He did what, when?

"GOD, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2a)

Can you imagine where we would be if Israel waited for another burning bush?  Not metaphorically, because we know that there have been many, but literally.  What if, as the pillar of cloud was moving Israel stayed put in the desert because they concluded, "God doesn't do it that way.  He only speaks through burning bushes."

What if, Paul, when on the road to Damascus concluded that the voice from heaven was not that of Christ?

What if Job hadn't listened to the whirlwind... or Elijah to the still small voice?

Since we know that He is "the same yesterday, and  to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8) we must conclude that today, here with us, He will, at various times and in various ways speak to us.  And how He speaks to me may not - strike that - will more than likely not be the same way He speaks to you, nor at the same time. 

God desires to communicate with us.  Before the whole Fall went down, He would walk through the garden looking for Adam.  And He does the same for us today.

He pursues us.  And praise God through Jesus Christ that He does!

And let me ask you this... what if, when God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, people didn't receive it because they hadn't heard the voice themselves?  What if He is trying to speak to us through others and we don't receive it for the same reason?

As long as we are trying to fit Jesus into a box that we are comfortable with, we may as well make it a coffin.  Dead men stay put.  But Jesus is ALIVE!  And the Spirit is moving!  Rather than trying to contain it we should be watching it... following it... moving with it.

The desert we call life has many an oasis.  As we wander on our way to our eternal home, keep your eyes open for the pillars that He uses to guide you. 

I pray that today at various times and in various ways God speaks to us through Christ.  And I pray that we hear Him.

SDG

What is Science?

I think that much of the controversy and conflict today around faith and science stems from the lack of a clear definition of what “science” actually is;  Not the individual disciplines, but science itself; and the difference between what the goal of the process of science should be, and what in reality is often the actual goal.

For the sake of this discussion science is defined as both…

a body of knowledge and the process by which that knowledge is obtained.

Further, the process is one of discovery, observation, interpretation and experimentation.  It is a discipline.  “Disc”, a root shared in such actions as discernment as well as discovery and discipline, speaks of the process of removing or dissecting layer by layer to rightly divide the object, which in many cases can be the data that is collected in the process. While some of the disciplines that add to the body of knowledge called, in its entirety, “science” may require more of one particular step in the overall process, the most complete understanding is obtained through experimentation. 

It is important to realize that “science” doesn’t do anything.  Scientists do.  People who follow the process whereby data is added to the body; and then, after that data has been interpreted; information is born, and when that information is applied to a specific situation; knowledge arises.  The body of knowledge itself simply is.  It does not imply nor involve any action apart from those practicing the discipline of intentional observation and experimentation.

In order to be added to the body of knowledge: that which is known to be true; the subject or theory must be observed, tested and reproduced.  Without the “closed loop” of this process, findings or hypotheses reside in the realm of theory.  Theory, a name implying uncertainty of truth, albeit – admittedly a possibility-, requires a different set of rules to be applied in any way that can then further substantiate its credibility.  But often theory runs within the circle of the minds of a few, who then, demonstrating such passion and insight, drive it to the point where, though it cannot be absolutely proven, it can stand upon such evidence for, and absence of evidence against, that further experimentation or hypotheses can be born.  Consider the Theory of Relativity.  That it can be demonstrated in both observation and experimentation that gravity has a direct effect on light and time is so impossible to fathom.  And yet, that very observation supports the theory that time is relative, or at least relative to one factor that we have identified.

It is also important to realize that, were there nothing to study, nothing to which the discipline and process could be applied then no knowledge would arise.  There need not be any conflict between science and faith nor any exclusivity either.  Science requires a subject of observation and study for scientist to engage.  Faith, on the other hand, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  

It is also important to know that science, both the body of knowledge and the process, is restricted to that which can be observed and tested.  When the bible mentioned “science so called” it is referring to this phenomena of classifying in the body of knowledge (that which is known) things that have not been demonstrated to be known.

Why do we take so much time trying to rightly define science?  Science is a study.  And we are told to study.  We are told to look to the things that are made to understand the maker.  Science, the body of knowledge and the process of obtaining it, should point us TO the creator, not AWAY from Him.

The world would have us separate the realm of the observed from the source of it.  We cannot find in any thing the answer to that thing.  We must look outside of it.   When the world looks to the world for the answer to the WHY of the world… they are spinning there wheels.  When they discount the existence of the “Answer” outside of the observation, they miss the point.  While the observed can point to the source, it is not itself the source. 

Yet, when people discuss science as though it was an entity capable of thought and action, though they swear there is no god, have they not then confessed one?  Have they not then named their god “Science?” 

Theology is a science.  It is a study of the things of God.  It is a discipline.  It does nothing.  While we can learn (a first person action) from theology, theology does not teach us.  It is not a being.  It is a collection of knowledge that theologians have gathered.  It does not give us anything, but we can take from it. 

All sciences are the same.  We must engage what we have discovered and put it to use.  (Learning is the act of retaining and putting to use that which has been discovered.)  We, us, people, learn.  An apple doesn’t “teach” me how it tastes.  And so science doesn’t do anything.

Scientists are those who study through a disciplined approach.  Let us all be scientists in the study of the Word.  Pay close attention to all He has created and all He has said, so that we will be effective.

SDG

Doubting John?

Chances are we've heard the phrase "Doubting Thomas".  Coined from that stubborn friend of ours the apostle Thomas who said he would not believe that Jesus had risen except he touch His wounds.  When someone calls you a "Doubting Thomas" it usually has a less than nice slant to it.  But did you know that there was someone else who doubted Jesus?  This someone not only doubted Him but he did it while Jesus was still alive and after he had proclaimed that God had revealed to him that Jesus was the Christ.  Who was he?  John the Baptist.

            John's story is more like mine or yours than Thomas'.  At least I would think.  Tom had good reason to have his doubts.  "I mean come on, you guys expect me to believe that Jesus was here while I stepped out.  You're putting me on.  He's dead people, face the facts."  But John's doubt came from deep despair.  Let's look at the whole picture.

            John was baptizing beyond the Jordan.  He claimed that he was preceding the Messiah.  He saw Jesus. Saw the Spirit descend upon Him.  Glorified God.  Told everyone that Jesus was the one of whom he had be talking.  Told his disciples that they ought to leave him and follow Jesus and then what....  He gets thrown in prison and in his dark cell he sends some guys out to Jesus with the question, "Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?"  Wasn't this the same question people had been asking him and without a hitch he said, "Jesus is the one, follow Him"?  I can definitely relate more to John. 

            There have been times when I have fought this battle and I'm sure I'm not alone.  You feel like you're in a dark prison cell.  You wonder why, if God was watching out for you, would He put you here.  And in your time of despair you ask the question, "Art thou He?"  But guess what, we're in good company.  Listen to what Jesus about John, "For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist..."  Not bad.  To be a prophet was pretty good, but to be the greatest prophet, after that doubt, I'd say that was incredible.

            And what Jesus' response?  He let the inquisitors hang around a bit and watch what He was doing.  Then he sends them back to John saying, "tell him what you have seen." 

  

            Praise God that Christ does the same for us!  In our moments of despair, in our moments in the dungeon, in our moments or doubt and honest questioning (Thomas actually means "seeker of the truth"!), if we would take our eyes off of our circumstances, if we would stop saying "woe is me" and starting paying attention to what Jesus is doing in the lives of others... our "woe" will change to a "wow" and we will be renewed!

            We'll all have doubts, that's natural.  When we do we have to remember those things that convinced us at first,... our first love.  Faith that is not tried will not be pure.  Will He allow us to have faith that is not always being tried, not allowing it to grow stronger?  I doubt it.

SDG

The vision of provision

There was a man who was about to go on a long trip.  He was going to be away for awhile.  Take his wife and child.  Uproot them.  Move to a foreign land.  Have to start up a business from scratch.  Only he didn't know it yet.  And he didn't have much in the old savings account.  But the hitch is this... it was God's plan.  And God is a good planner.

            So the rest of the story goes like this.  Three guys show up at his door.  They want to see his son.  Then they pull these boxes out of their coats.  Gold. Nice.  Frankincense.  Sweet.  And myrrh.  Whatever.  Two out of three ain't bad. 

            Still, Joe (that was his name), didn't know about the trip yet.  Maybe he would put it in his son's education account.  Maybe fix up the work shop.  He would sleep on it....  but God had other plans.

            The next day he's off with the whole crew, going on his trip.  And then he realized what the money was for.

             Something can be learned from this story.  Something about how God prepares for His plans.  Sure He could cause a fish to spit us a few bucks around tax time. (Matt 17: 24-27)  But then again He might tell us to give all our money away (Matt. 19:16-26).  One thing is for sure...  He will provide for His work.

            Bottom line... God will make a way, when there seems to be no way.  And that goes for everything.  In every situation.  He'll finance whatever journey He sends you on.  Whether it means a supply of forgiveness that He knows you'll need.  Or patience.  Or love.  Or yes, even money.  Does He want your child at a certain school?  He will make a way.  Car broke down?  You never know? Someone might just pass a blessing on and give you one.  It's His work.  Or maybe, just maybe, three guys might show up at your door and give you three little boxes.  And if they do, don't be surprised by any dreams you might have that night.

SDG

On the subject of Grace

“My grace is sufficient for thee.” 2 Cr 12:9

What is grace?  Grace is God giving us the good that we do not deserve.  We could never deserve it.  We could never earn it.  I have to mention (and give credit to the one who first introduced me to the following acronym, Pastor Phil from Gateway Church) that GRACE can also be understood as

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense 

Not only do I love that depiction I also believe that it sheds light on another incredible truth, namely that grace was neither available nor active before Christ took upon Himself the penalty of death in the way that it is both available and active since.

As the greatest act of the Father’s grace the Son was sent to die in our (each of our individual) place.  Praise God!  And we, as the redeemed, continually experience the benefits of that single act.  But how has that changed the availability and activity of God’s grace?

In the Old Testament, the term for grace appears approximately 36 times.  Of those, approximately 13 are related to God and His dealings with man.  Of the 13, 11 tell us that grace was “found”.  Only 2 times is grace spoken of as actively being “poured out” or “given”.  Both times are in a prophetic context, with the second being in Zechariah as we hear of the people “looking on Him whom they have pierced.”

God has always been gracious.  But that grace needed to be “found”.  It was there for those who would seek the Lord and listen to Him.  It appeared to be for only a few.  Why, though, would this be?  If grace is God giving us the good that we don’t deserve, wouldn’t it make sense that we always qualified?  Though we may have, we must first have come to a point of realizing just how badly we don’t deserve it. (And the law allowed us to see our deficiency, that, as a schoolmaster, it might bring us to grace.)

Prior to Christ’s sacrifice, the people thought that grace came by the law (the schoolmaster) and the keeping of it.  And while one interpretation of grace could be “favor”, which God did say He would give to those who kept His commandments, that interpretation is an incomplete one.  Why? Because grace is meant to do more… it is meant to be multiplied.  It is meant to empower, not just be received or found.  Bear with me for just a bit more as we see how it changed after the cross and the empty tomb…

In the New Testament the term grace appears 121 times!  And the picture of grace is much different.  It is not portrayed as something that is only “found” but it is an active relationship between the Godhead and those who have come to faith in and believe in the Son.  Look at the different things that grace is either described as being or doing:

Grace can be “Upon”, Grace can be “In” (resides), Grace can be “Over”, Grace can be “Seen”, Grace can be “Given” (bestowed) (administered), Grace can be “Continued in” (Stood in), Grace can be “Spoken” (sung), Grace can be “Passed through”, Grace can be “Received”, Grace “Reigns”, Grace “Abounds”, Grace “Determines”, Grace can be “Partaken in”, Grace is “Sufficient”, Grace “Calls”, Grace can be “Frustrated”, Grace “Makes us accepted”, Grace “Saves”, Grace “Justifies”, Grace “Establishes”, Grace can be “Managed” (stewards)

Do we get the picture?  And while many of us are familiar with the actions of and result of grace toward us (e.g. saving, justifying, reigning, etc...) had we ever stopped to think that grace could be “frustrated” or “managed”?

When we look at this list and dwell on it… we get a sense that WE ARE ALSO GRACE! (or at least the vessels of it) We are to be to others the good that they do not deserve!  God chooses to allow us to partake in grace and to manage that grace.  He wants us to administer it to others and to reside in it.

Lest we ever frustrate God’s grace let us remember that, as the body, we are called to be His hands to the hurting and lost.  Some may never know God’s grace but through us.  They may be resistant to our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore not ready to receive Him or His grace directly from Him… but they might be willing to receive it from us.

And therefore, we must not only allow God’s grace to work through us, but we must be always ready to point those to whom it has touched to the One from Whom it truly comes.  Never taking credit for any act we might partake in toward others, we must always acknowledge Him in all of our ways as the true Giver of all good things.

He said, “My grace is sufficient!”  He did not add, for only “such and such” a thing (Thank you Jesus!).  He said it was sufficient… period, able to suffice for all that will come our way and all He calls us to do.

Grace should be contagious to the Christian.

Grace to you…

Pass it on.

SDG

Why do people leave Jesus?

I saw this question the other day and it got me thinking.  Some of the responses to it (it was on a forum) didn’t resonate with me.  And so I thought more about it.

Why do people leave Jesus?  Why do people seemingly loose their faith?

Perhaps they do for the same reasons that people leave any relationship…

Unmet expectations 

Maybe people have in their minds a picture of what the relationship is supposed to be.  Maybe that picture was painted by someone else other than Christ.  Maybe people feel like they have let Him down and so “let Him go” like those who say “I don’t deserve you” to a friend or a romantic interest.  I don’t know.  But I wonder… can you ever leave Jesus?  Can you ever completely cut ties with Him?  Can you ever say “I’m done,” “I am moving on.”

When people feel like there is a burden on them, then they feel like they are owed something.  When they feel like there are requirements, then they feel like their needs to be reward.  When they approach their relationship to Jesus as other relationships that have a cause-and-effect or a give-and-take dynamic I think that they are only standing with one foot in the gates.  They are waiting to get something else in order to enter into His gates with praise.  I am not condemning anyone for this.  I am just trying to understand it.  It is natural for us, as humans, to resist.  We are hesitant.  We have all experienced times when we jumped in too quick and got hurt.  So we are guarded. 

But I believe Christ is patient.  I believe He stands at that gate as long as necessary for those who would have only one foot in.  I believe that, when it settles in someone’s heart that “wait a minute, He gave His life for mine so that I can live for ever with Him… what else do I expect?” then they can truly enter His gates with praise.  They can truly release all expectations that they might have brought with them, and receive all they He wants to give.

As effective followers of Christ, we ought to be very careful of what expectations we set for people and what expectations we give them to have about Jesus.  We need to be honest.  We need to tell them, “guess what… life is hard… the world can be a terrible place… but He has overcome the world.” 

He never said that bad things wouldn’t happen… just that He would “work all things together for good, for those who love God, for those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Expect Him to keep His word.  Know His Word so that you can have correct expectations.

SDG

Definition of Sin…

I am sure many have heard it… but if you haven’t… don’t worry… I am equally as sure that many haven’t.  The definition of sin. 

There seem to be many.  And if you ask you might hear, “Doing something wrong,” “Breaking God’s law,” and so forth.  You may also hear the metaphor that I so often used myself based on the biblical word chata’- the one about archery and “missing the mark.”

All good.  All correct.  But I would like to share with you another definition.  A definition that takes the focus off of us and places it back on Him… where is should be.  I am not saying that the people who define sin as I have said above are wrong.  They are not.  But in order to be effective followers of Christ we need something that empowers us, something that we can say, “I am on the hook… and praise God that He was on the cross!”

Here it is.

Sin = failing to honor God and give Him all that He is worthy of

Everything we do either honors Him or doesn’t. 

People can argue when you say, “That is wrong!” because they may have a different world view or may believe that right and wrong are relative terms.  People can argue when you say that they “missed the mark” because they don’t believe there is a mark.  But when you define sin as “failing to honor God and give Him all that He is worthy of” they are first faced with a decision to either deny or confess Him.  It takes the focus off of the act or transgression, and even off of the degree of right or wrong and turns it to something we can chew on…

When I thought evil of someone… was that honoring God?

When I looked with lust… was that honoring God?

When I told a lie or participated in gossip… was that honoring God?

When I failed to forgive as He forgives… was that honoring God?

Do I give Him and Him only my eyes and all that I look upon?

Do I speak only words of life, and only of Him?

Do I listen to or give ear to only those things that glorify Him?

Do I treat my body as a holy temple?

In every moment, of every day, in all that I do, with every breath I breathe… do I honor Him and give Him all that He is worthy of?

Can anyone?  Can anyone offer the Father all that He is worthy of?  Can anyone be presented as a life without a moment of sin?  Is there anyone? Anyone?

Thank God that Jesus Christ willingly offered Himself up!  Thank God that He was obedient even unto death, the death on a cross!  Thank God that because He never failed to honor the Father and always gave Him what He is worthy of…

The price has been paid!  We are redeemed!  The gift, the propitiation, the grace, the mercy… Oh glory! 

Let us take up the stones that we would cast and build an altar unto to the Lord on which we offer ourselves to Him, daily.  Not to pay for our sins, but to honor Him!  To give ourselves to Him, for it is all we have to give.  And though He is worthy of so much more, will He not rain down fire from heaven to consume us – that all consuming fire that is His love!  It does not matter that we were drenched in sin.  It does not matter that we were soaked to the bone, saturated with the desires of the flesh.  As with Elijah… so with us!  The fire, the very Holy Spirit of the Living God, will ignite us!  And we will be the lights we are called to be!

Go and fail to honor God and give Him all that He is worthy of no more!

SDG

What is following?

I thought that Google was actually naming a post for me when I saw this at the bottom of the blog dashboard...

I guess it must be a relevant question. 

Following = paying close attention to.

SDG

Mixed Messages

I was on my way to the store and I got caught at a red light.  As I am partial to doing, I looked around to see what I could learn.  Something rather amusing caught my eye.  It concerned mixed messages.  On a house across the street was a deli-type sign.  The kind that you can slide the letters into to say what the day's special is.  Well on it was a bible verse.  I can't recall the exact verse but it dealt with the house being the Lord's and all of that jazz.  It gave you a warm fuzzy feeling.  You might have thought, "Wow, what commitment.  What boldness.  What fire for the faith."  Or maybe you might have thought, "They ought to tone it  down a bit."  But whatever your first impression, it would have been changed when your eyes dropped about four feet.  That's where the sign that read "Beware of Dog" was hanging.

            So many of us are like that.  Whether we like to admit it or not.  We put on a front that proclaims the love of Christ and shows arms open to accept others as He did, but right below that we have our "Beware of Dog" sign.  We send mixed messages.  We say, "Come closer... but not too close."  "We are all equal in God's eyes...  but not in mine."  "I love all of God's children... if you can get past Spike the rabid pit bull."

            We know we should act as He did, and yet, in fear, we have reservations.  We want to have Christian fellowship... as long as...  the fellows are the right color, or are of the right social class, or whatever else we decide.  Take one look at the group of hooligans Jesus walked with and you will realize that He wasn't as picky as we are. 

            Take a closer look at your fence.  The fence you have around yourself.  What signs hang there?  Are you sending mixed messages?  Is there a sign that says "Welcome" not far from the one that warns "Beware of Dog"?  Think of this... If your house were a kennel would the doors be open to only one breed of dog? 

            The Good Book says that people will know that we are Christians by our love.  Do they?

SDG

Less entertainment and more engagement…

Generally speaking… wait, I hate generalities.  They are condemning.  They do not produce fruit.  So I will say that in my experience and through my observation I have witnessed the below.  That being said… if the Spirit will come with conviction to those who have experienced the same thing… then there will be fruit.

With the advent of the internet, mega-churches, satellite TV, and surround-sound systems you would think that the gospel would he HEARD.  But is seems that it isn’t.  It seems that, while we might be impressed with the quality of the preaching and availability of hearing it whenever we want, there isn’t much evidence of us living it.  It seems that we often have celebrities (people who are celebrated) on the pulpit, but not the Celebrity that should be… the One who truly should be celebrated.

When did the goal of the gospel become entertainment and not engagement?  When did the cross simply become the symbol for a group of generally moral people who meet together on Sundays?  When did building a church replace adding to the church?  When did we start looking at the church building as our shop window?  And what is it we are trying to sell?  Is the gift of the Holy Spirit something that can be bought for a price?  Hasn’t Christ already paid the price?  Haven’t we already been bought by the blood of the Lamb?  Doesn’t the scripture tell us that the church “was added unto” daily?  Who did the adding?  Was it not the Holy Spirit?  When we till the ground, sow the seed, or water… we are done.  He will give the increase.  Not us. 

We need engaged preachers and engaged preaching.

I believe that the words “preacher” and “preaching” are conjugations.  They are built from the combination of two words: People and Reach.  It is people-reachers that are people-reaching.  Preachers when they are preaching must have at their hearts the motive of reaching people.  And not just relating to them.  Not just making them feel good.  It must be preaching the Gospel.  It must be reaching people with the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Speakers speak.  Preachers reach.

We need less speaking and more reaching.

Turn off the sound system.  Speak softly.  Carry a big stick… in fact, carry two… in the form of a cross.  Show the world what Christ has done.  It is good news.

SDG

Fulfilled!

“Think not that I am come to destroy (katalyō) the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (plēroō). For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (ginomai).” Matt 5:17-18

Katalyō: to dissolve, disunite

Plēroō:  To make full, to complete

Ginoma: to become, to bring to pass

We learn in metaphor.  We learn by moving from what we know to what we do not know, by making comparisons and connections that move us from ignorance to understanding.  When a child holds a ball in their hands and learns that it is a “ball” they do not have the words sphere or orb, but they have an understanding of the volume and space a “ball” takes up; which is different than a “circle” we might point to or draw.  When we then point to the moon and say, “it is like a ball” the child comes to understand that, though from our vantage point it looks like a circle, it must take up volume and space to be a ball.  I remember when I was about 12 years old and I was in watching my younger brothers and a small child of about 2 years old.  We were in the street and the moon was clear in the sky.  This child loved to play with bouncing balls.  When I pointed to the moon and said, “Ball” she began running down the street with her arms open crying “ball, ball”.  While I see that it was a cruel joke now it also supports the idea that until that time- the time when she made the connection that the big circle in the sky was like a ball- she only saw it as a round light.  As soon as she made a connection with “ball” she expected it to fall into her arms, so she ran toward it.

And so it is with the law and its fulfillment.  So many Christians are stuck beneath the law.  Not by His will, but by theirs.  We will speak of this law as a contract (the known) and how it has been fulfilled.  Consider a mortgage on a house.  It is a legal contract with debt associated with it.  Until the last payment is made, the house is legal collateral for the debt.  However, when the final payment is made, the house is no longer collateral for the mortgage, the bank has no legal right to it, and it is now completely owned by the one in whose name the mortgage was held.  In a sense a contract or mortgage is “open” until that final payment is made.  Once the contract is “closed” it is a matter of history, but still on record, lest the mortgage company comes and claims any further right to the property.

And so it is with Christ.  He did not come to (Katalyō) “dissolve” the contract or to “disunite” it.  He came to strengthen it and to unite all of His people – both Jew and Gentile – by it.  He made the final payment on our debt; the debt of the law: for the wages of sin is death.  Under the law, a debt we could never pay,  we are dead.  But in Christ we are alive.  And we need to live in that liberty. 

But has the law passed away?  No.  Christ Himself declared in Matt 5:18 that “not one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” 

But I thought He fulfilled the law?  Now I am confused.  But I need not be.  For when Christ came to fulfill (Plēroō) the law He was “completing it”, “making it full”.  There was something lacking in the law.  It was not complete.  And that which was lacking was a means to pay, a means to “fill in” the gap.  The book of the law was not yet closed.  It was not finished.  It was not complete.  The contract, the mortgage, the debt, were still open.  The cross of Christ completed it.  And so, when Jesus hung upon the cross He proclaimed, “It is finished.”  So much can be said about these three words.  Everything was finished.  Every debt was paid.  Everything was completed under the old covenant.

And now, just as the house would become the property of the one in whose name the mortgage was (regardless of who actually sent the payment!), so the law is now ours.  For Christ said, “If you love Me, you will keep My law.”  Lest we insult the One Who gave His life that it might be ours, and all the promises of it, we should understand what we are now to do with it!

The law (the contract, the mortgage of our souls) is now completed and the legal “note” is ours.  The entire house, from the foundation (the old covenant, the Adamic covenant, the Mosaic covenant) to the steeple (the new covenant, the promise and work of the Cross) is completely under our possession!  We are no longer a slave to the law (working every day to earn the money to pay the debt) but the owners of it.  For the law was not solely a list of things we must do, but with them, the promises attached to the “keeping” of it.  And so, when Christ gave Himself for us, He also signified the blessing of the law, for it was by the sprinkling of blood of the Passover Lamb (commandment) that the blessing of life (that death would not enter in) has come.  The law is now ours to use, just as Christ Himself had done with His “it is written” statements.  No longer can the devil use the law to overpower us, but we him!

And we will have that law and its promises as ours to defeat the adversary, to remind him that the note is ours, and that the case is closed until all things are fulfilled (Ginoma), or brought in existence once the “now” heavens and earth pass away and are replaced with the “new” heavens and earth.

Thank God that He did not dissolve the contract!  If He did, we would have no legal right to the property as ours.  We would be evicted.  But we are not!  He is the cornerstone of the temple in which we dwell along with the Holy Spirit!  The “Note” of the law is ours.  It is both the proof that He paid it and the promise that He would.  Keeping the law now is a matter of love (for if you love Me…) not a matter of obligation.  It is no longer a list of the “must do’s” but rather a list of the little things that Our Father in heaven are pleased by.  And under the new covenant He has been so gracious to shorten that list to two: Love Him, love others (for on these hang all the law…) and empowered us through the Holy Spirit to do them!  The new covenant says this, “I love you.  You are under Grace! (Yes! My only obligation is to receive what He desires to willingly give me {for Grace is God giving me the good that I do not deserve, while Mercy is His withholding the punishment I do} and when I fail to do something that pleases Him, it is not counted against me, for Grace is the contract now… it is in His hands… it is His “obligation” to give. ) But oh how we love to show our gratitude.  Loving Him, sharing the love He has given us with others!

SDG

Difference between Work and Worship

The difference between work and worship is not what you do...

...it is who you do it for.

When we work for ourselves, or for other people, or to gain something... we are working.

When we work for Christ, no matter what we are doing... we worship.

Worship is our response to Who God is. 

SDG

How do we get out from under the mid-week spiritual slump?

I have heard so many people talk about their weekly spiritual journey.  Sunday they are at church and they get fired up.  Their spirits are lifted and their heads are high.  They are ready to take on the world and spread the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!  Nothing can take them down.  Nothing can stop them!

Monday comes and they wake up determined to not let it be a day of dread.  While the rest of the world is in the “hate Monday” mentality, these super saints are ready to defeat the foe.

Then, no sooner do they get out of bed, than the weight of the world hits them.  The fire in their belly begins to dwindle.  A cup of coffee helps.  A hand-shake keeps them going.  A bible verse serves as a reminder to what they are supposed to be doing.

And they get through Monday with some Spirit left in them.

And then Tuesday comes. 

By this time the enemy is so determined to steal their joy and render them ineffective for the Kingdom that they can almost barely walk.  It is no wonder that some churches have gone back to the Mid-Week Wednesday service.  We need it!

Seven days just seems too long between re-charges.  Our spiritual batteries don’t seem to rival the lithium packs that so many smart phones, computers, and other gadgets have.  We need a hard line, a JC adapter... “JC” of course standing for Jesus Christ…, that never comes unplugged. 

That is all well and good, you might be thinking.  But HOW do we get that JC adapter hooked up?  How to we tap into the power of the Holy Spirit when we are so remote?

Here are two strategies or disciplines that have helped me.

PRAISE & WORSHIP.

PREACH TO YOURSELF.  

Out loud.  As though you are before a crowd of ten-thousand hungry souls who have said, “If you give it all you got, and show me how much you love Jesus, I will believe it Him.”  Go with reckless abandon, rocking the heavens, and tearing down spiritual walls that have been raised up to prevent the glory of the Everlasting to pour out.

When you leave church on Sunday, do you not feel so much more on fire when you hear the Word? When you have had time for worship?  And on Wednesday… how much preaching are you hearing?  How many worship songs are pouring off of your lips?  And I am not just speaking about listening to CDs, iPods, or the radio.  I am talking about singing praise your self.  I am talking about entering His courts whenever you want. 

Preach to yourself.  Preach the gospel.  Imagine that the very problem or spiritual slump you are in is being experienced by someone else and they have come to you for help.  Let the love of Jesus so fill your heart for yourself that you can be your own encourager.

Get fired up!  Have a private pep rally!  Cheer on the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, Immanuel, the Giver of Life, the Light of the World, our Provider, our Protector, our Comfort, our Father, our Lord and Savior!

All of the angels in heaven, all of the heavenly hosts are waiting for you to step up to that private pulpit.

Praise Him, Worship Him, Preach to your self.  And Wednesday may just become the most powerful day of the week.

SDG

Half empty? or...

Rather than arguing over whether it is half empty or half full...

We should be focusing on what He can do with it!

He still changes water into wine!

SDG

I'm sorry sir, we're finished for today

               It was lunch time and I was looking for a quiet, distraction free place to pray.  I left work and set out to find a church near by.  I new of a few in the area.  So I started with the one I was most familiar with and which was the closest.  Funny though, the doors were locked.  Maybe I was too early.  Oh well, there were a few more I knew of.  So I got in the car and was off.  Unfortunately, every door I pulled on was locked.  Finally I wound up back at the first church.  I figured I would give it another try.  Maybe it would be open now. 

            It wasn't.  But I did see an elderly man walking on the grounds.  Maybe he would know when the doors opened.  Maybe he had a key.

            "Excuse me.  Sir," I started, "Do you know when they will unlock the doors?"

            "What do you want sir?"

            "I'm just looking for a place to pray," I answered.

            "I'm sorry sir, we're finished for today.  You'll have to come back some other time."

            I would have to come back some other time.  I asked myself what good a church was that had locked doors?  Then I asked myself what good we would be if we did the same?

            So many times we pick days, or times during the day when we say, "Okay, my doors are open.  Do you need to talk?  Can I help you?"  But just as often, we close those doors and reply, "I'm sorry, I'm finished for today.  You'll have to come back."  Where would we be if our Lord treated us the same?  What if, when we needed Him most, He said, "Sorry not today."?

            So what if thieves break in to the church?  Do we care so much for what we've put there?  Which is a better testament: to forgive the thief and keep the doors open for them to return and see Christ's love or to lock them out and say "you can't trust anyone these days".  God's purposes will be accomplished.  Why must we continue to get in His way?

            Don't lock your doors.  When you lock out the sheep, you lock out the Shepherd.

            I sat in my car, in the parking lot.  And I prayed.  Thank God He was available.

SDG

Poem: Suffering, agony

Suffering

agony

He lifted not His voice

Trembling

terribly

It was the Father's choice

Despised

rejected

ridiculed around the lands

Criticized

buffeted

Pilate washed his hands

Whipping

scorns

walk to Calvary

Stripping

thorns

"...Thou hast forsaken me!"

Spear

finished

taken from the tree

Fear

diminished

He rose to set us free

Ok, enough poems for today... but I had it on my mind to post this one as well.

SDG

Poem: If I were...

If I were standing now at Your cross

I wonder what I would do

For in the past

to my despair

I drove the nails right through

First poem I wrote after being saved.  Thought I would share it.

SDG

Plenty of lumber to build the church...

I have a hard time seeing sometimes.  No matter what I am looking at, no matter how many times I clean the window or wipe off my sunglasses… I still see this annoying obstruction in the corner of my eye.  Do you ever get those?  They can get really annoying.  I find myself with another case of OOM: obstructonius ocularios maximus (more commonly known by its layman’s term “big ol’ beam in the eye”)

And it would appear that the most commonly practiced remedy to this particular diagnosis is to ignore it and try and find someone who is suffering from the early stage of this disease, splintonius ocularios minutus.   (my Latin may be a little rusty here, but work with me.)

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye?  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”  Matt 7:3-5

Apparently if the beam is large enough it reaches a specific nerve in our brains that actually causes us not only to ignore it altogether, but then it cuts of the humility center of the brain and we move from conviction, which is an inwardly focused work of the Holy Spirit, and activates the arrogance center of the brain moving us to condemnation, which is an outwardly focused work of the enemy. 

But look at the verses; all three of them.  Don’t stop at verse 4.  When we do that we miss the point altogether.  God wants the beams and motes out.  He never tells us to leave the splinters alone.  He only tells us that in order for us to be effective in helping someone else through their struggles we have to make sure that we are seeing clearly.  Why?  Because if we try to remove a splinter – very small; delicate operation – without being able to see clearly we will hurt the other person.  We will make it worse.

These three verses have been thrown around in a spirit of condemnation, from both sides.  Enough!  Let the truth of the Word convict us.  We ARE to help each other, but we are always to remember that we are in the same position:  A position of dependence on Christ.  

“Let me pull out the mote in thine eye” does not imply that the person with the mote doesn’t know it is there.  The second man can simply be saying, “Can I help?” 

Forget thinking about these verses as pertaining to “judging”.  They are about “assisting”.  Judging is Jesus’ job. Our brothers and sisters in Christ have already been tried and convicted in Christ, and He has paid the price.  It is finished.  Now it is about living out our faith.  It is about being the body. 

If we look at these verses as verses showing us how to assist one another the message becomes clear… you can’t effectively assist someone with a problem you are currently in.  You have to already have dealt with it in your life to help someone deal with it in theirs. 

A recovered alcoholic is likely to encourage his friend not to drink. 

A current alcoholic is likely to encourage his friend to have another.  It is a basic principle.

If we look at these verses strategically… between the beams and the splinters… we’ll have plenty of lumber to build the church.

SDG

The Guy at the door...

            I overheard a conversation about heaven and how to get there.  Two actual statements that were made caught my attention.  They were:  "If there is a heaven then I'll be there, I'm a good person, you know I'm nice and I don't hurt anyone."  The other was a response to that:  "Sure, I'm gonna be where all my friends are."

            Well the second statement may actually have validity, but not the way the person perceived.

            There is only one way into heaven, through Jesus.  The bible tells us that.  And anyone who would try to dance around that is trying to find "fairness" in God.  But what is fair. 

Fairness is when everyone has the same opportunity. 

            And those who didn't take the opportunity wouldn't get the prize.  All God asks is that we accept His invitation.  And that invitation comes in the form of Jesus.  But if you don't RSVP then when you get to the party your name won't be on the list.  But if you do respond then you know the guy at the door.  There is no waiting in line.  No hoping that you'll get in.  You know that you will be there because when you received your invitation you responded.   It's like going to a nightclub and walking past the line that wraps around the block right to the front door and the guy at the door looks at the list and guess what?, your name is on it so you go right in.  Meanwhile some guy who likes to go clubbing (for those of you who may be past this era that would be like hopping form

shindig to shindig) sees the line and tries to get in on his popularity or his ability to dance.  But he gets up to the front and the guy at the door says," Sorry buddy, I don't see your name on the list." 

            If you show up at the door and you think that you're going to get in because you've always been the life of the party and everyone always liked having you around, or if you think you deserve to go in because you can dance better than anyone else than you'll be in for a shock.  You see that wouldn't be fair.  To allow one person into the party because they were "good" partiers would mean that entrance into the party depended on what you could do for the host.  But it is all about what the Host does for you.

            When you accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ then you know the guy at the door, your name is in the book, reservations have been made and  as it tells us in the word, Jesus has prepared a place for you at the table.

            That's God's way, like it or not.  Accept it or don't, the choice is yours.  The bible says, "Enter ye in at the strait gate:  for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt 7:13-14)

            Heaven is God's.  Only He can let us in.  Not one of us deserves it.  It is a gift.  That's the beauty of it.  That's grace.  To believe that we can figure out another way in is to take away from grace.  If we do that we miss the point. 

            The reason why we, as Christians, love grace so much is because we have felt it.  In order to have felt it we had to get to the point where we say to ourselves, "I'm not perfect, I make mistakes.  I want to accept Jesus' invitation because, not only do I need to but, I want to.  I want to enjoy all that He has promised me.  I want to feel that grace, that amazing grace (oh no I feel a song coming on) that only He can give.  That total acceptance and love that only He can give."  When we look in the mirror and see ourselves for what we are we realize how great His love is for us and then, and only then can we reflect that love to others.

            So that every day we can live in the victory of His love and walk knowing that we know the guy at the door.

SDG