December 30

Why don’t New Years resolutions work?
The main reason is the lack of accountability. There is something very powerful in accountability. When you submit yourself to another person and give them permission to speak into your life it gives you a great incentive to complete the goal.

That is why for 2011 we are designing a new look for the Grace Bible Readers. We are challenging people to create their own Bible reading teams for the New Year. These teams of 3 to 6 people will commit to a weekly phone call to encourage each other to continue to read the Bible. The goal for 2011 is to finish the New Testament and the Psalms in six months. The inclusion of community and accountability is the best way for each of us to complete the journey.
Over the next few days we will give you more information on the new format.

This will be my final entry for 2010. I am so thankful for the team of people who made this journey together. The insights of Steve, Galya and Apryl have encouraged all of us. It has been a challenging year and yet God has given us all the resources we need to live victorious lives even in the midst of a culture that is rapidly deteriorating. Thank you for making this journey with me. I am looking forward to even more people reading through the New Testament in 2011.

Let’s end with a few insights from our reading today. I always laugh when people say how the God of the Old Testament is an angry God and Jesus is a loving, pacifist in the New Testament. When people say things like this I know they have never read through the Bible. The conclusion of human history ends in a head-to-head conflict between good and evil. This conflict is so terrible that over half of the world’s population is wiped out in the maelstrom. That makes every Old Testament story of violence look like a Baptist Sunday School Picnic compared to Revelation. The holiness of God and the wickedness of the human heart are headed for a showdown. You can even see this today. People are tired of hearing about what the Bible says. They don’t want God to interfere with their lives anymore. This opposition to God’s truth will only intensify at the end of history.

One important term that is repeated in the last chapters of Revelation is the word Babylon. How are we to understand this word? The city of Babylon was founded by Nimrod (Gen 10:8‑11). The name bab‑el means "the gate of God." Ironically, the famous tower of Babel was an idolatrous attempt by man to defy God and deify himself. When the Lord sent judgment on the builders he confused their languages and the word “babble” came to mean confusion. Later in history, Babylon became a great empire before finally falling to Media‑Persia. But from the beginning of Nimrod's city in Genesis 10, an insidious anti‑God "Babylonian influence" has been felt throughout history. In our reading today Babylon is both a city and a system. Whether the city will be rebuilt once again on the Euphrates is a matter of debate. But this term is used in Revelation to definitely refer to a worldly system and philosophy that stands in opposition to God. It’s just like WALL STREET and MADISON AVENUE are actual streets but they also stand for the financial or advertising enterprises.

John used “Babylon” to warn his readers that a vast anti-God philosophy stands in opposition to the truth found in the Word. The true church is a pure virgin but the false religious system is a harlot who had abandoned the truth and prostituted herself for personal gain. In the end times the world will be wildly spiritual ... but it will be wildly wrong. This apostate religion is growing rapidly even as I write this blog. What we need to watch out for is the watering down of the gospel message. It is very easy to be seduced into accepting popular opinion in the church.
Here’s an illustration of how this is working even now. One of the most popular TV pastors refuses to mention the word “sin” in any of his sermons. He uses terms like, gospel, salvation, and Jesus but he refuses to say anything about sin. In the end his salvation message is salvation from a poor self image, salvation from not reaching your full potential.

The warning about Babylon is this ... “come out of her, my people so that you will not share in her sins... for her sins are piled up to heaven.” We serve a holy God and he has called us to live holy lives. That is the message God gives us in the last days.

December 29

What is the purpose of your life? This question is the fundamental issue in the book of Revelation. Presbyterians in their catechism ask the question this way, “What is the chief end of man?” The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. So why does God desire our worship? An even more sinister question is this, “What type of God has to be told a 1000 times a day how great he is?” Does God have some inferiority issues and we are the solution to his need?

Have you ever noticed that when you have done something that fills you with great joy - a book you read, a place you visited, a movie you saw, or something you did - it is natural for you to tell your friends that they ought to read that book or visit that place or see that movie? People instinctively praise whatever they enjoy. Well, worship is the spontaneous overflow of our enjoyment of God. To glorify God we must enjoy him, and when we enjoy him we glorify him.
Worship is not for HIM but for us. We were created for worship and we will not satisfy the deepest ache and longing in our hearts until we have enjoyed our God.

In Revelation 13 we deal with a counterfeit worship. A great cosmic battle will take place in the future and at the heart of that battle lies the question of worship. Who will receive our worship? We are already locked in this battle now, but in the future this issue will become dangerously obvious. Make no mistake about it; the outcome has already been determined for this battle. That was determined at the cross when Jesus triumphed over the forces of evil. God will not lose this war, but we must make certain we do not forfeit our opportunity to win the battle for our hearts and the hearts of this generation.

That is why the Bible Reading Journey is so critical. Each day we must determine who will receive our worship. If we don’t worship, Satan has won. Here is evidence that worship is the fundamental issue in the final battle:
Verse 4 ... Men worshiped the dragon.... and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?”
Verse 5 ... The beast utters proud words and blasphemies..... he does this against the true God.
Verse 6 ...He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and this dwelling place.
Verse 8 ... All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
Verse 12 .... and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.
Verse 13 ... he calls down fire from heaven to deceive the people and cause them to worship.
Verse 15 ... if you don’t worship the beast’s idol you will be killed.

So how many minutes will you give today to the enjoyment and worship of the true God?
We have been given 24 hours to invest in whatever way we choose. Take time right now and enjoy and worship your God. There is nothing more important!

December 26: 1, 2, and 3 John

In John's Gospel, John describes himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." This moniker points to John's loving character, clearly a fruit of the Holy Spirit alive in His life. Despite this high calling, John did struggle (along with his brother James) with a desire to take the seat of supremacy (Mark 10:35). Yet, it is unsurprising that John focuses his first letter on love, both between God and man and between people.

Given the blizzard conditions here in Stamford, I would like to focus this short meditation on two concepts:

1) "As white as snow." 1 John 1:8-10: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." Confession involves agreeing with God that our sins are indeed real, while repentance involves turning away from the sin and towards God. God's forgiveness indeed comes as a free gift when we humbly admit our shortcomings. Let us all seek transformation in our lives for 2011, that God might be greatly glorified in us.

These words appear in several places, indicating the purity of Christ and the result of His atonement. David writes in Psalm 51:7: "Clean me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Isaiah 1:18 promises that, for those who have trusted in Christ for forgiveness, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

2) "How deep (great) is the love the Father has lavished on us... " 1 John 3:1 declares: "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" In Ephesians 3:17b-19, Paul writes: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." By knowing the depth of this love, we are spurred to living graciously and seeking God's presence even more deeply.

Please consider the wonderful truth in this praise song as we close 2010:

"How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure --
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.

"How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

"Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers."

"It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.

"I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom,
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection.

"Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom."

December 24

Hebrews 6-10 I love that today's passage is all about Jesus and what He has done for us. It's a great reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. The author of Hebrews makes a comparison between Jesus and the high priest and sacrifices of the old covenant. As we read in the Old Testament earlier this year, the high priest was responsible for being the mediator between man and God. Once a year, he would enter the Holy of Holies and present an atoning sacrifice for Israel's sins. The problem with this situation is it only atoned for Israel's sins up until that point. Any future sins would have to be dealt with by the high priest with another sacrifice the next year. It was a never-ending cycle of sinning and sacrificing. Then there was Jesus. He came to earth to form a new covenant that permanently wiped away all sins for all people, past present and future. The amazing thing is that Jesus served as the new high priest and the new sacrifice. He is the mediator between us and God. The high priest was the only one who could enter into God's presence. After Jesus died, the veil that separates the Holy of Holies with the rest of the temple was torn. There is no longer a barrier that separates us from God. Jesus is also the perfect sacrifice that was sufficient to cover all of our sins. It's not necessary to make multiple sacrifices because Jesus paid it all! He is the perfect and never-ending mediator and sacrifice, enabling us to have a right relationship with God. Tomorrow, remember to thank Jesus for coming to earth and bridging the gap between us and God. My Grandpa’s favorite hymn was “Jesus Paid It All.” The words tell us about the work of Jesus on our behalf.

Jesus paid it allAll to him I oweSin had left a crimson stainHe washed it white as snow On Christmas day remember to praise the one who was born for the purpose of paying the price for our sin. The gift of salvation is free but that does not mean it was not costly.

Merry Christmas!! There won’t be a blog for tomorrow.

One more week to go in our journey.

December 23

Advent Conspiracy and Milk Drinkers

We are participating in an Advent Conspiracy at Grace Church this Christmas. We are saying “No” to excessive spending and “Yes” to giving, loving and worshiping fully. We are conspiring to recapture the true Christ-centered Christmas which is radically different than what we see unfolding around us in Stamford this December. In our reading today, the core of our conspiracy is revealed. The contrast is seen as the difference between milk drinkers and meat eaters.

Milk drinkers are defined in Hebrews 5:11-14. We are all born again as milk drinkers. All babies must start with a diet of milk. But after a period of time, we must set the bottle aside and move on to maturity.

Here are the four rebukes of long term milk drinkers:
1. They are slow to learn. They just don’t catch the real purpose and mission we are sent on.
2. They don’t know how to share with others. They are only interested in having their own needs met. They want to be fed; they want to feel comfortable. These bottle-fed Christians should be mentoring and teaching others but they continue to sit in Bible studies for years just taking in more and more milk.
3. They have a baby food diet. Milk is pre-digested food, and it is especially suited to babies. There is nothing as cute as a newborn baby drinking from a bottle. But what about a 16-year-old asking for a bottle at the dinner table? That would be called a tragedy. The question isn’t: How many years have you known the Lord? The question is: What are you eating?
4. They are unskilled in using the Word. As we grow in the Word, we learn to use it in daily life. We use the Word to train our hearts to know the difference between good and evil.

So, what is the meat that we are to be eating? The steak is putting our faith into action. If milk is our creed, then meat is our deed. If milk is the talk, then meat is the walk. Meat is the practical ability to live the truth in our lives.

This brings us to our Advent Conspiracy. The meat is described in Hebrews 6:10, God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

The "Meat" is loving and helping people. This Christmas join us in our conspiracy as we change the world through the love of Jesus.

December 22

A December Quiz:

1. How many Christians do you think there were in the year AD 100?

2. How many Christians do you think there were just before Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire? (AD 313)

3. How did they do this? How does a small insignificant movement grow to being the most dominate religious force in the Roman Empire in two centuries?

4. What percentage of American "Christians," think they are going to heaven because they are good?

5. What percentage of Americans have a “Christian world view?” (Believe 8 essential Biblical truths)

6. Since 2001, how many millions have stopped attending church?

7. What percentage of Wheaton College incoming freshmen could put the following in order?
a. Abraham
b. The Old Testament prophets
c. The death of Christ
d. Pentecost

8. What percentage of Christians believe there are moral absolutes?

9. What percentage of Christians believe that Jesus committed sins when he lived here on earth?

10. What percentage of churches in America are in decline?

11. What percentage of Christians have ever introduced another person to Jesus Christ?

12. What percent of born-again Christians think the Bible says “God helps them that help themselves?”

13. What percentage of church going Christians rarely or never read the Bible?

Answers:
1. AD 100 as few as 25,000 Christians
2. AD 310 up to 20,000,000 Christians
3. Small groups
4. 62%
5. 9%
6. 79 million have dropped out since 2001. SO much for 9-11 having a positive impact on the church.
7. 33%
8. 25%
9. 44% say yes… 8% didn’t know the answer…. So the total is 52%
10. 83%
11. 2%
12. 80% actually it was said by Benjamin Franklin
13. 57%

December 19: 2 Timothy

"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (4:6-8)

Paul's second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy) may have represented his last words to his close companion and partner in the Gospel. His tone suggests a great desire to encourage and motivate Timothy towards productive ministry and living, in view of Paul's imminent death.
As we read in the passage above, Paul does not look back on life with regret. Instead, he is grateful to have "finished the race" and "kept the faith." He looks ahead to "the crown of righteousness," turning his back on this world and its crowns. Anyone who has faithfully followed Christ may offer these same words at his or her death; they are not exclusive to spiritual giants like Paul. Indeed, in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus explains that the God's welcoming call to heaven will sound like this: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

Paul clearly desires the same confidence for his disciple and friend Timothy. Like the other pastoral epistles, 2 Timothy features a plethora of "trustworthy sayings" that Paul dearly wishes to impart and impress on Timothy's mind:

1. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (1:7)

2. "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (2:2)

3. "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs — he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.... In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2:3-6; 3:12,13)

4. "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (3:1-5)

5. "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (3:14-17)
　
Paul's last words are marked with great practicality and understanding of the world's realities. His statements suggest that people tend to understimate God's goodness and power while overestimating the world's goodness. We may become paralyzed by fear, forgetting the infinite and awesome power of the Lord God Almighty. We may hoard the truth that God has given us out of concern about the "messiness" of becoming involved in others' lives. We may expect the world to be an "easy" place for the Christian, not grasping that Jesus's words will always be true: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b) We are often surprised by others' misdeeds, not remembering the great kernel of pride that drives each of us (without the Spirit's intervention and empowerment). We may undervalue the treasure trove in the Scriptures, seeking out other sources of truth.

Let us all, like Paul, seek to finish strong. It is clear that the rewards are well worth it, and the journey holds such great promise and purpose. May we become like the Philippian church: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you." (Philippians 2:14-17)


QUESTIONS

1. Which of Paul's trustworthy statements is most meaningful for you?

2. Whom could you enlist as a partner in order that you could both finish strong as we head into 2011?