Life is filled with amazing experiences. The greatest and most memorable experiences occur when a man has an encounter with the Living God who created him. Whilst experiences do much to build faith in the life of a Christian, they can never be repeated. We cannot feel how we felt at that time, nor can we re-create the situation upon our whim. Look back all you want, but you cannot go back. This is a good thing, or else a lot of Christians might be tempted to remain at Elim (an oasis in the wilderness mentioned in Ex. 15:27) when the inheritance God has given to us remains unclaimed over Jordan.
Peter had such an experience when Jesus was transfigured before him. Peter was overwhelmed as he saw Jesus in glory, conversing with Moses and Elijah on the mount. Unsure of what to say, Peter made a suggestion that if Jesus agreed, they should build three tabernacles on the mountain: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He wanted to establish a memorial of this miraculous scene before his eyes. He never wanted to forget what he saw. But then something happened. Matthew 17:5-6 tells us, "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
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And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid." It is clear that Peter's suggestion was not led by the Spirit, for as he was going on about constructing these tabernacles the voice of God the Father boomed, "The is My beloved Son!" The disciples fell on their faces, rising only after Jesus touched them and invited them to stand. They headed down the mountain, having had an encounter with God. God's will was not that they build monuments to their experience, but having been changed by their unforgettable encounter to head down the mountain, serving God and others.
Peter would later write of his experience in his second epistle, and he said something which I find amazing. 2 Peter 1:16-21 reads in the KJV: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
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For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
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And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
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We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
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Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
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For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." One might think that the experience of the transfiguration would be heralded among the greatest spiritual experiences. To see Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mount, and to hear the audible voice of God speak forth His approval and pleasure in His Son Jesus, would have been stunning proof of Jesus as Christ and His divinity. That is not what Peter says. He did not write this in a hope to recreate the glory of that night - or with the wish that others could have experienced it as well. He was an eyewitness of God's glory, and he heard with his ears the voice of God. Yet Peter says, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy...." Allow that to sink in for a moment. More trustworthy than Peter's ears, more established than the audible voice of God from heaven, is the surety of the scriptures written for us, dictated through men by the Holy Spirit. Wow.
There are no shortage of people who are convinced they have heard God speak. There are many people who are hailed as prophets by their loyal followers. We have sure words of prophecy concerning Christ all throughout the Bible, the Word of God. Peter says, "Ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place..." The scriptures are sure and steadfast. It is God-breathed and through the Bible we can know with full assurance truth from error. Do not think that I am minimising the importance of experiences. We are to experience the presence and fullness of God every day! When we have experiences - even if we see God's glory and hear His voice audibly - we are not to idolise such manifestations. May we all have them as He wills! God desires we fall before Him in reverent worship, and to rise at His leading and come down from that mountain top so we might be of use to Him in the foothills and valleys, in all seasons of life. For the rest of his life Peter was greatly enriched by his experience on the mountain with Jesus. But he viewed the scriptures as a more sure word of prophesy than his own eye-witness account.
May experiences of the power and glory of God and the sure words of prophecy committed unto us have their rightful place in our lives! We live in a dark place, and His Word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our paths. Through God's Word we see Jesus, the Hope of Glory, in everlasting light and power. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus did not appeal to the signs and wonders of the reality of the resurrected Messiah, but went to the authority of the scriptures. Interesting, isn't it? Jesus could have turned stones into bread, healed an illness, or told the men exactly what was hidden in their hearts or past. He chose to affirm His resurrection and presence with the Word. Luke 24:25-27 says, "Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
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Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"
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And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." No bright light, no booming voice from heaven. Jesus used the light of God's Word and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit to appeal to the hearts and minds of those grieving men. Jesus would ultimately reveal Himself to the men in His way of breaking bread. The way Jesus broke the loaves was one thing, but how much more wonderful was the way He pulled apart the Words of Life and gave to each as they had need through expounding the scripture. Does not God's Word satisfy?
10 June 2014
06 June 2014
Need Hard Times?
The rest Jesus promises us as we follow Him is not in place of the storms, but in the midst of them. His presence will bring a calming influence on winds, waves, and hearts, yet we are promised tribulation. God is not interested in giving us easy victories. Walking and jumping is easy in a zero-gravity environment, but it doesn't take long for atrophy to set in and cause muscles to weaken. Some of the life lessons from Naval Admiral William H. McRaven in his speech to the graduating class at the University of Texas could be easily applied to the Christian walk. Being a United States Navy SEAL is a tough job indeed, and physical ability and fitness is only part of the deal. One must be mentally strong and determined to endure the stressful rigours of training alone! Following Christ faithfully in this world is no easier. There are few indeed who face with joy the spiritual rigours of denying the flesh, taking up our cross daily, and following Jesus.
When God allows hard times in our lives, it is because in a sense we need them. Why a Navy SEAL need be buried up to his neck in mud for 15 hours as part of training, I can't say for sure. For six days they are not permitted to sleep, and the whole time drill instructors use every tactic imaginable to dare prospective SEALs to quit. Once we decide to follow Jesus, the devil uses every tool at his disposal to influence us to walk down any path but that of righteousness. As in the book of Job, God might even allow Satan himself to take away our goods, children, and health, turning even our friends and spouse against us. Will we stay resolute? Or will we quit?
In a message I recently heard by David Guzik, he quoted from Hosea 10:12: "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you." The point he emphasised is how God's people are told to "break up your fallow ground." He related how as a missionary he often heard people talk about how "hard" the ground was in the place where they were ministering. He made the valid point that if the ground where you are ministering is hard, it is because there is something in that hardness you need to break up your own hard heart. The place where God has us can be the means He provides to plow up our fallow, unfruitful ground. The people God has around us - like King Saul who threw spears at David - can be the very instrument used by God to transform us. Like Gene Edwards communicates masterfully through his book A Tale of Three Kings, God uses the outer Saul to kill the inner Saul that lives within each one of us.
God knows what He is doing, and to us it may look like He has missed some important points in relation to our needs, comfort, and growth. Again, God knows what He is doing and He is in control. We are called to follow Jesus, sow for ourselves righteousness, reap in mercy, break up our fallow ground, and seek the LORD. When times grow difficult will we quit or press on in faith? Praise the LORD that He will never leave or forsake us, whether we are tempest-tossed on the sea or are buried to our necks in mud. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." God knows what we need. Some seeds require the heat of fire to germinate. Periods of drought and fierce wind can strengthen and broaden the root structure of trees. Our muscles grow when they are strained, and our faith grows when it is tested. Will you see the test through to the end and hear God say "Well done, good and faithful servant?" Or will we decide we didn't really want to follow Jesus after all?
When God allows hard times in our lives, it is because in a sense we need them. Why a Navy SEAL need be buried up to his neck in mud for 15 hours as part of training, I can't say for sure. For six days they are not permitted to sleep, and the whole time drill instructors use every tactic imaginable to dare prospective SEALs to quit. Once we decide to follow Jesus, the devil uses every tool at his disposal to influence us to walk down any path but that of righteousness. As in the book of Job, God might even allow Satan himself to take away our goods, children, and health, turning even our friends and spouse against us. Will we stay resolute? Or will we quit?
In a message I recently heard by David Guzik, he quoted from Hosea 10:12: "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you." The point he emphasised is how God's people are told to "break up your fallow ground." He related how as a missionary he often heard people talk about how "hard" the ground was in the place where they were ministering. He made the valid point that if the ground where you are ministering is hard, it is because there is something in that hardness you need to break up your own hard heart. The place where God has us can be the means He provides to plow up our fallow, unfruitful ground. The people God has around us - like King Saul who threw spears at David - can be the very instrument used by God to transform us. Like Gene Edwards communicates masterfully through his book A Tale of Three Kings, God uses the outer Saul to kill the inner Saul that lives within each one of us.
God knows what He is doing, and to us it may look like He has missed some important points in relation to our needs, comfort, and growth. Again, God knows what He is doing and He is in control. We are called to follow Jesus, sow for ourselves righteousness, reap in mercy, break up our fallow ground, and seek the LORD. When times grow difficult will we quit or press on in faith? Praise the LORD that He will never leave or forsake us, whether we are tempest-tossed on the sea or are buried to our necks in mud. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." God knows what we need. Some seeds require the heat of fire to germinate. Periods of drought and fierce wind can strengthen and broaden the root structure of trees. Our muscles grow when they are strained, and our faith grows when it is tested. Will you see the test through to the end and hear God say "Well done, good and faithful servant?" Or will we decide we didn't really want to follow Jesus after all?
05 June 2014
Christ's Love Unites
I rejoice in the wisdom of God, how He has comprised the body of Christ of many members. Jesus Christ is the Head, and He grants gifts and talents to each of us through the Holy Spirit. The book by Os Guinness titled "The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life" explores the call of God upon our lives as Christians. Though it's been years since I read the book, I remember how he made a distinction between the general call and the specific call upon each Christian. All of us are called to love God and one another, to forgive, to pray for one another, and to share the Gospel with others. These are all aspects of the general call we must embrace on the path to discovering our individual calls to specific roles and functions in the church - the Body of Christ.
God has seen fit to draw together people of various ages with unique perspectives, different backgrounds and personalities, with distinct talents and weaknesses to make up the church that spans the globe. He has sovereignly led each believer to gather and join in worship and service with Christ as our common denominator. He lays upon our hearts varying degrees of desire to accomplish His will and the power to accomplish it. Even those who share a call to a single role will have unique ways of answering it. This is a beautiful thing, the freedom God has provided each of us as we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 says, "And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" The answer to Paul's rhetorical questions is obviously no. God has given unique calls, gifts, and roles in the church.
Directly after these verses, Paul launches into a better, higher way of living: one where all we say and do - indeed the very substance of our lives - is to be the demonstration of God's perfect love. Every calling, all service, every distinct ministry in the church is intended by God to be according to His love, the same love Christ demonstrated when He went to the cross for the sins of the world. What I have witnessed over the years (and nearly in the past slipped into that sticky slough myself) is people becoming more and more critical towards the "church" in general. They feel it is their calling to be watchmen, to warn like the prophets of old. Predictive and didactic (corrective) prophesy is a vital part of the Body of Christ today. In accordance with the Word when a prophet speaks today, his words and tone must be motivated and flavoured with love for God and others - even for atheists, heretics, and hypocrites!
What can happen with our individual callings is think everyone should share our perspective or approach. When others do not agree with our methods or conclusions, the temptation is to separate ourselves from them. It is sad how when we give the smallest differences the power to divide us when Christ and His resurrection power should unite us! God's love is never content with distance. Division in the Body is a massive problem. I'm thinking if your leg was chopped off in a car accident, instantly you would know you are in serious trouble and need to see a doctor immediately. Have you cut yourself off from fellowship with other Christians because of a disagreement? Take the initiative to humble yourself, leaving your gift at the altar so you might first be reconciled with your brother. Is it wise to use the internet to air your unresolved differences with the whole world, stirring up bitterness, judgments, and gossip? Why not just suffer wrong and tell God about it? We must be careful examine our motives in everything we do - even when we write a blog post! :) Do we write because we love God and people, or do we just want to make our point? God knows.
God has seen fit to draw together people of various ages with unique perspectives, different backgrounds and personalities, with distinct talents and weaknesses to make up the church that spans the globe. He has sovereignly led each believer to gather and join in worship and service with Christ as our common denominator. He lays upon our hearts varying degrees of desire to accomplish His will and the power to accomplish it. Even those who share a call to a single role will have unique ways of answering it. This is a beautiful thing, the freedom God has provided each of us as we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 says, "And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" The answer to Paul's rhetorical questions is obviously no. God has given unique calls, gifts, and roles in the church.
Directly after these verses, Paul launches into a better, higher way of living: one where all we say and do - indeed the very substance of our lives - is to be the demonstration of God's perfect love. Every calling, all service, every distinct ministry in the church is intended by God to be according to His love, the same love Christ demonstrated when He went to the cross for the sins of the world. What I have witnessed over the years (and nearly in the past slipped into that sticky slough myself) is people becoming more and more critical towards the "church" in general. They feel it is their calling to be watchmen, to warn like the prophets of old. Predictive and didactic (corrective) prophesy is a vital part of the Body of Christ today. In accordance with the Word when a prophet speaks today, his words and tone must be motivated and flavoured with love for God and others - even for atheists, heretics, and hypocrites!
What can happen with our individual callings is think everyone should share our perspective or approach. When others do not agree with our methods or conclusions, the temptation is to separate ourselves from them. It is sad how when we give the smallest differences the power to divide us when Christ and His resurrection power should unite us! God's love is never content with distance. Division in the Body is a massive problem. I'm thinking if your leg was chopped off in a car accident, instantly you would know you are in serious trouble and need to see a doctor immediately. Have you cut yourself off from fellowship with other Christians because of a disagreement? Take the initiative to humble yourself, leaving your gift at the altar so you might first be reconciled with your brother. Is it wise to use the internet to air your unresolved differences with the whole world, stirring up bitterness, judgments, and gossip? Why not just suffer wrong and tell God about it? We must be careful examine our motives in everything we do - even when we write a blog post! :) Do we write because we love God and people, or do we just want to make our point? God knows.
04 June 2014
Redeemed Injuries
One thing I find very comforting is the redemptive power of God in every aspect of the life of a believer. Our flesh may cringe and disagree, but the claim of God's Word and the power of Jesus Christ is undeniable. Paul wrote with confidence in Romans 8:28-29, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." All the things we experience are not good, yet God is able to reconcile them for His purposes. A Christian, therefore, will never suffer pain or difficulty needlessly. God has glorious, divine purposes in all He allows.
Last night, I started thinking back on the number of permanent injuries I sustained from my time serving with the youth at Calvary Chapel El Cajon. I held my hands in front of the mirror. Seeing the unnatural bend in my left thumb, I thought back with a smile to that night at the Centre when Matt broke that thumb during a game of dodge ball. I pulled on my right thumb to adjust it. As I did so, I remembered how Jason hyper-extended and cracked it during a game of football. I thought of my right elbow and how something snapped whilst arm wrestling Kevin on my kitchen table. That was my final arm wrestling contest! Then I looked at my front teeth, yep, the chip was still visible. I remembered how Brian landed a shot on top of my head during a jousting competition the night before Easter at Shadow Mountain. Though I carry with me tangible reminders of those moments, without a shred of frustration or regret I was led to pray for each of those young men and others besides.
I thought of pains I had endured, and also the wounds I mistakenly inflicted on others. There were times over the years I failed as a leader. I made mistakes in dealing with conflicts. Sometimes I tried to do the work of the Holy Spirit. I prayed for those God brought to mind, drawing solace from the fact that God would redeem even my mistakes for His glory - even as He used old injuries to remind me to pray for dear people He and I love very much. Have you pain? Have you injuries inflicted by friends or enemies? Every scar tells a story, and God will redeem every one with His love. Praise the LORD for His redeeming power, and how He takes even our injuries and uses them to accomplish His everlasting purposes.
Last night, I started thinking back on the number of permanent injuries I sustained from my time serving with the youth at Calvary Chapel El Cajon. I held my hands in front of the mirror. Seeing the unnatural bend in my left thumb, I thought back with a smile to that night at the Centre when Matt broke that thumb during a game of dodge ball. I pulled on my right thumb to adjust it. As I did so, I remembered how Jason hyper-extended and cracked it during a game of football. I thought of my right elbow and how something snapped whilst arm wrestling Kevin on my kitchen table. That was my final arm wrestling contest! Then I looked at my front teeth, yep, the chip was still visible. I remembered how Brian landed a shot on top of my head during a jousting competition the night before Easter at Shadow Mountain. Though I carry with me tangible reminders of those moments, without a shred of frustration or regret I was led to pray for each of those young men and others besides.
I thought of pains I had endured, and also the wounds I mistakenly inflicted on others. There were times over the years I failed as a leader. I made mistakes in dealing with conflicts. Sometimes I tried to do the work of the Holy Spirit. I prayed for those God brought to mind, drawing solace from the fact that God would redeem even my mistakes for His glory - even as He used old injuries to remind me to pray for dear people He and I love very much. Have you pain? Have you injuries inflicted by friends or enemies? Every scar tells a story, and God will redeem every one with His love. Praise the LORD for His redeeming power, and how He takes even our injuries and uses them to accomplish His everlasting purposes.
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