Psalm 145:4-7: "One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
In this passage, King David cites the calling of parents and other mature believers to tell new generations of the greatness of God in His glorious splendor as well as His goodness to His creation. David proceeds this word of instruction by describing his worship encounter with God. He says, "I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever . . . . Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom." One does not see a man who has to be coerced to worship the LORD; David is overflowing with passion and praise for the Lord of Hosts!
After the instruction given to the older generations to proclaim God's greatness, David praises God for His goodness: "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made."
Later in the chapter, David continues with a reflection of God's greatness and goodness: "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all He has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing."
This is a great chapter for parents and other mature believers to fulfill their calling to new generations of proclaiming the greatness and the goodness of our Holy God. This should not be a drudgery, but a delight. Older generations should be so overwhelmed by the majesty and goodness of the Lord, that they cannot help but shout praises to God. Our children should be able to see that our lives are bursting with joy and celebration for Our Lord. If we're unchanged by the presence of Christ in our lives, our children will see the duplicity of lifeless spirituality and will be turned away from such irreverence.
Be transformed. Be overcome. Be joyous. Be awestruck. Let the next generation see the power of a life radically impacted by our Glorious and Good God!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Learn Something From the Small Creatures
Proverbs 30:24-28: "Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces."
(I am most indebted to Dr. Haddon Robinson, Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, for his 1999 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary- Charlotte commencement address on this passage. Many of my reflective comments below have been influenced by his thoughtful insights on this text).
People today think that to learn invaluable words of wisdom, they must look toward those people and things that are greater than themselves; however when Agur, the author of Proverbs 30, gives us direction for gaining wisdom, he encourages us to look to the smaller creatures.
First, he identifies the ant. The ant is one of the smallest of the earthly creatures; in fact, it is so small that we may find ourselves stepping on one without even knowing it. And although the ant is very small in physical stature, it nonetheless knows the importance of preparedness. The ant knows that winter is just ahead; so it takes necessary steps to store up its food in the summer. The ant knows that if it were to wait until winter, it would not have enough food to sustain itself or its colony through the harsh, cold months.
We would do well to know the discipline and the diligence of the ant. We know that we all will face winters in our lives. They're packaged differently, but they still come our way. Whether our "winter" is a bad medical diagnosis or a financial catastrophe or the betrayal of a loved one, we know that we must ready ourselves now in the "summer" of life so that we are prepared for the winters ahead. Our preparedness comes through intimacy with God through His Word and through prayer. The more we are connected to Our Lord, the God of all Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), the more we are able to endure the bitter days of the future. Dr. Haddon Robinson, Professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, has once said, "What you carry into a crisis is what you have in a crisis." When we are experiencing a crisis, our eyes often are too wet with tears and our minds too distracted by the burdens of the situation for us to be able to glean much wisdom. This is why we need to be prepared today with God's Wisdom for the future.
The coney is a small, furry creature comparable to a rabbit. It is a rather powerless creature in terms of defending itself from predators; however, it is wise enough to know that its protection can be found by burrowing itself in the crags of large rocks. Were a coney to think that it is strong enough to protect itself from predators without any need of the safety of the crags, it would end up dead meat. The coney is otherwise defenseless without its safe haven of the rocks.
So too can we learn an invaluable lesson from this example. Our protection ultimately comes from our Rock, namely Jesus Christ (Psalm 18:2). When the Evil One would attempt to destroy us, we know that Christ is our Protector, our Deliverer, our Safety. We would never be able to defend ourselves were it not for our Savior. We would do well to remember that He is our ultimate Source of safety and protection. From Him only can come the blessing of peace and safety.
The locust is a rather small creature . . . a grasshopper that seems not to be a threat to anyone or any thing. Most of us have held grasshoppers in our hands and have been amused at their harmless demeanor. But one thing that a locust knows instinctively is that it can join with other locusts to increase its effectiveness. One locust will not harm much, but a swarm of locusts can bring kingdoms to their knees. When part of a collective purpose, the swarm can have a significant impact upon its environment.
Christians would do well to learn the patterns of the locusts. When Christians are unified in purpose of glorifying God and furthering His kingdom, they are able to accomplish much more than working separately. The Evil One would have us pitted against each other, for he knows that the sterility of the Church is in its disunity. When we are separated from each other by disagreements, our energy is consumed struggling against each other. Factions are created, and any potential, constructive kingdom work is wasted. We need to be like the locusts and join together to maximize our effectiveness for Our Lord (Ephesians 4:3).
The lizard is a rather small reptilian creature that is small enough to be held in the hand; yet despite its size, it is persistent enough that it can be found in king's palaces. I wonder if Agur had seen an occasional lizard make its way into the presence of a king? Maybe Agur was given permission to be before the king; and as he looked around at the magnificent regalia that adorned the king's chamber, maybe he noticed a lizard on a wall or floor. For a human to be given permission to approach a king was a high honor, and this privilege was not granted to everyone. Agur may have seen the lowly lizard in the king's presence and thought to himself, "what determination this creature has to be in such an esteemed place."
We would do well to remember that diligence and persistence will take us to places that we never would have imagined that we could go. Sometimes, God wants us to step out in faith and follow His lead, so that He can use us beyond our ability to fathom. We may think that we are limited in our potential for the Lord. We may think that God cannot use such a "lowly" insignificant person like us. But we must counter those thoughts with thoughts of obedience to Christ, no matter to what level that path may stretch us. The more diligent and persistent we are like the lizard, the more we may find ourselves, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in places that we would never have imagined, for the glory of God.
As Dr. Robinson so eloquently said in his commencement speech to us over 8 years ago, "the next time you see an ant, a coney, a locust, or a lizard, remember that despite their smallness they have a lot to teach us . . . and we have a lot to learn."
(I am most indebted to Dr. Haddon Robinson, Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, for his 1999 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary- Charlotte commencement address on this passage. Many of my reflective comments below have been influenced by his thoughtful insights on this text).
People today think that to learn invaluable words of wisdom, they must look toward those people and things that are greater than themselves; however when Agur, the author of Proverbs 30, gives us direction for gaining wisdom, he encourages us to look to the smaller creatures.
First, he identifies the ant. The ant is one of the smallest of the earthly creatures; in fact, it is so small that we may find ourselves stepping on one without even knowing it. And although the ant is very small in physical stature, it nonetheless knows the importance of preparedness. The ant knows that winter is just ahead; so it takes necessary steps to store up its food in the summer. The ant knows that if it were to wait until winter, it would not have enough food to sustain itself or its colony through the harsh, cold months.
We would do well to know the discipline and the diligence of the ant. We know that we all will face winters in our lives. They're packaged differently, but they still come our way. Whether our "winter" is a bad medical diagnosis or a financial catastrophe or the betrayal of a loved one, we know that we must ready ourselves now in the "summer" of life so that we are prepared for the winters ahead. Our preparedness comes through intimacy with God through His Word and through prayer. The more we are connected to Our Lord, the God of all Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), the more we are able to endure the bitter days of the future. Dr. Haddon Robinson, Professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, has once said, "What you carry into a crisis is what you have in a crisis." When we are experiencing a crisis, our eyes often are too wet with tears and our minds too distracted by the burdens of the situation for us to be able to glean much wisdom. This is why we need to be prepared today with God's Wisdom for the future.
The coney is a small, furry creature comparable to a rabbit. It is a rather powerless creature in terms of defending itself from predators; however, it is wise enough to know that its protection can be found by burrowing itself in the crags of large rocks. Were a coney to think that it is strong enough to protect itself from predators without any need of the safety of the crags, it would end up dead meat. The coney is otherwise defenseless without its safe haven of the rocks.
So too can we learn an invaluable lesson from this example. Our protection ultimately comes from our Rock, namely Jesus Christ (Psalm 18:2). When the Evil One would attempt to destroy us, we know that Christ is our Protector, our Deliverer, our Safety. We would never be able to defend ourselves were it not for our Savior. We would do well to remember that He is our ultimate Source of safety and protection. From Him only can come the blessing of peace and safety.
The locust is a rather small creature . . . a grasshopper that seems not to be a threat to anyone or any thing. Most of us have held grasshoppers in our hands and have been amused at their harmless demeanor. But one thing that a locust knows instinctively is that it can join with other locusts to increase its effectiveness. One locust will not harm much, but a swarm of locusts can bring kingdoms to their knees. When part of a collective purpose, the swarm can have a significant impact upon its environment.
Christians would do well to learn the patterns of the locusts. When Christians are unified in purpose of glorifying God and furthering His kingdom, they are able to accomplish much more than working separately. The Evil One would have us pitted against each other, for he knows that the sterility of the Church is in its disunity. When we are separated from each other by disagreements, our energy is consumed struggling against each other. Factions are created, and any potential, constructive kingdom work is wasted. We need to be like the locusts and join together to maximize our effectiveness for Our Lord (Ephesians 4:3).
The lizard is a rather small reptilian creature that is small enough to be held in the hand; yet despite its size, it is persistent enough that it can be found in king's palaces. I wonder if Agur had seen an occasional lizard make its way into the presence of a king? Maybe Agur was given permission to be before the king; and as he looked around at the magnificent regalia that adorned the king's chamber, maybe he noticed a lizard on a wall or floor. For a human to be given permission to approach a king was a high honor, and this privilege was not granted to everyone. Agur may have seen the lowly lizard in the king's presence and thought to himself, "what determination this creature has to be in such an esteemed place."
We would do well to remember that diligence and persistence will take us to places that we never would have imagined that we could go. Sometimes, God wants us to step out in faith and follow His lead, so that He can use us beyond our ability to fathom. We may think that we are limited in our potential for the Lord. We may think that God cannot use such a "lowly" insignificant person like us. But we must counter those thoughts with thoughts of obedience to Christ, no matter to what level that path may stretch us. The more diligent and persistent we are like the lizard, the more we may find ourselves, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in places that we would never have imagined, for the glory of God.
As Dr. Robinson so eloquently said in his commencement speech to us over 8 years ago, "the next time you see an ant, a coney, a locust, or a lizard, remember that despite their smallness they have a lot to teach us . . . and we have a lot to learn."
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Be Open To Correction
Psalm 141:5; Proverbs 29:1: “Let a righteous man strike me-it is a kindness; let him rebuke me-it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it . . . . A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed-without remedy.”
We all struggle with the notion of self-sufficiency. Many times we think that we have all the answers to our daily lives, and we think that we are not in need of advice (and certainly not correction) from others. And although we easily can fall prey to the notion that we don’t need a word of rebuke or admonishment, we absolutely need to have mature believers in Christ confronting us about sin in our lives with the hope of correction and restoration (Galatians 6:1-2). No one is above the need of a loving rebuke from a fellow believer, for we are all tempted to sin and sometimes fall to its enticements.
The church has been created by God for the purpose of being a place where believers can corporately worship the Lord and a place where mutual edification of believers can occur. We are able to minister to one another in the faith by carrying one another’s burdens and by giving objective insight to each other about situations in our lives. This is why we need to be connected to a body of true believers who uphold the truths of God’s Word and are committed to being obedient to Christ (Hebrews 10:23-25). Proverbs 27:17 suggests that we are to sharpen each other as “iron sharpens iron.” Sharpening of blades does not occur without tension and friction, but in the end each blade is more resourceful in its sharpened condition. So too it is with a true believer’s confrontation. Our Christian friends may see the need to approach us with the concern that we are moving in a direction that is disobedient to our Lord. We must remember that the words shared by a friend, though painful at the time, may be the instrument that the Holy Spirit uses to convict our hearts of sin. We in turn must be humble enough to receive such words of direction. Even if the words shared are of a concern that is not warranted, we have the responsibility to love our friends and express appreciation to them for their willingness to love us by confronting us.
It is the obstinate, “stiff-necked” person who will suffer in the end. In his prideful condition, he is insistent that he is beyond any need of correction by others. He takes serious offense to one who would approach him about an area that is perceived as being disobedient to Christ. He turns a deaf ear to any words of rebuke and makes it a point to scold anyone who would dare question his character. God’s Word states that this person is stupid (Proverbs 12:1); that is, he is not sensible to the valuable words of re-direction that can lead him down the road of righteousness. In his sinister rebellion against correction, he commits his greatest energies toward discrediting those who would dare confront him. Such animosity is evidence of a heart that may be completely void of a relationship with Christ; “Why?” You may ask? The answer, as Galatians 5 suggests, is "obvious." These acts of the sinful nature (hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and the like) are those that are the evidential fruit of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Persistent production of such fruit reveals a heart that is unresponsive to the Holy Spirit.
Remember, true friendship is found in one being straightforward and honest; merely exchanging pleasant platitudes with others reveals a heart that is more concerned with selfish returns from that person (i.e. the need for acceptance, affirmation, etc.) than with having the other person’s best interest at heart.
Proverbs 27:5,6,9 share keen insight to this thought: “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses . . . . Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.”
We all struggle with the notion of self-sufficiency. Many times we think that we have all the answers to our daily lives, and we think that we are not in need of advice (and certainly not correction) from others. And although we easily can fall prey to the notion that we don’t need a word of rebuke or admonishment, we absolutely need to have mature believers in Christ confronting us about sin in our lives with the hope of correction and restoration (Galatians 6:1-2). No one is above the need of a loving rebuke from a fellow believer, for we are all tempted to sin and sometimes fall to its enticements.
The church has been created by God for the purpose of being a place where believers can corporately worship the Lord and a place where mutual edification of believers can occur. We are able to minister to one another in the faith by carrying one another’s burdens and by giving objective insight to each other about situations in our lives. This is why we need to be connected to a body of true believers who uphold the truths of God’s Word and are committed to being obedient to Christ (Hebrews 10:23-25). Proverbs 27:17 suggests that we are to sharpen each other as “iron sharpens iron.” Sharpening of blades does not occur without tension and friction, but in the end each blade is more resourceful in its sharpened condition. So too it is with a true believer’s confrontation. Our Christian friends may see the need to approach us with the concern that we are moving in a direction that is disobedient to our Lord. We must remember that the words shared by a friend, though painful at the time, may be the instrument that the Holy Spirit uses to convict our hearts of sin. We in turn must be humble enough to receive such words of direction. Even if the words shared are of a concern that is not warranted, we have the responsibility to love our friends and express appreciation to them for their willingness to love us by confronting us.
It is the obstinate, “stiff-necked” person who will suffer in the end. In his prideful condition, he is insistent that he is beyond any need of correction by others. He takes serious offense to one who would approach him about an area that is perceived as being disobedient to Christ. He turns a deaf ear to any words of rebuke and makes it a point to scold anyone who would dare question his character. God’s Word states that this person is stupid (Proverbs 12:1); that is, he is not sensible to the valuable words of re-direction that can lead him down the road of righteousness. In his sinister rebellion against correction, he commits his greatest energies toward discrediting those who would dare confront him. Such animosity is evidence of a heart that may be completely void of a relationship with Christ; “Why?” You may ask? The answer, as Galatians 5 suggests, is "obvious." These acts of the sinful nature (hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and the like) are those that are the evidential fruit of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Persistent production of such fruit reveals a heart that is unresponsive to the Holy Spirit.
Remember, true friendship is found in one being straightforward and honest; merely exchanging pleasant platitudes with others reveals a heart that is more concerned with selfish returns from that person (i.e. the need for acceptance, affirmation, etc.) than with having the other person’s best interest at heart.
Proverbs 27:5,6,9 share keen insight to this thought: “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses . . . . Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.”
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Transparency
Proverbs 28:13: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy . . .
Psalm 139:1-3, 23-24: “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from a far. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. . . . Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my misgivings. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
When we try to hide our sins from God, inevitably we find ourselves suffering the consequences of our disobedience to the LORD. We can't fool God; nor can we hide our sins from Him. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows where we are, what we're doing, and what we're thinking (Psalm 139:4,7-10).
The Psalmist in chapter 139 states this fact well. In the first verses of the chapter he states, "You've searched me and You know me . . . You know where I go and You know my thoughts. You know ALL my ways." David knows that he is completely transparent before the Lord; nothing in David’s life is getting past God. So instead of trying to hide his sins, David asks the LORD to search Him and find any misgivings that may be in his heart. In his quest for intimacy with the LORD, David wants to be completely clean.
A person desiring true intimacy with God will be transparent, vulnerable, and subject to the Lord’s illumination of his sin. He will submit to that word of conviction from the Lord and repent.
Let’s not try to hide from God. Let’s be open to His leading us into “the Way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:1-3, 23-24: “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from a far. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. . . . Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my misgivings. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
When we try to hide our sins from God, inevitably we find ourselves suffering the consequences of our disobedience to the LORD. We can't fool God; nor can we hide our sins from Him. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows where we are, what we're doing, and what we're thinking (Psalm 139:4,7-10).
The Psalmist in chapter 139 states this fact well. In the first verses of the chapter he states, "You've searched me and You know me . . . You know where I go and You know my thoughts. You know ALL my ways." David knows that he is completely transparent before the Lord; nothing in David’s life is getting past God. So instead of trying to hide his sins, David asks the LORD to search Him and find any misgivings that may be in his heart. In his quest for intimacy with the LORD, David wants to be completely clean.
A person desiring true intimacy with God will be transparent, vulnerable, and subject to the Lord’s illumination of his sin. He will submit to that word of conviction from the Lord and repent.
Let’s not try to hide from God. Let’s be open to His leading us into “the Way everlasting.”
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Idolatry
Psalm 135:15-18: "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them."
Idolatry has been a persistent problem with humanity since the beginning of time. In history past, cultures would craft idols, many times out of ornate elements like gold or bronze; and they would worship the things that they had created. Many believed that their gods would inhabit such inanimate objects once they were crafted; thus, the people would pay homage to these supposed deities and petition these deities for their needs.
Idolatry has been a persistent problem with humanity since the beginning of time. In history past, cultures would craft idols, many times out of ornate elements like gold or bronze; and they would worship the things that they had created. Many believed that their gods would inhabit such inanimate objects once they were crafted; thus, the people would pay homage to these supposed deities and petition these deities for their needs.
Conveniently, these inanimate objects were never able to communicate their divine will to the people worshipping them; thus, people were given license to interpret what their lifeless gods wanted them to do. I use the term "conveniently" because the people ended up serving their own selfish interests in the process. There was no deity to express consternation at the people's licentious behavior; for this reason, they were able to indulge in all kinds of immoral behaviors without apparent consequence. In fact, they would proclaim that their god(s) encouraged such libertine behavior.
Whereas in the modern world we may look with skepticism at societies that would craft inanimate objects into things worshipped, we nonetheless are apt to follow similar pursuits. Anything that displaces the worship of the true God of Heaven is idolatry, be it money, careers, relationships, substances, education, etc. And just like these people who would rationalize their antinomian behavior, we too can fall prey to the entrapment that our behavior is justified or even expected because of the benefits that we experience.
The foundation of all sin in the world is the quest of humanity to be divine itself! This first occurred with Adam and Eve desiring to be gods (Genesis 3:5); they wanted to be the center of the universe and not have to pay homage to the True Lord. So too with idol worship, we find that those who respond to such practices are attempting to secure license to do whatever they desire to do and be the center of their own universe. Irrespective of how we practice our idolatry, we nonetheless reveal that we are attempting to serve ourselves in order that we might assert our feigned claim to divinity.
Since our first priority in life is to glorify God, we fail to accomplish our purpose in life when we follow such paths of rebellion. We must repent of the "idols" that are in our lives that are mere smoke screens to our own quest for lordship. Our purpose in life is not to satisfy our own desires; the universe does not revolve around us. We would do well to submit ourselves to the True Lord. It is only through submission to the King of Kings that we will find His blessing. We can start by searching for Him through His Word, the Bible. Our God is not a lifeless deity who cannot communicate with us. His Word tells us exactly what we should do to acknowledge Him as the Lord.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
What Makes God Hearing Impaired?
Ezekiel 8:16-18: "He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east. He said to me, "Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the house of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually provoke me to anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose! Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them."
This passage in the book of Ezekiel has the Spirit of God taking the prophet Ezekiel to the temple to see the detestable things that the religious leaders were doing. Whereas these leaders were to be honoring the LORD through the required sacrifices, they were instead turning their backs upon the presence of the LORD and were worshipping the sun. Of course, this was just one episode in a plurality of scenarios in which the entire Jewish people were adulterating themselves against their covenantal commitment to the LORD alone (Ezekiel 6:9). Each man had an idol in his house . . . an idol in which he worshipped instead of the true God (Ezekiel 8:9-12). And although the idols varied from home to home, in reality these rebellious people were worshipping inanimate objects that would not reprimand them for their immoral, detestable practices. These idols displaced the One True God in the people's lives because the feigned substitutes would not hold them accountable for their debased, immoral lifestyles.
The point had been reached when the people had become rather flagrant in their detestable immorality and idol worship, for what they once did behind closed doors was now being practiced on mountaintops (Ezekiel 6:13). They had become obstinate and rebellious people who demanded that they have right to do whatever their sinful hearts desired to do (Ezekiel 2:4); thus, they were asserting their own quest for lordship over the true God. The worshipping of inanimate idols was merely a subtle way of attempting to displace the obvious fact that they worshipped themselves.
God would soon bring judgment against the Israelites through the invasion by the Babylonians (605-586 BC). First, God removed His Glory from the temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 10). And as He exited the temple and ascended from the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:23), God removed His protective hand from His chosen people. Soon thereafter, the Babylonians would invade the land, taking some captive and destroying most of the others. Some believe that as many as 90% of the population in the land were displaced or killed as a result of the invasion. The people would cry out to God for deliverance; however, God would not hear them. The point of no return had been reached; God's patience had been replaced with His judgment.
Over 1000 years prior, God had told Moses that these events would occur. In Deuteronomy 31:16-18, God said that the people would "prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they were entering" (Deuteronomy 31:16). God told Moses when He brought judgment, He would turn a deaf ear to them due to their chronic wickedness.
Today, we would do well to hear these words of the Lord. Because the Lord is not fickle and does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17), we should examine ourselves as to our ultimate allegiance. Are we submitted to God alone or are we following after our own selfish desires? As Deuteronomy 33:3 tells us, those who bow to the Lord and are obedient to His instruction should expect to find His protection and love. They are the ones who will be set apart for His purposes and glory. Those who want to worship themselves can expect God's wrath to be poured out upon them in this life and in the life to come. They will cry out, but God will not listen
This passage in the book of Ezekiel has the Spirit of God taking the prophet Ezekiel to the temple to see the detestable things that the religious leaders were doing. Whereas these leaders were to be honoring the LORD through the required sacrifices, they were instead turning their backs upon the presence of the LORD and were worshipping the sun. Of course, this was just one episode in a plurality of scenarios in which the entire Jewish people were adulterating themselves against their covenantal commitment to the LORD alone (Ezekiel 6:9). Each man had an idol in his house . . . an idol in which he worshipped instead of the true God (Ezekiel 8:9-12). And although the idols varied from home to home, in reality these rebellious people were worshipping inanimate objects that would not reprimand them for their immoral, detestable practices. These idols displaced the One True God in the people's lives because the feigned substitutes would not hold them accountable for their debased, immoral lifestyles.
The point had been reached when the people had become rather flagrant in their detestable immorality and idol worship, for what they once did behind closed doors was now being practiced on mountaintops (Ezekiel 6:13). They had become obstinate and rebellious people who demanded that they have right to do whatever their sinful hearts desired to do (Ezekiel 2:4); thus, they were asserting their own quest for lordship over the true God. The worshipping of inanimate idols was merely a subtle way of attempting to displace the obvious fact that they worshipped themselves.
God would soon bring judgment against the Israelites through the invasion by the Babylonians (605-586 BC). First, God removed His Glory from the temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 10). And as He exited the temple and ascended from the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:23), God removed His protective hand from His chosen people. Soon thereafter, the Babylonians would invade the land, taking some captive and destroying most of the others. Some believe that as many as 90% of the population in the land were displaced or killed as a result of the invasion. The people would cry out to God for deliverance; however, God would not hear them. The point of no return had been reached; God's patience had been replaced with His judgment.
Over 1000 years prior, God had told Moses that these events would occur. In Deuteronomy 31:16-18, God said that the people would "prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they were entering" (Deuteronomy 31:16). God told Moses when He brought judgment, He would turn a deaf ear to them due to their chronic wickedness.
Today, we would do well to hear these words of the Lord. Because the Lord is not fickle and does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17), we should examine ourselves as to our ultimate allegiance. Are we submitted to God alone or are we following after our own selfish desires? As Deuteronomy 33:3 tells us, those who bow to the Lord and are obedient to His instruction should expect to find His protection and love. They are the ones who will be set apart for His purposes and glory. Those who want to worship themselves can expect God's wrath to be poured out upon them in this life and in the life to come. They will cry out, but God will not listen
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
No Excuses
Deuteronomy 29:19-21; 30:11-19: "When such a person hears the words of this oath (God's Covenant [29:12-13]), he invokes a blessing on himself and therefore thinks, 'I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way.' This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. The LORD will never be willing to forgive him; his wrath and zeal will burn against that man. All the curses written in this book will fall upon him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. The LORD will single him out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law . . . . Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, 'Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed . . . . This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses."
Here is the crux of salvation. God has given his covenantal oath that He will be our God (29:13). Still, the covenantal stipulations dictate that we must be yielded to God alone as our Lord and Savior. The one who would conclude that he can go his own way, to satisfy his own desires and seek his own adulation, is in effect saying that he is his own god. By his actions, this man proclaims that he has himself on the throne of his life, not the Lord. God in turn pronounces that a curse will befall that man. The Lord's wrath and zeal will burn against him, and God will enact curses upon such rebellion. Such a person has no hope for heaven, for God will "blot out his name from under heaven."
No one will have the excuse that God's Word was not readily available to all, for God has made His Word of truth readily available. That truth proclaims that we are not God; rather, we are the mere creation of a Holy, Sovereign Lord. We have all rebelled against God by seeking our own desires above Him, and this quest for personal satisfaction and aggrandizement above God (made manifest in many different forms) is called sin.
Sin (rebellion) against God brings God's wrath. Because we are not able to satisfy the penalty for our sins, God had to come to pay the penalty for us. This is why Jesus, who is the Second Person of the Triune God, came to the Earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose again from the grave. His death paid the penalty for our sins; his resurrection proclaimed His victory over sin and death. His precious gift of salvation necessitates a response from us; to refuse to submit to Jesus as Lord and to renounce His gift of his death and resurrection for the payment for our sins is to commit treason against God. Such treason will result in utter destruction (30:18).
Even for those who do not have access to the Bible, God has revealed his "eternal power and divine nature . . . from what has been made [i.e. creation], so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). All men have within them the conscious understanding of right and wrong; thus the understanding of God's expectation of righteousness is not "too difficult or beyond our reach" (Deuteronomy 30:11). Heaven and earth stand as witnesses against those who do not submit to the Lord. Eternal life and eternal death weigh in the balance. What will you decide today? You have no excuse!
Here is the crux of salvation. God has given his covenantal oath that He will be our God (29:13). Still, the covenantal stipulations dictate that we must be yielded to God alone as our Lord and Savior. The one who would conclude that he can go his own way, to satisfy his own desires and seek his own adulation, is in effect saying that he is his own god. By his actions, this man proclaims that he has himself on the throne of his life, not the Lord. God in turn pronounces that a curse will befall that man. The Lord's wrath and zeal will burn against him, and God will enact curses upon such rebellion. Such a person has no hope for heaven, for God will "blot out his name from under heaven."
No one will have the excuse that God's Word was not readily available to all, for God has made His Word of truth readily available. That truth proclaims that we are not God; rather, we are the mere creation of a Holy, Sovereign Lord. We have all rebelled against God by seeking our own desires above Him, and this quest for personal satisfaction and aggrandizement above God (made manifest in many different forms) is called sin.
Sin (rebellion) against God brings God's wrath. Because we are not able to satisfy the penalty for our sins, God had to come to pay the penalty for us. This is why Jesus, who is the Second Person of the Triune God, came to the Earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose again from the grave. His death paid the penalty for our sins; his resurrection proclaimed His victory over sin and death. His precious gift of salvation necessitates a response from us; to refuse to submit to Jesus as Lord and to renounce His gift of his death and resurrection for the payment for our sins is to commit treason against God. Such treason will result in utter destruction (30:18).
Even for those who do not have access to the Bible, God has revealed his "eternal power and divine nature . . . from what has been made [i.e. creation], so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). All men have within them the conscious understanding of right and wrong; thus the understanding of God's expectation of righteousness is not "too difficult or beyond our reach" (Deuteronomy 30:11). Heaven and earth stand as witnesses against those who do not submit to the Lord. Eternal life and eternal death weigh in the balance. What will you decide today? You have no excuse!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Watch Those "Opened Doors"
2 Corinthians 2:12-14: "Now I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."
In this passage, Paul was on one of his missionary journeys, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to those with whom he came in contact. When he came upon Troas (modern day Turkey), Paul believed that a door had been opened for him to share the gospel; however, his spirit did not find peace with the opportunity. Instead of acting upon the philosophy that all opened doors are God's way of beckoning us to proceed, Paul relied more upon his spirit, which was in tune with the Holy Spirit. As a result, Paul left the opened door of Troas for Macedonia.
Sometimes, opened doors are not the direction that God wants us to go. So how are we to know in which direction we should go? Well, the same Holy Spirit that is in tune with our spirits, letting us know that we are in fact God's children (Romans 8:16) also is the Spirit that will impart to us the guidance we need to do what He wills for us (John 16:13). The key for us is to be receptive to His leading by being intimately connected with Him through His Word and continual Prayer. This level of intimacy will help us avoid the pitfalls that certain opened doors might bring our way. Specifically, the Holy Spirit will impress upon our spirits that there is no peace associated with such a path, and we will be redirected toward the right course even though we are diverting our path away from the door.
Notice in verse 14 that Paul knew that God was still leading him on a path that ultimately brought glory to the Lord and furthered the sharing of the gospel message to the world. Paul's purpose in life was being fulfilled by avoiding certain doors that seemed to be opened.
We should evaluate each door that seems to open to see if God in fact wants us to enter. If our spirits, which should be in tune with the Holy Spirit, have no peace about the decision, then we should take a step back and re-examine if God would have us move in another direction. Opened doors do not necessarily mean that God's will for us is found therein.
In this passage, Paul was on one of his missionary journeys, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to those with whom he came in contact. When he came upon Troas (modern day Turkey), Paul believed that a door had been opened for him to share the gospel; however, his spirit did not find peace with the opportunity. Instead of acting upon the philosophy that all opened doors are God's way of beckoning us to proceed, Paul relied more upon his spirit, which was in tune with the Holy Spirit. As a result, Paul left the opened door of Troas for Macedonia.
Sometimes, opened doors are not the direction that God wants us to go. So how are we to know in which direction we should go? Well, the same Holy Spirit that is in tune with our spirits, letting us know that we are in fact God's children (Romans 8:16) also is the Spirit that will impart to us the guidance we need to do what He wills for us (John 16:13). The key for us is to be receptive to His leading by being intimately connected with Him through His Word and continual Prayer. This level of intimacy will help us avoid the pitfalls that certain opened doors might bring our way. Specifically, the Holy Spirit will impress upon our spirits that there is no peace associated with such a path, and we will be redirected toward the right course even though we are diverting our path away from the door.
Notice in verse 14 that Paul knew that God was still leading him on a path that ultimately brought glory to the Lord and furthered the sharing of the gospel message to the world. Paul's purpose in life was being fulfilled by avoiding certain doors that seemed to be opened.
We should evaluate each door that seems to open to see if God in fact wants us to enter. If our spirits, which should be in tune with the Holy Spirit, have no peace about the decision, then we should take a step back and re-examine if God would have us move in another direction. Opened doors do not necessarily mean that God's will for us is found therein.
Monday, October 15, 2007
A New Perspective On Angels
Matthew 13:41-42: "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
In our culture today, we have a rather narrow view concerning the role and purpose of angels. Many in society see angels as feminine, starry, fairylike figures that surreptitiously follow us around, tapping us on the shoulder now and then with a magical wand of blessing. Never do we hear the argument that angels are ministers of God's righteous wrath upon the recalcitrant, wicked world.
Whereas we do find in Scripture that angels did attend to the needs of Jesus (Matthew 4:11), Elijah (I Kings 19:5); and Peter (Acts 12:8-10) and whereas there is implicit and explicit reference to angels being personally involved in the lives of followers of Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:10; Luke 16:22; Hebrews 1:14), Jesus' words mentioned above should remind us that angelic beings are not fairylike agents of blessing. In the above passage, Jesus Himself identifies that His angels will be the ones that will carry those who have not submitted to His Lordship into the depths of hell. If we know that "every knee will bow before God" (Romans 14:11), including the reprobate at the Day of Judgment, then we can picture the horror of the unregenerate being carried away against his will by the angels into everlasting torment. Although he will hope for God's eternal blessedness in Heaven, he will be thrown by the angels into the "fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Obviously, this is not a very pleasant picture on which to reflect; nonetheless, it is the future reality of so many who have disavowed allegiance to Jesus Christ. For this reason, we must first be committed to examining ourselves as to our submission to Christ; then, we as believers must be intentional at sharing the Gospel message to those who otherwise have no hope. Today is the day of salvation; tomorrow may be too late. The angels are prepared to carry out the Lord's bidding.
In our culture today, we have a rather narrow view concerning the role and purpose of angels. Many in society see angels as feminine, starry, fairylike figures that surreptitiously follow us around, tapping us on the shoulder now and then with a magical wand of blessing. Never do we hear the argument that angels are ministers of God's righteous wrath upon the recalcitrant, wicked world.
Whereas we do find in Scripture that angels did attend to the needs of Jesus (Matthew 4:11), Elijah (I Kings 19:5); and Peter (Acts 12:8-10) and whereas there is implicit and explicit reference to angels being personally involved in the lives of followers of Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:10; Luke 16:22; Hebrews 1:14), Jesus' words mentioned above should remind us that angelic beings are not fairylike agents of blessing. In the above passage, Jesus Himself identifies that His angels will be the ones that will carry those who have not submitted to His Lordship into the depths of hell. If we know that "every knee will bow before God" (Romans 14:11), including the reprobate at the Day of Judgment, then we can picture the horror of the unregenerate being carried away against his will by the angels into everlasting torment. Although he will hope for God's eternal blessedness in Heaven, he will be thrown by the angels into the "fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Obviously, this is not a very pleasant picture on which to reflect; nonetheless, it is the future reality of so many who have disavowed allegiance to Jesus Christ. For this reason, we must first be committed to examining ourselves as to our submission to Christ; then, we as believers must be intentional at sharing the Gospel message to those who otherwise have no hope. Today is the day of salvation; tomorrow may be too late. The angels are prepared to carry out the Lord's bidding.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
The Now and the Not Yet
Deuteronomy 29:5-6: "During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the LORD your God."
In the Old Testament, we find wonderful imagery of our eternal progression toward Heaven, our Promised Land. The Israelites wandered for forty years through a barren wilderness. Although God provided for them as He led them through that wilderness, He did not give them the blessing of bread and wine (products of a fertile land that yields the blessing of abundant harvest). God withheld these luxuries so that the Israelites would not become complacent with their wilderness wandering, but they would look forward to their arrival in His blessed Promised Land.
So too we as Christians find ourselves on a similar trek. We find that God provides for us in this life in order that we might move forward toward our blessed eternal hope. Still, God does not shower upon us the abundant harvest of Heaven now; rather, He is grooming us for the day of our redemption. By withholding the eternal blessings, He assures that we will not become complacent with this life, but we will look forward to our arrival into His eternal presence, a place where "no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared" (I Corinthians 2:9).
In the Old Testament, we find wonderful imagery of our eternal progression toward Heaven, our Promised Land. The Israelites wandered for forty years through a barren wilderness. Although God provided for them as He led them through that wilderness, He did not give them the blessing of bread and wine (products of a fertile land that yields the blessing of abundant harvest). God withheld these luxuries so that the Israelites would not become complacent with their wilderness wandering, but they would look forward to their arrival in His blessed Promised Land.
So too we as Christians find ourselves on a similar trek. We find that God provides for us in this life in order that we might move forward toward our blessed eternal hope. Still, God does not shower upon us the abundant harvest of Heaven now; rather, He is grooming us for the day of our redemption. By withholding the eternal blessings, He assures that we will not become complacent with this life, but we will look forward to our arrival into His eternal presence, a place where "no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared" (I Corinthians 2:9).
Friday, October 12, 2007
Who's On the Throne?
Colossians 3:1-6: "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."
With submission to the Lordship of Christ, we have been reckoned with the blessedness of eternal salvation. And with our allegiance, we are now the property of God. Thus, we are called to set our hearts upon Christ, not upon earthly things that indulge the flesh, our former idol. Our flesh desires for its appetites to be satisfied, whether those appetites be sexual immorality or impurity or lust or evil desires or greed. Persistent allegiance to these things reveals a heart that has renounced the lordship of Christ and has bowed again to the lordship of self. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. Thus, we must be strengthened in our resolve to forsake any of the alluring attacks that would have us change allegiances back to ourselves. God alone is to be worshipped and praised.
With submission to the Lordship of Christ, we have been reckoned with the blessedness of eternal salvation. And with our allegiance, we are now the property of God. Thus, we are called to set our hearts upon Christ, not upon earthly things that indulge the flesh, our former idol. Our flesh desires for its appetites to be satisfied, whether those appetites be sexual immorality or impurity or lust or evil desires or greed. Persistent allegiance to these things reveals a heart that has renounced the lordship of Christ and has bowed again to the lordship of self. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. Thus, we must be strengthened in our resolve to forsake any of the alluring attacks that would have us change allegiances back to ourselves. God alone is to be worshipped and praised.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Losing Effectiveness in Ministry
Luke 9:
1 "He (Jesus) gave them (the disciples) power and authority to drive out demons . . . to cure . . . to preach . . . and to heal . . . .
10 "When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done . . . . Then he took them and withdrew by themselves.
40 (the father of a demon-possessed boy said to Jesus) "I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.
43 "(after Jesus healed the boy) they were all amazed at the greatness of God.
46 "an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
49 "'Master,' said John, 'we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.'
54 "(concerning the Samaritan village) when the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, 'Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them.'"
Luke 10:
1 "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him.
17 "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'
18 "He (Jesus) replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven . . . . do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'"
When Jesus called, equipped, and empowered his disciples, they were able to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, the disciples quickly lost sight of the true Power Source from which they were able to perform such great miracles. They reported to Jesus what great things THEY had done. Knowing their hearts, Jesus immediately took His disciples away to a remote place in order that He might teach them not to lose focus that they had been called by God to serve God.
Apparently, the disciples were too engrossed in their own accomplishments that they did not heed the warning by the Lord; and because they lost sight of their calling to serve the Lord for His glory, they lost the power of God to accomplish miraculous things for His kingdom. In 9:40, they were asked to cast out a demon, but they were unable. Jesus responded with the miraculous healing of the demon-possessed boy, and the witnesses were amazed at the "greatness of God." Notice that Jesus made certain that God the Father was glorified through the miracle; He did not use the opportunity to exalt Himself before the people.
Still, the disciples did not grasp their egregious, prideful condition; for immediately following Jesus' healing of the boy, a dispute arose among the disciples as to whom was the greatest. This struggle for prominence manifested itself in the disciples trying to stop others who were performing miracles for the glory of God. They seemed not to want others to infringe on their "miraculous healing" turf, because that would result in their losing the prestige that they believed was rightfully due them.
As the disciples walked through a Samaritan village (a people who were already treated with contempt by the Jews), two of Jesus' disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy them, since the Samaritans did not welcome Jesus and the disciples.
Jesus knew that the pride of His disciples resulted in the sterility of their ministry. They now were not performing miracles, nor were they bringing glory to God through their witness. To teach the twelve an important lesson, Jesus then called 72 more disciples and gave them power to perform miracles for the kingdom of God. I wonder what the 12 were thinking when they realized that the Divine power that had been given to them was not for them alone? I can see the 12 coming to a realization that the Kingdom of God and its power was not for their self-adulation; rather it was for the glory of God.
Interestingly, the 72 went out and performed great miracles for God; however, they too quickly returned telling Jesus that the demons submitted to them. Jesus quickly countered by saying that it was He who had seen Satan fall from heaven . . . not them. Jesus then told them not to rejoice that the demons submit to them, but to rejoice that their names were written in heaven. In other words, they were to rejoice that they had received mercy and grace from God, something that was undue them but had been granted them through Jesus Christ.
When we think about our own lives and our calling to ministry, we would do well to reflect upon the disciples in these passages. Whenever we lose the focus of ministry and start to think that the gifts we have received from God are to be used for our own self-aggrandizement, we will never be able to tap into the power that God has in store for us to use for His Kingdom. We will become ineffective, for God will never grant us His blessing if He knows we will turn it into the sin of personal pride. We must remember that we are mere conduits of His power for His purposes and ultimately His glory. When we look upon ourselves, we clog the flow of God's power through us to the world. Spiritual sterility sets in, inhibiting God's ability to use us mightily for His kingdom.
1 "He (Jesus) gave them (the disciples) power and authority to drive out demons . . . to cure . . . to preach . . . and to heal . . . .
10 "When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done . . . . Then he took them and withdrew by themselves.
40 (the father of a demon-possessed boy said to Jesus) "I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.
43 "(after Jesus healed the boy) they were all amazed at the greatness of God.
46 "an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
49 "'Master,' said John, 'we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.'
54 "(concerning the Samaritan village) when the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, 'Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them.'"
Luke 10:
1 "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him.
17 "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'
18 "He (Jesus) replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven . . . . do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'"
When Jesus called, equipped, and empowered his disciples, they were able to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, the disciples quickly lost sight of the true Power Source from which they were able to perform such great miracles. They reported to Jesus what great things THEY had done. Knowing their hearts, Jesus immediately took His disciples away to a remote place in order that He might teach them not to lose focus that they had been called by God to serve God.
Apparently, the disciples were too engrossed in their own accomplishments that they did not heed the warning by the Lord; and because they lost sight of their calling to serve the Lord for His glory, they lost the power of God to accomplish miraculous things for His kingdom. In 9:40, they were asked to cast out a demon, but they were unable. Jesus responded with the miraculous healing of the demon-possessed boy, and the witnesses were amazed at the "greatness of God." Notice that Jesus made certain that God the Father was glorified through the miracle; He did not use the opportunity to exalt Himself before the people.
Still, the disciples did not grasp their egregious, prideful condition; for immediately following Jesus' healing of the boy, a dispute arose among the disciples as to whom was the greatest. This struggle for prominence manifested itself in the disciples trying to stop others who were performing miracles for the glory of God. They seemed not to want others to infringe on their "miraculous healing" turf, because that would result in their losing the prestige that they believed was rightfully due them.
As the disciples walked through a Samaritan village (a people who were already treated with contempt by the Jews), two of Jesus' disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy them, since the Samaritans did not welcome Jesus and the disciples.
Jesus knew that the pride of His disciples resulted in the sterility of their ministry. They now were not performing miracles, nor were they bringing glory to God through their witness. To teach the twelve an important lesson, Jesus then called 72 more disciples and gave them power to perform miracles for the kingdom of God. I wonder what the 12 were thinking when they realized that the Divine power that had been given to them was not for them alone? I can see the 12 coming to a realization that the Kingdom of God and its power was not for their self-adulation; rather it was for the glory of God.
Interestingly, the 72 went out and performed great miracles for God; however, they too quickly returned telling Jesus that the demons submitted to them. Jesus quickly countered by saying that it was He who had seen Satan fall from heaven . . . not them. Jesus then told them not to rejoice that the demons submit to them, but to rejoice that their names were written in heaven. In other words, they were to rejoice that they had received mercy and grace from God, something that was undue them but had been granted them through Jesus Christ.
When we think about our own lives and our calling to ministry, we would do well to reflect upon the disciples in these passages. Whenever we lose the focus of ministry and start to think that the gifts we have received from God are to be used for our own self-aggrandizement, we will never be able to tap into the power that God has in store for us to use for His Kingdom. We will become ineffective, for God will never grant us His blessing if He knows we will turn it into the sin of personal pride. We must remember that we are mere conduits of His power for His purposes and ultimately His glory. When we look upon ourselves, we clog the flow of God's power through us to the world. Spiritual sterility sets in, inhibiting God's ability to use us mightily for His kingdom.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The Sun Declares God's Glory
Job 37: 21-23: "No one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean. Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty. The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power."
It is amazing to see the ways that even nature illustrates the majesty of a Holy God. No one is able to look at the bright sun in the sky; the sun is too bright for our eyes to gaze upon it. We must turn away from its brilliance; still we enjoy its rays of light and warmth that shower the earth.
I believe that God has made the sun the way it is to help us better appreciate His radiant glory. We are unable in our finiteness to look upon the majesty of THE HOLY GOD! We must look away, for He is too radiant for us to behold in His Holiness. The song, Crown Him With Many Crowns expressly communicates in verse two the brilliance of our Lord, Jesus Christ before His heavenly hosts: "Crown Him the Lord of love: Behold His hands and side--Rich wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified. No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight but downward bends his wond'ring eye at mysteries so bright."
Still, we see that God has made the sun to appear to race across the sky. Although we know that the earth revolves around the sun (which illustrates our calling as believers to make the SON the center of our universe), we see the sun move across the sky from east to west. Psalm 19:4 tells us God has placed the sun in the sky to teach us that its movement is not unlike God's movement as a bridegroom, "coming forth from His pavilion" for His bride (Psalm 19:5). We know that Our Lord, Jesus Christ will return in Majestic Splendor with a loud command, bringing forth eternal life for those who were once dead in their sins (I Thessalonians 4:16).
In Genesis 1:17, we find that God set the sun in the sky to govern the day. All created things need the light of the sun to survive physically; so too all spiritual beings need Christ to survive spiritually. We know that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world (John 8:12). He said, "whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Jesus has all authority over heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18), and He is the final Judge who will separate those who are declared righteous and those who are unrighteous (Matthew 25:31-33).
Although we are not to worship the sun (Deuteronomy 4:19; Ezekiel 8:16; Romans 1:23), we can find in our observation of the sun that its purpose reminds us of a more Supreme One who is Radiant beyond our ability to observe, who gives the Light of life to those who would submit to His Lordship, who is Sovereign and thus has the authority to rule, and who as the Righteous Judge will bring judgment upon the reprobate.
It is amazing to see the ways that even nature illustrates the majesty of a Holy God. No one is able to look at the bright sun in the sky; the sun is too bright for our eyes to gaze upon it. We must turn away from its brilliance; still we enjoy its rays of light and warmth that shower the earth.
I believe that God has made the sun the way it is to help us better appreciate His radiant glory. We are unable in our finiteness to look upon the majesty of THE HOLY GOD! We must look away, for He is too radiant for us to behold in His Holiness. The song, Crown Him With Many Crowns expressly communicates in verse two the brilliance of our Lord, Jesus Christ before His heavenly hosts: "Crown Him the Lord of love: Behold His hands and side--Rich wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified. No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight but downward bends his wond'ring eye at mysteries so bright."
Still, we see that God has made the sun to appear to race across the sky. Although we know that the earth revolves around the sun (which illustrates our calling as believers to make the SON the center of our universe), we see the sun move across the sky from east to west. Psalm 19:4 tells us God has placed the sun in the sky to teach us that its movement is not unlike God's movement as a bridegroom, "coming forth from His pavilion" for His bride (Psalm 19:5). We know that Our Lord, Jesus Christ will return in Majestic Splendor with a loud command, bringing forth eternal life for those who were once dead in their sins (I Thessalonians 4:16).
In Genesis 1:17, we find that God set the sun in the sky to govern the day. All created things need the light of the sun to survive physically; so too all spiritual beings need Christ to survive spiritually. We know that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world (John 8:12). He said, "whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Jesus has all authority over heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18), and He is the final Judge who will separate those who are declared righteous and those who are unrighteous (Matthew 25:31-33).
Although we are not to worship the sun (Deuteronomy 4:19; Ezekiel 8:16; Romans 1:23), we can find in our observation of the sun that its purpose reminds us of a more Supreme One who is Radiant beyond our ability to observe, who gives the Light of life to those who would submit to His Lordship, who is Sovereign and thus has the authority to rule, and who as the Righteous Judge will bring judgment upon the reprobate.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Even Death Can Glorify God
John 21:18-19: "(Jesus said) 'I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.' Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, 'Follow me!'"
Death is the sobering reality for us all. As finite creatures that have sinned against a Holy God, we are subject to physical death as the judgment for our rebellion against the Lord (Romans 5:12).
Despite this curse placed upon us, we still have a purpose in this physical life. Specifically, we are called to glorify God (I Corinthians 10:31). The first way in which we are able to accomplish this purpose is to be grafted into the life source of Jesus Christ. Jesus has provided Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins; and He offers this gift to us all, if we would submit to Him as Lord.
Still, we will be given opportunities throughout this temporal life to glorify God, and these opportunities will culminate in our eventual death. In the passage above, Jesus called out to Peter and said that the disciple would glorify God through his death. After giving this prophecy, Jesus then strongly commanded Peter to follow Him. Early Christian historians, Tertullian and Eusebius, recorded years later that Peter was executed for his faith by the Emperor Nero in Rome. Peter remained faithful to the Lord, even though his physical life was the cost for such faithfulness; and through his death, God was glorified.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to "be careful how (we) live, making the most of every opportunity" in our lives for the glory of God. Although death will be packaged differently for each of us, we know that our purpose to glorify God is no less important; we are still called as servants of the Most Holy One to bring Him praise and honor. I've heard it said that one "dies like he lives." If you are living a life transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is likely that you will carry that transformation into your death. And yes, no matter how difficult your end will be, you can glorify God in your death.
Death is the sobering reality for us all. As finite creatures that have sinned against a Holy God, we are subject to physical death as the judgment for our rebellion against the Lord (Romans 5:12).
Despite this curse placed upon us, we still have a purpose in this physical life. Specifically, we are called to glorify God (I Corinthians 10:31). The first way in which we are able to accomplish this purpose is to be grafted into the life source of Jesus Christ. Jesus has provided Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins; and He offers this gift to us all, if we would submit to Him as Lord.
Still, we will be given opportunities throughout this temporal life to glorify God, and these opportunities will culminate in our eventual death. In the passage above, Jesus called out to Peter and said that the disciple would glorify God through his death. After giving this prophecy, Jesus then strongly commanded Peter to follow Him. Early Christian historians, Tertullian and Eusebius, recorded years later that Peter was executed for his faith by the Emperor Nero in Rome. Peter remained faithful to the Lord, even though his physical life was the cost for such faithfulness; and through his death, God was glorified.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to "be careful how (we) live, making the most of every opportunity" in our lives for the glory of God. Although death will be packaged differently for each of us, we know that our purpose to glorify God is no less important; we are still called as servants of the Most Holy One to bring Him praise and honor. I've heard it said that one "dies like he lives." If you are living a life transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is likely that you will carry that transformation into your death. And yes, no matter how difficult your end will be, you can glorify God in your death.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Don't Appear Before God Empty-Handed
Deuteronomy 16:16b-17: "No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you."
The context of the passage above deals with the mandate by God for the Jewish people to come prepared to present offerings to God during the memorial feasts. Everyone was expected to bring an offering, for all people had been blessed by the LORD. All were to present gifts to the LORD to express thanksgiving. No one was to appear before the LORD empty-handed.
When we begin to think of God's ultimate gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, we realize that there is no greater blessing that has ever been given or ever will be given to us. For God to turn away His wrath for our sin through Jesus' atoning sacrifice (I John 2:2) and for God to adopt us as part of His royal family (John 1:12) is the greatest gift that could ever be received. We have nothing adequate to return in thanksgiving for such an act of loving sacrifice by God; nonetheless, we are mandated to give in accordance with the blessing we have received from the LORD. The most that we can give back to God in thanksgiving are our very lives; for this reason, we would do well to submit our lives to His Lordship.
The context of the passage above deals with the mandate by God for the Jewish people to come prepared to present offerings to God during the memorial feasts. Everyone was expected to bring an offering, for all people had been blessed by the LORD. All were to present gifts to the LORD to express thanksgiving. No one was to appear before the LORD empty-handed.
When we begin to think of God's ultimate gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, we realize that there is no greater blessing that has ever been given or ever will be given to us. For God to turn away His wrath for our sin through Jesus' atoning sacrifice (I John 2:2) and for God to adopt us as part of His royal family (John 1:12) is the greatest gift that could ever be received. We have nothing adequate to return in thanksgiving for such an act of loving sacrifice by God; nonetheless, we are mandated to give in accordance with the blessing we have received from the LORD. The most that we can give back to God in thanksgiving are our very lives; for this reason, we would do well to submit our lives to His Lordship.
Friday, October 5, 2007
What Makes the Earth Tremble?
Proverbs 30:21: "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food, an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress."
To use the hyperbolic illustration of the earth trembling is intentional by the writer of this proverb to portray the disdain that each of these situations bring.
A servant that becomes a king lacks the experience and the maturity to handle the overwhelming responsibility. Because he has not experienced the power that is associated with such a position, he can become power-hungry, tyrannical, and self-absorbed to the detriment of his followers. He can fall prey to the prideful conclusion that the world revolves around him and that all things are designed for his personal adulation. In the end, his people are grieved at his inept leadership and his lack of courage to advocate something bigger than himself. Paul Coughlin in his book, No More Christian Nice Guy alludes to this concept when he distinguishes between abusive people and courageous people: "Abusive people should never be mistaken for courageous people . . . . (Abusive people) fight only for their own ego and appetites. Courageous people fight on behalf of something bigger than themselves" (No More Christian Nice Guy Study Guide, pg. 60).
A fool who is full of food also is a burden to others. When his stomach is full, he lacks the motivation to reach his full potential. He becomes slothful and lazy . . . unwilling to make the most of opportunities to be his best for the Lord and others. In his slumberous state, he does not realize that poverty is at his door ready to overtake him like a bandit (Proverbs 6:9-11). Because he has tasted the blessing of abundance, he turns a deaf ear to wisdom (Proverbs 26:16). In the end, he becomes impoverished, and he expects others to rescue him from his plight.
A married woman who is unloved becomes bitter, resentful, and depressed. Her husband is to love her with self-sacrificing love (Ephesians 5:25f). He is to put her needs before his own and is to minister to her by providing her the attention, security, and stability that she needs to feel loved and complete. His wife is designed to be pursued and adored to illustrate the imagery of Christ's passionate pursuit of His bride, the Church. In the deep recesses of her heart, the unfulfilled wife feels ripped off emotionally and relationally. She turns her resentment into manifestations of bitterness and resentment that impact those around her.
A maidservant who displaces her mistress is one who in her envy of her superior has longed for the chance to overtake her. The maidservant resents that she must submit to her mistress and jealously desires to usurp power to the degradation of the one who has provided for her. In her self-absorbed state, the maidservant seethes in anger that another would have authority over her; thus, she is relentless in overthrowing her authoritative figure in her life. In the end, she brings pain to her mistress and to others.
Thus, the four examples above reveal the following truths:
1. The immature fool in a position of leadership grieves others in his ineptness and self-absorption.
2. The gluttonous fool is unmotivated to better himself and becomes a plague to others.
3. The embittered wife manifests her resentment for her unloving husband upon those around her.
4. The subordinate resents authoritative figures and passionately seeks to destroy such influence.
All of these circumstances leads to great pain that reverberates through the lives of others . . . and in response the earth trembles.
To use the hyperbolic illustration of the earth trembling is intentional by the writer of this proverb to portray the disdain that each of these situations bring.
A servant that becomes a king lacks the experience and the maturity to handle the overwhelming responsibility. Because he has not experienced the power that is associated with such a position, he can become power-hungry, tyrannical, and self-absorbed to the detriment of his followers. He can fall prey to the prideful conclusion that the world revolves around him and that all things are designed for his personal adulation. In the end, his people are grieved at his inept leadership and his lack of courage to advocate something bigger than himself. Paul Coughlin in his book, No More Christian Nice Guy alludes to this concept when he distinguishes between abusive people and courageous people: "Abusive people should never be mistaken for courageous people . . . . (Abusive people) fight only for their own ego and appetites. Courageous people fight on behalf of something bigger than themselves" (No More Christian Nice Guy Study Guide, pg. 60).
A fool who is full of food also is a burden to others. When his stomach is full, he lacks the motivation to reach his full potential. He becomes slothful and lazy . . . unwilling to make the most of opportunities to be his best for the Lord and others. In his slumberous state, he does not realize that poverty is at his door ready to overtake him like a bandit (Proverbs 6:9-11). Because he has tasted the blessing of abundance, he turns a deaf ear to wisdom (Proverbs 26:16). In the end, he becomes impoverished, and he expects others to rescue him from his plight.
A married woman who is unloved becomes bitter, resentful, and depressed. Her husband is to love her with self-sacrificing love (Ephesians 5:25f). He is to put her needs before his own and is to minister to her by providing her the attention, security, and stability that she needs to feel loved and complete. His wife is designed to be pursued and adored to illustrate the imagery of Christ's passionate pursuit of His bride, the Church. In the deep recesses of her heart, the unfulfilled wife feels ripped off emotionally and relationally. She turns her resentment into manifestations of bitterness and resentment that impact those around her.
A maidservant who displaces her mistress is one who in her envy of her superior has longed for the chance to overtake her. The maidservant resents that she must submit to her mistress and jealously desires to usurp power to the degradation of the one who has provided for her. In her self-absorbed state, the maidservant seethes in anger that another would have authority over her; thus, she is relentless in overthrowing her authoritative figure in her life. In the end, she brings pain to her mistress and to others.
Thus, the four examples above reveal the following truths:
1. The immature fool in a position of leadership grieves others in his ineptness and self-absorption.
2. The gluttonous fool is unmotivated to better himself and becomes a plague to others.
3. The embittered wife manifests her resentment for her unloving husband upon those around her.
4. The subordinate resents authoritative figures and passionately seeks to destroy such influence.
All of these circumstances leads to great pain that reverberates through the lives of others . . . and in response the earth trembles.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Falling Away
Hebrews 6:4-8: "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned."
In this passage, we find evidence of a life that has tasted the heavenly gift and even shared in the Holy Spirit but has fallen away. The key observation is found at the end of this passage; namely, this person is metaphorically seen as unfruitful land. There is no evidential fruit consistent with a life truly changed by God through the Holy Spirit. This would be the person who wanted the benefits of salvation but was unwilling to submit to the Lord. This individual desired to further his own selfish pursuits over God as he maintained his own lordship in his life. Rain falls on both the cultivated land and the weed-laden land; however, it is the land's response to the rain that reveals its intent. If the land is cultivated, removing the weeds, thorns, and thistles, it then reaps an abundant harvest of good produce. If the land is not worked, a harvest will be produced; however, it is a harvest of unfruitful vegetation. We can find wonderful imagery in this story. The rain is the Holy Spirit that provides conviction about the truth of God's holiness and our sinfulness in relationship to God. God has provided salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ; still, we must respond to that initiatory work of God. If we yield to the Lordship of Christ in our lives, repent of our sins (disobedient acts against God), and receive His precious gift of salvation through Christ, we respond with the cultivation of our spiritual lives. This produces beautiful, beneficial fruit consistent with a transformed life. Others that despise the Lord and refuse to yield to His Sovereignty, who refuse the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, and who will not repent of sins are like the uncultivated land. The rains come, but the obstinate one permits the weeds of rebellion to grow and take over his life. In the end, this is a cursed, worthless life that is subject to the wrath of God.
In this passage, we find evidence of a life that has tasted the heavenly gift and even shared in the Holy Spirit but has fallen away. The key observation is found at the end of this passage; namely, this person is metaphorically seen as unfruitful land. There is no evidential fruit consistent with a life truly changed by God through the Holy Spirit. This would be the person who wanted the benefits of salvation but was unwilling to submit to the Lord. This individual desired to further his own selfish pursuits over God as he maintained his own lordship in his life. Rain falls on both the cultivated land and the weed-laden land; however, it is the land's response to the rain that reveals its intent. If the land is cultivated, removing the weeds, thorns, and thistles, it then reaps an abundant harvest of good produce. If the land is not worked, a harvest will be produced; however, it is a harvest of unfruitful vegetation. We can find wonderful imagery in this story. The rain is the Holy Spirit that provides conviction about the truth of God's holiness and our sinfulness in relationship to God. God has provided salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ; still, we must respond to that initiatory work of God. If we yield to the Lordship of Christ in our lives, repent of our sins (disobedient acts against God), and receive His precious gift of salvation through Christ, we respond with the cultivation of our spiritual lives. This produces beautiful, beneficial fruit consistent with a transformed life. Others that despise the Lord and refuse to yield to His Sovereignty, who refuse the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, and who will not repent of sins are like the uncultivated land. The rains come, but the obstinate one permits the weeds of rebellion to grow and take over his life. In the end, this is a cursed, worthless life that is subject to the wrath of God.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
When Destruction is Worship
Deuteronomy 13:12-16: "If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in that wicked men have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, 'Let us go and worship other gods' (gods you have not known), then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. Destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock. Gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God."
In this Old Testament passage, we find a rather interesting directive from the LORD to the covenant community. Specifically, they are to eliminate completely any town that would attempt to lead them astray from worshipping God alone. God told the Israelites to destroy all people and things in the town, so that nothing would be left to entice them away from their allegiance to the Lord.
How can we use such a directive in our lives today? While we will not take the same measures to destroy those who would attempt to entice us away from the Lord, we still must remove those people and things from our lives. If we are finding that our friends or dating companions are compromising our commitment to the Lord, we may have to disfellowship ourselves from their ungodly influence. Remember that "bad company corrupts good character" (I Corinthians 15:33), thus there is a great likelihood that your ungodly friends will draw you away from your commitment to Christ; this necessitates your conscious decision to remove yourselves from regular engagement with them.
We must also remove those things that would lead us to fall away from allegiance to God. Whereas the covenant community in the Deuteronomy passage were called to burn everything that was associated with ungodliness, we should be no less intentional at destroying those things that would cause us to compromise our submission to the Lord. If there is a nagging sin that lingers in our lives, tempting us to do those things that we know are disobedient to God's will, we must remove it from our lives. This does not mean that we are to remove it with the intent of keeping it on a figurative string so that we can draw it in when we desire it; rather, we are to completely sever the sin from our lives. We must take assertive measures to eliminate the alluring items so that they will not revisit us when we are weak and vulnerable to temptation.
Notice in the passage above that the elimination of those people and things that would entice us to sin is an offering to the Lord. When we remove people and things from our lives that would draw us away from the Lord, we too offer a sacrifice of worship acceptable to the Holy God. We would do well to practice regularly the "discipline of removal" as an offering of praise to the Lord of Hosts.
In this Old Testament passage, we find a rather interesting directive from the LORD to the covenant community. Specifically, they are to eliminate completely any town that would attempt to lead them astray from worshipping God alone. God told the Israelites to destroy all people and things in the town, so that nothing would be left to entice them away from their allegiance to the Lord.
How can we use such a directive in our lives today? While we will not take the same measures to destroy those who would attempt to entice us away from the Lord, we still must remove those people and things from our lives. If we are finding that our friends or dating companions are compromising our commitment to the Lord, we may have to disfellowship ourselves from their ungodly influence. Remember that "bad company corrupts good character" (I Corinthians 15:33), thus there is a great likelihood that your ungodly friends will draw you away from your commitment to Christ; this necessitates your conscious decision to remove yourselves from regular engagement with them.
We must also remove those things that would lead us to fall away from allegiance to God. Whereas the covenant community in the Deuteronomy passage were called to burn everything that was associated with ungodliness, we should be no less intentional at destroying those things that would cause us to compromise our submission to the Lord. If there is a nagging sin that lingers in our lives, tempting us to do those things that we know are disobedient to God's will, we must remove it from our lives. This does not mean that we are to remove it with the intent of keeping it on a figurative string so that we can draw it in when we desire it; rather, we are to completely sever the sin from our lives. We must take assertive measures to eliminate the alluring items so that they will not revisit us when we are weak and vulnerable to temptation.
Notice in the passage above that the elimination of those people and things that would entice us to sin is an offering to the Lord. When we remove people and things from our lives that would draw us away from the Lord, we too offer a sacrifice of worship acceptable to the Holy God. We would do well to practice regularly the "discipline of removal" as an offering of praise to the Lord of Hosts.
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