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.
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