Last school year I had the privilege of attending a class trip to Sacramento with my oldest son, Zed. The focus of the trip was the California Gold Rush and we visited Sutter's Mill where gold was seen lying on the surface of the ground. I don't know if you've ever been chaperon to a group of six fourth grade boys with gold fever, but I spent a lot of my time trying to subdue their enthusiasm. We'd be driving on a bridge over water and some would shout, "I see huge gold nuggets in the river!" No, I'd tell them. If there were gold nuggets the size of basketballs lying in plain sight in the stream, the Forty-Niners would never have left. At least there would be a huge active gold mine, not a quaint little settlement living off the tourist trade. Undeterred, these kids continued to shout about the fortunes they would walk away with after a couple of easy minutes picking up nuggets off the ground.
We were taught by the camp staff how to pan for gold. Troughs were set up filled with sand which had been "salted" with tiny gold flakes. The kids and adults alike were given pans to "pan" for gold with instructions on how to efficiently use them. Within minutes, the most exuberant prospector in my group began whining like a spoiled three year old with entitlement issues. "I can't find any goooold." If you have ever prospected or taken up metal detecting as a hobby, you understand that it is a slow process that requires much patience. Because detecting or panning doesn't guarantee "finding, much fun derived from the activity can be from the companionship of friends rather than what is actually found. Within a few minutes many from the group chimed in. "There aren't any nuggets here...we want to go to the river. We saw the gold! We saw it from the bus!" I reasoned with the boys: the troughs have real gold salted in them. We know for a fact there is gold in the troughs. We don't know where the gold is in the river. And besides, I reasoned, if gold was just laying around the professional prospectors wouldn't have moved on! "There's gold in the river," said the whiny one. "I saaawww it!"
After much discussion and vain attempts to logically convince the kids real gold flakes are better than no gold, they would not be denied. I took my crew down to the river and we joined the hordes of energetic youngsters who were seemingly more interested in getting wet than finding gold. Me and a few of the industrious ones began panning. In the troughs I was finding gold in every pan. Using the same techniques in the sand of the river, after half an hour I found nothing. I needed a shovel to go deeper, but I kept at it. True to form, five minutes had not passed before the chorus of whines came up from those who had seen nuggets from the bridge: "We haven't found anything...I know I saw it from the bus." The kids promptly gave up search and played with a dead crayfish. Of all the kids, the one who was so sure he knew where the gold was had the least. When he realized it was work to find gold, the lure of fulfilling the dream was not as strong a draw as whining, complaining, and giving up.
This is an object lesson in finding the golden wisdom and truth contained in the pages of the Bible. So many professing Christians have never tapped into the truths of scripture. They do not know the Bible because they have not studied the Bible. When I took an inductive Bible study class we were told, "Surface study only yields surface results." No one becomes a successful miner without some training, even if the gold is in salted troughs! No one can study the Bible effectively and efficiently by themselves: we must be taught and led by the Holy Spirit. Even the best leadership is inadequate if we are unwilling to pay the price in sweat and toil. Bible study can be laborious, but there is nothing more rewarding. Effective study of God's word does not only increase a man's knowledge, but results in changes in perspective and daily living. Psalm 119:11 says, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!" Psalm 119:105 states, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Jesus was not a proponent of rote memorization as much as life transformation. He does the inner work and enables us to walk in that light.
Jesus says in John 9:4: "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." Our work is to believe on Christ Jesus and become masters not of the facts and figures of scriptures, but living out the truths and exhortations contained within. We must not keep this wisdom to ourselves, but share it with all who will listen! Why spend most of our reading moments prodding the equivalent of dead shellfish with fiction books when we have the living, invaluable Word which brings life to the dead? May God bless you as you dig deep in His Word which is food indeed!
31 January 2010
28 January 2010
Good News from a Far Land
"As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country."
Proverbs 25:25
I've been watching "The War," a 15-hour World War II documentary which aired on PBS some years ago. I bought my dad the DVD box set and my mom and I have been catching a little here and there when time permits. One thing infantrymen and soldiers of the cross have in common is the great value they place on news from loved ones. Almost more valuable are the letters written by the soldiers and sent back home! Periodically throughout the film, letters are read with a voice-over written by a soldier named "Babe." Every letter was dated and treasured by the family members who received them.
Most every day I check my e-mail. Often I'm like Ralphie in "The Christmas Story," who looks into the mailbox every day for his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring only to find an empty mailbox. But some days I open my e-mail inbox and read a message which refreshes me with encouragement. Today was one of those days. It was like cold water to a weary soul. The American infantrymen interviewed after World War II said they learned how to sleep while marching, like walking in a coma. That's how a lot of us go through each day at times, churning through day after day, grinding on and on. Sometimes a little good news from friends or the Word of God snaps us from our slumber.
In my devotions this morning, I came across Genesis 4:26: "And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord." Before church, worship music, Sunday School, Communion services, baptisms, church traditions, home fellowships, missionaries, apostles, prophets, or gifts of the Holy Spirit are mentioned in the Bible, there was prayer. Man fell and then men prayed. I wonder: when we are in the midst of the desert spiritually, do our prayers to God bring as much refreshment to Him as good news from a far country does to us? Whether we have rebelled or drifted far from God, He is pleased to hear us direct our hearts toward Him in prayer. He is the God who leaves the 99 to pursue the one who is lost. God's love never sits still. God speaks as the beloved in Song of Solomon 2:10: "My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." How important is it for you to come away and spend time with God - not for you, but for Him?
As I saw the horror and catastrophic loss of life through the documentary, it is evident heaven is not to be found on this sin-soaked blood-stained earth. But we have a risen Savior who stands at the right hand of the Father, living to interceede on our behalf. He has granted us the Holy Spirit who indwells us and teaches us according to God's perfect will. We can hear from heaven, my friends. It is not the rustling of angel's wings or the chorus of cherubim: it is the Good News from a distant land that refreshes the soul with Living Water. The Gospel truth rings lound and clear and resonates in the heart of all who trust in Jesus as Savior and LORD. There is a God in the heavens who has come down to earth to save sinful flesh. There is hope for the hopeless, restoration and redemption for the damned. John 3:16-17 says, "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. [17] For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
26 January 2010
Used and Abused
While watching TV this weekend during a football game, I saw a promo for the Super Bowl halftime show that will feature "The Who." The commercial had clips of the band performing with guitarist Pete Townshend sliding on his knees. Then the band is shown smashing their equipment on stage: the drums were torn apart, and the neck of the guitar was shoved into an amp speaker. I can only describe their actions as the overall destruction of their expensive, quality equipment they just used to play songs that made them a famous household name. Ironic, I thought. To buy quality gear and then destroy it just doesn't make much sense, even if the fans do eat it up.
Watching the band tear everything apart reminded me of other rock groups I've seen do the same. Jimi Hendrix squirted fuel on his guitar and set it on fire, and Marilyn Manson trashed the stage using a mic stand as a club. I don't know what drives a person to break perfectly good things. But the way these rock stars use and abuse their equipment is the same way the devil destroys those who becomes his tools. He will deceive and use whoever will respond to his manipulation. Then suddenly Satan will break without remedy those who have become his slaves. You see, a rock star has money to buy new guitars and amps. Companies even sponsor them to exclusively use their gear. Smashing and breaking is what rock stars are known to do, and Satan does the same. John 10:10 sums up the intentions of Satan contrasted with Jesus Christ: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
We have the opportunity to be clay molded by the hands of the good Potter or an instrument in the hands of the enemy of our souls. Those who trust in Jesus Christ have the glory of God in an earthen vessel, a body fashioned from the dust of the ground so the credit will go to God, not us. What a tragedy that rock stars, construction workers, doctors, teachers, and people from all walks of life choose be instruments of iniquity for the temporary praises of men! Praise God that He can heal and restore even those who for their whole lives have been in the clutches of the devil. In a moment everything can change and be made new. It is not easy being made a new creation and setting your soul at war with the carnal desires of the flesh, but there is nothing more rewarding and satisfying.
What is impossible with man is possible with God. In the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and no one could put him back together again, yet God heals broken hearts and lives. Mankind has not only fallen but has intentionally run away and rebelled from the salvation, healing, and forgivness offered by Jesus Christ. God pursues us to restore because He loves sinners and is able. Praise Him!
Watching the band tear everything apart reminded me of other rock groups I've seen do the same. Jimi Hendrix squirted fuel on his guitar and set it on fire, and Marilyn Manson trashed the stage using a mic stand as a club. I don't know what drives a person to break perfectly good things. But the way these rock stars use and abuse their equipment is the same way the devil destroys those who becomes his tools. He will deceive and use whoever will respond to his manipulation. Then suddenly Satan will break without remedy those who have become his slaves. You see, a rock star has money to buy new guitars and amps. Companies even sponsor them to exclusively use their gear. Smashing and breaking is what rock stars are known to do, and Satan does the same. John 10:10 sums up the intentions of Satan contrasted with Jesus Christ: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
We have the opportunity to be clay molded by the hands of the good Potter or an instrument in the hands of the enemy of our souls. Those who trust in Jesus Christ have the glory of God in an earthen vessel, a body fashioned from the dust of the ground so the credit will go to God, not us. What a tragedy that rock stars, construction workers, doctors, teachers, and people from all walks of life choose be instruments of iniquity for the temporary praises of men! Praise God that He can heal and restore even those who for their whole lives have been in the clutches of the devil. In a moment everything can change and be made new. It is not easy being made a new creation and setting your soul at war with the carnal desires of the flesh, but there is nothing more rewarding and satisfying.
What is impossible with man is possible with God. In the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and no one could put him back together again, yet God heals broken hearts and lives. Mankind has not only fallen but has intentionally run away and rebelled from the salvation, healing, and forgivness offered by Jesus Christ. God pursues us to restore because He loves sinners and is able. Praise Him!
22 January 2010
Be a Berean
Culture is an interesting dynamic that affects the way we see the world and interact with others. Depending on ethnicity, family heritage, tradition, and religious beliefs, culture has an infinite amount of variables. The same can be said about a particular fellowship, what people would commonly call "church." All the born-again Christians in the world make up the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head. For example, there are many Baptist churches in the United States and they all have distinct cultures which have been cultivated over the years. One church is highly involved in foreign missions while another church participates in "Adopt-a-Block" every Saturday. Many fellowships have a liturgical style of worship with organ and hymns only, and others have a more contemporary feel with electric guitar, bass, and drums. Some pastors preach in robes while others wear a shirt and tie. It is likely that whatever "church" you regularly attend, you do so because it suits your doctrinal views, vision for ministry, and supplies godly fellowship.
Like culture influences the way a person perceives, the culture of a church fellowship affects the way people see other churches, the Bible, and God. When Jesus dictated letters to the seven churches in Asia, they were not all lumped together. Each church was seen as distinct with different strengths and weaknesses. Today there are countless church denominations where born-again believers in Jesus Christ fellowship. Most members of a church believe their fellowship has the correct doctrinal balance and is teaching the truth. One primary danger of being part of one church fellowship is the growing assumption that whatever is taught at my church is right: the way we worship is right, the way we teach is right, our church structure is right, our interpretations are right, our style is right - and every other group that varies from us are not quite right and in many ways are quite wrong!
How important it is that our denomination or group not trump the authority of scripture! Most people today are like those from Thessalonica, not Berea. It is written in Acts 17:10-11: "Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. [11] These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." The people from the church in Thessalonica did not receive the word (likely because their hearts were not prepared, for good seed will always grow in good soil) with readiness. The Bereans distinguished themselves not only by receiving the word, but daily searching the scriptures to validate the truth of what Paul and Silas taught. I once asked a co-worker what he believed concerning a Biblical doctrine. He quickly retorted, "I'm not sure, but I'll ask my priest what the church position is." Friends, this will never do!
No matter what Bible-teaching fellowship you attend, this is a danger that must be avoided. Allow me to share an example. From my childhood until now I have regularly attended a particular church. I was always taught there are several Greek words translated as "love" in English. For example, "phileo," a word translated as "love" means "to be a friend, to have affection towards." There is another word translated as "love" which denotes God's kind of love, "agapao" or "agape" (a great description of this love is found in 1st Corinthians 13). If I could choose a catchword how God's agape love was always summed up to me it would be "unconditional." I thought "agape" and "unconditional" were synonymous, one never without the other. I received quite a shock a few years ago when I was putting together a study on God's love. I went to the Strong's concordance, expecting to see "unconditional" leap off the page. It wasn't to be seen. I went to Wuest's word studies who explains agapao love this way: "a love which is awakened by a sense of value…a love of esteem…God’s love for a sinful and lost race springs from his heart in response to the high value He places upon each human soul.” (Word Studies, Vol. 3, pgs. 60-61) Not one mention of the word "unconditional." Before too long I was pulling out every commentary I had, not for the purpose of learning how to describe God's agape love, but trying to find the word "unconditional" which I had always been told was the primary descriptor of God's love. I sat in my chair staring at the books piled up all around me when I realized I had been a Thessalonian and not a Berean. I believed it because people had said it and my church had taught it, but not because the Bible or original languages say so.
God's love is an active love. The Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says, "Love can be known only from the actions it prompts...In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver." There is a big difference between "active" love and "unconditional" love. Active love is always unconditional while unconditional love is not always active. God's love is unconditional, in that His love is constant toward all people without fail. But that is simply a facet of God's love, one minor part of the whole. Now if this was simply an issue of me being misinformed, I could have shrugged the whole thing off. But in this aspect, I believe God was robbed of glory and His love sold short by summing up the love of God only as "unconditional." It is far more than unconditional: it is a pursuing, relentless love. It is a love displayed by Jesus Christ dying on a cross for the sins of mankind.
I know people who are not Christians but love unconditionally: they love their sports teams win or lose; they love a particular brand of beer no matter the cost. Sinners love their sin unconditionally, drinking iniquity like water! Yet I do not know a single sports fan who would willingly die for their sports team. Romans 5:6-8 says, "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates His own love [agape] toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God's love cannot be adequately described or quantified but is demonstrated through the life of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that the world will know we are Christians because of the love of Jesus being displayed through us. God's love is always reaching out, arms wide open to all who will come. His love is heartfelt and sincere, desiring us to willingly trust and take shelter in it. God is not content to have affections toward His creation: He is constantly showing us His great love for us so we might love Him back.
No matter your church affiliation or denomination, be sure to be a Berean. You are responsible for what you believe and teach. If we simply repeat what we have been told, we have as much credibility as celebrity tabloids. We must search the scriptures daily to confirm what we have heard is true. It is possible to go to church every week and remain ignorant of spiritual truth. Looking at food does not satisfy hunger, and reading words off the pages of a Bible does not mean you are receiving spiritual sustanence! We must be empowered by the Holy Spirit to understand the Word and break us free from the modern culture of Christianity which drowns many in legalism, judgmental attitudes, and self-righteousness. Is the active love of Jesus Christ at work in you towards all people? May it be so, LORD Jesus!
Like culture influences the way a person perceives, the culture of a church fellowship affects the way people see other churches, the Bible, and God. When Jesus dictated letters to the seven churches in Asia, they were not all lumped together. Each church was seen as distinct with different strengths and weaknesses. Today there are countless church denominations where born-again believers in Jesus Christ fellowship. Most members of a church believe their fellowship has the correct doctrinal balance and is teaching the truth. One primary danger of being part of one church fellowship is the growing assumption that whatever is taught at my church is right: the way we worship is right, the way we teach is right, our church structure is right, our interpretations are right, our style is right - and every other group that varies from us are not quite right and in many ways are quite wrong!
How important it is that our denomination or group not trump the authority of scripture! Most people today are like those from Thessalonica, not Berea. It is written in Acts 17:10-11: "Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. [11] These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." The people from the church in Thessalonica did not receive the word (likely because their hearts were not prepared, for good seed will always grow in good soil) with readiness. The Bereans distinguished themselves not only by receiving the word, but daily searching the scriptures to validate the truth of what Paul and Silas taught. I once asked a co-worker what he believed concerning a Biblical doctrine. He quickly retorted, "I'm not sure, but I'll ask my priest what the church position is." Friends, this will never do!
No matter what Bible-teaching fellowship you attend, this is a danger that must be avoided. Allow me to share an example. From my childhood until now I have regularly attended a particular church. I was always taught there are several Greek words translated as "love" in English. For example, "phileo," a word translated as "love" means "to be a friend, to have affection towards." There is another word translated as "love" which denotes God's kind of love, "agapao" or "agape" (a great description of this love is found in 1st Corinthians 13). If I could choose a catchword how God's agape love was always summed up to me it would be "unconditional." I thought "agape" and "unconditional" were synonymous, one never without the other. I received quite a shock a few years ago when I was putting together a study on God's love. I went to the Strong's concordance, expecting to see "unconditional" leap off the page. It wasn't to be seen. I went to Wuest's word studies who explains agapao love this way: "a love which is awakened by a sense of value…a love of esteem…God’s love for a sinful and lost race springs from his heart in response to the high value He places upon each human soul.” (Word Studies, Vol. 3, pgs. 60-61) Not one mention of the word "unconditional." Before too long I was pulling out every commentary I had, not for the purpose of learning how to describe God's agape love, but trying to find the word "unconditional" which I had always been told was the primary descriptor of God's love. I sat in my chair staring at the books piled up all around me when I realized I had been a Thessalonian and not a Berean. I believed it because people had said it and my church had taught it, but not because the Bible or original languages say so.
God's love is an active love. The Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says, "Love can be known only from the actions it prompts...In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver." There is a big difference between "active" love and "unconditional" love. Active love is always unconditional while unconditional love is not always active. God's love is unconditional, in that His love is constant toward all people without fail. But that is simply a facet of God's love, one minor part of the whole. Now if this was simply an issue of me being misinformed, I could have shrugged the whole thing off. But in this aspect, I believe God was robbed of glory and His love sold short by summing up the love of God only as "unconditional." It is far more than unconditional: it is a pursuing, relentless love. It is a love displayed by Jesus Christ dying on a cross for the sins of mankind.
I know people who are not Christians but love unconditionally: they love their sports teams win or lose; they love a particular brand of beer no matter the cost. Sinners love their sin unconditionally, drinking iniquity like water! Yet I do not know a single sports fan who would willingly die for their sports team. Romans 5:6-8 says, "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates His own love [agape] toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God's love cannot be adequately described or quantified but is demonstrated through the life of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that the world will know we are Christians because of the love of Jesus being displayed through us. God's love is always reaching out, arms wide open to all who will come. His love is heartfelt and sincere, desiring us to willingly trust and take shelter in it. God is not content to have affections toward His creation: He is constantly showing us His great love for us so we might love Him back.
No matter your church affiliation or denomination, be sure to be a Berean. You are responsible for what you believe and teach. If we simply repeat what we have been told, we have as much credibility as celebrity tabloids. We must search the scriptures daily to confirm what we have heard is true. It is possible to go to church every week and remain ignorant of spiritual truth. Looking at food does not satisfy hunger, and reading words off the pages of a Bible does not mean you are receiving spiritual sustanence! We must be empowered by the Holy Spirit to understand the Word and break us free from the modern culture of Christianity which drowns many in legalism, judgmental attitudes, and self-righteousness. Is the active love of Jesus Christ at work in you towards all people? May it be so, LORD Jesus!
20 January 2010
Bible Night
Tonight we did something new as a family. A little background: while I was working at church, it was evident ministry has the potential to siphon away quality time that should be spent with my wife and kids. There were times when I would be in the church building at least 6 days a week, hosting high school events and studies, meet with kids for discipleship on my off-day, and on and on the list would go. After about six months of seeing our family time dwindle down to nothing, we decided to create "Family Night," a night we would guard for quality family time. We might watch a movie, play board games, work a puzzle, I would read a book out loud, or bake a special treat. It was a huge success, and it was not long before the kids were looking forward to the next Family Night. Monday is our typical Family Night and it is not uncommon for Tuesday to also be Family Night because, as Abel sometimes claims, "Last night didn't seem like a real Family Night." Two Family Nights are great, especially when the kids are begging for them!
Today I had an idea that I am excited about, especially since we were able to put it in practice tonight. Since Wednesday night Bible study at church extends past my kid's bedtime and Laura usually attends the morning study, I've been thinking and praying about if I should attend (alone) the Men's Bible study on Wednesday evenings. All the sudden a thought crossed my mind: since my family is my first ministry, why not have "Bible Night" on Wednesdays? This would give my children a chance to be in the Word, a kind of kid's apologetics course. It would be an interactive time of flipping through scripture, learning to study the Bible, and reading it together. Praise the LORD, my kids lit up as they looked up verses, read them, and we had a great discussion.
When I entered into college, I realized instantly that the vast majority of my Sunday School lessons never answered the questions people ask outside of church. I was taught the who, what, when, and where, but rarely "why." Tonight our subject was, "Why is the Bible so important?" This is a question that neither of my kids answered immediately. Then one gave the pat answer: "Because it is the Word of God." I asked, "How do you know?" "Ummmmm...." I can't blame the boy. I never told him that the Bible is historically, scientifically, geographically, and prophetically true and proven. That's my fault, a fault by God's grace I hope to rectify. It is critical that our children be armed with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Teddy Roosevelt said that a working knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. It seems these days we are sword collectors, gathering up translation after translation, Bible computer programs, commentaries, and concordances. Just because a man collects Samurai swords doesn't mean he knows how to wield one! How terrible it would be to assume my children know how to use the Word of God because they have heard from the Word!
No one becomes an expert swordsman through buying swords, and no one becomes a man of purity, holiness, and righteousness by listening to another person tell him about God when he opens the Bible on Sunday for 30 minutes. When you went to school did you learn more: through lecture or lab? Which is more interesting: discussion or dissection? Instead of getting our hands dirty, thorough study of the Holy Bible will wash us clean with the "water of the Word." It does not cleanse us from sin (only the blood of Christ by grace through faith can do that!) but it does have a purifying effect upon our hearts and minds. When we store away God's Word in our hearts we will be less likely to sin. It is not just hearing, but through taking heed to God's Word that cleanses a young man's way. There is a way to dissect scripture through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that is way more valuable and practical than cutting open a frog.
Teaching my kids to cut their own meat has been a long, tedious process. Just tonight the boys both struggled with using a knife and fork. Between straining, grunting, and food literally flying off the plate, it was amazing food ever made it to their mouths! But they have come a long way in a relatively short time. It is our duty, privilege, and job as parents to ensure our children have been trained to cut their own spiritual meat, to break their own spiritual bread, to pour their own spiritual drink. This cannot be accomplished without the power of the Holy Spirit, and He will guide us into all truth. God is willing to bring us through that same slow process of maturity so we might lead others. The same Spirit who teaches us teaches our children if we are in Christ. I am responsible to feed my children food and the government has agencies which enforce this. How much more will God hold accountable those to whom He has committed precious children He created? Let us embrace this joyful endeavor. It is when we admit our ignorance that God supplies His wisdom and knowledge without measure. If God is for us, who can be against us?
Today I had an idea that I am excited about, especially since we were able to put it in practice tonight. Since Wednesday night Bible study at church extends past my kid's bedtime and Laura usually attends the morning study, I've been thinking and praying about if I should attend (alone) the Men's Bible study on Wednesday evenings. All the sudden a thought crossed my mind: since my family is my first ministry, why not have "Bible Night" on Wednesdays? This would give my children a chance to be in the Word, a kind of kid's apologetics course. It would be an interactive time of flipping through scripture, learning to study the Bible, and reading it together. Praise the LORD, my kids lit up as they looked up verses, read them, and we had a great discussion.
When I entered into college, I realized instantly that the vast majority of my Sunday School lessons never answered the questions people ask outside of church. I was taught the who, what, when, and where, but rarely "why." Tonight our subject was, "Why is the Bible so important?" This is a question that neither of my kids answered immediately. Then one gave the pat answer: "Because it is the Word of God." I asked, "How do you know?" "Ummmmm...." I can't blame the boy. I never told him that the Bible is historically, scientifically, geographically, and prophetically true and proven. That's my fault, a fault by God's grace I hope to rectify. It is critical that our children be armed with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Teddy Roosevelt said that a working knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. It seems these days we are sword collectors, gathering up translation after translation, Bible computer programs, commentaries, and concordances. Just because a man collects Samurai swords doesn't mean he knows how to wield one! How terrible it would be to assume my children know how to use the Word of God because they have heard from the Word!
No one becomes an expert swordsman through buying swords, and no one becomes a man of purity, holiness, and righteousness by listening to another person tell him about God when he opens the Bible on Sunday for 30 minutes. When you went to school did you learn more: through lecture or lab? Which is more interesting: discussion or dissection? Instead of getting our hands dirty, thorough study of the Holy Bible will wash us clean with the "water of the Word." It does not cleanse us from sin (only the blood of Christ by grace through faith can do that!) but it does have a purifying effect upon our hearts and minds. When we store away God's Word in our hearts we will be less likely to sin. It is not just hearing, but through taking heed to God's Word that cleanses a young man's way. There is a way to dissect scripture through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that is way more valuable and practical than cutting open a frog.
Teaching my kids to cut their own meat has been a long, tedious process. Just tonight the boys both struggled with using a knife and fork. Between straining, grunting, and food literally flying off the plate, it was amazing food ever made it to their mouths! But they have come a long way in a relatively short time. It is our duty, privilege, and job as parents to ensure our children have been trained to cut their own spiritual meat, to break their own spiritual bread, to pour their own spiritual drink. This cannot be accomplished without the power of the Holy Spirit, and He will guide us into all truth. God is willing to bring us through that same slow process of maturity so we might lead others. The same Spirit who teaches us teaches our children if we are in Christ. I am responsible to feed my children food and the government has agencies which enforce this. How much more will God hold accountable those to whom He has committed precious children He created? Let us embrace this joyful endeavor. It is when we admit our ignorance that God supplies His wisdom and knowledge without measure. If God is for us, who can be against us?
18 January 2010
The Greatest Blessing
There is a hymn which goes, "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God hath done!" This song gets it right. The blessings are not the end in themselves, but the gracious outflow of a loving Father and merciful Savior. Sometimes we look at blessings as "overtly beneficial things that make my life comfortable" because we are naturally self-centered. Blessing can be disguised with trial, failure, and loss. Often we do not realize how blessed we are until we lose what we have.
I am a big Charger fan and yesterday the Chargers lost a playoff game in terrible fashion. It's one thing to be whipped by solid play, but it is another thing entirely to give the game away through mistakes, penalties, sloppy play, and bad fundamentals. Laura and I were talking about sports and how a loss by a team can affect people's attitudes and outlooks. Movies, music, and sports among other things have the capacity to affect the way we feel and treat others. As I turned on the radio today a talk show host said "Today is a day of mourning..." because of the Charger's surprising collapse. A co-worker joked that his friend had to "be put on suicide watch" because how hard he took the loss. Yet even in loss there is great blessing. We gain an appreciation for what we have and what God has done. How critical it is to keep proper perspective!
I saw a home video of the horrible earthquake in Haiti. What was most intriguing to me about the clip was the sound. The screen shook, glass was heard breaking in the background, the lights suddenly went out, and for twenty seconds it sounded like a train passed through the apartment as bricks and rubble scattered. There was eerie silence for about five seconds and then panicked screams of women, men shouting, complete pandemonium of hysterical voices in pitch darkness. For all I know people screamed because of injury, perhaps a child was lost, a family member was crushed, or half of the house collapsed into the canyon below and possibly Grandpa and Grandma alive under tons of masonry and mud. It sounded just like hell, people screaming in oppressive blackness. I've caught a glimpse of the aftermath through pictures and it isn't pretty: dead and the dying, people crying, many wounded, and the widespread destruction. To be depressed because the team I support didn't make it to the Super Bowl this year seems almost a sin. Tears in San Diego were shed because the Chargers lost: were tears shed when the reports came out of Haiti?
The Chargers lost and the world did not end. A tragic earthquake occurred in Haiti and the world did not end. But the world will have an end, and we have only the days allotted us by our wonderful Creator. God has blessed us immensely in America, and He has blessed every single person in Haiti: He has given us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He alone has the power to save us from the power of the grave and grant us eternal life whether we die in our beds, during a plane crash, or by a heart attack. Let us pray for those who suffer that we might suffer with them. Ask God to enlarge your heart so you might feel compassion and love where only selfishness is currently found. Plead that God would reveal what is important in life. You know what is important? Life. Eternal life is only found in Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 10:10: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Jesus died that we might live. He laid down His life so we might all have life through Him. There is no greater blessing than our God.
It took taking frigid showers in Tel Aviv, Israel to put a thankfulness in my heart whenever I have the benefit of a hot shower. It took lack to recognize a blessing I had taken for granted my whole life. We need these "perspective," re-focusing moments during our lives. Make sure your lens is fixed on what really matters.
I am a big Charger fan and yesterday the Chargers lost a playoff game in terrible fashion. It's one thing to be whipped by solid play, but it is another thing entirely to give the game away through mistakes, penalties, sloppy play, and bad fundamentals. Laura and I were talking about sports and how a loss by a team can affect people's attitudes and outlooks. Movies, music, and sports among other things have the capacity to affect the way we feel and treat others. As I turned on the radio today a talk show host said "Today is a day of mourning..." because of the Charger's surprising collapse. A co-worker joked that his friend had to "be put on suicide watch" because how hard he took the loss. Yet even in loss there is great blessing. We gain an appreciation for what we have and what God has done. How critical it is to keep proper perspective!
I saw a home video of the horrible earthquake in Haiti. What was most intriguing to me about the clip was the sound. The screen shook, glass was heard breaking in the background, the lights suddenly went out, and for twenty seconds it sounded like a train passed through the apartment as bricks and rubble scattered. There was eerie silence for about five seconds and then panicked screams of women, men shouting, complete pandemonium of hysterical voices in pitch darkness. For all I know people screamed because of injury, perhaps a child was lost, a family member was crushed, or half of the house collapsed into the canyon below and possibly Grandpa and Grandma alive under tons of masonry and mud. It sounded just like hell, people screaming in oppressive blackness. I've caught a glimpse of the aftermath through pictures and it isn't pretty: dead and the dying, people crying, many wounded, and the widespread destruction. To be depressed because the team I support didn't make it to the Super Bowl this year seems almost a sin. Tears in San Diego were shed because the Chargers lost: were tears shed when the reports came out of Haiti?
The Chargers lost and the world did not end. A tragic earthquake occurred in Haiti and the world did not end. But the world will have an end, and we have only the days allotted us by our wonderful Creator. God has blessed us immensely in America, and He has blessed every single person in Haiti: He has given us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He alone has the power to save us from the power of the grave and grant us eternal life whether we die in our beds, during a plane crash, or by a heart attack. Let us pray for those who suffer that we might suffer with them. Ask God to enlarge your heart so you might feel compassion and love where only selfishness is currently found. Plead that God would reveal what is important in life. You know what is important? Life. Eternal life is only found in Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 10:10: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Jesus died that we might live. He laid down His life so we might all have life through Him. There is no greater blessing than our God.
It took taking frigid showers in Tel Aviv, Israel to put a thankfulness in my heart whenever I have the benefit of a hot shower. It took lack to recognize a blessing I had taken for granted my whole life. We need these "perspective," re-focusing moments during our lives. Make sure your lens is fixed on what really matters.
14 January 2010
Occasion of Temptation
During my reading the other day, a verse caught my attention. At the beginning of Christ's ministry, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After responding to each temptation with the truth of scripture, Luke 4:13 says, "Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time." The word "opportune" stood out to me. The definition of this word in Hebrew is "an occasion, i.e. set or proper time, opportunity, (convenient, due) season." While Jesus walked the earth, He was in all points tempted and remained without sin. But the devil did not stay away. He would be back for another go because he is persistent as he is wicked.
Ephesians 4:27 says Christians must not give place to the devil. The word translated "place" in Greek means, "spot, location, occasion, or opportunity." I guarantee Jesus did not give any place to Satan, yet He was tempted by him. Because we live in a body of flesh, we have the tendency towards sin. Our capacity for sin is not reduced when we are born again. Although Jesus did not give the devil a reason to tempt Him, he still did. There were times when the Father allowed His Son to be tempted. Even though Jesus resisted every temptation, it did not mean temptation was permanently over. There would be more seasons of tempting, more opportunities for the deceiver to steal, kill, and destroy. As long as we walk this earth, we are engaged in an enormous spiritual battle. It is not a battle of "good against evil" but evil against God. The lies of Satan must be confronted with the truth of God's word.
Jesus was sinless yet remained on guard against satanic attacks. We can liken our defenses to that of armor. If battle was enjoined and you were without the helmet of salvation, the enemy would target you there through your thoughts or lust of the eyes. If you drifted off to sleep (spiritually speaking) through habitual sin and thus ignored putting on the breastplate of righteousness, Satan's fiery darts would be aimed with surgical precision at your heart. God will not only give us a means of defense and resistance, but a way of escape. Picking up in 1 Cor. 10:8-13 the Word says, "Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; [9] nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; [10] nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. [11] Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. [12] Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. [13] No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Let us be certain we give no opportunity for the devil, no invitation for attack through our negligence of spiritual purity and obedience. I was thinking: if you lived in a jungle where poisonous snakes were abundant, would you sleep with the door open? Let's say you settle down under the covers and you hear the sound of a glass shattering. You turn on the light to see a king cobra coiled on your nightstand. Would you be able to sleep? Most of us would scream or be paralyzed in fear! Sleep would be totally out of the question! Yet spiritually we have the capacity to leave the door open of our hearts, literally inviting evil to be a part of our lives. If we open the door, sin will come in! God spoke to Cain in Genesis 4:7: "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Turn on the light of the scripture and freeze the serpent in his tracks. Be merciless in wielding the Sword of the Spirit, for that old serpent is not fit to live. Once you have parted head from body with a swift stroke, don't be cocky. There's plenty more evil outside, and it's always trying to squeeze in. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, but sometimes even good preparation is not enough to keep temptation outside.
Because of Cain's fallen state, he could not rule over sin. Sin ruled over him, resulting not only in the murder of his brother Abel, but he remained without repentance. We can rule over sin and resist every temptation thrown our way by Satan himself, for "greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) In this world we will have tribulation, and we will have temptation as well. Whether you have opened the door voluntarily or God is allowing a season of temptation, be strong in the LORD and the power of His might. He has given you the spiritual armor of God that girded Christ. Make sure that it is not a poor fit like King Saul's armor on David. The Sword of the Spirit wielded through the power of the Holy Spirit is battle tested and true. Do not fear: if God has redeemed you from your sins, He has freed you from their grip. You have the all authority over sin through Christ. Confess, repent, and follow Him!
Allow me to leave you with one of my favorite passages of scripture: 2 Cor. 10:3-6 states, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, [5] casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, [6] and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."
Ephesians 4:27 says Christians must not give place to the devil. The word translated "place" in Greek means, "spot, location, occasion, or opportunity." I guarantee Jesus did not give any place to Satan, yet He was tempted by him. Because we live in a body of flesh, we have the tendency towards sin. Our capacity for sin is not reduced when we are born again. Although Jesus did not give the devil a reason to tempt Him, he still did. There were times when the Father allowed His Son to be tempted. Even though Jesus resisted every temptation, it did not mean temptation was permanently over. There would be more seasons of tempting, more opportunities for the deceiver to steal, kill, and destroy. As long as we walk this earth, we are engaged in an enormous spiritual battle. It is not a battle of "good against evil" but evil against God. The lies of Satan must be confronted with the truth of God's word.
Jesus was sinless yet remained on guard against satanic attacks. We can liken our defenses to that of armor. If battle was enjoined and you were without the helmet of salvation, the enemy would target you there through your thoughts or lust of the eyes. If you drifted off to sleep (spiritually speaking) through habitual sin and thus ignored putting on the breastplate of righteousness, Satan's fiery darts would be aimed with surgical precision at your heart. God will not only give us a means of defense and resistance, but a way of escape. Picking up in 1 Cor. 10:8-13 the Word says, "Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; [9] nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; [10] nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. [11] Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. [12] Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. [13] No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Let us be certain we give no opportunity for the devil, no invitation for attack through our negligence of spiritual purity and obedience. I was thinking: if you lived in a jungle where poisonous snakes were abundant, would you sleep with the door open? Let's say you settle down under the covers and you hear the sound of a glass shattering. You turn on the light to see a king cobra coiled on your nightstand. Would you be able to sleep? Most of us would scream or be paralyzed in fear! Sleep would be totally out of the question! Yet spiritually we have the capacity to leave the door open of our hearts, literally inviting evil to be a part of our lives. If we open the door, sin will come in! God spoke to Cain in Genesis 4:7: "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Turn on the light of the scripture and freeze the serpent in his tracks. Be merciless in wielding the Sword of the Spirit, for that old serpent is not fit to live. Once you have parted head from body with a swift stroke, don't be cocky. There's plenty more evil outside, and it's always trying to squeeze in. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, but sometimes even good preparation is not enough to keep temptation outside.
Because of Cain's fallen state, he could not rule over sin. Sin ruled over him, resulting not only in the murder of his brother Abel, but he remained without repentance. We can rule over sin and resist every temptation thrown our way by Satan himself, for "greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) In this world we will have tribulation, and we will have temptation as well. Whether you have opened the door voluntarily or God is allowing a season of temptation, be strong in the LORD and the power of His might. He has given you the spiritual armor of God that girded Christ. Make sure that it is not a poor fit like King Saul's armor on David. The Sword of the Spirit wielded through the power of the Holy Spirit is battle tested and true. Do not fear: if God has redeemed you from your sins, He has freed you from their grip. You have the all authority over sin through Christ. Confess, repent, and follow Him!
Allow me to leave you with one of my favorite passages of scripture: 2 Cor. 10:3-6 states, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, [5] casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, [6] and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."
11 January 2010
Who's Helping Who?
When I arrived on the jobsite this morning, I was surprised to see a co-worker pull up. I had been working by myself for a week so it was wonderful to have some help. Over the New Year's holiday the apprentice who had been working with me (commonly called a "helper") broke his collarbone in two places and made wrapping duct for him out of the question for six weeks. While I worked I wondered if I always rightly appreciate the help God provides through the Holy Spirit. If having a co-worker on the job fills me with gratitude, how much more thankfulness should I cultivate in my soul for the Holy Spirit who has taken up residence within me!
Our natural view of "help" is strictly selfish. When a person is lost he screams "Help!" because he desires to find his way or be found. When a child is caught in a rip current she might cry for help to attract attention to be rescued. Receiving help from someone carries the idea that others are supposed to assist me to obtain my goals, protect, or enable me to do or receive what I want. The dreadful reality is this is exactly the definition of "help" we often desire from God. We are the center, and we ask God to help us stay healthy, meet our quotas, and achieve our purposes. God does not exist to cater to man: man exists to glorify God.
Jesus says this in John 14:26 in the New King James Version: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." This is one of the few instances in my opinion that the NKJV misses the mark, clouding God's name and misleads us to His attributes. The word translated "Helper" is "parakletos" in the Greek, meaning "an intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter." The King James Version translates this title of the Holy Spirit as "Comforter." If I read the NKJV, I am likely to believe that the Holy Spirit will help me. Now does the Holy Spirit help us? Of course. But if we use the modern-day view of what "help" means, we might be led to believe the Holy Spirit exists for the purpose of helping us do things. This is incorrect. Apart from God, we can do nothing.
I would be wrong to think that I can do anything for God apart from the power and righteousness of God. Paul writes in Romans 7:18, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find." Paul writes this after he was born again and forgiven from his sins through the shed blood of Christ. The Holy Spirit had taken up residence in Paul's heart. But Paul's flesh would always tend toward iniquity even though an inner transformation had taken place. Paul did not just need a "little help" from God to be outwardly good and give him an edge. He was outwardly "good" as a Pharisee and was headed for Hell because he was dead in his transgressions and sins! The Holy Spirit is not like a co-worker who shows up to help us out of a tough spot. He has regenerated us by grace through faith in Christ. Because we learn of God's character and attributes through His names, the meaning from the original language should be preserved.
If we only see the Holy Spirit as a "Helper," there is a real danger of us becoming the focus. Now before anyone throws away their NKJV, here are a couple verses from the KJV that clearly say God is our helper: Psalm 54:4 says, "Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul." The Hebrew word for "helper" is "'azar," meaning "to surround, i.e. protect or aid." Hebrews 13:5-6 states, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." The Greek word is "boethos," meaning "a succorer, helper."
I believe Benjamin Franklin is credited with the modern cliche, "God helps those who help themselves." This is a humanistic and legalistic view. It can enforce a person's selfishness in thinking, "If I do this or do that, God will help me. In the end I will benefit and I desire to be the focus of all God's blessings, since He exists to help me. Why should I deny myself good standing so easily obtained?" Perhaps the original intent is to explain the dynamic of those who actively seek God and live for His glory and God blesses the works of their hands. There will always be lazy sluggards who blame God for their lack yet will do nothing themselves, waiting for money to fall from heaven into their hammocks as they lounge with a cold drink. Paul had a way of dealing with such bums: 2 Thes. 3:10 explains, "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."
The Holy Spirit is our advocate, comforter, protector, and helper. He does not help us because of what we have done, but because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, love, mercy, and grace. God has opened our blind eyes, removed the curse of sin and death, and made us alive. Instead of saying that God helps me, it would almost be more accurate to say that Christians have the privilege to help God. It is like a small child painting a fence with his father. The little boy wears one of dad's old shirts to protect his clothes. The energetic lad dunks his whole brush in the paint, swiping it roughly across a few boards with a smile on his face. The paint applied to the fence runs in rivulets which puddle on the horizontal beams. After five minutes there is more paint on the boy than on the fence, the paint running off the brush down his arm to the elbow. Within minutes the boy is distracted and runs off somewhere. Dad smiles to himself and rolls out the puddles, fills in the holidays, and cleans up the brush and washed the paint drips from the patio. When mom comes out with some drinks the boy says proudly, "I painted the fence, didn't I Dad?" Dad reaches down and tousles the boy's hair and says, "You sure did, son." Did Dad need help? No. God doesn't need help either. But He lets us serve Him even though we are messy, make mistakes, are easily distracted, and are happy to take all the credit.
Without a father, the boy would never be alive. Without a heavenly Father, a loving Savior, and life-giving Holy Spirit I would be spiritually dead. I don't just need a little help from God: I can't do anything without Him! I wouldn't know where the paint brushes are, have the strength to open the pail of paint, or reach above three feet on the fence when it comes to spiritual matters. Pray that God would help you to see Him as He is! Thank you Jesus for allowing me to get dirty serving you!
Our natural view of "help" is strictly selfish. When a person is lost he screams "Help!" because he desires to find his way or be found. When a child is caught in a rip current she might cry for help to attract attention to be rescued. Receiving help from someone carries the idea that others are supposed to assist me to obtain my goals, protect, or enable me to do or receive what I want. The dreadful reality is this is exactly the definition of "help" we often desire from God. We are the center, and we ask God to help us stay healthy, meet our quotas, and achieve our purposes. God does not exist to cater to man: man exists to glorify God.
Jesus says this in John 14:26 in the New King James Version: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." This is one of the few instances in my opinion that the NKJV misses the mark, clouding God's name and misleads us to His attributes. The word translated "Helper" is "parakletos" in the Greek, meaning "an intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter." The King James Version translates this title of the Holy Spirit as "Comforter." If I read the NKJV, I am likely to believe that the Holy Spirit will help me. Now does the Holy Spirit help us? Of course. But if we use the modern-day view of what "help" means, we might be led to believe the Holy Spirit exists for the purpose of helping us do things. This is incorrect. Apart from God, we can do nothing.
I would be wrong to think that I can do anything for God apart from the power and righteousness of God. Paul writes in Romans 7:18, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find." Paul writes this after he was born again and forgiven from his sins through the shed blood of Christ. The Holy Spirit had taken up residence in Paul's heart. But Paul's flesh would always tend toward iniquity even though an inner transformation had taken place. Paul did not just need a "little help" from God to be outwardly good and give him an edge. He was outwardly "good" as a Pharisee and was headed for Hell because he was dead in his transgressions and sins! The Holy Spirit is not like a co-worker who shows up to help us out of a tough spot. He has regenerated us by grace through faith in Christ. Because we learn of God's character and attributes through His names, the meaning from the original language should be preserved.
If we only see the Holy Spirit as a "Helper," there is a real danger of us becoming the focus. Now before anyone throws away their NKJV, here are a couple verses from the KJV that clearly say God is our helper: Psalm 54:4 says, "Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul." The Hebrew word for "helper" is "'azar," meaning "to surround, i.e. protect or aid." Hebrews 13:5-6 states, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." The Greek word is "boethos," meaning "a succorer, helper."
I believe Benjamin Franklin is credited with the modern cliche, "God helps those who help themselves." This is a humanistic and legalistic view. It can enforce a person's selfishness in thinking, "If I do this or do that, God will help me. In the end I will benefit and I desire to be the focus of all God's blessings, since He exists to help me. Why should I deny myself good standing so easily obtained?" Perhaps the original intent is to explain the dynamic of those who actively seek God and live for His glory and God blesses the works of their hands. There will always be lazy sluggards who blame God for their lack yet will do nothing themselves, waiting for money to fall from heaven into their hammocks as they lounge with a cold drink. Paul had a way of dealing with such bums: 2 Thes. 3:10 explains, "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."
The Holy Spirit is our advocate, comforter, protector, and helper. He does not help us because of what we have done, but because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, love, mercy, and grace. God has opened our blind eyes, removed the curse of sin and death, and made us alive. Instead of saying that God helps me, it would almost be more accurate to say that Christians have the privilege to help God. It is like a small child painting a fence with his father. The little boy wears one of dad's old shirts to protect his clothes. The energetic lad dunks his whole brush in the paint, swiping it roughly across a few boards with a smile on his face. The paint applied to the fence runs in rivulets which puddle on the horizontal beams. After five minutes there is more paint on the boy than on the fence, the paint running off the brush down his arm to the elbow. Within minutes the boy is distracted and runs off somewhere. Dad smiles to himself and rolls out the puddles, fills in the holidays, and cleans up the brush and washed the paint drips from the patio. When mom comes out with some drinks the boy says proudly, "I painted the fence, didn't I Dad?" Dad reaches down and tousles the boy's hair and says, "You sure did, son." Did Dad need help? No. God doesn't need help either. But He lets us serve Him even though we are messy, make mistakes, are easily distracted, and are happy to take all the credit.
Without a father, the boy would never be alive. Without a heavenly Father, a loving Savior, and life-giving Holy Spirit I would be spiritually dead. I don't just need a little help from God: I can't do anything without Him! I wouldn't know where the paint brushes are, have the strength to open the pail of paint, or reach above three feet on the fence when it comes to spiritual matters. Pray that God would help you to see Him as He is! Thank you Jesus for allowing me to get dirty serving you!
08 January 2010
From "My Fault" to "Faultless"
I've been staying busy working these days and this week has been a blur. Someone said that "Time flies when you're having fun." I've been having fun, but I've also been very busy. I've Monday through Thursday I worked at a the New Willow Elementary school and today I worked at a new housing development at UCSD. I will be working with a crew on Saturday as well, trying to catch up with the plumbers and pipe fitters. We are insulating the heating hot water supply and return, condensate, and domestic hot water. Hopefully us insulators will have the job to ourselves.
Wednesday night during the communion service I was absolutely blessed by a vivid night of fellowship with my Savior and brothers and sisters in Christ. I was struck with the horror of the cross: not only is crucifixion brutal in itself, but to consider that the King of Kings hung upon a cross adorned with wounds for which I am personally responsible, crowned with thorns which exist because of the curse brought upon the world through sin. It was a shock to me, though I have attended many services in the past.
Imagine the shock of seeing smoke rising up from the side of the road far in the distance. As you draw closer, it seems that you recognize the car - it is your mother's car! Think of the agony of heart as horrible thoughts race through your head: is she ok? Has she been burned alive? What on earth happened? Is that really her car? How surreal would it be to see your mother's lifeless body being loaded onto a stretcher, covered with a sheet, and rolled by the paramedics into the ambulance. For those of us who have experienced the loss of a loved one, this scenario may be too close for comfort. In the case of Christ, however, you can never touch too deep a nerve. Many people walked by the crucifixion scene and were shocked to see who was on the cross. Among the theives hung Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, who lay down His life for the sins of the world. If you loved Him, you would cover your mouth in horror to see His physical condition.
Now imagine you had known about a problem with your mother's car and neglected to do anything about it. You knew that there was a minor risk driving the car without the repair being made - it was only a tiny gas leak - but fixing mom's car was very low on your priority list. As a direct repercussion of your actions, she is gone forever from the earth. How would you feel? What a weight of guilt! What inconsolable sorrow would you carry! You would invite the blame upon yourself because the tragic inferno could have been averted by replacing a $5 hose. When you consider Christ dying on the cross, do you see Him with the same personal responsibility? He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. He suffered for me and you. Yet we easily trample His blood under our feet through our coarse words, selfish attitudes, and ungodly conduct. We must take ownership of our sin so we might receive Christ's forgiveness.
We cannot change the past. A devotional I'm reading written by a farmer talks about the problem with looking back while plowing. If you want to plow a straight furrow, you must keep your eyes facing ahead, fixed on a stationary object. If you turn around to see how the furrow looks you will begin to drift off course and each successive furrow will become more and more crooked. If we're always looking back to how we lost our temper yesterday or cursed when we broke something, or how when you were in college you slept around, we will never progress. As a born again child of God you are free from bondage to the guilt of your past. When we keep our crucified and risen LORD as our focal point, we will walk that straight, narrow path of righteousness.
Our guilt has been turned into thanksgiving, our sorrow into joy through the sacrifice of Jesus. When we see Christ on the cross we should say through tears, "It is my fault! It is my fault!" It is through His blood and repentance that we are made faultless. Wonder of wonders! We must confess our wrongs before we can be made right. There is no salvation in any other but in Jesus Christ. The one who will present me faultless can keep me from future stumbles. Jude 1:24-25 says, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, [25] to God our Savior, who alone is wise be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen."
Wednesday night during the communion service I was absolutely blessed by a vivid night of fellowship with my Savior and brothers and sisters in Christ. I was struck with the horror of the cross: not only is crucifixion brutal in itself, but to consider that the King of Kings hung upon a cross adorned with wounds for which I am personally responsible, crowned with thorns which exist because of the curse brought upon the world through sin. It was a shock to me, though I have attended many services in the past.
Imagine the shock of seeing smoke rising up from the side of the road far in the distance. As you draw closer, it seems that you recognize the car - it is your mother's car! Think of the agony of heart as horrible thoughts race through your head: is she ok? Has she been burned alive? What on earth happened? Is that really her car? How surreal would it be to see your mother's lifeless body being loaded onto a stretcher, covered with a sheet, and rolled by the paramedics into the ambulance. For those of us who have experienced the loss of a loved one, this scenario may be too close for comfort. In the case of Christ, however, you can never touch too deep a nerve. Many people walked by the crucifixion scene and were shocked to see who was on the cross. Among the theives hung Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, who lay down His life for the sins of the world. If you loved Him, you would cover your mouth in horror to see His physical condition.
Now imagine you had known about a problem with your mother's car and neglected to do anything about it. You knew that there was a minor risk driving the car without the repair being made - it was only a tiny gas leak - but fixing mom's car was very low on your priority list. As a direct repercussion of your actions, she is gone forever from the earth. How would you feel? What a weight of guilt! What inconsolable sorrow would you carry! You would invite the blame upon yourself because the tragic inferno could have been averted by replacing a $5 hose. When you consider Christ dying on the cross, do you see Him with the same personal responsibility? He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. He suffered for me and you. Yet we easily trample His blood under our feet through our coarse words, selfish attitudes, and ungodly conduct. We must take ownership of our sin so we might receive Christ's forgiveness.
We cannot change the past. A devotional I'm reading written by a farmer talks about the problem with looking back while plowing. If you want to plow a straight furrow, you must keep your eyes facing ahead, fixed on a stationary object. If you turn around to see how the furrow looks you will begin to drift off course and each successive furrow will become more and more crooked. If we're always looking back to how we lost our temper yesterday or cursed when we broke something, or how when you were in college you slept around, we will never progress. As a born again child of God you are free from bondage to the guilt of your past. When we keep our crucified and risen LORD as our focal point, we will walk that straight, narrow path of righteousness.
Our guilt has been turned into thanksgiving, our sorrow into joy through the sacrifice of Jesus. When we see Christ on the cross we should say through tears, "It is my fault! It is my fault!" It is through His blood and repentance that we are made faultless. Wonder of wonders! We must confess our wrongs before we can be made right. There is no salvation in any other but in Jesus Christ. The one who will present me faultless can keep me from future stumbles. Jude 1:24-25 says, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, [25] to God our Savior, who alone is wise be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen."
05 January 2010
Auditory Theives
A lot has changed since the time of Christ. One of the primary differences from 2,000 years ago is the abundance of silence. Today we are bombarded with the constant sound of cars, planes, lawnmowers, machinery, TV, music, iPods, appliances, etc. In centuries past the most common sounds in a village would be animals, people talking, and maybe the wind in the trees - if you were around trees, that is. Though the mind can be difficult to "quiet," quiet used to be much more plentiful. We have been trained to be uncomfortable and awkward with quiet. If we are driving and there is a pause in the conversation for longer than 20 seconds, we'll turn on the radio. When a "moment of silence" is requested at a major sporting event, there are always a bunch of knuckleheads who believe that is the moment to yell something idiotic. Silence? We just don't do silence these days.
Remember when Elijah fled from Jezebel fearing for his life? He traveled to mount Horeb and God met him there. 1 Kings 19:11-12 says, "Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; [12] and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." God was not in the great wind, the earthquake, or the fire: He was in the still small voice. Jesus says His sheep hear His voice. We might be able to hear His voice, but we make it difficult on ourselves with all the noise we welcome into our lives.
If I was the devil and knew that God spoke in a quiet whisper, I wouldn't devise anything to operate quietly. Now can God speak to your heart though you work in a loud environment, say in a factory, cogen, or processing plant? Of course He can. His still small voice is audible because it is perceived not by the ears, but by our hearts. But when our ears are occupied with listening and the mind becomes involved, our hearts can be dull to perceive. When I was a kid, people were going from vinyl to 8-track tapes. Then it was cassettes and now CD's. Silent films became talking pictures, and now we have big-screen T.V.s with surround sound. It used to be you had to carry a boom box with 8 "D" batteries around to bring your tunes with you: then it was a Walkman, mp3 player, and now any number of I pods. We have laptops, portable DVD players, projectors to connect to your mobile phone, and everything makes noise. Like the Grinch, the thing I hate the most is the noise, Noise, NOISE!
I'm not an hater of these modern innovations. But I believe that they can thieve our time and our hearts away from God and time spent quietly with Him. Instead of "instinctively" turning on the radio or putting in your ear buds (even if it is to listen to a sermon!), try not doing it. And while you are not creating extra noise, focus your heart and mind upon your Savior. When is the last time you actually heard His still small voice? If you haven't been listening for it, I bet it's been awhile. This should not make you feel guilty. No, it should fill your heart with a joyful expectancy: what is God going to say to you today? Our eyes are never satisfied with seeing, nor our ears with hearing. But when God speaks, it brings a satisfaction to the soul which transcends the feeding of our physical appetites. It touches our purpose. We were created by God to have a relationship with Him.
As I sit here hearing the fan in my computer case whirring along, I recognize how rare silence is. Be aware of things which rob you of quiet time with the LORD. Seek silent time with God, just you and Him. He's speaking. The question is: am I listening for Him?
Remember when Elijah fled from Jezebel fearing for his life? He traveled to mount Horeb and God met him there. 1 Kings 19:11-12 says, "Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; [12] and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." God was not in the great wind, the earthquake, or the fire: He was in the still small voice. Jesus says His sheep hear His voice. We might be able to hear His voice, but we make it difficult on ourselves with all the noise we welcome into our lives.
If I was the devil and knew that God spoke in a quiet whisper, I wouldn't devise anything to operate quietly. Now can God speak to your heart though you work in a loud environment, say in a factory, cogen, or processing plant? Of course He can. His still small voice is audible because it is perceived not by the ears, but by our hearts. But when our ears are occupied with listening and the mind becomes involved, our hearts can be dull to perceive. When I was a kid, people were going from vinyl to 8-track tapes. Then it was cassettes and now CD's. Silent films became talking pictures, and now we have big-screen T.V.s with surround sound. It used to be you had to carry a boom box with 8 "D" batteries around to bring your tunes with you: then it was a Walkman, mp3 player, and now any number of I pods. We have laptops, portable DVD players, projectors to connect to your mobile phone, and everything makes noise. Like the Grinch, the thing I hate the most is the noise, Noise, NOISE!
I'm not an hater of these modern innovations. But I believe that they can thieve our time and our hearts away from God and time spent quietly with Him. Instead of "instinctively" turning on the radio or putting in your ear buds (even if it is to listen to a sermon!), try not doing it. And while you are not creating extra noise, focus your heart and mind upon your Savior. When is the last time you actually heard His still small voice? If you haven't been listening for it, I bet it's been awhile. This should not make you feel guilty. No, it should fill your heart with a joyful expectancy: what is God going to say to you today? Our eyes are never satisfied with seeing, nor our ears with hearing. But when God speaks, it brings a satisfaction to the soul which transcends the feeding of our physical appetites. It touches our purpose. We were created by God to have a relationship with Him.
As I sit here hearing the fan in my computer case whirring along, I recognize how rare silence is. Be aware of things which rob you of quiet time with the LORD. Seek silent time with God, just you and Him. He's speaking. The question is: am I listening for Him?
04 January 2010
Jesus Revolution
"Status quo" is defined as "the existing state of affairs at a particular time." There is no one more revolutionary than Jesus Christ. Revolutionaries are only seen as rebels by those who benefit from the status quo. God had given the Jews His law so man might know the character, nature, and righteous statutes of his Creator. But man became enamored with the law itself and the feeble attempt to keep it. The focus became the effort of man, not the glory of God. Suddenly there were religious experts who were trained to interpret this law and feverishly police and punish anyone who transgressed. Profiteers saw and seized opportunities for monetary benefits for themselves and the organization, not to mention status and position among leaders of the community.
Jesus came on the scene and said, "You have heard it said...but I say unto you..." Instead of quoting ancient rabbis or deferring to the status quo position, Jesus turned everything upside down. Did God make a mistake with the writing of the original law and Jesus had to come to set everything right? NO! The law was and is perfect. But the law did not have the power to save. A vain attempt at keeping the law delivered to Moses would not atone for sins committed. Jesus revealed the law was a schoolmaster to lead us to Himself. The law provided ample proof that no man could ever keep God's standards (even though Jesus did, being God made flesh). It proved our sinfulness. The law stops every mouth. There is none who is good but God. The law points us to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection. It is by placing our faith in Jesus that we can be cleansed of our sin and made righteous, justified by His blood. God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We can have peace and reconciliation with God not through self-effort, but by grace through faith in Jesus.
I believe that God desires a revolution in His church today. I'm not talking about the overthrow of "the system" or a hostile takeover. It takes more than being fed-up with the status quo to start a revolution. Spiritual revolution occurs not through the addition of something new, but returning to the fundamentals. One of the many definitions of "revolution" is "a procedure or course, as if in a circuit, back to a starting point." I believe we make a big mistake to say the starting point was the church in Acts. The infant church in Acts didn't have a church to attempt to model itself after and we would be silly to try to do that ourselves. Our best would only be an attempt at emulation. The starting point is the person of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body of Christ which is His church. We are taught and led by the Holy Spirit, indwelt and baptized with Him. If we try to simply do what has been done we find ourselves with the Pharisees, trying to follow an external set of standards.
The question is, are you willing to allow God to change the way you think? Are you satisfied with your personal status quo Christianity? I have found I must admit I am dissatisfied before I am willing to change. Case in point, since returning to the trade changes to my personal time with God have been forced upon me. I am usually on the job site by around 6am. I set my alarm for 4:50am for a little while. I came to the realization I was completely dissatisfied by the quality or quantity of prayer, Bible reading, and reflection. So I set my alarm for 4am and have been pleased with the change. When you start feeling comfortable, status quo for you is now defined. Personally, I am sick of the status quo. The status quo doesn't amount to what it should. When I am comfortable, laziness and lameness are not far away. I want to go into undefined territory with my Savior, going to a level I never have before. Believe me, setting your alarm clock for 4am is not a magic formula for drawing close to God. We all have our own spiritual race to run and we will always be our primary hindrance.
Today at work I mused over this concept of the Jesus Revolution. Little fear of God and great fear of man will always prevent spiritual revolution. Spiritual revolution doesn't put you in charge, but God. But there have been many men and women compelled by the Holy Spirit who were not afraid to break out of the status quo. Luther and Calvin are two great examples of men who were in high regard in the Catholic church but saw descrepancies between status quo church teachings and the scriptures. They chose to stick to the scriptures and were convinced in their own minds through the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to throw aside the dogma of your religious affiliation, not to become your own man, but to be solely God's man? You don't need to leave your church or start a new denomination to be a part of the Jesus Revolution. That would line up more with the Pharisee point of view. It's not a matter of geography, style, or flavor. It's the substance of your heart that God looks at. You can worship in a prison, park, jobsite, or an office just the same. Are you willing to follow Jesus no matter the cost? Start a Jesus Revolution right where you are right now. I'm thinking that's just what we need.
Jesus came on the scene and said, "You have heard it said...but I say unto you..." Instead of quoting ancient rabbis or deferring to the status quo position, Jesus turned everything upside down. Did God make a mistake with the writing of the original law and Jesus had to come to set everything right? NO! The law was and is perfect. But the law did not have the power to save. A vain attempt at keeping the law delivered to Moses would not atone for sins committed. Jesus revealed the law was a schoolmaster to lead us to Himself. The law provided ample proof that no man could ever keep God's standards (even though Jesus did, being God made flesh). It proved our sinfulness. The law stops every mouth. There is none who is good but God. The law points us to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection. It is by placing our faith in Jesus that we can be cleansed of our sin and made righteous, justified by His blood. God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We can have peace and reconciliation with God not through self-effort, but by grace through faith in Jesus.
I believe that God desires a revolution in His church today. I'm not talking about the overthrow of "the system" or a hostile takeover. It takes more than being fed-up with the status quo to start a revolution. Spiritual revolution occurs not through the addition of something new, but returning to the fundamentals. One of the many definitions of "revolution" is "a procedure or course, as if in a circuit, back to a starting point." I believe we make a big mistake to say the starting point was the church in Acts. The infant church in Acts didn't have a church to attempt to model itself after and we would be silly to try to do that ourselves. Our best would only be an attempt at emulation. The starting point is the person of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body of Christ which is His church. We are taught and led by the Holy Spirit, indwelt and baptized with Him. If we try to simply do what has been done we find ourselves with the Pharisees, trying to follow an external set of standards.
The question is, are you willing to allow God to change the way you think? Are you satisfied with your personal status quo Christianity? I have found I must admit I am dissatisfied before I am willing to change. Case in point, since returning to the trade changes to my personal time with God have been forced upon me. I am usually on the job site by around 6am. I set my alarm for 4:50am for a little while. I came to the realization I was completely dissatisfied by the quality or quantity of prayer, Bible reading, and reflection. So I set my alarm for 4am and have been pleased with the change. When you start feeling comfortable, status quo for you is now defined. Personally, I am sick of the status quo. The status quo doesn't amount to what it should. When I am comfortable, laziness and lameness are not far away. I want to go into undefined territory with my Savior, going to a level I never have before. Believe me, setting your alarm clock for 4am is not a magic formula for drawing close to God. We all have our own spiritual race to run and we will always be our primary hindrance.
Today at work I mused over this concept of the Jesus Revolution. Little fear of God and great fear of man will always prevent spiritual revolution. Spiritual revolution doesn't put you in charge, but God. But there have been many men and women compelled by the Holy Spirit who were not afraid to break out of the status quo. Luther and Calvin are two great examples of men who were in high regard in the Catholic church but saw descrepancies between status quo church teachings and the scriptures. They chose to stick to the scriptures and were convinced in their own minds through the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to throw aside the dogma of your religious affiliation, not to become your own man, but to be solely God's man? You don't need to leave your church or start a new denomination to be a part of the Jesus Revolution. That would line up more with the Pharisee point of view. It's not a matter of geography, style, or flavor. It's the substance of your heart that God looks at. You can worship in a prison, park, jobsite, or an office just the same. Are you willing to follow Jesus no matter the cost? Start a Jesus Revolution right where you are right now. I'm thinking that's just what we need.
02 January 2010
Looking to the Future...
As I look forward to 2010 I wonder if it will hold as many twists and turns that 2009 proved to have. The last year saw me resign from a full-time ministry position to spend 60 days in Australia separated from my family. But it wasn't terrible because God was with me the whole time. He provided a job in my trade a day after my return from Australia that is enabling me to work towards the ultimate goal of immigrating to Australia.
I just watched a bit of "Patton" this evening, the outspoken, gregarious, opinionated, and amazing four-star general who saw action in both World Wars. There was a line that caught my attention as he described what he felt was his destiny: "I've always felt that I was destined for some great achievement, what I don't know." I feel I've spent a lot of time "not knowing" this last year. I didn't know where I'd be going in Australia, where I'd be staying, who I'd be staying with, where I'd be preaching, how the bills would be paid, what I would be doing upon my return, and on and on! But I say with great pleasure and joy that God knew right well, and He provided abundantly beyond what I could have asked for or thought. Instead of focusing on what I don't know, it's good to look to the God who knows all and can do anything He wants concerning me, my family, and the gifts, ministry, and calling I am steward of.
I played some football today with some brothers from church and if you've ever seen me on the field, it's more likely that you've heard me as well! As a quarterback I'm like Patton back there, barking signals, issuing orders, motivating my teammates by strong words, minus any "colorful" language. People either loved Patton or hated him, and I'm sure that I amuse some as much as irritate others. But you know, leading a ministry cannot be done by barking orders and storming through strongholds of the enemy with tanks and footsoldiers. It was God who said through the prophet, "...Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." (Zech. 4:6) God does not need generals who are in it for the glory. He desires leaders who will take the lowest place and put their back to the work. He wants men and women who are willing to gut through the wilderness, tribulation, and trials when prayers seem to be unheard and vision becomes dim. He wants people to trust Him though they can't see a foot in front of their face.
I have no clue what this year holds for me and my family concerning ministry here or in Australia. But I'm going to stick with what I know: I have been called as a preacher and apostle to go to Australia for the glory of God; I have been provided a job to work towards that end; and God is in heaven and I am here on earth. Time is short, and we must work while it is still day because the night is coming when no one can work. Visas, government, immigration, home selling and buying, none of these are obstacles for God: only opportunities for Him to prove Himself faithful again and again. Let God be true and every man a liar. None of this is about me. I'm not the center of anything - I exist for the glory and praise of God, to make His name famous throughout the earth. I want to be better at that.
I just watched a bit of "Patton" this evening, the outspoken, gregarious, opinionated, and amazing four-star general who saw action in both World Wars. There was a line that caught my attention as he described what he felt was his destiny: "I've always felt that I was destined for some great achievement, what I don't know." I feel I've spent a lot of time "not knowing" this last year. I didn't know where I'd be going in Australia, where I'd be staying, who I'd be staying with, where I'd be preaching, how the bills would be paid, what I would be doing upon my return, and on and on! But I say with great pleasure and joy that God knew right well, and He provided abundantly beyond what I could have asked for or thought. Instead of focusing on what I don't know, it's good to look to the God who knows all and can do anything He wants concerning me, my family, and the gifts, ministry, and calling I am steward of.
I played some football today with some brothers from church and if you've ever seen me on the field, it's more likely that you've heard me as well! As a quarterback I'm like Patton back there, barking signals, issuing orders, motivating my teammates by strong words, minus any "colorful" language. People either loved Patton or hated him, and I'm sure that I amuse some as much as irritate others. But you know, leading a ministry cannot be done by barking orders and storming through strongholds of the enemy with tanks and footsoldiers. It was God who said through the prophet, "...Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." (Zech. 4:6) God does not need generals who are in it for the glory. He desires leaders who will take the lowest place and put their back to the work. He wants men and women who are willing to gut through the wilderness, tribulation, and trials when prayers seem to be unheard and vision becomes dim. He wants people to trust Him though they can't see a foot in front of their face.
I have no clue what this year holds for me and my family concerning ministry here or in Australia. But I'm going to stick with what I know: I have been called as a preacher and apostle to go to Australia for the glory of God; I have been provided a job to work towards that end; and God is in heaven and I am here on earth. Time is short, and we must work while it is still day because the night is coming when no one can work. Visas, government, immigration, home selling and buying, none of these are obstacles for God: only opportunities for Him to prove Himself faithful again and again. Let God be true and every man a liar. None of this is about me. I'm not the center of anything - I exist for the glory and praise of God, to make His name famous throughout the earth. I want to be better at that.
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