I Kings 11:1-2: "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter . . . . They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.'"
For all of the accolades about Solomon and his great wisdom, I Kings 11 presents a rather surprising account of the unwise decisions of the great Jewish king in the latter years of his life. Despite the prohibition from the LORD of the Jewish people intermarrying with pagan peoples around them, Solomon chose to do just that. Given that many of these wives were of royal families (11:3), one can speculate that many of these bethrothals were politically orchestrated so that alliances (and hence peace) might be maintained in the region. This rationale did not make these marriages right, for if Solomon had simply trusted in the Lord, He (God) would have provided Solomon protection from his enemies.
Nevertheless, we find the consequences from these unholy marriages:
1. Solomon's wives turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not fully devoted to God (11:4).
2. Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and he did not follow the LORD completely (11:6).
3. Solomon built worship places for pagan deities on hilltops, so that incense and offerings could be offered to them (11:7-8).
4. Even though God had appeared to Solomon twice (once at Gibeon, when Solomon asked for a discerning heart rather than riches to lead the people, and again in Jerusalem after Solomon had built the temple and prayed to dedicate it to the LORD), Solomon's heart was now turned away from the LORD (11:9).
5. Solomon did not keep the LORD's command, forbidding the king to follow other gods (11:10).
As a result, God declared judgment upon Solomon that a portion of the kingdom would be torn away from Solomon's descendants and given to a subordinate. God too raised up adversaries to challenge the king's authority and rule in the region. One such adversary was an Ephraimite official named Jeroboam, who was quite proficient in fulfilling his duties for King Solomon . . . so much so that Solomon had placed him in charge of the entire labor force of the house of Joseph. But when Solmon began to see the potential threat that Jeroboam might be to his reign, the king sought to destroy him. Thus the paranoia of Solomon and the fear that someone would usurp his throne would mark the final days of the king's life. This certainly is not the desired end of a king that had been so blessed by the LORD throughout his life.
This passage is a very good word for believers in Christ today. Whereas we might have a wonderful fellowship with the LORD, we have to be ever mindful that the relationships into which we commit ourselves can become quite destructive for us emotionally, financially, physically, and most important, spiritually if the people with whom we associate are not followers of Jesus Christ themselves. Lest we believe that we are beyond the entrapments of disobedience when we enter into such unholy relationships, we only need to look at one of the wisest men who has walked the face of the earth and realize that even he was not impervious to such enticements.
So, let's not follow the pattern of Solomon in his latter years. Let's be discerning of our relationships. Let's seek the wisdom of God in making such choices. Let's ask that He guide our hearts so that we will not allow ourselves to fall into unhealthy associations with those who would draw us away from the rich, intimate fellowship that we have with the Lord.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Biblical Leadership
Ephesians 4:11-12: "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
Several things come to mind when I read this passage about leaders in the Church:
1. First, the calling to leadership is given by God to different people in the Church, not just one. God calls and equips different individuals with certain gifts. We should not think that we have or must have it all, and to think in such ways is to treat God's designed plan for leadership with contempt.
2. Secondly, we are called to prepare God's people for works of service. The literal translation of "prepare" is "to put right." It suggests the setting of a broken bone or the mending of a net. Also, the word for "service" is the same word used of a deacon. Deacons were first appointed for the purpose of attending to the physical needs of widows who had no means to help themselves. These too were men who were found to be full of "the Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3). With the usage of terms suggesting something being broken or torn, the writer is presuming that people who are called to serve may need to be guided from their "brokenness" to service for the Lord. We know that we all have been enticed to live lives of selfishness, for we know that such thinking is driven by our sinful natures and is not of God but of the world and the Devil (Galatians 5:19-20, James 3:14-15). Even for the disciple of Jesus Christ, there continues to be a war that wages from the sinful nature, drawing us back into selfish consumption and the "sin living in (us)" [Romans 7:17]. Thus, those leaders called to the responsibilities in Ephesians 4:11 should be focused on helping to mend the hearts of believers who have fallen back into a self-focused mindset and are not thinking about or expressing love to others.
3. We also see that the purpose of preparing the believers' hearts is so that the body of Christ may be built up and that there would be unity of faith in the Church. Those who have the mindset of building up the Church are living lives "worthy of the calling [they had] received." They are expressing the fruits of humility, gentleness, patience, kindness, and love (Eph. 4:1-2). Leaders called should be centered in their purpose to draw the people, through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit using the Holy Scriptures, into an awareness of these fruits (ultimately given by the Spirit [Galatians 5:22]) and a repentance for failing to administer these gifts to the body.
4. Leaders too need to be aware of the need for the Church to have the "knowledge of the Son of God." This is not mere factual awareness but a deep, intimate association with and love for Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself shares in the gospels that if we love Him, we will keep His commands (John 14:15); and of course, to even know the commands of Christ, one has to be immersed in the Holy Text of God's Word. Jesus promises that if we obey Christ's commands, God the Father will love him, and the Father and the Son will make their "home with him." Leaders need to be impassioned to lead their people to such places of rich, intimate association with the Lord!
5. Leaders thus are to help the members of the body strive for maturity in the faith and the fullest attainment of the fullness of Christ. None of us live static lives. We constantly are in motion either towards Christ or away from Him. Galatians 5:25 tells us to "keep in step" with the Spirit, and the word used here is from the same root as the musical term, "staccato." The staccato note is a short, repeated note which can been visualized in the rhythmic summoning of a military drummer, calling troops to keep in step with the leader for battle. We must keep in step with the Lord, for to do so is to mature in our faith and to experience the fullness of Christ.
6. Lastly, leaders are to evaluate to see if their flock are "no longer infants, tossed back and forth by the waves." These "waves" are the enticements of the world and the vain philosophies that it deceitfully introduces, through cunning and crafty men. Leaders do this by speaking the "truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) so that the body is continuing to grow up in maturity and in intimacy with Christ. These expressions of love might not be just words of encouragement and support, but they may also be words of rebuke and admonishment toward those who are straying from fellowship with the Lord.
As one can see, those called to such positions of leadership have a tremendous responsibility. So, if you are called by God for such a task, do it with all your might (though the power of the Holy Spirit within you), so that "we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ" (Eph. 4:15).
Several things come to mind when I read this passage about leaders in the Church:
1. First, the calling to leadership is given by God to different people in the Church, not just one. God calls and equips different individuals with certain gifts. We should not think that we have or must have it all, and to think in such ways is to treat God's designed plan for leadership with contempt.
2. Secondly, we are called to prepare God's people for works of service. The literal translation of "prepare" is "to put right." It suggests the setting of a broken bone or the mending of a net. Also, the word for "service" is the same word used of a deacon. Deacons were first appointed for the purpose of attending to the physical needs of widows who had no means to help themselves. These too were men who were found to be full of "the Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3). With the usage of terms suggesting something being broken or torn, the writer is presuming that people who are called to serve may need to be guided from their "brokenness" to service for the Lord. We know that we all have been enticed to live lives of selfishness, for we know that such thinking is driven by our sinful natures and is not of God but of the world and the Devil (Galatians 5:19-20, James 3:14-15). Even for the disciple of Jesus Christ, there continues to be a war that wages from the sinful nature, drawing us back into selfish consumption and the "sin living in (us)" [Romans 7:17]. Thus, those leaders called to the responsibilities in Ephesians 4:11 should be focused on helping to mend the hearts of believers who have fallen back into a self-focused mindset and are not thinking about or expressing love to others.
3. We also see that the purpose of preparing the believers' hearts is so that the body of Christ may be built up and that there would be unity of faith in the Church. Those who have the mindset of building up the Church are living lives "worthy of the calling [they had] received." They are expressing the fruits of humility, gentleness, patience, kindness, and love (Eph. 4:1-2). Leaders called should be centered in their purpose to draw the people, through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit using the Holy Scriptures, into an awareness of these fruits (ultimately given by the Spirit [Galatians 5:22]) and a repentance for failing to administer these gifts to the body.
4. Leaders too need to be aware of the need for the Church to have the "knowledge of the Son of God." This is not mere factual awareness but a deep, intimate association with and love for Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself shares in the gospels that if we love Him, we will keep His commands (John 14:15); and of course, to even know the commands of Christ, one has to be immersed in the Holy Text of God's Word. Jesus promises that if we obey Christ's commands, God the Father will love him, and the Father and the Son will make their "home with him." Leaders need to be impassioned to lead their people to such places of rich, intimate association with the Lord!
5. Leaders thus are to help the members of the body strive for maturity in the faith and the fullest attainment of the fullness of Christ. None of us live static lives. We constantly are in motion either towards Christ or away from Him. Galatians 5:25 tells us to "keep in step" with the Spirit, and the word used here is from the same root as the musical term, "staccato." The staccato note is a short, repeated note which can been visualized in the rhythmic summoning of a military drummer, calling troops to keep in step with the leader for battle. We must keep in step with the Lord, for to do so is to mature in our faith and to experience the fullness of Christ.
6. Lastly, leaders are to evaluate to see if their flock are "no longer infants, tossed back and forth by the waves." These "waves" are the enticements of the world and the vain philosophies that it deceitfully introduces, through cunning and crafty men. Leaders do this by speaking the "truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) so that the body is continuing to grow up in maturity and in intimacy with Christ. These expressions of love might not be just words of encouragement and support, but they may also be words of rebuke and admonishment toward those who are straying from fellowship with the Lord.
As one can see, those called to such positions of leadership have a tremendous responsibility. So, if you are called by God for such a task, do it with all your might (though the power of the Holy Spirit within you), so that "we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ" (Eph. 4:15).
Thursday, January 8, 2015
The Purposes of a Shepherd
Galatians 2:2: "I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel . . ."
Galatians 2:4: "Some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves . . ."
Galatians 3:3: "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"
Recently, I have had the wonderful privilege of re-reading Dr. Tim Laniak's book, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks, which is a profound resource on Biblical leadership. Dr. Laniak spent an extended period amount of time living with a bedouin tribe of shepherds in the Middle East, and he journaled his reflections of their shepherding techniques and how these skills are paramount to the shepherding that takes place in the Church. The three central categories that Dr. Laniak identifies within the shepherding motif are: shepherd as provider, shepherd as protector, and shepherd as competent guide.
Having these concepts in my mind, I found it interesting that these themes showed up in the life of the Apostle Paul in the book of Galatians. In Galatians 2:2, we find that Paul was given a revelation by God to go and share the gospel . . . the spiritual nourishment that the soul needs from the Word of God. The people needed to hear God's message, and Paul was given a revelation by God to fulfill that need. A pastor/shepherd's first responsibility is to feed the sheep. If the flock are not being fed God's Word, they will not endure. Woe be unto any pastor who does not proclaim the entirety of Bible (with the Gospel as it's central theme) truthfully and consistently!
So too, Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians because he was concerned about the wolves in the church's midst that were trying to steer the believers back into the entrapment of performance-based religion (i.e. that one must satisfy certain requirements in order to obtain the favor of God). Wolves are insatiable opportunists who stealthily work in packs to destroy and consume the flock. This is why it is of utmost importance for a shepherd to be alert constantly of their presence and deal with their threats so that the sheep are kept safe. A shepherd who is oblivious or indifferent to the protection and safety of the flock does not need to shepherd.
Lastly, one can find Paul admonishing the church, even reproving Peter, for falling to the Judaizer's propaganda. Paul saw that the sheep needed steering away from a dangerous precipice. He desired to guide them back to the right path that would lead them to obedience to the LORD. Competent guiding by a shepherd is of utmost importance; for without such guidance, the sheep are prone to wander from the "still waters and green pastures" of blessing from the Lord. This guidance is not always easy, and the sheep sometimes may need to be prodded in the direction that they should go; still, a shepherd initiates leadership in the way that is best for the sheep, for he loves his flock and wants the very best for them.
This is a good word for anyone who serves in a shepherding role within the Church. Are we intentional at providing the spiritual nourishment of the Word to the sheep? Are we striving to protect the flock from the ravenous wolves that seek to devour them? And are we intentional at guiding the flock in the direction that we know is best for them, for it is the path that the Good and Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, desires for us to traverse? If we do not make these callings the bedrock of our ministries, we will miss our main commissioning as undershepherds to the Lord Almighty.
Galatians 2:4: "Some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves . . ."
Galatians 3:3: "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"
Recently, I have had the wonderful privilege of re-reading Dr. Tim Laniak's book, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks, which is a profound resource on Biblical leadership. Dr. Laniak spent an extended period amount of time living with a bedouin tribe of shepherds in the Middle East, and he journaled his reflections of their shepherding techniques and how these skills are paramount to the shepherding that takes place in the Church. The three central categories that Dr. Laniak identifies within the shepherding motif are: shepherd as provider, shepherd as protector, and shepherd as competent guide.
Having these concepts in my mind, I found it interesting that these themes showed up in the life of the Apostle Paul in the book of Galatians. In Galatians 2:2, we find that Paul was given a revelation by God to go and share the gospel . . . the spiritual nourishment that the soul needs from the Word of God. The people needed to hear God's message, and Paul was given a revelation by God to fulfill that need. A pastor/shepherd's first responsibility is to feed the sheep. If the flock are not being fed God's Word, they will not endure. Woe be unto any pastor who does not proclaim the entirety of Bible (with the Gospel as it's central theme) truthfully and consistently!
So too, Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians because he was concerned about the wolves in the church's midst that were trying to steer the believers back into the entrapment of performance-based religion (i.e. that one must satisfy certain requirements in order to obtain the favor of God). Wolves are insatiable opportunists who stealthily work in packs to destroy and consume the flock. This is why it is of utmost importance for a shepherd to be alert constantly of their presence and deal with their threats so that the sheep are kept safe. A shepherd who is oblivious or indifferent to the protection and safety of the flock does not need to shepherd.
Lastly, one can find Paul admonishing the church, even reproving Peter, for falling to the Judaizer's propaganda. Paul saw that the sheep needed steering away from a dangerous precipice. He desired to guide them back to the right path that would lead them to obedience to the LORD. Competent guiding by a shepherd is of utmost importance; for without such guidance, the sheep are prone to wander from the "still waters and green pastures" of blessing from the Lord. This guidance is not always easy, and the sheep sometimes may need to be prodded in the direction that they should go; still, a shepherd initiates leadership in the way that is best for the sheep, for he loves his flock and wants the very best for them.
This is a good word for anyone who serves in a shepherding role within the Church. Are we intentional at providing the spiritual nourishment of the Word to the sheep? Are we striving to protect the flock from the ravenous wolves that seek to devour them? And are we intentional at guiding the flock in the direction that we know is best for them, for it is the path that the Good and Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, desires for us to traverse? If we do not make these callings the bedrock of our ministries, we will miss our main commissioning as undershepherds to the Lord Almighty.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Pleasing Man Or God?
Galatians 1:10b: "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
As one reads through the book of Galatians, one quickly finds that Paul is deeply concerned for a church that had received the gospel, had been baptized, and even had experienced the power of God through miracles (3:5). Paul was grieved about the church's disposition because he previously had visited them (rather unexpectedly due to an unexpected illness [4:13]), and many were saved through his bold proclamation of the "good news" of Jesus Christ; however, by the time of Paul's letter, the church had fallen to the propaganda of the Judaizers from Jerusalem that demanded that the church rigidly follow the Mosaic law in order to be saved.
In his letter, Paul recounts his own journey through Judaism as one advancing more quickly through the ranks than others his age. In his zealous pursuit to the "traditions of (his) fathers," Paul was making a name for himself. He was on the fast track to becoming an esteemed religious figure within the Jewish community. But then something radically and wonderfully happened. God, in accordance with His own pleasure and will "called" Paul to genuine faith in Jesus Christ (1:15-16), and then God commissioned Paul to be an apostle to share the amazing grace that He affords to those who would receive it. To be sure, Paul exclaims that this glorious gospel of which he preached was not "something man made up . . . rather, (it was) received by revelation of Jesus Christ."
Paul then shares a rather focused and profound statement with the Galatians, namely that his purpose was not to please man, otherwise he would not be a servant of Jesus Christ. Paul understood that to be a chosen servant of the Almighty was to proclaim what the LORD desired the people to hear. Paul would not succumb again to the enticement to please those in religious authority in his community or the hearers of his message; instead, he would proclaim the truth . . . and he would do so obediently, consistently, and unashamedly.
Of course, one only needs read through the Pauline letters to see the consequences of his being so emboldened to share God's truth, for Paul would be hunted and persecuted throughout his missionary journeys. In 2 Corinthians 11 we find a detailed account by Paul of his sufferings on account of his faith, and this listing includes stoning, beatings, whippings, shipwrecks, hunger, cold, sleep deprivation, and many others. Still, Paul kept focused on what God called him to do, rather than give to his hearers what their itching ears wanted to hear. This is a messenger who honored the One who sent him, and God would be well pleased with the way Paul carried out his assignment.
This is a good word for us today. When we are called by God to serve Him (and all of us who have been saved are commissioned to service in the Kingdom of God), we must do what He calls us to do rather than trying to please men. In fact, when a servant of God is faithfully fulfilling his calling, invariably this will result in resistance and even persecution from others who walk in darkness. The Apostle Peter warns us not to be surprised as such reprisals of persecution as "though something strange were happening to you." They are to be expected . . . and endured with rejoicing that we are counted worthy to experience the "sufferings of Christ," knowing that joy awaits when our Lord's glory is revealed (I Peter 4:12).
So press on in your calling. Be kind and considerate, and love others genuinely; but never compromise the calling to which you have received from the Lord. For it is much more important that you please God rather than man.
As one reads through the book of Galatians, one quickly finds that Paul is deeply concerned for a church that had received the gospel, had been baptized, and even had experienced the power of God through miracles (3:5). Paul was grieved about the church's disposition because he previously had visited them (rather unexpectedly due to an unexpected illness [4:13]), and many were saved through his bold proclamation of the "good news" of Jesus Christ; however, by the time of Paul's letter, the church had fallen to the propaganda of the Judaizers from Jerusalem that demanded that the church rigidly follow the Mosaic law in order to be saved.
In his letter, Paul recounts his own journey through Judaism as one advancing more quickly through the ranks than others his age. In his zealous pursuit to the "traditions of (his) fathers," Paul was making a name for himself. He was on the fast track to becoming an esteemed religious figure within the Jewish community. But then something radically and wonderfully happened. God, in accordance with His own pleasure and will "called" Paul to genuine faith in Jesus Christ (1:15-16), and then God commissioned Paul to be an apostle to share the amazing grace that He affords to those who would receive it. To be sure, Paul exclaims that this glorious gospel of which he preached was not "something man made up . . . rather, (it was) received by revelation of Jesus Christ."
Paul then shares a rather focused and profound statement with the Galatians, namely that his purpose was not to please man, otherwise he would not be a servant of Jesus Christ. Paul understood that to be a chosen servant of the Almighty was to proclaim what the LORD desired the people to hear. Paul would not succumb again to the enticement to please those in religious authority in his community or the hearers of his message; instead, he would proclaim the truth . . . and he would do so obediently, consistently, and unashamedly.
Of course, one only needs read through the Pauline letters to see the consequences of his being so emboldened to share God's truth, for Paul would be hunted and persecuted throughout his missionary journeys. In 2 Corinthians 11 we find a detailed account by Paul of his sufferings on account of his faith, and this listing includes stoning, beatings, whippings, shipwrecks, hunger, cold, sleep deprivation, and many others. Still, Paul kept focused on what God called him to do, rather than give to his hearers what their itching ears wanted to hear. This is a messenger who honored the One who sent him, and God would be well pleased with the way Paul carried out his assignment.
This is a good word for us today. When we are called by God to serve Him (and all of us who have been saved are commissioned to service in the Kingdom of God), we must do what He calls us to do rather than trying to please men. In fact, when a servant of God is faithfully fulfilling his calling, invariably this will result in resistance and even persecution from others who walk in darkness. The Apostle Peter warns us not to be surprised as such reprisals of persecution as "though something strange were happening to you." They are to be expected . . . and endured with rejoicing that we are counted worthy to experience the "sufferings of Christ," knowing that joy awaits when our Lord's glory is revealed (I Peter 4:12).
So press on in your calling. Be kind and considerate, and love others genuinely; but never compromise the calling to which you have received from the Lord. For it is much more important that you please God rather than man.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Prepare Your Heart During the Times of Uncertainty
Ezra 7:6: "Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him."
The Jewish priest, Ezra, lived during a time when many of the Israelites had been in captivity to foreign nations for over 100 years. Even though God was working His plan of redemption and restoration for His people, it still was a time of difficulty and despondency, for the Jews had been in servitude for many years and many miles from their promised land from God. To be sure, God had moved the heart of King Cyrus of Persia (ca. 538bc) to make proclamations for the Jewish people to rebuild the temple, but the implementation of this decree was not without difficulty. Even when the Jews arrived in Jerusalem and built the foundation for the House of God, the discouragement of it not being as impressive as Solomon's Temple and the pressures of the pagans around them, thwarting the constructive efforts led to a halting of the building for over a decade.
Yet even in the midst of such uncertain times, we find that Ezra was pouring his heart and mind over the sacred Scriptures of God. He did not permit the circumstances around him to bring such discouragement that he gave up on preparing his heart for God's Word to him and his people. Ezra knew that God would orchestrate His plans and purposes in His own timing, and all that Ezra needed to do was be prepared when God desired to use Him. And even though Ezra would not come to Jerusalem for over 50 years after the temple was completed, when he did arrive, the "hand of the LORD his God was on him" (Ezra 7:6). And we see in Ezra 7:10 that God's favor was on the priest because Ezra "devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD." This was not mere intellectual knowledge of God's expressed will; rather, this was full observance/obedience of what God wanted Ezra and the people to do to bring glory to God. And at just the right time (in God's timing), God would bring Ezra back to Jerusalem so that he could lead the people in a spiritual revival. In Nehemiah 8, we find that Ezra opened the Scriptures before the people and read from them, and he "praise the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, 'Amen! Amen!'" (Nehemiah 8:5-6). Later we find in this chapter that the time of celebration was greater than anything experienced since the time of Joshua, who lived 1000 years before. Truly it was a spectacular experience.
This is a very important word for us, for though we have not experienced the events that Ezra and the Jewish people experienced during that time, we too encounter difficult times . . . when we are uncertain as to why we are facing what we are going through and we wonder where God is in the midst of our difficulties. We need to be inspired from the reading of this text, for we know that God is never absent from us when we are facing troublesome times, and He desires for us to prepare our hearts by reading His Word of instruction and inspiration. We need to know that at just the right time, God will use our preparedness to orchestrate something wonderful for His glory, even though we don't know why we are going through our "valley" and we can't see how He can use such an experience for His plans and purposes. The worst thing we can do is capitulate to our difficult circumstances and fail to strengthen our hearts through intimate communion with God; for to follow such a path might impede God's using us for something marvelous.
So press on! Continue preparing your hearts and minds . . . knowing that your "labor in the Lord is not in vain" (I Corinthians 15:58).
The Jewish priest, Ezra, lived during a time when many of the Israelites had been in captivity to foreign nations for over 100 years. Even though God was working His plan of redemption and restoration for His people, it still was a time of difficulty and despondency, for the Jews had been in servitude for many years and many miles from their promised land from God. To be sure, God had moved the heart of King Cyrus of Persia (ca. 538bc) to make proclamations for the Jewish people to rebuild the temple, but the implementation of this decree was not without difficulty. Even when the Jews arrived in Jerusalem and built the foundation for the House of God, the discouragement of it not being as impressive as Solomon's Temple and the pressures of the pagans around them, thwarting the constructive efforts led to a halting of the building for over a decade.
Yet even in the midst of such uncertain times, we find that Ezra was pouring his heart and mind over the sacred Scriptures of God. He did not permit the circumstances around him to bring such discouragement that he gave up on preparing his heart for God's Word to him and his people. Ezra knew that God would orchestrate His plans and purposes in His own timing, and all that Ezra needed to do was be prepared when God desired to use Him. And even though Ezra would not come to Jerusalem for over 50 years after the temple was completed, when he did arrive, the "hand of the LORD his God was on him" (Ezra 7:6). And we see in Ezra 7:10 that God's favor was on the priest because Ezra "devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD." This was not mere intellectual knowledge of God's expressed will; rather, this was full observance/obedience of what God wanted Ezra and the people to do to bring glory to God. And at just the right time (in God's timing), God would bring Ezra back to Jerusalem so that he could lead the people in a spiritual revival. In Nehemiah 8, we find that Ezra opened the Scriptures before the people and read from them, and he "praise the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, 'Amen! Amen!'" (Nehemiah 8:5-6). Later we find in this chapter that the time of celebration was greater than anything experienced since the time of Joshua, who lived 1000 years before. Truly it was a spectacular experience.
This is a very important word for us, for though we have not experienced the events that Ezra and the Jewish people experienced during that time, we too encounter difficult times . . . when we are uncertain as to why we are facing what we are going through and we wonder where God is in the midst of our difficulties. We need to be inspired from the reading of this text, for we know that God is never absent from us when we are facing troublesome times, and He desires for us to prepare our hearts by reading His Word of instruction and inspiration. We need to know that at just the right time, God will use our preparedness to orchestrate something wonderful for His glory, even though we don't know why we are going through our "valley" and we can't see how He can use such an experience for His plans and purposes. The worst thing we can do is capitulate to our difficult circumstances and fail to strengthen our hearts through intimate communion with God; for to follow such a path might impede God's using us for something marvelous.
So press on! Continue preparing your hearts and minds . . . knowing that your "labor in the Lord is not in vain" (I Corinthians 15:58).
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Get to Praying
Ephesians 6:18-20 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus while he was imprisoned in Rome. In fact, he wrote the letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and to Philemon during that same period. As Paul wrote His word of exhortation to the Ephesians, he shared that he knelt "before the Father . . . . (that) He [God] may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (Eph. 3:14-17). Paul continued by sharing that he prayed that they might experience true depth of faith and love, and that they would have power to grasp the magnitude of Christ's love for them. Paul was astute enough to know that the greater the Ephesians appreciated Christ's love and grace, the more they would be inspired to share that faith with others and to live lives of obedience to God as an expression of appreciation. Paul knew that this is exactly where the Lord would desire them to be.
Now, at the end of his letter, Paul petitioned the Ephesians to pray on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. He knew that the more the people were engaged in a regular communion with the Lord, the closer they would be drawn into fellowship with Him. Paul too knew that with more prayers (and thus acknowledgement of the need for God's regular intervention in their lives), the believers would experience the blessedness of seeing God orchestrate things which would be absolutely magnificent and quite possibly outside the realm of what they anticipated. This would draw the people into a spirit of praise and adoration of God for His responding in truly spectacular ways.
Paul uses in his letter an interesting imperative to "be alert." Much like a watchman on a city wall that would assess the circumstances before him to assure the safety and protection of himself and his fellow citizens, so too Paul charged the Christians at Ephesus to be alert and keep praying for the saints. We as the body of Christ are on this journey called life together, and we need to lift each other to the Lord with regularity for provision, for protection, and for guidance. Paul too asked that they pray for him so that he would share the mystery of the gospel clearly and fearlessly to those in Rome. One can only imagine the persecutions that Paul experienced as he awaited his trial there. He knew that his life likely would be sacrificed for the cause of Christ, if he remained faithful to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. And yet at the same time, he understood that in his flesh, there would come a temptation to seek the easy way out so as to avoid his demise. Paul asked that his brothers and sisters in Christ in Ephesus lift him up so that he might boldly share the message, no matter the outcome. He knew that his strength would come from the Holy Spirit, and this is why he himself prayed similar prayers for the Ephesian believers with regularity.
This text is a wonderful word for us today, for it seems that one of the prevailing shortcomings of today's disciples of Christ is the offering of regular prayers of all kinds to the Lord . . . particularly prayers that call out to God to strengthen fellow believers with His power and His wisdom. How often are we praying for each other, that we would grasp the magitude of His grace and love for us? How much are we praying for others to have a distinguishing depth of faith in God and love for others? How much are we praying that our fellow believers would speak the truth of the gospel with boldness and clarity when opportunities are afforded to them? It sounds like we need to "get to praying."
Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus while he was imprisoned in Rome. In fact, he wrote the letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and to Philemon during that same period. As Paul wrote His word of exhortation to the Ephesians, he shared that he knelt "before the Father . . . . (that) He [God] may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (Eph. 3:14-17). Paul continued by sharing that he prayed that they might experience true depth of faith and love, and that they would have power to grasp the magnitude of Christ's love for them. Paul was astute enough to know that the greater the Ephesians appreciated Christ's love and grace, the more they would be inspired to share that faith with others and to live lives of obedience to God as an expression of appreciation. Paul knew that this is exactly where the Lord would desire them to be.
Now, at the end of his letter, Paul petitioned the Ephesians to pray on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. He knew that the more the people were engaged in a regular communion with the Lord, the closer they would be drawn into fellowship with Him. Paul too knew that with more prayers (and thus acknowledgement of the need for God's regular intervention in their lives), the believers would experience the blessedness of seeing God orchestrate things which would be absolutely magnificent and quite possibly outside the realm of what they anticipated. This would draw the people into a spirit of praise and adoration of God for His responding in truly spectacular ways.
Paul uses in his letter an interesting imperative to "be alert." Much like a watchman on a city wall that would assess the circumstances before him to assure the safety and protection of himself and his fellow citizens, so too Paul charged the Christians at Ephesus to be alert and keep praying for the saints. We as the body of Christ are on this journey called life together, and we need to lift each other to the Lord with regularity for provision, for protection, and for guidance. Paul too asked that they pray for him so that he would share the mystery of the gospel clearly and fearlessly to those in Rome. One can only imagine the persecutions that Paul experienced as he awaited his trial there. He knew that his life likely would be sacrificed for the cause of Christ, if he remained faithful to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. And yet at the same time, he understood that in his flesh, there would come a temptation to seek the easy way out so as to avoid his demise. Paul asked that his brothers and sisters in Christ in Ephesus lift him up so that he might boldly share the message, no matter the outcome. He knew that his strength would come from the Holy Spirit, and this is why he himself prayed similar prayers for the Ephesian believers with regularity.
This text is a wonderful word for us today, for it seems that one of the prevailing shortcomings of today's disciples of Christ is the offering of regular prayers of all kinds to the Lord . . . particularly prayers that call out to God to strengthen fellow believers with His power and His wisdom. How often are we praying for each other, that we would grasp the magitude of His grace and love for us? How much are we praying for others to have a distinguishing depth of faith in God and love for others? How much are we praying that our fellow believers would speak the truth of the gospel with boldness and clarity when opportunities are afforded to them? It sounds like we need to "get to praying."
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
True Worship
Zechariah 7:5-6,9-10: "When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves? . . . . This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'"
Zechariah the prophet lived during a time when the people of Israel had been away from the Promised Land for seventy years, due to their obstinate rebellion against the Lord and His Word. And whereas the people responded early to their calamity of captivity (and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple) with a spirit of mourning and fasting, over the years their religious practices had become more an event of formality and self-indulgence than true repentance. These were the very ingredients that caused the judgment of God to befall them seventy years before. The Jewish people's failure to focus upon the Lord and His purposes caused such a lack of driven determination to seek the Lord that they had begun to satisfy their own appetites and offer token religious rituals to satisfy their spiritual obligations. These were a people who had become so lethargic in their spiritual walk that they just didn't care about God and what He might be up to. In effect, their lack of faith was a sacrilege against the Sovereign reign of the One True God and His character traits of love and faithfulness to fulfill His promise that He would redeem them and restore them to the Promised Land.
God's summoning of Zechariah at such a time as this was to remind the people that the type of worship that the LORD truly desired was one that was expressed through obedience. To be sure, God previously had told their forefathers to be a people of justice, to show mercy and compassion, to help the marginalized and needy, and to cultivate in their hearts a spirit of love for one another. Sadly, these descendants who should have known better through their own living out the consequences of sin by being in captivity, were acting no differently than their predecessors. They were selfish, and they were religiously arrogant, believing that they had fulfilled their spiritual obligations to God. What they really needed was genuine repentance from their wickedness of religious routine with no reverence for God and His commandments.
This is a good word for us today. How many of us are inclined to go through the motions of worship without a heart open to obeying the instructions of our Lord to be merciful, loving, compassionate, and just? How many of us lapse into religious routine without even thinking that our hearts are so far removed from the LORD that our worship is grotesque sacrilege to the King of Kings? How many of us believe that we've offered to God a form of worship and now He is obligated to bless us for it? The best way to examine ourselves and our worship is to see if we are faithfully fulfilling the dictates that He has given us above. If we are, then our worship before the LORD is a savory expression of adoration and exaltation of Him; and in these genuine expressions of worship, our Lord is well pleased.
Zechariah the prophet lived during a time when the people of Israel had been away from the Promised Land for seventy years, due to their obstinate rebellion against the Lord and His Word. And whereas the people responded early to their calamity of captivity (and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple) with a spirit of mourning and fasting, over the years their religious practices had become more an event of formality and self-indulgence than true repentance. These were the very ingredients that caused the judgment of God to befall them seventy years before. The Jewish people's failure to focus upon the Lord and His purposes caused such a lack of driven determination to seek the Lord that they had begun to satisfy their own appetites and offer token religious rituals to satisfy their spiritual obligations. These were a people who had become so lethargic in their spiritual walk that they just didn't care about God and what He might be up to. In effect, their lack of faith was a sacrilege against the Sovereign reign of the One True God and His character traits of love and faithfulness to fulfill His promise that He would redeem them and restore them to the Promised Land.
God's summoning of Zechariah at such a time as this was to remind the people that the type of worship that the LORD truly desired was one that was expressed through obedience. To be sure, God previously had told their forefathers to be a people of justice, to show mercy and compassion, to help the marginalized and needy, and to cultivate in their hearts a spirit of love for one another. Sadly, these descendants who should have known better through their own living out the consequences of sin by being in captivity, were acting no differently than their predecessors. They were selfish, and they were religiously arrogant, believing that they had fulfilled their spiritual obligations to God. What they really needed was genuine repentance from their wickedness of religious routine with no reverence for God and His commandments.
This is a good word for us today. How many of us are inclined to go through the motions of worship without a heart open to obeying the instructions of our Lord to be merciful, loving, compassionate, and just? How many of us lapse into religious routine without even thinking that our hearts are so far removed from the LORD that our worship is grotesque sacrilege to the King of Kings? How many of us believe that we've offered to God a form of worship and now He is obligated to bless us for it? The best way to examine ourselves and our worship is to see if we are faithfully fulfilling the dictates that He has given us above. If we are, then our worship before the LORD is a savory expression of adoration and exaltation of Him; and in these genuine expressions of worship, our Lord is well pleased.
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