Acts 16:25,29: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying an singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them . . . . (After the earthquake) the jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'"
No matter in what circumstance we as followers of Christ find ourselves, we can know that we always have opportunity to be a witness for Our Lord. Certainly Paul and Silas knew this fact all too well. After arriving in the well-renown city of Philippi on the Macedonian province, the two missionaries from Antioch began teaching certain worshippers of God about Jesus Christ's death and resurrection as the offering of God for the salvation of mankind. Many responded to the gospel with repentance and submission to Jesus as their Lord and were baptized; among those who responded were Lydia, a dealer of purple cloth.
After a few days, when the two missionaries were on their way to the designated place of prayer, they were approached by a slave girl who was possessed by an evil spirit. This spirit gave the slave girl the ability to predict the future, which gave her owners the opportunity to exploit her abilities for profit.
The possessed girl was relentless in bothering Paul and Silas, for she followed them persistently, shouting out to the crowds her vociferous remarks about the followers of the "Most High God." Day after day passed as the girl continued to trouble the efforts of the missionaries. Eventually, an exasperated Paul turned around to the girl and commanded that the spirit within her leave immediately. Miraculously, the girl was freed from the bondage of the evil spirit; however, her profit-minded owners seized Paul and Silas and took them before the magistrates to have them punished for sabotaging their profitable business.
After some false accusations were presented to the governing officials, they in turn had Paul and Silas stripped of their clothing and severely beaten for causing such an uproar among the community; many in the city were stirred with resentment toward these missionaries for they wrongly believed that these men were "advocating customs unlawful for (the) Romans to accept" (16:21).
Paul and Silas then were imprisoned within the local jail, being taken to the innermost cell, which would have been the place of maximum security for inmates. As their feet were placed in stocks in the dark, dank cell, the two missionaries were now at a pivotal point in their lives and ministry. Paul and Silas easily could have viewed their dismal circumstances with vitriolic criticism against God. They could have verbally expressed their dismay at God for His leading them to this end; after all, they had been trying to follow His wishes to propagate His gospel to the Gentile communities of Macedonia (see Acts 16:9-10).
Instead, we find the two imprisoned missionaries praying and singing hymns to God . . . even in the midnight hour. The other prisoners (and I'm sure the prison guards as well) listened to these two men, who seemed to glow with the radiance of their Lord. Whereas these fellow prisoners and guards might have expected to hear caustic criticism from Paul and Silas, they instead heard praises to God.
It was not long before a divinely orchestrated earthquake occurred, which caused the chains of the prisoners to loosen and the doors to open. The jailer feared that the prisoners would escape, and so he drew his sword to kill himself. Paul observed the jailer's intentions and stopped him, assuring this official that all the prisoners were accounted for. The jailer was overwhelmed with the miraculous events and rushed to Paul and Silas, falling before their feet and in a trembling voice cried out to them, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Notice that the jailer knew that these two men had something supernatural that he did not have. This jailer knew this, for he had had opportunity to observe these inmate's inner peace (sustained by their faith in God) before the earthquake occurred. This jailer also knew about his need for salvation, for Paul and Silas likely referred to God's wonderful grace in their hymns of praise and in their prayers of thanksgiving to their merciful Lord.
One's true character is revealed both in times of tribulation and temptation. By responding to their hostile circumstances with praise and worship of the One True God, these two missionaries communicated to their observers that they had something very special. Their behavior as well as their words of praise primed the pump of opportunity to share the gospel with the jailer at God's perfectly orchestrated timing. Whereas God got the attention of the jailer through the earthquake, Paul and Silas gave witness to the truth of God and His grace through their attitude before the event. The jailer knew exactly where to go when he needed God's grace, for he had already seen it manifest in these two men.
Once Paul and Silas saw that they had the focused attention of the jailer, they told him to "believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." The story ends beautifully with the jailer taking Paul and Silas to his home, and at that late hour of the night both the jailer and his entire household surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. One of the first evidences of spiritual transformation found in the jailer was his ministry to the missionaries through his washing of their wounds. No longer was the jailer filled with rage or hostility toward these foreigners (like so many of his cohorts within the city [16:22]). Now, he was loving these men by attending to their needs. I'm certain that few in that house got much sleep that evening . . . it was a time of praise to the Lord for His mercy and grace. The once beaten and imprisoned men were now dining at the table of the very man in charge of their arrest and imprisonment.
One of the best verses in the entire chapter is found in 16:34: "he (the jailer) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God." God had called Paul and Silas to Philippi (16:9-10) . . . they responded in obedience (16:10) . . . they experienced much persecution there (e.g. stripped, beaten, imprisonment [16:23-24]) . . . yet their lives were filled with joy, peace, fulfillment of purpose, and thanksgiving toward their Lord. This powerful presentation of spiritual transformation was the ingredient God used when he got the attention of the jailer; and the jailer (and his entire household) responded to the faith.
This is a tremendous word to us today. We must remember that the way that one lives his life through adversity will say much about his faith in God. May each of us who are surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ rise above the tribulations of life and remain focused upon our Supreme King and Savior. Others are watching us to see if we really believe what we profess. Let us be the resource that God uses to draw unbelievers into the richness of the faith, as He works supernaturally to bring them to the point of salvation.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Unity Beautifully Modeled
Acts 15:30-32: "The men were sent off (by the elders of the Church of Jerusalem to the Church at Antioch), where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas (not to be confused with Judas Ischariot)and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers."
All too often today, we see disunity and abuse of power within the walls of churches; it seems as if many modern congregations in America are stirred more by confrontational issues than passion for Our Lord. Whereas we seldom see people getting excited about their relationship with Christ, we too often see people in the church becoming enraged at carpet color selections, music styles, and other insignificant matters.
What we have wonderfully modeled for us in Acts 15 is the proper disposition that we are to have as the unified body of Christ. In this chapter in Acts, an issue of disagreement arose in the Church at Antioch between certain Judaizers (who believed that new converts had to observe certain Jewish rites [like circumcision] to be redeemed by Christ) and Paul and Barnabas (who preached that salvation was not contingent upon certain ritual observances but was initiated by God's grace alone [See Ephesians 2:8-9]).
The Church at Antioch decided to send Paul, Barnabas, and some other believers to the elders and apostles in Jerusalem to seek guidance as to what should be done to resolve this dispute. What is wonderful is the way in which the elders and apostles responded to the Church at Antioch; they did not treat the visiting guests with disdain, but loved them as they shared words of instruction with them.
As the elders and apostles drafted a letter to the Church at Antioch, they began the document with the words, "The apostles and elders, your brothers" (15:23). Notice that these spiritual leaders referred to themselves as "brothers" to the congregants in Antioch. "Brothers" is a term of endearment to suggest that they all were collectively unified in purpose and position to serve the Lord and accomplish His will. These leaders did not attempt to lord over the Church at Antioch in order to manipulate them or exploit them for their self-adulation; rather, these leaders in Jerusalem had a genuine concern for their brothers 300 miles away in Antioch and wanted them to gain victory over this issue that had caused a stir within the church there.
The elders and apostles at Jerusalem sent delegates back with the visiting guests to Antioch to give the instructional word that everyone was anticipating, and when they arrived and shared the letter from the elders and apostles, the people were "glad for its encouraging message" (15:31). The word for "encouraging" (paraklesis) is a word that suggests "walking alongside another." It is a word that is used of the Holy Spirit in His loving support and strength for us as He walks alongside us in our life journey. Thus, the Church at Jerusalem did not treat the believers at Antioch with scorn or disdain; rather, they communicated their support of their brothers as they gave counsel to them concerning this issue.
This is such a tremendous message for the modern church today. We need to remember that every word that we share with fellow believers is to be seasoned with love. As we worship and serve the Lord together, we should let our brothers and sisters in Christ know that we are "walking alongside" them, supporting them in their journey with us. This is the love that is the evidential proof of our true commitment to our Lord (see I John 4:7-8).
All too often today, we see disunity and abuse of power within the walls of churches; it seems as if many modern congregations in America are stirred more by confrontational issues than passion for Our Lord. Whereas we seldom see people getting excited about their relationship with Christ, we too often see people in the church becoming enraged at carpet color selections, music styles, and other insignificant matters.
What we have wonderfully modeled for us in Acts 15 is the proper disposition that we are to have as the unified body of Christ. In this chapter in Acts, an issue of disagreement arose in the Church at Antioch between certain Judaizers (who believed that new converts had to observe certain Jewish rites [like circumcision] to be redeemed by Christ) and Paul and Barnabas (who preached that salvation was not contingent upon certain ritual observances but was initiated by God's grace alone [See Ephesians 2:8-9]).
The Church at Antioch decided to send Paul, Barnabas, and some other believers to the elders and apostles in Jerusalem to seek guidance as to what should be done to resolve this dispute. What is wonderful is the way in which the elders and apostles responded to the Church at Antioch; they did not treat the visiting guests with disdain, but loved them as they shared words of instruction with them.
As the elders and apostles drafted a letter to the Church at Antioch, they began the document with the words, "The apostles and elders, your brothers" (15:23). Notice that these spiritual leaders referred to themselves as "brothers" to the congregants in Antioch. "Brothers" is a term of endearment to suggest that they all were collectively unified in purpose and position to serve the Lord and accomplish His will. These leaders did not attempt to lord over the Church at Antioch in order to manipulate them or exploit them for their self-adulation; rather, these leaders in Jerusalem had a genuine concern for their brothers 300 miles away in Antioch and wanted them to gain victory over this issue that had caused a stir within the church there.
The elders and apostles at Jerusalem sent delegates back with the visiting guests to Antioch to give the instructional word that everyone was anticipating, and when they arrived and shared the letter from the elders and apostles, the people were "glad for its encouraging message" (15:31). The word for "encouraging" (paraklesis) is a word that suggests "walking alongside another." It is a word that is used of the Holy Spirit in His loving support and strength for us as He walks alongside us in our life journey. Thus, the Church at Jerusalem did not treat the believers at Antioch with scorn or disdain; rather, they communicated their support of their brothers as they gave counsel to them concerning this issue.
This is such a tremendous message for the modern church today. We need to remember that every word that we share with fellow believers is to be seasoned with love. As we worship and serve the Lord together, we should let our brothers and sisters in Christ know that we are "walking alongside" them, supporting them in their journey with us. This is the love that is the evidential proof of our true commitment to our Lord (see I John 4:7-8).
Thursday, July 24, 2008
God Glorified in Judgment?
Isaiah 5:16,24b: "But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness . . . . for they (the Israelites) have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel."
In the early chapters of the book of Isaiah, the proclamation of God is a curse against the Israelites for their defiant rebellion against His Holiness. It is amazing to see the multi-faceted nature of Israel's debauchery and waywardness which would bring the coming judgment:
1. Insatiable desire for material wealth accumulation with no regard for the poor: "Woe to you who add house to house and field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land" (5:8).
2. Drunkenness and other licentious behavior: "Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD" (5:11-12).
3. Accumulated sin and deceit that is kept closely tethered to the wicked: "Woe to those who draw sin alone with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes" (5:18).
4. Contempt and mockery towards God: "(Woe to ) those who say, 'Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it.'"
5. Self-justification of sinful behavior: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" (5:20).
6. Prideful Arrogance: "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight" (5:21).
7. Injustice: "Woe (to those) . . . who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent" (5:23).
With Israel's compilation of evil and rebellion against the LORD, God in turn announced that He would be exalted in His justice against their wickedness. This is an important truth to remember: God will be glorified both in His redemption of the righteous as well as in His wrath toward the wicked. Although God does not delight in the death of the wicked (see Ezekiel 18:23), He will be glorified in His righteous wrath against them, just as He will be glorified in the grace bestowed to those surrendered to His Lordship (Ephesians 1).
What is noteworthy is the contrast that one sees in the disposition of the heavenly hosts towards God in chapter 6. As the seraphs, each with six wings, fly before the throne of God, they cover their eyes and feet in an act of humility and unworthiness to look upon the Greatness of the One True God. As they thrice cry out the awesome Holiness of God, they do so with a reflective amazement.
The prophet Isaiah too was overwhelmed with the majesty of the Lord, and he cried out a curse upon himself for his utter uncleanness as He stood before the Lord of Hosts; the prophet confessed that the Lord was "King . . . the Lord Almighty" in an act of submission and humility. Isaiah's guilt was taken away, for he surrendered himself to God and confessed his utterly detestable sins before the Lord, seeking His grace.
We must remember that the Lord will not be treated with contempt by the wicked forever. God desires all men to come to repentance (see 2 Peter 3:9); nonetheless, He will enact His righteous wrath against the reprobate for all eternity. This is sobering reality that should bring each of us to our knees with contrite hearts, seeking the mercy of God. The beauty of our merciful Lord is that He is faithful and just to "forgive our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness" when we surrender to Him as our Lord and Savior (I John 1:9).
In the early chapters of the book of Isaiah, the proclamation of God is a curse against the Israelites for their defiant rebellion against His Holiness. It is amazing to see the multi-faceted nature of Israel's debauchery and waywardness which would bring the coming judgment:
1. Insatiable desire for material wealth accumulation with no regard for the poor: "Woe to you who add house to house and field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land" (5:8).
2. Drunkenness and other licentious behavior: "Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD" (5:11-12).
3. Accumulated sin and deceit that is kept closely tethered to the wicked: "Woe to those who draw sin alone with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes" (5:18).
4. Contempt and mockery towards God: "(Woe to ) those who say, 'Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it.'"
5. Self-justification of sinful behavior: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" (5:20).
6. Prideful Arrogance: "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight" (5:21).
7. Injustice: "Woe (to those) . . . who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent" (5:23).
With Israel's compilation of evil and rebellion against the LORD, God in turn announced that He would be exalted in His justice against their wickedness. This is an important truth to remember: God will be glorified both in His redemption of the righteous as well as in His wrath toward the wicked. Although God does not delight in the death of the wicked (see Ezekiel 18:23), He will be glorified in His righteous wrath against them, just as He will be glorified in the grace bestowed to those surrendered to His Lordship (Ephesians 1).
What is noteworthy is the contrast that one sees in the disposition of the heavenly hosts towards God in chapter 6. As the seraphs, each with six wings, fly before the throne of God, they cover their eyes and feet in an act of humility and unworthiness to look upon the Greatness of the One True God. As they thrice cry out the awesome Holiness of God, they do so with a reflective amazement.
The prophet Isaiah too was overwhelmed with the majesty of the Lord, and he cried out a curse upon himself for his utter uncleanness as He stood before the Lord of Hosts; the prophet confessed that the Lord was "King . . . the Lord Almighty" in an act of submission and humility. Isaiah's guilt was taken away, for he surrendered himself to God and confessed his utterly detestable sins before the Lord, seeking His grace.
We must remember that the Lord will not be treated with contempt by the wicked forever. God desires all men to come to repentance (see 2 Peter 3:9); nonetheless, He will enact His righteous wrath against the reprobate for all eternity. This is sobering reality that should bring each of us to our knees with contrite hearts, seeking the mercy of God. The beauty of our merciful Lord is that He is faithful and just to "forgive our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness" when we surrender to Him as our Lord and Savior (I John 1:9).
Monday, July 21, 2008
Learn From History; Don't Repeat It
Isaiah 2:7-9b: "Their land (i.e. Israel) is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. So man will be brought low and mankind humbled . . . "
The prophet Isaiah was commissioned by the Lord to proclaim the coming judgment of God upon the covenant people for their rebellious disposition towards the Lord. In chapter one of the book of Isaiah, one finds that the prophet declares that the people had become a "sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption" (1:4). So debased had the people become that they were brazenly committing detestable acts of idolatry, immorality, and injustice. Isaiah refers to these people as those who have "spurned the Holy One (God) of Israel . . . turning their backs on Him."
The explanation for this sacrilege is found in our focal passage cited above. For years, the Lord had blessed the Israelites materially for their faithfulness to Him as their Lord; but after time, these blessings caused the people to swell up with their own pride, thinking that they had amassed their wealth through their own accomplishments. Their eyes turned away from dependence on and surrender to the Lord; now, they believed that they were privileged for what they had achieved. These people were consumed with their own accolades, accumulated wealth, and self-elevating achievements, and they turned their backs on the very Lord who had blessed them in the first place. No longer was there a reverential respect for the One True God. No longer was there a desire to follow the Lord with uncompromising obedience.
In response to this treason that the people perpetrated against God, the Lord sent Isaiah to warn the people to repent of their sins and seek the Lord as they had before. The Lord assured His people that they would experience the blessedness of His presence in perpetual peace if they would walk in His light (Isaiah 2:1-5); thus, the people were presented with a choice. They could surrender to the Lord in a spirit of penitence and humility, or they could continue down the path of defiance and self-aggrandizement. Tragically, these people would choose the latter, and God responded by sending powerful, foreign invaders to sack the land, taking from the Israelites their treasures, their freedom, their land, and their pride.
There is a good lesson to be learned from the sinful ways of the Israelites of ages past, for God is a God of constancy (see James 1:17). As He did not tolerate the sinful rebellion of the Israelites 2700 years ago, so too God will not allow our continued disobedience towards Him today. Let's forsake our pride and sinful behavior and turn to the Lord. He is the Faithful One who will forgive our sins and restore unto us the blessing of His Divine favor.
The prophet Isaiah was commissioned by the Lord to proclaim the coming judgment of God upon the covenant people for their rebellious disposition towards the Lord. In chapter one of the book of Isaiah, one finds that the prophet declares that the people had become a "sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption" (1:4). So debased had the people become that they were brazenly committing detestable acts of idolatry, immorality, and injustice. Isaiah refers to these people as those who have "spurned the Holy One (God) of Israel . . . turning their backs on Him."
The explanation for this sacrilege is found in our focal passage cited above. For years, the Lord had blessed the Israelites materially for their faithfulness to Him as their Lord; but after time, these blessings caused the people to swell up with their own pride, thinking that they had amassed their wealth through their own accomplishments. Their eyes turned away from dependence on and surrender to the Lord; now, they believed that they were privileged for what they had achieved. These people were consumed with their own accolades, accumulated wealth, and self-elevating achievements, and they turned their backs on the very Lord who had blessed them in the first place. No longer was there a reverential respect for the One True God. No longer was there a desire to follow the Lord with uncompromising obedience.
In response to this treason that the people perpetrated against God, the Lord sent Isaiah to warn the people to repent of their sins and seek the Lord as they had before. The Lord assured His people that they would experience the blessedness of His presence in perpetual peace if they would walk in His light (Isaiah 2:1-5); thus, the people were presented with a choice. They could surrender to the Lord in a spirit of penitence and humility, or they could continue down the path of defiance and self-aggrandizement. Tragically, these people would choose the latter, and God responded by sending powerful, foreign invaders to sack the land, taking from the Israelites their treasures, their freedom, their land, and their pride.
There is a good lesson to be learned from the sinful ways of the Israelites of ages past, for God is a God of constancy (see James 1:17). As He did not tolerate the sinful rebellion of the Israelites 2700 years ago, so too God will not allow our continued disobedience towards Him today. Let's forsake our pride and sinful behavior and turn to the Lord. He is the Faithful One who will forgive our sins and restore unto us the blessing of His Divine favor.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Eat Or Be Eaten
Isaiah 1:19-20: "'If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.' For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
When reading through the book of Isaiah, one quickly finds that the prophet penned its words to call the Israelites to account for their chronic sinful behavior against the Lord. Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah cited God's words of anger at the grossly evil ways of the covenant community. God said that His people were "rebelling against me . . . (a) sinful nation . . . a brood of evildoers" (1:2b,4). As a result, God had begun enacting judgment against these people for their waywardness. God told them that their nation was being destroyed by foreign nations because they were not surrendered to Him as their Lord (see 1:7).
God also addressed the nation's worthless practices of worship. Now, these Israelites were great at participating in the pomp of ceremonial worship. They could offer impressive sacrifices and prayers; yet their hearts were far from the Lord. In response, God told the people to "stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me . . . I cannot bear your evil assemblies . . . My soul hates your festivals and appointed feasts . . . . When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen" (1:13-15). All that their perfunctory worship observances did was heighten God's frustration with them; worship was exacerbating their relations with God, not improving them.
God then laid before them the ultimatum: "If you are obedient to me, you will feast on my blessings; otherwise my judgment will devour you!" (1:19). Only through surrender of their lives and their wills to the One True God could the covenant community be expected to be delivered from the judgment that otherwise would befall them. Later in chapter 1, God refers to the "weeding out" process that He would enact toward the people. God exclaims that He would "redeem with justice the penitent ones (Hebrew: sabim='those who return') with righteousness" (1:27); but He would also "break the rebels and sinners" leading to their destruction.
In our application of this passage for our lives today, we must remember that perfunctory worship practices are not enough. God is less interested in our actions and more interested in our heart's disposition towards Him (which will necessarily lead to actions that please the Lord). We must be submitted to the Lord as our Savior and King; only then will we enjoy the choice morsels of His righteousness and His eternal blessing. To kick against His Sovereignty through our wanton rebellion is to invite His righteous wrath against us.
In the end, we will either eat the fruit of our surrender or we will be eaten by the judgment of God for our disobedience. The choice is ours.
When reading through the book of Isaiah, one quickly finds that the prophet penned its words to call the Israelites to account for their chronic sinful behavior against the Lord. Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah cited God's words of anger at the grossly evil ways of the covenant community. God said that His people were "rebelling against me . . . (a) sinful nation . . . a brood of evildoers" (1:2b,4). As a result, God had begun enacting judgment against these people for their waywardness. God told them that their nation was being destroyed by foreign nations because they were not surrendered to Him as their Lord (see 1:7).
God also addressed the nation's worthless practices of worship. Now, these Israelites were great at participating in the pomp of ceremonial worship. They could offer impressive sacrifices and prayers; yet their hearts were far from the Lord. In response, God told the people to "stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me . . . I cannot bear your evil assemblies . . . My soul hates your festivals and appointed feasts . . . . When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen" (1:13-15). All that their perfunctory worship observances did was heighten God's frustration with them; worship was exacerbating their relations with God, not improving them.
God then laid before them the ultimatum: "If you are obedient to me, you will feast on my blessings; otherwise my judgment will devour you!" (1:19). Only through surrender of their lives and their wills to the One True God could the covenant community be expected to be delivered from the judgment that otherwise would befall them. Later in chapter 1, God refers to the "weeding out" process that He would enact toward the people. God exclaims that He would "redeem with justice the penitent ones (Hebrew: sabim='those who return') with righteousness" (1:27); but He would also "break the rebels and sinners" leading to their destruction.
In our application of this passage for our lives today, we must remember that perfunctory worship practices are not enough. God is less interested in our actions and more interested in our heart's disposition towards Him (which will necessarily lead to actions that please the Lord). We must be submitted to the Lord as our Savior and King; only then will we enjoy the choice morsels of His righteousness and His eternal blessing. To kick against His Sovereignty through our wanton rebellion is to invite His righteous wrath against us.
In the end, we will either eat the fruit of our surrender or we will be eaten by the judgment of God for our disobedience. The choice is ours.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
What's Love Got To Do With It?
Luke 19:37-38; 23:1,23: "When he (Jesus) came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest . . . . [Several days later] the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, 'We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.' . . . . With loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed."
It is rather fascinating to see the change in disposition of the crowds toward Jesus in Jerusalem just before His crucifixion. As he entered the Holy City riding on a colt, the people spread their cloaks on the ground before Him, waved palm branches, and cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9). All of the city was stirred with the arrival of the Nazarene prophet. But within a few days, the people's enthusiasm would change dramatically. No longer were they praising Jesus, but they were accusing him of treason and demanding that He be executed.
This transformation can be explained through the reasons why the people celebrated Jesus' arrival in the first place, namely for "all the miracles they had seen." When Jesus was fulfilling the needs of the people, they were praising Him as the Son of David; but, when Jesus began to teach the people about the cost of discipleship (i.e. that surrender to God would cost them everything [John 12:25-26]), the people began to turn on the Savior. Scripture records that "even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they (the people) would not believe in him (as Lord)" [John 12:37].
To be sure, the religious leaders, who hated Jesus, looked for an opportunity to turn the hearts of the people away from Him. They despised the thought of losing their social influence to the Nazarene who had just arrived in the city (Matthew 21:15). But the foundational problem leading to such a shift in the disposition of the crowd toward Jesus was their lack of surrender. These people were engrossed in their own lordship; thus, they loved Jesus when He was offering them something of personal benefit. His miracles and His potential of being a political insurrectionist against the Romans was quite appealing to the crowds. Yet, when Jesus entered the city, driving out those who were using the temple as a place of financial profit, the people lost confidence in Jesus as an asset for their selfish causes. To be sure, many still believed Jesus to be a prophet (Matthew 22:46), but the leaders and chief priests began to plot his execution (Matthew 26:3-4). Their envy of Jesus' influence with the people stirred within their hearts the desire to destroy the Savior (Mark 15:10). Quickly, they were able to sway the crowds to cry for the death of the Messiah (Matthew 27:20). Three times the Roman Procurator, Pilate, petitioned the crowds for the reasoning why they wanted the death of the innocent man, but the crowds "with loud shouts insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed" (Luke 23:23).
As I have reiterated ad nauseam in my previous blogs, the systemic problem with humanity is one of surrender and lordship. The prevailing problem in our culture, just like in the day of Christ, is people seeking their own lordship over the One True God. People are willing to acknowledge Jesus only if they are able to manipulate His identity for their own selfish causes. We see this made manifest through people's labeling themselves "Christian," yet see their religious association as something to meet their personal needs (religious/familial identity; eternal protection; financial opportunity; psychological comfort, ethic manipulation, etc.). These people would not be unlike the Jewish and Roman attendees at the prosecution of Jesus in Jerusalem; once surrender to the Savior was introduced into one's life equation, the tables would turn against Jesus as Lord. We see this today in the abject defiance of self-proclaimed "Christians" who egregiously choose to disobey the commands of the Lord as prescribed in the Scriptures. The lack of the evidential fruit of a truly transformed life is the telling sign of a lack of relationship with Jesus as personal Lord and Savior.
Love for and submission to Jesus as Lord are noticeably absent in the reprobate; in its place is found the never-ending love of "self." For these people, the "end" of personal fulfillment justifies all behavior, including the renouncing of God as the Lord of one's life, evidenced through disobedience to His commands.
It is rather fascinating to see the change in disposition of the crowds toward Jesus in Jerusalem just before His crucifixion. As he entered the Holy City riding on a colt, the people spread their cloaks on the ground before Him, waved palm branches, and cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9). All of the city was stirred with the arrival of the Nazarene prophet. But within a few days, the people's enthusiasm would change dramatically. No longer were they praising Jesus, but they were accusing him of treason and demanding that He be executed.
This transformation can be explained through the reasons why the people celebrated Jesus' arrival in the first place, namely for "all the miracles they had seen." When Jesus was fulfilling the needs of the people, they were praising Him as the Son of David; but, when Jesus began to teach the people about the cost of discipleship (i.e. that surrender to God would cost them everything [John 12:25-26]), the people began to turn on the Savior. Scripture records that "even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they (the people) would not believe in him (as Lord)" [John 12:37].
To be sure, the religious leaders, who hated Jesus, looked for an opportunity to turn the hearts of the people away from Him. They despised the thought of losing their social influence to the Nazarene who had just arrived in the city (Matthew 21:15). But the foundational problem leading to such a shift in the disposition of the crowd toward Jesus was their lack of surrender. These people were engrossed in their own lordship; thus, they loved Jesus when He was offering them something of personal benefit. His miracles and His potential of being a political insurrectionist against the Romans was quite appealing to the crowds. Yet, when Jesus entered the city, driving out those who were using the temple as a place of financial profit, the people lost confidence in Jesus as an asset for their selfish causes. To be sure, many still believed Jesus to be a prophet (Matthew 22:46), but the leaders and chief priests began to plot his execution (Matthew 26:3-4). Their envy of Jesus' influence with the people stirred within their hearts the desire to destroy the Savior (Mark 15:10). Quickly, they were able to sway the crowds to cry for the death of the Messiah (Matthew 27:20). Three times the Roman Procurator, Pilate, petitioned the crowds for the reasoning why they wanted the death of the innocent man, but the crowds "with loud shouts insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed" (Luke 23:23).
As I have reiterated ad nauseam in my previous blogs, the systemic problem with humanity is one of surrender and lordship. The prevailing problem in our culture, just like in the day of Christ, is people seeking their own lordship over the One True God. People are willing to acknowledge Jesus only if they are able to manipulate His identity for their own selfish causes. We see this made manifest through people's labeling themselves "Christian," yet see their religious association as something to meet their personal needs (religious/familial identity; eternal protection; financial opportunity; psychological comfort, ethic manipulation, etc.). These people would not be unlike the Jewish and Roman attendees at the prosecution of Jesus in Jerusalem; once surrender to the Savior was introduced into one's life equation, the tables would turn against Jesus as Lord. We see this today in the abject defiance of self-proclaimed "Christians" who egregiously choose to disobey the commands of the Lord as prescribed in the Scriptures. The lack of the evidential fruit of a truly transformed life is the telling sign of a lack of relationship with Jesus as personal Lord and Savior.
Love for and submission to Jesus as Lord are noticeably absent in the reprobate; in its place is found the never-ending love of "self." For these people, the "end" of personal fulfillment justifies all behavior, including the renouncing of God as the Lord of one's life, evidenced through disobedience to His commands.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Not Recognizing
John 14:8-10; 17 "Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work . . . . the Spirit of truth-the world can not accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.'"
After three years of association with Jesus, the disciples were still not 100% certain of Jesus' relationship with God the Father. Before, they had proclaimed Jesus as the "Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16); but the John 14 dialogue between Philip and Jesus tells us that the disciples wanted to see God in His glory and were thus oblivious to the fact that they were seeing God incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ. It was not enough to see God in His humble state as a man, serving the purpose of being the eventual atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world; it's as if the disciples would be convinced of the claims of Jesus as Messiah only if they could experience God in His magnificent splendor. The disciple's doubt was evidenced in Philip's skeptical response to Jesus, "show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
Jesus reproves the disciples for their lack of faith. He in effect tells the disciples that they were seeing God in Him; then, Jesus tells the disciples to believe His words as the illuminating Words of God, proclaiming the evidential truth that God was working through Jesus as Savior and Lord. Jesus goes on to tell the disciples that the world would not believe in God as Spirit for they could not experience Him through sight nor intimate association. But to the disciples Jesus proclaimed that they knew and would better know the Holy Spirit, for He was with them and would indwell them in the future.
We see this skeptical disposition paralleled in our culture today. People are unwilling to believe in the Triune God, for they are not able to experience Him through their senses. Many assert that they will only believe if they are able to see God; they in effect are saying "God show yourself to us and that will be enough." The Words that Jesus shared to His disciples are the Words that we all have available to us today through the Holy Scriptures. These Scriptures are "living and active . . . judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12); they are a gift from the Lord to increase our faith in Him, though we cannot physically see His glory in our temporal state.
God has also gifted us with the presence of the Holy Spirit that lives within the believer, giving to him the assurance that God exists as Sovereign Lord and is working all things according to His eternal purposes . . . . namely the redemption of the redeemed as eternal, evidential proof and testament to His glorious grace (see Ephesians 1).
Failing to see God in His Glory is not an excuse that can be used to deny the reality of God. God already has given to us the above mentioned gifts of the Word and the Spirit. The question that we should be asking is, "Are we tapping into the blessedness of an intimate relationship with God through the Word and the Holy Spirit?"
After three years of association with Jesus, the disciples were still not 100% certain of Jesus' relationship with God the Father. Before, they had proclaimed Jesus as the "Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16); but the John 14 dialogue between Philip and Jesus tells us that the disciples wanted to see God in His glory and were thus oblivious to the fact that they were seeing God incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ. It was not enough to see God in His humble state as a man, serving the purpose of being the eventual atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world; it's as if the disciples would be convinced of the claims of Jesus as Messiah only if they could experience God in His magnificent splendor. The disciple's doubt was evidenced in Philip's skeptical response to Jesus, "show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
Jesus reproves the disciples for their lack of faith. He in effect tells the disciples that they were seeing God in Him; then, Jesus tells the disciples to believe His words as the illuminating Words of God, proclaiming the evidential truth that God was working through Jesus as Savior and Lord. Jesus goes on to tell the disciples that the world would not believe in God as Spirit for they could not experience Him through sight nor intimate association. But to the disciples Jesus proclaimed that they knew and would better know the Holy Spirit, for He was with them and would indwell them in the future.
We see this skeptical disposition paralleled in our culture today. People are unwilling to believe in the Triune God, for they are not able to experience Him through their senses. Many assert that they will only believe if they are able to see God; they in effect are saying "God show yourself to us and that will be enough." The Words that Jesus shared to His disciples are the Words that we all have available to us today through the Holy Scriptures. These Scriptures are "living and active . . . judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12); they are a gift from the Lord to increase our faith in Him, though we cannot physically see His glory in our temporal state.
God has also gifted us with the presence of the Holy Spirit that lives within the believer, giving to him the assurance that God exists as Sovereign Lord and is working all things according to His eternal purposes . . . . namely the redemption of the redeemed as eternal, evidential proof and testament to His glorious grace (see Ephesians 1).
Failing to see God in His Glory is not an excuse that can be used to deny the reality of God. God already has given to us the above mentioned gifts of the Word and the Spirit. The question that we should be asking is, "Are we tapping into the blessedness of an intimate relationship with God through the Word and the Holy Spirit?"
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