The Touch of Jesus

"And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him."

Luke 5:12-13

Leprosy was a death sentence which ostracised and disfigured its victims without any hope of cure.  This man who is described as being "full of leprosy" sounds to be an advanced case.  Though he was an outcast and unclean under Law, Jesus was willing to touch and heal the leper who placed his faith in Him.  Jesus responded to the man's request and instantly he was made whole.

It is amazing how at the touch of Jesus "immediately the leprosy left him."  The disease instantly departed, similar to demons Jesus cast out of those afflicted.  Who would have believed such a thing was possible?  At least two people:  Jesus and the man full of leprosy.  I wonder if we - and I mean Christians - believe in the power of Jesus to heal, deliver, and make whole like this man did.  Oh, we know Jesus can heal, but we are not convinced He is willing so we do not ask.  We may not be willing, as this man did, fall on his face before the LORD and publicly proclaim his need.  He could have remained resigned to his hopeless condition, yet he looked to Jesus in faith.

How often we can tolerate or endure what Jesus came to deliver us from:  our sinful desires, selfishness, pride, worry, and fear.  I do not believe Jesus came to remove every affliction from us (seeing He has left us in a body of flesh in a world of sin), but He brings hope of a new life.  Afflictions move us to realise our need for divine aid.  He was righteous and in many ways afflicted, and a servant is not above his master.  May God renew our faith in the power and love of Jesus Christ!  He is willing to do more than strengthen us to manage but to overcome.  We might be laid low with physical or mental illness, yet Jesus stands ready to touch and revive us.  He delights to do so even when we doubt and forget He is our Saviour.

Jesus is willing, but are we willing to come to seek Him?  That is the question we must honestly answer.  When we lack the strength to come to Him, know He has already come.  He stands at the door and knocks, imploring we open to Him.  All day long Jesus opened His arms to the nation Israel so they might be gathered to Him, for they were as sheep without a shepherd.  They were not willing:  what makes us think we are any different?  Maybe it took this man being full of leprosy so he might humble himself before his Maker, and God allows many trials and difficulties which seem evil and painful to accomplish His good purposes.  Let us rejoice in our God who is willing to touch sinners so we might be made whole.

No Condemnation in Christ

This week at Calvary Chapel Sydney the Sunday message was focused on the interaction with Jesus and the woman brought to Him who was caught in adultery.  The Pharisees brought the woman before Jesus to find an opportunity to accuse Jesus of wrongdoing, but Jesus unexpectedly shifted the focus to the conscience of the accusers:  suddenly they were the ones on trial.  They wanted to know if Jesus agreed with Moses that the woman should be stoned to death, yet Jesus told them the one without sin should be the first to throw a stone.  One by one the accusers departed and the woman was left alone with Jesus.

John 8:10-11 says, "When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" ¹¹ She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."  The woman who was under condemnation of the Law and self-righteous men stood without condemnation before Jesus Christ whom she called "Lord" or master, supreme in authority.  Jesus had every right to pick up a stone being sinless, yet He could see her heart.  It was by no means a good heart, being naturally wicked and sinful like all other people.  This woman was provided by God's grace an opportunity to repent and place her trust in Jesus, and in doing so would not only receive salvation and forgiveness by faith, but power to walk righteously.

I do not believe the words of Jesus had the harsh or threatening tone some read into them coupled with a scowl:  "Don't you dare do that again - or else!"  He said, "Go and sin no more."  The good observation was made in the message delivered this morning that this was not merely a command.  At face value it is a command, but it was also empowering because it was the very word of God.  Having placed her faith in Jesus Christ as LORD, through the power of the Holy Spirit the woman was divinely enabled to obey the divine mandate joyfully - despite being harshly judged or made a social outcast.  She had love and acceptance in Jesus she had sought in an adulterous relationship, and Jesus gave her the real thing which transcended sex or earthly relationships.

The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  The Law could only condemn, having no power to save, but Jesus came to seek and save the lost.  He brought a way to righteousness apart from Law through faith in Him.  Romans 8:1-4 teaches us, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."  Jesus wasn't "soft on sin" or allowed the woman off easy, but granted her an opportunity by God's grace to cease walking according to the flesh and instead live according to the Holy Spirit.  Like the woman in adultery all of us are condemned already because of our sin, but Jesus does not condemn us:  He offers life and new beginnings to those who trust in Him. 

Rending Heaven and Hearts

"Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence-- ² as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil-- to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!"

Isaiah 64:1-2

In their present distress the Jews in Jerusalem desired for God to reveal His might to the Syrians, Babylonians, to the ends of the earth as He once did to them on Mt. Sinai.  He appeared with earth-shaking might, flames of fire, thick smoke and darkness, with booming voice and trumpet blast which made man and beast quake in terror.  They wanted the fear of God put into their enemies so they would not be plundered, destroyed, and vanquished.

The irony of the situation is God allowed enemies to attack and take captive His people because they (His own people!) did not fear Him as they should.  They pleaded with God to "rend the heavens" and come down in glorious power, but God exhorted His people to rend their hearts and repent.  The LORD spoke through the prophet Joel in Joel 2:12-13, "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." ¹³ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm."  They had torn their clothes in grief and mourning over their dire situation, yet contrite and broken hearts would bring God's favour.  If God's people truly feared Him as they ought, they would not have remained in sin without repentance (Exodus 20:20).

The prayer of God's people would be answered in a most unexpected way, with the very presence of God - not with an earth-shattering Sinai encounter but as a baby being born of a virgin in Bethlehem.  There was no earthquake when Jesus Christ the Son of God came into the world, no booming voice to a nation (though a few shepherds heard the angels sing God's praise), no grand display of unapproachable might, but a Baby in a manger who was not threatening at all.  As the Child grew to a man people began to feel threatened, however, when there was so much this Boy and Man seemed to know without being taught.   He asked pointed questions no one could safely answer or brush aside.  When the Jewish rulers and people heard Him speak many were alarmed and indignant because of the authority with which He spoke, the claims He made backed with supernatural power to heal, cast out demons, and know the hearts and thoughts of men - all with a humility, grace, love, and compassion unrivalled by any human being before.  After He rose from the dead it confirmed the words He had spoken.

God did rend the heavens and come down, the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove and alighting upon Him, and God the Father said in a voice audible to those present:  "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.  Hear Him!"  Jesus who came down has ascended alive into heaven, and will some day come again in glory and vengeance upon His enemies with His people.  The wise hear the voice of Jesus and tremble before Him, bowing down to the dust, for He is the God who formed Adam from the dust of the ground, knit us in the wombs of our mothers, breathed into us living souls, and baptises with the Holy Spirit and fire.  This fire refines and purifies, consumes and destroys.  The name of Jesus is known to His adversaries and rejoiced in by His redeemed.  All who turn to Him in repentance and faith can be born again and be accepted into the beloved, having victory over all foes through Him.  All glory and honour to the God who has come down to seek and save the lost, the One whose blood through faith makes sinners saints!

Evil is Good Spoiled

I grew up in a time when rock 'n roll was referred to by some as "devil music" because of something obscurely referred to as an "evil beat."  I have heard all sorts of strange ideas, like the rapid drumming places people in a trance-like state or the music had a possessive and controlling capacity.  As a kid I bought music played by Christian artists, or at least tapes supplied in Christian bookstores next to the Chick tracts.  I was particularly fond of metal, much to the chagrin of one of my Sunday School teachers.  I supplied her a cassette complete with lyrics so she could determine for herself if it was sinful or not.  "The lyrics seem fine but I still think it's got that evil beat," was her response.

There are no doubt evil musicians in the world whose explicit aim is to make the most evil music they can, and many have succeeded with their blasphemous efforts.  Yet music, in itself, is not and cannot be a bad thing.  People have taken a good thing and made it wicked, vulgar, sensual, filled with violence and hate.  I am convinced a rhythm, minor key, or chord progression is not evil in itself, but even catchy music is no better than the message it proclaims and what (or who!) is behind it.  In The Quotable Lewis, C.S. Lewis wrote something which relates to music and many other things God has created to be:

"The truth is that evil is not a real thing at all, like God.  It is simply good spoiled.  That is why I say there can be good without evil, but no evil without good.  You know what the biologists mean by a parasite - an animal that lives on another animal.  Evil is a parasite.  It is there only because good is there for it to spoil and confuse." (Martindale, Wayne, and Jerry Root. The Quotable Lewis. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2005. Page 265)

What Lewis asserts is very sensible, as God is only good and existed before all things.  He was good without any evil being in existence, and when this world is dissolved our righteous God and His redeemed saints will embark on an eternity marked with purity as at the beginning.  All God made was good, but man has sullied what God made pure; man has made crooked what He made straight.  What God has given us to enjoy man hoarded for himself, drank himself drunk, and removed sex from the strict boundaries of marriage.  The goodness of the original may be obscured, but through God it is retained.  From God's Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit we can instantly recognise heresy in a philosophy or in a song.  God made people able to think with their brains, and in man's supposed wisdom he has outfoxed a need for a Creator and thus God's existence is as a vestigial organ, a transitory fix for slow-witted superstitious simpletons of a less developed age.  God made both angelic hosts and man to sing:  some of these voices praise God and others curse Him without shame.

Evil is a parasite, and thank Jesus it need not pollute our minds or spoil our praise because He has made us righteous by grace through faith.  We ought to be discerning of the things we eat, drink, watch, or listen to, knowing if we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption.  But let us not condemn as evil what is not evil in itself - like calories, music beats, instruments, meats, or drink.  In Christ all is lawful, but not all is helpful.  Being slaves of Jesus Christ we are not to be brought under the power of any, nor place a stumbling block in the way of another.  People might be offended by music others enjoy, but it is our fault if we censure them for their firmly-held convictions.  Let each be convinced in their own mind, knowing it is before God we stand or fall.

Judging Righteously

Kids are impressionable, and things their parents say and do make a significant impact on their behaviour.  It is fun to see the personalities of these little ones begin to emerge, but not all that we see or hear is pleasing because it can be a portrayal of us parents at our worst.  A common tendency in many kids is the ironic and unbecoming attitude I will simply call "bossy."  Watch an older brother or sister for very long and it's likely they will order their sibling around or tattle on them when they are not doing what they think is right.  The demands placed on them are quickly (and in their minds fairly) placed on all others.  It seems for some kids a necessary step in the maturation process, something unfortunately not all grow out of.

This kind of  concrete "black and white" thinking pervasive in kids can be maintained in adults who lean towards legalism.  "That's not fair!" or "That's just wrong!" are phrases often through which the world and others are viewed.  It is true there is a lot wrong in the world and even the church packed with sinners, but it is good to remember we are not the authority:  God is.  Those who are raised in Christian homes and were taught in Sunday School likely received a large dose of what to do and what not to do.  For little concrete thinkers the Law of Moses is Gospel.  Some have responded by avoiding teaching the Ten Commandments or emphasising the love of God instead.  But we need the Law to see we are proud, selfish, hypocritical legalists who desperately need to repent.  God forbid we would teach Law without explaining the modern purpose of the Law, and we should employ it unto that end:  to reveal our need for salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.  Knowing right and wrong is one thing, but doing it is another matter entirely.  It is natural for us to judge others self-righteously according to Law (and even according to a subjective standard we hold forth as righteous), but Jesus said in John 7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."  We ought to use righteous judgment, knowing that the severity of the judgment we place upon others is the degree God will see we drink to the dregs (Matthew 7:1-2).  Those who are teachers (this includes parents who instruct their kids) will receive harsher judgment even in our age of grace (James 3:1-2).  Not one of us is perfect, even in our understanding of the scriptures we imagine we know well.  Many times Jesus said, "It has been written...but I say unto you..." going far beyond the reach of the Law of Moses and addressing the sin in our hearts.  If we accuse and condemn others in hypocrisy, it is we who are most wrong.

As teachers of God's Word we are called to teach the whole Bible, the Law of Moses included, providing the overarching context of God's grace which saturates scripture.  Without knowledge of the Law we are without that tutor or schoolmaster who leads us by the hand to Jesus.  Can you imagine trying to learn mathematics or English without a teacher?  We live in a world where many people feel they can do no wrong, but God loves us enough to show us otherwise.  Praise the LORD God's power remains without limit to teach people His ways from all backgrounds and perspectives.  His Word is sharp and powerful, and the Holy Spirit transcends man's best efforts to convey truth.  There remains right and wrong, and God is able to show us the times when we were positive we were right but actually were dead wrong.  Instead of judging according to appearance, we are to judge righteously by God's grace.

The Double-Minded Man

Whilst studying in preparation for the sermon last week, I was reminded of an interaction from years ago.  I was working at a church in El Cajon and often people would come to the office seeking assistance of some kind.  "Walk-ins" were common:  people asking for money, homeless people looking for food or clothes, petrol for their cars, and even a medical emergency.  I believe God did a miracle when we prayed for an older man who was overdosing on methamphetamine and instantly set him in his right mind.

One man came into the office who had recently been released from prison.  He looked to be a tough character, covered in tattoos - and was inked on his neck and face.  I was asked to speak with him.  during our conversation he confided he had an addiction to alcohol which he saw as deadly.  "If I don't quit drinking, I'm going to die.  I'm desperate to do anything to be clean and sober."  I told him of a local ministry I knew that specialised in people like him who wanted to be free of drugs and alcohol, to have a stable job, and affordable housing.  I warned him it was not for everyone, as it required a full one-year commitment.  He was enthusiastic:  "That's exactly what I need.  Sign me up."

He was without transport so I offered to provide him a ride to the ministry office on the other side of town.  A pastor greeted us and explained concerning the program in greater detail.  Nodding in agreement to the rigid structure and requirements, the man sparked up a cigarette.  "And by the way," the pastor said, "just so you know there is no smoking permitted during the program."  The man literally staggered back a step in disbelief.  "What?"  he asked incredulously.  "I don't know...I don't think I can commit to that."  As the pastor tried to reason with him, the man began chain smoking the rest of his cigarettes, clearly disturbed by this development he was unprepared for.

I found the situation tragic and sad:  there stood a man in desperate need of help to kick alcohol, but his dependence on cigarettes seemed an insurmountable obstacle.  He knew alcohol would be the death of him, yet he was unprepared to make a necessary sacrifice for a new life because it seemed unreasonable and impossible.  I don't believe this man's situation or response is different than us in our relationship with God.  There are aspects of our life and behaviour we realise are sinful and want to see our problems dealt with, but at the same time the accomplishment of this work can require sacrifices in other areas we are not always willing to make.  So being undecided and in two minds we can settle for what will destroy us.  It's a confronting example to be sure, but one at some level we can all identify with.

James 1:8 tells us a "double-minded man" is "unstable in all his ways."  It was good the man had come to grips with his need to deal severely with his alcoholism, but because he was double-minded, unwilling to sacrifice what the ministry required to aid his restoration, instability marked every aspect of his life.  This is why commitment and willpower is insufficient to live in victory, for we need to be born again through faith in Christ so we are given new hearts and renewed minds which are in agreement with God.  James went on to write in James 4:8:  "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."  If we will be free and forgiven we cannot approach God on our terms, but we must submit to His righteous demands.  When there is agreement between God and a humble, repentant, and contrite sinner, God graciously restores according to His promise.  Then our feet will be firmly planted on the Rock of Salvation who is Christ, and He is a foundation for new life enjoyed for eternity.

There Is No Encore

Have you ever been at a restaurant and were inspired to order an appetising dish being placed before another patron?  None of the descriptions in the menu seemed as appealing as the hot meal being served to someone else before your eyes.  You thought to yourself, "I'll have whatever he is having.  That looks amazing."

Ordering a meal based upon appearance is one thing, but this desire to "have what someone else is having" can lead to us want for ourselves the exact experience as another person.  If we are the ones who have had the amazing experience, we want others to partake in it as well.  I remember taking kids in the youth group to a theme park which had numerous roller coasters, and it was great fun seeing them enjoy the thrill for the first time and sprint back to the queue to ride again!  As much fun as coasters can be, the first time can never be replicated for yourself or anyone else.  The first time for another person may be the last time they ever submit to boarding a ride because they didn't enjoy it at all.  When it comes to spiritual matters, do not set your heart on having an experience like anyone else because God has intimate knowledge of you and His plans for you - not limited by the experiences or outcomes of others.

I came across a wonderful quote from C.S. Lewis which speaks to this point:

"It would be rash to say that there is any prayer which God never grants.  But the strongest candidate is the prayer we might express in the single word encore.  And how should the Infinite repeat Himself?  All space and time are too little for Him to utter Himself in them once." (Martindale, Wayne, and Jerry Root. The Quotable Lewis. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2005. page 247)

How many Christians can seek a particular gifting, experience, or outcome of another because it personally appeals to them and ultimately become disillusioned when their desire eludes them!  It is like we wish life or our spiritual pilgrimage was like a restaurant, that if we agree to pay the price on the menu for what we find most appealing we should receive exactly as we ordered, with certain ingredients omitted or exchanged for our personal preference.  Approaching desired outcomes in a formulaic fashion disregards the sovereignty of God and the greatness of the plan He is unfolding which exceeds our vision and expectations.  Often passages from the Bible are employed in this way, suggesting if we will do our part God will do His - in a predictable, timely, and expected manner.  This is simply not the case.

After thrilling experiences we can shout, "Again, again!" but with God there is no encore; He does not stutter.  Just like He never creates two people exactly alike - even those we call "identical" - He never operates in exactly the same way.  Since every person is created unique, why should we expect our circumstances, outcomes, or experiences to be the same as someone else?  God does not repeat Himself, for He makes all things new.

God and Boundaries

Heaven is God's throne and the earth His footstool.  He has the power to raise up kings and depose them, to overthrow nations and establish them.  God brought the nation of Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand and gave them land in Canaan by lot.  It is interesting to me God made Israel a great nation with clearly defined borders.  God could have given His people all the land on the planet, but He didn't.  He established boundaries for His people, something we ought to consider in our own lives too.  We should be content with our station and all God has graciously provided instead of always seeking to expand.  Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Not only did God provide boundaries for the land of the nation Israel, but He provided them His Law.  God's Law was to govern people's actions, words, duties, and the worship of God.  Left to their own devices and driven unchecked by the lust and wickedness of people hearts, they would become as the godless and wicked nations before them.  God instituted government, a priesthood, and morality upheld by Law which set bounds on what is good or evil.  These statutes were good but had their limitations:  law cannot make a man righteous or provide salvation, for it can only condemn.  Jesus Christ, who established a New Covenant in His blood is the end of the Law for righteousness for all who believe (Romans 10:4).  We have liberty in Christ, but this liberty also has boundaries.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."  He continued on this theme in 1 Corinthians 10:23:  "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify."  We should not do things merely because we can or they are considered "legal."  Those activities which prove not to be a help, anything which brings us under its power, and does not build us up in holy faith should be off-limits for us - just like we trespass when we go beyond our property line.  It is no longer the Law of Moses which provides these boundaries, but the fear of God, the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and love.  Love is the "bond of perfection" which is to govern and guide our words and deeds.

God is infinite, yet He has wisely given us limits.  Instead of seeking to always expand our circle of influence, let us be content to bless and love those with whom He has united us.  Paul learned in whatever state he was to be content (Philippians 4:11), and having food and clothes we ought to be pleased.  The exhortation in Hebrews 13:5 also comes with a reminder of how blessed we are in Christ alone:  "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Let us be content with our homes (whether owning or renting), land, job, marriage, and family.  We have a Saviour Jesus who will never leave or forsake us, and in Him is everlasting love, acceptance, and life.  Should times of increase come, let us not set our hearts on more but rest in the One who gives us all things.

The Influencers

It was probably around 9pm when I answered an unexpected knock at the door whilst still living at my parent's home.  The open door revealed a boy in his late teens wearing a laminated badge on a lanyard.  He carried a folder, and beside him was a large box filled with candy and other items to sell.  He went into his spiel before I could say anything, something to the effect of:  "Would you be willing to buy some items to keep teens like me out of gangs and off the streets?"  The irony of the situation was not lost on me:  a teenager was selling stuff door-to-door late at night to keep teens off the streets!  It seemed to me this industrious young man was not at risk of being drawn into a gang or homelessness.  He appeared ambitious and driven to excel, one who was a positive influence on others rather than being dragged down himself.

People have the ability to influence others in powerful ways, for good or evil.  When high-energy kids join together in activities, their combined power seems to multiply exponentially.  I have recently heard people who effectively market or blog on social media as "influencers."  There is a direct correlation between their attractive appearance or persona which drives interest and sales.  In the church - especially when I was a youth pastor - it was a common desire of parents to find godly influences for their children, whether at church groups or peers.  I once had an awkward encounter after moving to Australia where a man in another state asked over the phone if I would have a chat with his teen son.  "He won't listen to me," he said as a tragic matter-of-fact.  "Sometimes it takes someone other than a parent.  Maybe he will listen to you."

I am convinced as a dad who resided with his son, the man with whom I spoke had more opportunity to positively influence his kids than a stranger ever could.  That discussion had an impact on me as I gave the situation thought:  instead of hoping others will be a "good" influence on our kids, what if our aim was shifted to see them come to actually know Jesus as LORD, having sanctified appetites and holy desires?  Here is a question:  how are Christians able to stay holy and pure in a world defiled with sin?  It isn't because of outward influences, but because the life of Jesus Christ is within them.  When a woman is engaged to a man she loves and is intent on marrying, she will not look twice at other men.  All the rude cat-calls, requests for her number, or unwanted gifts will not shift her affections from her beloved.  Now if her relationship with her fiancee is going through a rocky patch, the draw towards other people and different relationships gains strength.  Though the romantic aspect is not the same, a similar dynamic is a work in the life of a Christian.  When our relationship with Jesus is neglected or suffers, we become dull to God's voice and numb to godly influences.  Youth groups and involvement in church activities are not antidotes to wayward hearts.

Are you easily influenced by this world or one who influences others to live godly as you follow Jesus in this world?  No amount of "good influences" will change the heart or mind of a person, but as children of God through faith in Jesus we can be an example of the parent, spouse, neighbour, employee, employer, and friend God has called and empowered us to be.  If all we want is for young people to stay out of trouble and off the streets our desires fall woefully short of the calling to present ourselves as living sacrifices unto God as His faithful servants (Romans 12).  Romans 12 concludes with this Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  This is our birthright as those born again by the power of the Holy Spirit:  because Jesus lives in us you and I are the influencers and are never at the mercy of evil.  It's good to surround kids with good influences, but they need a change of heart.  We need more than influence from Jesus to be saved from ourselves and sin.  We must be born again and abide in Christ to be transformed into the influencers He has called us to be.