The Strategy to Change the World
We not only have the message of Jesus we also have his method. It is very simple:
1. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest for workers to GO.
2. Have the power of God anoint you. You do not need organizations, courses on sharing, reading books, 5 years of training. You need to have the power of God rest on you.
3. Go.... leave your comfort zone and go on a mission. Go to the hurting, the sick, the demon possessed, the poor.
4. Go to houses. We change the world house by house.
5. Go to the man of peace. If a person receives your peace then continue to work with him. If he rejects your peace then go to the next house. Respond to those the Lord has prepared.
Putting this into practice.... think with me about 2010. Who are the people you could invite to read through the Bible with you? I challenge everyone to start praying about 5 people to ask to read with you. It is through the truth of God's Word that lives are changed.
Join me as we seek to change the world!!!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Oct 29
Teaching Through Parables.
Jesus used parables to teach people what the kingdom of heaven is like. The spiritual things of God are sometimes hard to understand so Jesus used examples from the physical world. People at this time were very familiar with farming, fishing, planting seeds and making bread. Some of the parables teach the same thing, they just use different imagery in order to drive the point home. Despite these earthly examples, there are still those who didn't understand. It's important to look at these parables closely and pay attention to Jesus' explanations.
The parable of the the hidden treasure and valuable pearl are two that I believe I misunderstood for a long time. At first I thought that the man in both stories represented us and the treasure or pearl represented the kingdom of heaven. Man discovers the kingdom and sacrifices everything in his life to earn it. That sounds nice, but then where does God come into that picture? In this scenario, man is the one who earns the kingdom and God is just waiting around for someone to stumble upon Him. After listening to different teachers and looking at it closer, I believe I had it all wrong. God is the man in both parables that finds the treasure, and that treasure is us! We are the valuable treasure and the pearl of great value! God loves us so much that he gave up everything in order to be with us. God gave His son and Jesus gave His life so that He could be with us forever.
If you think that you understand what a parable is saying, I encourage you to look a little deeper. God has so many wonderful things that He wants to reveal to us. All we have to do is look and listen.
Jesus used parables to teach people what the kingdom of heaven is like. The spiritual things of God are sometimes hard to understand so Jesus used examples from the physical world. People at this time were very familiar with farming, fishing, planting seeds and making bread. Some of the parables teach the same thing, they just use different imagery in order to drive the point home. Despite these earthly examples, there are still those who didn't understand. It's important to look at these parables closely and pay attention to Jesus' explanations.
The parable of the the hidden treasure and valuable pearl are two that I believe I misunderstood for a long time. At first I thought that the man in both stories represented us and the treasure or pearl represented the kingdom of heaven. Man discovers the kingdom and sacrifices everything in his life to earn it. That sounds nice, but then where does God come into that picture? In this scenario, man is the one who earns the kingdom and God is just waiting around for someone to stumble upon Him. After listening to different teachers and looking at it closer, I believe I had it all wrong. God is the man in both parables that finds the treasure, and that treasure is us! We are the valuable treasure and the pearl of great value! God loves us so much that he gave up everything in order to be with us. God gave His son and Jesus gave His life so that He could be with us forever.
If you think that you understand what a parable is saying, I encourage you to look a little deeper. God has so many wonderful things that He wants to reveal to us. All we have to do is look and listen.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
October 28
A Moment about Riches
An old Jack Benny skit has Jack walking along when suddenly an armed robber approaches him and demands, "Your money or your life!" There is a long pause. Finally the robber impatiently asks, "Well?" "Don't rush me," Benny replies. "I'm thinking about it." We laugh at the joke but it represents a very real picture of many people's priorities. For some, money has become more important than life itself.
We can summarize American Values on money by this phrase: “Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can.” What is amazing is that Jesus had more to say on money then heaven and hell combined. In our reading today he tells a parable about money.
It is hard to decide whether we should cry or laugh at the situation Jesus finds himself in. The crowd is described as in the thousands and it says that the people were “trampling” on one another. Then in the middle of the sermon, one man rumbles up to the front row and blurts out, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance." His face flushed, his voice anxious and his spirit is insistent. This man is so worried he won't get his snout into feeding trough of the family's estate that nothing else matters in life. He doesn't care about point Jesus is making, or about people gathered hear Jesus, all he cares about is himself.
Jesus shows no sympathy for the request but decides to make this a teaching moment and sternly warns the man, "Watch Out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Then he tells the story about a man who struck gold in the commodities market. This guy worked hard. He spent his days making his dream come true. He had it all figured out. If I can make just a little more money, then I will be happy and get ready for retirement. Then it happened.... bumper crop... windfall so great, so massive his barns couldn't contain it. So he sketched the blueprints for one last building project, and right beside it he unrolled his plans for retirement. Yes, he finally arrived. Everything in life has worked out. The dream had come true. Tomorrow I will tear down barns. Build new barns and then I will retire to a nice vacation home in the South Florida. But that night a dark figure came into his bedroom. Cloaked in darkness, death comes to him without so much as a whisper or warning. In an instant the Grim Reaper appears, the rich man is taken away. But not one grain of his wealth goes with him. All that he has stored away for himself is left to be dispersed among his heirs. It will be fought over in the same way that the man in the crowd fought with his brother over the inheritance their father had left.
Jesus concludes with this editorial comment – “You Fool. This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Do an exercise for me right now. Go to globalrichlist.com and see where you rank on the list of the world’s wealthiest people. Then ask yourself this question, am I rich on earth or am I rich toward God?
You will have to come up with a definition of what it means to be rich towards God.
If you don’t do this exercise Jesus might say to you one day, “You fool.” Don’t waste your life getting rich in the wrong place.
An old Jack Benny skit has Jack walking along when suddenly an armed robber approaches him and demands, "Your money or your life!" There is a long pause. Finally the robber impatiently asks, "Well?" "Don't rush me," Benny replies. "I'm thinking about it." We laugh at the joke but it represents a very real picture of many people's priorities. For some, money has become more important than life itself.
We can summarize American Values on money by this phrase: “Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can.” What is amazing is that Jesus had more to say on money then heaven and hell combined. In our reading today he tells a parable about money.
It is hard to decide whether we should cry or laugh at the situation Jesus finds himself in. The crowd is described as in the thousands and it says that the people were “trampling” on one another. Then in the middle of the sermon, one man rumbles up to the front row and blurts out, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance." His face flushed, his voice anxious and his spirit is insistent. This man is so worried he won't get his snout into feeding trough of the family's estate that nothing else matters in life. He doesn't care about point Jesus is making, or about people gathered hear Jesus, all he cares about is himself.
Jesus shows no sympathy for the request but decides to make this a teaching moment and sternly warns the man, "Watch Out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Then he tells the story about a man who struck gold in the commodities market. This guy worked hard. He spent his days making his dream come true. He had it all figured out. If I can make just a little more money, then I will be happy and get ready for retirement. Then it happened.... bumper crop... windfall so great, so massive his barns couldn't contain it. So he sketched the blueprints for one last building project, and right beside it he unrolled his plans for retirement. Yes, he finally arrived. Everything in life has worked out. The dream had come true. Tomorrow I will tear down barns. Build new barns and then I will retire to a nice vacation home in the South Florida. But that night a dark figure came into his bedroom. Cloaked in darkness, death comes to him without so much as a whisper or warning. In an instant the Grim Reaper appears, the rich man is taken away. But not one grain of his wealth goes with him. All that he has stored away for himself is left to be dispersed among his heirs. It will be fought over in the same way that the man in the crowd fought with his brother over the inheritance their father had left.
Jesus concludes with this editorial comment – “You Fool. This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Do an exercise for me right now. Go to globalrichlist.com and see where you rank on the list of the world’s wealthiest people. Then ask yourself this question, am I rich on earth or am I rich toward God?
You will have to come up with a definition of what it means to be rich towards God.
If you don’t do this exercise Jesus might say to you one day, “You fool.” Don’t waste your life getting rich in the wrong place.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
October 27
A reminder... dinner at my house next Thursday, Nov. 5th 7:00. Let me know if you are attending.
The Message of Grace
A church leader died and in a nanosecond he was standing directly in front of the pearly gates. Saint Peter met him and said, "It takes 1000 points to get in. So tell me something about yourself."
The man said, “I had perfect attendance in church for 14 years and I served as a trustee for 15 years. I also cut the church grass for 20 years. I visited the sick each week and was a youth sponsor for 30 years.”
Saint Peter said, “That's extremely good, let me add that up. The total of all those actions is 1 point. So tell me something else about yourself.”
The man continued, “I went to the annual business meeting each year. I sang on the worship team. I gave 10% of income all my life and I was a lifetime church member.”
“That is truly remarkable,” Saint Peter replied "That gives you another point. Tell me something else about yourself."
By this time the man was getting a little desperate, and if the truth were known, a little irritated. He blurted out to Saint Peter, "Look, at this rate the only way I'll ever get into heaven is by the grace of God."
“BINGO!!! That's worth a thousand points,” answered St. Peter. "And with the two you earned, that makes 1002. Would you like to come in now?”
If we were to have a Cliff notes of the message of Jesus it could be reduced to one word; Grace. That is the core message of what Jesus was communicating. It was a scandalous, outrageous, offensive message 2000 years ago. The message of grace is still as controversial today. We live in a world filled with people who like a very measurable way to determine who matters? Who's important? And who is going to heaven?
In the story of the anointing of the sinful woman we see the scandalous message of grace. Jews in Jesus' day envisioned a ladder reaching higher and higher towards God, a hierarchy expressed in the very architecture of the temple. Gentiles and half-breeds like the Samaritans were permitted only in the outer Court of the Gentiles. A wall separated them from the next partition, which admitted Jewish women. Jewish men could precede one stage further, but only priests could enter sacred areas. Finally only one priest, the high priest, could enter the Most Holy Place, just once a year on Yom Kipper.
Jewish society was in effect, a religious caste system based on steps towards holiness, and the Pharisees scrupulosity reinforced the system daily. 620 rules on holiness were their guide on who was important. All of these rules were an attempt to make themselves acceptable to God. But what was obviously clear was that there was no room for sinner, no room for prostitutes in the hierarchy.
Now Jesus appears on the scene with this message of Grace. This message was radical. It moved from exclusion of undesirables to their inclusion. Instead of the message "No undesirables wanted” Grace gives the message "Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest." Jesus was always hanging around the undesirables, losers, and outcasts. This message was considered outrageous, dangerous; it could cause the destabilization of society. No wonder 20 times the Gospel writers talk of the religious leaders conspiring against him.
We need to grasp the impact of this message in Stamford today. Go out on the street and ask 100 people how they are going to get into heaven and 95 of them will say the same thing as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Everyone of the world the religions are based on works. Religion is people struggling to do something, striving to earn something, to earn the favor of God. Pray the Tibetan prayer wheel. Light candles. Say so many rote prayers. Perform certain amount of good deeds. Cycles of reincarnation or whatever…. They are attempts by people to reach out to God. Grace is God reaching out to us. Grace is the opposite of what those other religions are saying. What Grace says is that no one can do anything to merit heaven so you might as well stop trying. We are all guilty of religious prostitution. None of us can say we have never sinned. We all know that. Our only hope is God's grace. The bottom line is this... all of the religions of the world are spelled “DO” because they teach that people must DO a bunch of things to work their way to God. But GRACE is spelled “DONE” because Jesus has done what needed to be done on the cross. And we just need to receive it. This is the radical message we must tell a lost and hopeless world.
The Message of Grace
A church leader died and in a nanosecond he was standing directly in front of the pearly gates. Saint Peter met him and said, "It takes 1000 points to get in. So tell me something about yourself."
The man said, “I had perfect attendance in church for 14 years and I served as a trustee for 15 years. I also cut the church grass for 20 years. I visited the sick each week and was a youth sponsor for 30 years.”
Saint Peter said, “That's extremely good, let me add that up. The total of all those actions is 1 point. So tell me something else about yourself.”
The man continued, “I went to the annual business meeting each year. I sang on the worship team. I gave 10% of income all my life and I was a lifetime church member.”
“That is truly remarkable,” Saint Peter replied "That gives you another point. Tell me something else about yourself."
By this time the man was getting a little desperate, and if the truth were known, a little irritated. He blurted out to Saint Peter, "Look, at this rate the only way I'll ever get into heaven is by the grace of God."
“BINGO!!! That's worth a thousand points,” answered St. Peter. "And with the two you earned, that makes 1002. Would you like to come in now?”
If we were to have a Cliff notes of the message of Jesus it could be reduced to one word; Grace. That is the core message of what Jesus was communicating. It was a scandalous, outrageous, offensive message 2000 years ago. The message of grace is still as controversial today. We live in a world filled with people who like a very measurable way to determine who matters? Who's important? And who is going to heaven?
In the story of the anointing of the sinful woman we see the scandalous message of grace. Jews in Jesus' day envisioned a ladder reaching higher and higher towards God, a hierarchy expressed in the very architecture of the temple. Gentiles and half-breeds like the Samaritans were permitted only in the outer Court of the Gentiles. A wall separated them from the next partition, which admitted Jewish women. Jewish men could precede one stage further, but only priests could enter sacred areas. Finally only one priest, the high priest, could enter the Most Holy Place, just once a year on Yom Kipper.
Jewish society was in effect, a religious caste system based on steps towards holiness, and the Pharisees scrupulosity reinforced the system daily. 620 rules on holiness were their guide on who was important. All of these rules were an attempt to make themselves acceptable to God. But what was obviously clear was that there was no room for sinner, no room for prostitutes in the hierarchy.
Now Jesus appears on the scene with this message of Grace. This message was radical. It moved from exclusion of undesirables to their inclusion. Instead of the message "No undesirables wanted” Grace gives the message "Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest." Jesus was always hanging around the undesirables, losers, and outcasts. This message was considered outrageous, dangerous; it could cause the destabilization of society. No wonder 20 times the Gospel writers talk of the religious leaders conspiring against him.
We need to grasp the impact of this message in Stamford today. Go out on the street and ask 100 people how they are going to get into heaven and 95 of them will say the same thing as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Everyone of the world the religions are based on works. Religion is people struggling to do something, striving to earn something, to earn the favor of God. Pray the Tibetan prayer wheel. Light candles. Say so many rote prayers. Perform certain amount of good deeds. Cycles of reincarnation or whatever…. They are attempts by people to reach out to God. Grace is God reaching out to us. Grace is the opposite of what those other religions are saying. What Grace says is that no one can do anything to merit heaven so you might as well stop trying. We are all guilty of religious prostitution. None of us can say we have never sinned. We all know that. Our only hope is God's grace. The bottom line is this... all of the religions of the world are spelled “DO” because they teach that people must DO a bunch of things to work their way to God. But GRACE is spelled “DONE” because Jesus has done what needed to be done on the cross. And we just need to receive it. This is the radical message we must tell a lost and hopeless world.
Monday, October 26, 2009
October 26 - The Sermon on the Mount
Friends, today's reading, The Sermon on the Mount, is full of great instruction which Jesus taught, and is still teaching us today. We need to read it again and again. Each points Jesus makes calls for so much reflection in our lives! One thing grabbed me however while reading. As we already saw, Jesus says and does things which are not popular; they are counterintuitive for the human character and counter-cultural. For example:
1. The Beatitudes
Jesus says that people who are suffering are blessed: the poor, the mourning, the hungry, the persecuted. And we thought that we were blessed when we are well off! Those of us who seem fine now in our lives should be careful of spiritual droughts in our hearts. I think this is why Jesus always challenges us to help the needy, to seek righteousness, to be merciful, to get out of our comfort zones and be selfless. Because this will help us get in the same boat with the suffering people, share with them and be blessed together.
2. Loving others more than ourselves
Jesus says that we should turn the other cheek when someone strikes us, and that we should not only forgive our enemies but love them too! Now, that is way opposite our character! We are wired to avenge, to seek remedy from people who hurt us - and sometimes for the smallest thing (like someone cutting in front of our car on the road.) But Jesus is challenging us to be meek. He is not asking us to self-destruct here, He cares about our safety. But he challenges our hearts to become humble and to love others more than ourselves. Why? Well, it's simple for me. If Christ says it, I believe it is good for us. Just think, moments of forgiveness and giving are one of the most powerful and beautiful experiences in our lives.
3. True wealth
We think that our possessions (all the way from homes, to i-phones, to curtains, to favorite CDs, to diplomas and to promotions) are a sign of how well we do in life. I know we value family and friends too, but we do get wrapped up in the things we buy or achieve. Jesus tells us: no, treasures on earth are not true treasures, they collect dust and decay. True treasures are stored up in Heaven. I believe these Heavenly treasures are everything which we have accomplished together with Christ. Everything He has asked us to do and we did. Jesus' teachings are full of instructions of what is good for us. The most important thing being Him Himself - we need Jesus most!
Will you have Jesus this week?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
October 25: The Rise of Opposition
After setting forth His mission statement (echoing the prophet Isaiah) in His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus encountered some opposition from the indignant townspeople. Jesus had announced the fulfillment of the Righteous Servant in Himself and that, just as God had displayed in sending Elijah and Elisha outside the Israelite flock, His ministry would expand beyond a tradition-bound and close-hearted Jewish people. The crowd at the synagogue then threatened to throw Him over a cliff in anger. Clearly, Jesus's words would divide people and cause them to make decisions on where their true conviction lay.
Today's passage chiefly covers a trip to Jerusalem to participate in a Jewish feast, perhaps the Passover. Jesus's work stands in the face of the Jewish leaders' preconceptions and invites significant disagreement. Though Jesus holds no office of spiritual authority, His very presence calls forth all the authority in the world. In light of the awesome power, the Jewish leaders' contentions appear like nitpicking. Had they become so enamored with their own "system" of religion (and "sub-system," as it pertains to theological questions such as the existence of a resurrection) that they failed to embrace a clear and present move of God.
In particular, what facets of Jesus's ministry call forth such opposition?
1. Lack of conformity. Jesus's disciples did not fast in the way that the religious leaders had prescribed and as John's disciples had. The power of inertial thinking had blinded the religious leaders to considering that they had replaced their system with a true relationship with God. As Jesus showed in His fellowship with broken people, we absolutely need a) humility, which leads to repentance, and b) God's grace ("unmerited favor") to receive His forgiveness and to begin a love relationship with God. Jesus slapped at the religious leaders' beliefs, defiantly explaining that "mercy" would trump "sacrifice" and that God had called "sinners" and not the "[self-]righteous."
2. Healing on the Sabbath. How dare the Son of God act in a manner contrary to the strict Sabbath observance that the Pharisees demanded? Jesus turns the conventional thinking on its head, arguing: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." He had declared Himself Lord over all. Yet, the religious leaders remained incredulous, not seeing that God desires to heal broken people (physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments alike) at all times and in all places. Their rules and regulations had wrested compassion from their hearts.
3. Announcing eternal life in His Name. Jesus calls upon God as His own Father and notes that "the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." Furthermore, Jesus points to trust in the Father as the key to eternal life, not a religious system: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man." The Saducees held that there is no resurrection, but Jesus clearly points that He is the living God Who would bring forth resurrection through His very word.
Today, we must consider: Will we keep preconceptions about what God can and can't do? Or will we embrace Him as He truly is, revealed through the testimony of His Word and through His Holy Spirit? Welcome to a great adventure in loving and honoring the living God!
QUESTIONS
1. What can you do to keep your spiritual life from becoming a series of lifeless formalities?
2. How can you embrace what God is doing in your life right now? How can you praise Him for that?
Today's passage chiefly covers a trip to Jerusalem to participate in a Jewish feast, perhaps the Passover. Jesus's work stands in the face of the Jewish leaders' preconceptions and invites significant disagreement. Though Jesus holds no office of spiritual authority, His very presence calls forth all the authority in the world. In light of the awesome power, the Jewish leaders' contentions appear like nitpicking. Had they become so enamored with their own "system" of religion (and "sub-system," as it pertains to theological questions such as the existence of a resurrection) that they failed to embrace a clear and present move of God.
In particular, what facets of Jesus's ministry call forth such opposition?
1. Lack of conformity. Jesus's disciples did not fast in the way that the religious leaders had prescribed and as John's disciples had. The power of inertial thinking had blinded the religious leaders to considering that they had replaced their system with a true relationship with God. As Jesus showed in His fellowship with broken people, we absolutely need a) humility, which leads to repentance, and b) God's grace ("unmerited favor") to receive His forgiveness and to begin a love relationship with God. Jesus slapped at the religious leaders' beliefs, defiantly explaining that "mercy" would trump "sacrifice" and that God had called "sinners" and not the "[self-]righteous."
2. Healing on the Sabbath. How dare the Son of God act in a manner contrary to the strict Sabbath observance that the Pharisees demanded? Jesus turns the conventional thinking on its head, arguing: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." He had declared Himself Lord over all. Yet, the religious leaders remained incredulous, not seeing that God desires to heal broken people (physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments alike) at all times and in all places. Their rules and regulations had wrested compassion from their hearts.
3. Announcing eternal life in His Name. Jesus calls upon God as His own Father and notes that "the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." Furthermore, Jesus points to trust in the Father as the key to eternal life, not a religious system: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man." The Saducees held that there is no resurrection, but Jesus clearly points that He is the living God Who would bring forth resurrection through His very word.
Today, we must consider: Will we keep preconceptions about what God can and can't do? Or will we embrace Him as He truly is, revealed through the testimony of His Word and through His Holy Spirit? Welcome to a great adventure in loving and honoring the living God!
QUESTIONS
1. What can you do to keep your spiritual life from becoming a series of lifeless formalities?
2. How can you embrace what God is doing in your life right now? How can you praise Him for that?
Saturday, October 24, 2009
October 24
Time for an accountability check. Email and let me know where you are in the journey.
Are you a victim or victor in the battle?
There are two major worldviews in our culture today. One is a natural or materialist worldview, what people today call the scientific worldview. This view says that man by his reason can figure out how the world works. People who hold this view seek life’s answers in the natural realm. If you can put it in a test tube, examine it under a microscope, or explain it through natural processes, that’s all you need. The second category of worldviews is the spiritual worldview, which says there is a realm outside of the physical realm. This view says there is a cosmic battle occurring in a parallel universe. We can’t see this invisible conflict but there are dark and deadly forces battling against us. These forces of darkness want to destroy us, our families, our culture and our nation. Your worldview has a major impact on how you prepare for this warfare. Either you will be ready for it and become a victor or you will become a victim of it.
Let me give you two reasons why I believe in a spiritual worldview. First, Jesus taught its reality with absolute clarity. When Jesus walked on our planet he was locked in a fierce battle with the forces of evil.
From our readings today:
Mark 1:23-26 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" 25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
Mark 1:32-34 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Matthew 4:24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
Some observations about the conflict:
1. Jesus talked with these spirits so they are not impersonal forces of evil. Barna Research Group, Ltd., of Oxnard, California conducted a poll in which they discovered the following. Nearly two out of three American adults (62%) agreed that Satan is not a living being but a symbol of evil. And even more alarming is that among evangelical Christians, 52% deny Satan’s existence! Conclusion – Satan has already won the battle because no one takes him seriously.
2. Jesus had complete power and sovereignty over the evil spirits. This conflict isn’t a cosmic dualism in which we are nervously biting our nails hoping that Jesus wins. He has already won the battle at the cross so Satan and his demons are living on borrowed time. They will be totally defeated in the near future.
3. Jesus made a distinction between demon possession and other illnesses. Jesus’ view of the conflict does not throw every unknown malady into the demonic category.
4. Satan does have some power on this earth at this time. Don’t mess with him.
The second reason I believe in a spiritual worldview is because of what I experienced in Africa. We spent 4 days in the Kitui region of Kenya. It is along the coastal plain and during our time in that city we definitely were engaged in a spiritual battle.
Here are my personal observations on this conflict.
1. We sensed this conflict in the Kitui region but not in Nairobi.
2. This region is famous for its witchcraft and one of the largest shrines in town was located 100 yards behind the church we worked in.
3. The people in this town had no hope. There lives were dominated by fear, darkness and despair. You could see it written all over their faces. There were very few smiles in Kitui.
4. Our thoughts were assaulted by the evil one. Satan can plant thoughts in our minds. In my case when I first became sick I had a terrible battle with negative thinking. I was thinking... “You are a fool for spending all this time and money to be in this. You are a failure. This trip is a failure. You are wasting your life here.”
After a few hours of thinking these thoughts I realized where they were coming from. And a switch to praise and prayer brought an incredible transformation of my spirit. I was actually able to sing praise songs on my bed in the middle of my sickness.
5. The whole church started coughing on Wednesday night. Satan can cause sickness. Both of our interpreters also came down with illnesses. One translator came down with malaria.
6. Satan tried sleep deprivation by having the local bar blast music till 4 in the morning. But God gave us strength to thrive on 3 hours of rest each evening.
7. God spoke to the second in command at the witchcraft shrine in a dream and he became a Christian.
Jesus made it abundantly clear that there’s a real adversary—Satan—who opposes the purposes of God and His people. Satan perpetrates his influence to accomplish two objectives: to deceive and divert as many people as possible from finding Christ, and to rob the child of God of the enjoyment of salvation and effectiveness in service. One thing is certain. We cannot afford to be ignorant of this invisible war because it is waged right here and now in Stamford!
Don’t be a victim in this conflict.... become a victor by asking Jesus to open your eyes to the battle and give you the resources to live in victory.
Are you a victim or victor in the battle?
There are two major worldviews in our culture today. One is a natural or materialist worldview, what people today call the scientific worldview. This view says that man by his reason can figure out how the world works. People who hold this view seek life’s answers in the natural realm. If you can put it in a test tube, examine it under a microscope, or explain it through natural processes, that’s all you need. The second category of worldviews is the spiritual worldview, which says there is a realm outside of the physical realm. This view says there is a cosmic battle occurring in a parallel universe. We can’t see this invisible conflict but there are dark and deadly forces battling against us. These forces of darkness want to destroy us, our families, our culture and our nation. Your worldview has a major impact on how you prepare for this warfare. Either you will be ready for it and become a victor or you will become a victim of it.
Let me give you two reasons why I believe in a spiritual worldview. First, Jesus taught its reality with absolute clarity. When Jesus walked on our planet he was locked in a fierce battle with the forces of evil.
From our readings today:
Mark 1:23-26 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" 25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
Mark 1:32-34 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Matthew 4:24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
Some observations about the conflict:
1. Jesus talked with these spirits so they are not impersonal forces of evil. Barna Research Group, Ltd., of Oxnard, California conducted a poll in which they discovered the following. Nearly two out of three American adults (62%) agreed that Satan is not a living being but a symbol of evil. And even more alarming is that among evangelical Christians, 52% deny Satan’s existence! Conclusion – Satan has already won the battle because no one takes him seriously.
2. Jesus had complete power and sovereignty over the evil spirits. This conflict isn’t a cosmic dualism in which we are nervously biting our nails hoping that Jesus wins. He has already won the battle at the cross so Satan and his demons are living on borrowed time. They will be totally defeated in the near future.
3. Jesus made a distinction between demon possession and other illnesses. Jesus’ view of the conflict does not throw every unknown malady into the demonic category.
4. Satan does have some power on this earth at this time. Don’t mess with him.
The second reason I believe in a spiritual worldview is because of what I experienced in Africa. We spent 4 days in the Kitui region of Kenya. It is along the coastal plain and during our time in that city we definitely were engaged in a spiritual battle.
Here are my personal observations on this conflict.
1. We sensed this conflict in the Kitui region but not in Nairobi.
2. This region is famous for its witchcraft and one of the largest shrines in town was located 100 yards behind the church we worked in.
3. The people in this town had no hope. There lives were dominated by fear, darkness and despair. You could see it written all over their faces. There were very few smiles in Kitui.
4. Our thoughts were assaulted by the evil one. Satan can plant thoughts in our minds. In my case when I first became sick I had a terrible battle with negative thinking. I was thinking... “You are a fool for spending all this time and money to be in this. You are a failure. This trip is a failure. You are wasting your life here.”
After a few hours of thinking these thoughts I realized where they were coming from. And a switch to praise and prayer brought an incredible transformation of my spirit. I was actually able to sing praise songs on my bed in the middle of my sickness.
5. The whole church started coughing on Wednesday night. Satan can cause sickness. Both of our interpreters also came down with illnesses. One translator came down with malaria.
6. Satan tried sleep deprivation by having the local bar blast music till 4 in the morning. But God gave us strength to thrive on 3 hours of rest each evening.
7. God spoke to the second in command at the witchcraft shrine in a dream and he became a Christian.
Jesus made it abundantly clear that there’s a real adversary—Satan—who opposes the purposes of God and His people. Satan perpetrates his influence to accomplish two objectives: to deceive and divert as many people as possible from finding Christ, and to rob the child of God of the enjoyment of salvation and effectiveness in service. One thing is certain. We cannot afford to be ignorant of this invisible war because it is waged right here and now in Stamford!
Don’t be a victim in this conflict.... become a victor by asking Jesus to open your eyes to the battle and give you the resources to live in victory.
Friday, October 23, 2009
October 23
Defining Our Mission
Rafael Antonio Lozano is a man with a mission, albeit a strange one. The 37-year-old computer programmer from Plano, Texas, is on a quest to visit every company-owned Starbucks on the planet. Lozano, who calls himself Winter, began his mission in 1997, when there were 1,304 such stores worldwide. Today, there are over 15,500 in 43 countries. As of May 2009, Winter had visited 9,100 Starbucks around the globe. Despite his impressive pace, Winter is realistic about the nature of his quest, saying, "As long as they keep building Starbucks, I'll never be finished." He is also realistic about the importance of his mission. "Every time I reach a Starbucks, I feel like I've accomplished something," he said, "when actually I've accomplished nothing."
I like coffee and I like visiting new places but this doesn’t sound like much of a mission in life. By the way... could you write in a sentence your mission in life?
In our reading today we see several key ingredients in discovering and formulating why we were given another day of life to live. The mission of a Christ follower is to follow the example of Christ. Look at a few of the clues given about our mission in life. These come from the example of our Savior:
1. To hang out with lost people. John 1:38-39 They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39"Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him.
Schedule time with people far from God should be part of our mission. Our mission is not to escape from the world but to radically change the world. We can only do this with an incarnational mission of involvement.
2. To meet people’s needs. In John 2 Jesus attends a wedding and he spares a wedding couple the embarrassment of a wedding party flop. He turns water to the finest wine and he does it not for himself but for the benefit of a newlywed couple. He does all of this behind the scenes without any big show or fanfare. We are called to meet the needs of people around us. Become radical in your sharing with the needy.
3. To make sure the church stays on mission. Jesus clears the temple because the religious leaders totally botched the plan. They were all focused on larger, bigger, more comfortable, more profitable institutions, when the focus of the church should be prayer and spiritual transformation. The difference between the institutional church and the Biblically healthy church is huge and Jesus makes it clear what he thinks of religious institutions. The question for us is, “Are we keeping Grace church on mission?”
4. To know our message. Jesus is incredulous that Nicodemus is a teacher of the law, yet he doesn’t even know about spiritual rebirth. How can this be? I run into a lot of Christians who after years of attending church could not explain to someone how to be born again. Our mission is to carry the gospel message to a lost and dying world. We must all have a clear understanding of what our message is. I suggest learning the “Bridge Illustration.” Email me if you want a copy.
So today take 10 minutes and write down your mission in life. These four examples of Jesus should find their way into your statement.
Make sure you know what your mission is
Rafael Antonio Lozano is a man with a mission, albeit a strange one. The 37-year-old computer programmer from Plano, Texas, is on a quest to visit every company-owned Starbucks on the planet. Lozano, who calls himself Winter, began his mission in 1997, when there were 1,304 such stores worldwide. Today, there are over 15,500 in 43 countries. As of May 2009, Winter had visited 9,100 Starbucks around the globe. Despite his impressive pace, Winter is realistic about the nature of his quest, saying, "As long as they keep building Starbucks, I'll never be finished." He is also realistic about the importance of his mission. "Every time I reach a Starbucks, I feel like I've accomplished something," he said, "when actually I've accomplished nothing."
I like coffee and I like visiting new places but this doesn’t sound like much of a mission in life. By the way... could you write in a sentence your mission in life?
In our reading today we see several key ingredients in discovering and formulating why we were given another day of life to live. The mission of a Christ follower is to follow the example of Christ. Look at a few of the clues given about our mission in life. These come from the example of our Savior:
1. To hang out with lost people. John 1:38-39 They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39"Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him.
Schedule time with people far from God should be part of our mission. Our mission is not to escape from the world but to radically change the world. We can only do this with an incarnational mission of involvement.
2. To meet people’s needs. In John 2 Jesus attends a wedding and he spares a wedding couple the embarrassment of a wedding party flop. He turns water to the finest wine and he does it not for himself but for the benefit of a newlywed couple. He does all of this behind the scenes without any big show or fanfare. We are called to meet the needs of people around us. Become radical in your sharing with the needy.
3. To make sure the church stays on mission. Jesus clears the temple because the religious leaders totally botched the plan. They were all focused on larger, bigger, more comfortable, more profitable institutions, when the focus of the church should be prayer and spiritual transformation. The difference between the institutional church and the Biblically healthy church is huge and Jesus makes it clear what he thinks of religious institutions. The question for us is, “Are we keeping Grace church on mission?”
4. To know our message. Jesus is incredulous that Nicodemus is a teacher of the law, yet he doesn’t even know about spiritual rebirth. How can this be? I run into a lot of Christians who after years of attending church could not explain to someone how to be born again. Our mission is to carry the gospel message to a lost and dying world. We must all have a clear understanding of what our message is. I suggest learning the “Bridge Illustration.” Email me if you want a copy.
So today take 10 minutes and write down your mission in life. These four examples of Jesus should find their way into your statement.
Make sure you know what your mission is
Thursday, October 22, 2009
October 22
Jesus faces temptation.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert where He fasted for 40 days. I can only image how weak and tired Jesus felt after being in the wilderness for that long without food. Even though He was fully God, He still was contained in a human body and shared our same frailty.
After 40 days, the devil showed up. He always knows the right time to strike: when we are weak. Up until this point, Jesus is probably the weakest He has ever been in His physical body and the devil was not going to miss the opportunity to try to make the Son of God stumble. We know that Jesus was the only perfect person who never committed any sin. Being tempted is not a sin; giving into temptation is where it becomes sin. Jesus did exactly what we should all do when under attack from the devil: He armed Himself with scripture. He fought Satan with the Truth, and Satan had no choice but to flee.
We all suffer from times of weakness. The devil is cunning and knows that attacking us when we are weak increases the chances of us falling. I think one of the many amazing things about serving a God who was once human is this: He knows exactly what is like to be tempted. He understands what we go through on a daily basis. And He showed us a never-failing way to deal with temptation.
Oct 21
We are safely back in the USA!! Thank you for your prayers during this incredible mission. We now know what the early disciples felt like when they returned from their mission and said that they were filled with joy when they saw that even the demons submit to the name of the Lord. (Luke 10:17) We too are filled with joy at what God has done on this journey. I feel like the proverbial mouse on the back of the elephant who said, “Man, did we shake that bridge.” It is God who receives glory for the victories of this mission.
The needs of Africa are the same needs we face in Stamford. Our first and foremost need is the Lord himself and his Word. Without his Word, we will walk in darkness and daily defeat.
That is why our Bible reading commitment is the top priority of life. In the Word, we come to know and love our Lord Jesus and find the victory. Today we saw the Lord’s strategy to gain the victory over temptation. We all face temptations in life. What is your strategy for victory?
Jesus was tempted by Satan three times after his 40 day fast. He had just experienced a mountain top event and Satan slams him with three temptations. To each of these temptations there is one constant response.... “It is written.” This means for every temptation Jesus went back to the truth of scripture to fight back.
He doesn’t use reason, personal strength, he uses the Word. According to Jesus’ example, it is scripture that will give us the victory.
Here are a few disciplines you can use in your daily battle with temptation.
1. Never neglect a day of Bible study. I cannot tell you how many times I have read God’s word and it prepared me for the battle I was facing that very day.
2. Carry your Bible with you at all times. It is our weapon in the spiritual battle. We should never go into a battle without our sword.
3. Read God’s word out loud. On our team to Africa, Erik did this constantly. He would verbally declare the truth of God’s Word to refresh his mind and keep his focus.
4. Memorize a verse to battle your particular temptation.
5. Make cards that help keep your focus and carry them with you.
Our adversary is real. He wants to destroy you, your family, your reputation, your life. Our victory will only be as secure as our use of God’s Word. I am praying for the victory for everyone who is on this Bible reading journey with us. May God give us victory as we apply the truth to our lives.
The needs of Africa are the same needs we face in Stamford. Our first and foremost need is the Lord himself and his Word. Without his Word, we will walk in darkness and daily defeat.
That is why our Bible reading commitment is the top priority of life. In the Word, we come to know and love our Lord Jesus and find the victory. Today we saw the Lord’s strategy to gain the victory over temptation. We all face temptations in life. What is your strategy for victory?
Jesus was tempted by Satan three times after his 40 day fast. He had just experienced a mountain top event and Satan slams him with three temptations. To each of these temptations there is one constant response.... “It is written.” This means for every temptation Jesus went back to the truth of scripture to fight back.
He doesn’t use reason, personal strength, he uses the Word. According to Jesus’ example, it is scripture that will give us the victory.
Here are a few disciplines you can use in your daily battle with temptation.
1. Never neglect a day of Bible study. I cannot tell you how many times I have read God’s word and it prepared me for the battle I was facing that very day.
2. Carry your Bible with you at all times. It is our weapon in the spiritual battle. We should never go into a battle without our sword.
3. Read God’s word out loud. On our team to Africa, Erik did this constantly. He would verbally declare the truth of God’s Word to refresh his mind and keep his focus.
4. Memorize a verse to battle your particular temptation.
5. Make cards that help keep your focus and carry them with you.
Our adversary is real. He wants to destroy you, your family, your reputation, your life. Our victory will only be as secure as our use of God’s Word. I am praying for the victory for everyone who is on this Bible reading journey with us. May God give us victory as we apply the truth to our lives.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
October 18: Mark 1:1; John 1:1-18; Luke 1:1-4
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:13,14)
Today begins our reading of the New Testament, which speaks of the life, death, and resurrection of our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the birth of His church. As you have gathered from our study of the Old Testament, Jesus's appearance on earth is not a mere coincidence; rather, God had ordained from the beginning of time that His coming to the people of Israel would occur in that very day.
What implications does the Incarnation have? We will look at several key outcomes.
1. Confidence in His revelation. Previously, God had revealed Himself primarily through prophets, stretching from Moses to Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Now, God has sent us His Son, and, as John notes in the passage above, we may see the "glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus Christ, the Holy and Anointed One (the meaning of "Christ" or "Messiah), would serve as God's chosen Servant and the chief revelation of His Person and character. In our day, we may rejoice because of His revelation. As Jesus explains in Matthew 11:27, "all things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Also, in Colossians 2:9, we read: "in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form."
2. Confidence in His power. As John points out, Jesus created the universe along side God the Father: "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (1:3-5) He is capable of doing all things.
3. Confidence in the knowledge that God knows our struggles. We can never call God "distant"; we may feel that way, but he is intimately involved in our broken world. Through Christ, we may clearly see that God understands the challenges of our lives: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)
4. Confidence in how to handle truth. In v. 14, John explains that Jesus "came from the Father, full of grace and truth." As we approach difficult circumstances, we can follow Jesus's example. We must mix applications of truth, which can sometimes appear cold and calculating, with grace, which represents an unmerited favor or gift. Naturally, our characters will lean towards one element or another. In Christ, however, we see a perfect balance.
5. Confidence in the demonstration of humility. The great mystery of the Incarnation lies in what Jesus has given up so that He might provide new life for His followers. Despite our shortcomings, Jesus relinquished a throne in heaven to be born in a dirty stable. What amazing love! As Paul indicates in Philippians 2:5-8:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
"Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!"
6. Confidence in our mission. When we first read Jesus's call to discipleship, we may be overwhelmed by the cost: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Luke 9:23-25) Yet, Jesus gave everything for us; will we live in thanksgiving to Him?
7. Confidence in His proximity to us. The promises of Psalm 23:4 come true in Christ Himself:
"Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me."
8. Confidence in our hope. Due to Christ's resurrection, we may trust that there is eternal life and resurrection for those who believe. Long ago, Abraham believed such promises, but we have the evidence to prove it: "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." (Hebrews 11:17-19)
9. Confidence in His sacrifice. Jesus's Incarnation means that God had become man. This God-man could become a perfect sacrifice for fallen people; only in such a Person could God and man be truly reconciled. It is a profound mystery, but Paul explains this sacrifice: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
QUESTIONS
1. What does the Incarnation mean for you?
2. Are you looking forward to God's revelation in your life? What could you do to hear His voice more clearly?
Today begins our reading of the New Testament, which speaks of the life, death, and resurrection of our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the birth of His church. As you have gathered from our study of the Old Testament, Jesus's appearance on earth is not a mere coincidence; rather, God had ordained from the beginning of time that His coming to the people of Israel would occur in that very day.
What implications does the Incarnation have? We will look at several key outcomes.
1. Confidence in His revelation. Previously, God had revealed Himself primarily through prophets, stretching from Moses to Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Now, God has sent us His Son, and, as John notes in the passage above, we may see the "glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus Christ, the Holy and Anointed One (the meaning of "Christ" or "Messiah), would serve as God's chosen Servant and the chief revelation of His Person and character. In our day, we may rejoice because of His revelation. As Jesus explains in Matthew 11:27, "all things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Also, in Colossians 2:9, we read: "in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form."
2. Confidence in His power. As John points out, Jesus created the universe along side God the Father: "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (1:3-5) He is capable of doing all things.
3. Confidence in the knowledge that God knows our struggles. We can never call God "distant"; we may feel that way, but he is intimately involved in our broken world. Through Christ, we may clearly see that God understands the challenges of our lives: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)
4. Confidence in how to handle truth. In v. 14, John explains that Jesus "came from the Father, full of grace and truth." As we approach difficult circumstances, we can follow Jesus's example. We must mix applications of truth, which can sometimes appear cold and calculating, with grace, which represents an unmerited favor or gift. Naturally, our characters will lean towards one element or another. In Christ, however, we see a perfect balance.
5. Confidence in the demonstration of humility. The great mystery of the Incarnation lies in what Jesus has given up so that He might provide new life for His followers. Despite our shortcomings, Jesus relinquished a throne in heaven to be born in a dirty stable. What amazing love! As Paul indicates in Philippians 2:5-8:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
"Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!"
6. Confidence in our mission. When we first read Jesus's call to discipleship, we may be overwhelmed by the cost: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" (Luke 9:23-25) Yet, Jesus gave everything for us; will we live in thanksgiving to Him?
7. Confidence in His proximity to us. The promises of Psalm 23:4 come true in Christ Himself:
"Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me."
8. Confidence in our hope. Due to Christ's resurrection, we may trust that there is eternal life and resurrection for those who believe. Long ago, Abraham believed such promises, but we have the evidence to prove it: "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." (Hebrews 11:17-19)
9. Confidence in His sacrifice. Jesus's Incarnation means that God had become man. This God-man could become a perfect sacrifice for fallen people; only in such a Person could God and man be truly reconciled. It is a profound mystery, but Paul explains this sacrifice: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
QUESTIONS
1. What does the Incarnation mean for you?
2. Are you looking forward to God's revelation in your life? What could you do to hear His voice more clearly?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
October 11: Nehemiah 8 to 10
Today's passage recounts the people's corporate confession before God within the governorship of Nehemiah and the priesthood of Ezra. We can see the value of their godly leadership and the genuine nature of the people's confession. Their hearing of the Word of God brings them into true repentance and points out some key lessons. Indeed, the Word brought forth a response, as God promised, and "faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)
1. The Israelites' history provided many cycles of God's compassion and human nature. We find this nature in ourselves. When we are in despair, we are quick to call out to God, but we are often spiritually indifferent during good times. When we find His Word too hard to take, we may turn aside or even "shoot the messenger." In short, we, like the Israelites, struggle with the question of kingship. Whom will we serve?
Previously, the Israelites had often exhibited the principles during the time of judges: "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." (Judges 17:6; 21:25) While God had declared Himself their true King, the people had longed for an earthly king and would worship whatever brought them near-term benefits. Please remember that the people had turned away from the One Who led them from Egypt and had guided them through the desert, sensing that Moses had abandoned them: "When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, 'Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.'" (Exodus 32:1)
At a later point, the people specifically demanded a king:
"So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, 'You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.'
"But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us,' this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: 'Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.'" (1 Samuel 8:5-9)
In today's recorded prayer, we see the people's acknowledgement of the forefather's stubbornness and hardness of heart. At many points, God had warned the people, but they failed to acknowledge Him. Later, He had brought temporary judgments on them, "but in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." His compassion did not allow Him to completely abandon the wayward people. God's lovingkindness and grace compelled Him to keep loving in spite of the people's sin.
2. True prayer lifts up God's Name. Often, we may find ourselves badgering God for our "wants" in prayer. Instead, true prayer should exalt God's Name and recognize His beauty and majesty. Please remember that a person's name encompassed the entirety of the reputation and the character of the person. The people had prayed: "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (9:5b,6)
3. Ezra and Nehemiah's leadership points the people to godly principles, while so many before them had drawn the people into greater worldliness. It is important to consider some differences between worldly and godly leadership:
a. Worldly leadership seeks personal gain, while godly leadership seeks to honor God.
b. Worldly leaders wish to exalt themselves, but godly leadership commit themselves to humility and servanthood.
c. Worldly leadership desires to use others, but godly leadership calls others to holiness and accountability. Worldly leaders happily adopt a laissez-faire attitude if it remains in their best interests, but godly leaders care about people enough to challenge them. Here, we see the leaders calling the people to bring their firstfruits of their crops: "We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree." (10:35) These offerings would demonstrate 1) God's faithfulness but 2) the people's commitment to His authority on ongoing basis.
QUESTIONS
1. How have you seen God's compassion poured out in your life?
2. How can you lift up God's Name in your prayer this week?
1. The Israelites' history provided many cycles of God's compassion and human nature. We find this nature in ourselves. When we are in despair, we are quick to call out to God, but we are often spiritually indifferent during good times. When we find His Word too hard to take, we may turn aside or even "shoot the messenger." In short, we, like the Israelites, struggle with the question of kingship. Whom will we serve?
Previously, the Israelites had often exhibited the principles during the time of judges: "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." (Judges 17:6; 21:25) While God had declared Himself their true King, the people had longed for an earthly king and would worship whatever brought them near-term benefits. Please remember that the people had turned away from the One Who led them from Egypt and had guided them through the desert, sensing that Moses had abandoned them: "When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, 'Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.'" (Exodus 32:1)
At a later point, the people specifically demanded a king:
"So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, 'You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.'
"But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us,' this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: 'Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.'" (1 Samuel 8:5-9)
In today's recorded prayer, we see the people's acknowledgement of the forefather's stubbornness and hardness of heart. At many points, God had warned the people, but they failed to acknowledge Him. Later, He had brought temporary judgments on them, "but in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." His compassion did not allow Him to completely abandon the wayward people. God's lovingkindness and grace compelled Him to keep loving in spite of the people's sin.
2. True prayer lifts up God's Name. Often, we may find ourselves badgering God for our "wants" in prayer. Instead, true prayer should exalt God's Name and recognize His beauty and majesty. Please remember that a person's name encompassed the entirety of the reputation and the character of the person. The people had prayed: "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (9:5b,6)
3. Ezra and Nehemiah's leadership points the people to godly principles, while so many before them had drawn the people into greater worldliness. It is important to consider some differences between worldly and godly leadership:
a. Worldly leadership seeks personal gain, while godly leadership seeks to honor God.
b. Worldly leaders wish to exalt themselves, but godly leadership commit themselves to humility and servanthood.
c. Worldly leadership desires to use others, but godly leadership calls others to holiness and accountability. Worldly leaders happily adopt a laissez-faire attitude if it remains in their best interests, but godly leaders care about people enough to challenge them. Here, we see the leaders calling the people to bring their firstfruits of their crops: "We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree." (10:35) These offerings would demonstrate 1) God's faithfulness but 2) the people's commitment to His authority on ongoing basis.
QUESTIONS
1. How have you seen God's compassion poured out in your life?
2. How can you lift up God's Name in your prayer this week?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
October 8
Nehemiah 1-3
Rebuilding the wall.
Years ago, Travis and I attended a church in Michigan that was starting a building project. They needed a new church building because their current location was too small. Before any of the work had started, the pastor preached a 13-week sermon series on the book of Nehemiah. He wanted to make sure that the people in the congregation understood that this new building would not happen if God was not the focus.
Nehemiah had many obstacles in his way. The first was King Artaxerxes. He heard that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates had been burned. He was moved to take action but could not because he was in the service of the king. This caused him great sadness, that was noticed by the king. When he asked Nehemiah what was wrong, he did the right thing by praying before speaking. He was then rewarded with the king's blessing to oversee the rebuilding of the wall. This whole project would have been doomed from the start if Nehemiah had not turned to God first. He ended up accomplished a great task because he had God on his side from the start.
It's important to remember that no matter how large or small our tasks are, we cannot accomplish anything with God on our side.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
October 7
This will be my last blog for the next 11 days. I will be praying for you as you pray for me. Stay faithful to connecting with God everyday. Invite someone to do the New Testament journey with us. We begin the next part of our journey October 19. Your invitation can make an eternal difference in someone’s life.
Ezra 9
Make sure about Mr. or Mrs. Right
The two most important decisions one makes in life are:
1. Who will be the King of our lives?
2. Who will we marry?
The result of those two questions determines the future of the nation. A nation whose God is not the Lord will surely fall. The same with marriage, a nation that does not honor the Lord and his design for marriage will also fall. There will be divorce, abuse, neglected children, poverty, wounded children and eventually people will simply live with each other and avoid marriage at all. Generational sins will only grow in their magnitude and eventually wipe out the social fabric. Welcome to the United States 2009. We have tried to build this nation without looking at the directions given to us by God. What a mess we have made.
When people ask me what do Christ followers stand for I say the following...
We stand for strong marriages, stable families, loving fathers and mothers who care for each other and their children, the protection of unborn and vulnerable children, dinner hours, family fun, family vacations, game nights, going to Little League games and soccer games as a family, ice cream on a hot summer night, a cup of hot chocolate after shoveling the snow together, mission projects as a family, Christmas giving to the needy, sitting in church together, singing together, playing the letter game in the car, crying together, talking about the birds and bees with the children, reading together, praying together, weekly date night for mom and dad, dancing in the living room, Thanksgiving dinner with the entire family, exercising together, popping pop corn, and reading God’s Word at dinner.
Ezra saw that this dream was not going to happen if his nation continued on their present course. Here is his reaction to the compromise..
Ezra 9:3-4 When I heard this, (marrying unbelievers) I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.
Live the dream.... follow God’s instructions.
Ezra 9
Make sure about Mr. or Mrs. Right
The two most important decisions one makes in life are:
1. Who will be the King of our lives?
2. Who will we marry?
The result of those two questions determines the future of the nation. A nation whose God is not the Lord will surely fall. The same with marriage, a nation that does not honor the Lord and his design for marriage will also fall. There will be divorce, abuse, neglected children, poverty, wounded children and eventually people will simply live with each other and avoid marriage at all. Generational sins will only grow in their magnitude and eventually wipe out the social fabric. Welcome to the United States 2009. We have tried to build this nation without looking at the directions given to us by God. What a mess we have made.
When people ask me what do Christ followers stand for I say the following...
We stand for strong marriages, stable families, loving fathers and mothers who care for each other and their children, the protection of unborn and vulnerable children, dinner hours, family fun, family vacations, game nights, going to Little League games and soccer games as a family, ice cream on a hot summer night, a cup of hot chocolate after shoveling the snow together, mission projects as a family, Christmas giving to the needy, sitting in church together, singing together, playing the letter game in the car, crying together, talking about the birds and bees with the children, reading together, praying together, weekly date night for mom and dad, dancing in the living room, Thanksgiving dinner with the entire family, exercising together, popping pop corn, and reading God’s Word at dinner.
Ezra saw that this dream was not going to happen if his nation continued on their present course. Here is his reaction to the compromise..
Ezra 9:3-4 When I heard this, (marrying unbelievers) I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.
Live the dream.... follow God’s instructions.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
October 6
Walking the Talk
We use this phrase a lot at Grace: There is a huge difference between a person who talks the talk, and one who walks the walk.
In Ezra we find a walker. He is about to make the 800 mile journey from Babylon back to Jerusalem and he has just told the king that God will protect him in the journey. But somewhere in the middle of the night Ezra wakes up and says, this is crazy, what have I done, there are bandits on the way to Jerusalem. I am sure he had second thoughts and devised a plan to ask the king for a military unit with tanks and armored vehicles to shadow them. But Ezra was a kingdom minded guy and he thought that this would send a wrong signal to a skeptical and non-believing king. The king would think if God is able to protect this guy, why would he need my marines? So he reconsiders his fears and decides to have prayer become his protection.
Here is how it unfolded in the mind of Ezra:
Ezra 8:21-23 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
In three days Chad, Erik and I leave for Africa. I am not going to ask for soldiers to protect us but I will ask for your prayers. There are inherent risks in any journey of this magnitude. We realize these risks and gladly accept them as part of our kingdom responsibility. But I ask you to stand with us in this battle through prayer.
Our Mission: Our mission is to encourage African pastors to not give up but to finish well in their kingdom work. Besides our support and celebration of these mighty men and women of God we will also spend time in studying the Bible. Here are specific topics we will cover:
1. Leadership training
2. Developing the skills of pastoring a church.
3. Understanding the Old Testament.
4. Working on strengthening godly character.
5. Building strong families and working with the next generation.
Our Sponsor: We are working with Dr. Aila Tasse and Lifeway Mission. This is an African-driven mission that is focused on church planting and disciple making.
Our Team: This year we are sending two teams to Kenya. Our team will consist of Erik Vanderkolk, Chad Herzog and myself. We would covet your prayers for both teams.
Our Itinerary: We will depart on Friday, Oct 9th and return Monday, Oct 19th.
Your Part: Pray for 10 minutes each day of this mission. Here is a memory device to help you organize your prayers:
KENYA
KEPT Kept in the protection of God. We are headed into an area with a lot of witchcraft. This is the first time Lifeway mission is reaching out to the Kitui region. We do expect to encounter spiritual opposition. We will actually be staying with the pastors in their homes. Keeping our families safe and healthy in the US as we are away from them.
ENTHUSIASM Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord.” Pray that we will be able to fight through all the possible obstacles that might steal our joy or energy away from serving these African pastors.
NOURISHMENT May the pastors be strengthened and encouraged by the Word of God we bring to them. Pray for the nourishment of the African church which is experiencing incredible growth. Without the church being nourished by the Word this great movement will not last.
YOUNG PEOPLE One of the themes God has placed on our hearts is to challenge the African church to strategize a plan to pass the baton of faith to the next generation. Pray for the children of Africa.
ATTITUDE May our attitudes always reflect the Savior that we serve. May these pastors see Christ in us.
Thank you again for standing with me in this mission.
I will try to email from Kenya if it is possible.
We use this phrase a lot at Grace: There is a huge difference between a person who talks the talk, and one who walks the walk.
In Ezra we find a walker. He is about to make the 800 mile journey from Babylon back to Jerusalem and he has just told the king that God will protect him in the journey. But somewhere in the middle of the night Ezra wakes up and says, this is crazy, what have I done, there are bandits on the way to Jerusalem. I am sure he had second thoughts and devised a plan to ask the king for a military unit with tanks and armored vehicles to shadow them. But Ezra was a kingdom minded guy and he thought that this would send a wrong signal to a skeptical and non-believing king. The king would think if God is able to protect this guy, why would he need my marines? So he reconsiders his fears and decides to have prayer become his protection.
Here is how it unfolded in the mind of Ezra:
Ezra 8:21-23 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
In three days Chad, Erik and I leave for Africa. I am not going to ask for soldiers to protect us but I will ask for your prayers. There are inherent risks in any journey of this magnitude. We realize these risks and gladly accept them as part of our kingdom responsibility. But I ask you to stand with us in this battle through prayer.
Our Mission: Our mission is to encourage African pastors to not give up but to finish well in their kingdom work. Besides our support and celebration of these mighty men and women of God we will also spend time in studying the Bible. Here are specific topics we will cover:
1. Leadership training
2. Developing the skills of pastoring a church.
3. Understanding the Old Testament.
4. Working on strengthening godly character.
5. Building strong families and working with the next generation.
Our Sponsor: We are working with Dr. Aila Tasse and Lifeway Mission. This is an African-driven mission that is focused on church planting and disciple making.
Our Team: This year we are sending two teams to Kenya. Our team will consist of Erik Vanderkolk, Chad Herzog and myself. We would covet your prayers for both teams.
Our Itinerary: We will depart on Friday, Oct 9th and return Monday, Oct 19th.
Your Part: Pray for 10 minutes each day of this mission. Here is a memory device to help you organize your prayers:
KENYA
KEPT Kept in the protection of God. We are headed into an area with a lot of witchcraft. This is the first time Lifeway mission is reaching out to the Kitui region. We do expect to encounter spiritual opposition. We will actually be staying with the pastors in their homes. Keeping our families safe and healthy in the US as we are away from them.
ENTHUSIASM Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord.” Pray that we will be able to fight through all the possible obstacles that might steal our joy or energy away from serving these African pastors.
NOURISHMENT May the pastors be strengthened and encouraged by the Word of God we bring to them. Pray for the nourishment of the African church which is experiencing incredible growth. Without the church being nourished by the Word this great movement will not last.
YOUNG PEOPLE One of the themes God has placed on our hearts is to challenge the African church to strategize a plan to pass the baton of faith to the next generation. Pray for the children of Africa.
ATTITUDE May our attitudes always reflect the Savior that we serve. May these pastors see Christ in us.
Thank you again for standing with me in this mission.
I will try to email from Kenya if it is possible.
Monday, October 5, 2009
October 5 - Prophecies of Malachi
The message of Malachi's prophesies is very instructive. God addresses few issues of the heart.
1. Sacrificing to God
God challenges us to evaluate what we sacrifice to Him. Like the priests we read about, we are called to give our best to God. If He has called us to sacrifice in some area of our lives, do we do it with the best of what we have, with the best eagerness in our heart? These verses are certainly challenging us to:
Read Malachi 1:8 and
2. God's messengers
When we know God's love and grace through Jesus Christ, we become God's messengers. Like he called the Levite priests, He calls us to instruct others in truth, instead of causing them to stumble.
Read Malachi 2:7-8
3. Marriage
God gives very definite statement here of His design for marriage:
- to marry in His name; in the faith (not marrying a daughter of foreign god)
- He is witness between husband and wife
- not to break the faith of the marriage covenant
- He hates divorce
- God made husband and wife to be union of one; and that union belongs to God.
Read Malachi 2:10-16
4. Justice and the Lord
We humans fear that there is no justice in the world. We fear that following God is a waste of time and that there is no reward in it. God knows these fears we have. People asked the same questions during Malachi's time but what God does is to promise them righteousness and salvation in the great day to come: which came through Jesus Christ, through His sacrificial death on the cross.
"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.” (Malachi 2:1-2)
The covenant God made with Levi was broken, but the description of it in today’s reading reminded me of the new covenant God gives us all in Christ and the awe we have of God's son.
"My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. (Malachi 2:5)
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