some of the prior challenges that Israel faced throughout their history such as the Philistines, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, and others. All of these and some other foes that Israel faced all had their day. In their time they were able to exert their power and dominance over Israel. Then also came a day when they ceased to be a threat and fell like the setting sun on the horizon. Habakkuk realized that while Babylon might be on top today there is coming a day when they too shall fall. Until then Habakkuk decided to wait it out. When you and I are confronted with situations and circumstances that we cannot do anything about, we have to remember – this too shall pass. Until it passes we have to be prepared to wait it out.

The truth is, it is difficult to wait a bad situation out if you are only surrounded by or exposed to doom and gloom. The fact is that in many situations things will get a lot worse before they get better. One thing that counters doom and gloom is a vision of better. Before we can believe things will get better, we need to see something better. Today, we live in a world filled with skepticism and cynicism. As a result most people will not try anything different, do something different or think differently unless they see how it will tangibly improve their lives. This is perhaps one of the reasons some struggle with their faith, because faith is an intangible. You cannot see it, taste it, touch it, smell it, or feel it, and you don’t know that you have it until you need it. When we are in the midst of a crisis or are being overwhelmed by life’s problems it takes faith to see something other than what we are going through, because there is no evidence that things will get better.

People who point out the obvious are annoying. The entire world can see that things are not going well for us and here comes some joker who says, “you’re going through a bit of a rough patch, huh?” While point out the obvious can be annoying, it is also necessary. Reality helps to keep us grounded, but it is also the launching pad for faith. We do not necessarily need faith when things are going well. But, when things are not going so well that’s the time we need…Habakkuk issues a statement of his reality when he says, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines. Though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food. Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls.” The reality for Habakkuk was that nothing was happening and there was no indication that anything was going to happen.

The interesting thing about Habakkuk is that he did not stop there, because while he acknowledges the reality of his situation today he also possessed an intangible that helped him to see beyond today. When you are hopeless and feel helpless you can only see the problem, but when we possess faith we can see beyond the problem and also see the possibilities and potential. Faith helps us to see beyond today and into tomorrow. Habakkuk makes no bones about the fact that things are about as bad as they can get right now, but in spite of how bad things are “I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Faith is not predicated on what God does, but whom we believe that God is and know God to be. If our faith is based on what God does or does not do then we stop at verse 17. If on the other hand our faith is rooted in the knowledge of whom God is than we can thank God for who He is. Habakkuk recognizes that God is both the LORD and Savior. As the LORD, God is the self-existing God. Everything that God needs to fulfill His plan, will, and purposes is within God. God does not need any help or rely on anything or anyone, because He is God and there is none greater than God. Since there is none greater than my God, Habakkuk declares that he will find his joy in the God of his salvation. When we recognize that it is God alone who can save us and that God’s salvation is always imminent for God’s people we have the power to change how we feel. People who realized that their help is on the way are not sad and depressed, but rather they are happy and elated because they know their troubles will soon be over.

Ultimately, Habakkuk stopped focusing on the Babylonian problem of today and turned his attention to how God was going to ushering in a new day called tomorrow. “The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” At the point where human strength ends, divine strength begins. In order for something new to begin something old has to end. As long as we struggle to manage our situations, determine our outcomes, and manipulate the course of events God will stay out of our affairs because clearly we do not need any help or assistance. However, when we decide to cede control and turn over the reigns to God, He will then enable and empower us to go through and overcome whatever we are facing. Deer’s are interesting creatures. They do not like inclement weather because it hampers their senses and their instincts tell them that they are “at risk” and in danger. Therefore they generally wait until the weather changes. It is amazing how when we are in tune with God, He will use our instincts to alert us of changes in our environment that put us at risk. However, when the weather conditions are ideal deer’s are able to move swiftly and stealthy. In fact while deer’s cannot outrun all predators they do have the ability to go to higher ground. While we may not be able to outrun our problems, God has the power to elevate us above them. Sometimes the solution is not to get out of, but to rise above.

Without a doubt the problems of today can be overwhelming. However, the same God that delivered us from the problems of yesterday will deliver us from the problems of today. The key is to understand that while problems and situations have to run their course a better day is coming tomorrow. Thank God for tomorrow.

THE DAY OF RECKONING

2011-11-13T07:41:00.001-05:00

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

One of the things that I absolutely dislike doing is balancing my checkbook. In fact, I dislike it so much that I surrendered the job and gave it to my wife. Of course, disliking something does not negate its necessity. There are many things in life that we all find distasteful, but they are necessary and have to be done. Reconciling our finances is one of those things that must be done. Reconciliation provides us with a clear picture of what we have done with what we have.

You can imagine the shock to my system when I read the passage in Matthew 25 and discovered that God and life also reconcile their accounts with us. The text says, “A man… entrusted his property to them.” It would seem that just as a stockbroker invests in stocks and bonds, and a person involved in capital ventures invests in projects, God on the other hand invests in people. However, prior to investing in anyone or anything, we need to do some research and we need to do our homework. Clearly, God does not invest Willy nilly, but rather God takes into account the ability of every person He invests in. “He gave…each according to his ability.” This is good news for God’s people, because it means that whatever has been placed under our purview or that we encounter we have the ability to handle it. We would also be wise to take the time to consider how our own investments will perform over time. Prior to investing our time, our energy, and our effort into something we should think about how well it will perform over time. Before we say, I do, we need to consider will he or she do over time. Before we say yes to the job, we need to ask will the job meet my needs over time. God places expectations on His investments, and any investment that God makes is based on performance over time and the potential to at least meet and exceed expectations. Whatever God has entrusted to you and I God has done so with the expectation that we will do something with it over time.

The expectation of any investment is that it will bring a return. The Bible says, “The man who had received…at once…put his money to work and gained.” In order to get a return we have to put what we have to work. Money does not multiply by itself, we have to put it in something or put it to work so that it will bring a return. Friends do not just drop into our lives, we have to extend ourselves and reach out to other people to let them know we want them to be part of our network. We have to work at it to make friends. In the same way, talents, skills, and abilities do not become sharp and hone themselves. We have to go to school to get more information, study the information we receive, and then put it into practice so that we can improve our talents, skills and abilities. We have to work at it to become better. Two of the three took what was given to them put it to work and gained more. If we want more we have to take what we already have and put it to work. The third person did nothing and did not gain anything. “He dug a hole…and hid his master’s money.” When we become satisfied with what we have or have acquired we become complacent and indifferent about going after more or acquiring increase. It is impossible to grow seed that is never used and we cannot increase what God has given us if we hide it. People will never know what we are capable of until we show them, and we cannot improve our situations, circumstances, or ourselves until we stop hiding what God has given us to use.

At some point God and life will inquire of us what have we done with what has been entrusted to us. “After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them.” The one who was given five talents brought back five more that he earned. The one who was given two talents brought back two more that he earned. The third fellow who was given one talent brought back an excuse. He said the reason he did not do anything with his talent was because he was afraid. If we allow it, fear will rob us of blessings that God has stored up for us. The two who put their talents to work not only gained increase, but they also reaped a reward from their master. The one who hid his talent reaped a rebuke from the master. If we do what we are supposed to do when we are supposed to do it, we will get what we are supposed to get when we are supposed to get it – because our talents will make room for us. When we do more than what is expected of us we will get more than what we expect – because our talents will take us to places we never dreamed of going. Perhaps the reason we may not be receiving anything more from God is because we are not doing anything with what we have already received from God. Fear is not a reason, it is an excuse. Whatever God has entrusted to you and I God has done so with the expectation that we will do something with it and by doing something with it we demonstrate to God that we are a profitable investment. We demonstrate through our actions that we will bring God a return on His investment in us. The question is not when is God going to bless me with more or improve my situation, but rather what are we doing with what God has already blessed us with? We will know we are using what God has given us because people, places, and things around us will become better. We get better as people, places, and things around us get better. Until we are prepared to be better and make things around us better we cannot expect better.

Some would say the master’s rebuke and punishment of the servant who was given only one talent was harsh and extreme. However, I would encourage you to consider that he did not even try to do anything with his talent and in the end the little that he had was taken from him. Atrophy is the diminishing of skills, talents, and abilities from lack of use. If we do not use it we will surely lose it. The one lesson the fellow who had only one talent missed was, only I can motivate me. If I do not want to lose the little bit that I have, then I need to do something with it. The hardest part of any journey or endeavor is getting started. The journey to becoming better begins wherever we are right now. At different points along the journey we will feel overwhelmed. What we need to understand is that it is just a feeling and it too shall pass. We have to remind ourselves that whatever God gives us or allows to come into our lives it is neither too much, nor is it too little, it is just right for us where we are and it is designed to make us better.

Notice that the two who put their talents to work received their better after they made things better for their master. Likewise, our better will come after we have made things better for God and God’s kingdom here on earth. Wherever you and I have been planted we have been planted there to make a positive impact on the people we encounter, the places we operate in, and the things that occur in those places. We have been placed there to make things better. At some point in time we all have to face our day of reckoning. On that day God will ask what have we done with what has been entrusted to us? Before that day comes I encourage you to consider what will your answer be; I have used what you have given me to bring about improvement or I hid it because I was afraid.

GO FOR IT

2011-11-06T06:51:00.000-05:00

John 21:1-13

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

Have you ever found yourself in a rut or going no place and wanted to change the way things are going? Have you ever stopped to think that the place you and I currently occupy is the result of the sum total of what we believe? In other words, the things you and I believe have led us to where we are today. There is a maxim that says, “What I believe I become.” Jesus, for his part, came to help people believe differently. In the preceding chapter, John 20:31 says, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” The entire gospel of John was written with the purpose in mind to help people believe differently. When we are willing to believe something different it opens the door for us to become something different. A different belief system alters our entire make-up and ultimately the outcomes we experience. You do not have to take my word for it, simply read the biographies of people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. These were people who achieved unparalled levels of success because they were willing to believe differently.

Of course if it was just a matter of changing what we believe we could have changed out situations a long time ago. However, before we can get what we want we need to know what we want and we need to be intentional about getting it. Peter declared, “I’m going out to fish.” Peter knew what he wanted and he knew where he was going to get what he wanted. In order to hit a target you have to have a target in your sights. It is hard to hit something you cannot see or that keeps moving. When I first started driving I would get in my car and drive. I saw a lot of places, but I never actually reached a destination because I did not have one. Today, I do not get in my car unless I have a destination in mind. Gas is too expensive and the energy I spend driving around I can apply it to other things.

One of the things that can impede our intentions is waiting around for others. Imagine if Peter would have waited for the other disciples to validate or approve of what he wanted to do. If Steve Jobs or Bill Gates waited for others to approve of their ideas we probably would not have Apple or Windows. Instead, Peter said I’m going and the others said, “We’ll go with you.” Sometimes we are waiting for others follow and they are waiting for us to lead. While we are waiting for others to validate our ideas and approve of the job we are doing they are waiting on us to take the lead and put our ideas into play. Whatever God puts in us He put it there for us to do something with it, not wait for someone else to come along and do it.

Even the best of intentions do not always pan out. The Bible says, “That night they caught nothing.” Parents are funny, especially those that have more than one child. When I think back about my parent’s I laugh today because they used the same parenting techniques with each of us and they got mixed results. They connected with two and disconnected with two. They did not take into consideration that they had four distinctly different children and each required something a little different than the others. Relying on past success or repeating the things we did in the past to achieve success does not always translate into present or future success. Peter and the disciples probably went to the same place where they had caught fish before. They probably repeated everything exactly as they had done it in the past. The result this time was a big fat zero. To compound the situation, here comes Jesus stating the obvious. One of the worst feelings in the world is to not achieve the desired ends you have set out to achieve and then some wise guy comes along and points it out.

The difference between success and failure is not what happens, but what we believe. Failure is not the absence of success, but the unwillingness to try something different. The truth is that acknowledging we have not achieved out desired outcomes is the first step to a turnaround. Before we can become willing to try a different approach we often need to be convinced that our old approach is not working. To help us become convinced, God has to allow us to get frustrated within our comfort zone so that we will become willing to step outside of it, because our blessing is outside of our comfort zone. Peter and the other disciples were operating within their comfort zone and as long as they operated within their comfort zone they caught nothing. Jesus comes along and proposes a different approach. Jesus said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” Jesus pointed out if what we are doing is not working and we want a better outcome then we need to try a different approach.

The appearance of Jesus within the context of this text is very interesting. Jesus functions as the one who facilitates Peter and the other disciples change of outcome by helping them to reposition themselves. Sometimes we miss out on our blessing because we are in the right place, but we are not in the right position. In 1985 Steve Jobs was in the right place, but he was not in the right position. He was working for the Macintosh group. In 1997 God repositioned him when he became the CEO of Apple. Sometimes we need to be repositioned in order to acquire our blessing. The Bible says that, “When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” After a night of catching nothing the easy thing would have been to just give up and chalk it up to a missed opportunity. Repositioning presumes that we believe God has something better in store for us. When we believe that God has something better we will do whatever it takes to get it. Another interesting point in this text is there was no resistance on the part of Peter and the other disciples. Jesus offered a suggestion they tried it and it worked. One of the enemies to progress is contempt prior to investigation. My mother used to say “Don’t knock it if you have never tried it.” How do we know something will not work if we have never taken the time to see if it will work? Perhaps, the thing that we have been avoiding doing is the one thing we need to do to help us accomplish our goals and achieve our objectives.

Some things will come to us, but other things we have to go out and get them. Even though Peter and the other disciples had caught the fish in the net, the fish still needed to be hauled into the boat and brought to shore. The fish were not going to jump out of the net into the boat, jump out of the boat and into the frying pan. Someone needed to go for it. “Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore.” There are blessings that God in Christ positions us for with the expectation that we will take the initiative to expend the energy needed to reap our blessings. If blessings were easy to come by they would be called handouts and not blessings. Consider that Peter and the other disciples were ready to abandon what they had worked all night to catch for something that was already being prepared. Jesus said, no, go get what you have caught and bring it in. In other words, whatever God has for you it is for you and what God has for others it is for them. In addition, we have to be willing to work and put in the effort to go and get what God has for us. We have to go for it because it is not going to come to us.

The blessings of God are by degrees. God does not bless everyone in the same way, nor does everyone receive the same degree of blessings. The greater the blessing the greater the effort needed to get it. What good is it to be in the area of our blessing or in position to receive our blessing and we are not doing anything to realize it? As long as the fish remained in the net or in the boat the disciples could not eat it, sell it, or do anything else with it. In this situation the fish did not benefit anyone. In order for us to reap and realize God’s blessings we have to be willing to work for them and go for them. Jesus would not allow Peter and the other disciples to claim what was already caught, instead he told them go for what God has allowed you to catch and bring it in. I am sure that Peter and the other disciples were tired and sleepy after being up all night and into the next morning. I am sure the natural inclination was to go get a couple of fish and leave the rest. Instead of opting for the easier softer way, Peter stepped up and went for it all. The Bible says he did not lose anything. When we go for all that God has for us we will not lose anything. When we go for some we are cheating ourselves and we can only feed some, but when we go for it all there will be enough for everyone. Whatever God has positioned us for it is not just for us alone, but God positions you and I so that we can be a blessing to everyone around us. It is time for you and I to go for our blessing. It is time to - Go for it!

I NEED TO SEE GOD

2011-10-30T07:19:00.001-04:00

Exodus 17:8-16

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. 16 He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

Have you ever wondered where is God? In challenging and difficult times, such as what we are experiencing today, has the thought ever crossed your mind is God among us? When I was younger and on the occasional day off from school, I would watch the old Price is Right show. The show host would ask the announcer to call up the next contestant and the announcer would call out the name and then say, “Come on down.” It seemed as though the contestants were making guest appearances. There were times when I did the same thing with God; I looked for God to make a guest appearance in my life and in my situation. I expected God to step out of heaven make His presence known and supernaturally change the course of events.

The truth is that people from the beginning of time have always struggled to sense, perceive, or realize the presence of God. The Israelites expressed this struggle by asking the question in verse seven, “Is the Lord among us or not?” We who live today do not realize how much we have in common with the Old and New Testament saints who preceded us. Just like no one today has physically seen God; no one back then physically saw God either. We read in scripture of angelic visitations, dreams, visions, and revelations from God, but the scripture says, “No one has ever seen God.” To compound the matter there where only a select few that God spoke to or with and these individuals were charged with the responsibility of communicating what they receive from God to others. In many cases, what the people received from God came to them by way of second or third hand information. When we put this into perspective we can see why not only the nation of Israel, but also those who were used by God experienced crises of faith. Faith is predicated on presence. It is hard to have faith in someone who is not around. The closer we feel to the presence of God the stronger our faith in God. On the other hand, the farther away we feel from the presence of God the weaker our faith in God. The reason we struggle today is the same reason Israel struggled during the exodus, because we like them struggle to comprehend the proximity of God in our lives. “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Since it would seem that God makes infrequent appearances in our lives, we need to become opportunistic. We need to seize the opportunities to see the hand of God, perceive the presence of God, and/or realize the activity of God in and around us. Opportunities to see God usually come in the form of problems. “The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.” Prior to the Amalekite attack Israel had experienced a series of issues each more daunting then the previous one. After they left Egypt Pharoah’s army pursued them. While in the desert they faced the threat of starvation and the lack of water. And now, they were faced with the prospect of fighting for their lives. The attack by the Amalekites was another issue in a growing list of problems. As the problems mounted the Israelites were ready to turn back. They could not believe that they had given up the safety and security of Egypt for the prospect of dying in the desert. They were pursuing the dream of something better, but all they continued to experience was hardship, difficulties and challenges. However, if they would have paused for a moment and considered how they got to where they were they probably would have realized that our problems are God’s opportunity. If they would have stopped to reflect on the fact that when they were hungry God fed them with manna and quail, and when they were thirsty God provided water for them from a rock. If they took a moment to stop focusing on their problems they would have seen God’s presence in His provisions for them. The Bible says, “The Lord is an ever present help in the time of trouble.” People who are not in trouble do not need help. The place where the Amalekites attacked Israel was Rephidim, which means, the place where the hands become weak. When we reach our Rephidim we have reached the place where we can no longer do for ourselves and we need divine aid and assistance. Rephidim the place where human dependence meets divine assistance.

Problems have a way of skewing our vision. The greater the problem the harder it is to see and perceive God’s presence or His activity. Israel could not see past their problems and therefore they could not see God’s provisions. It is hard to see how much we have in common when we are only focused on what we feel like we lack personally. It is hard to see how much we can accomplish together when we are only focused on getting what we need personally. To help us overcome this God uses problems to galvanize and bring people together. “Moses said to Joshua, choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites.” A cause will make people forget their personal problems and come together to solve a common problem. The Amalekites represented not only a threat to Israel’s survival, but also an impediment to where they were heading. God used the Amalekites to slap Israel back into reality. I’ve got problems, you’ve got problems, but with the Amalekites trying to kill us we’ve got a bigger problem. “So, Joshua fought the Amalekites.” When we look at the history of our nation we see that it has been shaped by men and women who were willing to forget their differences and come together to fight a common problem that was greater then they were individually. The British army dwarfed the colonist, but the common cause propelled the colonist to victory. Today, there are movements and marches all over our nation, such as race for the cure, immigration reform, occupy the nation and others bringing people together to fight against the Amalekite threat – something that threatens our survival. When we find a cause, something greater than ourselves, to fight for that benefits everyone around us we will also find God.

Causes bring out the best in people. “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning. Everyone needs to be encouraged. Encouragement empowers us to face our problems and fight our battles. Causes bring out the worst in people. “Whenever he lowered his hands the Amalekites were winning.” The absence of encouragement or withdrawing encouragement can turn a winning fight into a losing battle. Causes can also bring out the presence of God in and through people. “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him…Aaron and Hur held his hands up…so that his hands remained steady.” We forget that encouragers get tired too. There are times when we have to encourage those whom God uses to encourage us. God sends these encouragers into our lives and situations not just to help us, but also to allow us to see Him in and through them. If we are struggling to see God then we need to open our eyes and look around us because when we see an encourager we are seeing God in that person. We are seeing God’s activity in our lives as God sends people to put a stone under us when we get tired, hold our hands up when we get weak, and support us in shaky times. Open your eyes identify your encouragers and you will see the presence of God in your life.

In addition to the perception problem Israel also had a hearing problem. When we can visualize what we hear it makes it easier to see. “The Lord said to Moses, write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it.” Moses was familiar with the voice of God and therefore he was able to visualize and see God. To help Moses in difficult times God instructed him to carry with him a symbol of God’s presence. Moses carried a staff and the staff reminded him that the power and presence of God was with him. You and I are instructed to carry the word of God. David said, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee.” The word of God is our symbol of God’s power and presence in our lives. Throughout the generations every time this narrative was read into the people’s hearing they were reminded of how God steps into the affairs of His people moves them to acts of selflessness and changes outcomes. They are reminded to open their eyes and see God in the people around them. People God sends into our lives to aid, guide, and provide assistance to us.

In this narrative we are also reminded that when all else fails raise your hands to heaven. When I was in school and I wanted to get my teacher’s attention I had to raise my hands. When you and I are in trouble we need to give God indication that we need His help. We need to lift our hands. When we lift our hands we are declaring that our situation is critical and we are going to rally under the provision, protection and power of God. When we lift our hands we are declaring that God is here, God is present, God is flying high over our situation, and that God will secure the victory for us because the Lord is our banner.

If you need to see God raise your hands and get God’s attention. Call on God to come by and make His presence known wherever you are today. If we make God our banner God will make His presence known and we will see Him.

EQUITY WITH GOD

2011-10-23T07:54:00.000-04:00

2 Kings 20:1-11

1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 “Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’” 7 Then Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. 8 Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?”
9 Isaiah answered, “This is the LORD’S sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?” 10 “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.” 11 Then the prophet Isaiah called upon the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

How do you handle bad news? Some would say it depends on the nature and gravity of the news. The truth is that no one likes to hear bad news. We like it even less when it seems or appears as though there is very little that we can do to alter or change the outcome. However, while it may seem as though we are powerless in many situations the Bible points out that believer’s have the power to change outcomes and impact situations they face.

As we turn our attention to 2 Kings chapter 20, we read in the first 11 verses about Hezekiah who was the king of Judah 12 generations removed from David. The text opens with Hezekiah receiving news that he would eventually succumb to the illness he was battling. He was instructed by the prophet Isaiah to “Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Judging from Hezekiah’s response he did not take the news too well. The Bible says, “He wept bitterly.” Hearing the words, “You are going to die,” can be quite sobering and very depressing. The truth is that at some point we all will leave this life. In fact, the Bible says, “It is appointed onto man once to die and then the judgment.” The words, “You are going to die,” remind us that death is one battle that we all will lose at some point. We are also reminded that the power of life and death rests not in the hands of doctors, medication, exercise, proper diet, or even good living, but the hands of God.

Hezekiah for his part did not allow the news to deter him, instead he prayed. As we examine and take a closer look at Hezekiah’s prayer we see that believer’s are not powerless in the face of bad news or difficult circumstances especially when they have built up equity with God. In real estate parlance, equity is the difference between what a property is worth and what the owner owes. It is the value of the house or property minus the remaining mortgage payments. Equity allows us to use the credit we have built up to address other needs. Just like there is home equity there is also spiritual equity. Spiritual equity functions just like home equity, it is a line of credit we build up with God that allows us to borrow against our credit and then apply it to meet a need.

So, when we read and listen to Hezekiah’s prayer we are reading Hezekiah’s application to God to borrow against the equity he has built up with God. Hezekiah does not waste any time highlighting why God should extend him the credit and approve his application. Hezekiah begins by pointing out, “Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully.” Whenever a person applies for a home equity loan one of the first things a bank reviews is payment history. They look to see if payments were made regularly and on-time. They want to know are we a reliable risk. Historians and Biblical scholars all agree that Hezekiah was on par with some of the other great kings of Judah like his grandfather Jotham and great grandfather Azariah and great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather David. The one thing they all had in common was they walked faithfully before God. They all proved to God that they could be trusted. Rather than continue practices that were detestable to God Hezekiah stopped them and instituted sweeping reforms that led to spiritual revival. If God were to read our transcript of what we have done where He has planted and placed us how would it read? Can God definitively say that He can count on us? Are we God’s sure thing? Faithfulness means that we are reliable, dependable, and trustworthy. If we want to know whether or not we are faithful, look at how we handle our commitments. Are we where we are supposed to be when we are supposed to be there? Do we bolt at the first sign of trouble, hardship, or when things get tough? Faithfulness means I will make payment to God when payment is due. Have you ever noticed, whenever we commit to do something for God something seemingly more important comes up? Jesus put it best, “You cannot serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other.” It is hard to be faithful with a divided heart. You want to here, but your heart is over there. Hezekiah’s heart and support were with God and for God. He was reliable.

In his application, Hezekiah also points to the fact that he has walked with “Whole-hearted devotion” before the Lord. Banks can be seemingly cold and calloused. They are not interested in the personal challenges we have faced or the strain we’ve been under to make our payments on time. The bank is only interested in knowing how committed have we been to fulfilling our commitment. Whole-hearted devotion means that I am committed to my commitment. I will honor the terms of our agreement at all costs. I may have to sacrifice some things over here, but keeping the peace and maintaining my good standing is more important that anything I have to give up over here. The only relationship that really mattered to Hezekiah was his relationship with the Lord. Hezekiah did not have a relationship with the Lord he had a covenantal relationship with the Lord. Any relationship without terms is an open relationship and in an open relationship anything goes. Where there are no terms there is also no expectations. Terms help to bring parties together and into agreement. If we know what the terms are we know what we can expect. It is hard to be faithful to someone or something in the absence of terms or an agreement. Why would anyone enter into something and not know what they need to put in to reap the benefits? When we know the terms of the agreement than we can make up our minds to live in the agreement. One of the challenges for all believers is learning to live in the agreement we make with God. There will be times when we may want to change the terms because we feel like we are getting the short end of the stick. When you feel like you are being short changed living in begins to feel like we are living with the agreement. When you live with something you do it grudgingly because the benefits are not visible. The agreement then seems like it is a hardship. I’m sure that when the king of Assyria and his mighty army came up against Hezekiah he thought I did not sign up for this. We need to remember that God never makes a one-way agreement. God’s terms are always mutually beneficial. God always says, if you do this I will do that. If we live within the terms of God’s covenant we can be assured of reaping the benefits. We can rest in the knowledge that when Assyria comes against us our God whom we are in agreement with will be an ever-present help in the time of trouble and will fight our battles. The Bible says God was with Hezekiah in everything he did, why, because those were the terms of his agreement with God. What are the terms of our agreement with God? Do we have any terms or are we in an open relationship with God, He may or may not show up because we may or may not be reliable?

The text says Hezekiah closes his request by highlighting I “Have done what is good in your eyes.” It is unfortunate that the idea of what is good like truth has become distorted. Some say good like its cousin truth are relative and open to interpretation. However, Hezekiah’s understood good to mean living our lives in such a way that God is happy with us. One of the things that qualified David as a man after God’s own heart was that David was committed to blessing God. David like Hezekiah understood the principle of reciprocal blessings. God blesses those who bless Him. When we bless God, God will bless us. When we are committed to advancing God’s kingdom agenda on earth we are a blessing to God. When we are committed to allowing God to use us to fulfill His plan and purposes we are a blessing to God. When we bless God, God in turn will bless us. When we pay the bank what we owe them we are in fact blessing them because we are putting back into them what they extended to us. They in turn can bless others and when the time comes bless us again and some more. In other words, when we satisfy the terms of our agreement we qualify for additional credit. When we satisfy the terms of our agreement with God we build up equity with God. In the time of trouble we can then apply to use the equity we have built up to address a need.

There are some who say Hezekiah’s prayer was a selfish prayer, I say it was a request to apply the equity he built up with God to address a pressing need. His need was greater than the existing resources he had, but he knew that he had built up some equity with God. Therefore, he was able to go to the First National Bank of in God we trust and say, “O, Lord, Remember…”

Have you built up any equity with God?

A NEW DAY

2011-10-16T07:17:00.000-04:00

Genesis 1:1-5

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

What if we could start over? What if we could wipe out and erase the mistakes of the past, or the poor decisions of the present? Wouldn’t it be nice if God gave us do over’s? Imagine if everyone had one of those big red Staples buttons and all we had to do was push the button and everything that is out of order in our lives was suddenly in order.

According to Genesis chapter one, specifically the first five verses, the power to reorder the state of our affairs and those in our world rests in the word and activity of God. The text begins by saying, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Isn’t it interesting that prior to the birth of a child there is so much hope and promise that surrounds the anticipation of that child’s birth. Expectant parents beam with joy as they prepare for the entrance of their child into the world. However, the joy of expectancy is surpassed by the joy of arrival. On the day that little Johnny or Susie bursts onto the scene the expectant parents become actual parents. The fruit of their creation is now a living breathing reality. There is no joy like the joy we experience when we have given birth to something. All of the pain and discomfort we have felt carrying what was inside of us as it was being shaped and formed is set aside and forgotten after we have given birth and see the product of our creation. God, in whose image we were created, gave birth to the heavens and the earth. God used the creative power that was in Him to make something and then bring it into existence. Since we are created in the image of this same God, we also possess the same creative power. All of the different inventions that have been introduced throughout history started as a seed in the mind, heart and soul of a person. The seed was germinated by the spirit of inspiration, and carried within the person until such time as their water broke signaling they were ready to give birth. Until we are ready to engage in the process of creation we will not realize the creative power within us.

Everything that is created will experience some periods of darkness. The Bible says, “The earth was formless, empty and covered in darkness.” What God brought forth and created was surrounded and immersed in darkness, barrenness, and chaos. Have you ever noticed how quickly things can change? We can be on top of the world one minute as things are going well for us and then the next we find ourselves behind the eight ball. Most of us, and even most economist, never saw the economic downturn that we are experiencing coming. As God looked down at the earth He saw an environment where nothing was going on, chaos and confusion reined and the prospects of anything positive happening were not very good. When all of our dreams, hopes and aspirations have dried up our present and future begins to look bleak, dark and empty. When we cannot make sense of the things that we are experiencing or the difficulties we are encountering we usually find ourselves in a dark and dreary place. When our best efforts are met with resistance, and our expectation for success is undercut by lack of opportunity or failure it is easy to become depressed and discouraged because darkness has clouded our present and future. But, the Bible says, “The Spirit of God was hovering.” The presence of the Spirit of God is a reminder that even in our darkest hour God is near. On a return flight from the Caribbean, Jill and I were informed that because of congestion on the runway our plane could not land. We were told that instead the plane would hover over the airport until it was cleared for landing. This much was certain we did not know how long we would have to hover, but we knew that at some point we would land and be able to disembark. We do not know how long the darkness, barrenness, or the chaos will last, but when we the Spirit of God is hovering over our situation we can be sure our exit is coming at some point. While it was definitely uncomfortable sitting on that plane, as long as the plane was in the vicinity of the airport and the runway we had hope that it would land. No matter how uncomfortable our situation and circumstances may be, as long as the Spirit of God and the presence of God are in the vicinity we have hope that our change is coming.

The human mind is one of the most wonderful things that God ever created. It is in the mind that all human actions and behaviors are conceived. The power of the mind can be seen by its ability to govern the actions of the human body. There are many in the medical profession who advance the belief that before healing can occur in the body it must first be embraced by the mind. Before we can achieve wellness and wholeness we have to believe that we can become well and whole. “And God said, let there be light.” It is no secret that before we can become something different or experience something different we need to see something different. Vision is one thing that drives our ability to bring about change. I have always hated darkness, primarily because I cannot see anything. God created us with the ability to be visual and anything that hinders or obscures our vision stymies our growth, development, and progress. God spoke what He already saw. Sight is the ability to see what is and vision is the ability to see what something can become. Words are a powerful thing. If you do not think words are powerful consider how much the things people say impact us. We all know people who never have anything positive to say. Even in situations where things are going well they will find something negative to point out. The problem here is that the words we speak are a reflection of the things we see. If we do not see things getting any better our words will reflect our belief. God saw the potential for something better. God knew that a word could make a difference. Shortly after God spoke the word it became a reality. If we want to change our reality we need to change our vocabulary. If we want to change our situation we need to change our perspective. If we want to experience something different we need to talk about something different. We need to speak our change into existence. If I want to become something than I need to start talking about becoming that thing and stop talking about what is stopping me from making it a reality.

Words without action are pretty hollow. Many unfulfilled dreams, hopes, and promises are buried in the graveyard of inaction. The text says, “And He separated the light from the darkness.” Positive affirmations are important. They help us to feel good about ourselves and provide the impetus for us to believe that which is possible, can become a reality. Consider that until God called the light into being it was only a possibility. However, it was not until God actually did something with the light that its benefit was realized. There is no benefit from potential that is recognized and not exercised. In order for potential to be beneficial it must be exercised. God stepped into the situation and used the light to divide, cut the darkness in half. There are some things we can do for ourselves and there are other things that God must do for us. When we use the word of God to invoke the creative power of God it moves God to step into our affairs and reorder them. While having the presence of God is always necessary, there are times when our situations and circumstances are so dire that only the supernatural divine activity of God can separate us from our existing condition. One of the first steps in recovery from anything is separation. The substance abuser must be separated from the substance. The physically, emotionally, and psychologically abused must be separated from their abuser. Those who have experienced loss and grief must be separated from their sorrow. Those who have felt the sting of betrayal must be separated from their pain. It is difficult to see the potential and possibility of something better until we are able to come out from whatever we are under. After we come out from whatever we are under we are then able to make distinctions. That is what God did, after He created a division between the light and the darkness “God called the light day and the darkness he called night.” Once God steps into our affairs God can help us to make sense of the nonsense we have been experiencing. God can help us to see this is what I was going through over here, but that over there is what I am moving toward.

Some will say how do I know that God has stepped into my situation? According to the text, “And there was evening and there was morning – the first day.” They say that the darkest part of the night is before the dawn. It is the period we refer to as midnight or halfway between nightfall and the dawning of a new day. We will know that God has stepped into our situation when things are at there darkest. When we can neither see moonlight or sunlight and there appears to be no apparent solution to our problem, or answer to our prayer, or hope of things turning around that is when we know God has stepped into our situation. At the point when things seem at their darkest we can rejoice because we know that we are halfway through our night and the dawn of a new day is coming. The Bible says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” If you are weeping, suffering, or are inconsolable today, be encouraged because your night is about to end and a new day is coming. The wonderful thing about a new day is that it offers new hope, new possibilities, and the potential of something better than whatever we are experiencing right now. We just have to make through the night so that we can see our new day.

In retrospect, this text reminds us that everyone will at some point in time find him or herself in a dark and desolate place. However, the text also points out that God does not leave His people or His creation in darkness. God offers and provides a word to help us to see that whatever condition we are in it can be changed. God also exerts His divine supernatural power to reorder the affairs and events within our environment to facilitate change. Yet, none of this could have been possible without the divine holy presence of God. Is the Spirit of God hovering over you and your life? If not, why not invite Him into your life and all of your situations and then allow Him to reveal His love for you as He reorders the affairs and events in your environment. The Bible says, “No man comes to the Father except by the Son.” If you do not know God or have been estranged from God allow His Son Jesus to introduce or reconnect you to Him. Jesus is the key that unlocks the door to the new day that God has prepared for you and I.

NOW, IS LATER

2011-10-09T07:32:00.000-04:00

Haggai 1:2-14

2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built.’” 3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” 5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands.” 12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. 13 Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: “I am with you,” declares the LORD. 14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “He who is good at making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Someone else said, “Excuses are the enemy of progress.” Excuses allow us to negate accepting responsibility for our actions and inactions. Excuses provide us with a window to escape the hard cold reality that we are the cause, the reason, or have played a role in why things are the way they are.

One of the problems with excuses is that after awhile they become things we believe. As we continue to internalize our excuses they become self-fulfilling prophecies. There was a sales rep that was experiencing futility in getting customers to purchase products within his department. After a while, he began to rationalize the reason products were not selling were because the prices were too high. The result, he had a dismal sales record. Another sales rep in the same department who after hearing customers complain about the prices of the products decided to take action. He accepted responsibility for the fact that he had not justified the value of the product to customers and therefore they did not understand the higher product prices. The result, he experienced higher sales and better relationships with customers. The difference between these two sales reps is that one allowed an excuse to be the stop sign that permanently halted his progress and made him irrelevant.

Excuses have always been a problem for people, societies, governments, families, etc. In fact, it became so much of a problem that God had to draw the Nation of Israel’s attention to the fact that he was tired of their excuses. God speaking through the prophet Haggai following the return of a remnant of the exiles that had been carried off to Babylon, he let them know that the time for excuses was now over. The Lord said, “These people say, the time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built.” The question is, if not now then when? Isn’t it interesting that we always seem to have so little time for the things we need to do, but we can always find time for the things we want to do? We will always be able to find reasons for not doing something if we look hard enough, but we need to ask ourselves are our reasons, reasons, or excuses? To blame inaction on time is an excuse. It is hiding the fact that we either do not want to do it, or it would cut into something else we want to do. Israel was essentially blaming God for their inaction. They felt that if God wanted them to accomplish His work he would not have allowed them to be in the situation they were in and He would have provided the resources they needed to complete the work. Reverend Seawood, the former President of the Reformed Church in America General Synod once said, “Money should never be the issue or reason why something is not done.” There are two things that can overcome any condition, the first is desire and the second is creativity. Anything we really want to do, we will find a way to do it or get it done. Desire will drive us to find the resources to make things happen.

In response to the exiles’ excuse making, God responds by asking a question, making a statement, and offering an explanation. God says, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” In verse five God says, “Give careful thought to your ways.” And, in verse six God says, “You have planted much, but have harvested little.” In these three verses God poses three questions to the people, a) you are taking care of your needs, but what about my needs? B) Think about how things are going for you and the results you’re experiencing. C) Have you stopped to consider why things are not working out for you? One of the things about priorities is you do not know they are out of whack until they are out of whack. If things are not working out for us or we are not experiencing the results we think we should be receiving, perhaps it is time to re-evaluate our priorities. Perhaps we need to look inward and stop looking for the answer outside of ourselves. If we are spending an inordinate amount of energy in something and it feels like we are just spinning our wheels we need to stop or we will burn out our engine. It’s like a car stuck in a ditch, no matter how much we step on the gas the car will not move. The fundamental question here is why are we not achieving our goals and objectives? Priorities can often be divided into two categories, things we need to do and things we want to do. If we place the things we want to do above the things we need to do, we may get some of what we want but we will also get very little of what we need. If we want to change our outcomes then we need to change the order of how we go about our business. The late Dr. Carolyn Holloway used to say, “If you do what you need to do when you need to do it, you will be able to do what you want to do when you want to do it.”

Human nature is such that when things are not working out for us or we encounter a problem, we proceed to search for a reason and solution to the problem. God provides an explanation for the people’s situation. Again, God says, “Give careful thought to your ways.” Whatever is going on with you it is because of you, the choices you have made and the actions you have taken have contributed to your current malaise. God says, Go…and build the house, so I may take pleasure in it and be honored.” When you find your ministry you will also find your blessing. If we bless God, God in turn will bless us. God says, I have a job for you and in that job you will not only find fulfillment, but you will also bless and honor me. You keep waiting for later, but God is saying now is later. Stop sitting around waiting for something that may never come and go make something happen. The Lord points out that “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why? Because my house…remains a ruin, while…you are busy with your own house.” The truth is that when we cheat God we invariably cheat ourselves. Whatever God calls us to do He has packaged it with inherent blessings. Our blessings are within our ministry. So, when we decide we do not have enough time, or we are too tired, too busy for what God wants us to do whatever blessings God had earmarked for us get blown away.

One of the deep piercing questions this text asks us to consider is, are we better off? We work longer and harder, yet we seem to fall farther and farther behind, or our buying power is getting less and less. I want to suggest to you that God is trying to get our attention. God is speaking to us through our situation and circumstances. God wants us to understand that we cannot accomplish anything without Him, and trying to will only lead to frustration and futility. God proposes that we change our paradigm. Gone are the days of the old Burger King slogan, “Have it your way.” Instead, we need to realize that wherever we are God has planted us there to accomplish God’s will, plan and purposes. Wherever we are we will find God has prepared a ministry for us. Rather than seeing a job we can’t stand see it as a place where God wants to do something powerful through you. Rather than seeing an environment as hostile see it as an opportunity for God to use you as an instrument for change.

Haggai reminds the people that, “God is with them.” However, prior to the reminder came a stirring. Before God changes our situation, God has to change us. It is amazing what we can accomplish once we are open to what God wants to do in and through us. Once we stop hiding behind our excuses God can step into our situation and our circumstances. Once we get rid of the excuses we will also get rid of all of the roadblocks that have hindered us from doing what we should have done a long time ago. Part of the problem with these people was they felt distance between God and them. Once they got rid of the excuses they closed the gap and removed the distance between God and them. God was able to stir them and bring them together to make things happen. As God stirred them and they realized the reality of God’s presence in their midst, they also realized now is later.

What about you and I, are we doing what God wants us to do where God has placed us, or are we doing what we want to do for ourselves? Are we putting things off that we know we need to do or should have done a long time ago? Are we blaming God for something that happened five, ten, fifteen years ago? The truth is that we cannot change the past, but we can shape the present and impact the future. However, as long as we continue to make excuses for the way things are they will never get better. As long as we wait on someone else to do for us what we know we need to do for ourselves we will continue to be like the car stuck in a ditch going nowhere. The time for excuses is over, now is later. When we find our ministry we will find our blessing and when we engage in our ministry we will receive our blessing. Now is later.

FOR ME

2011-10-02T07:25:00.000-04:00

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

From the time I was a little boy, I heard, “You have to be willing to give and take in any relationship.” The apostle Paul counters that thinking by introducing another paradigm or way of thinking. Paul says, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you.” In this statement the apostle points out that what he received he now passes on, or what the Lord gave him he now gives us. What an interesting concept give and give. Several weeks ago during a debate on how to balance the budget we saw that give and take has some serious flaws and can often lead to stalemates. As the parties each tried to take more than the other was willing to give and in the end neither was overly thrilled with the result. However, when there is a give and give attitude as the apostle suggests it produces a win-win for both sides. Give and take works if both parties are willing to make mutual concessions. The problem here is that usually, what we receive falls far short of what we have given and we are asked to take or accept the inequity. On the other hand, give and give recognizes a need exists and seeks to meet the need that exists. Give and Give says, I have found something that works for me and has made a difference in my life and I believe it will make a difference in your life. I am not looking for anything in return I only want to help you to become better. What I am giving you is for you, just like what I received was for me. Human nature is such that we always question the reason or the agenda behind the things we receive, but when something is given to me for me I can receive it in the spirit in which it was given – it is for my benefit and me.

There are two ways to obtain things, we can take by force or we can receive when offered. The Bible says, “On the night He was betrayed, He took the bread.” The fact of the matter is that we cannot always see the spirit in which things are given to us and so lingering questions persist. “I wonder why they did this for me?” “I wonder what do they want in return?” One of the clearest ways to know for sure that something is specifically for us is when it is placed in our hands. When we do not know or are not familiar with the person we will question the intent, but when something is placed in our hands there are no more questions because the intent has been articulated through the action. When God through Christ Jesus offers us something we need to understand that it is for us. I have never known a person to benefit from medication they did not take. I have never known a person to grow from a challenge they did not accept. I have never known a person to receive a blessing from a ministry they avoided. Whatever God allows into our lives it is for us, whether it is a situation we must face, a circumstance we must deal with, or an obstacle we must overcome when it enters our realm it is being handed over to us to receive.

Some people say the foundation of a relationship is communication. The text suggests relationships are developed and people are bound together through identification. “And when He had given thanks, He broke (the bread) it and said, this is my body, which is for you.” Broken for you. Everyone can identify with brokenness. At one point or another we have all experienced situations and circumstances that have broken us. As Jesus broke the bread He identifies with you and I in our own brokenness. Those who have been broken by the sting of divorce, broken by a depletion of resources, broken by betrayal, or broken by unfulfilled promises, or even, broken by poor decisions and choices – Jesus identifies with you and me. When we are hurting and in pain, the knowledge that someone else has or is going through what we are experiencing is of little comfort. When we are broken we need to be put back together. I love bread. I love all kinds of bread, sweet bread, rolls, and especially fresh baked bread. When my mother used to bake bread the smell of the bread baking would wake me up out of my sleep. I could not wait to taste that bread, because no matter how bad I was feeling, I knew that a piece of that bread would make me feel better. While I was eating that bread the building could have collapsed but I was in heaven. And after I finished eating it I was satisfied. Through the bread Jesus meets us in our broken condition and also at our point of need. I have also discovered that if you eat enough bread it can bind you and stop things from moving. When we break a limb doctors immobilize the broken limb so that it is not further damaged and can heal. When we ingest Jesus He acts as an immobilizing agent around the damaged areas holding them in place so they cannot be damaged any further and the healing can begin.

In every relationship there will be periods of discord, acrimony, arguments and disagreements. Some of these things if allowed to fester or go unchecked can cause irreparable damage to the relationship. “He took the cup, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood.” However, any relationship can be salvaged if someone is willing to be the adult in the relationship and take the initiative to save the relationship. Sometimes a symbol or symbolic act can open the door to reconciliation. Thank God Jill and I do not argue often, but when we do it can get quite heated. After an argument, Jill usually goes to her corner and I go to my corner and we sit and stew for a while. I personally do not like living in a hostile environment and so I look at my wedding ring, a symbol of the love I pledged to her. When I look at my wedding band, I am reminded that I must do everything possible to bring about reconciliation. When we look at the cup, it reminds us that God through Jesus Christ was willing to go to the extreme to bring about reconciliation between God and us. The cup reminds me that reconciliation is possible. The cup reminds us that I am the only person who can prevent reconciliation from becoming a reality. The cup says, that Jesus was willing to be the adult and take the initiative to do whatever it took to bridge the gap between God and us. Before there can be agreement between estranged parties there must first be reconciliation. Things that are not compatible usually do not work well together. Some medications that are prescribed for us are not compatible with our system or our body chemistry. Therefore, we either need to change the medication or change the dosage. Something needs to change in order to bring about compatibility. When we look inside the cup we discover that the contents have changed for the purpose of bringing about agreement. God offers us new terms to facilitate reconciliation because the terms of the old agreement did not work well for both parties. When things are not working out between two people it is an indication that whatever agreement we made needs to be re-evaluated and the terms of that agreement need to be changed. Instead of trying to go back to the way things were or the way they used to be, we need to amend the terms of our current agreement. When someone is important to us we will do whatever it takes to keep that person and when we are estranged we will fight for reconciliation. The contents of the cup inform us that we are important to God. In fact, we are so important to God that God was willing to sacrifice and give up the one person that was most precious to Him for us. When I look into the cup I see God’s concession for me. I see that God was willing to make changes to an older agreement that was not working for Him and me.

Any act of kindness deserves a response. When I consider that for me Jesus did not think about Himself. Even though He was about to be betrayed, beaten, and executed, but rather He thought about meeting me at my point of need, and bringing me into agreement with God through an act of reconciliation my only response can be to say thank you for what I received from Him. The text tells us that whenever we see the bread and the cup we are to remember. Remembering what someone has done for us is one of the most powerful responses we can make. When we are able to recall one out of a million acts done on our behalf, it says, that particular act was important to us. It was more than just a random act that gets flushed into the sea of forgetfulness, but rather I recognize that the person who did it took the time to think about me and cared enough about me that the least I can do is remember them and what they did for me. The text tells us that by consuming the bread and contents of the cup we become proclaimers. Think about all of the stuff we talk about. We talk about our kids, our spouses, our jobs, the lack of a job, how good things are going and how bad things are, but how much do we talk about what Jesus has done for us? That is what a testimony is, sharing and disclosing to others what Christ has done for us. When someone does something we did not expect we are floored and we cannot wait to tell someone else about our experience. What about when someone goes above and beyond, takes the initiative to demonstrate his or her love and willingness to die for us, isn’t that worthy of sharing? When good things happen to us we burst at the seams to share and tell others, why do we find it so difficult to let others know about what Christ has done for us? The apostle Paul said, “What I received I passed on to you.” He did not keep it to himself or for himself, but Paul shared, proclaimed, and he passed it on to us.

People do many things for us, but none of what family and friends do for us can reach the level of what Christ did for you and for me. Christ allowed Himself to be betrayed, beaten to a bloody pulp, and executed so that we could have everlasting communion and fellowship with Him and God our Father. The question is if Christ did all of this for you and for me, what are we going to do for Him?

CREATED TO SERVE AND BUILT TO BLESS

2011-09-25T07:31:00.000-04:00

(Sermon Series: Chosen Generation)

1 Peter 2:4-12

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Everything that is or has been created is created to meet a need and also to be a blessing to its creator. Blackberrys, smart phones, knooks, automobiles, furniture, homes, etc. have all been created to meet a need, but they also have been built to be a blessing to their creators. Anything you and I can think of that has been created serves a dual purpose, a) to meet a need, and b) to bless its creator. Christians are no different, we are created to serve, and we are built to bless our creator.

In verse four of the second chapter of first Peter, the apostle states, “As you come to Him.” Any article that you and I can think of started out as something else. Before a chair became a chair, it started out as a piece of wood. Someone took the wood and transformed it into a chair. Before it became a chair, it was just a piece of wood. Someone had to see the potential in the piece of wood and then take the initiative to mold and shape it into something useful. I find it interesting that a chair never gets tired of being a chair. Yet, people get tired of working. A chair never thinks about the weight it has to support, or the way it can sometimes be misused, or complain when it is not being used. But, it is there when needed and can be used in whatever capacity is required.

A job is a means to an end. However, when we feel useful within that job it ceases to be a job and it becomes a service we are performing. Only the maker of a thing knows why that thing was created. I have had many jobs in my life and most of them were just that a job, but when I came to Him I discovered that there is more to life than just working. I discovered that the essence of life and fulfillment in life could be attained when I feel useful in what ever I am doing.

The funny thing is that it took heartbreak, heartache, and disappointment to drive me to Him. I do not know of anyone who when they were twelve woke up one day and said I cannot wait to be a Christian. People come to Him because of a need that needs to be met, or a void that needs to be filled. When we are physically sick we go see a doctor. When we are emotionally imbalanced we go see a therapist. Where do we go when we are spiritually sick? We go to Him. Recently, I had a watch that Jill gave me as a gift. It stopped working and so I put it down and started using my cell phone to tell time. That worked for a little while, but I had one of those phones that did not have a vibrate setting and because of this I could not use the phone in the classroom. The one place where I needed to be aware of the time was in the classroom. Problems will always occur when we opt for shortcuts or use things for purposes other than the reason they were created. The cell phone was created to be a means of communication. Even though it has the capacity to tell time, that is not its primary function.

When something is not functioning properly you do not put it down or throw it away, you take it in for repair. When we are not functioning properly it is a sign that we are in need of repair and need to go to Him. I had a computer and it was not working properly, and so, I initially decided to get rid of it and get a new one, until someone suggested that I get it checked out. Come to find out there was some dust that had accumulated inside and that was the cause of the problem. The tech blew the dust out, wiped it down and it started working again. Just like my computer, when we are not working properly we need to be spiritually opened up so Christ the technician can make some adjustments, replace some parts, and clean the dust that has accumulated inside us out to get us working properly again. What some are willing to throw away God sees as precious and in need of repair.

Peter goes on to point out that “We are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” What do you do when you find yourself in a place where your skill-set does not match the demands that are being placed on you? What do you do when you find yourself in a situation where the way you have been programmed does not allow you to perform the functions being asked of you? Some will opt for changing their surroundings. When things get tough on a job people leave. When things get tough in a relationship people walk out. According to Peter we need an upgrade. Everything that is created at some point will be in need of an upgrade. Jill has taught me the importance of having a relationship with the manufacturer of things we purchase. She takes the time to complete the product registration card and then sends it to the manufacturer. The benefit of this is two-fold, on the one hand there are something’s only the manufacturer can fix because they are the only ones who understand the intricacies and internal workings of the product. On the other hand the more people complain about the same problem it alerts the manufacturer of the need for improvements to the product.

The goal is to operate better and become more productive. The question is how do we accomplish this? Peter says, “We are being built,” he does not say we have been built. The implication is that the building process God through Jesus Christ started when we came to Him is an ongoing process. It does not stop. Part of the reason it does not stop is because we live in a world that is ever changing and the demands that are placed on us are constantly changing. If we have been programmed for word processing and we are asked to perform excel functions we either have to acquire the application to perform that function or risk becoming obsolete. In order to upgrade something has to be sacrificed. Our old programming needs to be changed and new programming and skill sets added that would allow us to perform other functions. The problem with upgrading is that it requires us to step outside of our comfort zone. Upgrading requires us to go to places we have never been and perform tasks and functions that we have never done before. Upgrading requires us to take risks and chances.

If we think about it we are taking a bigger risk by not upgrading. Peter says, those who stay the same stumble and fall. “They stumble because they disobey the message.” One of the things about electronic devices today is they come equipped with error messages. Whenever there is a problem with the machine or we are asking it to perform a function that it may not be equipped to perform it will give us an error message. A failure to follow the instructions in the message impedes our progress. Life is the same way. Whenever we find ourselves in situations and circumstances that frustrate us it is life’s way of sending us an error message. We are either approaching the situation the wrong way, have the wrong attitude for the situation, or are not equipped to handle that particular situation. Remember we are being built, and so when we receive an error message or are frustrated by whatever we are going through, dealing with, or facing, we need to pull out our product registration card and contact the manufacturer immediately for further instructions. The bottom line is that error messages indicate that something needs to be changed within us so that we can continue to function and be useful. In fact, that’s what an upgrade is – an internal adjustment for the purposes of operating better within our environment.

As God through Jesus Christ upgrades us we learn and discover things about ourselves. One of the things we learn is that everything that is created has more than one function. The text says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” When we read the Old Testament we see that the priest’s performed more than one function in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. Essentially, the priest’s duties can be summarized under three headings they served, taught, and interceded on behalf of the people before God. Peter points out that every member of the Body of Christ is a priest or a minister. In other words, every member of the Body of Christ should be part of some ministry within God’s house. The truth is when we find our ministry we will also find our blessing. A ministry is different from a job. A job helps me, but a ministry helps someone else.

Ministry is transformative. Ministry not only transforms the person on the receiving end, but it also transforms the minister. In verse five Peter referred to us as a holy priesthood, but in verse nine the holy priesthood that received its upgrade became a royal priesthood and a holy nation. By verse nine those who came to Him now know who they are, an upgraded people who are equipped to function in the changing landscape and environment they live in because they belong to God and are being used by God. The priesthood became a nation. As a result of a commitment to God’s service, God elevated them and then God increased their numbers by multiplying them. Difficult situations and circumstances become easier to handle and deal with when we have help. When you and I are in the midst of struggle and hardship it can be painful and depressing, but if we can find our ministry God will supply our needs.

Several weeks ago I was talking to two young ladies and one of them shared with me that one of the reasons people do not do more in the church is because they are afraid of commitment. I fully understand how challenging the times that we live in are, but I also understand that we all will either need the presence of God or the provisions of God at some point. This text lets us know that it is through service to God that we find and receive our blessings from God. It’s like a bank - you have to put something in to get something out. If we have not made any deposits (service), how can we expect to get any withdrawals (blessings)?

The holy priesthood became a royal priesthood and a holy nation because they were committed to serving God, collaborating with God, functioning for God and ultimately being a blessing to God. They understood that people may use me, and people may even abuse me, but is par for the course because I am not serving them, but I am blessing God. When we bless God through our service, God in turn bless us. When attitude is that whatever we do we are doing it for God, we find that all of our needs are met, our goals are realized, and resources are always available. When we pour ourselves into whatever we do for God’s sake we make room for God to pour additional blessings into our lives, our careers, and our families. When we are commitment to blessing God as husband’s, wives, and employees we declare to God and the world that we are grateful to have been chosen and that we know who we are – we have been created to serve and built to bless.

TRUST IN THE PLAN

2011-09-18T06:35:00.000-04:00

(The Chosen Generation - Sermon Series)

1 Peter 1:13-25

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.”

What if you looked in the mirror and did not like the reflection you saw, what would you do? The obvious answer is, change it. How? Where would you start? How would you bring about the changes that needed to occur, and how will you know when you have achieved the finished product?

There is a saying that says, those who fail to plan, plan to fail. The truth is that any change we want to effect or bring about in our lives must be attached to a plan. We need a plan to provide us with the blueprint and roadmap to our destination. Wherever it is that we hope to end up, we need to know how to get there.

In the concluding portion of the apostle Peter’s first epistle, Peter informs us that God has a plan for us. The reason God provides us with a plan to help us change our image. God recognizes that at some point we will become dissatisfied with the reflection we see of ourselves and we will need assistance in changing the picture that is being reflected to the world. According to the apostle Peter, God’s plan is for His people to reflect His Holiness in their lives and in the world. The scripture says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” We are also encouraged “To be holy in all that we do.” It is unfortunate that holiness has gotten a bad rap over the years. People who try to subscribe to holy living are often categorized as “super-spiritual,” “holier than thou,” or “think they are better than others.” The reality is that “holiness” is more about the standard for living we set for ourselves. A person who seeks to live holy desire to live by a different set of rules and standards for their life. Holiness has nothing to do with putting another person’s lifestyle down, but rather it is a choice to live our lives differently. In one episode of the Honeymooners, Jackie Gleason comments, “It is a shame youth is wasted on the young.” As we grow older, we learn to appreciate rules and order. Young people often point out that rules are a burden and an encumbrance they inhibit their ability to freely express themselves. It is only as we grow and mature that we see the blessing in rules and standards. We realize that in life we need boundaries to help us clearly delineate the difference between the acceptable and the unacceptable. At a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson offered a prayer that is considered a classic in terms of brevity and poignancy. He prayed, “Dear God, your will, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. Amen” That is one of the best descriptions of holiness, the desire to do God’s will.

I have to admit that wanting God’s will is not always an easy thing to do. In fact, wanting what anyone outside of myself wants for me in not an easy thing to accept. It means that I have to see and believe that the thing someone else wants for me is better than what I want for myself. While this is a bit of a challenge, it is exponentially more difficult to work toward making it a reality in my life if do not buy into it. As I reflect back over my own life, I realize today that where I thought my parent’s were being mean and hard they wanted something better for me than I wanted at the time for myself. Before we buy into what God offers, we have to believe that it is better than what we have and what we want for ourselves. That is why Peter says, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action.” All change regardless of the type of change we want to bring about begins in the mind. As a teacher one of the greatest challenges I face in my work with students is not educating them, but changing their minds. It is difficult to pack a closed box. It is difficult to show someone something if their eyes are closed and it is difficult to tell someone something if they are not listening. The real challenge to the fulfillment of God’s will in our lives then lies in our ability to open our minds. One of the most humbling experiences is to admit that we have made a mistake or that we got something wrong. However, worse than that is living in our mistakes and never doing anything to fix the problem. Peter says, make up your minds to be better. Make up your minds to embrace this new way of life that God offers us and then go and live it.

Just like it is challenging to bring about change when we do not see a need for it, it is also difficult to commit something we do not believe will benefit us. The apostle Peter shifts his focus to explaining how we can execute God’s plan in our lives and reap the benefits of that plan. Peter points out that execution begins with self-control. We live in an era of accountability. Accountability begs the question whose responsible for the actions we take? In a world where the lines of absolute truth have become blurred the answer can sometimes not always be clear. There are branches of therapy that are built around connecting present behaviors to past occurrences. There are other branches of therapy that suggest there are activating events in the present that trigger our responses to these events. While all these help us to better understand human behavior, the bottom line is that whatever we do or do not do God ultimately will hold us accountable. Peter says, “You call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially,” be self-controlled. Self-control is about commitment govern ourselves. The first word in the compound word self-control is “self.” I have a choice in how I respond to what is said and done to me. If we want people to see us differently then we need to present differently. When we allow others or the events of life to push our buttons then we are giving over control of our selves to them. Peter says take back control. If something other than us is controlling us than that thing is also dictating to us. It is telling us how to act, what to think, and how to respond. God’s plan calls for God’s people to govern themselves. How do we govern ourselves? Think before we act, speak, or respond to anyone or anything. The truth is that something are not even worthy of our time or a response. They simply are not worth the effort, the time, or our consideration. How do we govern ourselves? My grandmother used to say, “let some things pass you.” We have to learn how to let some things pass and not stop everything that comes our way. To put it another way, whatever is to big for us is small enough for God to handle. Self-control learning how to leave stuff for God to handle.

There are many enemies that we face and things that serve to undermine our progress both in life and in faith, and one of the most prevalent and persistent is discouragement. Yet, if we think about some of the saints who have come and gone, and even some of those who are still with us that have faced unthinkable odds, obstacles, tragedies and challenges, but continued on. We cannot help but ask what makes them different? How were they able to persevere through their trials and we often find ourselves stymied? According to the apostle Peter they had hope. In the midst of extremely difficult circumstances and painful situations they found the hope to go on. The foundation of God’s plan is built on hope for a brighter and better tomorrow. Hope helps us to get through today’s challenges by focusing on tomorrow’s victory. Hope reminds us that something better is ahead of us and we just have to hold on until we get there. Hope helps us to identify with Christ. Christ understood that in order for Him to get to Resurrection Sunday, He had to experience Good Friday. Hope says, in order for you to have a comeback you have to have a setback and in the midst of our setback – we hear the voice of hope saying, you are now ready for your comeback. No one can accomplishing anything they do not hope to accomplish. God’s plan is a plan filled with hope. One of the things that helped me to do whatever my father asked me to do was the hope I had that he would keep his promises. It is easier to be hopeful when we know that we are dealing with promise keepers. God is a promise keeper and therefore, we should be encouraged to do whatever God tells us to do because God has never broken a promise.

Even though we tell a person what we want they still sometimes struggle to produce what we are asking them for. God understands our struggle and uses Peter to remind us that not only have we been told, but we have also been given a visual of how to implement God’s plan for holy living. The scripture says, Christ, “Was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” Christ is God’s example of how we are to carryout and execute God’s plan for us. In Him we see how to overcome the obstacles in our path and face the challenges that arise. It is through the example of Christ that we learn first hand how to live in our chosen status and then demonstrate to the world what it looks like to live like we belong to God.

In life we will be confronted with choices and one of the choices we must make is, will where will we put our trust? Will we put our trust in other people? Will we put our trust in our own ability to accomplish things, or will we put our trust in God’s plan as God has revealed it to us through His Word? The text says, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” In other words, the only constant in our world is the Word of God and in God’s Word we will find that God has a plan for His people. God’s plan is designed to improve the quality of our living. If we are interested in a better way of life, then we need to trust God’s plan.

FALLING OUT OF FAVOR WITH GOD

2011-08-21T15:01:00.000-04:00

1 Samuel 13:3-15

3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 4 So all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious to the Philistines.” And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal. 5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” 13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.” 15 Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.

Does God make mistakes? Is it possible that God does not vet the person’s He chooses to carryout His work? I mean, when we look at the lives of some of the more prominent characters in scripture it would seem as though something was overlooked or missed in the screening process. Take for example Samson, God’s choice to defeat one of Israel’s enemies, was unable to control his desires. Moses, God’s choice to lead a nation, was desperately in need of an anger-management program. David, God’s choice to be the second king over Israel, could not control his own house. Again, I ask you is it possible the God makes mistakes?

On the surface it would seem as though some of the candidates that God chose to carryout His work were poor choices. However, if we take a closer look we will discover that it was not God who made the mistake, but the candidates God chose made poor choices. When we examine the lives of individuals that God chose we see that they were the root cause of their own undoing. Scripture points out that any person God chooses God also positions that person to be successful in their endeavors. Scripture also reveals that while God positions people for success people can undermine or short-circuit their success by the choices they make.

One such person was king Saul. The reign of king Saul was like that of a Greek tragedy it ended before it began. King Saul was God’s choice to lead God’s people and he had God’s assurance that God would be with him and provide direction for him. It seems that God’s assurance was not enough to prevent Saul from falling out of favor with God. As Saul was riding the wave of excitement over being God’s choice and gaining confidence with his victory over the Ammonites I’m sure he felt unstoppable. In August Wilson’s play Fences, the central character Troy Maxon in one scene says, “You gotta take the crooked with the straights.” It would appear that Troy understood something that king Saul missed, sometimes the odds will be in our favor and at other times they will be against us. Confidence is a wonderful thing and it is necessary to achieve success in life, but confidence must also be tempered with humility. Humility helps us to appreciate our victories and accept our setbacks. While it is clear that Saul was confident, it is also clear that he lacked humility. After his defeat of a smaller foe, the Ammonites, his army launched an attack against the Philistines. As the Philistines mustered their response their army outnumbered king Saul and his army. The odds were not in king Saul’s favor. The Bible says, “The rain falls on the just and the unjust.” In other words, everyone will have some good days, and we will have some bad days. The same way we revel in our good days, we also must learn how to deal with our bad days. One of the ways we learn to deal with our bad days is to remember that God is still with us. When the odds appear to be against us, it is imperative that we remember God is still with us. Just because the odds have changed it does not mean that God has changed. Therefore, when we remember that God is with us we will humbly take the crooked with the straights because we know that eventually if God is with us He will change the odds in our favor.

Difficult situations and challenging times are a shock to the system and a blow to the ego. One of the real issues for king Saul was that he was facing his first defeat and it was a blow to his ego. Ego is a good thing. I believe it is God given and a necessary part of our make up. Our ego is tied to our level of confidence and is driving force behind our ability to achieve and be successful in life. However, ego can also get in our way and be the source of our downfall. The greater our ego is, the smaller God becomes. Ego has the power to Ease God Out. It is impossible for a great big ego and a great big God to share the same space. And so, one will eventually push the other out. In Saul’s case his ego pushed God out. One of the problems with ego is that it fails to consider the consequences. When we look at world history we see that all great empires eventually fell because their ego got in the way. The Greeks, Romans, Babylonians, British, etc., they all kept extending their reach believing they were greater than everyone else. For as great as Saul thought he was, the reality that he was not immortal or invincible began to set in as he watched his army desert him. One of the real problems with ego is that it distorts our perspective. Once ego has pushed God out of the picture we must rely on ourselves to do the things that God has promised to do for us. To help us keep our ego in check, God has to remind us from time to time whose over all and who created all. God accomplishes this by removing all of the props. When God starts to remove all of the things that have been supporting us or we have been relying on it is an indication that God is getting ready to step into our situation or our circumstances. As God removes our props, God is shrinking our ego and making from for his entrance.

They say a Christian who is by themselves is in bad company because, they are self directed. As the Philistines mounted their attack Saul found himself feeling alone. The truth is that if God is with us we are never alone. However, fear will make us feel as though God has deserted us. As Saul’s fear began to grow he also began to hear voices in his head. The voices told him that Samuel, God’s representative, was not going to show up and he needed to take action. Our fears will speak to us and if they are left unchecked they will cause us to do the wrong thing for the right reason. The voices of fear will tell us it is ok to misappropriate resources to address a perceived need. The voices of fear will tell us it is ok find companionship with someone who belongs to someone else. The voices of fear told Saul it was ok for him to offer a sacrifice to gain God’s favor. The problem was God told Saul to wait. When the voices of fear start speaking to us we need to tell them to be quiet. When the voices of fear start speaking to us we need to remind them of the promises of God. It is hard to quiet the voices of fear when we do not remember the promises of God. The voices in Saul’s head convinced him that Samuel was not going to show up, God had deserted him, and he needed to do something.

He who acts in haste repents in leisure. Saul’s undoing was the result of his inability to quiet the voices in his head. After he made the sacrifice Samuel appeared. Samuel pointed out to Saul that had he waited God would have ensured his dynasty and his legacy. The truth is that there will be times when it seems as though God is slow moving and even slower in acting on our behalf, but no matter how slow God appears to be moving we still have to wait on God. Years ago before all night television, when television programming was about the end there would be a sound followed by an announcement saying, “This is only a test of the emergency broadcasting system.” When God seems to be moving slow and the voices of fear start speaking to us, we need to remember this is only a test. We need to remind the voices to be quiet, because God said wait. We need to remind our fears that if God has not shown up it just means that He is on the way and I am not going to do anything to fall out of favor or blow my blessings with God.

THE POWER OF A PRAYING CHURCH

2011-08-14T06:47:00.000-04:00

Acts 12:1-12

1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron-gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.” 12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

We are living in some tough times. It is difficult to be unaffected by all of the things that are going on around us. While we may not have suffered the loss of a job, our home, or even been directly impacted by the recent downturn in the stock market, the images we see and read about are a constant reminder of how bad things are and potentially how much worse they can become. When we are surrounded by bad or unpleasant news, after awhile it begins to take a toll on even the staunchest child of God. At some point you cannot help but feel as though the forces of life are conspiring against us and we simply cannot catch a break. This is especially the case when the unpleasantness of life visits our home and touches those we care about and are close to us. When this happens you begin to feel like a group of Christians in the first century living in an increasingly hostile world felt. In a word, they felt persecuted. A couple of tax seasons ago, I received a notice of overpayment from the IRS and they informed me that I had to make restitution so that my account would be balanced with them. After I paid off that debt, I received another notice from them thanking me for clearing up my debt, but informing me that I still had an outstanding debt with the state that I needed to address as well. At that point the IRS became my Herod, an entity more powerful than I making life tough for me. I, like the first century Christians in Acts 12 began to feel persecuted. No matter what I did, I just could not catch a break.

They say, “When things get tough, the tough get going.” Tough situations require and demand a response. Tough situations test our metal and our make-up. They inquire of us what are we going to do? We have a number of different options at our disposal. We can worry, passively accept the situation for what it is, defiantly refuse to take it lying down, or we can do what a group in the early church did, they prayed. Initially, I asked myself the same question some of you are asking, prayer? What can prayer do? Prayer in any situation makes a statement. It says, we believe that things can and will change, if God steps into the situation. Prayer acknowledges that while we cannot personally bring about changes to our situation, God can and we are going to allow God in to handle what is out of our control. Prayer makes an even more profound statement when we turn others, their lives, and situations over to God. In cases like this, prayer says because you are important to God you are also important to me. Prayer makes a statement about what we believe, how we feel and how we plan to approach what we or others are dealing with and facing. A few weeks ago members of the college community received word that an entire division would be eliminated at the college due to a lack of funding. Some colleagues and I decided that we needed to make a statement, and so we began to pray. We realized that this was a situation beyond our control, but if God steps in things can change.

I believe that scripture is pretty clear, God does not ignore any prayer prayed in faith. While this is true, Acts 12 also points out that when the members of any believing community come together praying in faith things happen. Part of the reason for this is found in the old maxim that says, “There is strength in numbers.” In any community of faith you are always going to have different people at differing levels in their faith. Those who are stronger in their faith will encourage those who may not be as strong. As we all join together we will collectively P.U.S.H. or Pray Until Something Happens. The Bible says, the church prayed for Peter. We have no reason to believe they prayed once and everyone went home, no. They Prayed Until Something Happened. Faith demands that we continue to believe until God answers, and it does not matter whether God answers in the affirmative or the negative. Faith says, do not stop praying until God answers. One of the most striking things in this passage to me is not that God answered, or even the way in which God answered, but the reason I believe God answered. It would appear that God was moved by the fact that this church engaged in P.P.O. – they Persistently Prayed for Others. In this case it was Peter, but we have to believe this was their practice. Their practice of Persistently Praying for Others exemplified their love for God and their neighbor (remember Jesus’ command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves). It takes genuine love, caring and trust to place the needs of others ahead of our own. When we do this we are also communicating a message to God. We are letting God know how much we love Him and that we do in fact love and care for our neighbors as much as we love and care for ourselves. It tells God that we trust Him to take care of our own personal needs, but right now we need Him to step into the situation of others who perhaps need Him a little more right now. And so, when we couple P.U.S.H with Persistently Praying for Others we see that corporate prayer can accomplish the unthinkable, unimaginable, or even the impossible because there is strength in numbers.

Two of the more curious things in this text are God’s timing and the way God stepped into the situation and His ensuing actions. Obviously God could have simply taken Peter out of Prison, however, God did not do that. In stead, God apparently waited until Peter was in a hopeless state. Divine help usually comes when we can no longer help ourselves. Then, God allowed Peter to go through a series of steps before he was released from prison. Some times it seems as though God is dragging His feet when it comes to responding to our needs and requests. However, we need to understand that God is in the change business. Before God could change the outcome, He had to first change the person. Peter went into prison one way, but he came out a different person. Several years ago I was deep in debt and I prayed and prayed and prayed asking God to help me get out of debt. You know what God did? God sent an angel from the South Street Seaport into my life who pointed out that before I could get out of debt, I had to change my spending habits. A funny thing happened, as I began to follow the advice and guidance that God provided from this angel and change my attitude and spending habits my debt began to be reduced. On another occasion I was complaining about the fact that I was not getting very positive results in my ministry. So I prayed and prayed and prayed asking God to give me better results. You know what God did? God used the same angel to point out to me that before I could get better results in my relationships with others, I had to change the way I interacted with people. Another funny thing happened, as I began to make a genuine investment in the lives of others, people became more receptive and responsive to me. Before God could change Peter’s outcome, God had to change Peter. I, like Peter learned that God would lead the way out of any situation, but only when we are willing to follow His leading. If we desire a different outcome perhaps we need to try a different approach.

In the final analysis, the prayers of the people on Peter’s behalf moved God to intervene and bring Peter back. First, Peter was brought back to himself. This experience and encounter changed Peter. It fact, it changed him so much that he eventually woke up and realized that it was only by God’s doing that he had been delivered. Secondly, Peter was restored into fellowship. This experience and encounter impressed upon Peter the need to be connected to other believers in a real way. Peter learned that day that no matter how far away the problems of life take us, the prayers of a believing church have the power to move the hand of God and bring us back. Remember the division in the college I mentioned is being eliminated, well I heard that they are coming back. To be honest, that division is not coming back as it was constituted, but God has opened some doors for the workers to come back in different capacities. Just like Peter, God never brings us back the same because God is in the change business.

CAN YOU PASS THE LOVE TEST?

2011-08-07T07:09:00.001-04:00

Matthew 22:35-40

35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Personally, I never really cared much for tests, but I do understand their value. As an educator by vocation, testing is an objective instrument for determining how much students know, have retained, or understand about a particular subject. So in that sense, testing is important.

Apparently the Pharisees thought testing Jesus was a good idea too, that is until Jesus turned the tables on them. They posed the question to Jesus what is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” In essence, if we do these two things then it would seem that we have fulfilled the Law and passed the test, right? Let’s see exactly what Jesus meant.

According to Jesus the greatest commandment is to love God completely. We are to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. It seems then, we are to love God with our total being and hold nothing back in terms of expressing our love for God. The question then is how do we accomplish this? There are actually five steps to accomplishing this command. First, put no other gods before God. Second, do not make any graven images or idols. Third, do not misuse or profane the name of God. Fourth, set aside at least one day to celebrate and spend time with God. Fifth, honor God by giving honor to our parents. Do these things sound familiar? Actually they are the first five commandments in the Law of Moses. We learned them as children in Sunday school. The first five commandments teach us how to love God completely, but they also lay the foundation for loving others.

The second command that flows out of the first according to Jesus is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We are to see ourselves in our neighbor. In other words, do not do things to your neighbor you do not want done to us and do not give our neighbor’s anything we do not want or would not accept. Here again there are another five steps to accomplishing this command. First, do not kill. Second, do not commit adultery. Third, do not steal. Fourth, do not bear false witness against your neighbor. Fifth, do not covet or want anything that belongs to your neighbor. If these things sound familiar that is because they are the remaining five commandments that make up the Law of Moses. These last five commandments help us to put our love for God into practice by extending love to others.

Essentially, Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments and presented them in summary form. If we look closer at the first five and the last five, I believe we will see a connection. In the first five we learn how to love God and in the last five we put our love for God into practice by extending love to others. However, if we take the ten together we will see that the way we treat God informs the way we should treat others. Let’s revisit them and see if you too can identify the connecting threads. In the first commandment we learn that priorities are important and God needs to be our first priority (have no other gods before God), and in the sixth commandment we exhibit our understanding by putting a priority on all life (do not kill). In the second commandment we learn to keep God first (do not make any graven images or idols), and in the seventh commandment we demonstrate our understanding by keeping the trust other’s place in us (do not commit adultery). In the third commandment we learn that respecting person’s begins by respecting their name and when we respect God’s name we are respecting the person of God (do not misuse the name of God), and in the eighth commandment we show our respect for others by respecting what belongs to them (do not steal). In the fourth commandment we learn that it is important to take and make time for the important people in our life beginning with God (remember the Sabbath day), and in the ninth commandment we practice this by remembering other’s have feelings too (do not bear false witness against our neighbor). In the fifth commandment we learn the importance of honoring God by honoring those God has placed over us starting with our parents (honor thy mother and father), and in the tenth commandment we demonstrate we have learned our lesson well by honoring what other’s have worked for and acquired (do not covet).

If we understand the commands Jesus’ gives us in purely practical terms we see that, if we lift God up we will never put another person’s life down. There are many ways to kill a person. We can kill another person’s dreams, hopes, aspirations, and their spirit. All of these have the same effect as taking their life. Killing by definition means to take life. Therefore, anytime we take life from another person we are in effect killing them. When we realize though, that God is the giver of all life and the power of life and death rests in His hands it becomes clear that we must do everything in our power to support life rather than take life. If we give the giver of all life the highest priority in our lives we will respect all life that comes from Him.

It also becomes clear that if we keep God up we will never put another person’s trust down. I remember when my sister was born, my mother was very protective of her and would not let anyone outside the immediate family touch her. In much the same way when we keep God elevated and protect His position in our lives we will learn how to protect the trust that other’s place in us. The issue here is about value and assigning value. God places a high value on His relationship with His people and we should place a high value on the trust other’s place in us.

Some would say, what is in a name? Names are important. They help us to identify and distinguish one person from another. The name of God is also important and if when we learn the value of God’s name and then exalt God’s name we simultaneously learn to never bring the value or devalue the things that are important to others. One of the things that absolutely infuriates me is when someone moves my something that belongs to me without consulting me. It suggests to me that you have no value for the things that are important to me. People who have trouble allowing others to enjoy their moment in the spotlight also bother me. In both cases there is a total disregard for things that are important to others. Likewise, God wants His people to respect and revere His name and when we do this we also learn to respect and value the things that are important to others big or small.

Today everyone is always so busy. We barely have time for ourselves let alone anyone else. However, taking time out is important and it is necessary. It is important that we take time out for God to lift Him up and let Him know how special He is to us because when we do this we learn never to belittle or put down the feelings of others. Imagine if we took more time to actually listen to each other how many disagreements and arguments could be avoided. Everyone feels passionately about something, and we are all entitled to our feelings. I believe that if we took time out to grant each other the hearing we want for ourselves while we will not agree on every single issue, we probably will find that we are not really that far apart either.

Honor is given to those who deserve it. The reality is that beginning with our parent’s God places people in position of authority over us. While we may not always agree with their decisions or the way they choose to go about their business, the fact still remains that they are where they are because God has placed them there. When we come to accept this fact, we also learn to never bring down the value of what people have worked for or acquired. You and I have no idea what any person did to get to the position they are in or what they have to do to say there. Therefore, we should not desire their position, celebrity, or anything else they have. If God wanted us to be where someone else is, God would make the way for us to get there. If it is our lot to succeed someone it will happen when it is supposed to happen, and until that time we would do well to give everyone their due in the same way we would want them to respect us if we were in their position.

What can we say then? Love begins with God and then flows outward through us reaching and touching the lives of others. When we learn how to love God we can then apply and put into practice what we learned with others. We learn to love God by looking up to God and never looking down on others. In other words, when we lift God up we also will lift our neighbors up and we see and treat each other as equals. If we do this then we have passed the love test.

DON’T LET LIFE STEAL YOUR JOY

2011-07-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

2 Samuel 6:1-11

1 David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. 2 He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. 6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 Then David was angry because the LORD’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. 9 David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household.

Life can be cruel. Life can really suck sometimes. We are rolling along and then out of nowhere here comes life pulling the carpet out from under us. Usually, it is at this point that people turn to religion or seek some spiritual connection to help them regain their equilibrium. Men, women, and youth that turn to religion, or specifically the church, do so because they have nowhere else to go. The church becomes the place where individuals who have been knocked down by life come to find hope, feel better about themselves or their situations, or seek an answer to some problem they are facing. Unfortunately, in many cases people do not find what they are looking for, because while they are in the right place there focus is skewed. The answers they are looking for cannot be found in a place, but in a person. There are many places that people go to find solace and comfort. The solace and comfort they experience has very little to do with the place and more to do with what they experience in that place. It’s not the place, but it is the presence in that place.

Take David for example. David and Israel were experiencing unparalled levels of success as they engaged in their various military campaigns. However, even with all their success David realized that something was missing. David came to the realization that if he could obtain the missing ingredient his joy would be complete and he and Israel would never have to ever worry about anything ever again. And so, David brought all the people together to go after the one thing that was missing – God. David called the people together to pursue the presence of God. David was not interested in a religious experience, because Israel had that and engaged in the exercises prescribed by their religion. However, what they lacked was a presence, and more specifically the presence of God was not in their midst. Religion is for the religious, but the presence is for the hungry. Shortly after Jill and I started seeing each other I quickly determined that she was going to be my wife. Initially, she was not as enthralled with the idea as I was and put up some resistance. Despite her resistance, I keep up the pursuit until I won her heart and she agreed to marry me. It takes passion to pursue. Passion is the desire to obtain. Many people think discipleship is following Christ, but real discipleship is pursuing Christ. After awhile you get tired of following at some point the hope is to obtain the object of your pursuit. Have you ever noticed that after you get what you have been pursuing the passion dies down? Once the passion dies down we also slow down and we do not work as hard, we become lethargic. The fastest way to lose something is to lose your passion for it. No passion, no pursuit. The way we keep our passion burning is by keeping our pursuit up. After we acquire the object of our pursuit, we must then explore the different dimensions of that object. God is not a one dimensional God. The more of God we pursue and explore the more joy we will get from being in the presence of God. People who pursue and explore the depths and dimensions of God experience joy from being in the presence of God.

After David and his men found themselves in the presence of God they celebrated with all of their might. They recognized they were in the presence of someone special. There is a difference between special and ordinary. Special people receive special treatment. You can always tell when VIP’S, dignitaries, or celebrities are in town. There are special accommodations made for them at the expense of everyone else. Traffic is diverted, they receive police escorts, they travel in unmarked cars, and bodyguards who must be prepared to take a bullet for them always surround them. Ordinary people on the other hand receive ordinary treatment. You and I because we are ordinary the world treats us all the same. We have to wait in line at the DMV, we do not have a chauffer to drive us around, and if we go to the emergency room we have to wait like everyone else. How we respond to God is predicated on how we see God. The world makes a fuss and celebrates the celebrity of special people. When I was a child, on Christmas day in the Glover household I received special treatment because I was the baby, that is, until my sister came along. I received the lion’s share of the gifts, my gifts took up most of the space under the tree burying everyone else’s gifts, and I spent most of the day unwrapping gifts. When my sister came along she received the lion’s share of the gifts and her gifts took up most of the space under the tree burying everyone else’s and my gifts. At that point I went from special to ordinary. Looking back I realize that the reason my parent’s went to all that trouble was because they saw my sister and I, and our brother’s before us as special. When we realize we are in the presence of someone special, we feel free to express our love and let him or her know how much joy they bring us. I also understand today that special people take us to special places and that is the reason they are special. The birth of a child takes a man and woman, husband and wife, to the place of mother and father, a special place. The joining of a man and woman in marriage takes them to the place of husband and wife, a special place. When we reach a special place with a special person it prompts us to celebrate in the presence of that person. Special people are also game changers. They have the ability to change our moods, the environment around us, and our outlook and attitude. There are a handful of people that when they step into the room no matter how bad I am feeling, they have the ability to change my mood, the environment around me, and my outlook and attitude because they are special. God is one of those persons. The presence of God prompts us to celebrate in His presence, because the presence of God has the ability to take us to special places and is a game changer.

Just as things were going well for David and the whole house of Israel here comes life trying to steal their joy. On the way back to Jerusalem, the cart carrying the ark stumbles and Uzza reaches out to steady the cart and is struck dead. Life interrupts the celebration. Have you ever noticed how many of life’s pressing problems arise at inopportune times? Have you ever noticed how life’s problems seem to be synchronized to make an appearance in the middle of our celebration? It almost seems at though life has been programmed to interrupt our celebration. Problems ushered into our lives by life suck the joy out of our life they leave us deflated and dejected. David responds like any good Christian, he experiences the poor me’s. How could this happen to me, and what am I going to do now? While problems are bad, when we turn our problems into excuses it makes things worse. The problem with turning our problems into excuses is that there is no possibility of ever finding an answer, solution, or seeing an end to our problems. We just have to live with them. The longer we live with our problems eventually we will blame God for our problems. At this point we make it personal and have taken it personally. Have you ever met someone who cries all the time? Poor me the world’s not treating me right. Poor me things never go my way. I feel like telling them to shut-up sometimes. Quit bellyaching and wining. Problems are a part of life. Everyone has problems. In almost 99.9% of cases the problems we experience are the result of the choices we make. Occasionally, someone will come into our lives and create problems for us, but even in these situations they could not come in unless we opened the door. On all products that are harmful there are warning labels, and if we choose to go against the warning there will be problems. Warnings are meant to alert us of the potential problems that could occur. Therefore, one of the ways we can minimize some of the problems we face is by reading the warning labels before we open the bottle. What happened to Uzza was the result of the choice he made. With all the stuff going on in our world, you and I are not that important that God has time to sit around and pick and choose whom He should punish. God allow us to live with our choices and sometimes the consequences of the choices we make can be deadly. If we learn nothing else from what happened to Uzza, we learn that we need to make better choices. We learn that we need to take a moment to think about the consequences of the actions we want to engage in before we take those actions.

For his part, David too was faced with a decision. David had to decide whether to surrender and give up the presence of God in his life that brought him so much joy a little while earlier or live in the problem that life caused that brought him so much pain. David chose the later. By choosing to live in the problem, David essentially conceded life the victor and potentially forfeited any hope of experiencing the heights of joy he had just experienced again. Our forfeit is someone else’s gain. David’s forfeit became Obed-Edom’s gain. One of the things that I remember about my grandmother and it still encourages me up to today is that while she was preceded in death by both of her children, she never surrendered or abandoned the presence of God up until the day she died.

The message of this text is simple, life may take many things from us but only we can surrender or give up our joy. Joy is not found in people or even the things we accomplish and acquire in life. These things might make us happy, but they will not give us real joy. Real joy is found by living in the presence of God. For as long as the presence of God was in the house of Obed-Edom, he and his entire household were blessed. David on the other hand, after he abandoned the presence of God he was left with living in and with the problems that life had caused. Which would you prefer, to live in the joy of God’s presence or to live in and with the pain of life’s problems? While the presence of God in our lives does not exempt us from life’s pain and its accompanying problems, the blessings we receive from living in God’s presence sure make it easier to deal with anything life throws at us. Don’t give up or abandon the presence of God because life has gotten too tough. The presence of God is our only defense against life when it tries to steal our joy.

JOIN THE JOURNEY

2011-07-24T04:32:00.000-04:00

Ezekiel 47:1-12

1 The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side. 3 As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea. 11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

The Book of Ezekiel is one of the most interesting books in the Bible. One of the features of the Book of Ezekiel is that it is primarily composed of visions the Prophet Ezekiel receives from God. Throughout the book Ezekiel reveals and shares theses visions with his readers. As we learned previously, divine vision is the unfolding and revealing of God’s plan and purpose for the people of God.

In chapter 47 we read about one of the visions Ezekiel received from God. In this particular vision the prophet describes, using symbols and imagery, his experience as he is taken on a divine journey. Wherever Ezekiel was, he was brought back to the temple. While at the temple Ezekiel made two observations, first he noticed that the temple faced east and second he saw water coming down from the altar. As we consider the significance of Ezekiel’s observations we must ask ourselves what happens in the east, and what happens at the altar? We know that the sun rises in the east. Without the sun all living things would eventually die. Likewise, John 3:16 reminds us that God gave His S O N so that all who believe in Him might not die, but find everlasting life. Another interesting feature about the sun is the light it provides. The Apostle John points out that the S O N of God, Jesus, is the light that shines out of darkness. It is virtually impossible to start or complete any journey in the dark. We need some light so that we can see where we are going.

What about the altar? In the Jewish temple the altar was the place where offerings were given, sacrifices were made, guilt was acknowledged, and atonement and pardons were received. I love to travel. This was not always the case, for almost 20 years I did not go any place. Part of the reason I did not go any place was because I thought I was too busy to take time out to go anywhere. I also felt guilty about enjoying myself. Then one day someone pointed out to me that in order to get anything out of life you have to be willing to give up some stuff. In other words I had to be willing to make sacrifices so that I could find release and receive some fulfillment. I had to be awakened to the fact that my approach to life was unhealthy and that there was a better way. Jesus invites us to come to the altar. It is at the altar that we give up our way and approach to life, acknowledge that our way has not yielded the best results. It is at the altar we offer ourselves to Christ, because we believe His way is better for us and will yield better results. It is at the altar that Christ says before you can begin the journey we need to let go of all of the guilt, remorse, anger, resentment, and anything else that has been holding us back. It is at the altar Christ declares us free to begin the journey. It is also at the altar that Christ gives us our guide for the journey, the Holy Spirit. That is what the water represents in this text. Notice Ezekiel’s led by the man but he is also guided by the flowing of the water. If Christ has something for you and I, then only Christ can lead us to whatever He has for your and I. Every time you and I come face to face with the S O N, He reconnects us with our guide the Holy Spirit, because the busyness of life has a way of separating us from our guide. The altar is where we meet or reconnect with our guide. Have you ever noticed in big aircraft there are always two pilots in the cockpit, a pilot and a co-pilot? The pilot is responsible for charting the course, and the co-pilot is responsible for helping to navigate the course. Jesus charts our course, and the Holy Spirit helps us to navigate the course.

Having his pilot and co-pilot in place, Ezekiel begins his journey. It should be pointed out that Ezekiel’s journey was taking him eastward toward the sun (S O N), but it was also taking him deeper. There were four points along Ezekiel’s journey and each point was deeper than the previous point. The first point was ankle-deep, the next point was knee-deep, then up to the waist, and finally deep enough to swim in. A few years ago I went to Jamaica and while there I climbed Dunn’s River Falls. The falls are about 600ft. or 200 yards high. Imagine climbing the length of two football fields with steps made of stone. I can remember once I started the journey up the falls I immediately thought it was a bad idea and wanted to turn back. By the time I reached the halfway point I was winded, fatigued, and ready to have a nervous breakdown because I thought the journey would never end. Ultimately, I completed the journey and now live to share my experience. After completing that journey something happened to me that day, I felt not only a sense of accomplishment but I also felt like I could conquer anything. Every journey that you and I go on will offer some challenges, and the purpose of challenges is to help us grow. I learned that day that the deeper you go the more you will grow. I also learned that growth is not an automatic thing, but rather growth is tied to our level of commitment. How committed are we to seeing something through or to its completion? One of the blessings of that experience is that while I wanted to turn back, my guide would not let me turn back. I wanted to give up, but my guide would not let me give up. In fact, my guide demanded that I put my all into it so that I could get the maximum benefit out of it. The truth is that we can be in something and still not get anything out of it. A student can be in school, but never really learn anything. They can be in the school building, but if they do not go into the classroom and pay attention they will not acquire the information they need to get to where they need to go. A spouse or parent can be in the home, but not in the relationship. We can be physically present, but emotionally distant. An employee can be on the job, but not doing their job. Doing our job requires more than just showing up. If we want to get the most out of anything we do, we have to be invested in what we are doing. If we want to grow then we have to be willing to go, and how much we grow will be determined by how far or deep we go.

One of the things about journeys is that at different points along the journey we will experience different outcomes. The initial portion of Ezekiel’s journey offered him varying degrees of challenge as he attempted to cross the river. However, at another point along his journey, Ezekiel experienced something different. He saw the water feeding and transforming the environment. The journey had taken Ezekiel to a different place and put him in a different position. Previously Ezekiel was in a place of struggle. He was struggling to make it across the river, because he stayed on the journey he was taken to a better place and put in a better position. Place and position are important. Several years ago I used to work in the building trades. I was a building superintendent. I started out in maintenance because I needed a job and the guy who took my under his wing encouraged me to make it a career. So I gave it the old college try. I was so good that everything I touched I broke, and everything I tried to fix did not work after I got through with it. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that perhaps I should try another profession. I thought my problem was I was not cut out to work with my hands. A few years later I entered the helping professions and they gave me a computer and after awhile I was able to build and create, and develop and design using the computer. I realized that the reason I stunk in the building trades was because I was in the wrong place and the wrong position. Some times we have to spend some time in the wrong place before we discover that we are out of position to achieve our outcomes. However, when we find our place we will also find:

• Life-giving energy or New Life – when we come to the realization this is where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to be doing, we come alive. When we are out of place everything seems like a struggle and a hardship, and we never see things getting any better. When we are in the right place there is a burst of energy that permeates every fiber of being. We look forward to going to work, we look forward to coming home, we look forward to coming to church, because we are in the right place.

• Abundance – abundance simply means having more than enough. Abundance is not always easy to recognize and some times we miss our abundance because we are not aware of all the resources at our disposal. It takes perception and perspective, seeing what we have and knowing how to use it, to recognize abundance. My mother could take leftovers and create an entirely different meal. I saw leftovers, but my mother saw abundance. When we have something leftover it is an indication we have abundance. My grandmother was the queen of stretch. She could take a meal made for four people and feed eight to ten people. I thought I was being deprived, but my grandmother thought we had enough to go around. When there is enough to go around and everyone is fed it is an indication we have abundance. The administrators at the college asked me what subject I wanted to teach. Some people saw it as upsetting the apple cart, but I saw it as having choices. When we have choices and options it is an indication we have abundance.

• Power – power is using energy to get things done. When we have been led to the right place, we are in position to use our energy and the resources made available to us to get things done. When we realize our power we can use our energy to make an impact and bring about transformation. When we realize we have the power, we will use our energy to transform lives, relationships, the environment around us, and our world.

Ezekiel started out on a journey, and he was led to a place of fulfillment. Ezekiel had to overcome some challenges, some issues, and some obstacles, but because he persevered he was rewarded in the end. Through this text, Jesus is issuing a call to one and all, come experience the transformative power of Christ in our lives. It is a call to join the journey led by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. It is a call to a fresh start, a life filled with abundance, and a life imbued with the power to do, become

VISION

2011-07-17T06:46:00.001-04:00

Numbers 13:1-2, 17-20, & 26-33

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”
17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)
26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

As a child growing up in a highly structured environment, I was always drawn and attracted to people who were free-spirited. One of the things that most intrigued me about them was their penchant for spontaneity. They would say come on let’s go. I would say where are we going? They would reply, wherever we end up. Much like the scene in Alice in Wonderland, when Alice comes to a junction in the road that leads in different directions, she asks the Cheshire Cat, "Cheshire-Puss...would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to go to," said the Cat. "I don't much care where," replied Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go."

I on the other hand am much more like former Senator Dwight W. Morrow. One day Senator Morrow searched in vain to find his railroad ticket as he was on a train leaving New York City. "I must find that ticket," he muttered. The conductor, who stood waiting beside him, said, "Don't worry about it, Mr. Morrow. We know you had a ticket. Just mail it to the railroad when you find it." "That's not what's troubling me," replied Morrow, "I need to find it to know where I'm going."

As I get older, I find that I am much more like Senator Morrow in that I need to know where I am going. When I was younger with not many responsibilities and the years ahead of me were greater than the years behind me I could afford to go in any direction. When it doesn’t matter where you end up, then it doesn’t matter which way you go. If on the other hand, we have a specific destination in mind then we will also select a preferred path that we believe will take us to our chosen destination. People who can see where they want to end up can also see how to get there. In fact, statistics support the notion that people who have identified a destination are more likely to be successful, primarily because they know where they are going. When you know where you are going you are more inclined to concentrate your resources and energy on reaching your destination. Probably the most important reason for having a destination in mind in whatever we do is because it helps us to stay focused even when things around us pose a distraction. Journeys are filled with distractions, but when we can hone in on our destination with laser like precision we can refocus and block out all of the things that attempt to distract us and take us off course.

While it is important to have a destination, it is equally important that we are able to see our destination. One of the challenges to seeing any destination is that destinations tend to be far off. Therefore it takes vision, the ability to see the place that we will eventually reach. Vision is so important that the Bible says in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint.” In another translation it says, “The people run wild,” and yet, in another translation it says, “The people perish.” In essence, when people do not have a vision they will do whatever they want and ultimately the lack of focus will lead to their undoing and demise.

Before God paired Adam with Eve, God gave Adam a vision. Before God employed Moses as the leader of the Nation of Israel, God gave Moses a vision. Before God installed Isaiah and Jeremiah to the office of Prophet, God gave them a vision. Vision is the unfolding and revealing of God’s destination for His people. And so, God instructed Moses to send one leader from every family or tribe to explore the place that God wanted to take the people. The call to explore was a call to see, search out, and examine God’s destination for them. The idea that God wants to take us somewhere is not an easy concept for some to wrap their minds around. It is a challenging idea to grasp because we have been taught that we are the masters of our own domain and that we must chart our own course. However, this text clearly points out that God sets and establishes the destination for His people. God has a destination for individuals, families, groups, nations, and churches. Our job is to see and discover God’s destination for us. In order to do this we have to be willing to explore. We have to be willing to go where it is that God is showing and leading us. It is interesting that God called for leaders of families. I believe God did this because leaders cannot lead until they have a destination. If we do not know where we are going, how will we ever know if we have reached where we are supposed to be? Where is God’s destination for you and me? Where does God want to take us individually and collectively? Have we taken the time to see and explore God’s vision for us and our lives?

After Moses received his instructions from God, Moses then charged the leaders to carryout God’s instructions. Moses told them, “See what the land is like.” In other words, as you go watch and observe as God reveals and collect information about the place God is taking us. In order for the leaders to discover God’s destination for them they had to pay attention to what God was revealing to them. The knowledge that God has a destination for us doesn’t do us any good unless we can see the destination. God has to move us from the abstract to the concrete. To help us concretize God’s vision for us God provides glimpses of the destination where He is leading us. These glimpses are meant to inform us about the place. They provide information about what will await and the potential challenges we will face so that we can be prepared when we encounter them. God also wants us to become aware of the benefits He has in store for us. Without benefits what is the point? If what we are moving toward is not better than where we are, why do it? We can stay where we are and be miserable. In essence, the glimpses God gives us are the details that reveal more about where God is leading us. Vision without details is just a dream. Everyone needs a dream, but they also need some details to go along with that dream if they hope to make it a reality. And so God has to provide the details to help us see ourselves there. People are more inclined to move into a house they see themselves living in, a job they see themselves working at, or a relationship they see themselves being in. Details help us to take a vested interest because we can better see our place and how being there will benefit us. When you cannot see yourself someplace it’s like working without a blueprint, you have no idea what to do or what you are supposed to be doing. Vision is God’s blueprint. It is God providing a picture of what the finished product will look like after all of the pieces have been assembled. Have we been paying attention as God has been revealing the details about His destination for us, or are we operating without a blueprint? Do we see ourselves there?

Upon returning from their expedition, the leaders gave conflicting reports. Twelve went out and only two thought reaching the destination was doable. This much we know, any time you get two or more people together the possibility for disagreement exists. In fact, the more people you get together the possibility for disagreement increases. However, disagreements and differences can be overcome. The real question is whose report will we believe? The ten that went out relied on sight and when they came back they reported what they saw. The problem with relying on sight is that sight only sees what is within its scope. Sight sees all the issues, problems, obstacles, and reasons why not to do something or it cannot be accomplished. When you go to the eye doctor they do a sight test. They test to determine our sight range, what is the farthest distance away from us we can see clearly. Even for the person with 20/20 vision, they will tell you that after a certain point objects begin to look blurry. This simply reminds us that sight has limitations. Therefore, when we rely on sight what we are really doing is trusting information that is limited in scope and range. That is one of the reasons the Bible tells us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight.

The two who advocated for claiming what God had revealed caught the vision. Vision is caught and in the catching of the vision or realizing what God has for us and where God is taking us people become inspired. In fact, that is how we will know that we have caught the vision, when in spite of the issues, the problems, and the obstacles that exist we see the potential and the possibilities. Whereas sight sees what is, vision sees what can be. Sight says it’s nice, but it is going to be hard, difficult and I don’t know if we can make it. Vision says if God revealed it to me then God will make the provisions for me. Sight says yeah God may have shown it to me, but it’s not for me. Vision says whatever God reveals to me it is for me, and I have to move toward it so that I can get it. The question is whose report will we believe? Will we believe those who rely on human sight or will we trust God’s divine vision?

Let us make no mistake vision is not blind. Vision sees the obstacles in its path, but it also recognizes that obstacles are things to be overcome and not roadblocks that stop us in our tracks. At an earlier point in my life, when I sensed God calling me to prepare to enter the ministry, I went to my then boss and informed him that I was contemplating going back to school. He told me I didn’t need a degree and that I would be better off doing what I was doing. He had sight, but God gave me a vision for my life and here I am today.

The bottom line is that God is the developer for our lives, families, communities and church. Developers design and then present their vision with the hope of attracting investors. God is looking for investors. He is looking for people who see them self there, and people who are willing to put the time and energy into acquiring what God has set aside for them. God is looking for people who will catch His vision for them and their lives.

Have you and I caught God’s vision? Have we been paying attention as God has been unfolding and revealing the details about the destination where God wants to take us and has prepared for us? Or have we become comfortable where we are? Have we allowed the things we have seen to extinguish the hope of realizing the fullness of what God has for us? The good news is that if we have missed the vision there is still time to catch God’s vision, we have to want it and we have to believe that God is bigger than anything we could ever face.

TRANSFORMATION

2011-07-10T11:36:00.000-04:00

John 2:1-11

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

Cosmetic surgery is one of the largest industries in the United States. In fact, the latest reports and statistics indicate that there is a growing global market for cosmetic procedures. One report projects that by 2013 the cosmetic surgery industry will exceed $40 billion in revenues.

So what is actually driving the phenomenal growth of an industry that many thought would never reach the level it has currently attained? The short answer is transformation. Today more than ever people are more conscious about their appearance. The cosmetic surgery industry offers people the opportunity to enhance, alter, or transform the way they look. The use of technology provides people the chance to acquire a more desirable look.

People are also prompted by the transformations of celebrities who have gone from plain to stunning almost overnight. There is also prompting from television programs like “Extreme Makeover,” and other shows that offer ordinary people makeovers designed to demonstrate that transforming our appearance could improve the quality of our lives.

Certainly, everyone at different times and points in their lives desires to improve the quality of their living, but not necessarily at the expense of a medical procedure. For us, we need to know that Jesus is also in the business of changing lives and transforming people. The narrative found in the second chapter in the gospel of John provides us with a window into the transformative power of Jesus.

According to John’s narrative there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Mary, the mother of Jesus, Jesus and his disciples were all in attendance. As the guests were enjoying the festivities and celebrating the happy occasion with the bride and groom they ran out of wine. While this may seem like a small thing, it was a catastrophe for the hosts. The inability to accommodate your guests suggested poor planning or insufficient resources and resulted in social disgrace for the couple. Mary leans over to Jesus and informs Him of the situation. She tells Jesus, “They have no more wine.” Jesus responds by asking Mary, why are you bothering me with this matter? Mary refuses to be deterred and instructs the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. Jesus advised the servants to fill to the brim six stone jars used for purification with water and then give some to the master of the banquet. When the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine he was amazed at how much better it tasted then what had previously been served.

As we reflect on the details in this narrative there are some profound truths that emerge. The presence and intervention of Jesus served not only to avert a social crisis, but also address a need. To be honest, the only reason Jesus was present was because He was invited. I wonder how often do we extend an invitation to Jesus? Imagine if we invited Jesus into our lives, our homes, our marriages and relationships, and even our church, how many crises could be averted and how many needs could be met? The truth is that Jesus does not go where He is not invited. The text does however point out that wherever Jesus is invited crises can be averted and needs met. I want to encourage you and I to start inviting Jesus into every area of our lives and see the difference it makes. Let’s start inviting Jesus into our situations and circumstances no matter how mundane or insignificant they may seem. Let’s ask Jesus to intervene and see if He cannot take some of the pressure off of us and resolve some of the difficulties we face. Let’s extend an invitation to Jesus.

Mary’s willingness to act and get involved provided the impetus for Jesus’ intervention. Her acknowledgement of the fact that something was wrong, “They have no more wine,” helped her to communicate to Jesus the exact nature of the problem. There are times to be optimistic and see the glass as half full. Optimism helps to counteract discouragement and provides the fuel we need to keep going during tough times. There are times to be pessimistic and see the glass as half empty. Pessimism helps to keep both feet on the ground and keeps before us for every positive there is a negative. However, there are also times to be realistic and see things the way they are. We cannot take the appropriate steps to fix something until we first acknowledge that it is broken. The truth is that all people and entities at different times will become broken. The question is do we have the courage to admit when things are broken and need to be fixed.

The fact that Mary brought what could be considered a trivial matter to Jesus and she did so directly helps to answer two questions, what matters should we bring to Jesus and how should we approach Jesus. In terms of the first question, if we follow Mary’s lead we should bring everything to Jesus. Mary teaches us that there is no matter to insignificant or to small for Jesus to handle. In regard to the second question, how we approach Jesus depends on how well we know Him. If we have a personal relationship with Him then we can go directly to Him. If we have a casual or peripheral relationship with Him we may find it more difficult to approach Him. Think about the people in our lives that we are close to and know intimately we are open and willing to share everything no matter how ridiculous it sounds. Others that we do not share the same closeness with we often find it a struggle to engage with them and do not have much to say beyond being cordial. How well do we know Jesus? Do we find it easy or difficult to approach Him?
The fact that Mary was not put off by Jesus’ response to her suggests that she was aware of something that not even Jesus’ disciples knew. Mary knew that wherever Jesus is the potential for transformation exists. When we recognize that the power to change our situation, improve the quality of our lives, or attain better outcomes is before us we are able to buck the odds and face existing challenges because we know we are going to get to better.

And so, Mary instructed the servants to do whatever he tells you. Part of the reason for the success of the cosmetic surgery industry is people’s desire for a quick fix. We want it now and we want it to be a painless as possible. However, we are reminded that lasting and qualitative transformations are a process. There are no quick fixes if we desire to improve the quality of our lives, relationships, finances and yes, even our church. In stead we have to take a series of steps to achieve qualitative outcomes.

Jesus then tells the servants to fill six stone jars to the brim with water. I can only imagine the servant’s thought Jesus was trying to pull a fast one on the hosts and the guests. The interesting thing about their response is they did what Jesus said. In other words they carried out the process and saw it through to its completion. In order to make any transformation complete we must be committed to the process and be willing to stay the course. Problems occur when we abort and deviate from the process. Aborting and deviating will result in an unfinished product.

How Jesus changed the water into wine we do not know and John does not provide that information. What we do know is that whatever Jesus did, He did it supernaturally. Divine transformations happen supernaturally and there is no clear explanation as to how they happen. Judging from the response of the master of the banquet after he sampled it, it would appear that whatever Jesus did the character of the water changed. Literally, what went in as water came out as something radically different. The master of the banquet just wanted to make sure that people could enjoy themselves. Jesus, on the other hand, wanted to make sure people would be fulfilled. Whereas, the wine at the beginning helped the guests to enjoy themselves, the water that was turned into wine helped the guests to become fulfilled. The difference is that enjoyment is transitory, it is short-lived that is why we want more. Fulfillment is total and complete. When we are fulfilled we are thoroughly satisfied.

The bottom line is that wherever Jesus is the potential for change and transformation exists. The change and transformation that Jesus provides will makes us better. It will make us better because it is an inside out job that qualitatively improves our function and ability. In other words, it changes our character and not just our appearance. What difference does it make if we look good, but do not function well? We will leave an indelible impression on all who come in contact with us. The transformative power of Jesus will turn us into men, women, boys and girls who are able to influence and impact the lives of others. We will be able to reach people we never thought we could reach and impact them in ways we never thought we could impact them. Ultimately, God will be glorified because of the change that has taken place within us and when others see what Jesus has done in your life and mine, they too will believe and come to know Jesus as Lord and savior.
As we close consider, it was not until the wine ran out that Jesus got involved. Sometimes we desire and want change in our lives and we call out to Jesus and it seems like He does not answer. The truth is that Jesus is waiting for our wine to run out before He facilitates our transformation. In other words, wine represents whatever we are currently relying on or looking to for our happiness and enjoyment. Once we realize whatever good feelings we get from it are only temporary and give up on it, then our wine will have run out. At that point, we need to invite Jesus in and allow Him to begin to implement His process for transformation that will totally, completely, and thoroughly satisfy us.

SEASONS

2011-07-03T06:49:00.000-04:00

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

Someone once said if you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans. The truth is that while we are planning and trying to figure things out, God has already worked things out. There is of course an obvious dichotomy here, there is our plan and then there is God’s plan for our lives.

In the eyes of God our plans tend to be narrow in both scope and focus. We plan in terms of start to finish. We say to ourselves, we will complete high school, go to college, pursue our career, raise a family, retire, and then enjoy our golden years. We rarely take into account the unexpected, things like illness, financial difficulty, life changes, relational issues, career changes, and other such things.

God’s plan on the other hand factors in every eventuality we will face. It is for this reason that God’s plan for us is broader in both scope and focus. God’s plan includes contingencies and in case of emergency strategies for when things appear to be going awry.

The challenge for us is to reconcile our plans with God’s plan. The truth is that God is not going to adjust His plan to suit our wants and wishes, but we must synch up our plan with God’s plan. In order to accomplish this it is imperative that we understand two things:

a) What is God’s plan for us?
b) How does God intend to fulfill His plan for us?

If we focus on the how, God in time will reveal and make clearer the “what” aspect of His plan for us.

When we look to nature it helps us to both see and better understand how God fulfills His plan in our lives. Nature reveals that God uses a seasonal approach to fulfill His plan in our lives. Seasons are specific time periods created by God for specific activities. Just as there are four seasons in nature, there are also four seasons in the life of every person. In nature there is summer, fall/autumn, winter, and spring. In the life of every person there will be summers, fall/autumns, winters, and springs. Each season is distinguishable from the others by the activities that take place. For example, summer is a time of fun and enjoyment. The weather is hot, the trees and flowers are in full bloom, and people tend to spend more time outdoors. Fall/autumn is a time of change. The leaves turn colors as they prepare to fall of the trees, the kids go back to school, and the weather begins to get cooler. Fall/autumn is also a time of harvest. It is a time of reaping what has been planted and storing up for the days ahead. Winter is a time of hibernation. The days are shorter and the nights are longer. The cold and sometimes absolutely freezing temperatures force both people and animals inside in pursuit of warmth. Winter is also a time of both introspection and reflection. It is during winter that we often find ourselves dreaming about the coming summer or reflecting on the summer that just past. Spring is a time of new birth and rebirth. In spring we see nature and people coming back to life with renewed energy as they thaw out from the cold of winter.

As we seek to understand God’s plan for our lives, we must ask ourselves what season is my life in? The answer to this question can be found by looking at what is going on in our lives. If there is a lot of activity going on perhaps we are in summer. If there are changes occurring perhaps we are in fall/autumn. If there is not much happening and things are relatively quiet then we are in winter, and if new and different opportunities are presenting themselves or old opportunities are being revisited we are in spring.

One of the lessons we gain from nature is that seasons and the activities that occur within them are divinely prompted. Nature illustrates to us that God not only provides specific times periods for everything, but God also has assigned specific activities to each time period.

Take for example the bear and the squirrel, both hibernate during the winter and both prepare for their hibernation during the fall/autumn. Ducks, geese and swans migrate south during fall/autumn, as food supplies become limited, to warmer climates and return north during the spring. Farmers plant during growing season, reap or harvest at the end of growing season, enjoy the fruits of their labor, and then wait until the next growing season. At God’s prompting each of these engages in the activities that are appropriate for each season.

As we seek to understand God’s plan, we must ask ourselves what is God prompting me to do? Is God prompting me to plant, reap or harvest what I have planted, enjoy the harvest, or wait until the next planting season? Whatever God is prompting us to do it is keyed to the season we are in right now. The wonderful thing about God is we never have to guess. Just like the bear, squirrel, ducks, geese, swans, and farmer, God uses the environment to trigger an internal alarm. When the alarm goes off within us it is a signal – it’s time to transition because the season is changing and I must change with it.

The prompting of nature’s activities within each season is set according to God’s timetable. In other words, God has set the actions of bears, squirrels, ducks, geese, swans, and farmers, and when they are to engage in their activities. When they respond to God’s prompting they are acting in season. The sweetest and most tasty fruit I have eaten are those that are in season. In fact, Whole Foods, a national retailer of both organic and conventionally grown foods has built its business on the premise of selling only produce that is in season. Produce that is in season has been allowed to ripen and is therefore mature and ready to be consumed. It offers the optimum level of health benefits, taste, and satisfaction. Activities that are done in season or at the time God has appointed will always prove to be beneficial, successful, and personally gratifying.

Conversely, fruit that is picked before its time will be hard, tart, and difficult to digest. Fruit that is also picked after its time will be overripe, the texture will be soft and have a higher concentration of sugar making it also difficult to digest. Activities that are done out of season or other then when God prescribes them to be done will be hard to carryout, encounter increasing levels of difficulty, and require more effort and yield less than the desired results.

Therefore, we must recognize that it is God who sets the timetable and determines what will happen and when it will happen. Have you ever noticed how God allows some things to happen to us or thrusted upon us? This is to wake us up and to sound the alarm that we are in season and it is either our time to plant, reap, enjoy, or wait.

The writer poses the question, what does the worker gain from his toil? This is a question we all ask from time to time – what am I working for, or why am I killing myself?

The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes points out that the real issue is we simply do not understand. We do not understand:

1)That God did not create us to spend every waking minute of every day of our lives working and being saddled with the accompanying burdens of life
2)That God knows when we are ready and God has set and established specific time periods for specific activities that we are to engage in called seasons
3)That the gift of God to us is that we find satisfaction and enjoyment in whatever season we are in

So, if we are in summer, enjoy the mobility and activity. If we are in fall/autumn, enjoy the transitions that are occurring. If we are in winter, enjoy the rest, peace and quiet, and if we are in spring, enjoy the new possibilities and the revisiting of things we tabled years ago.

God in His infinite wisdom created seasons so that life would not become one-dimensional. To keep us from becoming comfortable, complacent, and settling for anything less then the fullness of God’s blessings God ushers in different seasons that challenge us in different ways. God does this so that we will know that He is God and it is He who controls and determines what happens and when things will happen to and for us. The good news is that as long as we walk with God we will always be in season and no one can alter what God has set in motion for my life, because God is in control of everything that happens in my life.

A SPIRIT LED LIFE

2011-06-19T12:39:00.000-04:00

Galatians 5:16-26

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Who is leading you? Who influences how we act, think, or feel about situations, circumstances, and life issues we face? This much is certain someone influences everyone. Whether we believe it or not, we all are the product of another persons influence in our lives. One or more persons have made significant contributions to the shaping, molding, and formation of the person we are today. For some of us, our parents have held the greatest influence, for others it was a friend, mentor, or possibly other family member. Whomever it was they have left their indelible mark on us.

The members of the Galatian church were struggling with this same question. There were some within the church who felt that people should follow the directives of Moses in the Mosaic Law and the apostle Paul countered all believers should be led by the Holy Spirit.

For the apostle Paul it was not as simple as whether or not we should adhere to the teachings of another, because there is another force at work influencing how we go about our business. The force that Paul was referring to is our human nature. We all can agree that in many cases despite the wisdom, guidance, and tutelage of parents, friends, mentors and the like we often go contrary to their counsel and do what we want in the end. The apostle points out that there are really only two powers that exert influence over us, a) our human nature or b) the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul explains that within each of us there is an internal struggle and tug of war occurring. In some cases the struggle occurs daily, in others it is situational, and still for others only occasionally. The point is there a struggle-taking place within each of us irregardless of the frequency.

To highlight his point, Paul lifts up for us the various (not exhaustive) manifestations of a life that is self directed verses a life that is directed by the Holy Spirit. In the text, the apostle uses the term “sinful nature” which means flesh or human nature. It refers to those actions that come naturally to human beings. He says these acts or actions are obvious. In other words they can be clearly seen. This helps us to understand why when people act or engage in actions that we consider questionable, in poor taste, or detrimental we can identify them immediately. The real issue and problem with being directed by our human nature is that we end up living only to please ourselves. While we may start out with good intentions those good intentions quickly become corrupted, compromised, and skewed. Have you ever noticed that when we intend to do something nice for a person, and then that person does not respond in a manner we think they should respond we become offended and in extreme cases resolve never to help anyone else again. Or, we say we are going to get to work on time or finish our projects in a timely manner and then when no one takes notice of our effort we become resentful and adjust our timetable to our own liking. As we can see, allowing our human nature to lead us generally devolves into being consumed by selfish desires, doing what we want when we want, or becoming a law unto ourselves. Ultimately, we become ungovernable.

To provide a solid understanding of the problem the apostle Paul provides us with four (4) categories of behavioral manifestations of being led by our human nature. For our purposes we will deal them categorically rather then individually. Primarily because the list is not exhaustive and not every person will struggle with every item in the list. Furthermore, I believe the apostle’s point is to make us aware of the trouble allowing our human nature to lead us can cause. The four categories are:

1) Sexual Problems: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery – these are things that undermine our personal integrity and create distrust within people who love us and are willing to invest in us. Perhaps the greatest problem with this category is the damage caused to relationships and ensuing destruction and devastation that result.

2) Religious Problems: idolatry and witchcraft – these are things that undermine our personal relationship with God and create distance between God and us. Anytime we place someone or something ahead of God it is an admission on our part that we do not trust God and that we will look elsewhere to get those things that God alone can and has promised to provide. The real problem here is that these things destroy intimacy with God.

3) Social Problems: hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy – these are things that undermine our personal relationships with others and cause us to become isolated by pushing others away. At the root of these behaviors is a subtle and sometimes harsh reality that we do not trust others, and so, we do our best to keep them from getting too close to us. The problem with the behaviors in this category is that they destroy fellowship and unity.

4) Substance Abuse Problems: drunkenness, orgies, and the like – these are things that undermine our ability to be, become, and achieve. The self-destructive nature of this category of behaviors suggests and screams a lack of trust exists within the individual. In an effort to cope with perceived inadequacies, shortcomings, and hardships an individual will pursue a path that culminates in their own destruction.

The apostle Paul concludes this section by saying, “I warn you…those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” In other words, there are consequences to allowing our human nature to lead us, and chief among them is separation from God and a failure to realize the fullness of what God has for us. Another point to be made here is that the people of God must continually examine and re-examine their lifestyle and inquire of themselves, how are we living? Any manifestation of the behaviors within the four categories Paul listed will be destructive if left unchecked. If these things predominate our life then the Holy Spirit is not leading us, or the primary power in our lives.

There are some who have asked me, how can I know if I have received the Holy Spirit or if the Holy Spirit is operative in my life?

My response to them is look for the signs of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life. The apostle Paul provides us with some definitive manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers. Whereas, there are indicators of our human nature exerting its power and influence in our lives, there are also signs of the Holy Spirit exerting its power and influence in the lives of believers. Again, rather that deal with each individually I think it would be more helpful to examine the categorical manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Here Paul offers three areas where we can identify the presence, activity, and leading of the Holy Spirit. A Spirit led life is:

1) Fruitful: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – these are the produce and product of the Holy Spirit. One of the first things that jump’s out in this area is that these qualities are antithetical to human nature. They are the antithesis of human nature. It is not by coincidence that Paul begins with love, because the way to correct wrong is not by might, but by love! From love flow’s all other virtues. You cannot have joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control if you do not have love. Love is what makes us productive in life and faith. It is because I love my family that I have joy in my heart. It is because I love my family, friends, and church that I can be at peace with decisions I do not like or agree with. It is because I have love I can be patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled.

2) Cultivated: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires – Any farmer or agriculturalist will tell you that in order to reap fruit you have to sow a seed and then cultivate that seed. In other words, we have to put the work in so that what has been planted can grow and ultimately we can enjoy the benefits. The Holy Spirit plants the seed and we are expected to nurture and take care of what the Holy Spirit plants within us. How? We ask God for qualities and God gives us situations. Therefore, in those situations where our human nature attempts to rear its ugly head we must exercise and employ the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Where we might allow anger to get the best of us we must employ gentleness and self-control. Where we might allow jealousy and envy to get the best of us we must employ love and joy for others. The bottom line is we must be committed to advancing the cause of Christ – being a living example of the gospel and using the fruit of the Holy Spirit to build up the Body of Christ.

3) Submissive: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit – Every day we must resolve to walk and work with the Holy Spirit. We do this by giving the Holy Spirit priority and daily giving up our desire to do what we want and then asking and inviting the Holy Spirit to guide, lead, and direct us in and through each day. The Holy Spirit will not arrest control of our lives, we have to give it to Him willingly and then He will provide us with the guidance and direction we need.

The apostle Paul lays out for us the internal struggle we face daily and the subsequent problems that can be caused when we allow out human nature to drive, lead, and guide us. The good news is Paul also presents the antidote and how we can resolve this dilemma. We must commit to living a Holy Spirit led life. This means that we daily decide to give priority to the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in all things and all areas of our lives. When we do this we will become liberated – we no longer have to worry about working things out and how things are going to work out because that now becomes the role and responsibility of the Holy Spirit. We will become empowered – things that used to bother, perplex, annoy, and disturb us will lose their power over us and we will experience increasing levels of mastery over people, places, and things. Most importantly, we no longer have to worry about doing the right thing, because the Holy Spirit will always lead us to do the right thing.

Who is leading you?

A PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE

2011-06-12T06:46:00.000-04:00

Acts 2:1-21

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

The term Pentecost means fifty. The day that we in Christendom recognize as Pentecost was originally known as the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of the Harvest, and/or the Day of First Fruits. It was celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Passover. It marked the formal completion of the wheat harvest. It also marked the renewal of the covenant. Every male Israelite was required to appear at the sanctuary. Together the people gave thanks to God for the harvest and acknowledged their obligation to God under the covenant.

Today, Pentecost is recognized as the ushering in of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church age. It is understood as the day when believers and followers of Christ became constituted as the “Body of Christ.” On the day of Pentecost God poured out His Spirit and the redemption of believers by the cross of Christ was made complete. Believers were invigorated by God’s divine power through the Holy Spirit and set forth on a path of work and worship. What God gave on the day of Pentecost He has never withdrawn. God gave the Holy Spirit and from that day to this one the Holy Spirit has been transforming the disciples of Christ and galvanizing them into action.

So, what actually happened on the day of Pentecost? According to Acts 2, there were five things that happened on the day of Pentecost and continue to be repeated today.

As God poured out His Spirit into the place where the people had gathered for worship the place and everyone inside became saturated with the Holy Spirit. Verse 2 says, “A violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.” Verse 4 says, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit dispatched from heaven by God filled the house and the people in the house and there was a dramatic difference in the environment and the people. They both became saturated with the Holy Spirit. In chemistry saturated substances exhibit three distinct characteristics. They are less reactive, possess stronger dispersion forces, and have a higher melting point. Saturated substances are not bothered by the mundane and as a result they are not easily disturbed or provoked. Saturated substances also seem to possess a stronger force of attraction. They are like magnets. Other objects no matter how resistant are drawn to them. Saturated substances because of their high melting point do not breakdown easily when exposed to extreme and intense heat. They are able to endure and persevere in pressurized situations. And, so, as the Holy Spirit filled the place where the people had gathered, the place and the people became saturated (thoroughly filled & absorbed) with the Holy Spirit.

The next thing that happened was a manifestation or evidence of the people being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helped the people to express themselves in a manner like they had never done before. Verse 4 says, “All of them…began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” There was a clear and definitive presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in worship. The people’s expression in worship was enabled and the product of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Here we see two marks of the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit. First, when the Holy Spirit is present and moving in worship, corporate worship becomes the result of a personal encounter, experience, and relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. The people came together because of tradition and to fulfill a religious obligation, but they were prompted and inspired to worship by the Holy Spirit. Secondly, what was a group became a fellowship. The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit broke down all barriers and created a united fellowship out of diverse cultures. People came from different walks of life, with different views of life, and spoke different languages in life. After being filled they all spoke one language – the language of the heart. They also adopted and shared one purpose for being together – to glorify God.

For these people on this day, it was more important to understand then to be understood. It was more important to be united in fellowship then divided in worship. The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit is the result of the Spirit revealing God’s love for all people. The realization of God’s love brings people together and prompts them to express their love for God in praise.

The next thing that happened was a second manifestation or additional evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence and activity. Verse 6 says, “When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment.” Verse 12 says, “Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, what does this mean?” The sound emanating from the house saturated with the Holy Spirit and people filled with the Holy Spirit got the attention of others and drew them in for a closer inspection. Another manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power is the power of attraction. The collective witness of individuals expressing love and devotion for God in vibrant worship cannot be ignored. One or two people we can ignore and overlook, but an entire congregation cannot be ignored. Others will see, hear, and investigate and want to know, what is going on here?

A normal reaction to the Pentecostal experience is rejection. In verse 13 the text says, “Some, however, made fun of them and said, they have had too much wine.” There were some who rejected the notion that the events on Pentecost were a demonstration of God’s power. Instead, they attributed it to being under the influence of wine.

In the face of undeniable evidence of God’s power there will always be dissenters, naysayers, and others who will refute obvious and unmistakable displays of God’s awesome power. However, rejection of God, of Christ, of the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit and reality of their divine power is to be expected and anticipated. It is par for the course. God foretold that people would reject Him and Jesus warned us that both He and the Holy Spirit would not be accepted. Armed with God’s foretelling and Christ’s warning, we must not be swayed or become discouraged by other’s rejection of the divine power manifested and revealed in our midst through the Holy Spirit. We are encouraged instead to expected it and continue reaching out to and celebrating with those who are receptive to the reality of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, there was clarification. As the apostle Peter stood up to address the crowd including the dissenters. Peter provides clarity for all about what has just happened. While some did not understand, Peter points out that what has just taken place was spoken of in the scriptures. God through the prophet Joel foretold of this day and the unfolding of these events and what they have just witnessed is their fulfillment.

In summary form, Peter teaches the people that whenever the Spirit of God is poured out on the people of God there will be fulfillment.

- There will be fulfillment of prophecy. The Holy Spirit will provide revelation and understanding of God’s word. The word of God will become a living word that lives with people and enables them to apply it daily to their lives. The word will not only speak to them, but it will also guide, direct and govern them in all of their affairs. It will become the objective standard for their lives.

- There will be fulfillment of promises. The Holy Spirit will enable the people of God to realize the fullness of God’s blessings. The more of God’s Spirit we received, the greater our devotion toward God and for the things of God, and being propelled in the Spirit to live lives that are pleasing to God we will experience the favor of God as the Holy Spirit leads us into the exceeding abundance of God’s blessings.

- There will be fulfillment of miracles. The Holy Spirit will cause the unexplained and the seemingly impossible to happen. There will be a breaking down of barriers, as things that were not accessible to us outside of the Holy Spirit will become accessible when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The power of God through the Holy Spirit will do for us what we could never do for ourselves.

With all that God offers through the Holy Spirit, who would not want to have a Pentecostal experience. In fact the good news is that a Pentecostal experience is not just limited to the day of Pentecost or even worship. A Pentecostal experience is made available to believers every time God pours out His Spirit and believers become filled with the Holy Spirit.

Have you had a Pentecostal experience today?

THE SPIRIT OF CONVICTION & THE SPIRIT OF POWER

2011-06-05T14:33:00.001-04:00

John 16:7-15
7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Acts 1:4-8
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Have you ever been wrong? How did you know that you were wrong? Did someone point out your error, or upon reflection you discovered your own error? Admitting that we are wrong is not an easy thing to do. The three key factors necessary for such an admission are honesty, open mindedness, and willingness. If we were honest we probably have to admit that in most cases our wrongs need to be brought to our attention. After we have been made aware of them we either open our minds to the possibility that we were in error or refuse to consider such a possibility exists. Even if we discover that we have made a mistake we still must be willing to openly acknowledge our error.

This is on a personal level, but what about on a much larger scale? What about if a group, organization, or entire country was wrong? How could we get them to see and admit their error?

In John 16 verses 7 to 15, Jesus offers His disciples some additional information on the work of the Holy Spirit. In this particular passage, Jesus explains that one of the major roles and functions of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world. The word convict is used here to mean prosecute, judge, and/or prove wrong. Jesus uses a legal term to describe the work of the Holy Spirit. Essentially, The Holy Spirit will act as a prosecutor or prosecuting attorney. In a court of law, it is the prosecutor’s responsibility to present evidence against the accused.

The two obvious questions are, who are the accused and what are they charged with? According to Jesus the accused is the world. Jesus is specifically speaking of those individuals who are alienated from God and hostile to the cause of Christ. And what is their charge? They are wrong about Christ. Jesus points out that they are wrong on three counts, sin, righteousness, and judgment. These three counts serve as the bases for the Holy Spirit’s conviction.

Jesus offers a more fulsome explanation of the charges against the world. In the area of sin, the world is guilty of unbelief. The world does not believe in Jesus because it has not seen Him and therefore, it rejects the very notion of His existence. In the area of righteousness, the world is guilty of living in opposition to God. The world is filled with objections to the gospel message. Three of the more prevalent objections of our time come from the modernist, the postmodernist, and the pluralist. The Modernist declared that Christianity is not a true religion on the basis that the Bible is not a divinely inspired book, but the product of human beings. The Postmodernist propose that no group should attempt to convert others because there is no such thing as ultimate truth. The Pluralist stated that no ideology can possess absolute truth and all religions are more or less equal. Based on these three views the world has concluded that it can live without Jesus. Whereas, Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Christ the world celebrates His death and believes the world is better off with Him dead. In the area of Judgment, the world is guilty of perpetrating and perpetuating open hostility against God. Since there is no Christ and people are encouraged to live for self, the world has been overtaken by corruption and people are totally depraved as they go about seeking to satisfy their desires and cravings.

These are the findings for Christ the evidence He has amassed against the world and given to the Holy Spirit to pursue prosecution and conviction. In a court of law conviction usually results in paying the price for the crime that has been committed. In this case the purpose of conviction is to bring about correction that leads to restoring or repairing relationship with God. A natural extension of conviction is confession. A conviction is won by the presentation of evidence that proves the guilt of the guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt. The evidence is so weighty, airtight, and overwhelming that there can be no defense. The accused is then left to stew while they are shackled by the burden of their guilt. All of this is designed to do two things: a) coerce a confession – admit to wrongdoing; b) prompt repentance – a heartfelt desire to change.

Based on the evidence that has been presented we can agree that the world is wrong about Jesus and they must be made aware of how wrong they are. But how can the world be made aware of their wrongs if they reject the Holy Spirit? Enter, the church. According to Christ, the prophetic voice of the Holy Spirit speaking through the church will make the world aware of its wrongdoing. The Holy Spirit works through the church to prove the world wrong about Jesus by proclaiming and sharing the truth as it is revealed to the church.

However, before we start going around telling people they are wrong perhaps we need to examine the last instructions Jesus gave to His disciples prior to returning to the Father. As we turn our attention to Jesus’ words to His disciples in the Book of Acts a distinction must be made between the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would live in believers. This is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit indwells a believer He takes up residence on the inside of the believer and lives and resides their forever. In this passage in Acts 1, Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personal experience of the fullness of the Holy Spirit that may take place at the moment of conversion, or at a later time. This experience lifts a believer to a higher level of spiritual experience. The fullness of the Holy Spirit is essential for Christian life and ministry.

Jesus points out that the purpose for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is so that God can bestow spiritual power on an individual through the Holy Spirit. The result of this power is three-fold:

1) It is Transforming – through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit a believer is sanctified. The process of sanctification is the process of daily dying to self and leading to living a purer Christ-like life and growing deeper in our devotion with God

2) It Equips – through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit believers are prepared for ministry and Christian service. The believer begins to realize, develop and exercise the spiritual gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit.

3) It is Empowering – As believers engage in ministry the realization sets in that they cannot accomplish anything a part from or without the power of the Holy Spirit, and only in the power of the Holy Spirit can a believer carryout their ministry.

There was an old Welsh preacher who was scheduled to speak at a convention. Around the time all of the people had gathered the organizers of the event sent a housekeeper up to his room to tell him it was time for him to come. The housekeeper went and came back alone, the organizers asked her what happened. She said that when she went to the room she heard the preacher talking to someone and she did not want to disturb him. The organizers told her to go back to the room and tell the preacher to come now. She went back to the room and came back again alone. They again asked her what happened and she said he was still talking to someone and she did not want to disturb him. They said this is totally unacceptable. They went to the room and just as they were about to knock on the door they heard from inside the room the old Welsh preacher say, “I will not go and preach to these people, if you will not go with me.” The organizers said to themselves we better wait until he comes.

The fundamental lesson that Jesus taught in this passage centered on the priority of the Holy Spirit in Christian ministry. Jesus did so by presenting the power of the Holy Spirit in terms of cause and effect. Jesus told them that when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them they would become His witnesses. Effective witness can only occur where the Spirit is and where the Spirit is, effective witness will always follow in word, deed, and quality of living.

The connection between John 16 the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and Acts 1 the power of the Holy Spirit is found in the command Jesus gave His disciples in Acts 1:8. Jesus instructed them to be His witnesses. A witness is someone who shares and proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ in word, deed, and quality of living. Jesus also instructed them to become missionaries. A missionary is someone who takes the Good News of Jesus Christ where it is not or where it is needed most. William Temple said, “The Christian church is the one organization that exists purely for the benefit of non-members.”

In calling the disciples to wait on the Holy Spirit and operate in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was demonstrating that the Holy Spirit is able to convict the world of its wrongdoing operating in and through believers as they witness and engage in Christian mission work. Jesus was also teaching that it is only in the power of the Holy Spirit that a believer is able to witness and engage in Christian mission work.

OUR HELP IS ON THE WAY

2011-05-29T13:39:00.000-04:00

John 14:15-27 ~ 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14 is a pivotal chapter in the gospel of John. As Jesus was nearing the close of His public ministry He knew that His disciples were going to face some challenges that could rock the foundation of their faith and decimate all of the work that He had done. Two of the events are listed in chapter 13. Judas was about to betray Jesus, and Peter was about to deny Jesus. The third event is mentioned in chapter 12, Jesus was about to stand trial and be crucified.

These events were going to test both the metal and fortitude of Jesus’ disciples. These series of events had the potential to splinter, fracture, and possibly destroy this group and derail their future work. One of the most disturbing realities of what was about to happen is that the source of the problems the group was going to face was internal. We are reminded that not all of the problems you and I face are external. Sometime the crux of the problems we encounter can be found by looking in the mirror. Jesus was clearly more concerned with how the disciples would respond and react to what they were about to go through. There are times when we may not be the cause of the problems we face, but our response or reaction exacerbates and makes a bad situation worse.

Anyone who has lived understands and accepts the fact that for as long as we live we will experience challenges and challenging situations. The question is how will we handle them? Jesus was apparently concerned not only about the psyche, but also the emotional and physical well being of His disciples. Jesus understands how fragile we are and at any given point in time, any person can be pushed over the edge.

This is one of the reasons why God created people and all living things to be dependent. We all stand in the need of assistance. Men depend on Women for love and nurturing. Women depend on men for love and protection. Children depend on parents when they are young. Parents depend on children when they get old. Friends depend on each other. Animals depend on people to take care of the environment. People depend on animals for food and clothing. We live in a world where everyone and everything depends on some one and some thing else to help it maintain and ensure its survival.

Jesus recognized that His disciples would soon be in need of assistance. That is why, twice in chapter 14 Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” In other words, do not worry about it, because your help is on the way. It would be nice if we did not have to endure hardship, suffering, and emotional distress, but unfortunately these things are a part of our reality for as long as we are on earth. There are some situations and things that no matter how hard we try to avoid the pain it is inevitable. In times like these it is encouraging to know that God in Christ has made provisions for us and supplies us with the help that we need to make it through.

Who, what, or where does our help come from?

In this passage we see references and allusions to what theologians refer to as the Godhead, also known as The Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each person within the Godhead has a distinct personality and each person has a specific role and function. They are individually distinctive persons, but they all work together.

Most people know about the Father and the Son. However, equally as important, but the least talked about is the Holy Spirit. The primary reason for this is found in verse 17. Jesus points out that the world rejects the Holy Spirit because, “it cannot see Him and does not understand Him.” We are cautioned here to be careful about rejecting things solely on the basis of not understanding them. Some time the things we reject are precisely the things we need.

To help clear up any misunderstanding about the person and work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus provides us with more information. If we look again at verse 17 Jesus uses the pronoun “Him” to refer to the Holy Spirit. This teaches us that the Holy Spirit is a distinct person in relationship to the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is not an “it” and should never be referred to as “it.” The Holy Spirit also has a mind and has the ability to think and act. This is seen in verse 26 where Jesus says that the Holy Spirit can teach and will remind us of things. Yes, the Holy Spirit moves and operates in accordance with the will of God through Christ Jesus, but this does not mean that the Holy Spirit is a robot. The Holy Spirit is a person committed to complete obedience to God. The Holy Spirit is also a relational gift from God to believers. A by-product of the believer’s relationship with Jesus Christ is that Christ petitions or asks God to give and let us have the Holy Spirit. We cannot earn the Holy Spirit, we cannot work for the Holy Spirit, and we certainly cannot be good enough to merit the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit after we have established a relationship with Jesus Christ.

In addition to teaching us about the person of the Holy Spirit, Jesus also teaches us about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

1. The Holy Spirit is our helper – the Holy Spirit took the place of Christ after Jesus ascended back to the Father. He gives believer’s divine strength to enable us to face, go through, and overcome the trials and troubles we face in life. The Holy Spirit is constantly present in the life of believers and always at the ready to provide the help and assistance we need in any and every situation and circumstance.

2. The Holy Spirit is our teacher – He leads us into a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth. The Holy Spirit helps us to know the truth by explaining and providing instruction. He expands and increases our understanding and ability to apply and live out the principles and practices of Christ as outlined in God’s word.

3. The Holy Spirit helps us to remember – He brings to our remembrance and empowers us to recall or call back to mind all of the things that Jesus said, did, and taught.

Why has God given us a helper?

God gives us a helper for Christ’s sake. Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name.” God sends the Holy Spirit so that Christ’s life, death, and resurrection would not have been in vain. God sends the Holy Spirit so that the work of Christ can continue to advance. God sends the Holy Spirit so that Christ will be exalted and all who need Him and want to come to know Him will be drawn closer to Christ. God sends the Holy Spirit because the world we live in and people all over the world are in need of divine help and assistance.

No matter what is going on in our lives, or what station in life we are at this moment, our help is on the way. The good news is it makes no difference whether things are going well or poorly for us, our help is on the way. If things are going well, we can count on divine assistance when things begin to turn. If things are going poorly, we can look for divine assistance to turn things around. Either way, our help is on the way.

Jesus said, “I will ask…and the Father will send another counselor (helper).” An addendum to the good news is all believers have three levels of help:

• We have Almighty sovereign help from God
• We have Messianic salvific help from Christ
• We have Empowering spiritual help from the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, “I will ask…and the Father will send. All we have to do is wait, because our help is on the way.

AN APPROACH TO SPIRITUAL THINGS

2011-05-22T13:14:00.000-04:00

Luke 18:15-17 ~ People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

It is no secret that spiritual things are not easy to grasp or understand. I have a very good friend of mine who several years ago pointed out to me that the Bible is one of the most difficult books to read and comprehend. He reasoned that much of the difficulty people encounter in trying to understand the Bible stemmed from the fact that it is written in biblease. Only someone who knows the Bible can understand the Bible. In addition, individuals who irresponsibly take biblical passages out of context also further misunderstandings of the Bible. A case and point is the recent prediction of the end of the world. While the Bible does speak of end times and that at some point the earth and every one in it will have to stand before almighty God to face God’s judgment. In Mark 13:32, Jesus said, “No one knows that day or hour not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Therefore, no person can predict when “judgment day will occur.”

One of the mistakes those who struggle to understand scripture make, and this includes ordained clergy like myself, is the tendency to use a natural and intellectual approach to spiritual things. The major problem here is that the natural and the spiritual operate on two different planes and therefore must be approached differently. In other words we cannot use the same approach to spiritual things that we use to understand things that occur in the natural. The natural can be seen and the spiritual is unseen. On the basis of this principle alone we must employ different approaches as we attempt to understand each respectively.

Even Jesus’ disciples who lived, worked and were taught by Jesus himself struggled to understand spiritual things. They tried, like us, to understand Jesus and His teachings in the context of their environment and the times in which they lived. Jesus often chastised them and referred to them as “slow” to understand as a result. It is like trying to read Shakespeare without any knowledge of “Old English,” or watching a soccer match without an understanding of the game. It simply does not work!

One of the things that made Jesus an extraordinary teacher was His ability to communicate spiritual lessons through life situations. Jesus recognized that because people live in the natural every situation we encounter provides an opportunity to learn something about the spiritual. So, Jesus used real life situations to provide spiritual instruction. One such situation occurred in Luke 18 where people brought their babies to Jesus. This is one of the passages used to support the act of baby dedication. Parents and guardians of children who sought to have their children touched by Jesus believed that through His touch a special blessing would be conferred on the life of child.

The distinction between infant baptism and baby dedication is that infant baptism is a symbolic opening of the door into the community of Christ to a child. It is the first step in a process that culminates in the child becoming a member of the community of Christ. Baby dedication is the bringing of children to Christ as both an offering and a sacrifice. It is a statement made by parents and guardians declaring their acknowledgment that a child’s life comes from God and ultimately belongs to God. Therefore, in an act of sacrifice the parent or guardian sacrificially offers the child back to God placing the child under God’s care and protection for the reminder of the Child’s life.

The disciples stepped in tried to break it up, and they dismissed the people. The action of the disciples highlights for us the crux or root of the problem as it relates to gaining an understanding of spiritual things. They, like some, dismissed what they did not understand. Rather than making an effort to acquire additional information about something they obviously did not see any value in, they tried to stop it by running interference. On the evening news one night this past week was a story about a debate between a world -renowned scientist and a 12 year-old boy. The debate centered on the existence of heaven. The scientist unequivocally dismissed the notion of the existence of heaven and the afterlife. He said that the idea of heaven and the afterlife is a fairy story for people who are afraid of the dark. The scientist pointed out that there is no physical or tangible evidence to support the idea that heaven and the afterlife are real and therefore, on the basis of a lack of evidence the idea must be dismissed. The 12 year-old boy stated that he accepts the reality of heaven based on a surreal experience he had at the age of four. He stated that when he was four years old and nearing death he had a surgery that saved his life, and it was during this surgery that he saw Jesus.

One of the things this debate points out is that there are natural obstacles that can hinder us from understanding spiritual things. The reality is that all people struggle with things they do not understand and the tendency is to dismiss what we do not understand in the absence of physical evidence. However, I would submit to you that perhaps we are looking for the wrong kind of evidence. Physical evidence proves physical things. If I fill a cup with water, it proves the cup can hold water. It will not prove that God created water. On the other hand spiritual evidence proves spiritual things. When we pray to God and God answers our prayers it proves that God answers prayer. Therefore, we should not attempt to use physical evidence to prove spiritual things, but rather we should look for spiritual evidence to prove spiritual things.

Jesus overrode the disciple’s veto and then went on to point out that the kingdom of God belonged to and would be inhabited by children. What exactly is the kingdom of God? Jesus uses the terms “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven” synonymously. Any reference to either of these terms by Jesus should be understood as the perfect order of things which Jesus was about to establish, in which all those from every nation who believe in the lordship of Jesus will be gathered together into one society, dedicated and intimately united to God, and made partakers of God’s eternal salvation offered only through Jesus Christ. Essentially, Christ has laid the foundation for the kingdom of God through His life, death, and resurrection. Christ is also the gate and the door through which those who desire to become members of God’s kingdom must pass through. There is no other door or port of entrance. The only way to enter is through Jesus Christ.

Jesus also shares that an additional requirement to enter the kingdom of God is that all who enter must do so as a child. A distinction must be made here as Jesus uses both the singular child and the plural children. The term child refers to those who are developmentally older than babies, infants, and toddlers, but younger than adolescents. They are older than two or three years old, but younger than twelve to fourteen. Jesus uses the term children to refer to infants and babies. With regard to entering the kingdom of God and understanding spiritual things as a whole, Jesus teaches us that we must approach both like a child. To be clear, we must not be childish in our approach, but we must possess child-like qualities. Kids who have passed infancy but have yet to reach pre-adolescence generally exhibit three characteristics:

a) They tend to believe what they hear
b) They tend to obey people they believe in
c) They tend to trust what they hear from people they believe

Kids do not necessarily need to know all the details or understand all the facts in order to believe. If they trust the source, they will believe what is said and obey. Kids keep it simple, while adults complicate things. Remember the rubix cube? I would watch Michael give it a few twists and turns and everything would be lined up, then I would try it and to this day I still cannot figure it out. That is one of the reasons adults will not enter the kingdom of heaven and we have such difficulty understanding spiritual things, because we need too much information. Everything needs to make sense for adults. We are too intelligent and too sophisticated for God. Jesus encourages us to lower our IQ and bring it down a couple of notches, stop complicating things and keep it simple – believe, obey, and trust.

When it comes to trying to understand spiritual things, we need to channel our inner child and let him or her take the lead. The approach Jesus offers to help us gain a better understanding of spiritual things is five-fold:

1. See ourselves as children of God and Christ as our older brother – we must embrace the idea that we belong to God’s family and God has given us Christ as our role model to look up to and model our lives after.

2. Dismiss nothing, but be open to every principle contained in the scriptures – openness is the key to understanding, our understanding will grow only if we are open to the information God offers. The more open we are, the more information God will offer. Not even God can penetrate a closed mind.

3. Do not add or take away from God’s word but accept it, as it is – take personal feelings out of the equation. A parent’s job is to protect their child from being harmed and sometimes that means saying things and doing things that the child does not like.

4. Wait on God to reveal more – understanding comes from God and it comes in God’s time. Parenting is not an exact science and so much of what parents do and say is based on perception. If a parent gives the child something they are not ready for it may prove to be detrimental to the child in the long run. Trust that God will give us what we need when we need it and God will reveal to us what we need to know when we are ready to receive it.

5. Give ourselves totally and completely over to God daily – God is our Father and we are His children. In terms of the kingdom, God is the ruler and we are His subjects. In any kingdom there can only be one ruler and everyone else is subject to the one ruler. While we do not understand the how’s and why’s of what the ruler does, we trust that everything the ruler does is in the best interest of his or her subjects.

Jesus said let them come to Him. Christ implores us to come to Him like a child and follow His blueprint and the guidelines He offers. When we do that we will see that our understanding of spiritual things will begin to grow and increase. We cannot attempt to understand spiritual things a part from Christ, because He is our teacher, instructor, and role model. Christ alone possesses the key that unlocks the understanding of our mind. Therefore, we must come to Him, Christ Jesus, in order for Him to use the key to open our mind and increase our understanding of all that He teaches.

GIVING IT YOUR ALL

2011-05-08T11:52:00.000-04:00

Luke 21:1-4 ~ 1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Women were created by God to be helpers, but life has demanded that women become leaders. After God created Eve, the first woman, God assigned to her and established her as the template for all women who would come after her. However, throughout the annals of time, life situations and circumstances have called upon women to assume greater roles and responsibilities in the home, the world, and also in the church.

The departure from what was once considered traditional roles for women has seen them make tremendous strides in breaking down barriers and raising ceilings in once male dominated sectors and societies. Women have vigorously dispelled the once held myth that they are helpless damsels in distress awaiting their knight in shining armor to come and rescue them.

Today all women and moms have much to celebrate. Although some would say that the celebration of womanhood and motherhood should be tempered because there is still work to do and a lot more to be accomplished, I say revel in your accomplishments and celebrate your successes. Why? Celebrate because Jesus has noticed how far you have come and how much you have accomplished. While there may still be pockets and segments of society and the world that may be slow in recognizing both the triumphs and challenges that women and moms face, Jesus has noticed.

On behalf of Jesus for whom I am an ambassador, I want to offer a few words of encouragement to women in general and moms in particular. I want to let you know today that Jesus has and is taking notice of all that you have done and are doing. Dr. Luke takes us inside the Temple and allows us to see through the eyes of Jesus something that women and moms have done daily from the beginning of time and that is giving their all. Dr. Luke allows us through the eyes of Jesus to look beyond the exterior of the woman or women we call mom or have been a mom to us and see what is inside them that propels them to give it their all.

Jesus makes two distinctions in this text. First, Jesus distinguishes between rich and poor referring to class and then Jesus distinguishes between wealth and poverty, which refers to means.

• There are those who focus on where they are in life, there are those who focus on how much they have in life and then there are those who give all that they have regardless of where they are or what they have.

One of the first things Jesus noticed about this woman who gave her all was the condition of her heart. Moms, women, and people who give their all give freely because their giving is not determined by what they have or how much they have they simply give all that they have. In a heart that gives freely there is no room for jealousy and envy. The heart does not begrudge others for what they have but rather it is content to make the most of what it has. You do not hear any grumbling about the things the heart may want or desires, but you see a sense of gratitude for everything it possesses and because it has gratefully received, all that the heart gives is done joyfully and freely. Everyone wants nice things, but I am always amazed at how a woman or mom who is grateful for what she has can turn a two-bedroom apartment into a palace. Her home is always inviting and she is always willing to share freely all that she has.

Jesus also noticed the effort with which this woman gave. Isn’t it interesting that when we give freely the effort is both tireless and seam-less? This is perhaps one of the reasons women and moms sometimes get taken for granted, because it always appears as though you have everything under control and never get tired. Like the energizer bunny you just keep going and going and going.

Jesus goes on to make another distinction. In this next distinction Jesus describes how people gave. Jesus says, “They gave out of…” Some gave out of their wealth, but the widow gave out of her self. In other words she gave selflessly. Like moms and some women this widow gave with ease never stopping to think about herself, but thinking about others first. One of the most endearing characteristics of selfless giving is that it never draws attention to itself. Selfless giving does not wait or look for pomp and circumstances or a parade and does not need positive affirmations. Selfless givers just go about their business quietly.

• The selfless mom and woman’s credo is “If it needs to be done, I’ll do it.”

There are many churches today that owe their existence to the contributions of selfless moms and women who gave of themselves to make sure the doors remained opened. No one asks how or why things get done, we just continue to enjoy the fact that things are set up for us as we walk in the door. In fact, there are many families today that are still together because selfless moms and grandmothers were the glue that held the family together through hard times. These selfless women recognized that the whole was more important than an individual part.

Jesus makes yet another distinction. He points out that while some “Gave out,” the widow “Put in.” While some may have been looking for something in return, the widow was willing to sacrifice and part with all that she had. Sacrifice and sacrificial giving never considers what’s in it for me, it is only concerned with how my contribution will make everyone and everything else around me better.

• Whereas, selfishness always looks to make me better, sacrificial giving always looks to make us better.

It almost seems as though moms have built into their DNA a sacrificial gene. As soon as they hear the word “need” they forget about themselves and spring into action. They do not even ask they just offer and it is always more than enough. Yet, we never stop to think about where it came from, if we did we would see that it came from them. We say, “I’ll pay you back,” and they say, “don’t be silly you need it so take it.” Sacrificial giving never begins with I or me, instead it always begins with you, he, she, or they need. Sacrificial giving is funny that way it has a limited vocabulary and tunnel vision. It is fed by need and deprived of self. I never once remember my mom saying, “What about me?”

Perhaps the most profound distinction that Jesus made was in the area of faith. Jesus describes some as giving “gifts,” and the widow gave “Two very small copper coins.” One of the things that Jesus was pointing out is do not become enamored with the size of the gift, but pay attention to the mindset and disposition of the giver. Giving when you have it to give is one thing, but giving when you have nothing left to give is faith in action. Moms who give in faith do not put their trust in themselves, but they put their total and complete trust in God. They do not worry about tomorrow, because the same God who provided for today will also take care of tomorrow. These women are a living and breathing example of what putting our trust in God and Christ looks like.

You never see them sweat, because they recognize that all things come from God. Their actions and lifestyle communicate and reiterate repeatedly all that we have acquired or will acquire comes from God. It is by God’s grace, God choosing to smile on me and show me kindness that I have been blessed with life, health, strength, resources, skills, talents, ability, family and friends. Therefore, I will look to Him who supplies and wait on Him to provide – in the meantime, I will give all that I have.

This widow is in stark contrast to today’s contemporary woman. Today we hear of women speaking of how strong they are and how they can accomplish this and that. While this is nice, Jesus pointed out that the widow put in more than all the rest and she did it quietly. I think back to my own mother and grandmother and the women of that time. They had a quiet strength that could not be matched and certainly could not be ignored. They did not have to tell the world how strong they were they showed the world by giving their all in everything they did.

• They gave from their heart and give tirelessly – there was no such thing as I’m tired or I do not feel like it
• They gave selflessly – if it needed to be done, they took the initiative got up and did it, and did not ask for applause, positive affirmations, or anything else – they just gave of themselves
• They gave sacrificially – many boys, girls, men and women owe their success in life to moms and women who were committed to making sure they had what they needed so they could get to where they are today
• They gave in faith – they sowed the seeds of faith in us by showing us how to trust God in Christ for everything not looking at what they had, but giving all that they had and having the courage to wait on God to supply them with whatever they lacked

I recently had the opportunity to eulogize a woman who was like a mother to me in life and in Christ. I was struck by a quote attributed to her in her obituary. Her words summarize the witness and testimony of not only the widow in our text, but of every woman and mom that has and is giving their all. It read, “Your needs will always be provided for, it is your wants you will have to work for.”

A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH: LIVE A LIFE THAT HONORS GOD

2011-05-01T11:29:00.001-04:00

Ephesians 4:1 ~ “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

The fifth commandment states, “Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives you,” is the only commandment with a promise. This commandment is a statement of purpose and intent for all believers. The purpose behind this statement is to teach children from when they are young that their first responsibility is to “honor” their parents. The intent of the command is to teach children from the earliest of stages of their life that they are to be intentional about the things they do in life.

This seed sown into the hearts, souls, and minds of children grows as they develop and mature into adulthood. The value of teaching children to “honor” their parents is a transferable commodity that pays dividends throughout life. Children who learn to “honor” their earthly parents’, who they can see can make an easier transition to understanding the value of honoring their heavenly Father whom they cannot see. We must first learn to honor those who are over us at all levels of life, before we can embrace the idea of giving honor to Him who is overall. The same way children are encouraged to live their lives so as to be pleasing to their parents’, believers are commanded to be intentional about living lives that honor and please God and reflect the presence of Christ in their lives as well.

Today, we want to begin to look at what a life that honors God looks like. Today, we will focus on only one characteristic so as to give it a full treatment. In verse one of Ephesians chapter four we read, “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” One of the first questions we must answer is what calling have we received? The answer is found in Ephesians chapter one verses four and eleven. In verse four it says, “For he (God) chose us in Him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” In verse eleven is says, “In Him (Christ) we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him (God) who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His (God) will.” OK, before God created the world God knew that people would go off course and their lives would become mired in sinful and destructive ways of living that would lead us to become separated from God. With this foreknowledge, God made provisions through Jesus Christ for our return to Him. God’s plan not only included restoring us to relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, but also giving us a blueprint and guidelines that would enable us to pattern our lives after Christ. Thus, the call to accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior is also a call to pattern our lives after His and in doing so, live a life that honors God. In essence, we received the call when we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal savior. To put it succinctly, God says, come back to me through Jesus Christ and then live your life after the pattern of Jesus. Do not live like you are on earth, but live like you belong to the kingdom of heaven.

The statement, “Live a life that is worthy of the calling you received,” is a reminder to the church, the Body of Christ, and all believers “Live your lives so as to be consistent with the will, plan, and purposes of God.” A life that honors God will exhibit this characteristic. What I have referred to, as a statement is really more of a command or a challenge to elevate or raise our level of living so that it is consistent or in accordance with the lifestyle we have been called to live – like we belong to God’s kingdom.

It is important to keep in mind that God does not call His people to do something that God has not made provisions for them to carry out. Therefore, God has provided us with guidelines and a blueprint. In fact, not only has God given us written guidelines, but God has also provided us with a living blueprint. The written guidelines can be found in God’s Word. In the Word of God we are provided with examples of those who have gone before us (The Old Testament), and the words of Christ and the examples of those who followed Christ (The New Testament). God has also provided us with a living blueprint in the life and witness of Jesus Christ. In Christ we have the living embodiment of what it looks like to live in accordance with God’s will, plan, and purposes. Christ acts as our role model as He models for us how to elevate our living so that our lives bring honor to God.

Some would say at this point, that is a tall order. How can we do this today when even those who went before us struggled? Before Jesus was crucified he promised His followers that He would send a helper and the purpose of this helper was to give them the power to do the things that Jesus had taught them. The same helper that Jesus offered to disciples back then is available to us today. The helper that Jesus was referring to is none other than the Holy Spirit. As believers allow the empowering presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct us we will realize that it is only through the divine power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to live lives that honor God and reflect the presence of Christ in our living. In a nutshell, God offers us some homework help through the Holy Spirit. When you help children with their homework depending on where they are, sometimes you guide them by showing, direct them by pointing things out, and in other cases you simply do it for them until they get it. In each case the child is being empowered and grows in knowledge and understanding. The Holy Spirit operates the same way, He shows us through God’s word and the words of Christ. He points things out by aligning us with more mature believer’s who instruct us in the ways of godly living. When all of that does not work, He gives us patient saints who are full of the spirit to take us by the hand and say do it this way.

OK preacher, if it is so simple how come so many people struggle? The short answer is the “human will.” Notice that the command is preceded by “I urge you.” This is literally an appeal, God through the biblical writer, the apostle Paul, is appealing to readers or strongly encouraging them to do and adopt this lifestyle. We must remember that God does not compel or force a person to do anything. God always gives people a choice. The thing that is overlooked in most cases is that with choices are consequences. In other words, there is a precipitating reaction for every action we take or have taken.

Here is what we know, God promises to be with us, bless us, and help us to accomplish His will if we commit ourselves to receiving and living out the calling God has placed on our lives. If we do this, we will live in and experience God’s perfect will. This does not mean that we will not face challenges, issues, obstacles, or have to overcome some hurdles. What is means is that for those who commit themselves to doing it God’s way, God will provide the help we need to overcome whatever we face in the person of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.

On the other hand, God will also back off should we choose to do it our way. In this case we will experience God’s permissive will. The permissive will of God is where God removes His covering from us and allows us to personally experience the effects of our actions and potentially whatever life has to throw at us. Literally, we are on our own and left to sort things out and work things out for ourselves. Why? Because we made the decision to reject God’s offer and do it our own way.

Personally, I have experienced both sides of the coin. Living in God’s perfect will is not easy, but as with anything else it takes practice. The more you and I strive to do it the easier it becomes. It becomes easier because we realize that we do not have to do it alone and that we have a helper to rely on in the person of the Holy Spirit. The more we rely on the Holy Spirit the less we rely on ourselves and the less likely we are to step outside of God’s will, plan and purposes for our lives. Living in God’s permissive will is extremely painful. The truth is that we cannot control anything that life or other people do. Therefore, without God’s help we are essentially at the mercy of life and the whims of others. One of the things that helped to crystallize this for me was Romans 8:28 ~ “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.” Here’s the deal, in God’s perfect will things will always work out for us. Even when something horrible happens ultimately it works out for our good. Of course, as we are going through it we cannot see the good, but in time we look back and say, “wow, if that did not happen then I would not be where I am today, or have what I have, or know what I know today.” On the other hand, in God’s permissive will there is no guarantee that things will work out. We have to live with our anxieties, fears, worries and concerns. Who wants to live like that, never knowing what is going to happen or how things are going to work out? The promise of Romans 8:28 is if we do it God’s way ALL not some, but ALL things will work out for the good.

Now that we have a more fulsome understanding of what God expects from us, I would like to draw from two examples in scripture that illustrate how we can apply the principle of honoring God to our own lives. I would like to lift up the children of Israel and Moses as the two examples for life application.

The children of Israel chose to play both ends against the middle. When they were in trouble they called out to God and promised to live as God prescribed. When they did, God provided for their every need. When they were hungry they received manna and quail from heaven, when they were thirsty God provided water from a rock, during the time they were in the wilderness the soles of their shoes did not wear out and they continued to move closer to the realizing the promise that God made to them. They even acquired things they did not earn or necessarily deserve. Before they left the house of bondage, they received gold and other valuables that did not belong to them.

As things were going well for them their success went to their head and they began to forget God, taking credit for what they did not do for themselves, and complaining about the path that God had chosen for them. They took back the power of choice. They decided that it was better for them to start making their own decisions and charting their own course for their lives. What did God do? God backed off and when God did, they began to experience all kinds of difficulties, marching around in circles for forty years, and generally became dissatisfied and unhappy with the quality of their lives. Ultimately, those who left with Moses never saw what God had promised them.

• Our choices will either lead us to the fulfillment of God’s promises or make sure we never see them in our lifetime.

Moses was God’s appointed leader for the children of Israel. Like the children of Israel, when Moses followed God, God also provided for his needs. Moses received guidance and direction in every situation. In the battles that he led the nation in God provided him with divine assistance. God even revealed Himself to Moses, His plan of promise, and raised up others to help Moses lead so that he did not have to do it all by himself.

Moses though, had two glaring character flaws. He suffered from insecurity and he needed an anger management program. Insecurity stems from doubting our ability do and accomplish more than we trust in the action or power of God. Anger is the result of allowing what others say and do to negatively affect us and take us out of ourselves. Now, before we go any further, let me say that while all people have insecurities and get angry we have a choice in whether or not we will give our insecurities and anger expression and how much. Moses made a conscientious choice to allow these things to dominate him and his life. As a result he forfeited his right to experience God’s promise to him.

• We must be careful not to allow the actions of others or our own feelings of inadequacy to cause us to dishonor God.

In any situation we feel used, taken advantage of, overlooked, or even threatened, we must ask ourselves where are these feelings coming from? Are they from God or from within me? People will always be people, but God’s people must always strive to honor God by living a life worthy of the calling they have received. Moses took his eyes off of God’s promise and started paying too much attention to what the people where saying and doing. Literally, he lost focus and let go of the promise. In order to receive something we must stretch out our hands, open our hearts and minds, and embrace it and then hold on to it. Attached to the calling God extends to us are some promises. Promises are intended to give us something to look forward to, and if we hold on to the promises of God and look forward to their fulfillment in our lives we will be more inclined to live our lives according to God’s plan for us.

Through Jesus Christ, God calls us to partner with Christ and pattern our lives after His. As we do this Christ then sends the Holy Spirit to help us raise our level of living so that it is in accordance with God’s will, plan, and purposes and reflective of our belonging to God’s kingdom. This leads to a life that is more fulfilling and ultimately pleasing to God. This is not something we do once and forget about it, but daily we must commit ourselves to partnering with Christ and patterning our lives after Christ trusting and depending on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us and not operating in our own power.

TOUCHED BY THE RESURRECTION

2011-04-24T12:10:00.000-04:00

Sermon Series: Things that make a Difference

Mark 16:9-16

Have you ever been touched by the resurrection? I can imagine you thinking to yourself that is a peculiar question. What do you mean “Touched by the Resurrection?” Before I answer your question let me just say when you have been touched by the Resurrection it is an experience that you will not forget. In fact, it is an experience that will change your life forever.

So what does it mean to be “Touched by the Resurrection?”

Let us turn to the gospel according to Mark the 16th chapter verses 9 to 16. In these eight verses we see the words “He appeared” or “Jesus appeared” three times. In all three cases the meaning is very similar but the application is slightly different because of the intent. In the first case Jesus reveals Himself to Mary Magdalene. In the next case Jesus exposes Himself to the two men on the road to Emmaus, and in the third case Jesus shows Himself to the eleven. In all three cases Jesus makes His presence known but does it differently in each case. When Jesus was with Mary around the tomb He simply “revealed” or let her see who He was by calling her name “Mary.” When Jesus was with the two men on the road to Emmaus He “exposed” or uncovered His presence by connecting what had just happened with what was foretold would happen in the scriptures. In other words, Jesus exposed the truth of the scriptures. When Jesus went to see the eleven in the upper room He “showed” or again uncovered His presence but this time by simply showing up and letting them see the nail prints in His hands and feet.

In each case the appearance of Jesus gave those who saw Him a reason to believe. Before a person can accomplish anything in life they have to believe they can accomplish it. Before we can build a successful relationship we have to believe the ingredients are present for the relationship to grow, thrive, and succeed. Before we can acquire our dream home or dream job or even the school we desire we have to believe that we possess what it takes to not only get in, but stay in, fulfilling and realizing our true potential even during hard times. Before we can do anything we have to believe – how do we come to believe? We have to be “Touched by the Resurrection. Literally, we have to see Jesus in all that we think, desire, and do, or we have to hear His voice.

When we can see or hear Jesus, we also will see what Mary Magdalene, the two and the eleven saw. They saw in Jesus the power to conquer every obstacle through the one who had conquered death and the grave. They saw that even though they themselves were limited, Jesus is limitless and Jesus removes the limits, boundaries, and raises the ceiling for all who are “Touched by the Resurrection.”

While those who saw Jesus were visibly impacted, those who heard but did not see struggled to comprehend. On two separate occasions the eleven received the report that Jesus had risen and still they did not believe. For some only hearing about Jesus will not be enough. Hearing about Jesus’ miracles, Hearing about Jesus supernaturally restoring sight to the blind, restoring hearing to those were deaf, empowering the lame to walk again, and calling those who died back to life, for some just hearing about these things will not be enough. Hearsay is never a good substitute for first hand information. One of the first principles of the social sciences and the hard sciences is the principle of observation. In any study a scientist first observes and records their observations. This is called primary source information. All researchers regardless of their field always seek primary source information if it is available. The purpose of primary source information is to validate a researchers hypothesis. What they think will happen during the study.

When it comes to knowing Jesus and understanding whom Jesus is, a person cannot live off of someone else’s experience. The individual who desires to know Jesus and gain an understanding of whom Jesus is must have a personal encounter with Jesus. Literally, we have to see and hear Him for ourselves.

How do we see and hear Jesus for ourselves? We have to want to see Him. The only people who saw Jesus after His resurrection where those who either went looking for Him or those who desired to see Him. The Bible says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found.” This implies that in order to find Jesus you have to look for Jesus. Today, it is easy to find Jesus. Today, we simply have to pick up our Bibles and turn to any of the gospels and find a passage where Jesus is speaking and start reading. It is as simple as that. As we continue to read the words of Jesus we will begin to discover after a while that we too have been “Touched by the Resurrection.” As Jesus reveals, uncovers, and shows Himself to us through His words we will begin to comprehend and come to know Him because we will have been “Touched by the Resurrection” speaking directly to us, about us and into our lives.

One of the questions that has always amused me is when a youngster asks, Pastor, what does Jesus look like? In verse 12 the Bible says, “Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.” The principle application of this verse for us is that Jesus appears to each of us differently. As we trace each appearance of Jesus throughout this narrative, we see that in each appearance Jesus manifested Himself as each person or group of people needed to see Him.

To Mary Magdalene Jesus revealed Himself. In the form Jesus presented Himself to Mary she could clearly see that it was Jesus. To the two men on the road to Emmaus Jesus exposed Himself to them. In this case Jesus help the men come into the knowledge of who He is. It required spending a little more time with these guys, but by speaking to them through the scriptures the two were able to recognize who Jesus is. To the eleven Jesus simply showed or again uncovered His presence so that they could know that He was alive and well.

The one thing that all these had in common was that Jesus came to them at their point of need and in a form they could comprehend. The same principle that held true then, also holds true now. Jesus comes to us also at our point of need and He comes in the form that we need Him to take so that we too can know who He is.

- To the orphan, Jesus comes as a loving Father
- To the widow, Jesus comes as a kinsman-redeemer
- To the sick, Jesus comes a doctor and a healer
- To the depressed, Jesus comes as the bright and morning star
- To those who are hurting, Jesus comes as a comforter

Jesus meets us at our point of need and reveals Himself to us in whatever form we need Him to take at that point. Can I share a little secret with you, whenever Jesus meets us at our point of need He will always come in the form of a servant. A servant is someone who works for another. You tell the servant what you need and they are obligated by the terms of their contract to meet your needs. Jesus is in the need meeting business.

All who saw Jesus and were touched by His presence ran to go tell others that they had seen Him. Once you have been “Touched by the Resurrection” we cannot keep it to ourselves. How do we know if the Resurrection has touched us? We will feel compelled to share our encounter with others.

I can see your face and you are probably saying no way that is way off base. OK, consider other experiences you may have had and shared with others. Why did you share them? You shared them because they were pleasant, pleasurable, memorable, or they impacted you in some way and we wanted to let others in on our experience. The bottom line is things that impact us either positively or negatively we share – What about Jesus? If Jesus has impacted us in anyway why should we keep that kind of good news to ourselves?

May be we are like the eleven we have heard about Jesus, but we have not yet been “Touched by the Resurrection” yet.

WHAT HAPPENED AT BETHANY?

2011-04-17T11:57:00.000-04:00

Sermon Series: Things that make a Difference

Mark 11:1-19

The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem also marks the beginning of the end of Jesus’ public ministry. The day that the church and all Christendom has set aside and calls Palm Sunday is the day that begins the count down for our Lord and savior to meet his earthly destiny and fulfill the divine will and purpose of God, our heavenly Father, who sent Him.

Even though Jesus’ life on earth was coming to a close His ministry was not diminished by the thought or the reality of His impending death. In fact, it appears from the pages of scripture that Jesus saved the best for last. This is encouraging for those who have been called by God and labor in ministry. As we take a glimpse of the final days of Jesus on earth, we are able to see that for all of the thanklessness we may endure in the early stages of ministry, as we continue to labor for the Lord we will discover that the quality of the work we do in our latter days will far surpass anything we did in our former days.

Jesus was headed toward His death, but He still lived His life with a sense of purpose. It seems that the closer we get to God a change will come over us. We will become bolder, but not boastful. We will become confident, but not cocky. As I reflect on the final days of Jesus here on earth I am reminded that death is not to be feared, but life is to be lived and for as long as we live, we are to live our lives to the glory of God.

As Jesus was on His way to Calvary He passed through a little village named Bethany. As the presence of Christ got closer to and deeper inside the little village a series of events occurred that made a profound impact on both the people of the village and the village itself. So as we open Marks gospel to the 11th chapter beginning at the first verse let us retrace the footsteps of Jesus and see what really happened at Bethany.

As Jesus and His disciples approached the village of Bethany, Jesus said to two of His disciples “Go to the village ahead of you and you will find.” There are many things that people consider to be a colossal waste of time. Meetings that drone on and on are a waste of time. Being subjected to listening to pedantic speakers who are more interested in hearing themselves than communicating information is a waste of time. Having to scroll through a series of automated options to reach a live person only to find out that the office is closed and no one is available is a colossal waste of time.

However, one of the best uses of our time is listening to the words of Jesus. Jesus is like E.F. Hutton when He speaks everyone listens. One of the reasons for this is that Jesus speaks with authority. The authority of Jesus’ words empowers His listeners. “Go and you will find.” Jesus understands the need for timeliness and therefore His words are timely. Many people struggle with knowing when is the right time to act or to speak we should do so when Jesus says so. Jesus understands the need for direction and therefore His words provide the direction we so often lack. They answer the what, and how questions of life. Jesus also understands the human need for fulfillment and therefore His words bring fulfillment. Everyone at one time or another looks for and pursues things they want, but Jesus knows what we need is what will truly fulfill us.

Jesus said simply, “Go and you will find.” In these few words Jesus taught both His disciples then and us today that when we listen to and apply (put into practice) what Jesus tells us to do in the moment we find that there will always be added benefits. The disciples went out with nothing, but they came back with something. They went out scared and afraid, but came back confident and empowered. When they did what Jesus told them to do they noticed that when they spoke to others using the words of Jesus people listened and responded. One of the most empowering feelings in the world is to know that when you speak to others they will hear you and be responsive to you.

Jesus then proceeds to further instruct His disciples to untie the colt and bring it to Him. The colt was tied up and no one was using it. There are many things that can tie people up. Fear ties us up. Anger ties us up. Resentments tie us up. Living in the past can tie us up. Guilt can tie us up. Unforgiveness and bitterness can tie us up. As long as a person is tied up they will never discover their purpose. The colt was meant to be ridden, and you and I were created to achieve and accomplish, and we cannot do it if we are tied up. Look at the things God has placed in our hearts to accomplish and then let us ask ourselves why have we not accomplished these things? Anything short of sickness or death is an excuse.

Another point to consider is that As long as a person is tied up they will never be able to fully experience the person, presence, and power of Christ. Jesus instructed the disciples to bring the colt to Him so that He could give its life meaning and purpose. Before Jesus could send His disciples out to liberate the colt they first had to be liberated. Jesus frees His followers first so He can use them to liberate others. How do we liberate others? We liberate others by bringing and introducing them to Jesus. Notice that Jesus did not spend time trying to calm the disciple’s anxieties about going to a strange place, engaging people they did not know, and doing something they were uncomfortable doing. If Jesus had done this they would have resisted, because we never want to do anything we have never done before or that makes us feel uncomfortable. Instead He simply told them to do what I tell you to do and do not think about it. If you do what I tell you to do you will become free and the one you are going to will also become free. Jesus challenged the faith of His disciples. Faith by definition is living what you believe. The Christian faith is more than an intellectual exercise it is living and believing in the power of God through Jesus Christ. Faith then demands that we believe the power of Christ will overcome all obstacles to executing and fulfilling whatever Jesus instructs you and I to do. We cannot live something we do not believe and we cannot believe something we are afraid to live. A living faith is a liberating faith.

After the disciples had liberated the colt they brought it to Jesus and He mounted it and proceeded to enter the village. As Jesus entered the village the people shouted “Hosanna!” Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” The shouts of the people were in response to the recognition, in part, of who Jesus is. No one on this side of heaven will ever fully know and experience Jesus. But, when the presence of Jesus enters a room, that room is transformed. When the presence of Jesus enters a home that home is transformed. When the presence of Jesus enters any space occupied by people that space is transformed because the presence of Jesus is a transforming presence. These were a dejected, oppressed, and despondent people. As they fixed their eyes on Jesus something happened in that little village. They began to feel different and their spirits picked up as they realized that hope in the person of Jesus Christ had entered their little village. When the realization that hope in the person of Jesus Christ has entered out lives, homes, marriages, present and future it will always produce celebration. Although these people did not fully know or understand who Jesus was, they saw in Him the fulfillment of God’s promise to restore the fortunes of Israel, to overthrow the shackles of Roman oppression and to once again establish Israel as the crown jewel of God.

Think about this what are the things that really excite us? For some it is curling up with a good book, for others it might be a good show or a play, and still for others it might a sporting event. Some people go crazy shopping and spending money. Regardless what it is that excites us, there is something that moves each of us to the point of visibly and audibly expressing our joy and excitement. One of the questions this text raises is, what do we see when we look at Jesus? Does the reality of Jesus excite us? When was the last time we celebrated or got excited about Jesus? In Luke’s gospel regarding this narrative, he records that some of the Pharisees encouraged Jesus to tell the people to knock it off, that it did not require all of that. Jesus responded by saying, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” I wonder what a stone with vocal chords would sound like? While do not know what a stone with vocal chords would sound like, here is what I do know that I am not going to let a rock steal my praise. If I can get excited over people who will at times disappoint me, things that will over time fail me or cease to move me, then surely I can visibly and audibly celebrate and get excited whenever I sense the presence of Jesus entering any space that I am in. The presence of Jesus is reason enough to celebrate.

As Jesus was leaving the little village, He was hungry and He saw a fig tree in the distance. He decided to see if the tree had any fruit and when it did not He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” Jesus continued on His journey and entered the place of worship He saw what was going on and began to overturn the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling…and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. He said, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

In the final two scenes as Jesus is leaving Bethany and enters Jerusalem we see Jesus bringing about correction. Isn’t it interesting that he saves correction for last. Many commentators believe that these two acts and especially the last act sealed His fate because He upset the status quo. Jesus brought change to people who were not interested in change. If all people make mistakes, why is there so much resistance to correction? My grandmother used to say that the propensity to make mistakes is the reason they put erasers on pencils. Whenever Jesus offers correction it is always in love. If a driver is going off course and one of the passengers in the car realizes that the driver has gone off course, wouldn’t it be prudent thing to offer correction rather than watch the driver continue to go off course?

What about a person, relationship, or a church that is veering off course wouldn’t it be equally prudent to offer correction to save that person, relationship, or church? Doesn’t God care more for people than He does about things? Correction brings us closer to God while veering off course takes us farther away from God. Correction is designed to put us back on the right track. Correction is what loving parents give to their children. Godly correction sets right that which is going wrong.

What happened at Bethany?

1. JESUS SPOKE AND THE DISCIPLES PUT INTO PRACTICE WHAT HE SAID AND THEY BECAME EMPOWERED – they went out scared, anxious, and unsure but they came back confident and fulfilled

2. THOSE WHO WERE TIED UP BECAME FREE – the empowered disciples put their faith in Jesus used what He gave them and became instruments of liberation for others

3. THE PRESENCE OF JESUS TRANSFORMED THE ATMOSPHERE FROM DEJECTION TO CELEBRATION – the recognition in part of who Jesus is infused a dejected and despondent people with hope and joy for the present and the future

4. LOVING CORRECTION WAS PROVIDED TO A CHURCH AND A PEOPLE THAT HAD GONE OFF COURSE – the fig tree was enjoying the benefits of life without giving anything back and the lust for power and selfishness led to abusive practices within the house of God

The events that occurred in a little village called Bethany over 2000 years ago changed not only that village but also all of the people who encountered Jesus on that day. We have been examining and talking about things that make a difference and clearly the one thing that will make the most profound difference in any person’s life is the presence of Jesus. The presence of Jesus in the life of any person will make a life changing difference and it will also make an eternal difference. Without Jesus the village and its people were hopeless, dejected and despondent, but the moment Jesus approached and the deeper He went into the village and the lives of the people they realized the hope of their salvation had come and they celebrated His arrival in their midst.

PLUGGED IN

2011-04-10T14:30:00.000-04:00

Sermon Series: Things that make a difference

Acts 20:7-12

What distinguishes a Christian fellowship from any other fellowship? If you or I walked into a room how would we be able to identify the followers of Christ in that room? There is a line in an old spiritual that says, “They will know we are Christians by our love, yes, they will know we are Christians by our love.” According to the songwriter Christians are known by their love. The power of love is so strong that in 1973 Neil Sedaka wrote a song titled “Love will keep us together.” The song later became the debut album for the Captain and Tennille in 1975 and was the number one song in the US for a year. While we are on the subject of love, isn’t it amazing how no matter how much time passes or how great the distance between old friends when they are reunited the bond of love allows them to pick-up and plug-in as if they have never been a part.

In a very short passage of scripture in the 20th chapter of the Book of Acts Dr. Luke shares with us the importance of being plugged in. Dr. Luke and the apostle Paul on his third missionary journey through the region of Macedonia made a stop in the city of Troas and spent some time renewing old acquaintances with a group of believers. In verse 7 we read that, “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.” Then again in verse 11 the bible says they “broke bread and ate.” In verse 7 the first instance of breaking bread refers to communion, the celebration and commemoration of the holy supper when our Lord and savior Jesus Christ broke bread and gave it to His disciples. Jesus shared Himself with others. When we like the first disciples come to the Lord’s Table He also shares Himself with us. In verse 11 the second instance of breaking bread refers to the agape meal or love feast. The agape meal was a shared public meal within a local fellowship. Everyone brought whatever he or she had and all shared out of what was brought. The agape meal was an act of unity and love that bridged the gap between the social and economic barriers that divide people. It was the offspring of communion. As Jesus shares Himself with individual believers, believers in turn share what they have with others.

Two of the most important elements in any relationship are feeding the soul and the body. If we focus solely on feeding our souls and forget to nourish our bodies, we may become spiritually stronger but eventually we will also become physically weak. Conversely, if we solely focus on feeding our body and forget to nourish our soul, we may become physically full but we will also become spiritually malnourished. One of the things that I really enjoy is to sit down with someone over a meal and just share what’s in our hearts. When people come together in an atmosphere of sharing and partaking nurturing relationships are born. Nurturing relationships are relationships where both parties are being mutually fed. There is a mutual exchange of the necessary ingredients needed to build each other up. Wherever there is communion it will naturally be followed by an agape meal or love feast, one feeds the soul and the other feeds the body and both are necessary for us to be plugged in.

In between communion and the agape meal the Bible says that the apostle Paul spoke to the people and kept on talking until midnight. The apostle Paul was an evangelist and as an evangelist his number one priority was always to share the good news of Jesus Christ. However, it is difficult to share good news or any other kind of news with people you do not know anything about or have anything in common with. As the apostle engaged the people he took time out to get to know them and what was going on with them. Even though he was on a schedule and had other items on his itinerary he found time to linger so that he could become intimately acquainted with the people he was breaking bread with. Paul made it a priority to plug himself into the lives of these people by investing his time in them. He demonstrated to them that he was not just another Bible thumping preacher trying to cram the gospel down their throats, but that he was genuinely concerned about their well being and welfare. The more time the apostle spent with them the more they got to know him also. Lingering leads to transparency. Where there is transparency there will also be trust. When it comes to building and fostering relationships for the purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ there is always a need to be transparent. It is unfortunate, but the reality is that with all of the scandals and bad press that the church has received over the years there are many who are skeptical and cynical when it comes to anything that has to do with religion. One of the ways we who are followers of Jesus Christ and are committed to sharing Christ with others can overcome this is by lingering. Have you ever noticed that when someone wants to talk to us about something pressing it always seems to be at an inopportune time? The apostle Paul even though he had other things to do and places to be, he still found time to linger long enough to plug in and make a connection with others and they in turn were able to plug in and connect with him.

One of the worst feelings in the world is to be in a room full of people and feel like you are all alone. In verse 9 Dr. Luke tells us about a young man by the name of Eutuychus. While everyone else was making a connection it seems as though young Eutuychus was unplugged or disconnected. The Bible says that he was seated in a window and probably due to the humidity he began to fall asleep. In fact not only did he fall asleep but he also fell out of the window. One of the problems with being disconnected is that eventually you drop out of the picture. Imagine being part of a fellowship or group and no one notices that you are no longer there. One of the cues that teachers use to gauge how invested students are in their education is to observe where they sit. One school of thought says that students who sit closer to the front of the class are more likely to do well because they will be more engaged. Another school of thought says that students who sit closer to the door probably will be out the door because they are disengaged. The fact that Eutuychus sat in the window suggests that while he was in the fellowship he probably was not plugged into the fellowship and subsequently he fell out of the fellowship.

Fortunately for brother Eutuychus, the apostle Paul noticed that he dropped out of the fellowship. The Bible says that Paul ran downstairs “Threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him.” Paul went after the one who dropped out. It was important for the apostle Paul to get this young man plugged back in and not let him slip away. As I consider the actions of the apostle Paul I find myself weighted down by a spirit of conviction. The apostle who had things to do and places to go could stop and take time out to connect with a young man that was on the periphery of his life and I am often so busy or overwhelmed that I forget to return phone calls. Had it not been for the love and caring of Paul, Eutuychus may have been a blip on the radar of that fellowship seen once and then no more. But because the apostle set the tone and made it a priority to go get the young man and make sure he was plugged in the other members followed Paul’s lead. Sometimes it only takes one person to change the attitudes of many.

Neil Sedaka and the Captain and Tennille said Love will keep us together, but the apostle Paul demonstrated that love would also bring us back. It was love that motivated a Father to allow His only Son to die a cruel and inhumane death so that an entire world could be afforded the opportunity to spend eternity with the Father and His Son.

Two questions this text asks us to consider, are we personally plugged in to Jesus Christ? And, are we willing to be expressions of the love of Jesus by plugging into the lives of those who are disconnected or have fallen away?

It is easy to connect with people we know. The challenge is to allow Christ to use us to reach out to those who are on the periphery of our lives and get them plugged in to Jesus. It will make an eternal difference.

A SUFFERER’S TOOL KIT

2011-04-03T13:44:00.001-04:00

Sermon Series: Things that make a Difference

Romans 8:18-27

One of the dichotomies of life is that out of suffering comes joy. The joy that a woman experiences from housing and bringing forth life from within her womb enables her to endure the pain that accompanies childbirth. The joy that a student realizes when their name is called and they receive their diploma or degree overshadows the years of sacrifice they must go through to earn their credential. The joy that a builder or craftsman feels after they have assembled something with their own hands supersedes the struggles and setbacks they may have faced during the process. The joy that fills a job seeker when they get the call for a job they have been pursuing dispels the air of depression that formed from all of the rejections they have endured. All of these examples and many more highlight one of life’s mysteries that out of suffering can come great joy.

Helen Keller was once quoted as saying, “While the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” Someone asked C. S. Lewis, “Why do the Righteous suffer?” C. S. Lewis replied, “Why not?” “They are the only ones who can handle it.” The apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Rome echoes the sentiments of both Helen Keller and C. S. Lewis. In the eighth chapter of the Book of Romans, the apostle communicates to believers that God does not abandon us in our suffering, but rather God has equipped us to endure whatever sufferings a believer may face. One of the most challenging things for anyone to wrap their minds around is the idea that suffering is part of the Christian experience. It comes with the territory. It is part of a believer’s job description. As with any job, it is the employer’s responsibility to make sure that their employees have what they need to do their job well. To do any job well the right or appropriate tools are required. According to the apostle, since suffering is part of our Christian experience God provides us with a sufferer’s tool kit so that we can handle the sufferings we face.

The apostle Paul begins in verse 18 by pointing out, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” The apostle is both admonishing and reminding believers to keep your focus on the Glory of Christ. One of the tools God gives us to help us endure our sufferings is a future focus. Scripture tells us that when Christ comes back for His church (believers), the glory of Christ will be revealed. When Christ returns all of creation will see His splendor, His radiant beauty, and behold the majesty of our Lord and Savior. Therefore, believers are encouraged in the midst of their suffering to always look beyond their present circumstances and look ahead at what is still yet to come. Literally, Paul is saying look this stuff here that you and I are going through and that we are experiencing cannot be compared to what we will see and experience in the future when Christ returns. One of the ways we can keep a future focus is by being hungry to see Jesus. Hunger is a base primal human desire that will drive us toward an object we believe will satisfy and satiate our hunger. If we stay hungry for more of Jesus, the desire for and to see Jesus will drive us beyond the pain of our present sufferings, because we realize that only Jesus can satisfy us. Another way to keep a future focus is to consider all that we are presently enduring as preparation and training for a future goal we will attain. In another passage of scripture, the apostle Paul compares the believer’s journey to that of athletes who train to compete. Paul points out that all of the training and preparation athletes go through has but one end in mind to be victorious at the end. Our victory over suffering comes when we are standing in the glory and presence of Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, keep our eyes on the future glory of Christ.

Another article in our tool kit is found in verse 25 the apostle says, “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” In the two preceding verses the apostle Paul defines exactly where a believer’s hope lies. In verse 23 he says, “We wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Then in verse 24 the apostle says, “For in this hope we are saved.” The salvation of every believer is found in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is because we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that Jesus, who was crucified, rose from the dead that we are saved. With this in mind then, in the midst of our sufferings and trials believers must remember that our hope is in the Resurrection. The Resurrection was a transformational event. Previously, people believed that once you died that was it and there was no coming back. In fact, in John 11 we read of Lazarus who the Bible says was dead and in the grave four days. His body was beginning to smell. All hope was gone until Jesus reminded Martha that He, Jesus, was the resurrection and the life. All who believe in Him will never die. While suffering may make us feel like we are at the brink of death, the power of the resurrected Christ brings us back. The resurrection teaches us that comebacks are possible for the people of God if they believe. The Resurrection teaches believers that no matter how far away suffering may carry us the power of Christ in us can bring us back. When believer’s view suffering through the eyes of the Resurrection their understanding of suffering is transformed. They come to realize that no suffering they face can kill them, because Jesus said if we believe in Him the Resurrection, we would never die. Since our hope then is in the resurrection, the apostle Paul encourages us to keep hope alive. Paul says you can only hope for what you do not have yet. Therefore, if we are in the midst of suffering it simply means that our comeback has not happened yet, but the hope in us reminds us that it is on the way and we will keep hoping until it comes.

The third tool in our kit is found in verse 26. Here the apostle tells us that, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Our help comes from The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to believers and He is also the believer’s link to God and Christ. The apostle Paul reveals to us in this text that one of the roles of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer is to intercede. The Holy Spirit speaks to God directly on behalf of believers. This is good news! When a person is hurting and unable to articulate their pain they need someone who can step up and speak on their behalf. There are times when the burden of suffering is so great that we lose the ability to put into words what we are feeling and experiencing. It is at this point that the Holy Spirit uses His powers of translation. The Holy Spirit reads, interprets and translates our groans, our pain, and our deepest hurts and then conveys them to God. Suffering has the ability to make a person feel as though they are alone in a room full of people. Suffering has the power to bring the strongest person to their knees and make them feel as though no one knows what they are going through. The apostle Paul reminds us that in the midst of our sufferings our help comes from the Holy Spirit.

To every believer God gives three tools the help them through their times of suffering, a future focus, a present help, and an intercessor. As we learn to use these tools we also come to understand that there is a three-fold purpose to all suffering that believer’s endure.

1) To Purify Believer’s – Like precious metals that must be exposed to extreme heat to rid them of all their impurities, so too must believer’s be rid of their impurities. God uses the heat of suffering to burn away the dross - all of the stuff that renders us ineffective in our use and service to God in His kingdom. After the dross has been discarded then God uses the heat of suffering to make us pliable so that we can more easily be molded into the image and likeness of Christ.

2) To Help Believer’s Identify with Christ - Each individual episode of suffering that believer’s experience provides them with a window into the suffering that Christ experienced throughout His Crucifixion for us. Our personal suffering, which will never match that of Christ’s, helps us only in part to gain a better understanding of what Christ went through and endured on our behalf. The believer’s suffering helps him or her to spend a little time walking in the shoes of Christ.

3) To Prepare Believer’s to share in the Glory of Christ – Christ was an over comer. He overcame the cross, death and the grave. Christ secured for all believer’s the ultimate victory. Our ability to endure the sufferings we face in this life are a testimony to the overcoming Spirit of Christ in us that is moving us closer to sharing in the ultimate glory of Christ at His return.

As believers use the tools that God has given them to endure their sufferings and grow in their understanding of the purpose for suffering in their lives they realize that it does make a difference. Sufferer’s do not have to be victims or victimized by their circumstances they only have to use the tools that God has given them and live in the power of the victory that Christ has won and will share with all believer’s upon His return.

SPEAK TO YOUR STORM

2011-03-27T14:49:00.001-04:00

Sermon Series: Things that make a difference

Mark 4:35-41

Storms are a fact of life. Over the course of our lives we will experience many different types of storms. Some of us have lived through rainstorms, snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other types of storms. Some were more severe than others, but each had its own unique features. The challenge in all cases is to weather the storm and make it through safely or without being adversely affected by the storm.

While there are storms that occur in our world, there are also storms that occur in our lives. These storms are very similar to the ones we experience in our world. They are called storms of life. Like the storms in our world, they are formed naturally. The storms of life form when the forces of nature or other people exert their power in our lives and wreak havoc in the atmosphere around us. Two or more elements conspire together and act in concert to pummel and saturate our lives. A major problem with the storms of life is that they disturb the atmosphere around us, and when the storm is severe it tends to create dangerous or life threatening conditions. The calm and tranquility that we were experiencing is transformed into tumult and chaos. One thing upsets every other thing.

A storm by definition is a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere manifesting itself by winds of unusual force and direction. We will know we are in a life storm when the force of changing winds upsets the normal condition of our lives. When the atmosphere around us has been adversely disturbed and we have no idea which way things are going or where they are going to end up, we are probably in the midst of a life storm. When our lives have been turned upside down by illness, financial difficulty, job loss, relational or marital problems, or some other force that upsets the normal condition of our lives, we are facing a life storm.

Charles Stanley says that, “All people are either going into a storm, in the midst of a storm, or coming out of a storm.” Dr. Stanley reminds us that even though we may be experiencing a period of calm today, we need to be aware that at some point in the near future a storm of life is brewing on the horizon. Dr. Stanley’s words implore us to not get too comfortable because even if we have just come out of a storm, there is another one looming.

Armed with the understanding that we cannot avoid the storms of life, the question we must ask ourselves is how will we respond when we find ourselves in the midst of one of life’s storms? In the fourth chapter of the gospel of Mark, Jesus and His disciples were confronted with this same question. After a time of preaching and teaching, Jesus informed His disciples that they were going to change venue and head out for another location. In order to get to their desired destination they needed to cross over to the other side. They got in the boat and set sail. During the course of their travel they encountered a “Furious squall” that made their trip interesting. According to one scholar a squall is “Never a single gust, nor a steadily blowing wind, however violent; but a storm breaking forth from black thunder-clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy.” Let us be clear this was no passing rain shower, but a full-blown storm with gusting and violent winds accompanied by heavy rain. This storm was so powerful the winds were literally tossing the boat across the water while the water was battering and filling up inside the boat.

Jesus, for His part, was asleep in the back of the boat. The disciples who were gripped by fear and panic ran to where Jesus was woke Him up and made Him aware of the urgency of the situation. Jesus then spoke to the storm the winds died down and the atmosphere became calm. Jesus challenged His disciples to consider that in any storm there are always other options beside fear. While fear is a normal reaction to any life threatening condition or situation, Jesus points out that if He accompanies us on any journey fear is not an option. What other options were available to the disciples, and to believers today?

If we keep in mind that storms are preceded by period of calm it would be wise during these periods to prepare for storms that are looming on the horizon. This much we can bank on, over the course of our lifetime we will face our share of life’s storms. In almost all cases, before a storm hits it will offer some kind of advanced warning. Prior to its arrival we will see the skies around us begin to turn to overcast and things will look and seem dark and bleak. We will notice a change in the atmosphere around us. People’s attitudes and behaviors will begin to change. They may become short, testy, or even combative with us or with others. Opportunities and resources will begin to dry up and diminish. Whereas, we may have had our choice of jobs we now can only find minimum wage dead end opportunities. In sunnier times we always had something left over at the end of the month and could go where we wanted when we wanted or do what we wanted whenever we wanted. Now as the skies turn to overcast what is coming in does not cover what we are paying out and our balance sheet is in the red at the end of every month. The things that we were once physically able to do are now compromised because of illness or diminished capacity. All of these and more are signs that a storm is brewing and we need to prepare for its coming. It is easier to handle things and weather them when we are aware of what’s coming. When we see storms forming it gives us time to brace and prepare ourselves for what is coming.

The Bible says during the height of the storm Jesus did two things He laid down and went to sleep and then He stood up and addressed the storm. Jesus’ actions reveal to us options and approaches to handling the storms of life that we face.

First we find Jesus asleep. Jesus went to the back of the boat got a nice soft cushion and took a nap. There are some storms where all we can do is ride them out. If we choose to ride the storm out, then like Jesus, we need to find a safe place and take cover. Being willing to ride a storm out means that we are content to wait until the storm passes and rather than worrying about when it will end, we go do something else. One of the worse things we can do in the midst of a storm is worry. Worry will not cause the storm to pass or end any quicker. Worry will only exacerbate our anxieties and others. A good friend of mine once told me that a person could endure anything as long as they know that it will not last forever. Storms like all other living things have a lifespan. The problem is we do not know exactly how long a particular storm will last. One of the slogans used in recovery program’s is “This too shall pass.” An addendum to that is, but when? Riding a storm out suggests that we are resigned to the fact that we cannot do anything about the situation and we have decided to trust God to bring us through. Of course, the longer we are in the storm the more our faith is tested. Minutes began to feel like hours, hours begin to feel like days, and days begin to feel like weeks, months, and years. Perhaps the greatest challenge we face in choosing to ride out a storm is that we must admit we are powerless to do anything that will change what we are going through.

The second thing that Jesus did was He stood up and took control of the situation. In some cases riding it out may not be the best thing. This is especially the case if we, or those around us are getting pummeled or lives are in peril. In situations like these we need to stand up and take control of the situation. There are times when we need to be passive observers and there are other times when we need to take charge. Jesus informed the forces and powers that be the madness has to stop. Jesus used a two-step process. He confronted the source of the problem directly (the wind) and then He spoke to what was causing the storm. Notice that Jesus did not go to Peter or one of the other disciples and ask them to speak to the storm for Him. Jesus also did not speak around or about the storm instead Jesus spoke to the storm. He did not describe what was happening or lament about the damage it was causing. He went directly to what was causing the problem and said this has to stop. If we do not confront the things that are creating problems in our lives directly they will continue to wreak havoc. When we decide to confront our storms we always need to go to the source. We need to identify whatever is creating or feeding the problem we are facing and cut it off at the source. If we cut off the air supply of whatever is feeding our storms or problems then we can starve the problem to death and it will die of a lack of oxygen.

This text provides us with a few lessons:

1. Storms are a fact of life – we are either getting ready to go into a storm, we are in the midst of a storm, or we are coming out of a storm.

2. Regardless of the stage we are at we have choices and the choice we make will determine how much damage we will experience from a storm – we can ride it out and endure whatever the storm throws at us or we can stand up take charge of the situation and speak to our storms directly.

3. The choice we make reflects what we believe – If we choose to ride a storm out, it says we believe we have no better option and are powerless in the matter and we are willing to accept whatever comes for as long as it lasts. If on the other hand we choose to stand up and take charge of the situation, it says we believe that the power of Christ in us is greater than whatever is happening to us or around us. It says we believe that God is a God of order and empowers His people through Christ Jesus to restore order wherever chaos reigns. It says we believe that the madness must end now!

Whether we choose to ride it out or speak to our storms both take saving faith. The fundamental difference is that there are more variables and unknowns involved in riding it out. We have no idea how long the storm will last, how much damage it will cause, or what condition we will be in after it has passed. When it comes to choosing which is the best option we must ask ourselves, do I want to live in distress or in peace? If we choose to live in peace then we will exhibit the kind of saving faith that Jesus exhibited. It is the kind of faith that says, “God has not given me a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.” It is the kind of faith that says I believe that God has empowered me with the spirit of Christ to be a difference maker in my life and in the lives of others. The next time we find ourselves in the midst of one of life’s storms let us remember we do not have to take it lying down, but rather we can stand up and speak to our storm and we will see that it does make a difference.

COUNT THE COST

2011-03-20T13:13:00.000-04:00

Sermon Series: Things that make a difference

Luke 14:25-35

Prior to investing in any business, investors require a business plan be presented. As potential investors review a business plan they weigh how much they will put in against the return they will get from their investment. Wise investors always want to know is the venture going to experience cost overruns and revenue shortfalls? The bottom-line in all cases is, will our profits eclipse our investment?

In order to answer these questions a cost/benefit analysis is needed. By definition, a cost/benefit analysis consists of weighing the projected costs of a venture against the anticipated benefits. If the costs outweigh the benefits prospective backers are cautioned to invest at their own risk. On the other hand, if the benefits are found to outweigh the costs investors are encouraged to lend their support to the venture. The practice of engaging in a cost/benefit analysis is not only limited to business, but can be applied to any endeavor or venture people desire to pursue. Prior to supporting any cause, before we engage in a long-term relationship, or make a major purchase, we would be wise to conduct a cost/benefit analysis. It would be prudent to examine and weigh what we will be required to put in against what we can expect to get out. Will the return we receive be equal to or greater than our investment?

While most people understand the need to conduct a cost/benefit analysis in business and in our life pursuits, what about spiritual things? In the 14th chapter of the gospel of Luke, Jesus encouraged those who were considering becoming His followers to count the cost prior to offering their service to His cause. As word spread throughout the region and area where Jesus ministered the crowds that came to hear him swelled and became larger and larger. Sociologists suggest that, crowds attract crowds. In any large gathering there will always be individuals who are there out of sheer curiosity and simply want to see and know what is happening. Jesus was fully aware of this fact and wanted to hammer home the understanding that He was not a circus attraction that was passing through the area stopping at various villages and towns. Jesus was taking aim at some of the attitudes that pervaded His day and still persist unto today. There were some who saw Jesus as someone who would champion their cause. One of the problems with causes is that they tend to get people riled up by stoking the flames of passion and emotion. People will support a cause because it appeals to them on some level. Of course there are various levels of support that a person can offer to a cause. I myself will sign a petition or two if I believe that the cause is noble or worthy. Although, I must admit that I am not much for rallies and those sort of things. Nonetheless, signing a petition is a form of support. There are others who because of their level of commitment and belief will get in at the grass roots level and knock on doors, hand out leaflets, or actually solicit to obtain financial support. For these individuals the import and propagation of the cause are a top priority.

As Jesus was on His way to fulfill His date with the cross, He turned to those who were following Him and threw down the gauntlet. Jesus issued a challenge to all who desired to follow Him. The challenge that Jesus issued was in the form of a statement, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple.” Within this statement Jesus issues a two-part challenge to would be followers then and now:

a) Make me (Jesus) the #1 priority in your life
b) Accept your share and stake in my mission and ministry

At the heart of Jesus’ challenge is the issue of commitment. Commitment is the stuff relationships are made of. One of the greatest threats to any relationship is other people. This goes for our relationship with our spouses, children, friends, etc. It especially applies to our relationship with Jesus. Plain and simple, people get in the way. Wherever there are other people involved there will also be competing wants, needs, and desires that will squeeze us and put us in the uncomfortable position of having to make choices between individuals, groups, and relationships. Consider the spouse who wants nothing more than to fulfill their obligation to be responsible and provide for their family. As they sacrifice family time in order to not only make ends meet but build a little extra cushion they are accused of not caring about their family, because they are spending too much time at work.

Another threat to our relationship with others and with Jesus is self. There are times when we are faced with the choice of needing or wanting to do things for ourselves, but our desire to take care of ourselves is seen as being in conflict with what others need or want from us at the same time. In times like these we are considered selfish, inconsiderate, and so on. We are made to feel guilty because we have chosen to take time out for self at the expense of our commitment to family and job.

In both cases the demands of others and the demands we place on ourselves leave us with very little else to give. The old saying is, “nothing from nothing leaves nothing.” To combat the empty and drained feeling we so often experience by trying to be all things to all people, Jesus instructs us to reorder our priorities. Put Jesus first and everyone else take a number. Jesus points out that commitment is an action word and not lip service. Commitment proves itself by its actions toward another. Part of the marriage vows state, “Forsaking all others.” The presumption is that if you are my one then there can be no other one. The slogan for the state of Missouri is “The show me state.” Jesus calls us to show how much we are committed to Him by making Him the first priority in our lives.

Jesus goes on to add that we further demonstrate our commitment to Him by taking up our cross. This is an interesting concept because the cross was something that was put on Jesus. Jesus did not necessarily say, OK, here I am nail me on the cross. Jesus’ assignment was to be executed on the cross. He was made to carry the instrument of His execution to the place where the execution would take place, and He accepted His assignment without uttering a word. How is that for commitment? The word cross in Greek is “starous,” it means “an upright stake.” Jesus was letting His followers know that each of us has a “starous,” as His followers we each have our own stake in His ministry and mission. When we choose to take up our “starous” we must also understand that it will be accompanied by pain and suffering. Each persons “starous” is different and specific to us individually. As we take up our “starous,” we are identifying with Jesus by enduring what He endured. His challenges become our challenges and His suffering becomes our suffering.

After Jesus issued the challenge, He then asks the people to consider and count the cost of being His follower. Jesus offers up two parables that are designed to help His hearers weigh the cost of following Him against the potential benefits of following Him.

In the first parable Jesus describes a king who wants to build a tower. He lays the foundation, but failed to estimate the cost of the building project and was forced to abandon the project because he ran out of funds. One of my favorite lines is from Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet says, “To thine own self be true.” It is no secret that the most damaging lie is the one we tell to ourselves. When it comes to our spiritual life and Christian service we must be aware that the desire to do and accomplish is not enough. Prior to engaging in any activity or serving in any office we would be wise to honestly assess our level of investment. It would be a good idea to ask ourselves how much do I have to give and can I see my commitment through until the end?

In essence before we commit, we need to consider. To help us consider we only need to conduct a personal inventory:

- Do I have the time?
- Do I have the energy that is required?
- What can get in the way of me keeping my commitment?
- What have I failed to account for?
- Do I have any other open projects?
- What does my track record say about completion and me?

While no one likes to admit that they are great starters but poor finishers, being honest with ourselves in the beginning will save us from being humbled or humiliated in the end. Jesus asks us to be honest with ourselves first and then be honest with Him. The Bible says, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” Charles Francis Adams, 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: “Went fishing with my son today—a day wasted.” His son, Brook Adams also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: “Went fishing with my father—the most wonderful day of my life!” The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one’s ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly. There are some who believe that Christian service is a colossal waste of time and there are others who would not have it any other way. Jesus asks us to consider whether or not we are willing to invest our time, our resources, and our person in His service, mission, and ministry or is it simply a waste of our time.

The second parable Jesus lifts up is a king who wants to go to war with another king, but must first decide whether or not he has the resources to be successful. In this parable Jesus is asking His followers to consider the consequences. There is an old saying that says, “When you buy something for a song, you may have to face the music later.” In 1916 Hattie Green died. Hattie’s estate was valued at over $100 million at the time of her death. Yet, Hattie lived in poverty. She ate cold oatmeal because it cost money to heat it. When her son’s leg became infected, Hattie wouldn’t get it treated until she could find a clinic that wouldn’t charge her. By then, her son’s leg had to be amputated. Hattie died arguing over the value of skim milk. She had money to meet her every need, but she chose to live as if it didn’t exist.

Jesus asks us to consider the consequences of how we use both our human and material resources. Will we commit them to Him and apply them to His service, or will we hoard them and use them to further our own ends? The reality is that time is the great equalizer. Eventually, our physical strength will wear out and the things we treasure will be of no use to us. We must ask ourselves what do we do at this point? Sickness, affliction, and hard times have a way of humbling even the strongest person. Usually it is after we have been humbled that we either find God or seek God. Unfortunately in some cases it is too late. Jesus reminds us that at some point everyone will have to meet God, the question is do we want to meet God now while the terms are favorable or do we want to wait for a later time when the terms may not be as favorable? I would rather have God and not need Him, then need God and not have Him. Consider the consequences.

Jesus concludes the parables by declaring “Anyone who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Discipleship requires a total commitment. Discipleship is not for the half-hearted or anyone on the fence. Jesus who gave all of Himself for us before we were born is asking us to give all of ourselves to Him while we are still alive. Jesus instructs us to carefully consider what it will cost us to be His disciple and to thoughtfully pledge our allegiance to Him.

As we have examined the cost, now let us examine the benefits of following Jesus. Jesus compares His followers to salt. There are two characteristics of salt that are most impressive. The first is that salt changes the composition of whatever it is added to, and the second is that salt changes the flavor of whatever it is added to. The disciples of Jesus are people who make an impact. Christ transforms men and women, boys and girls who give themselves totally over to Him into people who make an impact. Wherever they go the presence of Christ in them changes the composition of a room, school, church, home, and family. The presence of Christ in them transforms that which is bland and gives it spice and adds flavor. The benefit of following Christ is that He will transform us into people who matter, people who make an impact. Imagine if we give ourselves over totally to Christ how much better the world would be and how much better off those around us would become. On the other hand, bland disciples are dismissed. They have lost their saltiness, they have lost their power to impact, create and bring about change and so they are dismissed. I personally would rather become a person of impact than a person who is dismissed. People who make an impact also make a difference. They make an impact in the lives of their family, spouses, children, friends, loved ones, and even casual acquaintances. They are differences makers.