I'm the kind of person who does not mark in the Bible. I do not condemn any who feel free to do so, but I don't desire to place any of my commentary or thoughts on the same page as God's Word. Every time I crack open the pure Word I seek to gather the fresh manna that can only come from above. I refuse to be chained to only one point in a passage. The people did not eat manna in only one fashion: the scriptures say they "ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it..." (Num. 11:8). The tragedy was that the children of Israel did so because they grew tired of it. May that never be said of us, that we would desire the cucumbers, melons, and leeks of Egypt when God has provided of His personal stores manna for us to be spiritually sustained. Manna after a day would stink and breed worms, and yesterday's portion is inadequate for today's lessons.
I have made an exception, however. In the back of my Bible there are many blank pages on which I have begun a couple of lists. On one page I list all verses that confirm the divinity of the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thought the word "Trinity" is not found in scripture, the concept is clearly taught throughout. Words are inadequate to describe God (since the summation of God is not possible being infinite in nature), but sometimes a single word can be used to sum up a paragraph of thought. John said that if the deeds of Christ were recorded in books the world itself could not contain them (John 21:25). Another list that I have recently begun is prayers in the Bible. How wonderful it is to pray the truth of God's Word back to Him!
This is a prayer that I found during my daily reading today in Col. 4:12 that I am praying for myself: "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." How often do we labor to pray, not labor in prayer! There is a difference! Epaphras was a slave of Christ and his devotion was observed in his fervent laborious intercession on behalf of the Colossian church. The summation of his prayer was that the followers of Christ "may stand perfect and complete in the will of God." They were followers of Christ not through their efforts, but by the will of God. They were to find their completion in Jesus Christ, not through the keeping of man's tradition. The zeal of Epaphras for the Body of Christ was revealed through his fervent prayers.
I want to stand perfect and complete in the will of God. There are those "realists" in the church who will decry this as wishful thinking, but I believe this is God's will for all who follow Christ. We are to put on the whole armor of God and having done all stand girded and ready for battle (Eph. 6:11-13). This can be done in us through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us without measure - without measure! Elisha had a double-portion of Elijah's spirit, which was a hard thing, and we have been granted through rebirth in Christ the same Spirit without measure! We are complete in Christ, needing nothing in addition to Him. This is not to say that we can do our own thing by ourselves, for we are part of the Body of Christ. Col. 2:8-10 says, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. [9] For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; [10] and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."
Refuse to be cheated from your God-ordained birthright in Christ. May we stand perfect and complete in Him, and gather the fresh manna as Ruth gleaned after the reapers in the field. Boaz saw her, loved her and told the reapers to leave some extra behind. Have we not benefited in the same fashion since our Savior openly dotes upon us? It may be that God will have mercy on us and open our blind eyes and deaf ears to the end we might glorify Him more! He has raised us from spiritual death: shall we not through Jesus enter into abundant fullness of life? John 10:10 says, "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." The deeper life in Christ is available to all who seek it in faith. When Jesus is lifted up, He draws all men unto Himself.
02 October 2009
01 October 2009
I'm Thanking God
I have been praising God for His provision as I wait upon Him in OZ. Staying at the Landman home has been a real pleasure, and has afforded me many great opportunities. With a private area and internet access, I have been able to keep posting on the blog, sending correspondence, connecting to my family at home with Skype, and even prepared a sermon yesterday! For the time being whoever reads this blog is my "congregation," because the opportunity to preach has not yet afforded itself. In God's perfect time and manner, His will shall be accomplished. Louis, Sonja, Louise, and Johan have been so hospitable and kind.
I have also been able to do some little projects around the house. Today I installed a recessed light outside, vacuumed the carpets, hung out the washing ("laundry" is called "washing" here, and pretty much everyone that I've seen hangs their clothes to dry outside), and cooked up some syrup for tomorrow's breakfast. I'm going to make pancakes tomorrow and hopefully they will be a big hit. Johan tells me he likes to put cheese on his. I'm going to stick with syrup and hold the cheese.
Another blessing is all the experience I'm having behind the wheel. Louis has me drive almost every time we go out, and it has become so familiar that I have even dreamt of driving on the other side of the road. Ever so often I'll still indicate with my windshield wipers (very ineffective I'll add) because the indicator is on the right side of the steering wheel. The rear view mirror is still a misplaced object and it takes me a while to focus on the reflection and not the mirror itself. Wednesdays we buy petrol (gasoline, and "gas" is propane) because on Thursdays the price shoots up a minimum of 10 cents per liter as if on schedule, and Thursday we typically buy all the food for the week. Coles, Woolies (Woolworth's), and Aldi are our prime targets as Louis and Sonja hit all the specials (sales). There's a great deal of words that are defined differently, like "boot" is the term for the trunk of the car, "trolley" is the grocery cart you push at a store. Many of the trolleys here require a token purchased for one or two dollars, and when finished the trolley literally locks into the one it slides into. This keeps the trolleys all in the correct bin.
I praise God for the Landman family and all those who have been so supportive on both sides of the Pacific. There are a lot of changes going on in the Harvest Christian Fellowship Brisbane South, and when more information becomes available I will pass it along. I am blessed whether or not anyone reads these words, but is a double blessing if God uses them to minister to you in any way. Keep me in your prayers as you are in mine, and remember to thank the LORD today because He is good.
I have also been able to do some little projects around the house. Today I installed a recessed light outside, vacuumed the carpets, hung out the washing ("laundry" is called "washing" here, and pretty much everyone that I've seen hangs their clothes to dry outside), and cooked up some syrup for tomorrow's breakfast. I'm going to make pancakes tomorrow and hopefully they will be a big hit. Johan tells me he likes to put cheese on his. I'm going to stick with syrup and hold the cheese.
Another blessing is all the experience I'm having behind the wheel. Louis has me drive almost every time we go out, and it has become so familiar that I have even dreamt of driving on the other side of the road. Ever so often I'll still indicate with my windshield wipers (very ineffective I'll add) because the indicator is on the right side of the steering wheel. The rear view mirror is still a misplaced object and it takes me a while to focus on the reflection and not the mirror itself. Wednesdays we buy petrol (gasoline, and "gas" is propane) because on Thursdays the price shoots up a minimum of 10 cents per liter as if on schedule, and Thursday we typically buy all the food for the week. Coles, Woolies (Woolworth's), and Aldi are our prime targets as Louis and Sonja hit all the specials (sales). There's a great deal of words that are defined differently, like "boot" is the term for the trunk of the car, "trolley" is the grocery cart you push at a store. Many of the trolleys here require a token purchased for one or two dollars, and when finished the trolley literally locks into the one it slides into. This keeps the trolleys all in the correct bin.
I praise God for the Landman family and all those who have been so supportive on both sides of the Pacific. There are a lot of changes going on in the Harvest Christian Fellowship Brisbane South, and when more information becomes available I will pass it along. I am blessed whether or not anyone reads these words, but is a double blessing if God uses them to minister to you in any way. Keep me in your prayers as you are in mine, and remember to thank the LORD today because He is good.
The Upward Call
A couple months before I left home for Australia, I purchased a new pair of running shoes. I started running for exercise since preaching for me does not provide much aerobic benefit! It has been good to begin a routine of regular exercise, not because I like exercise in itself, but because of the obvious health benefits. I have found running benefits my mental focus, digestion, endurance, lowered my cholesterol, and added 15 yards to my golf game!
I have to admit, I'm not a health freak. I admit I'm not even that "health conscious." I am not seeking rock-hard abs or interested in how much I can bench press. But one day I looked at myself in the mirror and exclaimed, "Self, you're getting sloppy!" My pants were starting to fit a little tight and I'm too tight to buy new pants! Some people are not content to see an ounce of fat on their bodies. They starve themselves, eat the equivalent of cardboard and sticks, and still work out for hours a day! They cut out all soda and red meats, buy raw foods and follow a carefully monitored diet. That's not for me, but I'm glad there are health-conscious people out there. If only we were as spiritually conscious as some are health conscious! We must guard our eyes, ears, hearts, and thoughts with the vigilance of a person who avoids saturated fats, sugar substitutes, or high fructose corn syrup.
Nearly every day since my arrival, I have headed out for a morning or evening run. The main difference between this neighborhood and mine is that it is hard to find anywhere flat to run! The home where I am staying is situated in such a way that I always have to run uphill to go home. I like to mix in some hills from time to time, but here I have had a steady diet of them here. As I was laboring towards the finish yesterday, I thought about the verse in Philippians 3:14: "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Our call is an upward call. It is an upward battle. We will never on this earth be able to spiritually say that we're "over the hill" because our goal is in the heavens. It is a race that will tax us, make us want to quit, leave us dizzy, wheezing, and even puking. But home for us always is uphill. It's not a home that we've paid for or picked out for ourselves, but one in heaven that God has prepared for us. It is not our sweat or tears that earn us a heavenly home, but only the blood of the Lamb of God applied to our hearts in faith.
Paul pressed forward with the urgency of a world-class marathon runner. We have to lose the idea that speed is important in a spiritual race. Time presses on whether you jog or sit on the couch. Your spiritual race is being run whether you are active or negligent in spiritual pursuits. Men have died working out in the gym and others while eating a burger and drinking a milkshake. We Christians are followers of Jesus Christ, so close that we can draft like a NASCAR driver. This upward call is offered to all who will follow. The word "call" here is "an invitation." Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." We find rest in Christ, but there is labor to be done with Him as we remain on earth. There is a difference between "rest" and "ease." Ease is akin to sloth, and we ought not to ease up to the finish line spiritually. God supplies the strength and power, and we are to take Christ's yoke upon us as willing slaves.
Don't allow the hills and valleys to bring discouragement as you press on to the upward call of Jesus Christ. Every time that I have gone out for a run, by God's grace I've always made it home. Jesus knows every one of His sheep and will bring every last one home to heaven. Jesus says in John 10:27-28: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. [28] And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." Run your race with joyful endurance in the strength God provides. He will grant spiritual benefits that will enable you to serve God better. Run Christian, run!
I have to admit, I'm not a health freak. I admit I'm not even that "health conscious." I am not seeking rock-hard abs or interested in how much I can bench press. But one day I looked at myself in the mirror and exclaimed, "Self, you're getting sloppy!" My pants were starting to fit a little tight and I'm too tight to buy new pants! Some people are not content to see an ounce of fat on their bodies. They starve themselves, eat the equivalent of cardboard and sticks, and still work out for hours a day! They cut out all soda and red meats, buy raw foods and follow a carefully monitored diet. That's not for me, but I'm glad there are health-conscious people out there. If only we were as spiritually conscious as some are health conscious! We must guard our eyes, ears, hearts, and thoughts with the vigilance of a person who avoids saturated fats, sugar substitutes, or high fructose corn syrup.
Nearly every day since my arrival, I have headed out for a morning or evening run. The main difference between this neighborhood and mine is that it is hard to find anywhere flat to run! The home where I am staying is situated in such a way that I always have to run uphill to go home. I like to mix in some hills from time to time, but here I have had a steady diet of them here. As I was laboring towards the finish yesterday, I thought about the verse in Philippians 3:14: "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Our call is an upward call. It is an upward battle. We will never on this earth be able to spiritually say that we're "over the hill" because our goal is in the heavens. It is a race that will tax us, make us want to quit, leave us dizzy, wheezing, and even puking. But home for us always is uphill. It's not a home that we've paid for or picked out for ourselves, but one in heaven that God has prepared for us. It is not our sweat or tears that earn us a heavenly home, but only the blood of the Lamb of God applied to our hearts in faith.
Paul pressed forward with the urgency of a world-class marathon runner. We have to lose the idea that speed is important in a spiritual race. Time presses on whether you jog or sit on the couch. Your spiritual race is being run whether you are active or negligent in spiritual pursuits. Men have died working out in the gym and others while eating a burger and drinking a milkshake. We Christians are followers of Jesus Christ, so close that we can draft like a NASCAR driver. This upward call is offered to all who will follow. The word "call" here is "an invitation." Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." We find rest in Christ, but there is labor to be done with Him as we remain on earth. There is a difference between "rest" and "ease." Ease is akin to sloth, and we ought not to ease up to the finish line spiritually. God supplies the strength and power, and we are to take Christ's yoke upon us as willing slaves.
Don't allow the hills and valleys to bring discouragement as you press on to the upward call of Jesus Christ. Every time that I have gone out for a run, by God's grace I've always made it home. Jesus knows every one of His sheep and will bring every last one home to heaven. Jesus says in John 10:27-28: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. [28] And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." Run your race with joyful endurance in the strength God provides. He will grant spiritual benefits that will enable you to serve God better. Run Christian, run!
29 September 2009
The Importance of Emphasis
One criterion of good Bible study and teaching is that we emphasize what the text emphasizes. Many preachers use the "springboard" method of preaching that starts with a premise outside of scripture. Verses are used to confirm this extra-biblical premise to validate it. This is the same as a builder constructing a building without a foundation. The building can be no stronger than the foundation: if the foundation is faulty, the building will not stand.
A preacher has a responsibility similar to the media in that he must hold forth the unbiased truth. The media does not always provide honest, hard facts. I was working at San Diego State University on the campus and watched a news team with cameras interview a group of people holding signs. One of the ten people of the group held a megaphone speaking out against "injustice," while five other people milled around with signs. It occurred to me that out of the thousands of people that walked by, the handful with signs would be on the Evening News. Though they clearly did not speak for the majority, their voice would be heard the loudest. It was not their position as much as their persuasion that grabbed attention.
I am saddened to think that this "springboard" preaching could be the norm rather than the exception. I have always attended a church that preached and taught through the Bible. I looked out a website today from an pastor and perused his video library. Messages included a series on the rapture, one series on numerical codes in the Bible, and the emergent church. I do not see how any of these topics even deserve a sermon title, much less a series! This is an over-emphasis of doctrine that twists the scripture out of joint.
Take the rapture, for instance. It would be fair to say the Bible does not emphasize the rapture. Reference to what we commonly call the "rapture," the "catching up" of the church to meet the Lord in the air is only found in two small portions of scripture: 1 Cor. 15:51-53 and 1 Thess. 4:13-18. Words intended to comfort no doubt confuse when blown out of proportion! The teaching of the rapture is held forth by scripture. There are also fewer things more divisive when people argue over when this will occur! The emphasis of scripture is to hold forth the truth of the rapture so all might be ready for it, not argue about when it will happen. When Jesus was asked by His disciples when He would return to set up His kingdom He said in Acts 1:7-8: "...It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. [8] But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Here we have Christ's emphasis: the time and date is not important, but their Holy Spirit-empowered witness in the meantime was very important.
In teaching, we must remember that we are messengers of God's truth. We are to deliver the message once delivered through the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:3 says, "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." Because the prevailing wind of false doctrine will threaten to move us from the foundation of Christ, we must contend earnestly to remain rooted on the truth of scripture. Should we pry into the misty subjective "doctrines" concerning numbers when Jesus did no such thing? Why go stumbling around in the dark when Christ has brought us such brilliant, vibrant light? The scriptures are intended to point a man to God and His glory. The devil would like nothing more than to take our focus from the Source of Life Jesus Christ.
I am on dangerous ground when I emphasize what the Bible does not! What a gross sin it would be to lead people to the rock at Meribah when we God has given us living water through the Holy Spirit without measure! God has made us fountains of living water through rebirth by the blood of Jesus, and man tries to squeeze water from stones! 2 Peter 3:10-12 says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. [11] Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, [12] looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?"
The Day of the Lord is not the emphasis here. The emphasis of the passage is to cause all to consider what manner of people we ought to be in holy godliness, looking for the coming day of the Lord. Since all will be dissolved, how ought we to live for God while we still have time? There are plenty of well-meaning people who would love to spend a month of Sundays explaining all the hidden truth which explains when that day will come. I am reminded of the words of Christ in Matthew 15:14: "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." It grieves me to see the wrestling that occurs in that ditch. I spent a good portion of my life in that ditch. But God in His mercy, pulled me from that pit! I am determined to stand clear of that ditch on the clear promises of God. It is He that has opened my eyes, and I choose to place the emphasis of my life upon Him.
The point of this post was not to "take shots" at anyone or decry a particular style of preaching. The point must be emphasized: we are to preach Christ, and Him crucified from all parts of scripture as the LORD leads. Beware of those who camp on issues not emphasized in scripture. Like a body needs healthy food to be strengthened, mature, and grow, we need the pure milk and meat of the Word to grow spiritually. If a doctrine takes your eyes from Christ, then it is not pure doctrine. All good doctrine elevates and magnifies Christ. Taste and see that the LORD, HE is good!
A preacher has a responsibility similar to the media in that he must hold forth the unbiased truth. The media does not always provide honest, hard facts. I was working at San Diego State University on the campus and watched a news team with cameras interview a group of people holding signs. One of the ten people of the group held a megaphone speaking out against "injustice," while five other people milled around with signs. It occurred to me that out of the thousands of people that walked by, the handful with signs would be on the Evening News. Though they clearly did not speak for the majority, their voice would be heard the loudest. It was not their position as much as their persuasion that grabbed attention.
I am saddened to think that this "springboard" preaching could be the norm rather than the exception. I have always attended a church that preached and taught through the Bible. I looked out a website today from an pastor and perused his video library. Messages included a series on the rapture, one series on numerical codes in the Bible, and the emergent church. I do not see how any of these topics even deserve a sermon title, much less a series! This is an over-emphasis of doctrine that twists the scripture out of joint.
Take the rapture, for instance. It would be fair to say the Bible does not emphasize the rapture. Reference to what we commonly call the "rapture," the "catching up" of the church to meet the Lord in the air is only found in two small portions of scripture: 1 Cor. 15:51-53 and 1 Thess. 4:13-18. Words intended to comfort no doubt confuse when blown out of proportion! The teaching of the rapture is held forth by scripture. There are also fewer things more divisive when people argue over when this will occur! The emphasis of scripture is to hold forth the truth of the rapture so all might be ready for it, not argue about when it will happen. When Jesus was asked by His disciples when He would return to set up His kingdom He said in Acts 1:7-8: "...It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. [8] But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Here we have Christ's emphasis: the time and date is not important, but their Holy Spirit-empowered witness in the meantime was very important.
In teaching, we must remember that we are messengers of God's truth. We are to deliver the message once delivered through the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:3 says, "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." Because the prevailing wind of false doctrine will threaten to move us from the foundation of Christ, we must contend earnestly to remain rooted on the truth of scripture. Should we pry into the misty subjective "doctrines" concerning numbers when Jesus did no such thing? Why go stumbling around in the dark when Christ has brought us such brilliant, vibrant light? The scriptures are intended to point a man to God and His glory. The devil would like nothing more than to take our focus from the Source of Life Jesus Christ.
I am on dangerous ground when I emphasize what the Bible does not! What a gross sin it would be to lead people to the rock at Meribah when we God has given us living water through the Holy Spirit without measure! God has made us fountains of living water through rebirth by the blood of Jesus, and man tries to squeeze water from stones! 2 Peter 3:10-12 says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. [11] Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, [12] looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?"
The Day of the Lord is not the emphasis here. The emphasis of the passage is to cause all to consider what manner of people we ought to be in holy godliness, looking for the coming day of the Lord. Since all will be dissolved, how ought we to live for God while we still have time? There are plenty of well-meaning people who would love to spend a month of Sundays explaining all the hidden truth which explains when that day will come. I am reminded of the words of Christ in Matthew 15:14: "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." It grieves me to see the wrestling that occurs in that ditch. I spent a good portion of my life in that ditch. But God in His mercy, pulled me from that pit! I am determined to stand clear of that ditch on the clear promises of God. It is He that has opened my eyes, and I choose to place the emphasis of my life upon Him.
The point of this post was not to "take shots" at anyone or decry a particular style of preaching. The point must be emphasized: we are to preach Christ, and Him crucified from all parts of scripture as the LORD leads. Beware of those who camp on issues not emphasized in scripture. Like a body needs healthy food to be strengthened, mature, and grow, we need the pure milk and meat of the Word to grow spiritually. If a doctrine takes your eyes from Christ, then it is not pure doctrine. All good doctrine elevates and magnifies Christ. Taste and see that the LORD, HE is good!
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