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Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Happy New Year 2016



12.29.15

On this day fifteen years ago my wife and I welcomed our daughter into this world. It became clear to me immediately upon holding her for the first time that my life would be forever changed. Up until then I had loved, I had cared, I had connection with family and friends, but never to the level which I soared to instantly when her big eyes looked up at me. Over time I have learned that she is made in the image of my wife and I in many ways. Reflections of us, but unique in her own right.

As we wind down 2015 and look forward to 2016, my thoughts turn to our heavenly father. What joy and love and passion he must have to see us, his children, look to him and connect on a deep and spiritual level. We are made in his image, reflections of Him, just as my daughter is a mirror of her parents' traits. But which traits? My wife is a joker. She loves silliness and laughter. She loves cuddling and physical connection. I tend to be more serious, and my humor is dry at times, and I feel just as connected sitting on separate couches as she does sharing the same recliner. My daughter is more like me. She and I will watch movies alone on individual couches, while my wife and our son share a seat.

With our heavenly father we have many traits and characteristics to mimic. He has made us all unique and special. In 2016 I am challenging myself, and others via this blog, to consider which character traits of God will you choose to show this year? Maybe select a top three or top five or if you are ambitious, perhaps you want to pursue a top ten. I will share with you my top three in hopes to inspire your thoughts and start the process:

1. Creativity

In Genesis chapter 1 we read that "God made". He made everything. He was creative. From the beginning God demonstrated that he is expressive in his thoughts and creation. Black and white are sufficient to give a universe definition, but God chose seven base colors (ROYGBIV) as a palette to work from. With these seven colors he allows an endless variety of shades and nuances.  He gives us blue skies and a yellow sun. He made green grass and trees, and a completely different green for the ocean. He is a creative God, and in 2016 I will seek to reflect this.

 2. Loving

John 3:16 famously tells us the "God so loved". The letters by John known as 1, 2nd, and 3rd  John expand on this theme of love, and goes so far as to tell us "God is love". Perhaps this is a given for some. Perhaps you are a person who naturally loves, cares, or nurtures. The challenge for me is not that I fail to love, I fail to love people too often in a way in which they need to be loved. In John 3:16, we read that he loved us so much that God gave us what we needed most: His son. Why? To provide a way for us from everlasting punishment and into eternal life. This year I will strive to love others as they need to be loved. This may be a kind word, a card in the mail, a physical help with a project, or it may mean shared scripture and biblical discipline. The challenge is knowing who needs what. For this, I will seek God's direction. After all, He is love.

3. Consistent

 Jesus was and is our example of how humans should live. Many things can be learned by his life, but perhaps one of the more difficult traits is found in Hebrews 13:8, which tells us that he is "the same yesterday, today, and forever". Jesus, like his Father, has remained the steadfast same since the beginning. Too often we complain in a sporting event because the officials seem to call certain actions as fouls for one team but not the other (usually this is an issue if the fouls are called on our team). But God the Father and Jesus the Son are not like this. In our lives, or at least in mine, it is an exercise in endurance to remain steadfast in convictions, faith, and godly habits. I cannot consider the full 366 days of 2016 (there is a leap day) as my goal. That is too much. I will focus on today. On this hour. In this minute. In this second. It is in the now that I will strive to be consistent.

So what are your top traits for 2016? Which ones will you be asking yourself and perhaps others to join you for accountability? The beauty of the birth of a new year is the ability to start fresh. To mark off this past year's failures and shortcomings as experience, not an expectation. Learn from 2015, but live in the new year!

May God bless you and keep you in 2016!  

Make Room For Jesus




Christmas 2015

The sun begins to set on the dusty horizon. A man walks along the worn path leading his animal. The two clop along in unison with a steady gait. Upon the back of this animal sits a woman swollen with expectation of her first child. She rises and falls with each step the animal takes, absently rubbing her round abdomen. Soon, very soon by the contractions that ripple through her, she will give birth. The foretelling signs of her child’s arrival are compounding the sickness she feels riding along on this beast. The ever present sand flows through her hair and across her face, and the cool of night begins to wrap around her so that she shivers despite her cloak.

The man and woman approach a town. A village more like it. It is their destination. From his home in Nazareth, some seventy miles away, the man has come here with his pregnant wife by order of proclamation from the King. His feet hurt, his back aches, and he is weary from the experiences of the past nine months. He reaches the first buildings of the town and unwillingly fulfills prophesy for tonight his wife will give birth and the child will be born in Bethlehem.

A knock on a door, a face appears, and a head shakes “no”, there is no room. A second door, and a third, but although they are different doors, they offer the same answer. Finally, a sympathetic soul offers the use of his stable. The man leads his animal to join the others resting for the night. He helps his wife disembark her ride and tries to give her privacy in this makeshift delivery room. He reads her face and knows that the time of arrival is near. She cries and pants from effort. He holds her hand and offers words of encouragement. With a scream and a final push, the sound of a small cry is heard in the world that is different than any other child’s cry that has ever lived. The woman holds this small wriggling bundle and is amazed. If what the angel told her is true, then in her arms she holds the indwelling of God in human form.

Do not be quick to judge those shaking heads and denial of a room for the arriving baby. This child, this Christ, arrived in a world where he was neither wanted nor accepted, but today is no different. Today we plod through our busy daily life and when he knocks on the door of our heart, we are too quick to shake our heads “no” and offer him no room. Tonight as we celebrate the Advent, the Arrival of Jesus, we ask the question, do you have room for Him?

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Christmas 2015 - In The Fullness Of Time


12.20.15


“In The Fullness Of Time”

We scoffed at stores who set out their trees and decorations in August just before Labor Day. We rolled our eyes at shoppers who mixed the red and green of Christmas with the black and orange of Halloween in their shopping carts like some twisted scene from Tim Burton’s “The Night Before Christmas”.  We began our shopping consumer frenzy mere hours after our Thanksgiving feast, regretting that most of the “good stuff” had already been bought! Now mere days before winter’s top holiday, we are wrapping and packing and along with some 100 million other Americans, planning our trips to visit friends and family both near and far.

I remember those days before Christmas as a child when I would watch my mother cook and prepare dish upon dish of stuffing, salads, deserts, and more. We would sign card after card for cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends, most of whom we could never match a face to go with the name on the front of the envelope. Gifts would be wrapped. Preparations made. And then the moment would come when my parents would announce: “It is time.” Time to pack the car, time to visit, time to celebrate.

Each year we celebrate Christmas we are celebrating the time that Jesus was born. There may be debates as to what day it was, which time of year it was, and we can say with certainty that it was not December 25th. The beauty of Christmas is not that we get the exact date correct, the beauty and wonder we celebrate is the fact that Jesus came at all. We read in scripture that he was there before the creation of the universe. There with his Father God creating and shaping, and now sustaining this awesome spectacle that is our existence. At Christmas we celebrate that he came to earth as one of us, and that he came at the right time.

I have two children and I recall the period of time leading up to their birth and being antsy with anticipation. Each moan of discomfort from my wife lead me to believe that this could be “the time”. Unlike those wonderful Butterball turkeys we are so fond of at Thanksgiving and other holidays, babies do not come with a built in pop up “I’m done” indicator. They come when they are ready. More to the point, they come when God is ready for them to come. It was no different for the birth of his Son, Jesus.

The early church leader and writer, Paul, shares with us in his letter to the church in Galatia that “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” The Greek phrase here translated in English as “time has fully come” is sometimes translated as “the fullness of time”. It is the Greek word “play-ro-mah”, which is defined as “that which is filled”. Picture a ship in dock, filled with goods to trade in faraway places, its decks filled with sailors ready to follow the captain’s orders and bring the ship home again after its voyage. There were preparations made, positions filled, weather accounted for, tides calculated, and when the time is “play-ro-mah”, that is to say when the time is just right, they set sail. This is the term Paul uses to describe the arrival of Jesus into this world. When the time was at its fullness of preparation, expectation, and all conditions were just right – He was born!

Paul tells us that he was born to redeem us. He was born to rescue us. Redeem and rescue from what? For that, we turn to another of Paul’s writings. This time we turn to his letter for the church in Rome. In this letter we read that “all have fallen short of the glory of God” – all have sinned and this sin causes a separation between God and mankind. We celebrate his arrival for this purpose, but one might ask “why then”? Why wait to arrive on a dark night in the unimportant town of Bethlehem in the neglected Roman providence of Judah? This whole sin issue started so long before that, why not then?

I want to explore today why Christ didn’t appear when Adam and Eve first ate of the forbidden fruit? Why not present himself then as an atoning sacrifice for these two people and their sin? Why not appear when Cain committed the first murder and killed his brother Abel? Why not step in when man had rebelled so much that it made God regret creating them, causing God to destroy the earth and save only one family on an ark. Why not send Jesus to the Jews when they cried out for salvation while in slavery to the Egyptians?  God sent them a leader, a leader who took them out or Egypt and they eventually became a nation. As a nation, they asked God for a king, but still Jesus did not appear.

The people of this nation rebelled and turned away from God. God sent prophets, men to speak for him, but still the time for Jesus to come to earth was not right. The people refused to follow these prophets, and they paid the price of rebellion with exile to foreign lands. When God returned the Israelites to their land, it was men like Ezra and Nehemiah that helped them rebuild a nation and re-establish their morality. Still, Jesus did not come. Later when Romans marched to occupy the land of the Jews and they looked for a savior, he did not come as they expected. So the people of Israel and the people of the world waited and anticipated the arrival of this child. This Christ, the savior of the world.

Then the moment came. The time was right, and the Father sent his Son into the world so that the people of the world would believe in the Son and the Father and have freedom from their sin. So the Son came to earth in the form of a child. An infant. Born in an animal shelter and laid in a food trough. This one-day savior lay wrapped in strips of cloth and bore the flesh of his own creation. After all these years? After all these cries for salvation, God chose to send a baby? What type of plan is this?

It is a God type of plan. The same type of plan that gives us exactly what we need when we need it. Like Noah on the ark; one boat with one family to save all of mankind. A plan like sending Joseph into Egypt as a slave and turning him into a ruler to one day protect his family from famine. The type of God moment that leads Moses to the edge of the Red Sea with the Egyptian army bearing down on his rag tag group of refugees, and then seeing God split the sea open to provide safe and dry passage across to the other side. The type of God plan that sends a young shepherd out to face a giant with a sling and some rocks or the type of God plan which positions a Jewish girl in exile to become queen so that she can stop an evil conspiracy from killing all the Jews in the ancient world.

God has a plan. He started this plan before he laid the foundation of the universe. He regretted, he mourned, and he waited to send his Son, the perfect and final redemptive action necessary to save all of mankind from sin for all of time. And when this moment came, he sent the unexpected – a baby. This baby would one day grow to be a man. This man would die for you and I on the cross, redeeming us and freeing us from sin forever!

So why a baby? Because God demands perfection, and we are incapable of it, but his Son was able to be born as a baby, grow into childhood, graduate into adulthood, and remain perfect or sinless the entire time. He accomplished what we could not, and he finished what we could never hope to even start. Although he deserved only praise, he took God’s punishment in our place. There is a bible term for this: propitiation. A fancy way of saying that he was a substitute for us. Imagine getting caught by a parent or school principal for something you have done wrong. You face the consequences of your actions and are sentenced to disciplinary action by the authority over you. Then, at just the right time, and in just the nick of time, someone steps up and offers to receive your punishment instead. Not only that, but this person who has accepted your punishment has done nothing wrong and has all the Gold stars and stickers to prove it! That would be amazing! And while this is exciting news, because this is exactly what Jesus did for us: stepped in and took our punishment; the truly amazing part is that he shares his perfection and all of its rewards with us as well! We are rescued from all the dread of sin and it is exchanged for all of the beauty and blessing of his perfection!

Talk about your best gift exchange ever! We give him our sin – tagged with punishment and death; and he gives us his right standing with the judge (his father) so we can share in his eternally blessed life! This is the meaning of Paul’s writing that “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” This term “adoption to sonship” is a Roman legal term which indicates that we are now in full standing as an adopted child and heir to all the Father has for us! I cannot tell you for sure why Jesus did not come at one of those earlier times when it was perceived necessary. I cannot tell you why he did not wait until today with the development of technology and the means to reach millions instead of only a few thousand during his life here on earth. I can tell you that whatever the reason, it was because the time that he was born was the fully right time to be here!

What about you? What about Jesus in your life? Have you had moments in your life where you cried out for help in slavery to sin as the Israelites in Egypt and it felt like no one heard you? Have you faced giants like addiction, depression, illness and you wish you had the courage of that shepherd boy David as he stared down Goliath? Have you felt exiled from family or friends by your rebellion and disobedience? Have you ever wondered “Where is a person to save me from what I am going through?” Today I share with you the announcement that the angels gave when Jesus was born:
 “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Whatever you have done, whoever you have been up to this point in time, the wait is over. It is the fullness of time in your life, at this “play-ro-mah” moment you are ready to be set free from sin and receive your inheritance of eternal life!

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Playbook For Christian Living - Be A Living Witness


Play Eight: Living As A Witness For Christ
12.13.15

In Mark chapter 5 we read a story of a man who is demon possessed. This man lived among the dead and wiled and moaned all hours of the day and night. He was in misery, alone, isolated, and dejected. Then Jesus came into his life and things changed. He was restored, reborn, and returned to his sanity. This man naturally wants to follow Jesus, but Jesus tells him to stay and share what God has done for him. Jesus is essentially asking him to be a living witness of what the Lord has done in his life.

Four things I believe we can learn from this story:

1. Tell Who You Were

The man in the graveyard's actions were described as "night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones." The people of the town knew who he was an how he acted. Perhaps your story is less dramatic. Maybe you were like me and you started attending church at birth. You grew up in a stable home and for the most part did what was right. Or maybe your story is one of reckless abandon, isolation and broken relationships. Either way, we should be prepared to tell our story honestly and sincerely. "All have fallen short of the glory of God" according to Romans 3:23, so we all have a story of life in sin to tell.

2. Tell What Jesus Did In Your Life

In Mark 5:15 we read that when the people from the city came to see what had happened, they found the demon possessed man sitting there dressed and in his right mind. In your story about the journey you have had with Jesus there will have been times when you needed him. Perhaps it was courage or hope or strength, it does not matter what it was that Jesus did for you - tell about it! If you find that there is nothing you can find to tell I suggest one of two situations: One, you do not have a relationship with Jesus and therefor have no story to tell because yours has not started yet. Or two, you need to pray to have eyes to see what He has done for you. Once you have your story, tell it, write, and perfect it. It is your testimony.

3. Share As Jesus Leads

Jesus was on a mission. He was telling people far and wide about the coming Kingdom of God. He had thousands who followed him. He had a core twelve that he mentored.So why not one more? Yet when this man who had been radically saved asked to tag along, Jesus told him to stay. "Go home to your people" Jesus told him.  The man followed the directions of Christ and went to his home town and began to tell what Jesus had done. If you were like me, when I was younger I was certain that if I told Jesus I would tell others about him it would have to be in a far off country. Sometimes that is true. But often what I see is a commitment for Jesus to start right where you are. Your family, friends, neighbors are all in need of Jesus too, follow Him and tell where he leads.

4. Be Ready To Be Amazed

This ambassador for Jesus, this living witness, followed the lead of Christ and told his home town people about what the Lord had done. The result? Verse 20 in Mark 5 tells us that "all the people were amazed."

What about you? Have you met Jesus? Has he changed your life? If so, great! Go and tell! Be a living witness! If not, consider watching the video below as it explains how you can begin your story now.


Monday, December 7, 2015

Playbook For Christian Living - A Life With Good Deeds


Play Number Seven: "Good Deeds Done Right"
12.6.15

Good deeds are completed by millions everyday. Some of those deeds are conducted by Christians, others are not. Today I want to explore some of the reasons why those deeds completed by Christians are different than those of non-believers. As we play out the Christian Playbook, we see that it is important that our Good Deeds are Done Right.

In Ephesians 2:10, Paul writes:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

When we set our minds to do good, we must recognize that we do these things in accordance to the plans that God prepared for us. There are four truths I want to share concerning our service to God and the Good Deeds we accomplish for Him.

1. We Are Shaped By God

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.
Psalm 139:13-14

This verse has been used numerous times to explain our physical development. I would extend this shaping and knitting as the Psalmist writes it to also include our personality, talents, intelligence, and other quirky traits that make us who we are as individuals. God shapes each of us to fit into his plan for the sharing of the Gospel and the ultimate glory he desires and deserves. We see this expressed in the passions and commitments of various Christians, churches, and groups to champion a variety of causes and needs. God makes us all unique to fit together and be the Body of Christ - his church. 

2. We Are To Be Useful And Valuable

In Matthew 25 we read a story that Jesus tells his followers of a king who left town and set three servants in charge of some resources of his to be watched over in his absence. When he returns, he asks them for an accounting of what they did with the resources he left in their charge. When the first servant returns his portion with great interest by wise investing, Jesus tells us that the king responded, "Well done, good and faithful servant!

In the children's book series, Thomas The Tank Engine, the highest praise the little trains can receive is the praise that they are "really useful engines" by their company's owner, Sir Topham Hat.  The author, Reverend Wilbert Awdry, used these stories to convey the biblical truth that God, the owner and operator of our life, has a purpose for each of us and as we fulfill that purpose we are recognized as being "very useful". 

3. Our Good Deeds Are To Be Practical And Purposeful 

Later in Matthew 25, Jesus tells another story of the day when he will separate those who believed in him and those who did not. He commends those who truly believed by telling them:

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

There are numerous things we can do for God. Here we read simple, practical, daily activities that we can conduct ourselves in which result in eternal value. The simple acts of charity such as drink, food, clothing, etc. can have everlasting rewards if done in the name of Jesus and for him. This is where Christians separate from others who do good: the core reason we do good deeds is the spiritual value. 

4. Our Good Deeds Brings Glory To God

Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:12 that we should live a life among non-believers so that "though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Our good deeds should bring glory to God, not us. Sure, there may recognition here on Earth, but the final glory will and should go to God. Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew  that those who do good things for the sake of receiving glory here on earth will receive their only reward here in this life. When we store up our rewards in heaven, we can be sure that they will not diminish or tarnish, but be available to us for all eternity. 

So whether you care for someone who is sick, or crusade to end an illness world-wide, the key to being successful and Doing Good Deeds Right, is doing them for the LORD. 

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Playbook For Christian Living - Living As The Church


Play Number Six: "Living As The Church"
11.29.15

Jesus spent three years with his disciples. He taught them about daily living, righteousness, hypocrisy, and a multitude of other topics. He did not lay out an exact blueprint for organizing what we call today "the Church". I believe that is in large part because Jesus was concerned about the individual's life being the best it could be since it is the individual believers that form the Church. Paul writes about this to the Colossians:

"And God placed all things under his [Jesus] feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
Ephesians 1:22-23

There is much to be said about the Body of Christ. Today I will focus on three ideas. 

First, The Body is Diverse. 

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
1 Corinthians 12:13

The body of Christ (the Church) consists of various people from a multitude of ethnic, racial, economic, social and spiritual backgrounds. It is a melting pot of individuals, ideas, and preferences. But just as the individual cells of the body come together and find unity, so must the individuals of the Church join together growing up to Him who is the head (Ephesians 4). 

Second, The Body Has Purpose.

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
Ephesians 4:11-12

The human body is the mechanical holding form for our soul. It has function to interact with this unique environment, gravity, temperatures, etc. The Church as the continuing physical body of Christ here on earth has its role too. Some are to teach, some encourage, some replicate (evangelize), and on and on just as individual cells have their role in the larger form, so do individuals within the larger Body of Christ. While Christ is Spirit and wishes to interact thru spirit, it is the physical forms of we mere humans that serve to translate those spiritual thoughts and intents into the carnal world. 

Third, The Body Has Organization.

"If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body."
1 Corinthians 12:17-20 

We cannot all be leaders. We cannot all be teachers. We can all be servants to each other. But each person must find and fulfill their role. The human body is not just a set of random cells struggling to identify themselves for what they are and where they belong. It is not their role to do so. Instead, they are subject to the DNA imprinting given to them by the architect of The Body, which is God. We must each connect to that inner DNA and serve God as He has it planned. When that happens, there is health and vitality in the body. But when cells rebel and strain to complete their own programming, the result can be dangerous - even deadly. While there is room for The Spirit to move within the ranks of God's people, there is no room for disorganization. Healthy cells moving in unison can achieve amazing things, but moving a part from each other is disastrous. We should respect God's authority and His assigned representation here on earth. 

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Playbook For Christian Living - Living Generously



Play Number Five: "Live Generously"
11.22.15

Christmas is quickly approaching. Marketing and store web sites provide daily and hourly countdowns until the 25th of December. We are encouraged to give extravagant gifts (which of course means more profit for the stores), and these great gifts will show our love and appreciation for people who receive the presents. This form of generosity is a forced and contrived one. It is opposite of the description Paul gives in 2 Corinthians 9:7 -  "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 

Giving is a part of the Christian life. Today we unpack five truths about living a life that is centered on biblical generosity. 

1. We are conduits, not collectors. 

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
2 Corinthians 9:8-9

God blesses us so that the blessing may flow through us to others. He does not give to us so that we simply collect the blessings. It is like the man who buried his coin in Luke 19 and failed to bring a return on the investments the kings had made. We are to use God's  blessings as a resource, not a reservoir. 

2. God is the supplier.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
2 Corinthians 9:10

All good gifts come from God. We must seek him as the source of all our blessings. Pursuing other sources is what causes us to sin (i.e., seeking the truth of good an evil in the garden). 

3. Generosity leads to gratitude. 

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 
2 Corinthians 9:12 

When we pass along the blessings God has shared, it allows others to experience it as well and if will lead them to thanking God. Notice they will thank God, not us. Be mindful that we do not seek God's spot of thanks. 

4. Generosity leads to praise.

Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 
2 Corinthians 9:13

The natural reaction of blessings from God is praise. He is worthy of praise and we are responsible to deliver it. It is praise for the gift, and praise for the demonstration of the true belief in the gospel of Christ. It is praise for our testimony of a great God! 

5. We give because we were given grace. 

And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:14-15

We have moved from death to life, unclean to clean, unrighteous to righteous! This gift was just that, a gift (Romans 6:23) from God. Since we who had nothing have been given everything, we should reflect the awesome generosity of our Father God. 


Monday, November 16, 2015

Playbook For Christian Living - Living In His Love



Play Four: Living In His Love
11.15.15

There are a lot of theological discussion on various things that Jesus taught in his time on earth. His parables and stories sometimes leave us scratching our head wondering what he is exactly saying. But sometimes he is very clear. Take for example the last super he has with his disciples. He is the creator God in flesh, and he bends to his knee and washes their feet. He follows this act of service with this command:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35

He has set the bar high already, and is about to go to the cross and truly give example of what it means to love someone. This simple command is easy to conceive yet difficult too often to execute. Today I want to explore six ideas of what this love should look like.

In 1 John chapter 4, we read a wonderful explanation of what Godly love and therefore Christian love should look like. John writes this:

"Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become a child of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. Here is how God showed his love among us. He sent his one and only Son into the world. He sent him so we could receive life through him. Here is what love is. It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son to give his life to pay for our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we should also love one another. No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us." (verses 7-12)

1. Love is spiritual.

In verse 7 we read that love comes from God. We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1) and we reflect his characteristics. If we are to learn to love one another as Jesus commended, then we must learn to love from the source. It is a pure and perfect love. It is genuine, and never ending.

2. Love is revealing.

Verse 8 tells us that we reveal our hearts by either loving or not loving. If we wish the world to see us as Christians, then there is no greater indicator than loving one another. Our love or lack thereof will tell the world whether we are a true believer.

3. Love is an action.

"This is how God showed his love..." verse 9 begins. Think about that statement. God showed his love to us. For many religions and gods of this world, it it the pleasure of their gods to only receive love, but the God of the Bible, the one true God, is a loving God. He took action to show his love in the form of his Son whom he sent to us to make a way for us to join him where he is. God took action and showed us his love!

4. Love is unconditional.

He took that action and showed his love through his son long before we loved Him. He accepted us where we were, and loved us. Too often this point has been used by non-believers as proof that we are not real Christians; citing the fact that Jesus was known to accept sinners where they were. True. But he loved them enough to not leave them in their sin and misery. He loved them enough to challenge them and change them. Real love is unconditional, but it also leads people to transformation.

5. Love is relational.

John reminds us in verse 11 that since God loved us, we should love each other. That means the guy or gal in your small group that is always late, always unprepared, and always asks the rabbit trail questions. It means we love our spouses, our kids, our friends, neighbors, waitresses, and more with the same unconditional spiritual love demonstrated by God. It also means that we must look in the mirror and love the person we see.

6. Love is evidence of God.

"Nobody has seen God!" the non-believer will state with emphases to prove there is no God. But in 1 John 4:12 we see this fact admitted and embraced. No one has seen God, but if we learn to live a life which demonstrates His love as his Son has commanded, then we are giving evidence that He exists. Our love for one another is proof that there is a loving God.



Monday, November 9, 2015

Playbook For Christian Living - Relying On God's Word


Play Three: Relying On God's Word
11.8.15

Visit your local library, bookstore, or favorite online retailer, and you will find thousands of books on how to live your life. Advise from self proclaimed experts on topics as varied as family, marriage, retirement, building a business, or even how to program your smart watch. There is plenty of suggestions, and often these suggestions can contradict or change as new information is revealed. But God's Word is solid. It is the rock to build a life on so that when the storms come, what you have labored to accomplish will not be washed away.

In Acts 20:32 Paul instructs the Ephesians, and us today, to "commit to God and to the word of his grace, which can build up up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." The best way to be committed to God and His Word is to study it. There are plenty of ways to study the Bible, and hundreds of plans to accomplish the task. Below I provide a system I call PRAISE. It is a practical way to dive in and learn the lessons and leading of God in his love letter we call the Bible.

Pray

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
Psalm 119:18

Read

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:8

Ask

“The disciples came to him and asked...”
Matthew 13:10a

Investigate

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
Acts 17:11

Search

“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:8

Evaluate

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us.”
Romans 15:4a

We PRAY to open our hearts and mind for communicating with the author of the Scriptures. We READ, even though it seems such a simple step, because we should see for our self what the Word says. For much of the history of the Church, this privilege was forbidden. Take advantage of liberty in which we currently live. We ASK because we have a Father who is open to our questions and created in us an inquisitive mind. We should ask questions with the truth in mind that the people recorded in the bible were the same as you and I. They lived in a real time at a real place. They ate, loved, hated, ached, and experienced all we do today. When we ask questions, we must INVESTIGATE to discover answers to our questions. The Bible has an amazing ability to answer it's own questions if you take time to look. In order to see those answers we must SEARCH. Like a search and rescue expert, we must train our spiritual eyes to see the truth in the 66 books we call a bible. If we get lost in the words or the volume of thoughts, we can get loose sight of the proverbial "tree in the forest". Finally, we must take our answers and EVALUATE what we conclude with the other written word of God. In other words, you must compare the verse you are studying with the whole chapter, whole book, and finally with all the other books. If you have discovered a truth from God, it will agree with the rest of scripture. 

PRAISE God daily in your study of His Word and you will find yourself laying a strong foundation to a wonderful life - both here and in Heaven. 

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Playbook For Christian Living - Relying On His Strength


Play Two: Relying On His Strength 
11.1.15

When a team takes the field, they have to rely on the strength of either the offense or defense. The element of the team that has helped them to victory in the past. As a Christian, our greatest strength is Christ! We read in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Today we will explore some of the elements found in this powerful verse!

1. I Can

There is a prideful way in which we as humans can say with defiance to God - "I can!" The people of ancient Babel had this attitude. In Genesis 11:4 we read where they made plans to build a city with a tower that would reach the heavens, so that they may make a name for themselves. This pride persists today. It is in our culture that leads to self important players and leaders thinking they did it - all by themselves! Unfortunately, this pride is seen in churches of today as well. Men and women who "build" a church with their name and brand on it and call it "good".

Instead of the prideful approach to the I Can statement, let us consider what Paul writes about we who are doing good for God. In 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, he reminds us that "God chose the foolish things of this world (that's us) to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -and the that that are not- to nullify the things that are." The "i can" should be with a little "i". A humble spirit for sure.

2. All Things

Colossians 1:16 and John 1:3 both remind us that God created ALL THINGS, and that he governs over all things which means there are no limits of what we can do or accomplish In HIM! All things which are according to HIS WILL can be accomplished because he has rule over all things and all situations.

3. Through Him Who Gives Strength

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power." - 2 Timothy 1:7

When you consider the power of the Holy Spirit - creation, sustaining, convicting of sin, and bringing Christ back from the dead - all of this power is available to us through the Spirit. But we must be connected to the power source. The lamp does not generate its own power, but if it is plugged into a power outlet, it can produce light. We are called to be light, and that requires power through us.

4. Strength Comes From Within

The power and strength offered to us is a spiritual strength. No amount of push ups or weight lifting will give it to us. It must come from a spiritual source. Paul prays in Ephesians 3:16 that those in Ephesus will be "strengthened with power through his Spirit" in their inner being. His prayer was the the strength came from the spiritual, not the physical. We must be in tune spiritually to process the power and strength promised.

5. We Are Strengthened For His Glory

"But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed...The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - 2 Timothy 4:17-18


Monday, October 26, 2015

Playbook For Christian Living - Christ First



Play One: Putting Christ First
10.25.15

Football season is one of my favorite times of year. It is one of the most popular sports in the world. Every week mountain size men fling themselves at each other in hope of moving a small pigskin down a patch of grass and across a predetermined line. But these men do not do so haphazardly. They scheme and plan each move to maximize their objective. Like us watching the gladiators of the gridiron, Paul witnessed the games in the Roman Empire and had this to say: "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." - 1 Corinthians 9:26. As Christians we are to be mindful that we are not all about the physical world, but the spiritual one instead. In our Playbook For Christian Living, our first play is to Put Christ First. Jesus told it to his disciples this way in Matthew 6:33 - "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Let's look at this verse closer. 

1. Seek First

David writes in Psalms 37:3-5 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." If we delight in the Lord, the desires of our heart will align with His will. Like a complex LEGO set on Christmas morning, you have to start with step one before you proceed or else the whole plan will be in frustration. Every down of football begins with lining up with the ball on what is called the line of scrimmage. Failure to take this first step will result in a penalty and you will not be able to finish the play you intended to execute. 

2. The Kingdom of God

I will point out two verses which demonstrates that the Kingdom of God is not of this world. It is not of the things we can buy or build. It is not about the temporary, but it is about the eternal. 

1 Corinthians 15:50 - "I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." 

Romans 14:17 - "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Since the Kingdom of God is not a physical place, it cannot be reached by physical means. There is no train or plane to take you there. It is by faith alone that allows us interest into the spiritual Kingdom of God. 

Matthew 6:33 obviously is a verse which follows earlier verses and statements by Christ. Verses 25 to 32 of this same chapter describes the "all these" things which Jesus is speaking of. They can be categorized as a) Food and clothing b)Security c)Time and d)Blessings. Who in this world does not seek these things too often for themselves at the expense of relationships, health, and even their soul. They are the forces which drive manufacturers and marketers to develop products and advertising to manipulate our base desires. Just watch a late night infomercial on t.v. promoting the latest kitchen gadget that you MUST have so that you can prepare your meal faster and therefore give you healthy food, slimmer waists, and more free time. All in one product! Wow! 

Our heavenly Father already knows that we need these things, and he is happy to share them, but we must have our priorities straight! A person who is incapable of handling limited resources and blessings, will certainly fail to manage lots of resources and blessings. Consider the number of Lotto winners who later file for bankruptcy. Lack or abundance of resources is not the core issue. 

4. We Already Have Everything

In Ephesians 3:16-19, Paul is praying for the Ephesians. He is asking for a blessing from God for the church. He prays: 

"According to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

God's riches is his glory! Is is far greater than we can imagine! He is wanting to share it all with us, so that we reach the fullness of God. 

5. Content In The Situation

When we are filled with God in our life, and reach towards the fullness of Him, then we will be like Paul who wrote in Philippians 4:11-13 - "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Seek Him first, and His Kingdom and right ways, and then all the things of our hearts will come into alignment with his and he will fulfill our desires because they will become like his. We must learn in the game of Christian Living, we must approach our line of scrimmage and line up properly, putting Christ first in our life! 


Saturday, September 12, 2015

Small But Mighty - Seven Letters To Seven Churches


8.16.15
"To The Church Of Sardis - Revelation 3:1-6"

Identity of Jesus

(v.1) He who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

In Isaiah 11:2 we read where there are six characteristics to the spirit of God: wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and fear or awe for the LORD. We learn the seventh trait of the Spirit of God in Acts 9:31 - comfort. Jesus is revealing to this church that is so self sufficient that it is He which gives these things that are so important to life. Who among us would not want more wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and comfort? Jesus is offering himself and these traits to the church of Sardis and to us today.

Commendation

None. One of two churches that nothing good is said for them.

Complaint

(v.2) I know your deed - you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Jesus had a similar complaint of the Jewish leaders while he was teaching in the temple one day he commented  that they were "like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside were full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean." (Matthew 23:27) It is easy in today's culture to look at churches with growing numbers, big campuses and believe they are alive. Many are! But we must be careful to think of activity as life. Many people and many churches are all about good works, but fail to be doing Godly ones. Spiritual maturity is the goal. Jesus warns in John 15 that God the Father will prune his vineyard of dead branches. We must be connected to our sustainer Jesus if we are to be found alive!

You may know (or may be) a person who is active. Always on the go. I knew a man like that once. I asked him to mentor me because I believed he was doing great things in his life and in the church. After awhile, I realized he was constantly busy, starting new things, but never seeing them to fruition. In the end, I concluded that he had the appearance of fruit, but in the end was just showing the blooms with no harvest. Kinda like the fig tree Jesus cursed in Mark 11.

Consequences and Comments

(v.3) Remember what you have received and heard - obey it and repent! Wake up!

The people of Sardis had received the message and teachings of Jesus. Jesus told his followers in John 6:63 that "the Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you - they are full of Spirit and life." The church of Sardis and we today have the words of Christ which gives life! This treasure is sufficient for us to obey and know what is good and beneficial.

Jesus also Admonishes the people of Sardis to "wake up!" We need to be alert, not ignoring the details of our walk. Too many people are asleep spiritually. They are walking through life with their eyes shut to spiritual matters. I believe Jesus is asking us to "Rise and shine" and see the world around us through his eyes.

Promise

(vs.4-5) Some have not soiled their clothes, he who walks like them will be dressed in white and Jesus will not blot their name from the Book of Life, but acknowledge their name before all of heaven.

Throughout the Old and New Testament the image of white clothes represents the righteousness of that person. Jesus is telling telling the church that if we walk with Jesus - not soiling our clothes - we will be seen as white with righteousness. If we are faithful and overcome we will be sure to have our name recorded forever in the Book of Life. IT is important to note that Revelation 20:15 tells us that if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire along with Death, Satan, and Hell. There in the Lake they will be eternally punished. Jesus is offering to those who do not corrupt themselves and remain righteous to have their names in the Book.

Takeaway

God has given us the Spirit which brings all that is needed for life. We can face the trials and tribulations of this world and remain white with righteousness through the blood of the Lamb and our testimony (Revelation 12:11). The blood of the Lamb allows us to be forgiven, which is the greatest testimony! In fact, it is the ONLY testimony we have.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Small But Mighty - Seven Letters To Seven Churches


8.9.15
"Letter to Thyatira - Revelation 2:18-19"

Identity of Jesus:

(v.18) Eyes like blazing fire, feet like burnished bronze.

Jesus is seen in Revelation Chapter 1 in his appearance to John as having eyes that are ablaze. In Matthew 6:22 we read that the eyes are the lamp to the body, if they are good, then the body or soul will be too. This verse gives rise to the expression that the eyes are the window to the soul. When we read that Jesus has eyes that are like blazing fire, we are seeing into his soul - what he is truly like. That fire can be a symbol of God's presence (Exodus 3 & 13; Acts 2; Revelation 22). The flame of eternal light can be a comfort. It can also be a refining fire (Malachi 3:3; 1 Corinthians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:7). A third view of this blazing flame is a form of judgement (Genesis 19; Numbers 11; 2 Kings 1).

His feet are representative of a strong foundation (Psalm 40:2; 119:105; Ephesians 6:15). Where are feet are planted determines in a great way what we stand for.  And those feet are like white hot bronze. In Numbers 21 we see where God uses bronze to symbolize sin and redemption from sin. In John 3:15 Jesus uses this image and compares himself to serpent raised up so that men may be saved. It is interesting that he uses bronze. Unlike gold or silver, this metal is a mix of other metals forged to make a new one. In the same way, the mixture of Christ's perfection and our imperfection form a new existence incapable for us independent of Jesus!

Commendation: 

(v.19) Jesus knows their deeds: love, faith, service, perseverance, and growing maturity.

Thyatira was known for having numerous skill trades. They were people of action. Jesus recognizes that they have used the natural skills and abilities to promote love and community with each other and with God. Lydia in Acts 16 is an example of a Thyatiran convert who took action and helped Paul. Her story demonstrates that many were men and women of financial means and fortitude to take action when it was called for.

Complaint:

(v.20) The church tolerates the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess.

This woman, whether she is actually name Jezebel or simply exhibited the spirit of Jezebel, was apparently leading the believers in sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. This is the second time Jesus has specifically mentioned the problem of sexual immorality and consumption of food offered to idols. If Jesus things a topic is important to mention twice, perhaps we should take a look into that practice.

In the letter to Pergamum, we read about those who followed the teaching of Balaam - participating in sexual misconduct and eating unclean food. In the first century Roman Empire, it was not uncommon to find pagan temples holding great feasts which would include all sorts of sacrificial food offerings as well as a buffet of sexual pleasures. These issues were the topic of the Council of Jerusalem recorded in Acts 15. There they decided to advise Christians to not eat of food offered to idols. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 8 & 10 argues that food is food - neither moral or immoral. He urges believers to not eat if doing so would corrupt or discourage your fellow believer. As for the pleasure buffet, there are numerous scripture which tells us that we were once slaves to the flesh, but we are now its master! We once were idolaters and fornicators, but with Jesus - we are no longer those things!

As for Jezebel; the Old Testament records that Israel had a king who did more evil than all the kings before him (1 Kings 16). He was wicked in part because he was "urged on by his wife Jezebel". She was a negative influence on the king and the kingdom. She promoted pagan idol worship, and actively pursued the prophets of God to kill and punish them. This woman in Thyatira apparently had the same effect on the believers gathered in the local church: corruption and leading to evil.

Consequences and Comments: 

(vs.21-25) Jezebel and her followers would be given a chance to repent. If they did not, then they would face great suffering.

Jesus tells us in John 3:17 that he did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. Even with this wicked woman and her followers, Jesus extends a gift of grace if they are willing to accept it. He tells them (and us) that he searches the hearts and minds of men and will repay each for their deeds. And Jesus warns not to listen to Jezebel's promises to teach us the so called deep secrets of Satan. What is Satan's deep secret? Well, it's not so deep or secret: it is the fact that he seeks to replace God on the throne. It is his singular ambition, started before the fall of man (Isaiah 14:13-15) and perpetuated to mankind by tempting Eve to "know what God knows" in Genesis 3. He tries to offer us something we think we cannot have if we follow God and obey him. It is in fact only a lie! He offers nothing.

Promise:

(v.26) To the one who overcomes and does the will of Christ - he will give authority over nations.

In Psalm 2:1-11 we read about God's promise to give his Anointed One all the nations of the earth as an inheritance. This promise to Christ is a promise to us as well, if we reside in Christ as a believer. BUT, we should not take comfort in this! We are destined to rule along with Christ, but that is not what is important. In addressing the issue of success to his disciples, Jesus explains in Luke 10:17-20 that we should not rejoice over all the amazing things they can do in the name of Jesus, but instead we should be rejoicing in the fact that their name is written in book of life in heaven.

Takeaway from this letter:

1. The eyes of Christ see all - they can be either a refining fire of salvation or the fire of judgement.

2. Beware of false teachers within the church which seek to pervert believers by introducing non-biblical worship.

3. Beware of teachers that offer "deep truths" about God that are not biblically based.

4. Be faithful to Jesus - he is all you need!

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Small but Mighty - Seven Letters To Seven Churches



"Letter to Pergamum" - Revelation 2:12-17
7.26.15

I have had the privilege to live in cities which contain colleges and universities. Their resources in the form of libraries and academic leaders can be very valuable to a community. With the introduction of the Internet and almost unlimited access to a fathomless depth of information, those centers of learning are still important but do not hold the market on knowledge as they once did. Now imagine a time when the only way to learn or gain knowledge was to go to the source itself. Imagine no copy machines, podcast, or even typed printed documents. Imagine then how valuable and revered those who had the knowledge would be held to a high place of honor within a culture which had the second largest library in the world and boasted some of the greatest minds of the day. Now imagine being a follower of a newly formed religious community called Christian and living in that culture. These first century believers were challenged in every way intellectually. This is the backdrop for the letter to the Church at Pergamum. These men and women knew that the birth, death, and resurrection of their savior, Jesus, was the greatest truth in the history of mankind, but they faced persecution for these beliefs. After all, the "smart" people of the day had their own truths about creation, life, death, and things beyond their explanation.

Identity of Jesus:

(v.12) He is the one who has the sharp, double edged sword.

This picture of Jesus with a sword is counter intuitive to the Jesus who told Peter to lay down the sword when being arrested. After all "if you live by the sword, you will die by the sword". So what is this image that Jesus is giving us? Hebrews 4:12 and Revelation 19;15 both describe the Word of God being wielded as a sword. It cuts through the issues in life and separates truth from falsehood like a metal sword separates bone and issue. Ephesians 6:17 calls the Word of God the "Sword of the Spirit". This truth we know as God's Word can help us to discern right from wrong even when the world tries to make darkness light and good as evil and evil as good. The people of Pergamum and we today need a Jesus who speaks truth.

Commendation:

(v.13) Jesus knows that they live where Satan has his throne, and that they remain faithful to Jesus even in the days of Antipas.

It is one thing to be told you are wrong for following Jesus, and it is another thing to be publicly humiliated, tortured, and killed for it. During the first century, Antipas was an outspoken Christian leader who challenged the status quo thinking of the city's educational establishment. His boldness resulted in his public trial and execution. He was placed in a bronze statue of a bull and roasted alive. The statue had trumpets built inside so that the moans and screams of the victim could be heard by the public as a warning. Fellow believers of Christ would have been witness to this torment, yet Jesus commends them for still being faithful to his name.

During the expansion of the Roman Empire in the 2nd Century B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes conquered Jerusalem and defiled the temple by slaughtering a pig on the alter and placing a statue of Zeus in the Holy of Holies.  This effort to place Satan on God's throne in the temple failed and the Israelites rebelled. Shortly after this, a new temple was built for Zeus, in Pergamum. This Alter or Temple of Zeus held a place of high prominence in the city. It was the jewel of the city and thousands came to worship there. This throne of Satan was lost to history until it was recovered by a German archaeologist in the late 19th Century. The temple's pieces were recovered and shipped to Germany, where they eventually were reassembled and a museum erected around it to allow viewers to visit this throne again. One trade mark of Satan is to try and stop God's Chosen People: the Jews. The same year this new museum was dedicated to this old throne of Satan, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party won major victories in the German elections; placing them in a position to very quickly take complete control of this free country and eventually implement one the greatest slaughters of Jews the world has ever known.  

Complaint:
(vs.14,15) The church was allowing people to follow the teaching of Balaam and the teachings of the Nicolaitans.

Balaam's story is an interesting one. While the nation of Israel is marching its way to the Promise Land, the kings of the land want to defeat them by use of a curse from Balaam. Balaam was not a Jew, but he was a prophet for the Lord God of Israel. He would speak on behalf of God. He would not curse the Jews, because God told him not to, but he did talk the kings into a plan to distract the Jews from their purpose by tempting the Jewish men with the women of the land and by offering them food to eat. Now the Jewish men were known to have a wondering eye. And as was evidenced by their complaint to Moses for meat and better food, they loved to have a good meal. So Balaam teaches the pagan kings to offer food and women, which works and distracts the nation of Israel for a while (see Numbers 24 and 31).

Apparently within the church of Pergamum, there were those who were teaching it was okay to blend the practices and culture of various religions and lifestyles of the Pergamum Roman/Greek culture and the Christian faith. This blending of "truths" was a way to muddy the waters within the Christian community as to which practices were acceptable and which were not. Today, the church faces a similar conflict: "truths" of a heathen culture are infiltrating the church and causing conflict within the body of Christ as to which "truth" to follow - the world's or the Bible.

Jesus mentions the Nicolaitans a second time. He mentioned them first in the letter to Ephesus. In both situations, it is clear that Jesus does not like these guys. What did they do that made Jesus so upset? History does not have a complete picture of this cult. What is known is that the central belief was the idea that there were a few who would be better than the masses and therefore had a right to impose their will on the people of the community. This could have been in the form of intellectual or financial superiority. Either way, Jesus holds it against the church who allows such a system to exist. He is the head and we are the body. No part is more or less than another (see 1 Corinthians 12).

Correction and Consequence: 
(v.16) Repent! Or Jesus will come and fight them with the sword of his mouth!

Repent. Turn 180 degrees around and start a new direction. That simple. In other words: STOP! Don't do that stuff any more! Jesus is not asking for us to climb a mountain, cross an ocean, do 1,000,000 push-ups, or any other act of penance. He tells us to simply stop the wrong we are doing and start doing right. Or else...he will come and challenge us with the sword of his mouth - the Word of God. Who can stand up to God's Word? What excuse or defense do we have against absolute righteous truth? Nothing in our fleshly efforts can withstand it.

Promise: 

(v.17) To the one who overcomes - hidden manna.

In Exodus 16 we read how God gave manna from heaven to the people of Israel while they traveled to the Promise Land. He ordered that Aaron, the high priest, place some of it in a jar and into the Ark of the Covenant inside the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. This was "hidden manna" which was accessible only by the High Priest. The Israelites were not satisfied with the manna and wanted to go back to the food of Egypt. They wanted to give up on the provision of God who had freed them and return to slavery where they could at least eat fish. It seems impossible, but the bible records that the "rabble" of Israel complained in Numbers 11 and begged to go back so they could eat something besides manna. They sought satisfaction outside the provision of God!

In John chapter 6, Jesus explains to his disciples that he was the true bread of life. He was the perfect manna from heaven. The Jews ate manna in the desert and died, but those who eat of him will never die. Both Jesus and the manna in the desert were free gifts from God. Man had no part in their creation but only has to accept it in order to live!

(v.17) To the one who overcomes - a white stone.

There are a number of commentaries and ideas as to what this white stone may represent. The culture of the day in 1st Century Rome would issue a white stone to people who had been charged and acquitted so that if they were ever confronted with that crime again, they could produce the stone and demonstrate their innocence. That could fit, but I believe that the Bible is capable of giving testimony to itself and provide the answer. After all, this is the author of the Word of God speaking and he is presenting himself as the conveyor of truth (sword in the mouth), so I seek to give explanation with scripture rather than culture.

The priests of the Israel were given very specific instructions on how to dress and conduct themselves for their priestly duties. On their garments, they were to place twelve stones, with the names of the twelve tribes. In addition, the high priest was to place the Urim and Thummim stone near his heart. This stone, some believe to be a white diamond, was known to give answers to the high priest in matters which required divine discernment. In other words, it helped to know what was right or wrong to do in a situation.

The hidden manna and white stone of discernment were both items available only to the high priest. 1st Peter chapter 2 tells us that we are all priests who are believers in Christ. I believe that Jesus is telling the church at Pergamum and us to be faithful and overcome all temptations to corrupt the truth of Jesus and we will be privileged to experience what only the priests of the Old Testament could: communion with God.

(v.17) To the one who overcomes - a new name known only to the one who receives it.

When God encounters men and women individually and collectively, there is sometimes a change in their name. God wrestled with Jacob and renamed him Israel. Abram and Sarai became Abraham and Sara with the infusion of the promise for a seed yet to come. Simon became Peter and Saul became Paul. In addition to individual people, God tells his nation in Isaiah 62:2 that he would set them apart and will give them a new name. Jesus himself will receive a new name known only to him when he returns as a conquering king (Revelation 19:12). What will this new name be, and what will be its significance? We will have to wait to see. But I believe we can get an idea bu looking once again to the High Priest's instructions in the Old Testament: in Deuteronomy 28 the high priest is ordered to wear a gold plaque across their forehead which read "Holy Unto The Lord". God tells us in Revelation 22:4 that his people will be called by his name and have that name written on their foreheads. This new name, like the new names given to the individuals in the bible and to the nation of Israel, will be a name which lets us and the world know we belong to our heavenly father!

Takeaway from letter:

We can overcome the temptation to corrupt or mix the world's "truth" and the Bible's truth by remaining discerning of the one truth (God) and the falsehood (world's). We must stay faithful to His Word no matter what!

 

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Small But Mighty - Seven Letters To Seven Churches


"Letter To Smyrna"
7.19.15


The Iliad and The Odyssey, two tales of men, their struggles,and the gods they worshiped. Tales of heroes and the gods who supported them. These two classic tales were written by Homer, famed son of Smyrna. You can imagine the devotees of these man made gods and their fervor to preserve them. So much, that when the Romans conquered Greece, they merged their mythologies. But not the Christians. There is only one God and one God-man who walked this earth. The friction between these groups and their beliefs set the stage for the letter Jesus sends to the Church of Smyrna.

In addition to these ancient gods, the people of Smyrna worshiped a new one: Caesar. Not enough to be king, he was exalted to the heights of god-ship. Worship. Revered. Here too, the people of Smyrna and the Church of Smyrna differed. Here the point of conflict and persecution was set ablaze by the friction of two competing ideologies. In this boiling pot of strife, Jesus has these words for the church in Smyrna and to us today.

Identity of Jesus:
(v.8) I am the First and The Last, the one who died and lives again.

Jesus is staking his claim as the one true God. In a city where there were many gods, he confirms for the people of the church that he is THE GOD. He was here before time and will be here beyond the end of time. Jesus declares his godhood with an echo of YHWH Jehovah in Isaiah 44:6 where the LORD God Almighty declares himself to be the first and last, and apart from his there is no other God. Jesus confirmed this in John 8:58 during his discussion with the religious leaders of his time on earth when he declared that before Abraham was, he existed!

Jesus is the one who died and lives again. There are many men who have led groups to believe new things about gods and the universe. Cults and followings that result in the same conclusion: a leader who dies. Name a world religion centered on a man or woman who walked this earth, and we can visit their grave and witness their body still there. Not so for Jesus! Strip away the myriad of arguments and logic games people will play to dismiss Christianity, and stand on this one truth: Our God loved us so much that he sent his Son to come to earth, pay our penalty for sin, and then had the power to resurrect himself on the third day! This Son was witnessed by numerous people over a 40 day period before he returned to heaven.

I believe that Jesus is telling us he is the eternal God who was, is, and will be who lived a life like ours, died a physical death, but now lives again! We should have no fear of the past, the present or the future! And we should have no fear of death!

Commendation: 
(vs.9) Jesus knows their affliction and poverty. He knows that they are slandered by false teachers who belong to the Synagogue of Satan.

Smyrna sits fifty miles north of Ephesus, and is a port city relying on the trade business for wealth. But for a list of reasons, they were not as wealthy or successful as their sister city Ephesus. Within the economy of the city, being a Christian did not help. Prejudice and hatred held Christians out of sharing the financial resources that their pagan peers enjoyed. But they were rich: they had Jesus! Christ is telling them and us, as he did numerous times while he walked the earth, that the true riches are not found in things, but in him. Even as Christians we sometimes talk about being in heaven and discuss our mansions and streets of gold and other "items" that we will have. The greatest treasure in heaven is not an item, but the person of Jesus Christ!

Complaint & Correction:

There are none. One of only two churches to have nothing bad said of them. What a wonderful things to be said about us if possible! To be so faithful to Jesus and true to him that there is no need for correction. Sadly, I cannot make that statement about myself or the church collective of today.

Promise:
(vs. 10b, 11) If we are faithful even to the point of death, we will receive the crown of life. and if we are victorious then we will not be harmed by the second death.

 The Bible is a wonderful book that gives testimony to itself. In James 1:12 we read "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised those who love him." Trials. Tests. Persecution. When we remain faithful through them, we will receive that crown of life. This crown is not given easily. When it is bestowed, it is for eternity. With it, we are free from fear from the second death. The death described in Revelation 20:14 & 21:8 - eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire. The lake which will hold Satan, death, and hell itself. All will be equal in their punishment there. BUT! We who are in Christ and faithful to him, will never see that second death!

There are a number of examples where faithful Christians have been true to Christ up to and including death. I point to one such example: Ignatius of Smyrna in A.D. 108. He traveled to Smyrna for the experience of persecution which was going on there under the rule of Trajan. Once there, he wrote to his fellow believers in Rome these thoughts:

"Now I begin to be a disciple. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ!"  

He was captured, and sentenced to death for the amusement of the citizens. When facing his death, he uttered this proclamation:


"I am the wheat of Christ: I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread."

I pray that I never have to face such persecution, but if I should, may I have such faith to face it!

Three things to take away for this letter:

1. Hang in there! Jesus is bigger than the events of men! He was at the beginning, will be at the end, and he is here with us today!
2. Things will get tough, but there is a great reward! We too often think of only today. Keep pressing on towards the goal, and we will be rewarded with the greatest riches we can imagine: the very presence of Christ!
3. In the economy of God, suffering can be a blessing, not a curse. Too often in biblical times (and even today) it is perceived of people who suffer that they are receiving their "just reward" for some evil they have committed. While ti can be true, that people suffer as a result of their sin and its consequences, it is also true that God uses difficult times to refine us and perfect us.
 

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Small But Mighty - Seven Letters To Seven Churches



"Letter To Ephesus"
7.12.15

A simple white line on one side of the screen, and a second white line on the other side of the screen with a "ball" of small pixels bouncing back and forth. This was the beginning of a very profitable video game industry. This simple "PONG" game launched the video game revolution. Many companies rushed into the exciting enterprise, but none greater than Atari. In its hey day, Atari could do no wrong. Everything seemed to turn to gold for them. And in 1982 the gaming company had its next big hit: a game based on the mega movie E.T. With little time, and rushed production, Atari introduced the world to a truly boring game experience. It was so bad, that many of the games were bought back by the company and buried in secret burial spots in the desert. The failure was enough to set the gaming industry on its ears and nearly out for good. It would take a few years and a new leader in the gaming system universe, Nintendo NES, to set the gaming industry right again. Atari would never be the same, and the once powerful force was permanently humbled.

Ephesus was in a similar situation during the first century. As part of a port system of goods traveling throughout the middle east and Mediterranean, it had accumulated a great wealth. They built bigger docks, and bigger boats came in. With bigger boats, came bigger profits. Then the sea turned on them. Silt began collecting in heir harbors and making it difficult to dock the boats. As the water began moving back from the city, the boats found new ports and the wealth followed. The once mighty city was humbled.

They found some relief in the sale of silversmith goods related to tourism to the local Temple of Artemis. This industry was growing until a new religion called the Way (Christianity) came to town. It became such a conflict, that we read in Acts 19 where the silversmiths and other temple related business owners gathered together to protest Paul and his followers. They sought them out in an effort to find them and hurt them for the reduction of profit in their trades. Thankfully cooler heads prevailed, but it demonstrates the level of tension in the city and the level of persecution the believers in this faith community faced.

In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 we find seven short letters authored by Jesus to seven churches in first century Asia. These small but mighty letters sit wedged between the awe striking picture of a resurrected Christ appearing to John and the depiction of the final weeks of man on earth. In each letter Jesus gives the churches and us a picture of his purpose, his observations, and promises to each of us as we are open to hear what he has to say. Jesus begins with the church of Ephesus.

Identity of Jesus:
(v.1) He holds the seven stars and walks among seven lamps.

In Daniel 12:3 we read that those who lead others to righteousness (our calling as Christians in Matthew 28) are like stars who shine forever. In Exodus 25 we read a description of a seven bowled lamp that was made to give light in the Holy Temple of God. This lamp would be a reminder of the light of God to the world. This light would be embodied by Jesus himself (John 1) and we who are now united with Jesus as believers will serve as the light in darkness (Ephesians 5:8).

We see here that Jesus holds us in his hands (see John 10:28) and the local congregations of believers serve as a lamp in the cities of this world giving light in darkness. Jesus walks among us. He knows us. He protects us. He is with us.

Commendation:
(vs.2-3) The Ephesians are hard working with perseverance; they cannot tolerate wicked people; have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not; and have endured hardships. They know what is right and they do not tolerate teachers who bring another gospel to them.

Complaint:
(v.4) They have lost their first love.

While these church members have all the spiritual zeal you could hope for, they do it out of a position of personal correctness, not out of love. Jesus holds it against them that they have stopped loving him as the motivation for their passion, but have fell in love with the teachings rather than the teacher.

Correction and Consequence:
(v.5) Repent and do what they did at first or God will remove their lamp.

Jesus gives a simple remedy to their problem: repent. Return to their first actions - loving and caring for the Jesus and the lost of their city. He reminds them to take inventory of how far they have fallen! A love that has grown cold can be rekindled, but it take effort.

The church did not repent, and their lamp was eventually removed. Today the shore is nearly 20 miles away from the "port city" of Ephesus. Not only did the financial blessing move, but the spiritual one as well. Today Ephesus is a tourist town for those wishing to visit the past. No church is found there - the map is gone.

Promise:
(v.7) Whoever has ears, let them hear: He who is victorious will have the right to eat from the tree of life which is in paradise with God.

A few things to note here: first, check on the sides of your head. Go ahead, check. Found some ears? Good, then that means this message is for you! Second, if you are like me, the idea of being victorious is often an unattainable goal. I know my own heart and my actions too often do not reflect a victorious Christ filled life. I can find myself seemingly in defeat more than I care to admit.

But, and this is BIG, we do not have to provide the victory! In 1 Corinthians 15:57 we read that victory come through Jesus! He has already won! We are asked to live out that victory and stop living as a defeated sinner. We do not have to win the battle, but we are asked to act like it is already won! If we stay faithful to that truth, then we will be able to eat of the Tree of Life which we find out later is found in the new Jerusalem along with the throne of God.

From this little letter we can see three clear truths for us:

1. God recognizes and values diligence in teaching and faithfulness to his commands.
2. He values our love and fervor for him as being greater than just "being right".
3. If we remain faithful to his victory, then we will enjoy eternal life in the presence of God.