I was home last Sunday because I was ill. During my time of prayer, meditation, and study at home I was reading Dr. Robert E. Webber’s Ancient – Future Evangelism: Making Your Church A Faith-Forming Community . As I was reading, I came across a passage that in my opinion summarizes a great deal of our current struggle to get clarity on the purpose and mission of the Church. This is what I read:
“If the mission of God through Jesus Christ is to rescue creation from the presence and power of evil, then what is the mission of the church? If the church is the context for Christian formation, we must then have a biblical view of the purpose of the church. There seems to be some confusion about the purpose of the church in both the mainline and evangelical communities. Let me explain.
Back in 1979 a church leader sent a letter to evangelical leaders declaring, “God is calling us to march into the halls of Congress and clean up America for God.” His concerns were certainly appropriate: the rise of the permissive society, the breakdown of marriage, violence in the streets, pornography, abortion, and drugs to name a few issues that pointed to the breakdown of American society. Rev. Jerry Falwell’s answer was to found the Moral Majority and through this organization mobilize churches throughout America to vote Christians into office. These Christians were to act as responsible moral citizens in places of power. The idea was that through them a reforming and stable influence would be established to stem the eroding values of a godless American culture. The particular arm of the government through which evangelicals were to fulfill their calling to be salt and light to the world was the Republican Party.
In the meantime the mainline church was also mobilizing to assert an influence on another set of political problems. --- poverty, racism, the crumbling of the inner city, gangs, and the meaninglessness found among the jobless, single mothers, and aging dependents. For mainliners these matters of raising humanity to a more humane level were the goal of the church and the arm of the government through which this task was to be accomplished was the Democratic Party.
What’s wrong with this picture then and now? The church was being politicized. That is, this view says the agenda of the church is accomplished by teaming with a political power of the world. This view compromises the purpose of the church. It results in a distortion of the church’s mission to the world. Yet this view persists. Consequently we must ask: What is the purpose and mission of the church? ….
The mission of the church is to be about the politics of Jesus. Jesus is Lord. He has won a victory over the powers of evil and is now and shall be forever be the reigning Lord over everything God has created. The Church is called to live this truth, proclaim it, enact it, and call people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to a life of obedient discipleship under His reign in their lives. “ (pgs 153 & 154)
I believe Dr. Webber has done a very good job in summarizing a significant part of what has been happening in the church over the last thirty years. I was part of that process in which there was an attempt to stand and war against the evil in society through the politics of the Republican Party. Christians struggled to move from an isolated cultural ghetto to become a dominant political voice. All of these movements were impacted by many factors such as views on prophecy, economic back grounds, cultural environments, and existing political beliefs. Christians sincerely want to respond to the problems of our society and influence it for good.
Yet, how do we do this without having the church simply absorbed into the secular purpose and plans of the existing political powers? How do we keep the church from just becoming a pawn in an elaborate game that is being played by other institutions, movements, and powers? How do we maintain the independence and integrity of the church as God’s embassy upon the earth? How do we avoid being taken over by the spirit of the age in which we live? How ought we to live in this post-Christian society?
As I thought about these issues, I remembered an old mentor of mine; Dr Francis Schaeffer. One of the first books I read by Dr. Schaeffer was Death in the City which is a group of meditations on Jeremiah and Lamentations. In that book Dr. Schaeffer said:
“The church in our generation needs reformation, revival, and constructive revolution. At times men think of the two words reformation and revival as standing in contrast one to the other, but this is a mistake. Both words are related to the word restore. Reformation refers to a restoration to pure doctrine; revival refers to a restoration in the Christian’s life. Reformation speaks of a return to the teachings of Scripture; revival speaks of a life brought into its proper relationship to the Holy Spirit. The great moments of church history have come when these two restorations have simultaneously come into action so that the church has returned to pure doctrine and the lives of the Christians in the church have known the power of the Holy Spirit. There cannot be true revival unless there has been reformation; and reformation is not complete without revival. Such a combination of reformation and revival would be revolutionary in our day -- revolutionary in our individual lives as Christians, revolutionary not only in reference to the liberal church but constructively revolutionary in the evangelical, orthodox church as well. May we be those who know the reality of both reformation and revival, so that this poor dark world may have an exhibition of a portion of the church returned to both pure doctrine and Spirit-filled life.” (Francis A. Schaeffer, Death In The City, Ch. 1)
This is actually a great summary of what I have prayed for and worked to see happen at First Church West over the last fourteen years. To goals is to have First Church West be a “portion of the church” which has returned to both pure doctrine and Spirit-filled life?” As a community of believers beginning a new year it would be good for us to refocus our attention upon revival and reformation.
So what do you think about these issues? What is the purpose and mission of the church from your perspective? How can we seek revival and reformation? May the Lord help us experience these realities and transform us more and more into what He desires us to become both as a local church and as individuals.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas!
I remember presents under the tree, long tables of food, and getting into trouble with my cousins. Most of the time my family lived in tension, fighting, shouting, hurting, and hitting. But at Christmas we knew how to lay aside all of our dysfunction and celebrate the birth of Jesus the Messiah.
Christmas was the safest time of the year. Somehow all of the insanity that normally ruled our lives would be forgotten and we would pretend that all was well. I loved to see Christmas come and hated to see it go.
Many people this year are struggling with having a big Christmas. Fear of the economy, concern about new taxes, and being unemployed have demanded we buy less. Credit card companies increasing interest rates and lowering line of credits have ended the normal way many people financed Christmas. Christmas this year instead of feeling safe can for many people be forcing them into facing the hard economic times that they will have to live with in 2010.
But Christmas is more than presents. It is suppose to be a time of remembering an eternal love that came to us in a baby boy. It is a reminder that even during economic crisis, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is found in Messiah Jesus. It is to remind us that we are always safe in God's love and in God's plan for our lives. We may suffer but all suffering has purpose.
So this Christmas take time to open your heart to feeling the embrace of God that is found in the Messiah Jesus who became fully human that He might die for our sins and take us to the kingdom of heaven forever. Messiah Jesus came that we might know God and be free of our sin. That really is the best news we will ever hear for all eternity.
I remember presents under the tree, long tables of food, and getting into trouble with my cousins. Most of the time my family lived in tension, fighting, shouting, hurting, and hitting. But at Christmas we knew how to lay aside all of our dysfunction and celebrate the birth of Jesus the Messiah.
Christmas was the safest time of the year. Somehow all of the insanity that normally ruled our lives would be forgotten and we would pretend that all was well. I loved to see Christmas come and hated to see it go.
Many people this year are struggling with having a big Christmas. Fear of the economy, concern about new taxes, and being unemployed have demanded we buy less. Credit card companies increasing interest rates and lowering line of credits have ended the normal way many people financed Christmas. Christmas this year instead of feeling safe can for many people be forcing them into facing the hard economic times that they will have to live with in 2010.
But Christmas is more than presents. It is suppose to be a time of remembering an eternal love that came to us in a baby boy. It is a reminder that even during economic crisis, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is found in Messiah Jesus. It is to remind us that we are always safe in God's love and in God's plan for our lives. We may suffer but all suffering has purpose.
So this Christmas take time to open your heart to feeling the embrace of God that is found in the Messiah Jesus who became fully human that He might die for our sins and take us to the kingdom of heaven forever. Messiah Jesus came that we might know God and be free of our sin. That really is the best news we will ever hear for all eternity.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas in Revelation
Christmas in Revelation - Revelation 12:1-17
I. Signs in heaven: Vs.1: And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Vs. 2: She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. Vs. 3: And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
II. The Dragon and the Woman at Work: Vs. 4: His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. Vs. 5: She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, Vs. 6: and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
III. The Cosmic War: Vs. 7: Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, Vs. 8: but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Vs. 9: And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
IV. Victorious proclamation: Vs. 10: And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Vs. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Vs. 12: Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
V. Deliverance of the Woman: Vs. 13: And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. Vs. 14: But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Vs. 15: The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. Vs. 16: But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.
VI. Persecution of the Woman’s offspring: Vs. 17: Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
This vision begins in heaven. There is a naked pregnant woman, in the crisis of child birth, clothed by the sun and crowned with twelve stars and with the moon at her feet. Into this heavenly delivery room comes a red dragon with seven heads crowned with jewels and having ten horns. Red in scriptures is related to sin, war, and destruction (Isa 63:2; Zec 1:8; Rev 6:4). The purpose of the dragon is to devour the male child when He is born. In a sweeping motion of his tail the dragon empties the heavens of one-third of their stars and they fall to the earth. This is to show the greatness of the dragon.
Who is the woman? M. Eugene Boring says: "The woman is not Mary, or Israel, nor the church but less and more than all of these. John's imagery pulls together elements from the pagan myth of the queen of heaven; from the Genesis story of Eve, mother of all living, whose 'seed' shall bruise the head of the primeval serpent (Gen 3:1-16); from Israel who escapes from the dragon/Pharaoh into the wilderness on wings of an eagle (Exod. 19:4, cf. Ps 74:12-15); and Zion, 'mother' of the People of God through the ages, Israel and the church" (Commentary on Revelation; p. 152).
God inspires John to combine images from both the Old Testament and pagan myths to portray a universal Savior who will deliver the world from the devil’s power. God was working in History to bring about His Messianic Kingdom by the birth of this chosen male child. The promises of God would all find their “YES” in Jesus of Nazareth.
The dragon is identified as the devil, Satan, and the deceiver of the nations. These names mean that he is prone to slander, blaspheme and the one who opposes God, and strives to lead the nations of the earth astray. He is the revolutionary leader against the kingdom of God.
The male child that is born is the promised and prophesied Davidic Messianic heir who will bring God’s kingdom to the earth and rule with a “rod of iron” over all the nations (Psalm 2). This promised “seed of the woman” was predicted to come and crush the dragon’s head even as He is wounded in the conflict (Gen 3:15). This child is the chosen one of God who has been destined to take the curse from God’s creation which came with the first Adam joining the dragon in his rebellion against God.
The devil attempted to “devour” Messiah Jesus by having Herod kill the babies in Bethlehem at his birth, tempt Him in the wilderness, resisting Him by possessing multitudes in Israel during His first advent, and finally by inspiring the people to crucify Him. However, God used this blood sacrifice to actually defeat the devil and create a group of faithful witnessing martyrs to God’s kingdom. The death of Jesus the Messiah and His resurrection were the greatest defeat of the devil (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14). With the ascension of Messiah Jesus, the sins of God’s people had been paid for and the legal justification for the establishment of the kingdom of God had been laid.
The result of this victory Messiah is exalted from earth to heaven and the heavenly dragon is banned from heaven and quarantined to the earth. Michael, one of the chief angelic princes who is connected to the nation of Israel, led the heavenly charge in banning Satan from heaven and ending his accusations against God’s people armed with the blood of the lamb and the faith of the apostolic Church (Dan 10:13; 10:21; 12:1; Jud 1:9). The heavenly woman has also become incarnated upon the earth and represents some faithful remnant which suffers persecution by Satan who brings the war of the heavens to the earth. This action is one of desperation because the devil knows that the final day of reckoning is now approaching.
The two message of Revelation are clearly seen here. First, God is victorious in the Messiah Jesus and salvation has come through Him. Second, the disciples of Messiah Jesus will suffer persecution, but will ultimately be saved. The purpose of the book seems to be for “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Act 14:22
This Christmas let us remember that Jesus the Messiah coming was a vital part God’s work of redemption and bringing His kingdom to the earth. Christmas has guaranteed Easter. God has made His move and checkmated the dragon through the birth of His Son. May this faith give us joy this
Christmas.
I. Signs in heaven: Vs.1: And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Vs. 2: She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. Vs. 3: And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
II. The Dragon and the Woman at Work: Vs. 4: His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. Vs. 5: She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, Vs. 6: and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
III. The Cosmic War: Vs. 7: Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, Vs. 8: but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Vs. 9: And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
IV. Victorious proclamation: Vs. 10: And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Vs. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Vs. 12: Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"
V. Deliverance of the Woman: Vs. 13: And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. Vs. 14: But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Vs. 15: The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. Vs. 16: But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.
VI. Persecution of the Woman’s offspring: Vs. 17: Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
This vision begins in heaven. There is a naked pregnant woman, in the crisis of child birth, clothed by the sun and crowned with twelve stars and with the moon at her feet. Into this heavenly delivery room comes a red dragon with seven heads crowned with jewels and having ten horns. Red in scriptures is related to sin, war, and destruction (Isa 63:2; Zec 1:8; Rev 6:4). The purpose of the dragon is to devour the male child when He is born. In a sweeping motion of his tail the dragon empties the heavens of one-third of their stars and they fall to the earth. This is to show the greatness of the dragon.
Who is the woman? M. Eugene Boring says: "The woman is not Mary, or Israel, nor the church but less and more than all of these. John's imagery pulls together elements from the pagan myth of the queen of heaven; from the Genesis story of Eve, mother of all living, whose 'seed' shall bruise the head of the primeval serpent (Gen 3:1-16); from Israel who escapes from the dragon/Pharaoh into the wilderness on wings of an eagle (Exod. 19:4, cf. Ps 74:12-15); and Zion, 'mother' of the People of God through the ages, Israel and the church" (Commentary on Revelation; p. 152).
God inspires John to combine images from both the Old Testament and pagan myths to portray a universal Savior who will deliver the world from the devil’s power. God was working in History to bring about His Messianic Kingdom by the birth of this chosen male child. The promises of God would all find their “YES” in Jesus of Nazareth.
The dragon is identified as the devil, Satan, and the deceiver of the nations. These names mean that he is prone to slander, blaspheme and the one who opposes God, and strives to lead the nations of the earth astray. He is the revolutionary leader against the kingdom of God.
The male child that is born is the promised and prophesied Davidic Messianic heir who will bring God’s kingdom to the earth and rule with a “rod of iron” over all the nations (Psalm 2). This promised “seed of the woman” was predicted to come and crush the dragon’s head even as He is wounded in the conflict (Gen 3:15). This child is the chosen one of God who has been destined to take the curse from God’s creation which came with the first Adam joining the dragon in his rebellion against God.
The devil attempted to “devour” Messiah Jesus by having Herod kill the babies in Bethlehem at his birth, tempt Him in the wilderness, resisting Him by possessing multitudes in Israel during His first advent, and finally by inspiring the people to crucify Him. However, God used this blood sacrifice to actually defeat the devil and create a group of faithful witnessing martyrs to God’s kingdom. The death of Jesus the Messiah and His resurrection were the greatest defeat of the devil (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14). With the ascension of Messiah Jesus, the sins of God’s people had been paid for and the legal justification for the establishment of the kingdom of God had been laid.
The result of this victory Messiah is exalted from earth to heaven and the heavenly dragon is banned from heaven and quarantined to the earth. Michael, one of the chief angelic princes who is connected to the nation of Israel, led the heavenly charge in banning Satan from heaven and ending his accusations against God’s people armed with the blood of the lamb and the faith of the apostolic Church (Dan 10:13; 10:21; 12:1; Jud 1:9). The heavenly woman has also become incarnated upon the earth and represents some faithful remnant which suffers persecution by Satan who brings the war of the heavens to the earth. This action is one of desperation because the devil knows that the final day of reckoning is now approaching.
The two message of Revelation are clearly seen here. First, God is victorious in the Messiah Jesus and salvation has come through Him. Second, the disciples of Messiah Jesus will suffer persecution, but will ultimately be saved. The purpose of the book seems to be for “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Act 14:22
This Christmas let us remember that Jesus the Messiah coming was a vital part God’s work of redemption and bringing His kingdom to the earth. Christmas has guaranteed Easter. God has made His move and checkmated the dragon through the birth of His Son. May this faith give us joy this
Christmas.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Dealing with Holidays
It is hard at times to not feel bad during the holidays.
This year I had a friend die a week before Christmas. He had been sick for a long time. But I had gotten use to the idea that he was sick and that he was still there. I did not visit or write him as often as I should have. I felt bad as I said goodbye to him this week. I should have been a better friend. His death made me recognize my failure to express my love for him.
I know that my friend's family will have a sad Christmas. There will be an empty chair at the table. That is always hard.
Yet, my friend had given us a wonderful Christmas gift. It was the gift of a life of faith. He left a legacy which spoke of his faith in Jesus the Messiah as his Savior and Lord. He left a testimony of love for people and for sharing the gospel. There is no doubt my friend is fully filled with Jesus' joy. By the grace of God his sins are forgiven and he has total peace. The gospel brings joy even into sad times.
The complexity of life makes it hard at times to enter into a time of celebration. The holidays sometimes make us face what we have loss. Some of the emptiness of life is pushed before us.
Yet, if we allow ourselves to hear it; there is also the wonderful story of Christmas. The story of God's unending love. The reality of God's embrace in the person of Messiah Jesus. The hope of forgiveness and eternal life in the joy of God. The hope of the gospel.
This Christmas I am feeling many different things. But the comfort of my heart comes from the good news that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son....
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Eternal Ruler Of God's People
Mic 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Mic 5:3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.
Mic 5:4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
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Literal - Beth-lehem Ephratah — (Gen_48:7), or, Beth-lehem Judah; so called to distinguish it from Beth-lehem in Zebulun. It is a few miles southwest of Jerusalem. Beth-lehem means “the house of bread”; Ephratah means “fruitful”: both names referring to the fertility of the region. It was from this insignificant town that the most significant of all the Kings of Israel was born. Here was the town of David. God delights to take what appears to be insignificant and exalt it to greatness. This demonstrates that it is God's power and not anything found in the creation that has the power to save.
This town was so small that in Jos_15:21, it is not enumerated among the cities of Judah; nor in the list in Neh_11:25. Yet from this town of less than a thousand people the great king David was born and the Messiah would come. From this town the ruler or "Shiloh" will come (Genesis 49:10). This great son of David who will born who will become the ultimate ruler of Israel who will bring in ultimate peace.
This ruler who will come out of Bethlehem is described as coming forth from of old and from ancient of days. As Jamieson, Fausset and Brown explain in their commentary:
"goings forth ... from everlasting — The plain antithesis of this clause, to “come forth out of thee” (from Beth-lehem), shows that the eternal generation of the Son is meant. The terms convey the strongest assertion of infinite duration of which the Hebrew language is capable (compare Psa_90:2; Pro_8:22, Pro_8:23; Joh_1:1). Messiah’s generation as man coming forth unto God to do His will on earth is from Beth-lehem; but as Son of God, His goings forth are from everlasting. "
The women in labor is most likely Israel as a people and not only Mary. It is a picture of the nation that is pregnant with God's promise and is in labor to give birth to the Messiah (see Revelation 12). Once this Messiah has been born then their will be a gathering of all the people and they will be regathered into one nation. He will bring the perfect Kingdom of God to the people of God and give to them complete security and peace. One day all Israel will be saved.
This passage like many of the prophecies of Messiah can seem to be saying that his appearing will be sudden and that the Kingdom will be coming in the immediate context. If one reads this passage in the context it seems like the Messiah will come to deliver the people of God from the Assyrians. This did not happen. In fact it is clear from the context of Micah that this is not going to happen for the judgement from Assyria is set.
Some future retribution upon the enemies of God will come with Messiah comes and then they will be safe from all their enemies. Assyria will fall. Its houses, chariots, and idols will perish. Under the preaching of the gospel over the first 400 years of the Christian Church the soceries, carved images, and pillars to idols will all perish. Jesus the Messiah by the preaching of the Word defeated the spiritual forces that fueled the spirit of pagan Assyria.
Because God revealed to the prophets only in a mirror darkly their reflection of what is happening has in a degree of mystery as well as revelation. The long wait between the first and second advent was not clearly seen in the Hebrew Bible. The exact means by which the Messiah would rule was not clearly seen.
As we remember God's keeping of his promise this Christmas by sending Jesus to be the ruler whose coming forth is from old, form ancient of days, let us remember that the Lord of heaven and earth will keep all of the promises that have been given. The end of the story is when the Messiah Jesus will bring to His people security and peace. Messiah Jesus rule over all the earth will be seen and acknowledged. All nations will be discipled and the Kingdom will be seen in all its glory. This should be our joy at Christmas time.
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Christological - Mat 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
Mat 2:4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
Mat 2:5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
Mat 2:6 "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"
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Moral: We must not doubt God's promises even in the darkest of times.
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Eternal: We are going to experience the perfect kingdom of God manifested in a new heaven and a new earth!
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Prayer: Lord, let me submit my heart to your rule. Rule over me Messiah this day!
________________________
Contemplation: Lord, help me see more clearly your promises and trust in your triumph over all evil.
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Action: What could I do to live more consistently under the rulership of Messiah Jesus today?
Mic 5:3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.
Mic 5:4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Literal - Beth-lehem Ephratah — (Gen_48:7), or, Beth-lehem Judah; so called to distinguish it from Beth-lehem in Zebulun. It is a few miles southwest of Jerusalem. Beth-lehem means “the house of bread”; Ephratah means “fruitful”: both names referring to the fertility of the region. It was from this insignificant town that the most significant of all the Kings of Israel was born. Here was the town of David. God delights to take what appears to be insignificant and exalt it to greatness. This demonstrates that it is God's power and not anything found in the creation that has the power to save.
This town was so small that in Jos_15:21, it is not enumerated among the cities of Judah; nor in the list in Neh_11:25. Yet from this town of less than a thousand people the great king David was born and the Messiah would come. From this town the ruler or "Shiloh" will come (Genesis 49:10). This great son of David who will born who will become the ultimate ruler of Israel who will bring in ultimate peace.
This ruler who will come out of Bethlehem is described as coming forth from of old and from ancient of days. As Jamieson, Fausset and Brown explain in their commentary:
"goings forth ... from everlasting — The plain antithesis of this clause, to “come forth out of thee” (from Beth-lehem), shows that the eternal generation of the Son is meant. The terms convey the strongest assertion of infinite duration of which the Hebrew language is capable (compare Psa_90:2; Pro_8:22, Pro_8:23; Joh_1:1). Messiah’s generation as man coming forth unto God to do His will on earth is from Beth-lehem; but as Son of God, His goings forth are from everlasting. "
The women in labor is most likely Israel as a people and not only Mary. It is a picture of the nation that is pregnant with God's promise and is in labor to give birth to the Messiah (see Revelation 12). Once this Messiah has been born then their will be a gathering of all the people and they will be regathered into one nation. He will bring the perfect Kingdom of God to the people of God and give to them complete security and peace. One day all Israel will be saved.
This passage like many of the prophecies of Messiah can seem to be saying that his appearing will be sudden and that the Kingdom will be coming in the immediate context. If one reads this passage in the context it seems like the Messiah will come to deliver the people of God from the Assyrians. This did not happen. In fact it is clear from the context of Micah that this is not going to happen for the judgement from Assyria is set.
Some future retribution upon the enemies of God will come with Messiah comes and then they will be safe from all their enemies. Assyria will fall. Its houses, chariots, and idols will perish. Under the preaching of the gospel over the first 400 years of the Christian Church the soceries, carved images, and pillars to idols will all perish. Jesus the Messiah by the preaching of the Word defeated the spiritual forces that fueled the spirit of pagan Assyria.
Because God revealed to the prophets only in a mirror darkly their reflection of what is happening has in a degree of mystery as well as revelation. The long wait between the first and second advent was not clearly seen in the Hebrew Bible. The exact means by which the Messiah would rule was not clearly seen.
As we remember God's keeping of his promise this Christmas by sending Jesus to be the ruler whose coming forth is from old, form ancient of days, let us remember that the Lord of heaven and earth will keep all of the promises that have been given. The end of the story is when the Messiah Jesus will bring to His people security and peace. Messiah Jesus rule over all the earth will be seen and acknowledged. All nations will be discipled and the Kingdom will be seen in all its glory. This should be our joy at Christmas time.
------------------
Christological - Mat 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
Mat 2:4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
Mat 2:5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
Mat 2:6 "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"
---------------------------------------------
Moral: We must not doubt God's promises even in the darkest of times.
--------------------------------------------
Eternal: We are going to experience the perfect kingdom of God manifested in a new heaven and a new earth!
------------------------------------------
Prayer: Lord, let me submit my heart to your rule. Rule over me Messiah this day!
________________________
Contemplation: Lord, help me see more clearly your promises and trust in your triumph over all evil.
---------------------------------------
Action: What could I do to live more consistently under the rulership of Messiah Jesus today?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Drinking of God's Joy
Isa 12:1 You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.
Isa 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."
Isa 12:3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Isa 12:4 And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.
Isa 12:5 "Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.
Isa 12:6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
---------------------------------------------------------
Literal - This chapter is designed for worship. The first two verses have one person, most likely Isaiah, proclaiming to a congregation his personal faith in Yahweh, LORD, of heaven and earth, and his trust that the LORD has had mercy on him and now has turned to be the prophet's power, harmony, and deliverer. God instead of standing as just judge is come to be the one who will embrace and comfort in the middle of difficult times. Even as the Assyrians have devastated the Northern Kingdom and its ten tribes so now there is little in the news that is good. God has judged Israel. Will not Judah me next? What hope could we have? It is the LORD who saves!
Verse 3 is a call by the prophet to the congregation to drink of the joy of the good news of the LORD's amazing grace. The call of God is to drink in joy from the deep wells of God's rich salvation. Imagine, God calls us during worship to drink deeply of His salvation and to experience the joy, happiness, and thrill of being delivered from our sins.
In response to this call the people are told to respond. They are to sing together a song of thanksgiving, to seek the Lord in prayer, and to give witness to the great actions of the LORD so that His reputation will be known by all nations. The people's praise is to be loud, shouting, victorious, and filled with true admiration towards Yahweh. The only thing we have like it would be when a crowd of footballs fans see a 70 yard pass that brings victory to their beloved team. The fans stand spontaneously and wildly screaming praise for the quarterback. So the people of God are to see the just anger of God pass over them and be filled with wild praise for their graceful salvation.
Rarely, do we get in touch with such wild passion in our worship. Rarely do the salvation events of Christ dying for our sins impact us emotionally at this level. Perhaps if it was reported that lightening stuck Osama bin Laden dead and we saw it on national television then we would feel a moment of praise for God like what is outlined here. We need to ask the LORD to help us to see that He has come to save us in Messiah Jesus in wild ways beyond our wildest dreams. We need to seek to become a people of deep praise in light of God's grace that has come to us in Messiah Jesus!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Christological: Luke 2:8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
-------------------------------------------------------------
Moral: We should drink deeply of the message of God's salvation so that we will be filled with holy joy
---------------------
Eternal: The final manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven will be where we for all eternity are filled from head to toe with passionate worship that spontaneously springs from our hearts. \
------------------------------------------
Prayer: Give me a thirst to drink from your well of salvation. Fill me with your joy!
-----------------------------------
Contemplation: Open my eyes that I might see the greatness of your salvation
----------------------
Action: Go to the front of the church this week and decide to give the Lord the loudest praise you can. Ask the Lord to make the passion of your heart match the loudest of your voice.
Isa 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."
Isa 12:3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Isa 12:4 And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.
Isa 12:5 "Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.
Isa 12:6 Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
---------------------------------------------------------
Literal - This chapter is designed for worship. The first two verses have one person, most likely Isaiah, proclaiming to a congregation his personal faith in Yahweh, LORD, of heaven and earth, and his trust that the LORD has had mercy on him and now has turned to be the prophet's power, harmony, and deliverer. God instead of standing as just judge is come to be the one who will embrace and comfort in the middle of difficult times. Even as the Assyrians have devastated the Northern Kingdom and its ten tribes so now there is little in the news that is good. God has judged Israel. Will not Judah me next? What hope could we have? It is the LORD who saves!
Verse 3 is a call by the prophet to the congregation to drink of the joy of the good news of the LORD's amazing grace. The call of God is to drink in joy from the deep wells of God's rich salvation. Imagine, God calls us during worship to drink deeply of His salvation and to experience the joy, happiness, and thrill of being delivered from our sins.
In response to this call the people are told to respond. They are to sing together a song of thanksgiving, to seek the Lord in prayer, and to give witness to the great actions of the LORD so that His reputation will be known by all nations. The people's praise is to be loud, shouting, victorious, and filled with true admiration towards Yahweh. The only thing we have like it would be when a crowd of footballs fans see a 70 yard pass that brings victory to their beloved team. The fans stand spontaneously and wildly screaming praise for the quarterback. So the people of God are to see the just anger of God pass over them and be filled with wild praise for their graceful salvation.
Rarely, do we get in touch with such wild passion in our worship. Rarely do the salvation events of Christ dying for our sins impact us emotionally at this level. Perhaps if it was reported that lightening stuck Osama bin Laden dead and we saw it on national television then we would feel a moment of praise for God like what is outlined here. We need to ask the LORD to help us to see that He has come to save us in Messiah Jesus in wild ways beyond our wildest dreams. We need to seek to become a people of deep praise in light of God's grace that has come to us in Messiah Jesus!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Christological: Luke 2:8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
-------------------------------------------------------------
Moral: We should drink deeply of the message of God's salvation so that we will be filled with holy joy
---------------------
Eternal: The final manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven will be where we for all eternity are filled from head to toe with passionate worship that spontaneously springs from our hearts. \
------------------------------------------
Prayer: Give me a thirst to drink from your well of salvation. Fill me with your joy!
-----------------------------------
Contemplation: Open my eyes that I might see the greatness of your salvation
----------------------
Action: Go to the front of the church this week and decide to give the Lord the loudest praise you can. Ask the Lord to make the passion of your heart match the loudest of your voice.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Trusting During Trouble
Isa 30:18 -19 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.
The people had not been willing to rely on God. Israel had come to rely on themselves, on Egypt, and on idols. It appears at times we trust in anything and anyone except for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Due to this the LORD had delayed giving them grace. The planned redemption of Israel was delayed. Their sin and rebellion will only demonstrate more clearly how wildly merciful God is in forgiving His people. Some believe that the Hebrew here should be interpreted to means that God is silent in order to show greater mercy upon them in the end.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a just God who keeps His promises. Therefore, those who trust in those promises even when all the circumstances speak against those promises being fulfilled have received grace from God to endure in faith in the midst of the most difficult times. One of the signs that we are true believers is that we rely on God’s promises even when all seems lost. This does not mean we may not struggle with moments of doubts and have questions. It does mean that in the end we are committed to reliance upon God’s goodness and mercy. It is the character of God and His competence in accomplishing what He in intends that gives us hope.
For a holy people will dwell in Zion. The additional adjective “holy” is supplied by the Septuagint version of the Old Testament and seems to fit well into this context. This seems to be a picture of the final redemption of God’s people. No more tears of sorrow. The people of God will know the full experience of God’s great grace and mercy.
On the one had we are to patiently wait. On the other we are to know that the LORD hears the cry for help the moment it is spoken. He has decided to act from the moment He hears it. From our perspective it seems like it takes a long time for God to keep His redemptive promises, but from His perspective He is not slow in keeping His promises but only allowing more time for more grace to be displayed. As we wait we are to know that He has heard us.
There are times in our lives when it seems that God is waiting to demonstrate grace to us. We can be seeking some new experience in prayer only to feel like our prayers hit the ceiling. Our desire can be to grow in faith and to do this we read the Bible only to have our reading create more questions than answers for our faith. We desire to develop Christian friends only to be hurt and rejected by them. We have been seeking God’s help to minister to people but can feel like there is no divine wind at our back. God seems to be waiting and at times the LORD seems silent to our cries for help and direction.
What are we do to when this happens? This passage would urge us to wait upon the Lord, depending upon his commitment to help and save us. It would remind us that God is fully committed to His plan of redemption and that He does hear the cries of His people. We must not despair. We must not give up faith in prayer. We must remain trusting in His amazing grace knowing that Christ/Messiah has died for our sins and been raised again. All the promises of God are “YES” in Messiah Jesus. He is the incarnation of God’s mercy and grace.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Manna From Heaven
Exo 16:17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less.
Exo 16:18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.
2Co 8:13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness
2Co 8:14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
2Co 8:15 As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The people of Israel had complained and the Lord had heard their complaint. He had provided for them bread from heaven. In response to "Give us this day our daily bread" the Lord provided manna. But to get this bread it had to be gathered. So the people of Israel went out as a community to gather the bread of heaven. Some were able to gather more and some were able to gather less. Yet all gathered since without the bread they would die. They were in a wilderness that had no means to support them. They were totally dependent upon God providing manna. They had to gather or they would die.
But the manna as it was gathered was brought into a central place. There at that central place, what was gathered was measured into a "OMER” which was about 7 1/2 pints. Each family was given about two quarts for every person their family so that none would go hungry.
The process here was clear. God provided the manna, all worked to get the manna, and everyone received from the community effort the food they needed. No one went hungry regardless of how little manna they were able to bring in that day. Some gathered more and some gathered less, but all benefited the same.
Now these were unique circumstances. Without the manna, people would die. God would not allow the manna to be stored so there was no way to get a surplus of manna. God literally supplied day by day and only on the day before the Sabbath did God allow more to be gathered and stored. There was no other source of economy or food. Survival depended on God providing and on the manna being gathered. God had also dictated the means of distribution. None would go hungry and none would be a glutton. Every aspect of their economy was being dictated for the common good and reflected total dependence upon the LORD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
People were motivated out of fear of starvation to work to bring in the manna. Most of us have never had supper and then not one morsel of food in the house for the next day. That creates a unique sense of need in a person.
The people of Israel did not do well under these restrictions. There was an attempt to create a manna savings account but God made the food stink and become infested with worms. There was an attempt to work seven days a week to increase security and productivity but God refused to provide the manna on the Sabbath. The people eventually had to accept God's economy and provision. They had to rest in the process that God had set up for them by which He would provide for their needs.
Paul uses this passage to reinforce his urging the Corinth Church to provide for the Jerusalem Church during a famine. The Christians in Corinth lived in physical abundance and the Christians in Jerusalem were suffering from a famine. The Corinthians had pledged support to help them and now they had to gather to a central place what they were giving so that the Christians in Jerusalem would be fed.
From Paul's perspective the Church is the new people of God. We are now spiritual Israel. Everything that every Christian has is God's manna from heaven. Today the Corinthian Church has been able to gather more and the Jerusalem Church less, but to be "fair", the Corinthians need to make sure that none of the Jerusalem Christians go hungry. Perhaps next year they will have a famine and then the Jerusalem Church will have to meet their needs. Or perhaps the Jerusalem Church being more mature spiritually may send teachers to share the spiritual bread of the Word of God while the Corinthian Church provides the physical bread that is needed to survive. The idea was that God wants His people to divide what He provides to make sure that none goes hungry. That is how Paul applied this passage in the New Testament.
A modern day example of a person with this type of perspective is found in the book God Owns My Business by Stanley Tam. Dr. R. Stanley Tam, founder of United States Plastic Corp. Dr. Tam and his wife decided that they would be content to live on $50,000 a year regardless of how successful his business became. Regardless of how much money the company earned they took only what was needed to live a modest middle class life and the rest they gave to charity. Dr. Tam actually made God the owner of his business legally. Stanley and Juanita have been able due to this decision to give $100 of millions for the work of the Lord. As Stanley likes to put it: "I like to think of having been a student in the University of Experience....with a minor in business and a major in soul winning.
It is not God's desire for any Christians to go hungry. God has provided enough to make sure all the needs of His children will be met. However, God has also made it that some will gather more and some less. God's desire is to make sure that everyone's family is feed.
Now our circumstances are much more complex. We have credit cards and mortgage loans. We need to remember that the scripture also says that if any refuse to work they should not eat. Laziness is not to be rewarded. The fear of starvation is a powerful motivator to work. All of these factors need to be put into the equation.
Yet, at the end of the day we need to seek God's wisdom about how we might use that which He has given us to help those who have less. It was only because Jesus the Messiah was willing to give up the richness of heaven and become poor for us that we now share in His kingdom. So for us who have received everything we have by grace how can we not be moved to be merciful in how we use our physical wealth. Let us remember that all we have is God's manna. Let us remember ultimately that Jesus the Messiah is God’s manna to us (John 6). Let the gospel guide our giving.
Exo 16:18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.
2Co 8:13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness
2Co 8:14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
2Co 8:15 As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The people of Israel had complained and the Lord had heard their complaint. He had provided for them bread from heaven. In response to "Give us this day our daily bread" the Lord provided manna. But to get this bread it had to be gathered. So the people of Israel went out as a community to gather the bread of heaven. Some were able to gather more and some were able to gather less. Yet all gathered since without the bread they would die. They were in a wilderness that had no means to support them. They were totally dependent upon God providing manna. They had to gather or they would die.
But the manna as it was gathered was brought into a central place. There at that central place, what was gathered was measured into a "OMER” which was about 7 1/2 pints. Each family was given about two quarts for every person their family so that none would go hungry.
The process here was clear. God provided the manna, all worked to get the manna, and everyone received from the community effort the food they needed. No one went hungry regardless of how little manna they were able to bring in that day. Some gathered more and some gathered less, but all benefited the same.
Now these were unique circumstances. Without the manna, people would die. God would not allow the manna to be stored so there was no way to get a surplus of manna. God literally supplied day by day and only on the day before the Sabbath did God allow more to be gathered and stored. There was no other source of economy or food. Survival depended on God providing and on the manna being gathered. God had also dictated the means of distribution. None would go hungry and none would be a glutton. Every aspect of their economy was being dictated for the common good and reflected total dependence upon the LORD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
People were motivated out of fear of starvation to work to bring in the manna. Most of us have never had supper and then not one morsel of food in the house for the next day. That creates a unique sense of need in a person.
The people of Israel did not do well under these restrictions. There was an attempt to create a manna savings account but God made the food stink and become infested with worms. There was an attempt to work seven days a week to increase security and productivity but God refused to provide the manna on the Sabbath. The people eventually had to accept God's economy and provision. They had to rest in the process that God had set up for them by which He would provide for their needs.
Paul uses this passage to reinforce his urging the Corinth Church to provide for the Jerusalem Church during a famine. The Christians in Corinth lived in physical abundance and the Christians in Jerusalem were suffering from a famine. The Corinthians had pledged support to help them and now they had to gather to a central place what they were giving so that the Christians in Jerusalem would be fed.
From Paul's perspective the Church is the new people of God. We are now spiritual Israel. Everything that every Christian has is God's manna from heaven. Today the Corinthian Church has been able to gather more and the Jerusalem Church less, but to be "fair", the Corinthians need to make sure that none of the Jerusalem Christians go hungry. Perhaps next year they will have a famine and then the Jerusalem Church will have to meet their needs. Or perhaps the Jerusalem Church being more mature spiritually may send teachers to share the spiritual bread of the Word of God while the Corinthian Church provides the physical bread that is needed to survive. The idea was that God wants His people to divide what He provides to make sure that none goes hungry. That is how Paul applied this passage in the New Testament.
A modern day example of a person with this type of perspective is found in the book God Owns My Business by Stanley Tam. Dr. R. Stanley Tam, founder of United States Plastic Corp. Dr. Tam and his wife decided that they would be content to live on $50,000 a year regardless of how successful his business became. Regardless of how much money the company earned they took only what was needed to live a modest middle class life and the rest they gave to charity. Dr. Tam actually made God the owner of his business legally. Stanley and Juanita have been able due to this decision to give $100 of millions for the work of the Lord. As Stanley likes to put it: "I like to think of having been a student in the University of Experience....with a minor in business and a major in soul winning.
It is not God's desire for any Christians to go hungry. God has provided enough to make sure all the needs of His children will be met. However, God has also made it that some will gather more and some less. God's desire is to make sure that everyone's family is feed.
Now our circumstances are much more complex. We have credit cards and mortgage loans. We need to remember that the scripture also says that if any refuse to work they should not eat. Laziness is not to be rewarded. The fear of starvation is a powerful motivator to work. All of these factors need to be put into the equation.
Yet, at the end of the day we need to seek God's wisdom about how we might use that which He has given us to help those who have less. It was only because Jesus the Messiah was willing to give up the richness of heaven and become poor for us that we now share in His kingdom. So for us who have received everything we have by grace how can we not be moved to be merciful in how we use our physical wealth. Let us remember that all we have is God's manna. Let us remember ultimately that Jesus the Messiah is God’s manna to us (John 6). Let the gospel guide our giving.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
What hinders faith?
As I wake up this morning in New York City visiting my son and his wife, I find my dreams have raised up a question in my soul.
What hinders faith?
or
What motivates faith?
I was reading in Exodus 6:1-9 about the testing of faith that came when Moses began his ministry. All that the Word of God created was persecution and oppression. There was no deliverance or salvation. Life only became harder instead of better because of God's prophet and presence. In response God speaks to Moses and by means of Moses the promises of His love and purpose. He assures them that they will be saved and delivered from their slavery in Egypt.
They did not listen to the good news that day. Why? I was struck by the text. They did not listen because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. They were absorbed by their misery and the were literally "out of breath" or "out of spirit". We all know what it is like to run until we are "out of breath" and then we stop. We simply cannot take another step in that condition. We cannot be motivated to run when we are "out of breath."
What had caused this "shortness of spirit"? They had just had their hopes of being delivered by Moses crushed and this feeling of disappointment was not moved by the Word of God. They also lived day in and day out in a very hard circumstances. They were slaves. That reality made it hard for them to be motivated to believe in the Word of God that spoke of freedom. They also feared the king. To believe in what God was saying would anger the king of Egypt and bring on them more woe. To believe put them at practical risk. I think we can all understand why it was hard for them to listen that day.
How about today for you and me? When the Holy Spirit comes to us and sings to us about the love of God in Christ Jesus today what causes us to not respond in faith. Are we suffering from "shortness of spirit" ? Do our circumstances enslave us? Are we afraid of what faith might cost us?
What hinders our faith?
and
What motivates us to believe?
I think it is important we ask these questions. I think it is important we start finding answers to these questions. What do you think? What are your answers to these questions?
Please leave a comment, I would love to know your ideas and feelings on these questions.
What hinders faith?
or
What motivates faith?
I was reading in Exodus 6:1-9 about the testing of faith that came when Moses began his ministry. All that the Word of God created was persecution and oppression. There was no deliverance or salvation. Life only became harder instead of better because of God's prophet and presence. In response God speaks to Moses and by means of Moses the promises of His love and purpose. He assures them that they will be saved and delivered from their slavery in Egypt.
They did not listen to the good news that day. Why? I was struck by the text. They did not listen because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. They were absorbed by their misery and the were literally "out of breath" or "out of spirit". We all know what it is like to run until we are "out of breath" and then we stop. We simply cannot take another step in that condition. We cannot be motivated to run when we are "out of breath."
What had caused this "shortness of spirit"? They had just had their hopes of being delivered by Moses crushed and this feeling of disappointment was not moved by the Word of God. They also lived day in and day out in a very hard circumstances. They were slaves. That reality made it hard for them to be motivated to believe in the Word of God that spoke of freedom. They also feared the king. To believe in what God was saying would anger the king of Egypt and bring on them more woe. To believe put them at practical risk. I think we can all understand why it was hard for them to listen that day.
How about today for you and me? When the Holy Spirit comes to us and sings to us about the love of God in Christ Jesus today what causes us to not respond in faith. Are we suffering from "shortness of spirit" ? Do our circumstances enslave us? Are we afraid of what faith might cost us?
What hinders our faith?
and
What motivates us to believe?
I think it is important we ask these questions. I think it is important we start finding answers to these questions. What do you think? What are your answers to these questions?
Please leave a comment, I would love to know your ideas and feelings on these questions.
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