Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. . .this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting” – Matt. 17:19-21
When Christ sent the disciples out (Matt. 10:6-8), He explicitly commissioned them to do various kinds of miracles. Less than a year later, they failed where they had once succeeded. Christ's explanation for their failure was that their faith was deficient (17: 20). The deficiency did not consist in a lack of confidence; they were surprised that they could not cast out a demon. The problem probably lay in a failure to make God-rather than their own gifts-the object of their confidence.
I see a great example of why Jesus told His disciples to not rejoice over the fact that demons are subject to them, but rather rejoice over their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
Why is that? Because if you put your confidence in your ability to do demon casting, you will be disappointed. Today, you are casting out a demon and tomorrow the demon is casting you out. This is what happened to Jesus’ disciples in Matthew 17. They said, “Lord, why couldn’t we cast this demon out?” And what was the reason the Lord gave? “Because of the littleness of your faith” (Matt. 17:20). Who’s faith? The faith of those disciples.
Now go back ahead again to Luke 10:17, where Jesus tells His men to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. Who’s faith is responsible for writing and keeping our names in heaven? Not ours, but the Lord’s.
You see, when it comes to casting out demons, Jesus has already given to us His authority but that does not mean we will automatically be successful. Our faith in God plays a huge role. However, we had no part in writing our names in heaven. That was done by God alone.
Therefore, this is the essence of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 17 regarding not being able to cast a particular demon. Jesus is saying, “Do not put your confidence in your abilities or gifts. Some of you have the gift of demon casting. If you are not careful, your faith in God will be subtly moved from God to your gift. Whenever your faith moves away from God onto something else, then you will not achieve any true success. If you want to learn the value of keeping your faith fixated on God, then practice now and then the discipline of both prayer and fasting.”
Now folks, please remember this: It is not the amount of faith one has that makes a noticeable difference, but WHERE that faith is placed.
For example, what did Jesus tell His disciples when they could not cast out a demon? He said, “Because of the littleness of your faith.” We read this and conclude, “Oh, I get it, little faith, little power.” No that’s not it. Keep reading.
Jesus explains by saying, “If you have faith as a mustard seed (a very small seed indeed), you could say to this mountain, ‘Move over there and it will moved; nothing shall be impossible for you.’”
What made the difference? It was not the disciples’ “little faith,” because Jesus’ analogy of the mustard seed would not stick. Jesus’ point is WHERE one places his or her little faith. Jesus is emphasizing the object of their faith (that being God) and not the size of it.
This makes sense, because if success depended on the size of our faith, then we would conclude, “Whoa, I am a man or woman of great faith.” Pretty soon pride will set in and take over. But if the object of our faith being God is brought into the picture, then even those with such little faith (which most of us have) can still enjoy great success because the power and authority rests in the object of our faith and not in our faith itself. This is why Jesus concludes -- go back to the discipline of “prayer and fasting.”
So be careful where you place your faith. Very subtly, Satan can draw your little faith away from God and onto your gift, talent or natural abilities. Second, be very cautious of not glorying in the amount of faith you think you have that is the reason for your success. Even the littlest faith can achieve greatness when it is in the Lord.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Can I Tell You a Story?
In A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World, author Paul Miller offers six cures for cynicism in prayer. One is to “cultivate a childlike spirit”: “Cry out for grace like a hungry child. As soon as I begin simply asking for help, I have become like a little child again. I’ve stopped becoming cynical. Oddly enough, my prayer is answered almost immediately because in the act of praying I’ve become like a child. . . . Instead of critiquing others’ stories, watch the story our Father is weaving.”
Becoming like a little child is essential for salvation, prayer and how about also for enjoying the spirit of Christmas? Not just when it comes to “asking,” but also “thankfulness” and “gratitude.”
I mean, just think about it, you and me once again have the wonderful privilege of telling others about the Christmas Story!
The incarnation -- it defies description. The eternal God who became mortal man. The potter became clay. The Maker of all took residence in a manger. All the makings of a good story – a true story! No wonder there were so many angels present at the announcement over the birth of Jesus.
To those of us who've heard the story all our lives, it seems so normal. We can become complacent and even bored by it. But, to those who've never heard, it must sound a little strange. Such was the world Jesus was born into. They had never read the Christmas story, or seen it portrayed by children each year in church. To them, it was the simple reality that this child was different. His birth, His development, His mission were all very strange.
Everyone knows where children come from, right? But, on very rare occasions God has chosen to mix things up so show that He is the author of this story. Adam, for example, came into being without a man or a woman. Eve, on the other hand, came from man and no woman. On one occasion, God chose a couple too old to have kids to bring young Isaac into the world. But, never had a woman given birth without the aid of a man. God had saved the best for last. "A virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and she will call His name Immanuel."
Think about it, of all the people in the world today, you and I as Christians are most fortunate. God has granted us the wonderful opportunity to share the Christmas story again this year. Are you excited? Are you telling your children? Your friends? Your neighbors?
Tell the story of Jesus and His entrance into the world from different angles, scenes, perspectives, using various biblical accounts. You shouldn’t have to get excited over this. This is something that ought to excite you if you really understand and comprehend what God was up to.
Telling the Christmas story should never become diluted in place of commercialism. Christmas is about God, the Most High, giving His Son as a gift to others, not wrapped in colorful paper, but in swaddling clothes. And like any gift, it must be received in order to be fully appreciated.
Becoming like a little child is essential for salvation, prayer and how about also for enjoying the spirit of Christmas? Not just when it comes to “asking,” but also “thankfulness” and “gratitude.”
I mean, just think about it, you and me once again have the wonderful privilege of telling others about the Christmas Story!
The incarnation -- it defies description. The eternal God who became mortal man. The potter became clay. The Maker of all took residence in a manger. All the makings of a good story – a true story! No wonder there were so many angels present at the announcement over the birth of Jesus.
To those of us who've heard the story all our lives, it seems so normal. We can become complacent and even bored by it. But, to those who've never heard, it must sound a little strange. Such was the world Jesus was born into. They had never read the Christmas story, or seen it portrayed by children each year in church. To them, it was the simple reality that this child was different. His birth, His development, His mission were all very strange.
Everyone knows where children come from, right? But, on very rare occasions God has chosen to mix things up so show that He is the author of this story. Adam, for example, came into being without a man or a woman. Eve, on the other hand, came from man and no woman. On one occasion, God chose a couple too old to have kids to bring young Isaac into the world. But, never had a woman given birth without the aid of a man. God had saved the best for last. "A virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and she will call His name Immanuel."
Think about it, of all the people in the world today, you and I as Christians are most fortunate. God has granted us the wonderful opportunity to share the Christmas story again this year. Are you excited? Are you telling your children? Your friends? Your neighbors?
Tell the story of Jesus and His entrance into the world from different angles, scenes, perspectives, using various biblical accounts. You shouldn’t have to get excited over this. This is something that ought to excite you if you really understand and comprehend what God was up to.
Telling the Christmas story should never become diluted in place of commercialism. Christmas is about God, the Most High, giving His Son as a gift to others, not wrapped in colorful paper, but in swaddling clothes. And like any gift, it must be received in order to be fully appreciated.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Christmas is Deeply Disturbing
But who can endure the day of His coming. . .? So I will come to put you on trial. . . – Mal. 3:2, 5
Americans have religious faith . . . sort of. A 2009 survey by Parade magazine found that 69 percent of Americans believe in God, 77 percent pray outside of religious services, and 75 percent believe parents should give children a religious upbringing. But 50 percent rarely or never attend worship services, and 24 percent labeled themselves “spiritual but not religious.” Only 12 percent identified their own religion as the one true faith, while 59 percent said all religions are valid.
If this says anything it is this: Americans are confused about God. And if Americans are confused there, they will also be confused about the real meaning of Christmas.
The days before Christmas can be a tiring season of preparation, planning, shopping, and wrapping. But I think as we prepare for the Christmas celebrations, dinners, travel, and gift giving, it's equally important that we pause and prepare our souls for Christmas.
Let me be blunt: We oftentimes romanticize the Christmas story way more than we should. We easily forget that the bigger purpose behind Bethlehem was Calvary. The purpose of the manger was realized in the horrors of the cross. The purpose of his birth was his death.
Or to put it more personally: Christmas is necessary because I am a sinner. The incarnation reminds us of my desperate condition before a holy God. We all stand to be judged! And with this in mind, one thing about Christmas is never really talked about, and that is: “Christmas is very disturbing!”
Any real understanding of the Christmas message will disturb anyone to the core. So many people who ignore God and His Church start to have religious feelings about this time of the year. They feel they ought to. So they make their way to one of several Christmas programs. And when they go, they come away feeling vaguely warmed or at least better for having gone, but not disturbed.
Why aren't people disturbed by Christmas? Here is the reason: We keep Jesus in the manger. We forget that Jesus came to be on the cross. It was there that the wrath of the Father was poured out onto His Son for our sins. God’s holy justice had to be dealt with. Jesus was born to suffer and die as our substitution enduring the horrors of Calvary.
But we don’t like to talk about sin at this time of the year. And we don’t like to hear any message that reminds us of God’s judgment. So we come up with programs that keep Jesus in the manger, while never going all the way to the real purpose of why He was born in the first place – i.e. He was destined to die on the cross!
You see, when Jesus was born, He was appointed by God to be either a Savior or a Judge. Because of His birth, people will spend an eternity in hell. He is a most threatening person. As long as we can keep Him in the manger, and feel the sentimental feelings we have for babies, Jesus doesn't disturb us. But once we understand that His coming means for every one of us either salvation or condemnation, He disturbs us deeply.
Now don’t misunderstand, we ought to celebrate the birth of Christ. But please don’t keep Jesus in a manger as a harmless baby. Jesus is our sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). He was born to take upon His body my hell that I so much deserved.
That baby was born so that "he who had no sin" would become "sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The baby's destiny from the moment of his conception was hell—hell in the place of sinners. When I look into the manger, I come away shaken as I realize again that he was born to pay the unbearable penalty for my sins.
That's the message of Christmas: God reconciled the world to himself through Christ (2 Cor. 5:19), man's sin has alienated him from God, and man's reconciliation with God is possible only through faith in Christ…Christmas is disturbing.
The purpose of Christ's birth was to live a sinless life, suffer as our substitute on the cross, satisfy the wrath of God, defeat death, and secure our forgiveness and salvation.
Christmas is about God the Father (the offended party) taking the initiative to send his only begotten son to offer his life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, so that we might be forgiven for our many transgressions.
Again, don’t get me wrong, Christmas is a time of celebration. It is also a time of repentance, deep inner mourning, and fear, oh yes, fear that if I keep Jesus in the manger and go away with sentimental feelings that one gets from beholding a baby, I will miss the message of Christmas and become worse off as a result.
The real message of Christmas is very disturbing!
Americans have religious faith . . . sort of. A 2009 survey by Parade magazine found that 69 percent of Americans believe in God, 77 percent pray outside of religious services, and 75 percent believe parents should give children a religious upbringing. But 50 percent rarely or never attend worship services, and 24 percent labeled themselves “spiritual but not religious.” Only 12 percent identified their own religion as the one true faith, while 59 percent said all religions are valid.
If this says anything it is this: Americans are confused about God. And if Americans are confused there, they will also be confused about the real meaning of Christmas.
The days before Christmas can be a tiring season of preparation, planning, shopping, and wrapping. But I think as we prepare for the Christmas celebrations, dinners, travel, and gift giving, it's equally important that we pause and prepare our souls for Christmas.
Let me be blunt: We oftentimes romanticize the Christmas story way more than we should. We easily forget that the bigger purpose behind Bethlehem was Calvary. The purpose of the manger was realized in the horrors of the cross. The purpose of his birth was his death.
Or to put it more personally: Christmas is necessary because I am a sinner. The incarnation reminds us of my desperate condition before a holy God. We all stand to be judged! And with this in mind, one thing about Christmas is never really talked about, and that is: “Christmas is very disturbing!”
Any real understanding of the Christmas message will disturb anyone to the core. So many people who ignore God and His Church start to have religious feelings about this time of the year. They feel they ought to. So they make their way to one of several Christmas programs. And when they go, they come away feeling vaguely warmed or at least better for having gone, but not disturbed.
Why aren't people disturbed by Christmas? Here is the reason: We keep Jesus in the manger. We forget that Jesus came to be on the cross. It was there that the wrath of the Father was poured out onto His Son for our sins. God’s holy justice had to be dealt with. Jesus was born to suffer and die as our substitution enduring the horrors of Calvary.
But we don’t like to talk about sin at this time of the year. And we don’t like to hear any message that reminds us of God’s judgment. So we come up with programs that keep Jesus in the manger, while never going all the way to the real purpose of why He was born in the first place – i.e. He was destined to die on the cross!
You see, when Jesus was born, He was appointed by God to be either a Savior or a Judge. Because of His birth, people will spend an eternity in hell. He is a most threatening person. As long as we can keep Him in the manger, and feel the sentimental feelings we have for babies, Jesus doesn't disturb us. But once we understand that His coming means for every one of us either salvation or condemnation, He disturbs us deeply.
Now don’t misunderstand, we ought to celebrate the birth of Christ. But please don’t keep Jesus in a manger as a harmless baby. Jesus is our sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). He was born to take upon His body my hell that I so much deserved.
That baby was born so that "he who had no sin" would become "sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The baby's destiny from the moment of his conception was hell—hell in the place of sinners. When I look into the manger, I come away shaken as I realize again that he was born to pay the unbearable penalty for my sins.
That's the message of Christmas: God reconciled the world to himself through Christ (2 Cor. 5:19), man's sin has alienated him from God, and man's reconciliation with God is possible only through faith in Christ…Christmas is disturbing.
The purpose of Christ's birth was to live a sinless life, suffer as our substitute on the cross, satisfy the wrath of God, defeat death, and secure our forgiveness and salvation.
Christmas is about God the Father (the offended party) taking the initiative to send his only begotten son to offer his life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, so that we might be forgiven for our many transgressions.
Again, don’t get me wrong, Christmas is a time of celebration. It is also a time of repentance, deep inner mourning, and fear, oh yes, fear that if I keep Jesus in the manger and go away with sentimental feelings that one gets from beholding a baby, I will miss the message of Christmas and become worse off as a result.
The real message of Christmas is very disturbing!
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Three Groups of People Who Enter Christ's Kingdom
Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, up on a high mountain by themselves.2 While they watched, Jesus' appearance was changed; his face became bright like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.3 Then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus – Matt. 17:1-3 NCV
In the closing days of World War II, a trainload of 2,500 Jews, many of them children, were en route from Bergen-Belsen to another Nazi concentration camp for “termination.” Fortunately for them, the U.S. Army’s 30th Infantry Division found the train, rescued the starving prisoners, and evacuated them to safety. This stirring episode was forgotten until a few years ago, when a high school history teacher sent his students to interview World War II veterans for an oral history project. When the class posted their project on the Internet, including photos taken by the soldiers, the survivors from that train contacted the school and arranged for a reunion with their rescuers. The long-delayed reunion took place at the high school.
Rescue and justice inspires great joy, so does the company at Jesus’ Transfiguration. Have ever wondered why Moses, Elijah and Jesus’ disciples were present to see Him glorified? What was the Holy Spirit seeking to show us?
Let me offer some thoughts. Verse 3 starts out with “behold.” This introduces to us something very amazing. It is used with a verse that tells us who were present: Moses and Elijah. Now why them?
Matthew probably mentioned Moses first because to the Jews he was the more important figure. Moses was the model for the eschatological Prophet whom God would raise up, namely Messiah (Deut. 18:18). Elijah was the prophesied forerunner of Messiah (Mal. 4:5-6; cf. Matt. 3:1-3; Matt. 11:7-10;Matt. 17:9-13). Both prophets had unusual ends. Perhaps Moses represented those who will be in the kingdom who had died and Elijah represented those whom God had translated. The disciples may represent those there who had not died.
Here, let me put it this way. When Jesus comes to set up His kingdom, three groups of people will enter – all of which will be saved.
Group 1: Those who have died before the Millennium (Rev. 20) will be bodily resurrected and enter the kingdom of Christ in their new resurrected bodies (Dan. 12:2).
Group 2: Those who have been already raptured before the start of the Tribulation Period, who will already possess their new resurrected bodies. They had been living with Jesus in heaven during the duration of the Tribulation Period of seven years. Now they return with Jesus (Rev. 19:11) to also occupy His kingdom.
Group 3: Those who will be saved and physically alive at the end of the seven year Tribulation Period. In Revelation 19:11 when Jesus comes to set up His kingdom, He separates the goats from the sheep (Matt. 25:31-46). The goats (unsaved) are taken to hell (v. 46), while the sheep (saved) enter the kingdom of God physically alive who have not yet died (v. 34).
Group 1 – Moses (who died first and then entered the kingdom)
Group 2 – Elijah (who did not die at all, but instead got raptured and entered the kingdom)
Group 3 – The disciples (who still possessed their physical bodies and entered the kingdom).
Could this be what the Holy Spirit had in mind? Well, we cannot be sure since Jesus had no direct commentary about His company. But when we think of His company and how each one does represent a different entrance into the kingdom, we can make some holy observations.
My wife (Paula) falls into the category of Moses. If Jesus should come at the Rapture before I die, I will fall into the category of Elijah. Those who are saved during the Tribulation Period and are not martyred and endure to the end (Matt. 24:13), will fall into the category of Jesus’ disciples.
In the closing days of World War II, a trainload of 2,500 Jews, many of them children, were en route from Bergen-Belsen to another Nazi concentration camp for “termination.” Fortunately for them, the U.S. Army’s 30th Infantry Division found the train, rescued the starving prisoners, and evacuated them to safety. This stirring episode was forgotten until a few years ago, when a high school history teacher sent his students to interview World War II veterans for an oral history project. When the class posted their project on the Internet, including photos taken by the soldiers, the survivors from that train contacted the school and arranged for a reunion with their rescuers. The long-delayed reunion took place at the high school.
Rescue and justice inspires great joy, so does the company at Jesus’ Transfiguration. Have ever wondered why Moses, Elijah and Jesus’ disciples were present to see Him glorified? What was the Holy Spirit seeking to show us?
Let me offer some thoughts. Verse 3 starts out with “behold.” This introduces to us something very amazing. It is used with a verse that tells us who were present: Moses and Elijah. Now why them?
Matthew probably mentioned Moses first because to the Jews he was the more important figure. Moses was the model for the eschatological Prophet whom God would raise up, namely Messiah (Deut. 18:18). Elijah was the prophesied forerunner of Messiah (Mal. 4:5-6; cf. Matt. 3:1-3; Matt. 11:7-10;Matt. 17:9-13). Both prophets had unusual ends. Perhaps Moses represented those who will be in the kingdom who had died and Elijah represented those whom God had translated. The disciples may represent those there who had not died.
Here, let me put it this way. When Jesus comes to set up His kingdom, three groups of people will enter – all of which will be saved.
Group 1: Those who have died before the Millennium (Rev. 20) will be bodily resurrected and enter the kingdom of Christ in their new resurrected bodies (Dan. 12:2).
Group 2: Those who have been already raptured before the start of the Tribulation Period, who will already possess their new resurrected bodies. They had been living with Jesus in heaven during the duration of the Tribulation Period of seven years. Now they return with Jesus (Rev. 19:11) to also occupy His kingdom.
Group 3: Those who will be saved and physically alive at the end of the seven year Tribulation Period. In Revelation 19:11 when Jesus comes to set up His kingdom, He separates the goats from the sheep (Matt. 25:31-46). The goats (unsaved) are taken to hell (v. 46), while the sheep (saved) enter the kingdom of God physically alive who have not yet died (v. 34).
Group 1 – Moses (who died first and then entered the kingdom)
Group 2 – Elijah (who did not die at all, but instead got raptured and entered the kingdom)
Group 3 – The disciples (who still possessed their physical bodies and entered the kingdom).
Could this be what the Holy Spirit had in mind? Well, we cannot be sure since Jesus had no direct commentary about His company. But when we think of His company and how each one does represent a different entrance into the kingdom, we can make some holy observations.
My wife (Paula) falls into the category of Moses. If Jesus should come at the Rapture before I die, I will fall into the category of Elijah. Those who are saved during the Tribulation Period and are not martyred and endure to the end (Matt. 24:13), will fall into the category of Jesus’ disciples.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Guilty of Blasphemy
Have you been following the case of the Christian woman who is sentenced to death for the so-called blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed? I think there are some eye-opening potential similarities between her situation and what we may be facing in 2011 right here in paradise.
High Court Says Pakistan Cannot Pardon Christian Woman
Despite previous reports, Pakistan's government has yet to pardon a Christian woman sentenced to death on blasphemy charges. Moreover, Christian Today reports that the country's high court barred any such pardon while the case is pending in the courts. "Since the matter is in the high court, the government cannot now make any move to pardon Bibi," lawyer Allah Bakhsh Leghari told Agence France-Presse. Asia Bibi (also called Asia Noreen) is the first woman to receive the death sentence after being convicted of blasphemy against Islam's prophet Mohammed.
Bibi was arrested in 2009 following a petty argument she had with fellow field workers. She was picking fruit in a field with fellow Muslim workers and went to get water for the group. Upon returning, the Muslim women refused to drink the water because the container had been touched by a Christian.
Bibi was offended and argued with the women, but afterwards thought nothing of the incident. However, a few days later dozens of Muslims dragged her away and she was accused of blasphemy against the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, which she denies.
Conservative Muslims have threatened anarchy if President Asif Ali Zadari pardons the woman. Human rights group Christian Freedom International warns that Bibi's case could set a precedent. "If Asia Bibi is put to death, it could mean a rise in prosecutions of Christians - not just in Pakistan, but also in other nations where Islamic law is enforced," the group warned.
Note: This Christian woman is awaiting a verdict for her alleged blasphemy. The sentencing may include death. Even if she is set free, (which I am praying and fasting for), just the ordeal of being arrested for blasphemy with the intention of being put to death is sheer agony in itself.
Now here is why I think this mirrors something that can also occur right where we live. Soon, very soon, HB 444 (the civil union bill) will again rear its ugly head. Now that we have someone as governor in the state of Hawaii who is in favor of it, the chance of it passing is extremely high.
If and when it does become law, and gays are given the right to have civil unions which will eventually lead to full blown acceptance of marriage that all heterosexuals have been granted the right to, for Christian pastors and leaders who come forth and say anything against this, will be brought up on charges of “hate crime” against a minority group and of possibly breaking a law.
Therefore, it will not be totally off the wall for this to happen. All you will need is for one person to be arrested and charged with “hate speech” in the name of their faith by saying something that is not favorable to the gay life style – such as homosexuality is sin; it is an abomination; those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God – all of which the Bible teaches (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Lev. 18:22), and you got the making of an Asia Bibi and the potential of opening up a can of worms against all Christian pastors and church leaders.
And even if the pastor is found to be innocent of “hate speech,” just the ordeal alone will cause many within the Christian community to change their wording, soften their conviction, and therefore their stand on this issue, and become one with the world. It will make it more difficult for people to hear the true message of God and segments of the church will become indistinguishable from just another political interest group and the body of Christ will look and sound fragmented.
So watch the case of Asia Bibi very closely. It may very well provide a sample of what we here in the West may be facing at some future point. But note also this: Watch this case carefully and pray for Asia. She is a fellow sister in the Lord and just because she acknowledges Jesus as her God and not Mohammed as her prophet and source of authority, she is said to be guilty of blasphemy and condemned to die.
Church, let’s pray!
High Court Says Pakistan Cannot Pardon Christian Woman
Despite previous reports, Pakistan's government has yet to pardon a Christian woman sentenced to death on blasphemy charges. Moreover, Christian Today reports that the country's high court barred any such pardon while the case is pending in the courts. "Since the matter is in the high court, the government cannot now make any move to pardon Bibi," lawyer Allah Bakhsh Leghari told Agence France-Presse. Asia Bibi (also called Asia Noreen) is the first woman to receive the death sentence after being convicted of blasphemy against Islam's prophet Mohammed.
Bibi was arrested in 2009 following a petty argument she had with fellow field workers. She was picking fruit in a field with fellow Muslim workers and went to get water for the group. Upon returning, the Muslim women refused to drink the water because the container had been touched by a Christian.
Bibi was offended and argued with the women, but afterwards thought nothing of the incident. However, a few days later dozens of Muslims dragged her away and she was accused of blasphemy against the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, which she denies.
Conservative Muslims have threatened anarchy if President Asif Ali Zadari pardons the woman. Human rights group Christian Freedom International warns that Bibi's case could set a precedent. "If Asia Bibi is put to death, it could mean a rise in prosecutions of Christians - not just in Pakistan, but also in other nations where Islamic law is enforced," the group warned.
Note: This Christian woman is awaiting a verdict for her alleged blasphemy. The sentencing may include death. Even if she is set free, (which I am praying and fasting for), just the ordeal of being arrested for blasphemy with the intention of being put to death is sheer agony in itself.
Now here is why I think this mirrors something that can also occur right where we live. Soon, very soon, HB 444 (the civil union bill) will again rear its ugly head. Now that we have someone as governor in the state of Hawaii who is in favor of it, the chance of it passing is extremely high.
If and when it does become law, and gays are given the right to have civil unions which will eventually lead to full blown acceptance of marriage that all heterosexuals have been granted the right to, for Christian pastors and leaders who come forth and say anything against this, will be brought up on charges of “hate crime” against a minority group and of possibly breaking a law.
Therefore, it will not be totally off the wall for this to happen. All you will need is for one person to be arrested and charged with “hate speech” in the name of their faith by saying something that is not favorable to the gay life style – such as homosexuality is sin; it is an abomination; those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God – all of which the Bible teaches (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Lev. 18:22), and you got the making of an Asia Bibi and the potential of opening up a can of worms against all Christian pastors and church leaders.
And even if the pastor is found to be innocent of “hate speech,” just the ordeal alone will cause many within the Christian community to change their wording, soften their conviction, and therefore their stand on this issue, and become one with the world. It will make it more difficult for people to hear the true message of God and segments of the church will become indistinguishable from just another political interest group and the body of Christ will look and sound fragmented.
So watch the case of Asia Bibi very closely. It may very well provide a sample of what we here in the West may be facing at some future point. But note also this: Watch this case carefully and pray for Asia. She is a fellow sister in the Lord and just because she acknowledges Jesus as her God and not Mohammed as her prophet and source of authority, she is said to be guilty of blasphemy and condemned to die.
Church, let’s pray!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Core Expression of our Sinful Nature
Bernie Madoff enacted an enormous Ponzi scheme, an investment fraud that affected more people and lasted longer than any other such scam in history. His crime affected the sensibilities of the public especially acutely because it came to light during a major, global economic downturn. He was sentenced to 150 years in federal prison, and his response to the news showed unbearable remorse: “I live in a tormented state now, knowing of all the pain and suffering that I have created.”
Satan has also created a tormented state for scores of people. And the one issue he uses on the world is in the area of sexual sin. Have you ever noticed that sexual sin has a certain fundamentalness to it? Sexual sin goes to the core of our being and seems to be the quintessential expression of our sin nature.
That’s why Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 6, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body” (v. 18).
Sexual immorality is wrong, Paul concluded, because it involves sinning against one's body, which in the case of believers who belong to the Lord through divine purchase.
When a person commits acts of sexual immorality, he or she sins against their own body. But you ask, “Wait a minute, Pastor Rich. Drunkenness and gluttony hurt the body as well, right? Aren’t these sins against the body?” Yes, gluttony and drunkenness hurt the body as well, but they involve excess in things morally neutral, and abstinence may correct their effects. But fornication is more destructive to the sinner than other sins because the people who engage in it cannot undo their act.
I have counseled people who have tried over and over again to stop. They simply cannot stop. I then tell them that there are two ways God may use to lift you out of your bondage: First, is through extreme separation. You or your partner will be forced to move to another state or halfway around the world. It will be an extreme separation. You will not be able to visit or hook up and the most that you will do is email one another and make periodic phone calls. If this emotional fornication continues, then God may perform the second extreme measure: DEATH! This to is separation but done in the extreme sense.
There is only one way for these two measure to possibly be avoided or greatly reduced: Divine intervention with God using another person or persons. This is where the pastor jumps in and / or his church board or maybe a group of friends. This is where church discipline occurs and loving pressure from the church and its members help the sinning saint to make tough decisions and to stick with it. However, people who are engaged in fornication will not stop on their own.
Fornication is also a specially serious sin because it involves placing the body, which is the Lord's (1 Cor. 6:19-20), under the control of another illegitimate partner (cf. 7:4). No other sin has this result. All other sins are outside or apart from the body in this sense.
Have you ever taken note that whenever the bible mentions certain practices that hinder people from entering heaven, sexual sins are included in the list (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8)?
Also, when God sends His judicial wrath upon people, it is expressed in sexual sins (Rom. 1:18-32). Whether at an individual or a cultural level, when people exchange God for idols, embracing lies and suppressing truth, God allows the exchanging to continue. He hands them over to subverting forms of sexual sin.
Furthermore, have you ever noticed that what brought the flood in Noah’s time that God used universally to wipe out the whole world was because of sexual sins (Gen. 6)?
Also, because fornication is against the body, what does the bible give as a preventative measure to help avoid this sin? “FLEEING!”
1 Cor. 6:18 – Flee immorality
1 Cor. 10:14 – Flee idolatry – lust replaces the Lord.
1 Tim. 6:11 – Flee from these things (things that encourage people to love money above God and go after it through illegitimate means, such as illicit sex and prostitution.
2 Tim. 2:22 – Flees youthful lusts
Now to show you the dynamic of why God wants people to flee from fornication, let’s take the other two issues we mentioned above – drunkenness and gluttony.
Can a person be around drunks and not get affected? Yes. Can a person go to a bar and sit at a table or even at a bar and not get affected? Yes. A person can go to such places, look around and not be personally affected. Of course, there are always some exceptions, but by and large, such things will not have that great of a pull on most people.
Can a glutton go to a restaurant and not be affected? Yes. Can he or she go to a restaurant where there is a buffet and not be affected? Yes. Again, a person can go through a buffet line and even look at a menu and order items that will promote health.
But how likely would it be for a person to go into a porn shop and look around and not be affected? How likely would it be for a person to attend a massage parlor where it is precisely known what goes on there and not be affected? So much more examples can be given, but you get my point. When it comes to sexual sins, the only way of escape is to FLEE!
Jesus said that because sexual sins are reasons people choose not to enter heaven, the remedy is to “tear out your eye” (Matt. 5:29) if that is what it takes, or “cut off your right hand” (v. 30). Jesus’ conclusion: It is better for you to lose a member of your body which fornication sins against, then to lose your own soul in hell. That’s how serious this is in the mind of Jesus. Note: Jesus’ point is to make the hard choice to separate yourself from such sins before those sins ultimately separate you from God.
Finally, let me conclude with this thought. We often hear about how loving God is, right? And He most certainly is. But if you were to create a theology of God based on the sermons you had either listened to this past year, would your theology include the WRATH of God? It probably wouldn’t because from our pulpits and in our Sunday Schools, we seldom hear about such things.
Here is what Psalm 7 teaches: God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day (v. 11). Notice that the wrath of God is displayed, how often? Daily. Which implies that God is angry how often? Daily. Based on what we often hear from most churches and its leaders, we would conclude that God displays His love daily and His wrath only now and then. Not so. God’s wrath and anger over sin is a daily occurrence. He hates it. It stirs Him up and causes Him to be angry.
Now let’s apply this to home. Ask yourself this: “Do I in some way contribute to the Lord being angry?”
Satan has also created a tormented state for scores of people. And the one issue he uses on the world is in the area of sexual sin. Have you ever noticed that sexual sin has a certain fundamentalness to it? Sexual sin goes to the core of our being and seems to be the quintessential expression of our sin nature.
That’s why Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 6, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body” (v. 18).
Sexual immorality is wrong, Paul concluded, because it involves sinning against one's body, which in the case of believers who belong to the Lord through divine purchase.
When a person commits acts of sexual immorality, he or she sins against their own body. But you ask, “Wait a minute, Pastor Rich. Drunkenness and gluttony hurt the body as well, right? Aren’t these sins against the body?” Yes, gluttony and drunkenness hurt the body as well, but they involve excess in things morally neutral, and abstinence may correct their effects. But fornication is more destructive to the sinner than other sins because the people who engage in it cannot undo their act.
I have counseled people who have tried over and over again to stop. They simply cannot stop. I then tell them that there are two ways God may use to lift you out of your bondage: First, is through extreme separation. You or your partner will be forced to move to another state or halfway around the world. It will be an extreme separation. You will not be able to visit or hook up and the most that you will do is email one another and make periodic phone calls. If this emotional fornication continues, then God may perform the second extreme measure: DEATH! This to is separation but done in the extreme sense.
There is only one way for these two measure to possibly be avoided or greatly reduced: Divine intervention with God using another person or persons. This is where the pastor jumps in and / or his church board or maybe a group of friends. This is where church discipline occurs and loving pressure from the church and its members help the sinning saint to make tough decisions and to stick with it. However, people who are engaged in fornication will not stop on their own.
Fornication is also a specially serious sin because it involves placing the body, which is the Lord's (1 Cor. 6:19-20), under the control of another illegitimate partner (cf. 7:4). No other sin has this result. All other sins are outside or apart from the body in this sense.
Have you ever taken note that whenever the bible mentions certain practices that hinder people from entering heaven, sexual sins are included in the list (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8)?
Also, when God sends His judicial wrath upon people, it is expressed in sexual sins (Rom. 1:18-32). Whether at an individual or a cultural level, when people exchange God for idols, embracing lies and suppressing truth, God allows the exchanging to continue. He hands them over to subverting forms of sexual sin.
Furthermore, have you ever noticed that what brought the flood in Noah’s time that God used universally to wipe out the whole world was because of sexual sins (Gen. 6)?
Also, because fornication is against the body, what does the bible give as a preventative measure to help avoid this sin? “FLEEING!”
1 Cor. 6:18 – Flee immorality
1 Cor. 10:14 – Flee idolatry – lust replaces the Lord.
1 Tim. 6:11 – Flee from these things (things that encourage people to love money above God and go after it through illegitimate means, such as illicit sex and prostitution.
2 Tim. 2:22 – Flees youthful lusts
Now to show you the dynamic of why God wants people to flee from fornication, let’s take the other two issues we mentioned above – drunkenness and gluttony.
Can a person be around drunks and not get affected? Yes. Can a person go to a bar and sit at a table or even at a bar and not get affected? Yes. A person can go to such places, look around and not be personally affected. Of course, there are always some exceptions, but by and large, such things will not have that great of a pull on most people.
Can a glutton go to a restaurant and not be affected? Yes. Can he or she go to a restaurant where there is a buffet and not be affected? Yes. Again, a person can go through a buffet line and even look at a menu and order items that will promote health.
But how likely would it be for a person to go into a porn shop and look around and not be affected? How likely would it be for a person to attend a massage parlor where it is precisely known what goes on there and not be affected? So much more examples can be given, but you get my point. When it comes to sexual sins, the only way of escape is to FLEE!
Jesus said that because sexual sins are reasons people choose not to enter heaven, the remedy is to “tear out your eye” (Matt. 5:29) if that is what it takes, or “cut off your right hand” (v. 30). Jesus’ conclusion: It is better for you to lose a member of your body which fornication sins against, then to lose your own soul in hell. That’s how serious this is in the mind of Jesus. Note: Jesus’ point is to make the hard choice to separate yourself from such sins before those sins ultimately separate you from God.
Finally, let me conclude with this thought. We often hear about how loving God is, right? And He most certainly is. But if you were to create a theology of God based on the sermons you had either listened to this past year, would your theology include the WRATH of God? It probably wouldn’t because from our pulpits and in our Sunday Schools, we seldom hear about such things.
Here is what Psalm 7 teaches: God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day (v. 11). Notice that the wrath of God is displayed, how often? Daily. Which implies that God is angry how often? Daily. Based on what we often hear from most churches and its leaders, we would conclude that God displays His love daily and His wrath only now and then. Not so. God’s wrath and anger over sin is a daily occurrence. He hates it. It stirs Him up and causes Him to be angry.
Now let’s apply this to home. Ask yourself this: “Do I in some way contribute to the Lord being angry?”
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Peanut Butter and Jelly - A Lesson on Oneness in Marriage
When God brings two people together in marriage – a man and woman – there is a oneness that occurs that becomes so binding and so tight that nothing can possibly produce a full and complete separation without there being left over residue. Let me explain:
This oneness is known as "echad" in Hebrew. When God created Adam and Eve, they were both "naked and unashamed." The bible says that when “a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, they shall become one (echad) flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Both Adam and Eve lived a shared life and hid nothing from each other because there was no reason to.
This same concept applies to all married couples today. There is no reason to be ashamed, insecure, or afraid of one another and of God. To live in "echad" is to live as one in unity for better or for worse. When two individuals become one and later try to break that bond and become two again, the pain of separation is inevitable because of the scares which are formed.
Take, for example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Peanut butter and jelly by themselves are two very different substances in look, taste, and texture, and each are good on their own.
However, when you combine them, it creates a more interesting and unique flavor dynamic, tasting even better than they did by themselves. If you try to pull the sandwich apart, you will notice that it is not easy to separate the peanut butter and jelly. There is always a little bit of peanut butter left in the jelly and a little bit of jelly left in the peanut butter.
Much like a peanut butter sandwich, the union of marriage enhances the individual man and woman in a very special way. Even if they separate or are pulled apart, they leave something behind with one another.
Those that have been through a divorce in their lives know that marriage has changed them in some way. Regardless of whose fault it is or why two people separated, marriage changes a man and a woman forever, and this is why the pain of separation is inevitable. The former husband leaves a little of himself with his former wife, and the former wife leaves a little of herself with her former husband. In one sense, a complete separation or divorce is not possible. The bread that had the peanut butter has been permanently attached to the bread that had the jelly. Try scraping the jelly off of the peanut butter and see what happens. Try separating the peanut butter off the jelly and you will be taking away not only some of the peanut butter but also some of the jelly.
Here is my point: Because of the extreme closeness of “echad” in marriage, a piece of paper known as a certificate of divorce does not fully separate two people who have been married. They may now have the freedom to live separate lives, but their lives will never be totally separate. Not only is the example their oneness seen in their unity, but it is also seen in their children who bare the resemblance of each partner in one child.
No wonder Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let no man try to pull apart” (Matt. 19:6). Now watched this: Let’s say that the peanut butter was joined with the jelly that was grape. And the grape jelly was joined with a brand of peanut butter that was made by Skippy. Let’s say that both sides of the bread are pulled apart and separated – the Skippy peanut butter side has some left over grape jelly and the grape jelly side has some left over Skippy peanut butter.
Now let’s say that you join the Skippy peanut butter to a brand new slice of bread that has strawberry jelly. Now in that union or marriage, you have not only Skippy peanut butter and strawberry jelly, but you also have residue of the grape jelly too that becomes part of the union in the relationship.
On the side of the bread that has the grape jelly, let’s say it joins itself to a brand new slice of bread that has a different peanut butter – Kirtland. But since the grape jelly slice had been joined with a slice of bread that had Skippy peanut butter at one time, now when it joins itself to a brand new slice of bread with Kirtland peanut butter, it also bring into the relationship residue of its former relationship with the Skippy peanut butter.
Folks, you see how all this works? There is no such things as a complete separation from your former spouse. And if there is more than one marriage, then within the third or fourth union or oneness (echod) comes also the residue of the former three into a marriage.
Again, here is my point: In one sense, couples will never experience the full and complete enjoyment of the oneness to someone from the opposite sex unless it is in the first marriage. After that, when divorce occurs and remarriage results, the second marriage can never be fully experienced as “echod” since within the marriage are also the residue of a former marriage(s).
Now this does not mean all is lost. Remember, “echod” can and should be experienced in our relationship with Christ who ought to be the center of our marriages. However, from a purely horizontal perspective, pure oneness has the potential of being experienced to its fullest in the first marriage. If the first marriage fails for whatever reason, “echod” still can be experienced to a large degree in a second marriage, but it will never have the full potential of personal experiential fulfillment that it could of and would of have in the first marriage.
This is why both in Matthew 5 and 19, Jesus makes marriage hard to enter into because he made divorce so hard. In Jesus’ teachings, the only cause for divorce was if there was sexual unfaithfulness on the part of the other spouse (Matt. 5:32; 19:9). Jesus opened only ONE back door of leaving – just one. What do we see today? We see many back doors for leaving a marriage, most of which have been opened by man and we have accepted those doors and have gone through them because of what Jesus described as the “hardness of heart” (Matt. 19:8).
Therefore, the “echod” that God wanted to display in our world through marriage can never be fully revealed as long as there remains many “back doors” to leave a marriage. Jesus’ teaching was so powerful and impacting when He taught it that His very own disciples responded by saying, “It is better not to marry” (v. 10). The teachings that we are taught today in our churches and in so many books and seminars is that it is “better to marry” because we tend to make it so easy to do so rather than explaining to people the cost, commitment and high price involved.
So then, if you have been divorced and are now remarried, you are in a wonderful opportunity to make your remarriage an experience of oneness (echad) as much as is potentially possible. If you are thinking of marriage for the first or second or third time, think again. Don’t think that there are many back doors already open to leave a marriage. Go into a marriage with a plan to commit yourself for life and work hard and diligently to fulfill that plan. In God’s plan, the first marriage has the greatest potential of oneness to be experienced.
This oneness is known as "echad" in Hebrew. When God created Adam and Eve, they were both "naked and unashamed." The bible says that when “a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, they shall become one (echad) flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Both Adam and Eve lived a shared life and hid nothing from each other because there was no reason to.
This same concept applies to all married couples today. There is no reason to be ashamed, insecure, or afraid of one another and of God. To live in "echad" is to live as one in unity for better or for worse. When two individuals become one and later try to break that bond and become two again, the pain of separation is inevitable because of the scares which are formed.
Take, for example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Peanut butter and jelly by themselves are two very different substances in look, taste, and texture, and each are good on their own.
However, when you combine them, it creates a more interesting and unique flavor dynamic, tasting even better than they did by themselves. If you try to pull the sandwich apart, you will notice that it is not easy to separate the peanut butter and jelly. There is always a little bit of peanut butter left in the jelly and a little bit of jelly left in the peanut butter.
Much like a peanut butter sandwich, the union of marriage enhances the individual man and woman in a very special way. Even if they separate or are pulled apart, they leave something behind with one another.
Those that have been through a divorce in their lives know that marriage has changed them in some way. Regardless of whose fault it is or why two people separated, marriage changes a man and a woman forever, and this is why the pain of separation is inevitable. The former husband leaves a little of himself with his former wife, and the former wife leaves a little of herself with her former husband. In one sense, a complete separation or divorce is not possible. The bread that had the peanut butter has been permanently attached to the bread that had the jelly. Try scraping the jelly off of the peanut butter and see what happens. Try separating the peanut butter off the jelly and you will be taking away not only some of the peanut butter but also some of the jelly.
Here is my point: Because of the extreme closeness of “echad” in marriage, a piece of paper known as a certificate of divorce does not fully separate two people who have been married. They may now have the freedom to live separate lives, but their lives will never be totally separate. Not only is the example their oneness seen in their unity, but it is also seen in their children who bare the resemblance of each partner in one child.
No wonder Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let no man try to pull apart” (Matt. 19:6). Now watched this: Let’s say that the peanut butter was joined with the jelly that was grape. And the grape jelly was joined with a brand of peanut butter that was made by Skippy. Let’s say that both sides of the bread are pulled apart and separated – the Skippy peanut butter side has some left over grape jelly and the grape jelly side has some left over Skippy peanut butter.
Now let’s say that you join the Skippy peanut butter to a brand new slice of bread that has strawberry jelly. Now in that union or marriage, you have not only Skippy peanut butter and strawberry jelly, but you also have residue of the grape jelly too that becomes part of the union in the relationship.
On the side of the bread that has the grape jelly, let’s say it joins itself to a brand new slice of bread that has a different peanut butter – Kirtland. But since the grape jelly slice had been joined with a slice of bread that had Skippy peanut butter at one time, now when it joins itself to a brand new slice of bread with Kirtland peanut butter, it also bring into the relationship residue of its former relationship with the Skippy peanut butter.
Folks, you see how all this works? There is no such things as a complete separation from your former spouse. And if there is more than one marriage, then within the third or fourth union or oneness (echod) comes also the residue of the former three into a marriage.
Again, here is my point: In one sense, couples will never experience the full and complete enjoyment of the oneness to someone from the opposite sex unless it is in the first marriage. After that, when divorce occurs and remarriage results, the second marriage can never be fully experienced as “echod” since within the marriage are also the residue of a former marriage(s).
Now this does not mean all is lost. Remember, “echod” can and should be experienced in our relationship with Christ who ought to be the center of our marriages. However, from a purely horizontal perspective, pure oneness has the potential of being experienced to its fullest in the first marriage. If the first marriage fails for whatever reason, “echod” still can be experienced to a large degree in a second marriage, but it will never have the full potential of personal experiential fulfillment that it could of and would of have in the first marriage.
This is why both in Matthew 5 and 19, Jesus makes marriage hard to enter into because he made divorce so hard. In Jesus’ teachings, the only cause for divorce was if there was sexual unfaithfulness on the part of the other spouse (Matt. 5:32; 19:9). Jesus opened only ONE back door of leaving – just one. What do we see today? We see many back doors for leaving a marriage, most of which have been opened by man and we have accepted those doors and have gone through them because of what Jesus described as the “hardness of heart” (Matt. 19:8).
Therefore, the “echod” that God wanted to display in our world through marriage can never be fully revealed as long as there remains many “back doors” to leave a marriage. Jesus’ teaching was so powerful and impacting when He taught it that His very own disciples responded by saying, “It is better not to marry” (v. 10). The teachings that we are taught today in our churches and in so many books and seminars is that it is “better to marry” because we tend to make it so easy to do so rather than explaining to people the cost, commitment and high price involved.
So then, if you have been divorced and are now remarried, you are in a wonderful opportunity to make your remarriage an experience of oneness (echad) as much as is potentially possible. If you are thinking of marriage for the first or second or third time, think again. Don’t think that there are many back doors already open to leave a marriage. Go into a marriage with a plan to commit yourself for life and work hard and diligently to fulfill that plan. In God’s plan, the first marriage has the greatest potential of oneness to be experienced.
Jesus has AIDS
Jesus has AIDS.
This might come as a shock to you, but it’s true. Jesus has AIDS. You say, “Wait a minute! Jesus is the exalted son of the living God. He has defeated sin and death through His own death and suffering on the cross once and for all. Jesus isn't weak or dying or infected; He's triumphant and resurrected.
And you are absolutely right!
But although Jesus is in glory at the right hand of God, He is still suffering and one of the things He suffers from is AIDS. You say, “Waaaaat?”
Have we forgotten what Jesus said in Matthew 25?
34Then the King will say to the people on his right, “Come, my Father has given you his blessing. Receive the kingdom God has prepared for you since the world was made. 35 I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.36 I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me” – vv. 34-36 NCV
Now the time period in which this event occurs is still future. Jesus has all the nations standing before Him on earth at His second coming (vv. 31-32). However, before Jesus’ second coming, while the nations were busy doing their thing, Jesus said to them: “I am hungry, and thirsty, and without clothes, sick and in prison.”
We would sum it up like this: “Jesus is homeless. Jesus is sick. Jesus is a prisoner.”
Are you still confused? Are you still thinking, “Waaaaat?” Don’t be too hard on yourself because so were the nations that Jesus will be talking to. Here is what they said:
44 Then those people will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or alone and away from home or without clothes or sick or in prison? When did we see these things and not help you?”
45 Then the King will answer, “I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.”
Sounds a lot like your response, right? “What? We don’t remember ever seeing you as a prisoner. Or seeing you as someone who was sick. Or someone who was homeless and in need of food, water and clothes.”
Jesus’ response was: “It was Me living in my people – those who were known the least.”
Some of those within Jesus' church has AIDS. Some of them are languishing in hospitals right down the street from you. Some of them are orphaned by the disease in Africa. All of them are suffering with an intensity few of us can imagine.
Some of you may be angered by the statement I wrote above because you think somehow it denigrates Jesus. After all, AIDS is a shameful disease, that's most often spread through sexual promiscuity or illicit drug use.
You know what else can be denigrating? Being a prisoner. Jesus said, “I was in prison.” So does not having any food, water or clothing. And don’t forget, Jesus did say, “I WAS SICK.” He did not specify any type of sickness. It doesn’t matter – sick is sick. AIDS falls into the category of being sick. That’s why I have written, “Jesus has AIDS,” because “Jesus said Himself, “I was sick.”
Remember, we cannot merely see Jesus only in his Headship but we need to also see Him in his Body – those He identifies with by calling, "the least of these, my brothers" (Matt. 25:40). When we stand in judgment, we'll all stand accountable for how we recognized him in the trauma of those who don't seem to bear the glory of Christ at all right now. We ought to see Jesus now, by faith, in the sufferings of the crack baby, the meth addict, the AIDS orphan, the hospitalized prodigal who sees his ruin in the wires running from his veins. I wonder how many of us will hear the words from our Galilean Emperor, "I had AIDS and you weren't afraid to come near me."
And so, if we love Jesus, our churches should be more aware of the cries of the curse, including the curse of AIDS, than the culture around us. Our congregations should welcome the AIDS-infected, and we shouldn't be afraid to hug them as we would hug our Christ. Our congregations should be on the forefront of missions to AIDS-ravaged regions of the world. Our families should be willing to welcome those orphaned by this global epidemic.
Through it all, we should be insistent in the gospel proclamation. To those whose blood has become their own enemy, we should announce the blood they know not of, the blood of One who can cleanse them of all unrighteousness, just as it cleansed us (1 Jn. 1:7); the blood of One who is forever immune to sin and death and hell (Jn. 6:53-56).
Jesus loves the world, and the world has AIDS. Jesus identifies himself with the least of these, and many of them have AIDS. Jesus calls us to recognize him in the depths of suffering where often the suffering of AIDS resides.
I don’t know about your Jesus, but my Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible who lives in and through His people has AIDS.
This might come as a shock to you, but it’s true. Jesus has AIDS. You say, “Wait a minute! Jesus is the exalted son of the living God. He has defeated sin and death through His own death and suffering on the cross once and for all. Jesus isn't weak or dying or infected; He's triumphant and resurrected.
And you are absolutely right!
But although Jesus is in glory at the right hand of God, He is still suffering and one of the things He suffers from is AIDS. You say, “Waaaaat?”
Have we forgotten what Jesus said in Matthew 25?
34Then the King will say to the people on his right, “Come, my Father has given you his blessing. Receive the kingdom God has prepared for you since the world was made. 35 I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.36 I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me” – vv. 34-36 NCV
Now the time period in which this event occurs is still future. Jesus has all the nations standing before Him on earth at His second coming (vv. 31-32). However, before Jesus’ second coming, while the nations were busy doing their thing, Jesus said to them: “I am hungry, and thirsty, and without clothes, sick and in prison.”
We would sum it up like this: “Jesus is homeless. Jesus is sick. Jesus is a prisoner.”
Are you still confused? Are you still thinking, “Waaaaat?” Don’t be too hard on yourself because so were the nations that Jesus will be talking to. Here is what they said:
44 Then those people will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or alone and away from home or without clothes or sick or in prison? When did we see these things and not help you?”
45 Then the King will answer, “I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.”
Sounds a lot like your response, right? “What? We don’t remember ever seeing you as a prisoner. Or seeing you as someone who was sick. Or someone who was homeless and in need of food, water and clothes.”
Jesus’ response was: “It was Me living in my people – those who were known the least.”
Some of those within Jesus' church has AIDS. Some of them are languishing in hospitals right down the street from you. Some of them are orphaned by the disease in Africa. All of them are suffering with an intensity few of us can imagine.
Some of you may be angered by the statement I wrote above because you think somehow it denigrates Jesus. After all, AIDS is a shameful disease, that's most often spread through sexual promiscuity or illicit drug use.
You know what else can be denigrating? Being a prisoner. Jesus said, “I was in prison.” So does not having any food, water or clothing. And don’t forget, Jesus did say, “I WAS SICK.” He did not specify any type of sickness. It doesn’t matter – sick is sick. AIDS falls into the category of being sick. That’s why I have written, “Jesus has AIDS,” because “Jesus said Himself, “I was sick.”
Remember, we cannot merely see Jesus only in his Headship but we need to also see Him in his Body – those He identifies with by calling, "the least of these, my brothers" (Matt. 25:40). When we stand in judgment, we'll all stand accountable for how we recognized him in the trauma of those who don't seem to bear the glory of Christ at all right now. We ought to see Jesus now, by faith, in the sufferings of the crack baby, the meth addict, the AIDS orphan, the hospitalized prodigal who sees his ruin in the wires running from his veins. I wonder how many of us will hear the words from our Galilean Emperor, "I had AIDS and you weren't afraid to come near me."
And so, if we love Jesus, our churches should be more aware of the cries of the curse, including the curse of AIDS, than the culture around us. Our congregations should welcome the AIDS-infected, and we shouldn't be afraid to hug them as we would hug our Christ. Our congregations should be on the forefront of missions to AIDS-ravaged regions of the world. Our families should be willing to welcome those orphaned by this global epidemic.
Through it all, we should be insistent in the gospel proclamation. To those whose blood has become their own enemy, we should announce the blood they know not of, the blood of One who can cleanse them of all unrighteousness, just as it cleansed us (1 Jn. 1:7); the blood of One who is forever immune to sin and death and hell (Jn. 6:53-56).
Jesus loves the world, and the world has AIDS. Jesus identifies himself with the least of these, and many of them have AIDS. Jesus calls us to recognize him in the depths of suffering where often the suffering of AIDS resides.
I don’t know about your Jesus, but my Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible who lives in and through His people has AIDS.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
What the Evangelical Church Can Learn from an Apostate Church
What the Evangelical Church Can Learn from an Apostate Church -- i.e. Westboro Baptist Church?
If you know or heard anything about the efforts of Westboro Baptist Church, you know this church is shepherd by a man who is insane and members who are likewise.
Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is well known for protesting funerals, desecrating American flags, and promoting its signature message that “God Hates Fags.” A trip to the Westboro website makes you wonder if this “church” (actually, Pastor Fred Phelps and his large family) is completely sane.
But might there be something we conservative evangelicals can learn from Westboro? Not any positive lessons mind you, but anything we can glean from their monumentally misguided example? I think so. Let me suggest three things.
1. The Lesson that any truth promoted to the exclusion of other truths can become an untruth.
WBC seems particularly anxious to celebrate the wrath of God. Their web site contains numerous references to God’s judgment and his hatred for sin and for sinners. These things are true and need to be defended in our day. But when WBC gives exact figures for the number of people damned while visiting their website, it’s safe to say we’re visiting the lunatic fringe. God’s hatred for sinners is mentioned in the Psalms and elsewhere, but it’s hardly the essence of the apostolic deposit, certainly not all by itself. The biblical storyline is about how God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whosoever believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Yes, divine grace apart from divine wrath is meaningless. I would be the last person to deny the doctrine of hell. But the preaching of the gospel celebrates rescue not reprobation. WBC quotes a lot of Bible verses on wrath and judgment, but it is possible to quote a lot of the Bible and quote it in such a way and in such a context that you’re actually conveying something quite contrary to the message of the Bible.
Yet here is where we conservative evangelicals need to be careful. There is a large section of evangelicalism that teach and preach the love of God almost to the exclusion of His wrath. And whenever the anger of God is discussed or touched upon, it is done so quickly and in a shallow manner.
Therefore, in the same way it is wrong to overemphasize the wrath of God at the exclusion of His unconditional love so as not to go away with a lopsided view of God, it is also wrong to overemphasize the love of God at the exclusion of His wrath. Again, this does occur within many of our evangelical churches. Sure, people in general are more responsive to a positive message on the love of God, but people’s response is not to be the pastor’s main priority. He should be consumed with declaring to his flock “all things that are profitable” (Acts 20:20) and “the whole purpose of God” (v. 27). The whole purpose of God contains His love and wrath.
In the same way the lopsided message of WBC grieves the Holy Spirit and causes us to see them as insane lunatics, we evangelicals who are on the other side who overemphasize the love of God and deemphasize the wrath of God likewise grieve the Spirit of God and appear to some as soft and spineless. We must be balanced and come down from our own soap boxes.
2. The Lesson that it does matter how we’re heard.
I don’t believe WBC has any interest in persuading anyone of anything. Their goal is protest and provocation. But if we are concerned to “win some” as the Bible would have us be, then we must consider how we are heard. Of course, this does not mean we change the message for a fickle audience. But it does mean there’s no reason ever to use the word “fag” to describe homosexuals. It gains nothing and wins a hearing with no one. Whatever the derivation of the word, it is now a slur. I understand that sometimes people will hate Christians no matter how mealy-mouthed they make their pronouncements. Some offense we can’t avoid. But we can avoid needless provocation. Tone does matter.
This is why it is crucial that we take a step back and see and analyze how we are being viewed and heard from others through our picketing and protests. We can become so engrossed in what we are doing that we do not care about how others, such as the world are viewing us.
I don’t know about you, but to me it does matter how the world thinks of me and my church especially if they unfairly compare us to WBC because they see similarities. We can be passionate about taking a stand for the truth that our passion for the truth may come across with an absence of love. WBC protests and so do we. WBC pickets and so do we. WBC puts on demonstrations and so do we. WBC takes a stand on issues and so do we. How then are we any different? It will be seen in what we take a stand for and never forget this – and HOW WE TAKE OUR STAND.
3. We must refuse to play into the mindset which says the opposite of unconditional acceptance of anything is utter hatred.
Let’s take for example the issue of homosexuality. There are two ways to make Americans more and more accepting of homosexuality: one is by making same-gender erotic relationships look normal and the other is by making those who oppose them look nasty and sound like fools. Everything about WBC plays into the thinking that says “either you approve of homosexuality or you despise homosexuals.”
It’s sad to think that wherever WBC puts on their demonstration, those who feel rightly repulsed by the in-your-face “God Hates Fags” provocation, will then conclude that the only safe place away from the hateful rhetoric is to land far on the side of “God couldn’t be angry with anyone or anything for any reason.”
If I were a pro-gay advocate, I’d send camera crews to follow WBC wherever they go. I’d send them money and buy them oversized signs and markers. Every “God Hates Fags” protest makes it harder for orthodox Christians to say what the Bible says, that God is angry with homosexuals (and with all sinners), but lovingly calls them (and us) to repent, to change, to be forgiven in Christ.
Here is my point: Although we as Christians ought to show displeasure in the things that God hates, we also must point to the only real solution – faith in Christ. Too often the church is known for what it is against, rather than what it is for. Too often we are preaching a message that says, “Stop it,” but we do not preach messages that teach “do this” instead.
Therefore, I believe we evangelicals can learn some vital lessons from WBC. Let me summarize:
1. Any truth promoted to the exclusion of other truths can become an untruth.
2. It does matter how we’re heard.
3. Refuse to play into the mindset which says the opposite of unconditional acceptance of anything is utter hatred.
The church has been guilty of these things. In the same way so many of us are repulsed by the tactics and message of WBC, others are also turned off by what we do that’s similar. The message of truth will always carry with it a measure of offense. This cannot be helped nor should we worry about it. But we need to ask ourselves if it is the message that is offensive to others or could it be us?
If you know or heard anything about the efforts of Westboro Baptist Church, you know this church is shepherd by a man who is insane and members who are likewise.
Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is well known for protesting funerals, desecrating American flags, and promoting its signature message that “God Hates Fags.” A trip to the Westboro website makes you wonder if this “church” (actually, Pastor Fred Phelps and his large family) is completely sane.
But might there be something we conservative evangelicals can learn from Westboro? Not any positive lessons mind you, but anything we can glean from their monumentally misguided example? I think so. Let me suggest three things.
1. The Lesson that any truth promoted to the exclusion of other truths can become an untruth.
WBC seems particularly anxious to celebrate the wrath of God. Their web site contains numerous references to God’s judgment and his hatred for sin and for sinners. These things are true and need to be defended in our day. But when WBC gives exact figures for the number of people damned while visiting their website, it’s safe to say we’re visiting the lunatic fringe. God’s hatred for sinners is mentioned in the Psalms and elsewhere, but it’s hardly the essence of the apostolic deposit, certainly not all by itself. The biblical storyline is about how God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whosoever believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Yes, divine grace apart from divine wrath is meaningless. I would be the last person to deny the doctrine of hell. But the preaching of the gospel celebrates rescue not reprobation. WBC quotes a lot of Bible verses on wrath and judgment, but it is possible to quote a lot of the Bible and quote it in such a way and in such a context that you’re actually conveying something quite contrary to the message of the Bible.
Yet here is where we conservative evangelicals need to be careful. There is a large section of evangelicalism that teach and preach the love of God almost to the exclusion of His wrath. And whenever the anger of God is discussed or touched upon, it is done so quickly and in a shallow manner.
Therefore, in the same way it is wrong to overemphasize the wrath of God at the exclusion of His unconditional love so as not to go away with a lopsided view of God, it is also wrong to overemphasize the love of God at the exclusion of His wrath. Again, this does occur within many of our evangelical churches. Sure, people in general are more responsive to a positive message on the love of God, but people’s response is not to be the pastor’s main priority. He should be consumed with declaring to his flock “all things that are profitable” (Acts 20:20) and “the whole purpose of God” (v. 27). The whole purpose of God contains His love and wrath.
In the same way the lopsided message of WBC grieves the Holy Spirit and causes us to see them as insane lunatics, we evangelicals who are on the other side who overemphasize the love of God and deemphasize the wrath of God likewise grieve the Spirit of God and appear to some as soft and spineless. We must be balanced and come down from our own soap boxes.
2. The Lesson that it does matter how we’re heard.
I don’t believe WBC has any interest in persuading anyone of anything. Their goal is protest and provocation. But if we are concerned to “win some” as the Bible would have us be, then we must consider how we are heard. Of course, this does not mean we change the message for a fickle audience. But it does mean there’s no reason ever to use the word “fag” to describe homosexuals. It gains nothing and wins a hearing with no one. Whatever the derivation of the word, it is now a slur. I understand that sometimes people will hate Christians no matter how mealy-mouthed they make their pronouncements. Some offense we can’t avoid. But we can avoid needless provocation. Tone does matter.
This is why it is crucial that we take a step back and see and analyze how we are being viewed and heard from others through our picketing and protests. We can become so engrossed in what we are doing that we do not care about how others, such as the world are viewing us.
I don’t know about you, but to me it does matter how the world thinks of me and my church especially if they unfairly compare us to WBC because they see similarities. We can be passionate about taking a stand for the truth that our passion for the truth may come across with an absence of love. WBC protests and so do we. WBC pickets and so do we. WBC puts on demonstrations and so do we. WBC takes a stand on issues and so do we. How then are we any different? It will be seen in what we take a stand for and never forget this – and HOW WE TAKE OUR STAND.
3. We must refuse to play into the mindset which says the opposite of unconditional acceptance of anything is utter hatred.
Let’s take for example the issue of homosexuality. There are two ways to make Americans more and more accepting of homosexuality: one is by making same-gender erotic relationships look normal and the other is by making those who oppose them look nasty and sound like fools. Everything about WBC plays into the thinking that says “either you approve of homosexuality or you despise homosexuals.”
It’s sad to think that wherever WBC puts on their demonstration, those who feel rightly repulsed by the in-your-face “God Hates Fags” provocation, will then conclude that the only safe place away from the hateful rhetoric is to land far on the side of “God couldn’t be angry with anyone or anything for any reason.”
If I were a pro-gay advocate, I’d send camera crews to follow WBC wherever they go. I’d send them money and buy them oversized signs and markers. Every “God Hates Fags” protest makes it harder for orthodox Christians to say what the Bible says, that God is angry with homosexuals (and with all sinners), but lovingly calls them (and us) to repent, to change, to be forgiven in Christ.
Here is my point: Although we as Christians ought to show displeasure in the things that God hates, we also must point to the only real solution – faith in Christ. Too often the church is known for what it is against, rather than what it is for. Too often we are preaching a message that says, “Stop it,” but we do not preach messages that teach “do this” instead.
Therefore, I believe we evangelicals can learn some vital lessons from WBC. Let me summarize:
1. Any truth promoted to the exclusion of other truths can become an untruth.
2. It does matter how we’re heard.
3. Refuse to play into the mindset which says the opposite of unconditional acceptance of anything is utter hatred.
The church has been guilty of these things. In the same way so many of us are repulsed by the tactics and message of WBC, others are also turned off by what we do that’s similar. The message of truth will always carry with it a measure of offense. This cannot be helped nor should we worry about it. But we need to ask ourselves if it is the message that is offensive to others or could it be us?
Thursday, November 25, 2010
The Fall of a Tree
When I was working as an office manager at a downtown condominium several years ago, I heard a terrible crash outside of my office. As I jumped out of my seat and rushed outside, I saw that a large section of a banyan tree had fallen onto the driveway in front of the condo. It was a massive piece.
As I approached the broken piece, I saw the reason for the fall. Beneath the bark of the tree that had been hidden from public view for years was some kind of killer disease. You see, the tree didn’t just fall. It was in the process of falling for years. Something unhealthy was eroding its insides. The outward crash was not the beginning, but merely the conclusion.
We notified our maintenance crew and within an hour or so, the fallen tree was cut up and taken away. The shavings were swept up as well and within a short time, life was back to normal.
But people are not like fallen trees. When people fall, others around can be greatly injured for years! But what is similar to fallen trees is this: No person falls without there first being some erosion that was already occurring on the inside – where it was hidden from public perception. We are good in putting our best foot forward to show that there is nothing to be concerned about, but meanwhile the erosion on the inside, erosion from entertaining bad thoughts, fanaticizing over sleeping with someone, secret sins that turn into lies over how we tend to explain such things away when challenged, all work to eat away on the inside of us until one day we too experience a great fall.
The fall was not sudden. To others it seems that way. But upon a careful inspection of what was occurring on the inside, it becomes obvious, the fall was in process over many years.
A family, a circle of friends, a body of fellow believers, a group of distant admirers – all experience the injury. And there is no clean up crew to come by and sweep away the debris. The damage is done and the effects continue for quite some time.
So what does this tell us?
First, starting out well does not guarantee finishing well. What goes on between the start and finish is very vital and should occupy most of our energies.
Second, spiritual erosion could be at work on the inside of a person, even though the bark looks healthy and the fruit tastes good. Just because erosion is not overtly evident does not suggest erosion does not exist.
Third, to keep oneself from falling, remember that spiritual strength comes from deep within. If you neglect the spiritual condition of your heart, you will fall and you will inure others as a result.
Fourth, a support system is needed. If you do not have a few good buddies to keep you accountable and ask you the tough questions, you will be setting yourself up for failure.
Fifth, always ask yourself this: “Am I able to discuss with my spouse publicly what I am doing privately?” If the answer is “no,” then don’t do it! Never think that your hidden erosion will not in time been seen by others.
1 Corinthians 10:12: "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall!"
As I approached the broken piece, I saw the reason for the fall. Beneath the bark of the tree that had been hidden from public view for years was some kind of killer disease. You see, the tree didn’t just fall. It was in the process of falling for years. Something unhealthy was eroding its insides. The outward crash was not the beginning, but merely the conclusion.
We notified our maintenance crew and within an hour or so, the fallen tree was cut up and taken away. The shavings were swept up as well and within a short time, life was back to normal.
But people are not like fallen trees. When people fall, others around can be greatly injured for years! But what is similar to fallen trees is this: No person falls without there first being some erosion that was already occurring on the inside – where it was hidden from public perception. We are good in putting our best foot forward to show that there is nothing to be concerned about, but meanwhile the erosion on the inside, erosion from entertaining bad thoughts, fanaticizing over sleeping with someone, secret sins that turn into lies over how we tend to explain such things away when challenged, all work to eat away on the inside of us until one day we too experience a great fall.
The fall was not sudden. To others it seems that way. But upon a careful inspection of what was occurring on the inside, it becomes obvious, the fall was in process over many years.
A family, a circle of friends, a body of fellow believers, a group of distant admirers – all experience the injury. And there is no clean up crew to come by and sweep away the debris. The damage is done and the effects continue for quite some time.
So what does this tell us?
First, starting out well does not guarantee finishing well. What goes on between the start and finish is very vital and should occupy most of our energies.
Second, spiritual erosion could be at work on the inside of a person, even though the bark looks healthy and the fruit tastes good. Just because erosion is not overtly evident does not suggest erosion does not exist.
Third, to keep oneself from falling, remember that spiritual strength comes from deep within. If you neglect the spiritual condition of your heart, you will fall and you will inure others as a result.
Fourth, a support system is needed. If you do not have a few good buddies to keep you accountable and ask you the tough questions, you will be setting yourself up for failure.
Fifth, always ask yourself this: “Am I able to discuss with my spouse publicly what I am doing privately?” If the answer is “no,” then don’t do it! Never think that your hidden erosion will not in time been seen by others.
1 Corinthians 10:12: "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall!"
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Lopsided Prayers
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved – Rom. 10:1 NIV
During the moments I spent with my wife just before her death, the Lord taught me many great things. But one thing I was shown that really hit me hard.
“I spent a great deal of my time praying to keep Christians out of heaven, while also hardly spending any time praying to keep sinners out of hell.”
Here is what I know to be true:
200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith.
176,000 Christians are martyred each year. If the trend continues, 210,000 Christians will be martyred in 2025.
Abel was the first Christian martyr in the Bible (Gen. 4:8).
James was the last Christian martyr in the Bible (Acts 12:2).
The divorce rate among Christians and non-Christians is about the same.
The percentage of Christian who get cancer is the same as the percentage of non-Christians
The death rate of Christians and non-Christians is the same:
1/1 Christians who tithe die
1/1 Christians who pray regularly die
1/1 Christians who go to church regularly die
1/1 Christians with orthodox theology die
1/1 Christians die
1/1 non-Christians die
The main point: Christians should not expect to be delivered from the problems of this life. Therefore, how is it that I am spending so much of my time praying fervently for Christians to be healed from their diseases and sicknesses in order to be kept from going to heaven prematurely (in my thinking), and so much lesser time praying for sinners to be kept out of hell which is far worse?
When I get word that someone has cancer or some other debilitating disease, I rush into intercession. I pray and if led to, I fast. I go the whole nine yards to keep that believer from entering early into heaven, but I can’t remember the last time I gave my all in prayer for my unsaved neighbor in order to keep him out of hell!
What is the answer? I should not stop praying for my brothers and sisters who are in need of healing, but I must also with the same intense desire and passion add to my prayers those who are lost and without Christ, so that unless God intervenes, will enter into a Christless eternity.
My prayers have been lopsided! This is another great lesson my late wife has left with me to think about.
During the moments I spent with my wife just before her death, the Lord taught me many great things. But one thing I was shown that really hit me hard.
“I spent a great deal of my time praying to keep Christians out of heaven, while also hardly spending any time praying to keep sinners out of hell.”
Here is what I know to be true:
200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith.
176,000 Christians are martyred each year. If the trend continues, 210,000 Christians will be martyred in 2025.
Abel was the first Christian martyr in the Bible (Gen. 4:8).
James was the last Christian martyr in the Bible (Acts 12:2).
The divorce rate among Christians and non-Christians is about the same.
The percentage of Christian who get cancer is the same as the percentage of non-Christians
The death rate of Christians and non-Christians is the same:
1/1 Christians who tithe die
1/1 Christians who pray regularly die
1/1 Christians who go to church regularly die
1/1 Christians with orthodox theology die
1/1 Christians die
1/1 non-Christians die
The main point: Christians should not expect to be delivered from the problems of this life. Therefore, how is it that I am spending so much of my time praying fervently for Christians to be healed from their diseases and sicknesses in order to be kept from going to heaven prematurely (in my thinking), and so much lesser time praying for sinners to be kept out of hell which is far worse?
When I get word that someone has cancer or some other debilitating disease, I rush into intercession. I pray and if led to, I fast. I go the whole nine yards to keep that believer from entering early into heaven, but I can’t remember the last time I gave my all in prayer for my unsaved neighbor in order to keep him out of hell!
What is the answer? I should not stop praying for my brothers and sisters who are in need of healing, but I must also with the same intense desire and passion add to my prayers those who are lost and without Christ, so that unless God intervenes, will enter into a Christless eternity.
My prayers have been lopsided! This is another great lesson my late wife has left with me to think about.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
"If You Really Love God. . ."
Sometimes when I am listening to other preachers wax eloquent on certain topics, I am always interested in how they arrive at their conclusions. This is because I may also be interested in their topic of discussion and I want to know if their way of arriving to a conclusion is better than mine.
Often, preachers will do well until they come to the end and then they seem to blow it. Take for example, “drinking.” Some preachers see drinking beer and wine as evil. Now they do not come out and say this because the bible does not say such things. The bible does expressly forbid drunkenness (Eph. 5:18), but not drinking a glass of wine or a can of beer.
But since their mindset is that sipping beer and wine is evil, they conclude their messages with these words or something similar: “If you really love God and offer yourself completely to Him, then you would not drink beer or wine.”
What arrests my thoughts on this is since they cannot use the bible to forbid casual drinking, they now seem to challenge people’s devotion to God.
It seems to me that taking a position on any point of doctrine can have the affect of justifying one’s need to exert their love for God. The believer’s love for the Lord should drive them to carefully study the Biblical text and have the desire to understand what it is communicating. But the overall landscape of Christianity certainly should indicate that there are a variety of differences affecting many areas of Christian doctrine and life. Christians differ with regards to styles of worship, baptism and implementing the Lord’s Supper. We also have differences regarding tongues, the role of women pastors, and whether or not a man who has been divorce can still serve as a pastor.
By challenging a believer’s devotion to the Lord, one can use it to say just about anything. For example, if you really love the Lord, you would:
Not prohibit women from certain leadership positions
Not twist scripture to suit your purposes
Not put God in a box and see that all spiritual gifts mentioned are for use today
Not drink or get tattoos
Not impose legalistic standards where Christians can have liberties
The list can go on. But it demonstrates that whatever position we take, particular in areas that are not essential to salvation or historic orthodoxy, we can associate that position with Christian allegiance such that the Christian who takes a differing position must do so because of a lack of devotion.
It is not enough to say the other person is wrong but when their allegiance and affection is questioned because they disagree, it casts dispersions on their faith. Just because someone takes a differing position does not mean they have any less affection for Christ.
The fact that they have come to a different position involves interpretive differences but does not suggest that they are seeking to dishonor God or have a lesser love for Christ.
I want to challenge my fellow preachers to be careful not to go down this road. If the bible cannot support your ideas, then don’t force the issue and certainly do not bring into question the spiritual allegiance of those who differ. Major on those things which are eternally significant, and preach grace and tolerance on those things which are not.
Often, preachers will do well until they come to the end and then they seem to blow it. Take for example, “drinking.” Some preachers see drinking beer and wine as evil. Now they do not come out and say this because the bible does not say such things. The bible does expressly forbid drunkenness (Eph. 5:18), but not drinking a glass of wine or a can of beer.
But since their mindset is that sipping beer and wine is evil, they conclude their messages with these words or something similar: “If you really love God and offer yourself completely to Him, then you would not drink beer or wine.”
What arrests my thoughts on this is since they cannot use the bible to forbid casual drinking, they now seem to challenge people’s devotion to God.
It seems to me that taking a position on any point of doctrine can have the affect of justifying one’s need to exert their love for God. The believer’s love for the Lord should drive them to carefully study the Biblical text and have the desire to understand what it is communicating. But the overall landscape of Christianity certainly should indicate that there are a variety of differences affecting many areas of Christian doctrine and life. Christians differ with regards to styles of worship, baptism and implementing the Lord’s Supper. We also have differences regarding tongues, the role of women pastors, and whether or not a man who has been divorce can still serve as a pastor.
By challenging a believer’s devotion to the Lord, one can use it to say just about anything. For example, if you really love the Lord, you would:
Not prohibit women from certain leadership positions
Not twist scripture to suit your purposes
Not put God in a box and see that all spiritual gifts mentioned are for use today
Not drink or get tattoos
Not impose legalistic standards where Christians can have liberties
The list can go on. But it demonstrates that whatever position we take, particular in areas that are not essential to salvation or historic orthodoxy, we can associate that position with Christian allegiance such that the Christian who takes a differing position must do so because of a lack of devotion.
It is not enough to say the other person is wrong but when their allegiance and affection is questioned because they disagree, it casts dispersions on their faith. Just because someone takes a differing position does not mean they have any less affection for Christ.
The fact that they have come to a different position involves interpretive differences but does not suggest that they are seeking to dishonor God or have a lesser love for Christ.
I want to challenge my fellow preachers to be careful not to go down this road. If the bible cannot support your ideas, then don’t force the issue and certainly do not bring into question the spiritual allegiance of those who differ. Major on those things which are eternally significant, and preach grace and tolerance on those things which are not.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Paul Had a Death Wish
Sanford Rothman told police he woke up to a "bang" and realized he had suffered a gunshot wound to his knee. Police said he likely shot himself while sleepwalking.
The sixty-three-year-old resident of Boulder, Colorado told investigators he had no clear recollection of the incident early on Tuesday.
No one else was in the home at the time. Police said Mr Rothman kept a 9mm handgun near his bed and took prescription medication for pain. He was treated at a hospital and released.
I think this man was very fortunate to have shot himself in the knee and not in the head or chest. But imagine if you will his wife or kids. The article above does not say anything about his marriage or having a family, but if you lived in the same house with a person who sleep walks with a gun and who then shoots himself, would you rest soundly? Sleeping in the same house with that man would be like having a death wish.
I think Paul had a death wish, don’t you? I mean, when you read through the Book of Acts, doesn’t seem like he had a death wish? Let me show you what I am referring to.
While staying a short time in Tyre, Paul met up with some disciples who “kept telling him through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem” (Acts 21:4). Later he sailed to Caesarea and entered the house of Philip the evangelist. It was there that a prophet named Agabus came to him. When he met Paul, he took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owes this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’” (v. 11). After hearing the prophet, the disciples and local residents begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem (v. 12). But what was his response? Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (v. 13).
Now folks, how would you determine the will of God for your life? How would you counsel someone today to comprehend and understand the voice of God? I am sure you would use the following three approaches:
1. Listen to the Holy Spirit (Acts 21:4). The verse says that they (the other believers) kept telling Paul THROUGH THE SPIRIT not to set foot in Jerusalem.
2. Listen to a recognized prophet (vv. 10-11). Agabus clearly spoke and gave a physical demonstration on what would happen to Paul if he set foot in Jerusalem.
3. Listen to the counsel of others (v. 12). The rest of the disciples and the local residents pleaded with him not to go to Jerusalem.
Now folks, listen carefully. If you heard from the Holy Spirit, a prophet and the counsel of other believers – three different voices all saying the same thing, wouldn’t you conclude that perhaps it would not be a great idea to go to Jerusalem? And wouldn’t you pause to thank God for making His will so clearly known to you?
You know what happened, right? He went to Jerusalem anyway. Was Paul disobedient to God? I personally think Paul had a death wish.
Let me show you why. There is a reason why he ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit, a prophet and other disciples. Paul had a death wish.
In Acts 14, while serving in Lystra, Paul was severely stoned to death by a multitude (v. 19). He actually died. Paul talked about this event in his life in 2 Corinthians 12, referring to him being out of his body and caught up to the third heaven (v. 2). While he was in Paradise, he heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak (v. 4).
Paul evidently was privy to revelation that blew his mind. I do think that God only gave to Paul partial revelation. For he states that he “heard inexpressible words,” nothing about seeing anything. I think God must have kept his eyes shut from seeing things in Paradise, but nevertheless what he heard left an indelible impression of him that lasted his whole life.
When Paul returned back to his body (Acts 14:20), he got right back up and started preaching again. And a short time later, guess where he goes? Right back to Lystra (v. 21), the very place where he was stoned to death.
Paul had a death wish. You know why? Because he had died and was caught up to heaven and heard some really neat things and couldn’t wait to go back. Paul knew that suicide was not the way to go home. So he went and preached where he was hated the most knowing that the chances of dying was highly possible, but he did not care, he wanted to die and be with Jesus which was far better. Paul had a death wish.
I mean, how else can we explain the mindset of the man who ignores the Holy Spirit, won’t listen to a prophet and shuts out the counsel of other believers? “Paul, don’t go to Jerusalem. You will suffer and possibly die there.” What was his reply, “Stop breaking my heart with your warnings. If you experienced Paradise the way I did, and if you heard the things I heard, you would lead the way to Jerusalem and be the first to die.”
Paul had a death wish. How else could we explain his remarks when he states: “I have a desire to depart and be with Christ which is VERY MUCH BETTER” (Philip. 1:23)? Elsewhere he boldly states, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31). Paul was exposed to so many physical attacks and dangers on his life. He lived for such moments. He had a death wish.
How about this testimony?
I have. . .been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers (2 Cor. 11:23ff). Paul had a death wish.
Here is my point. Paul was not someone who was consumed with death. No I do not mean death wish in terms of this. But Paul was not concerned at all with trying to live a long life here on earth. He was consumed with fulfilling Jesus’ purpose for him and finishing the course that the Lord gave to him to run. But if running the course meant that he would face extreme physical dangers and possibly die, instead of backing down, Paul ran full steam ahead! He knew what awaited him on the other side.
Paul’s courage in the face of death is a great encouraging lesson to each of us. Whatever he heard while in Paradise, left a remarkable and long lasting impression upon him. Whatever he experienced, we will experience one day. I am almost positive that if any one of us were to be caught up to the third heaven and experience Paradise, we would hope that someone would come along and put us out of our misery just so we can return to the glory of Paradise.
Heaven is ready and waiting. Don’t do anything stupid, right? But when the time comes for your name to be called and for you to soon have your out of body experience called death, will you passionately welcome it, or be too sad to leave? I think all true Christians have to some degree based on their maturity in Christ their own death wish.
The sixty-three-year-old resident of Boulder, Colorado told investigators he had no clear recollection of the incident early on Tuesday.
No one else was in the home at the time. Police said Mr Rothman kept a 9mm handgun near his bed and took prescription medication for pain. He was treated at a hospital and released.
I think this man was very fortunate to have shot himself in the knee and not in the head or chest. But imagine if you will his wife or kids. The article above does not say anything about his marriage or having a family, but if you lived in the same house with a person who sleep walks with a gun and who then shoots himself, would you rest soundly? Sleeping in the same house with that man would be like having a death wish.
I think Paul had a death wish, don’t you? I mean, when you read through the Book of Acts, doesn’t seem like he had a death wish? Let me show you what I am referring to.
While staying a short time in Tyre, Paul met up with some disciples who “kept telling him through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem” (Acts 21:4). Later he sailed to Caesarea and entered the house of Philip the evangelist. It was there that a prophet named Agabus came to him. When he met Paul, he took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owes this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’” (v. 11). After hearing the prophet, the disciples and local residents begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem (v. 12). But what was his response? Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (v. 13).
Now folks, how would you determine the will of God for your life? How would you counsel someone today to comprehend and understand the voice of God? I am sure you would use the following three approaches:
1. Listen to the Holy Spirit (Acts 21:4). The verse says that they (the other believers) kept telling Paul THROUGH THE SPIRIT not to set foot in Jerusalem.
2. Listen to a recognized prophet (vv. 10-11). Agabus clearly spoke and gave a physical demonstration on what would happen to Paul if he set foot in Jerusalem.
3. Listen to the counsel of others (v. 12). The rest of the disciples and the local residents pleaded with him not to go to Jerusalem.
Now folks, listen carefully. If you heard from the Holy Spirit, a prophet and the counsel of other believers – three different voices all saying the same thing, wouldn’t you conclude that perhaps it would not be a great idea to go to Jerusalem? And wouldn’t you pause to thank God for making His will so clearly known to you?
You know what happened, right? He went to Jerusalem anyway. Was Paul disobedient to God? I personally think Paul had a death wish.
Let me show you why. There is a reason why he ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit, a prophet and other disciples. Paul had a death wish.
In Acts 14, while serving in Lystra, Paul was severely stoned to death by a multitude (v. 19). He actually died. Paul talked about this event in his life in 2 Corinthians 12, referring to him being out of his body and caught up to the third heaven (v. 2). While he was in Paradise, he heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak (v. 4).
Paul evidently was privy to revelation that blew his mind. I do think that God only gave to Paul partial revelation. For he states that he “heard inexpressible words,” nothing about seeing anything. I think God must have kept his eyes shut from seeing things in Paradise, but nevertheless what he heard left an indelible impression of him that lasted his whole life.
When Paul returned back to his body (Acts 14:20), he got right back up and started preaching again. And a short time later, guess where he goes? Right back to Lystra (v. 21), the very place where he was stoned to death.
Paul had a death wish. You know why? Because he had died and was caught up to heaven and heard some really neat things and couldn’t wait to go back. Paul knew that suicide was not the way to go home. So he went and preached where he was hated the most knowing that the chances of dying was highly possible, but he did not care, he wanted to die and be with Jesus which was far better. Paul had a death wish.
I mean, how else can we explain the mindset of the man who ignores the Holy Spirit, won’t listen to a prophet and shuts out the counsel of other believers? “Paul, don’t go to Jerusalem. You will suffer and possibly die there.” What was his reply, “Stop breaking my heart with your warnings. If you experienced Paradise the way I did, and if you heard the things I heard, you would lead the way to Jerusalem and be the first to die.”
Paul had a death wish. How else could we explain his remarks when he states: “I have a desire to depart and be with Christ which is VERY MUCH BETTER” (Philip. 1:23)? Elsewhere he boldly states, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31). Paul was exposed to so many physical attacks and dangers on his life. He lived for such moments. He had a death wish.
How about this testimony?
I have. . .been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers (2 Cor. 11:23ff). Paul had a death wish.
Here is my point. Paul was not someone who was consumed with death. No I do not mean death wish in terms of this. But Paul was not concerned at all with trying to live a long life here on earth. He was consumed with fulfilling Jesus’ purpose for him and finishing the course that the Lord gave to him to run. But if running the course meant that he would face extreme physical dangers and possibly die, instead of backing down, Paul ran full steam ahead! He knew what awaited him on the other side.
Paul’s courage in the face of death is a great encouraging lesson to each of us. Whatever he heard while in Paradise, left a remarkable and long lasting impression upon him. Whatever he experienced, we will experience one day. I am almost positive that if any one of us were to be caught up to the third heaven and experience Paradise, we would hope that someone would come along and put us out of our misery just so we can return to the glory of Paradise.
Heaven is ready and waiting. Don’t do anything stupid, right? But when the time comes for your name to be called and for you to soon have your out of body experience called death, will you passionately welcome it, or be too sad to leave? I think all true Christians have to some degree based on their maturity in Christ their own death wish.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Pray For Signs and Wonders
"Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus” – Acts 4:29-30
One of the best-selling toys is a collection of nameless stuffed animals—nameless, that is, until their new child owners supply them each a name along with the appropriate six-digit code on Webkinz.com. The popular children's social network allows kids to create a virtual room for a digital version of their plush pals where they can decorate, furnish, and add rooms as well as feed, dress, and interact with their pets. Children love the idea that the toys they hold in their arms are just copies of something much grander.
As children of God, we too have things that are much grander – signs and wonders. Have you ever thought about this? Why don’t we see more signs and wonders today? Was this something only for the apostles during the Book of Acts? I believe we ought to pray the same prayer that they did in Acts 4:29-30. We ought to long for the same thing they longed for which was an outpouring of signs and wonders.
In the face of great opposition the Christians cried to God like this: They cried for boldness in their witness; they cried for God's hand to be stretched forth in healing; and they cried for God to perform signs and wonders. They were not just "open" to signs and wonders. They were desperate for them. They prayed for them to come. Do we?
Now remember, this was the generation that had more immediate and more compelling evidence of the truth of the resurrection than any generation since. Hundreds of eyewitnesses to the risen Lord were in Jerusalem. This was the generation of witnesses whose word was least in need of supernatural authentication of all the generations following. This was the generation whose preaching (apart from signs and wonders) of the mighty, soul-saving word of God was more anointed than the preaching of any generation following--the preaching of Peter and Stephen and Paul. Yet, with all that they had going for them, they still wanted God to send them signs and wonders.
In Acts 5, we see a pretty clear answer to the question why the church wanted signs and wonders--with all their dangers, with all their abuses--why they prayed: "Lord stretch out your hand to heal and do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus." Acts 5:12 says, "Many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico."
When signs and wonders from God invade our world here is what to expect. Verses 13 and 14 describe two results of this demonstration of signs and wonders. First, the people of Jerusalem--the outsiders stood in awe of the apostles and the church. Ananias and Sapphira had died, signs and wonders were being done, and verse 13 says, "None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor." But that's not all. In the midst of all this fear and amazement and wonder, we see secondly, many were coming to faith in Jesus. Verse 14: "And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women."
So what is the connection for praying for signs and wonders? To bring multitudes to the Lord (v. 14). This is why the church prayed so earnestly for signs and wonders to be done. Signs and wonders helped bring people to the Lord. They helped bring people to saving faith. If we want to add to the church daily and regularly those who are in need of saving faith, signs and wonders are the tools God uses.
When you read through the Book of Acts, there are at least 17 times where a miracle helps lead people to Christ. We have seen the miracle of Pentecost lead to 3000 converts and the miracle of the lame man in Acts 3:6 lead to 2000 converts (Acts 4:4). Acts 9:34-35 and Acts 9:40,42 are the clearest examples. Peter heals Aeneas and Luke says, "And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord." Peter raises Tabitha from the dead, and Luke says, "It became known all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord."
There is no doubt that the working of miracles--signs and wonders--helped bring people to Christ. That is what Luke wants us to see and that is surely why the Christians would pray in Acts 4:30 that God would stretch forth his hand to heal and do signs and wonders. It would help bring people to Christ.
But not all my evangelical brethren would approve of such a prayer. Why? Because of two primary objections: First, they say that only an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign (Matt. 16:4). These words were uttered by Jesus, and while it is true, let me explain what I think was Jesus’ intent.
Seeking signs from God is wicked and adulterous when the demand for more and more evidence comes from a resistant heart and simply covers up an unwillingness to believe.
Remember the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)? The youngest son took off with his share of his father’s estate and spent it all on lucid living. Afterwards, the son came back home to his father. Well, what if when the Son returned home to his father, he said these words: “Father, prove to me that you loved me. I don’t really believe you are my Father. I need proof. I need some kind of sign that you really love me” If that's the way we demand a sign then we are a wicked and adulterous generation. But this is far from what the apostles were praying for.
But if you come to God with a heart aching with longing for vindication of his glory and the salvation of sinners, and that's why you long to see him stretch forth his hand to heal and do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus, then you are not wicked and adulterous. You are a faithful servant, only wanting to honor your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Second, some say that signs and wonders only goes against the notion that the Scriptures are sufficient. Since the bible is sufficient to save people from their sins, why do we need signs and wonders? Thus to pray for signs and wonders only goes against the centrality of the Word.
But check this out: Acts 14:3 says that Paul and Barnabas "remained a long time [in Iconium] speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands."
Did you notice the crucial phrase, “witness to the Word?” Signs and wonders are God's witness to His word. They are not in competition with the word. They are not against the word. They are not over the word. They are divine witnesses to the value and truth and necessity and centrality of the word.
Here is how we can sum the relationship between the Word and signs and wonders: Signs and wonders are not the saving word of grace; they are God's secondary testimony to the word of his grace. Signs and wonders do not save. They are not the power of God unto salvation. They do not transform the heart--any more than music or art or drama or magic shows. What changes the heart and saves the soul is the self-authenticating glory of Christ seen in the message of the gospel (2 Cor. 3:18-4:6).
But even if signs and wonders can't save the soul, they can, if God pleases, shatter the heart of disinterest; they can shatter the heart of cynicism; they can shatter the mindset of false religion. Like every other good witness to the word of grace, they can help the fallen heart to fix its gaze on the gospel where the soul-saving, self-authenticating glory of the Lord shines. We should not feel hindered in seeking after signs and wonders as long as we have in mind and heart the saving of souls, the glory of God, and the witness to the Word.
Folks listen, the need today is for an authentication of God, of the supernatural, of the spiritual, of the eternal, and this can only be answered by God graciously hearing our cry and shedding forth again his Spirit upon us and filling us as he kept filling the early church.
What is needed is some mighty demonstration of the power of God, some enactment of the Almighty that will compel people to pay attention, and to look, and to listen. This is why we need to be praying the prayer that the apostles prayed in Acts 4:29-30. Here it is again: Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
Listen, when God acts, He can do more in a minute than man with his organizing can do in fifty years. So why should we slowly grind away doing our own thing when we can get out of the way and let God do His work, His way, using His power.
Let’s pray for signs and wonders. Doing so would greatly strengthen the church, get the attention of the lost, and as a witness with the Word, bring many of them to Jesus.
One of the best-selling toys is a collection of nameless stuffed animals—nameless, that is, until their new child owners supply them each a name along with the appropriate six-digit code on Webkinz.com. The popular children's social network allows kids to create a virtual room for a digital version of their plush pals where they can decorate, furnish, and add rooms as well as feed, dress, and interact with their pets. Children love the idea that the toys they hold in their arms are just copies of something much grander.
As children of God, we too have things that are much grander – signs and wonders. Have you ever thought about this? Why don’t we see more signs and wonders today? Was this something only for the apostles during the Book of Acts? I believe we ought to pray the same prayer that they did in Acts 4:29-30. We ought to long for the same thing they longed for which was an outpouring of signs and wonders.
In the face of great opposition the Christians cried to God like this: They cried for boldness in their witness; they cried for God's hand to be stretched forth in healing; and they cried for God to perform signs and wonders. They were not just "open" to signs and wonders. They were desperate for them. They prayed for them to come. Do we?
Now remember, this was the generation that had more immediate and more compelling evidence of the truth of the resurrection than any generation since. Hundreds of eyewitnesses to the risen Lord were in Jerusalem. This was the generation of witnesses whose word was least in need of supernatural authentication of all the generations following. This was the generation whose preaching (apart from signs and wonders) of the mighty, soul-saving word of God was more anointed than the preaching of any generation following--the preaching of Peter and Stephen and Paul. Yet, with all that they had going for them, they still wanted God to send them signs and wonders.
In Acts 5, we see a pretty clear answer to the question why the church wanted signs and wonders--with all their dangers, with all their abuses--why they prayed: "Lord stretch out your hand to heal and do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus." Acts 5:12 says, "Many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico."
When signs and wonders from God invade our world here is what to expect. Verses 13 and 14 describe two results of this demonstration of signs and wonders. First, the people of Jerusalem--the outsiders stood in awe of the apostles and the church. Ananias and Sapphira had died, signs and wonders were being done, and verse 13 says, "None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor." But that's not all. In the midst of all this fear and amazement and wonder, we see secondly, many were coming to faith in Jesus. Verse 14: "And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women."
So what is the connection for praying for signs and wonders? To bring multitudes to the Lord (v. 14). This is why the church prayed so earnestly for signs and wonders to be done. Signs and wonders helped bring people to the Lord. They helped bring people to saving faith. If we want to add to the church daily and regularly those who are in need of saving faith, signs and wonders are the tools God uses.
When you read through the Book of Acts, there are at least 17 times where a miracle helps lead people to Christ. We have seen the miracle of Pentecost lead to 3000 converts and the miracle of the lame man in Acts 3:6 lead to 2000 converts (Acts 4:4). Acts 9:34-35 and Acts 9:40,42 are the clearest examples. Peter heals Aeneas and Luke says, "And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord." Peter raises Tabitha from the dead, and Luke says, "It became known all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord."
There is no doubt that the working of miracles--signs and wonders--helped bring people to Christ. That is what Luke wants us to see and that is surely why the Christians would pray in Acts 4:30 that God would stretch forth his hand to heal and do signs and wonders. It would help bring people to Christ.
But not all my evangelical brethren would approve of such a prayer. Why? Because of two primary objections: First, they say that only an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign (Matt. 16:4). These words were uttered by Jesus, and while it is true, let me explain what I think was Jesus’ intent.
Seeking signs from God is wicked and adulterous when the demand for more and more evidence comes from a resistant heart and simply covers up an unwillingness to believe.
Remember the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)? The youngest son took off with his share of his father’s estate and spent it all on lucid living. Afterwards, the son came back home to his father. Well, what if when the Son returned home to his father, he said these words: “Father, prove to me that you loved me. I don’t really believe you are my Father. I need proof. I need some kind of sign that you really love me” If that's the way we demand a sign then we are a wicked and adulterous generation. But this is far from what the apostles were praying for.
But if you come to God with a heart aching with longing for vindication of his glory and the salvation of sinners, and that's why you long to see him stretch forth his hand to heal and do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus, then you are not wicked and adulterous. You are a faithful servant, only wanting to honor your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Second, some say that signs and wonders only goes against the notion that the Scriptures are sufficient. Since the bible is sufficient to save people from their sins, why do we need signs and wonders? Thus to pray for signs and wonders only goes against the centrality of the Word.
But check this out: Acts 14:3 says that Paul and Barnabas "remained a long time [in Iconium] speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands."
Did you notice the crucial phrase, “witness to the Word?” Signs and wonders are God's witness to His word. They are not in competition with the word. They are not against the word. They are not over the word. They are divine witnesses to the value and truth and necessity and centrality of the word.
Here is how we can sum the relationship between the Word and signs and wonders: Signs and wonders are not the saving word of grace; they are God's secondary testimony to the word of his grace. Signs and wonders do not save. They are not the power of God unto salvation. They do not transform the heart--any more than music or art or drama or magic shows. What changes the heart and saves the soul is the self-authenticating glory of Christ seen in the message of the gospel (2 Cor. 3:18-4:6).
But even if signs and wonders can't save the soul, they can, if God pleases, shatter the heart of disinterest; they can shatter the heart of cynicism; they can shatter the mindset of false religion. Like every other good witness to the word of grace, they can help the fallen heart to fix its gaze on the gospel where the soul-saving, self-authenticating glory of the Lord shines. We should not feel hindered in seeking after signs and wonders as long as we have in mind and heart the saving of souls, the glory of God, and the witness to the Word.
Folks listen, the need today is for an authentication of God, of the supernatural, of the spiritual, of the eternal, and this can only be answered by God graciously hearing our cry and shedding forth again his Spirit upon us and filling us as he kept filling the early church.
What is needed is some mighty demonstration of the power of God, some enactment of the Almighty that will compel people to pay attention, and to look, and to listen. This is why we need to be praying the prayer that the apostles prayed in Acts 4:29-30. Here it is again: Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
Listen, when God acts, He can do more in a minute than man with his organizing can do in fifty years. So why should we slowly grind away doing our own thing when we can get out of the way and let God do His work, His way, using His power.
Let’s pray for signs and wonders. Doing so would greatly strengthen the church, get the attention of the lost, and as a witness with the Word, bring many of them to Jesus.
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Invasion of Evil
Demon possession is real. Only the power of God can break through when a person is actually possessed by an evil spirit or multiple evil spirits. You never know when the person you may be talking to is possessed by the devil himself.
On two separate occasions, Judas was invaded by the devil himself.
First Occasion: Luke 22:3ff: Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.5They were delighted and agreed to give him money.6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
This is the first time Satan entered into the body of Judas. This took place before the Last Supper. Here Judas goes to discuss with the chief priests and others how he might be used to deliver Jesus over to them. Did the chief priests actually know that when they were discussing with Judas the betrayal of Jesus, they were actually talking to the devil? Satan himself was present in their room. He was behind the plot to hand over Jesus.
Of course, they did not know. Satan hid himself carefully and disguised himself well from them. Yet, the very incarnate of evil himself was right there in the same room with those who were known as the chief priests.
Did Judas know that the devil had entered into him? Probably not. We got no indication that he did. But one thing to always look for with regards to a demonic invasion: The person who becomes invaded will leave the group of Christians and secretly go to carry out an evil plan. This is truth of both of the devil’s invasion of Judas.
You know what is more scary than being in the same room as the devil himself? God is! The bible says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). When a person plays church, i.e. participates in service, worship and join in other activities of the church, while choosing to remain unconverted and unconvinced of the claims of Christ, such times as those may turn out to be a life of possession of evil spirits and multiple invasion.
How in the world could the devil gain such control over Judas? We have a clue in John 13. While speaking to His disciples, Jesus said to them, “You are all clean, but not all of you.” Then the very next verse says, “For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, ‘Not all of you are clean’” (John 13:10-11).
What is actually symbolized by the word “clean?” Two very important and most power ingredients are used by God to bring cleansing:
1. The Blood Jesus: “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Over in the Book of Revelation, we read, “Unto Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Rev. 1:5). All the other eleven disciples of Jesus had placed their complete surrender in the Lord. They believed in Him as their Messiah and as a result, each of them had their sins washed completely away except Judas.
2. The Word of God: “. . . Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless (Eph. 5:26-27). Over in John 15, Jesus said to His disciples, “You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3).
So, the blood of Christ cleanses or washes sinners from their sins completely, and God uses His Word to keep His people cleaned from sin on a daily basis.
Think of it this way: The blood of Jesus is like talking a bath or shower. Once a day is usually enough. But during the day, you have to wash your hands often. The word of God is meant for that. The blood of Christ is our bath and the Word of God is our frequent hand washing. Judas had neither and as a result, he was open prey for the devil to use and manipulate.
Let me now show you another devil invasion of Judas and then suggest some applications. In John 13:27, we read: “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” So the first invasion occurred before the Passover with Jesus. The second occurred during the Passover. Again, once Satan entered into Judas now the second time, he left the group to carry out and bring to completion his evil plan.
Let’s note some pertinent observations.
1. For some odd reason, suggesting a thought into the mind of another seems not enough. There must be an invasion into a life of another in order to put a capstone on the working of evil.
Couldn’t the devil just placed into the thought of Judas the act of betrayal and that’s it? This is what he did in John 13:2: “he (the devil) put into the heart of Judas to betray Him.” So why wasn’t this enough? Why must the devil or any of his demons have to actually invade the life of another?
For this simple reason: CONTROL! It is all about control – who and what controls a person. In John 13:2, the invasion of a thought by the devil was used to control Judas; and in John 13:27, the invasion of the devil was used to control Judas. The “what” – thoughts; and the “who” – Satan were all about control. It is worth remembering that before the devil could invade Judas, he had to first invade Judas’ mind with an evil idea. So remember this: Before there is an actual personal invasion by an evil entity, the doors to such an invasion had opened first by the reception of an evil idea. The invasion of an evil idea that is not properly dealt with and disposed of, will open wider the door of invasion.
Folks, listen: What goes into our brains is so crucial. This is the first step toward you or I being totally dominated by evil. Fight well and hard the battle there in your mind. Once you win there, you will not have to fight the devil within. But if we lose the battles of ideas in our minds, then we will lose big time elsewhere.
Note: This is why I write often my Fresh Bread blogs and others like it. I do not write it for you. Sorry! I write these blogs for me. By writing, it forces me to dig deeper into issues, the Scriptures and to expose wrong ideas which need to be disposed of, and right ideas which need to be held on tightly to. If no one read what I wrote, I would still continue to write and produce even more. These blogs are also like my personal journals. They show me what I am thinking about and what’s in my mind. If I lose the battle in my mind, the war for me is over.
Listen: How does God accomplish His work in the world today? Well the Lord has many ways to do so, but a primary way for accomplishing His work in the world is THROUGH HIS PEOPLE. God receives great honor when we allow Him to work “through” us to touch the lives of others. This implies that we are in full cooperation with God. We understand that the best sermons are those that God preaches through us. We understand that the best counseling occurs when God ministers to someone through us. We understand that the best and most profitable assignments are those that God accomplishes through us. Why? Because when it is all done, who gets the glory? Us? No. But God. He did it through us.
Who is the one person who wants above all else to steal away the glory of God for himself? None other than Satan himself – read Isaiah 14:12-14. So, to put into a person’s mind an idea can also be interpreted as the person’s own idea. But to actually invade a person’s life in order to carry out an assignment, that can only be attributed not to the person, but the spirit within the person. Thus, Satan wanted the glory of betraying Jesus and getting Him crucified. So, putting it into the head of Judas was one small step; entering into his life in order to carry out to fruition the plan was the capstone.
Any carnal believer who allows his mind to be a receptacle of the devil or his demons, and who also allows himself to be invaded by demonic forces, is giving the devil his moment of glory that he seeks.
Second, those who are entertaining thoughts of the devil who have possibly been invade by him will live a double life.
Notice that once Satan entered into Judas, he went away to discuss with the chief priests and officers (Luke 22:4; John 13:30) how he might betray Him to them. On the one hand, Judas served along side of Jesus with the rest of the disciples. On the other hand, he was fellowshipping with the enemy. Just how crazy is that?
Now fellowshipping with the enemy is not the same as working in the world. Most of us have secular jobs where we are required to work with, each lunch with, and spend a great deal of our time with those who are of the world. Nothing wrong with this. But what I am talking about is how some when they are with other Christians will put on their holy hat and talk the talk, walk the walk, and as soon as they leave the company of believers, they go and become the exact opposite in the world. That’s crazy. That’s being double-minded. Jesus called this “hypocrisy” (Matt. 23).
Third, often times (not all), demonic invasion will center around MONEY (Luke 22:5). Judas was promised thirty pieces of silver for his reward of handing Jesus over. Paul said to Timothy: “For the love of money is the root to all sorts of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). May I also remind us who was in charge of the money box? Judas! (John 13:29). And who use to steal money from it from time to time? Judas! (John 12:6).
While traveling through the city of Philippi, Paul knew first hand about this.
16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
19When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities – Acts 16:16-19
This servant girl who was demon-possessed was making for her master a lot of money. When she was exposed and delivered, Paul and his team were held responsible, beaten and thrown in prison.
People will do all sorts of things for money – things that will cause them to jettison their morals and principles. Things that they normally under less trying circumstance would do. But because of the love of money, we are often too eager and willing to compromise our commitment to Christ. Satan knows this about us and therefore feeds our desires.
Fourth, a person who is being controlled by evil will become obsessed in whatever is the nature of the evil plan. It is said of Judas that “he began seeking a good opportunity to betray Jesus” (Luke 22:6). The word “seek” means “to crave after,” “to demand,” “to mediate on.” Judas was obsessed with the idea of betraying Jesus. I think for Judas it was no longer at this point about the money. Why? Because we know what happened to him afterwards when he got paid. He threw it all away and hung himself (Matt. 27:5; Acts 1:18). At first the thought of betraying Jesus sounded like a good idea for the price. However, it became more of an obsession. And then when it finally occurred, there was no joy in it, just guilt and extreme sorrow.
Before we shake our heads at Judas and think of him as a poor soul, we must remember that every time we choose to knowingly to sin against God, we are functioning in the role of a betrayer. James said this: “To him who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). We know what God wants from us, but choose not to do it. We know what God does not want us to do, but then choose to do it. During such times, for whatever reason we hang onto that gives to us a temporary form of spiritual insanity, we are stepping into the shoes of a Jesus betrayer.
Fifth, much of the evil surrounding a demonic plan and assignment will occur at night. I think it is no small thing that we read, “and Judas went out immediately and it was NIGHT” (John 13:30).
This is in contrast to the day where Jesus is pictured as the light of the world (John 9:5). We would expect the powers of darkness to operate comfortably at night. Of course, there are exceptions to this. But in most cases, the fruition of evil takes place in secret and night is a good cloak for evil to occur.
Well, there are many more things we can add to this, but no need to spend too much of our time talking about the prince of darkness (Eph. 2:2). Better to talk more about the Prince of Life (Acts 3:15; 5:31). But just so you are aware of the gravity of evil and how it can consume you if you are not already walking in the Spirit.
On two separate occasions, Judas was invaded by the devil himself.
First Occasion: Luke 22:3ff: Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.5They were delighted and agreed to give him money.6He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
This is the first time Satan entered into the body of Judas. This took place before the Last Supper. Here Judas goes to discuss with the chief priests and others how he might be used to deliver Jesus over to them. Did the chief priests actually know that when they were discussing with Judas the betrayal of Jesus, they were actually talking to the devil? Satan himself was present in their room. He was behind the plot to hand over Jesus.
Of course, they did not know. Satan hid himself carefully and disguised himself well from them. Yet, the very incarnate of evil himself was right there in the same room with those who were known as the chief priests.
Did Judas know that the devil had entered into him? Probably not. We got no indication that he did. But one thing to always look for with regards to a demonic invasion: The person who becomes invaded will leave the group of Christians and secretly go to carry out an evil plan. This is truth of both of the devil’s invasion of Judas.
You know what is more scary than being in the same room as the devil himself? God is! The bible says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). When a person plays church, i.e. participates in service, worship and join in other activities of the church, while choosing to remain unconverted and unconvinced of the claims of Christ, such times as those may turn out to be a life of possession of evil spirits and multiple invasion.
How in the world could the devil gain such control over Judas? We have a clue in John 13. While speaking to His disciples, Jesus said to them, “You are all clean, but not all of you.” Then the very next verse says, “For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, ‘Not all of you are clean’” (John 13:10-11).
What is actually symbolized by the word “clean?” Two very important and most power ingredients are used by God to bring cleansing:
1. The Blood Jesus: “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Over in the Book of Revelation, we read, “Unto Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Rev. 1:5). All the other eleven disciples of Jesus had placed their complete surrender in the Lord. They believed in Him as their Messiah and as a result, each of them had their sins washed completely away except Judas.
2. The Word of God: “. . . Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless (Eph. 5:26-27). Over in John 15, Jesus said to His disciples, “You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3).
So, the blood of Christ cleanses or washes sinners from their sins completely, and God uses His Word to keep His people cleaned from sin on a daily basis.
Think of it this way: The blood of Jesus is like talking a bath or shower. Once a day is usually enough. But during the day, you have to wash your hands often. The word of God is meant for that. The blood of Christ is our bath and the Word of God is our frequent hand washing. Judas had neither and as a result, he was open prey for the devil to use and manipulate.
Let me now show you another devil invasion of Judas and then suggest some applications. In John 13:27, we read: “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” So the first invasion occurred before the Passover with Jesus. The second occurred during the Passover. Again, once Satan entered into Judas now the second time, he left the group to carry out and bring to completion his evil plan.
Let’s note some pertinent observations.
1. For some odd reason, suggesting a thought into the mind of another seems not enough. There must be an invasion into a life of another in order to put a capstone on the working of evil.
Couldn’t the devil just placed into the thought of Judas the act of betrayal and that’s it? This is what he did in John 13:2: “he (the devil) put into the heart of Judas to betray Him.” So why wasn’t this enough? Why must the devil or any of his demons have to actually invade the life of another?
For this simple reason: CONTROL! It is all about control – who and what controls a person. In John 13:2, the invasion of a thought by the devil was used to control Judas; and in John 13:27, the invasion of the devil was used to control Judas. The “what” – thoughts; and the “who” – Satan were all about control. It is worth remembering that before the devil could invade Judas, he had to first invade Judas’ mind with an evil idea. So remember this: Before there is an actual personal invasion by an evil entity, the doors to such an invasion had opened first by the reception of an evil idea. The invasion of an evil idea that is not properly dealt with and disposed of, will open wider the door of invasion.
Folks, listen: What goes into our brains is so crucial. This is the first step toward you or I being totally dominated by evil. Fight well and hard the battle there in your mind. Once you win there, you will not have to fight the devil within. But if we lose the battles of ideas in our minds, then we will lose big time elsewhere.
Note: This is why I write often my Fresh Bread blogs and others like it. I do not write it for you. Sorry! I write these blogs for me. By writing, it forces me to dig deeper into issues, the Scriptures and to expose wrong ideas which need to be disposed of, and right ideas which need to be held on tightly to. If no one read what I wrote, I would still continue to write and produce even more. These blogs are also like my personal journals. They show me what I am thinking about and what’s in my mind. If I lose the battle in my mind, the war for me is over.
Listen: How does God accomplish His work in the world today? Well the Lord has many ways to do so, but a primary way for accomplishing His work in the world is THROUGH HIS PEOPLE. God receives great honor when we allow Him to work “through” us to touch the lives of others. This implies that we are in full cooperation with God. We understand that the best sermons are those that God preaches through us. We understand that the best counseling occurs when God ministers to someone through us. We understand that the best and most profitable assignments are those that God accomplishes through us. Why? Because when it is all done, who gets the glory? Us? No. But God. He did it through us.
Who is the one person who wants above all else to steal away the glory of God for himself? None other than Satan himself – read Isaiah 14:12-14. So, to put into a person’s mind an idea can also be interpreted as the person’s own idea. But to actually invade a person’s life in order to carry out an assignment, that can only be attributed not to the person, but the spirit within the person. Thus, Satan wanted the glory of betraying Jesus and getting Him crucified. So, putting it into the head of Judas was one small step; entering into his life in order to carry out to fruition the plan was the capstone.
Any carnal believer who allows his mind to be a receptacle of the devil or his demons, and who also allows himself to be invaded by demonic forces, is giving the devil his moment of glory that he seeks.
Second, those who are entertaining thoughts of the devil who have possibly been invade by him will live a double life.
Notice that once Satan entered into Judas, he went away to discuss with the chief priests and officers (Luke 22:4; John 13:30) how he might betray Him to them. On the one hand, Judas served along side of Jesus with the rest of the disciples. On the other hand, he was fellowshipping with the enemy. Just how crazy is that?
Now fellowshipping with the enemy is not the same as working in the world. Most of us have secular jobs where we are required to work with, each lunch with, and spend a great deal of our time with those who are of the world. Nothing wrong with this. But what I am talking about is how some when they are with other Christians will put on their holy hat and talk the talk, walk the walk, and as soon as they leave the company of believers, they go and become the exact opposite in the world. That’s crazy. That’s being double-minded. Jesus called this “hypocrisy” (Matt. 23).
Third, often times (not all), demonic invasion will center around MONEY (Luke 22:5). Judas was promised thirty pieces of silver for his reward of handing Jesus over. Paul said to Timothy: “For the love of money is the root to all sorts of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). May I also remind us who was in charge of the money box? Judas! (John 13:29). And who use to steal money from it from time to time? Judas! (John 12:6).
While traveling through the city of Philippi, Paul knew first hand about this.
16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
19When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities – Acts 16:16-19
This servant girl who was demon-possessed was making for her master a lot of money. When she was exposed and delivered, Paul and his team were held responsible, beaten and thrown in prison.
People will do all sorts of things for money – things that will cause them to jettison their morals and principles. Things that they normally under less trying circumstance would do. But because of the love of money, we are often too eager and willing to compromise our commitment to Christ. Satan knows this about us and therefore feeds our desires.
Fourth, a person who is being controlled by evil will become obsessed in whatever is the nature of the evil plan. It is said of Judas that “he began seeking a good opportunity to betray Jesus” (Luke 22:6). The word “seek” means “to crave after,” “to demand,” “to mediate on.” Judas was obsessed with the idea of betraying Jesus. I think for Judas it was no longer at this point about the money. Why? Because we know what happened to him afterwards when he got paid. He threw it all away and hung himself (Matt. 27:5; Acts 1:18). At first the thought of betraying Jesus sounded like a good idea for the price. However, it became more of an obsession. And then when it finally occurred, there was no joy in it, just guilt and extreme sorrow.
Before we shake our heads at Judas and think of him as a poor soul, we must remember that every time we choose to knowingly to sin against God, we are functioning in the role of a betrayer. James said this: “To him who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). We know what God wants from us, but choose not to do it. We know what God does not want us to do, but then choose to do it. During such times, for whatever reason we hang onto that gives to us a temporary form of spiritual insanity, we are stepping into the shoes of a Jesus betrayer.
Fifth, much of the evil surrounding a demonic plan and assignment will occur at night. I think it is no small thing that we read, “and Judas went out immediately and it was NIGHT” (John 13:30).
This is in contrast to the day where Jesus is pictured as the light of the world (John 9:5). We would expect the powers of darkness to operate comfortably at night. Of course, there are exceptions to this. But in most cases, the fruition of evil takes place in secret and night is a good cloak for evil to occur.
Well, there are many more things we can add to this, but no need to spend too much of our time talking about the prince of darkness (Eph. 2:2). Better to talk more about the Prince of Life (Acts 3:15; 5:31). But just so you are aware of the gravity of evil and how it can consume you if you are not already walking in the Spirit.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Not On My Watch, Part 5
God wants His people to live and behave in a Christ like manner while in the world. We are not to be of the world. We are called instead to be the salt and light that the world desperately needs. As “salt,” our lives are to preserve righteousness and justice in the world, and as “light” we are to shine on Jesus while at the same time exposing the deeds of darkness.
This is especially true with regards to politics. Some are called to enter full time into politics. Like that of a pastor, no one should ever try to do so unless certain of his or her calling.
But the rest of us who are not called to be full time politicians, we have our own mandate from the Lord. In my previous blogs, I have mentioned four of them. Here they are again for review:
1. Remember Why We Exist – Simply: To make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20).
All Christians have the mandate to make disciples of all nations. We start with our own home turf. We start with our families, circle of friends, neighborhoods, places where we work, go to school, community, state, other countries and to the uttermost parts of the world.
What does it mean to make disciples? Lead an unsaved person to Christ and nurture that person until they can do what you just did for him or her. In other words, all disciples and followers of Christ must be able to reproduce themselves in others. Life begets life. Christians will beget other Christians. If this is not occurring, then a Christian is not living up to his or her full potential.
2. It is in God We Trust.
This is more than a slogan for us believers; it is a way of life. Government policies will at times infuriate us, but our trust is not in marches, not in demonstrations, not in numbers, and not in who has the best arguments. We know the truth because He lives within us. But are we willing to follow the truth and rely completely on Him even if the government we are sworn to live under changes for the worse?
3. Our Christian Duty Is To Submit
Jesus said to “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). Jesus and His apostles had many opportunities to rebel against the governing authorities, but they did not. In stead they submitted. Both Jesus and the apostles all died a martyrs’ death except for the apostle John who was exiled on a small island where he later died there. That’s submission. What little rights they had were removed.
Now remember this. If you ever want to know your Christian duty to the government, then here it is:
A. Submit (Romans 13:1)
B. Pay your taxes (Rom. 13:7)
C. Pray for your civil leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-2)
4. Our Commitment Is To Pray
Why are we to pray for our leaders? First, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Tim. 2:2). The idea here is simply this: When you pray for your leaders, you will not become embittered toward them. Instead you will be respectful. You will show compassion. You will be understanding. By praying for your leaders when you see how the wrong policies are being passed and all the lying and corruption that so often occurs, instead of being upset and wanting to rebel or protest, your prayers for your leaders will also have a positive affect on you and cause your heart of soften so you will lead and quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and dignity.
In other words, it is not civil policies that will bring about these positive changes in you, but God through your prayers for your leaders.
Second, pray for their salvation. One of the greatest ways you can honor and support your leaders is to get on your knees often and plead for God to save them. Nothing in this world is more important than having a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Do not get all excited over a victory of a Bill. This is so shallow and short sighted. Get excited over eternal matters – the salvation of someone in public office which leads to the expansion of Christ’s kingdom.
Now we come to the fifth and final principle.
5. Realize Where Your True Citizenship Is – Heaven!
We need to live out our lives with this understanding – we are citizens first and foremost of heaven, not of any country on earth.
Here is how Paul put it: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ – Philip. 3:20 NIV
The earth is our temporary abode. Heaven is where we belong because it is where Jesus is. In fact, what did Jesus say to His disciples just before going to the cross? “In My Father’s House are many mansions. I go and prepare a place for you, so that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2). So there it is. Why would we want to set up camp here on earth as if this will be our home when Jesus has a much better place awaiting us in heaven?
In fact, the fact that Jesus is in heaven waiting for us (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16) is something that ought to always be in our minds when we think about the need to jump in and get overly involved in politics. Our fellow countrymen, the Old Testament saints, where do they now live and wait for us? In heaven (Heb. 12:23).
You want to know where your name is recorded? Guess? In heaven (Luke 10:20; Rev. 13:8). You want to know where the bible tells you to store your treasures? In heaven (Matt. 5:12; 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:4). That is, you do the kind of works, live the kind of life that will earn you great rewards in heaven for you to enjoy. Don’t keep yourself up at night or at every waking hour seeking to earn for yourself a lucrative life here on this dying and temporary place where the bible says that “Satan is the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4).
While in Egypt for four hundred years, Israel was seen to be a people in a foreign land. They were aliens and God had a much better place prepared for them (Acts 7:6). For those who understood this, it made their tough life a lot more bearable because they saw beyond Egypt to the Promise Land.
Before God called us into His wonderful family, we were known as aliens in terms of our heavenly citizenship (Eph. 2:19). All that has changed now if you indeed have trusted Christ as your Lord!
When Peter addressed his readers, he labeled them as “aliens” (1 Pet. 1:1; 2:11). He was writing to Christians who were suffering immensely. Therefore, he reminded them that their suffering was part of their temporary abode. He reminded them to understand why they are treated as strangers. They are strangers in this world! Therefore, do not be surprised if you are treated like one. You are not home yet.
When Moses had exiled himself to Midian after snuffing out the life of an Egyptian, he lived as an alien (Acts 7:29). Why? God did not want him to become so comfortable there that when the time came for him to move on and become the leader of the Israelites and their deliverer out of Egypt, he could pack up and leave quickly and without little effort.
Why do you think it was so hard for Lot and his wife to leave Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:14-16)? When the angels of the Lord told Lot’s sons-in-law to leave, they thought he was joking (v. 14). When they told Lot to leave the next morning, both him and his wife hesitated (v. 16), and so the angels had to grab them both by the hand and literally drag them out of their doomed city.
But Lot’s wife never understood how she was to live her life in such a place. She was committed. She was a home girl. She was fixated with her home, her residency, her way of life. When after she was forcefully removed from Sodom, she still couldn’t resist. She look back one last time to the place she called home and immediately was turned into a pillar of salt (v. 26).
This is no way for any believer to live in this world. We ought not to live life on this side of heaven so that when the rapture occurs, Jesus literally has to drag us away from our present manner of life. Don’t we want to be with Jesus? Don’t we want to experience the mansion in heaven that He has built for us? Don’t we want to fellowship and enjoy the company of those who also are citizens of heaven as well? Don’t we want to escape the pollution and evil of this world when God’s calls and offers a way out? We won’t if we live our lives not as aliens on this planet.
Finally, when God brought Abraham into the Promise Land told him that one day his descendants will inherit it, Abraham still was not satisfied. He lived as an alien and looked for even a better place, whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:9-10).
Now why am I emphasizing all this? Because if you and I understand that heaven is where we belong, then you will understand why Jesus said to us while living on earth, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). Why should we seek another kingdom when we are already part of one – a better one? The kingdom that we are a part of now is not our permanent home. Heaven is, therefore, seek heaven’s will and its righteousness, which is another way of saying, “Seek eternal matters and not go after temporary ones.”
Okay, on this fifth principle, my point is this: The world is and will go to hell in a hand basket. In other words, things will not get better, but worse. America will eventually fall and succumb to liberalism, socialism and godlessness. The church will eventually apostate and go the way of the world – that is the false church, not the true remnant of God.
So what are we to do? Sit back and be passive Christians? No. Instead, we are to:
1. Fulfill the Great Commission Mandate of Matthew 28:19-20 and lead as many people to Christ and nurture them in the Lord.
2. Trust Completely in God. He is in full control of everything in heaven and on earth.
3. Submit to our government – pay your taxes.
4. Pray for your leaders in public office. Pray for their salvation and pray so that you will also have the right kind of heart toward them as a temporary citizen on earth.
5. Live your life as aliens.
Keep your life simple down here. Don’t live your life as if you are setting up permanent camp. Don’t be like Lot and his wife where God has to literally drag you away and out of the world.
In a remarkable series of trades, one 17 year old Californian. Steven Ortiz, was able barter a cell phone all the way up to a Porsche. Source: CNN News.
The cell phone was traded for an IPod Touch. The IPod begat a dirt bike. The dirt bike begat a laptop computer. The series of trades eventually led to a Toyota 4runner, a Ford Bronco SUV, and ultimately, the coveted Porsche. It's all very impressive.
I couldn't help but to think of the popular Dale Evans song, "Trading My Sorrows." The lyrics include these words:
"I'm trading my sorrow. I'm trading my shame. I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord"
"I'm trading my sickness. I'm trading my pain. I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord"
What are you willing to trade? Are you willing to trade your life on earth, your luxury, your job, your status, your home, your way of life for something better? Are you willing to trade your sorrow and shame for the joy of the Lord? He has something better for us. But we won’t want it, if we choose to live our life on earth as anything other than what God has purpose for us.
This is especially true with regards to politics. Some are called to enter full time into politics. Like that of a pastor, no one should ever try to do so unless certain of his or her calling.
But the rest of us who are not called to be full time politicians, we have our own mandate from the Lord. In my previous blogs, I have mentioned four of them. Here they are again for review:
1. Remember Why We Exist – Simply: To make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20).
All Christians have the mandate to make disciples of all nations. We start with our own home turf. We start with our families, circle of friends, neighborhoods, places where we work, go to school, community, state, other countries and to the uttermost parts of the world.
What does it mean to make disciples? Lead an unsaved person to Christ and nurture that person until they can do what you just did for him or her. In other words, all disciples and followers of Christ must be able to reproduce themselves in others. Life begets life. Christians will beget other Christians. If this is not occurring, then a Christian is not living up to his or her full potential.
2. It is in God We Trust.
This is more than a slogan for us believers; it is a way of life. Government policies will at times infuriate us, but our trust is not in marches, not in demonstrations, not in numbers, and not in who has the best arguments. We know the truth because He lives within us. But are we willing to follow the truth and rely completely on Him even if the government we are sworn to live under changes for the worse?
3. Our Christian Duty Is To Submit
Jesus said to “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). Jesus and His apostles had many opportunities to rebel against the governing authorities, but they did not. In stead they submitted. Both Jesus and the apostles all died a martyrs’ death except for the apostle John who was exiled on a small island where he later died there. That’s submission. What little rights they had were removed.
Now remember this. If you ever want to know your Christian duty to the government, then here it is:
A. Submit (Romans 13:1)
B. Pay your taxes (Rom. 13:7)
C. Pray for your civil leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-2)
4. Our Commitment Is To Pray
Why are we to pray for our leaders? First, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Tim. 2:2). The idea here is simply this: When you pray for your leaders, you will not become embittered toward them. Instead you will be respectful. You will show compassion. You will be understanding. By praying for your leaders when you see how the wrong policies are being passed and all the lying and corruption that so often occurs, instead of being upset and wanting to rebel or protest, your prayers for your leaders will also have a positive affect on you and cause your heart of soften so you will lead and quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and dignity.
In other words, it is not civil policies that will bring about these positive changes in you, but God through your prayers for your leaders.
Second, pray for their salvation. One of the greatest ways you can honor and support your leaders is to get on your knees often and plead for God to save them. Nothing in this world is more important than having a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Do not get all excited over a victory of a Bill. This is so shallow and short sighted. Get excited over eternal matters – the salvation of someone in public office which leads to the expansion of Christ’s kingdom.
Now we come to the fifth and final principle.
5. Realize Where Your True Citizenship Is – Heaven!
We need to live out our lives with this understanding – we are citizens first and foremost of heaven, not of any country on earth.
Here is how Paul put it: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ – Philip. 3:20 NIV
The earth is our temporary abode. Heaven is where we belong because it is where Jesus is. In fact, what did Jesus say to His disciples just before going to the cross? “In My Father’s House are many mansions. I go and prepare a place for you, so that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2). So there it is. Why would we want to set up camp here on earth as if this will be our home when Jesus has a much better place awaiting us in heaven?
In fact, the fact that Jesus is in heaven waiting for us (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16) is something that ought to always be in our minds when we think about the need to jump in and get overly involved in politics. Our fellow countrymen, the Old Testament saints, where do they now live and wait for us? In heaven (Heb. 12:23).
You want to know where your name is recorded? Guess? In heaven (Luke 10:20; Rev. 13:8). You want to know where the bible tells you to store your treasures? In heaven (Matt. 5:12; 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:4). That is, you do the kind of works, live the kind of life that will earn you great rewards in heaven for you to enjoy. Don’t keep yourself up at night or at every waking hour seeking to earn for yourself a lucrative life here on this dying and temporary place where the bible says that “Satan is the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4).
While in Egypt for four hundred years, Israel was seen to be a people in a foreign land. They were aliens and God had a much better place prepared for them (Acts 7:6). For those who understood this, it made their tough life a lot more bearable because they saw beyond Egypt to the Promise Land.
Before God called us into His wonderful family, we were known as aliens in terms of our heavenly citizenship (Eph. 2:19). All that has changed now if you indeed have trusted Christ as your Lord!
When Peter addressed his readers, he labeled them as “aliens” (1 Pet. 1:1; 2:11). He was writing to Christians who were suffering immensely. Therefore, he reminded them that their suffering was part of their temporary abode. He reminded them to understand why they are treated as strangers. They are strangers in this world! Therefore, do not be surprised if you are treated like one. You are not home yet.
When Moses had exiled himself to Midian after snuffing out the life of an Egyptian, he lived as an alien (Acts 7:29). Why? God did not want him to become so comfortable there that when the time came for him to move on and become the leader of the Israelites and their deliverer out of Egypt, he could pack up and leave quickly and without little effort.
Why do you think it was so hard for Lot and his wife to leave Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:14-16)? When the angels of the Lord told Lot’s sons-in-law to leave, they thought he was joking (v. 14). When they told Lot to leave the next morning, both him and his wife hesitated (v. 16), and so the angels had to grab them both by the hand and literally drag them out of their doomed city.
But Lot’s wife never understood how she was to live her life in such a place. She was committed. She was a home girl. She was fixated with her home, her residency, her way of life. When after she was forcefully removed from Sodom, she still couldn’t resist. She look back one last time to the place she called home and immediately was turned into a pillar of salt (v. 26).
This is no way for any believer to live in this world. We ought not to live life on this side of heaven so that when the rapture occurs, Jesus literally has to drag us away from our present manner of life. Don’t we want to be with Jesus? Don’t we want to experience the mansion in heaven that He has built for us? Don’t we want to fellowship and enjoy the company of those who also are citizens of heaven as well? Don’t we want to escape the pollution and evil of this world when God’s calls and offers a way out? We won’t if we live our lives not as aliens on this planet.
Finally, when God brought Abraham into the Promise Land told him that one day his descendants will inherit it, Abraham still was not satisfied. He lived as an alien and looked for even a better place, whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:9-10).
Now why am I emphasizing all this? Because if you and I understand that heaven is where we belong, then you will understand why Jesus said to us while living on earth, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). Why should we seek another kingdom when we are already part of one – a better one? The kingdom that we are a part of now is not our permanent home. Heaven is, therefore, seek heaven’s will and its righteousness, which is another way of saying, “Seek eternal matters and not go after temporary ones.”
Okay, on this fifth principle, my point is this: The world is and will go to hell in a hand basket. In other words, things will not get better, but worse. America will eventually fall and succumb to liberalism, socialism and godlessness. The church will eventually apostate and go the way of the world – that is the false church, not the true remnant of God.
So what are we to do? Sit back and be passive Christians? No. Instead, we are to:
1. Fulfill the Great Commission Mandate of Matthew 28:19-20 and lead as many people to Christ and nurture them in the Lord.
2. Trust Completely in God. He is in full control of everything in heaven and on earth.
3. Submit to our government – pay your taxes.
4. Pray for your leaders in public office. Pray for their salvation and pray so that you will also have the right kind of heart toward them as a temporary citizen on earth.
5. Live your life as aliens.
Keep your life simple down here. Don’t live your life as if you are setting up permanent camp. Don’t be like Lot and his wife where God has to literally drag you away and out of the world.
In a remarkable series of trades, one 17 year old Californian. Steven Ortiz, was able barter a cell phone all the way up to a Porsche. Source: CNN News.
The cell phone was traded for an IPod Touch. The IPod begat a dirt bike. The dirt bike begat a laptop computer. The series of trades eventually led to a Toyota 4runner, a Ford Bronco SUV, and ultimately, the coveted Porsche. It's all very impressive.
I couldn't help but to think of the popular Dale Evans song, "Trading My Sorrows." The lyrics include these words:
"I'm trading my sorrow. I'm trading my shame. I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord"
"I'm trading my sickness. I'm trading my pain. I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord"
What are you willing to trade? Are you willing to trade your life on earth, your luxury, your job, your status, your home, your way of life for something better? Are you willing to trade your sorrow and shame for the joy of the Lord? He has something better for us. But we won’t want it, if we choose to live our life on earth as anything other than what God has purpose for us.
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