Stirred With Wisdom

As a little kid at church, I remember hearing a lot of adults express a desire to preach in front of the congregation.  During the "Jesus People Movement" in southern California (I didn't know was a thing at the time), it was common for people to be saved and in some cases relatively quickly move into serving in pastoral ministry because of the volume of people coming to faith in Jesus.  For years I observed men regularly attend church for a season and become involved in serving, but when it seemed there were no openings or opportunities to be a pastor, they moved on.  I do not judge or condemn anyone for doing their best to follow God's leading.  People came and went, and I continued to encounter the perspective that to be most useful and profitable in a church, being a "full-time" pastor was the prime position.  Perhaps this calling would provide validation and respect people craved.  If that's what they hoped for, I suggest they would have been disappointed when the call of every Christian is to be servant of all.

In His great wisdom, God has joined Christians together as a church where He is the Head of the body.  Those who imagine the pastor is the head of a church have a very inaccurate, unbiblical view of leadership.  As God has designed our bodies to be comprised of many parts connected and coordinated to work together for the glory of God, to promote health and to help others, so He has divinely placed His church in the world.  In addition to there being different callings in the church--like missionaries, prophets, pastors and teachers--God also grants people a variety of spiritual gifts according to His will.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all."  Many people have desired to be God's mouthpiece from a pulpit, yet no one needs to be a pastor to study, speak and walk in obedience to God's word.  The way we conduct our lives among others can be a better witness for Jesus Christ than sermons preached in a church building some will never sit and listen to.

One thing that struck me as I read Exodus 35-36 is how God does not restrict wisdom to pastors or teachers.  When God instructed Moses how to build the tabernacle, God also called and filled people with wisdom to do tasks and work we may not ever connect to Christian ministry.  After God stirred the hearts of people to bring materials for the building of the temple, weaving of fabrics and constructing the articles of gold and silver, He gave men and women wisdom to do physical work--things we may not imagine we need wisdom from God to do well.  Exodus 35:26 says, "And all the women whose heart stirred with wisdom spun the goats' hair."  God empowered men like Bezalel and Oholiab as Moses wrote in Exodus 35:35:  "He has filled them with wisdom in their heart to do every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as those who do every work and make designs."  Wisdom and ability was not only granted by God to the leaders but the workers as Exodus 36:4 says:  "And all the wise men who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was doing." (LSB)

Because Christ is the Head of the church and has become Wisdom for us, we can bring God glory and be spiritually fruitful regardless of our current role, gifting or service.  One work we see others moved to do in the same passage was that of giving, for when enough had been supplied, Moses said in Exodus 36:6, "Let no man or woman any longer do the work for the contributions of the sanctuary."  By the command of God, people were restrained from giving towards the building project because their inclination was to give daily.  My eyes were opened to the marvellous design and intricate function of our physical bodies before the LORD opened my understanding to perceive His wondrous design of the church where people--who were once not a people--are now His people, united by one Spirit, adopted into God's family, made citizens of heaven who fellowship and serve together, guided by His love and grace.  Dear church, may we walk in wisdom as we are coordinated with Jesus our Head, being led by the Holy Spirit as we serve faithfully.

Nehushtan

Shortly after the death of Aaron the high priest, the Hebrews were discouraged as they took the long way around the land of Edom rather than passing through.  They spoke against God, Moses and said they loathed the food God provided daily.  Moses said God sent venomous snakes among the people that bit them, and as a result many people died.  Finally the people came to Moses and admitted their sin in the matter, and asked for Moses to pray God remove the snakes from them.  God gave a curious answer to Moses' prayer in Numbers 21:8-9:  "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." ⁹ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived."

The people asked the snakes be taken away, yet God directed people to look upon the bronze serpent Moses to be miraculously healed and survive.  The prohibitions in the Law of Moses that forbade the crafting of images was to avoid idolatry as they were inclined to be driven to worship the works of their hands--as well as the sun, moon and stars.  Deuteronomy 4:15-40 went into great detail about how God had appeared to His people in a flame of fire, and without taking a physical form He spoke to them from Mt. Sinai.  Nothing God created was like Him, and thus there was no physical representation made by man's hands worthy to represent Him.  There is not another word concerning the bronze serpent Moses made until we read of king Hezekiah's reforms in 2 Kings 18:4:  "He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan."  Nehushtan literally means, "thing of brass."  The crude image made by Moses that was likely kept as a memorial of God's salvation was later idolised by later generations.  Hezekiah did well to break it to pieces to splinter bonds of idolatry with the revered object.

Since people are as prone to idolatry as ever, it is important we guard our hearts against idolising objects or people God used in the past.  The bronze serpent that should have pointed to God and His great salvation over time was disconnected from God and became one of many gods that could not heal, help or save.  Amazingly, the bronze serpent incident which should have reminded God's people of His salvation in the past was employed by Jesus Christ to speak of future salvation He would bring by being lifted up on a cross in death.  Jesus said in John 3:14-16, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  The focus of the story wasn't Moses or the bronze serpent but God who calls, saves and sent His only begotten Son Jesus.  Having been bitten by a venomous snake required faith to look at a bronze serpent for healing, and all who look to Jesus Christ in faith receive a much greater gift in eternal salvation by the Gospel.

I read an article recently with a son's remark how his father "wore a cross" every day to express his faith in God, and this was put forth as evidence of salvation.  This statement shows how it is possible to focus on a symbol rather than the Saviour who is Christ.  A cross can be made out of wood, silver or gold, but it is just as powerless as Nehushtan to save anyone.  The shape of the cross was not as important as the Messiah lifted up and crucified upon it who is risen from the dead and lives in eternal glory.  Had bits of the cross or nails been preserved, undoubtedly there would be those driven to worship them.  But what are pieces of dead wood or corroded nails compared to the living Son of God who fills us with His Spirit and will return in due time?  As God's redeemed people, let us refuse to exchange the Truth of God for a lie and worship a Nehushtan rather than our Creator we love and serve.

One Accord, Mind and Spirit

During my Christian walk and time in ministry, I can recall a handful of occasions where times of corporate worship were disrupted by people doing their own thing.  I remember when there was a decorated Christmas tree in the back of the church and a mother removed a functional bell ornament from the tree and handed it to her fussy child who rang it for the remainder of the worship set.  On another occasion, ribbons were handed to children in the back of the church who ran around with them as an impromptu activity.  In both of these instances, there had been no discussion with the worship team who was leading the congregation and practiced and prepared for the occasion.  Though the bell or ribbons were not loud in volume, the disunity revealed by those activities was louder to me than a clanging cymbal.

The first problem that came to mind was the message sent by giving bells and ribbons to children.  It immediately puts the emphasis on the item given and what the child was going to do with it.  If you have had children and allowed an elaborate bedtime ritual to develop, it makes the parents subject to items to gather and supply, activities done in a particular order, and multiple boxes to tick for a child to begin to go to sleep.  It shudder to apply a principle to worshipping God, that if we do not have our preferred bell, pretty ribbon or instrument we cannot humble ourselves before God to worship Him in unity with our fellow Christians.  If our singing in adoration of God hinges upon our ability to express ourselves in a way that is uncoordinated and out of step with the worship team God has raised up to lead, we might as well be praising ourselves.

Before the Holy Spirit came upon the believers in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, they were described as being of "one accord in one place."  They were of one mind and one heart, united in obedience to God as they all sat together--conditions prepared to receive and operate led by the Holy Spirit.  Paul gently rebuked the church in Corinth for their penchant for self-promotion and competition rather than edification in 1 Corinthians 14:26:  "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification."  Rather than preparing to lead worship, preach or attend church as our opportunity to shine, our faces ought to humbly look to Jesus to ascribe to Him all honour, preeminence and glory.  It is the love of God and one another that leads us to submit to one another in love, even as Jesus submitted to the Father.

In a passage outlining the proper use of spiritual gifts, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:40:  "Let all things be done decently and in order."  When Apollos taught boldly in the synagogue, knowing only the baptism of John, Aquila and Pricilla spoke to him later and explained the way of God more perfectly (Acts 18:26).  It was not appropriate to disrupt the order of service, yet it was entirely appropriate Apollos be graciously instructed of what he was ignorant, and Aquila and Pricilla showed humility in the way they discussed the matter privately and without disruption to the gathering.  The same is true concerning times of corporate worship, prayer, preaching and fellowship at church gatherings.  We who are filled with the Holy Spirit ought to love God and one another, submitting to one another, giving grace to one another of one accord--not doing our own thing.

No Life Without Jesus

I recently received a large, colour brochure about an upcoming performance of Shen Yun which is an outreach funded by the religious group Falun Gong.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, alarm bells start ringing when I read of this group and how all spiritual authority is vested only in teachings of Falun Gong's founder, Li Hongzhi.  While the dance performance looks to be very colourful, performed by skilled dancers and accompanied by orchestral music, going to a show does not interest me in the slightest because of the clear connection with a group whose teachings are not of Jesus Christ.

The flier contained a quote that grabbed my attention more than the vivid colours which encouraged people to see the show:  "Go see it to believe it, because otherwise, you are going to miss the most important thing in your life."  This is a very interesting thing to say as it runs absolutely contrary to the revelation of Jesus who was born of a virgin, died on the cross, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven 40 days later before hundreds of witnesses.  When Thomas said he would not believe unless he saw Jesus in person, touched His hands where the nails pierced them and reached into Jesus' side where a spear pierced Him.  8 days later Jesus appeared in the midst of His disciples, said "Peace be unto you," and singled Thomas out because He knew (without being informed) what Thomas had said.

John 20:27-29 reads, "Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." ²⁸ And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" ²⁹ Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  After Christ's resurrection, Thomas did not see Jesus or know how to find Him to believe, but Jesus graciously sought him out, found him and spoke with him.  Jesus made Himself unmissable to Thomas and all humanity since, for the heavens declare His glory, and His word and disciples have spread the message of Jesus being the Way, the Truth and the Life everywhere.  Thomas was blessed to recognise Jesus as His LORD and God, and we are blessed to believe in Him even when we have not touched His hands or side.

How could watching a show or adhering to the teachings of Li Hongzhi or anyone else provide what Jesus freely gives all who believe and follow Him?  Who else provides assurance of eternal life by dying and rising from the dead?  John 20:30-31 says, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."  There is nothing wrong with going to a show or watching skillful performers on a stage, but it could never be the most important thing in your life the Bible compares to a vapour, grass that grows and quickly withers, a breath exhaled in the light of eternity.  Through God's word and this post the message of grace, forgiveness, and salvation through the Gospel has come to you.  Do you believe Jesus is the Christ?  Without Him, there is no life!  Jesus has come that we may have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).