The Inner Being

Someone has said that we display externally what we are living internally.  After speaking in chapter 2 about how when we were dead  in our sin, Christ made us alive through faith.  The emphasis is clearly on what Christ has done.  And now Paul prays this for the Ephesians:

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”  ‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬a

Notice the source of the strength:  it is God using His own resources, His glorious riches.  Not long ago I was given an assignment I neither wanted nor felt adequate for.  But it was given to me.  I did not have the personal resources to handle it.  But out of His abundance riches, God showered and showed His resources through the task.  It was an amazing experience.  And glory came to Him.  That day, I felt His power.  He strengthened me in a way I could never imagine.

So Paul is praying for them to be strengthened with power in their inner being. Did he stop there?  No, his prayer went on to include Christ dwelling in their hearts through His Spirit.  Christ being formed in us.  Christ directing us.  Christ addressing the issues internally we are living out externally.  Christ in us, the hope of glory.  But also the “strength for today.”

So that is my prayer today, that Christ may strengthen you in your inner being, and that He may dwell in each heart by faith.  Pray this for me as well.

Power

 Power transforms.  It changes things. A toy with dead batteries become alive when fresh power is given to it.  When the grandchildren can’t carry something, they ask Daddy or Pappy to pick it up.  They know we have the power to do it.  Power enables.  It is essential to life.

   That is the third point of prayer God has given me for us. Here is how it is stated in Ephesians 1:

“and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

                                                                                                                ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We feel weak.  He is strong. We say we can’t.  He says “I have.”  We think things are impossible.  He says all things are possible.  Look at the description of this power God is pouring out in and through us.

1.  It is the same power  that raised Jesus back to life. What issue are you facing that you think would take more power than that?

2.  This power is being exercised by the one who is seated at God’s right hand, above EVERYTHING.  Satan, demons, any other political or social authority, all are below Him.  He is over all things.  And that goes for things now and in the future.

3.  God has placed all things under Jesus’ feet.  In ancient times when a King conquered someone, He placed His foot on the neck of the defeated foe to indicate His dominance over him.  All things are under the feet of Jesus.  And now as Head of the Church, He is filling us with His fullness.

So I am praying that we recognize and live in this power.  He is working in us.  He is working His power through us.  And as the writer to the Hebrews says:

“You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”

‭‭                                                                                                            Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NASB1995‬

Lord, release your power, in, through and among us, so that glory may come to you in us.

Turn the Light On

 We were traveling recently and as we prepared to leave our hotel room, I turned the light off by the bed.  Suddenly, we could not see to make our way to the door.  We need more light, not less light.  I turned it back on until we hit the switch by the door.  You can only go so far on the light you have and then you need more light.

   That is the second thing God showed me (through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians) that I must pray for all of us.  Here is how Paul states it in Ephesians 1:18:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,”  Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There are three key points in this prayer that are outflows of God bringing more light into the eyes of our hearts.

1.  In salvation, God placed a call on our lives.  This calling is not just from our sin, but to something.  And I am not talking about heaven.  So the first part of this prayer is that the light would come on that there is so much more to the Christian life.  

2.  That fruit of this calling is hope.  And God confirmed this hope by two unchangeable things (Hebrews  6:19).  He wants us to know the limitless nature of this hope to which He has called us.  

3.  And this hope is shown and experienced in and through God’s people.  In heaven, God lays out in glorious fashion all the treasures of the inheritance He is giving the saints.  And here on earth, by the Holy Spirit who is the One who guarantees or is the down payment on that inheritance God has prepared for us, we get to experience and receive some of it now.  And that is what we need our eyes to see. We need to turn the light on.

This is what I am praying for you today.  Please pray the same for me.  And let’s pray that God will do this for every person who is in need of hope.

A Lesson in Prayer

 As we begin the new year, I have been seeking the Lord regarding insight into the direction of our church over the next twelve months.  We want to see Him pour out His Spirit in new and fresh ways, and see our church grow in maturity and in numbers.  Like you, I’ve read through Acts multiple times and took note “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  I’ve longed for it and I’ve looked for it.  And I will continue to do so…… But….

   The Lord took me on a journey over the past several weeks.  And it has been a humbling lesson on prayer.  I pray regularly, and with joy and love, for each and every one of you.  I pray for blessing, for the Lord to heal and provide joy and hope for you and for Him to fulfill His purposes in you.  And those are good things to pray.  But the Lord has shown me I should be praying something far greater.  I want to explore some of these things over the next week, while encouraging us to pray them for each other.

   The first thing He showed me to pray for you comes from Ephesians 1. 

 “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”    Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Notice the goal:  To know Him better.  And the means to the goal:  God giving each of us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.  Wisdom to know that He is God and we are not, and that there is no good thing living in us, that is in these bodies.  (Romans 7:18)  And revelation about Himself so that we truly know Him.  I knew some things about Pam before we were married but since we have been married and lived together for over 40 years that has changed.  She has revealed things about herself and openly lived out her life, her thoughts, her passions and concerns with me such that I really KNOW her.  God has revealed Himself in a number of ways, but we can only truly KNOW Him if we are living life WITH Him.  His desire is for each of us to KNOW Him.

   That is the beginning of what I am praying for you.  Will you pray it for me too?  My life verse states it this way:  “I want to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.  Becoming like Him in His death and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10)

Lord Jesus, I thank you for each and every person who calls Eastern Hills home.  I beg you to give each of us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may truly KNOW you, and in knowing you worship you as you deserve, for your glory and our good.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

Sink Hole or Storm Cellar?

   I remember the first time I ever read about and saw pictures of the effects of a sink hole.  On the surface, everything looked fine.  Life was happening as normal.  But underneath, unseen by the casual glance, erosion was continuing to take its toll. And suddenly there was a complete collapse.  A building disappeared; cars are swallowed up; and people lost their lives.  Insights as to what was happening under the surface could have prevented the catastrophe, or at least prepared the people to evacuate the building, move the car or relocate to a safe place.  But no one was looking there.

   I also remember the first time I heard about a storm cellar.  Prevalent in the tornado prone states of the Plains, these are safe places to go underground as the destructive power of a tornado was bearing down on the family farm.  Prepared with supplies, these cellars allow people to hear the devastation of the storms above and around them, yet survive to rebuild following them.  The things on the surface may be gone, but the eternal, life itself, is spared.  Things can be replaced.  Life can’t be.

   Interesting enough, both these scenarios refer to what is happening under the surface.  

   A heart that is focused on Jesus is like a storm cellar, a place to run in the storms of life.  

“For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.”       Psalms‬ ‭61‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”    Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.””     Revelation‬ ‭11‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nothing can harm us when we are safe in His hands.  But a life that is not focused on Jesus, is like that sink hole.  On the surface, things may look good.  But eventually, everything will collapse, destroying everything, including life itself.

It is at the cross of Jesus that sink holes turn into storm cellars, and erosion turns into a firm foundation.  Turn to Him today and be prepared for the storms of life.  They are coming.

What It Takes

 “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”     Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬

   How seriously do we take sin?  How seriously do I take sin?  When I sin, what does it do to Jesus?  When the Passion of the Christ came out, I remember watching it for the first time.  It shook me.  We speak of the death of Jesus in almost sterile or storybook terms, without the depth of agony and pain. But there it was in front of me, hearing the lashes strike His back.  Seeing the blood flowing down.  Looking at the disfigurement of His face.  Hearing the struggle to catch His breath. My heart ached because MY sin did that.  It was so intense that when we used a brief clip of it for our Good Friday service there were some people who deemed it inappropriate.  How could we expose the tender hearted or children to such a scene?

   But that is what sin did.  And does.  The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that if we experience a taste of God’s grace yet fail to embrace it in true repentance, continuing to sin as if grace gives us license to do so, we are crucifying Jesus over and over and over again.  Every sin I commit drives a nail in Him.  Every sin pushes the crown of thorns down into His head.  Every sin causes shame and disgrace to Him.  Every sin breaks the heart of Jesus.  

I determined to not turn away.  That ugliness brings my sin into focus in such a way that I do not want to do that to Jesus ever again.  Rather than a license to sin more, grace becomes the power to sin less.  Mercy is my bridge to holy living.  And my only hope is in the resurrection power of Christ.

My prayer is for every one of us to take our sin far more seriously.  Satan wants us to see it as if it is no big deal.  It is. It caused (and causes) pain to Jesus.  Every sin.  Let’s not turn away from Him but turn to Him.  As Peter says, “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”   ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

     

 “After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.””   Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus is always practical in the ways He uses our lives.  It may not seem like a spiritual act to pay your taxes, but Jesus made it one.  He indicates that we as HIs children would normally be free from taxation, but since we don’t want to cause offense, we will pay our taxes to whom they are do.  It is insignificant.  Except for the fact by doing so, we keep the door open for communication about the Kingdom.  And that is worth it all.

Never consider little things insignificant.  Jesus provides.  We pay.  They ask.  Jesus provides.  We proclaim.  They ask.  It is a continuous cycle of using the money, circumstances and opportunities He provides to spread the Good News of the Gospel.  Keep fishing and see what He provides.

Don’t Let Your Darkness Grow

 This week a man we knew, who served with us for a number of months several years ago, carried out unexplainable evil by taking the lives of his wife, his mother, his father, and then himself.  In the process he orphaned four children and left a community in shock.

 

What can we learn from a situation where no matter how hard we try it remains beyond our understanding?  What would possess someone to take such actions?  One Scripture came to mind for me and I will use it to make an appeal to all of us.

   ““The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”    Matthew‬ ‭6:22-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

   How we view our world is important.  In the midst of talking about the power of things, Jesus says that if you keep a healthy, a singular, focused view of life, understanding your world in a good way, light will radiate in your soul.  You understand His love for you,  His provision for you, His purposes for you.  But when your eye is unhealthy, literally evil, things get dark.  The word can also mean growing with complications. Relational challenges, compounded with financial challenges, compounded with social challenges, compounded with……  The darkness grows and grows to the point where it is so deep and so dark that it leads to depths of unspeakable evil.  It is evident that this is where our friend went this week, all because he allowed his darkness to grow.

   My appeal to us all, because this can happen to us all, is that we don’t allow our darkness to grow.  The moment the light begins to dim, pause.  Ask for help in understanding what God has to say about the issue, shining light on the darkness.  Don’t isolate with your thoughts, your fears, your doubts.  That is how darkness grows.  And hell is described as a place of outer darkness.  

Job, who lost his ten children, his business and his health all within hours, all without explanation as to why, went to a very dark place.  Here are  his words at one point:

““Why then did you bring me out of the womb? I wish I had died before any eye saw me. If only I had never come into being, or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave! Are not my few days almost over? Turn away from me so I can have a moment’s joy before I go to the place of no return, to the land of gloom and utter darkness, to the land of deepest night, of utter darkness and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.””   Job‬ ‭10:18-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That is dark.  But by crying out to and truly seeking the Lord, light began to shine.  And his attitude went from deep dark to this:

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”    Job‬ ‭19:25-27‬ 

A glimmer of hope broke the darkness.  And by the end of his book, he saw God in a way and to a depth he had never known Him before.  The darkness was dispelled and light filled his life once again.

Please do not allow your darkness to grow.  Our darkness, no matter how deep, is never beyond the light of Jesus.  Satan breeds darkness to destroy and bring death.  Jesus brings light and that light is life!

Reflections

Building over the cave where John received the Revelation

 History is a wonderful teacher when we take time to sit at its feet.  In fact, Paul wrote to the Romans that “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”   Romans‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

   So as we have returned home from our trip to Greece and cruise of the Aegean Sea to Ephesus and Patmos and Crete and Rhodes, I am trying to sit at the feet of what we saw and heard and learned.  Here are a few of my reflections.

   First, when people lack a true understanding of God, they continually seek to appease or engage the forces that are shaping their lives.  We call that idolatry.  When Paul arrived at Athens, he walked around and was distressed by what he saw.  So he engaged people in conversation, in order to bring light to them. He eventually was invited to address the influencers among them and he said, “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”    Acts‬ ‭17:22-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

   It was not an accusation; it was an observation and they received it as such.  I’m praying I (we) may be as observant as Paul, willing to engage people like Paul, and our observations received like Paul’s.

    Second, people are discipled best by doing life with their mentor and watching.  Paul picked up Timothy, a timid young man who was spoken well of, while traveling through Asia Minor.  He brought him onto his entourage, and Timothy watched as Paul struggled where to go next; was beaten and jailed for no reason; miraculously was freed from that jail and led his guard to the Lord; was threatened in a couple more towns before being sent to Athens by boat in a covert escape.  He heard Paul reasoning with people. He watched as Paul used his Roman citizenship as a tool to guarantee the local church would not be under the same scrutiny when he left.  He got to see it all.  And later experienced it all. You can read about it in Acts 16-19.  Later Paul wrote to Timothy, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,”   2 Timothy‬ ‭3:10-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I want to be a mentor, a parent, a pastor, a teacher, who does life intimately with those around me and be a constant reminder of the grace, the power, the provision, and the glory of our Lord.

   A final thought is that history is His Story, and our lives are but dots on the line of eternity.  So the only thing that truly matters is pointing people to Him. Statues to men will crumble but the eternal Word of God stand firms, and the heavens declare His glory throughout ALL generations.

As John was told to write in the Revelation as he received it on the island of Patmos:

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.””    Revelation‬ ‭1:5-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

AMEN!

Sacrifice - Admirable or Eternal?

 We stood on the battle ground of Thermopylae today in front of the monument honoring King Leonidas and the 300 who took their stand here.  In the face of a superior force,  the king knew he would not return. But his sacrifice and the sacrifice of his men from Sparta would provide the time needed for other Greek forces to prepare for this second invasion from the Persians.  And in the end, the next two battles ended that invasion.  But only because of this sacrifice, this loss, led by the king.

In a few months, we will stand by the place where the King of Kings took His stand.  It was not against a superior force but it was a deadly force.  His sacrifice was alone, for only He could make it as the perfect Lamb of God who was taking away the sin of the world.  He did not buy time for others to fight this enemy.  No one else had the power to do so.  He conquered it Himself through paying the debt for our sin through death but raising to life once again through His own power three days later.  This King’s name, the name above every name, is Jesus.  Hell and scoffers celebrated at His death but shuttered at His resurrection.  Satan and death are defeated forever.

The valor of Leonidas is admirable and historic.  The obedience and love demonstrated by Jesus in His death and resurrection are unparalleled and eternal.  Leonidas bought time that allowed the Greeks to survive for a time but eventually their kingdom that came later passed like all human kingdoms into the annals of history.  But the Kingdom established and paid for by the blood of Jesus will never pass away.

The amazing truth is that any and all of us can be a part of this Kingdom, this eternal Kingdom, if we are willing to come.  Whosoever will may come, repent of our sin, and find the forgiveness and  peace that only He can give.  And I encourage anyone who has not done so yet, to come today.

Ancient Reminders

    Pam and I are part of a tour right now tracing the steps of Paul as the Gospel was brought to Europe. Like much of life, we have found Greece thus far to be a land filled with stark beauty and the unexpected. It is also deeply contrasting.  The gorgeous coastlines are in deep contrast to the high mountains.  I immediately expected sheep and cattle to be grazing but never to find fields of cotton and rice not far away. Thessaloniki (or Salonica as the locals call it) is the second largest city in Greece.  Its narrow streets hold newer buildings raised since the 1917 fire that destroyed much of the city along side fifth century and eleventh century churches and mosques.  Contrast that with miles and miles of fields and forests, sparsely populated and seemingly unspoiled.  It is a beautiful land of deep contrasts.

   We started this tour following the exact steps Paul took, coming ashore in Macedonia in response to a vision God gave him along the coast of modern day Turkey.  He was committed to spreading the Gospel and ran out of land.  And through this vision he boarded a boat and arrived in Neapolis, the port for  the main city in the region, Philippi.  Check out Acts 16 for the account.  

   As you follow the story, we visited the seaport.  We traveled the roads to Philippi.  We walked into the ruins of the ancient city and stood beside the river where Lydia, the dealer of purple cloth, became the first convert (along with her household) in Europe.  We went to the Jewish quarter where Paul reasoned with them at the synagogue about the Gospel.  We stopped by the jail where he and Silas sang in the middle of the night after being flogged publicly for their faith and were miraculously released by an earthquake. We walked on parts of the Ignatian Way, the main road used to travel from east to west in Paul’s day.

   And these were the ancient reminders that struck me.  Ours is not a fairy tale faith in which human beings seek to be better and live civil existences along side other world views.  Ours is an urgent faith, a real faith, a daily faith, a meaningful faith, that takes advantage of the connecting points and social constructs of our day to voice hope as contrasted with despair, godliness in contrast to evil and supernatural wisdom and power to transform contrasted with human ingenuity and control.  It is a faith committed to the voice of God first and foremost, and when hardship comes as a result, is given to praise rather than complaint.  The Bible is the story of a real God, working in and through real people, in a real world, to redeem real sinners and transform them into real saints, for His real glory.  It is graciously proclaiming the simple Gospel of Jesus who came to earth to die for the sins of the world, died, rose again on the third day and now as ever calls on all people everywhere to repent.  In a couple days we will be standing in the spot where Paul uttered those words to the Athenians in the midst of all their idols.  Our faith is real.

   I want to be clear, I have never doubted our faith is real.  But it is good to be reminded that when it feels hard to walk the journey of faith for us today, there were real people in harder real circumstances who were committed like us to follow the Lord wherever He takes us and they found Him sufficient every step of the way, victory and hardship, plentiful days and sleepless nights in prison.  And He still is today.

   I’m looking forward to experiencing more reminders on our journey………..

Online Church was/is a blessing, but.......

We praise the Lord that we were able to stay connected during our COVID isolation.  And for the sick, the shut-in, the quarantined, and the person who works during worship times, it is still a great tool.  I want to address the rest of us.  This is intended as a gentle reminder of what we already know and nothing else:   God intends for us to be together in regular worship.

It is certainly true that waking up, getting our coffee or breakfast, remaining in our jammies and watching church online is very convenient for us.  And for young families it was and is a way to have the children be in a comfortable environment while the parents can focus.  I get it.  And yes we can pray without going to church and we can serve others in some ways without going to church.  And yes we can give our money without going to church.  But just because all those things have a level of truth to them, it does not mean that by doing so we are “doing church” the way God designed it.

So why return to church when this is so comfortable and convenient?

First, God commanded us to be together.  Hebrews 10:25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If you read the verses immediately before this in the context, he is discussing how since Christ has opened up the way for us to this living hope, we should do certain things together.  All the time it says, “Let us.....” it is in the plural.  Let’s all together do these things.  We can’t do these things together unless we are...together.  In fact, he distinctly says, Let’s not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing...”. Covid has become a temptation to do so.  Let’s fight the temptation.

Second, church is not just for information but incarnation.  If being able to sing in a place where no one else will hear us or we can just listen and “feel” like we are worshipping, and then listen to a teaching that informs and inspires us, then online is fine.  But that is not God’s design.  When He carried out the plan of salvation, He “sent” His Son.  “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He designed that the gifts He has placed in every believer are to be used with and among each other (1 Corinthians 12).  We can’t do that unless we are among each other.  If information was the only thing needed, God could have or would have texted His plan.  But He did not.  He came and lived among us.  He showed us that our life is meant to be lived with each other, not apart from each other. It is more than information.  If we are not present in the “Body”, the Body is not whole.  We need each other.

Third, we are preparing now to be present with all believers and the angels in worship in the future.  In fact, we join with them now in a manner of speaking.  But catch this picture:

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”  ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If we are joining with all creation later, why would we not do it now?

Church is a corporate function, not an individual function.  How we work, worship and wait on the Lord are meant to be together.  Our fierce Western individualism, and look toward personal benefit often cause us to miss God’s desires for us.  When isolation is necessary, worshipping online and connecting that way is a wonderful option, but it was not and is not intended as a substitute when we are free and able to be together in worship.

Let me say it again.  This is given as a reminder of what we all know to be true and nothing else.  It is also an invitation for those who are able to to do so to return to regular gathering because you are missed and your presence is needed for the benefit of us all. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Questions for a Covid Time

   It has been a long time since I wrote on this blog.  Spending time away from the “normal” has given me time to be quiet, and think, and pray and hear from the Lord.  There have been a lot of questions running through my mind during this time as I’m sure there has been for you.  I thought I would write some of them down so we don’t forget them in a few months when the pandemic is past.

First, what if this is a precursor of the beginning of the end?  There are a number of prophecy oriented people that are suggesting it is.  We know that wars and rumors of wars seem to be happening all the time any more.  But there seems to be an increase in seismic activity with earthquakes and now Covid 19.  Jesus said these things must take place but the end is not yet.  If this were the beginning of the end, would we welcome it and embrace it?

Second, how prepared are Christians for times like these?  Empowered by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead; confident in the promises of God; foretold by the Lord Himself that times like this would come; we should be the most hope-filled, bold people around.  We should relish the fact we can spend time before the Lord, reading and absorbing His word.  We should cherish that we can lead our children in considering the goodness of God and His sovereign love.  We can celebrate the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel in the darkness.  If we were isolated like this and all our electronics went down that we could not stay connected with others through social media, chats, Zoom, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook Live, email, FaceTime, etc, would we be able to survive in a healthy way?  Would the average Christian be able to study the Bible for themselves and be able to share the Gospel with others who were looking for hope?

Third, are we prepared to take the cross and the Word of God seriously?  I believe it is significant that Easter is being celebrated during this time.  “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”  This is what Jesus said right before He went to the cross and died.  “They will arrest you and put you to death for my sake.” He meant it.  “Shut up the prophecy Daniel until the end.....Wise men will understand them.”  “He who has my commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and show myself to him.”  Self help tips couched in fun jokes will not cut it in these times or the days ahead.  Knowing God’s Word and seriously giving ourselves to it is the only thing that will sustain and guide us.  It is eternal.  “My word will never pass away” said Jesus.  So dying to ourselves and taking up our cross combined with being serious about knowing and living out the Word of God are the only two things that will prepare us to face the days ahead.

I believe my questions are not “downers” during a trying time but expressions of the tensions felt in the souls of many.  Their answers are saturated in hope and power.  This is challenging but Jesus said that the days ahead are going to be so bad that if they weren’t cut short for the sake of the elect no one would survive. (Matt. 24:22). Many will walk away from the faith in those days and turn on loved ones.

I am not saying for sure that Covid 19 is a precursor of the end.  But what if it was?  If I were a watchman on a wall and saw trouble coming and did not shout out a warning, I would be neglecting my duty.  And since we do not know the day or the hour when these things will take place but we are aware of the season, we must always be ready.  I see potential winds blowing that could be the forecasters of the coming storm.  So please consider my questions (and yours).  And more importantly, consider the answers and pursue them.

What If?

One of the shows a grandparent can learn from with their grandchildren is Wild Kratts.  The Kratt brothers explore for animal life around the planet and expose young learners to the amazing world in which we live.  Their shows begin with them telling a little about the animal of the day, their habitat and characteristics, and then ask the question, what if we could become them and live in their world? What if?

I’ve been thinking a lot about “what if” as it applies to us as a church, and us as Christians.  Especially as I have been reading through the Gospels, and the letters.  What is coming as we read the culture is persecution in a form the American church has not experienced before.  What if it was declared a hate crime to talk about certain issues from a Biblical viewpoint in a public setting?  What if all tax incentives given for charitable giving or being a religious non-profit disappeared?  What if it became a crime to declare that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation?  What if?

Something would change.  What if how we have viewed church was not really in keeping with the mission we have been given by Jesus?  We think in terms of an inspiring speaker, a cool band, smooth programming, and an amazing facility.  We tend to think in having a church that is large, well known in the community, and meeting the needs of people.  All of this can be fine.  But what if we used God’s assessment?  What if the lens of Scripture was applied to church?

The number one thing Jesus prayed for in John 17 was the unity of the people in love.  Such an overwhelming love that lost itself in Jesus and others.  And the picture Jesus gave was that of a family.  In a family, we love unconditionally.  In a family we train the children.  Not that we know everything that we are doing because when we brought Jalonna home from the hospital they did not give us an owners manual.  But we loved that little girl and figured out what to do to care for her and train her (and later her brother) to love and serve Jesus and others.  We got advice and sent them to school.  But we took responsibility for them to be trained in the nurture and life of Jesus.

All this to say, that over the next months we are going to talk about what real church is; where we are headed as a church; and what supernatural visitations we will experience as we ask, “What if?”

Answered correctly and followed, we will be in a position to shift in an instant when any of these cultural changes take place.  It will be as if we were the only Christian in our sphere of influence, in our town or in our neighborhood, we will know exactly what to do to keep the mission moving forward for Jesus’ sake.

Resolving Old Battles

Most (ok, all) of us have past experiences with us for some or most of our lives.  For some, it is like a carry on, not much there, but enough to need to deal with it.  Others seem to have checked luggage, at times multiple bags, that weigh us down and slow our progress in life.

But what if we could unload the luggage and fly in life with no baggage at all?  Sound good?  Oh, wait, we feel like we need what we are carrying.  So we are not so willing to part with it.  We feel like it is a necessary part of us.  We don’t want to forget what happened or let the people off the hook for what they did to us.  We are self-aware of the effects.  We just are not sure how to live without the luggage.

Bob (not his real name) was such a guy.  Raised by up and comers, he knew how to win approval by his actions.  Absentee Dad and career-oriented Mom left him with varied baby-sitters when younger and on his own when a teen.  He had little direction in life but also found that when his random decisions and actions cast a poor shadow on Dad or Mom, he had their attention then.  Life was about not embarrassing them.  He found himself looking for an escape from them.  He was also looking to fulfill deep desires within, such as being loved.

He found himself using people for his own means and when they disappointed him, he cut ties with them.  That is what he was taught.  He wandered in a pit of despair for a long time.  College was an experiment in searching.  A failed marriage; then a second.  The bags kept piling up and their weight was overwhelming.

One day one of his few friends starting talking about something amazing that happened in his life.  His life was similar to Bob’s life.  In his search, he had a conversation with a man who seemed to honestly care.  The guy lived next door and had shown kindness to him.  He brought him some meals when he was recovering from some minor surgery.  The guy even mowed his lawn during that time.  He told him about Jesus. How Jesus loved him unconditionally. How He died on the cross for all of our sins.  How He came to life again three days later and is alive today.  How He is the one who created us and has wonderful plans for our lives if we are willing to follow Him.

Bob’s friend responded by asking Jesus to forgive Him and he began the journey of following Him.  He told Bob he never felt this way before.  All the old junk of his life did not matter any more.  He realized that even then Jesus was showing love to him.  And that Jesus has been there wanting a relationship with him all along.  He felt free.

Bob was not sure what to say.  Was he willing to consider the same decision?

At our church, we offer a special form of spiritual counsel called Transformational Prayer Ministry.  It is a spiritual conversation, walking us through the baggage of our lives and seeing how Jesus was there loving us even at those times.  The outcome is to let go of those painful things to Jesus.  He desires for us to be free, unloading all the experiences and sins that hinder us so we can fly!

Are you willing to consider unloading your bags?  If so, contact the church at 688-7165 and make an appointment.  You can fly free today!

A Book Every Christian Should Read

My friend Daniel Henderson recently published a book I believe every Christian should read.  I won’t spoil it for you, but here is a review I did on Goodreads.  The book is titled Transforming Presence:  How the Holy Spirit Changes Everything From The Inside Out

In a day when there is so much confusion about spirituality, power, and the work of the Holy Spirit, Daniel Henderson provides some much needed and timely input and clarity through this book. I believe one of the most important parts of the book is the section that points us to the “why.” If we know the “why” of something we will be open to hear the how’s and the what’s. This essential is summarized on page 49:
“Let’s keep the plumb line of God’s purpose in mind. The Holy Spirit was given to glorify Jesus in our hearts, minds, and actions; in our homes and relationships; in our service, fellowship, and worship in His church. All this occurs as a witness to nonbelievers in our relational circle and beyond, into the near and far reaches of a lost world desperate to see and hear of our Christ.”

Daniel pushes for us to examine (and abandon where necessary) our previous understandings of the Holy Spirit as interpreted through the lenses of our traditions and experiences. He also gently prods us to listen to ourselves. Some of our verbiage and songs betray thoughts of the Holy Spirit being a force rather than a Person; something for us to ask God to send rather than responding to the One who has already come. 

The clarion call is for us to embrace and respond to the Holy Spirit who is God Himself living in us for the sole purpose of bringing glory to Jesus Christ and to empower us to fulfill His mission on earth. He, the Spirit, works in our minds, emotions and will to accomplish all this.

I believe every reader who approaches with an open mind and heart will be confronted, affronted, encouraged, revived and motivated after reading this book. I commend it to you.

It’s Not That Hard

This past weekend at our church Gary Stith gave a humble yet powerful testimony of how seeking to be the best music teacher he could be and showing a loving interest in people’s lives opened opportunities for him to share Jesus with them.  It wasn’t hard.  It was just doing life in the Spirit.  He gave us an endearing picture of doing his daily devotional time down in his basement with his pre-school daughter waking up to join him, cuddled together under blankets.  It’s not hard, it is doing life in the Spirit.

We read messages from those Gary worked with and taught.  They spoke of his godliness and humility, his generosity and graciousness.  They all said that his influence and the impression he made still lingers in their lives today.  It’s not hard, it is doing life in the Spirit.

I can graciously say that Gary was embarrassed to have the questions asked and the attention put on him.  But he was willing to go through the experience for one sole reason:  giving all glory and praise to Jesus.  His life has been focused on Him.  His heart has been transformed by Him.  Jesus’ love for people has flowed through Gary.  What I appreciated was how Gary told us his own amazement about  the doors opened for him, like being given a professorship at Houghton College without an earned Doctorate.  Rare in our world but not in God’s world.  Jesus opens doors that no one can open and shuts doors no one can shut.

If you missed the message, including Gary’s testimony, take 45 minutes this week and listen.  It may help you to realize that excellence may draw, but love influences.  It may also help you realize that leaving a powerful witness for Jesus is not hard, its just doing life in the Spirit.

Independence

Happy 4th of July.  We celebrate today as the birthday of our country.  It is the day when the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain and began the journey toward a Constitution that sought to protect the unalienable rights of every human being, especially those of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Self-governance was its central theme.

Yet we know that God’s design for us is not self-governance in a sinful state, but Spirit-controlled governance in a redeemed state.  The mind controlled by our “flesh”, our human intellect and instincts, is death but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.  (Romans 8:6)

If we are to win new friends, our desires must line up with God’s desires for them.  In fact, our lives must not be able fighting for self at all, but for the ability and opportunity to fulfill our God-given purpose in creation.  And that purpose is to bring glory to Him and goodness to others.

As we celebrate today as Christians, the reality is not about patriotism and parades and government, it is about freedom in Christ and ours absolute dependence on Him.  In this we rejoice and find true life, liberty and happiness.  And we get to share it with others.

Have a blessed day.

Dispensers of Hope and Grace

““Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.     Job‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

One of the values we hold is that of God’s grace.  When we have received undeserved kindness from the Lord, how can we withhold it from others?
Therefore when we are seeking to walk along side current friends or encountering a new friend, our countenance and words should ooze of grace.  Grace is given as a signpost for healing.  It points the way to the solution.  Grace is one wounded person who has found healing telling another wounded person about the remedy for their condition.Job was suffering.  Terribly.  And his friends, rather than helping to point him to the solution, were busy telling him about his failings. They were trying to explain to him how his arrogance, his pride, his self-righteousness, were the cause of all his problems.  The problem is that they were wrong.  Totally wrong.Friends don’t need us to diagnose the cause.  They need a remedy.  And the remedy is the grace of God.  And that remedy is obtained by confession of our neediness and repentance of any sin that we have committed.  Challenging conditions do not always mean we have sinned.  The Lord may bring a situation to us to strengthen our trust in him, like He did with His friend Abraham in Genesis 22.  But even those situations demonstrate our need to turn to and depend on Him.So don’t neglect kindness when dealing with your friends.  Point them to Jesus just as you have turned to Him many times in your life.  Friends are not dispensers of justice but of grace and hope.#summerofwon

Subtle Deception

When you read through the opening pages of the Bible, you find that perfection gets derailed through very subtle deception.  Adam and Eve were in perfect harmony with God and with each other.  A singular command was given to follow.  They joyfully did so until a question was raised in their mind through Satan.  “Did God really say” leads to a distortion of God’s intentions and the breakdown of the relationship.  And sin enters into the world, and death through sin.

Fast forward to a scene in the Temple during Jesus’ time.  It is found in Luke 18:

““Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:10-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Notice the focus for both men was their own condition.  The Pharisee felt sorry that other men were not as “righteous’ and faithful as he was.  The tax collector was broken before the Lord, feeling the weight of his sin, and cried out for mercy.  Jesus said that the tax collector was justified before God and not the Pharisee.

Here is the subtle deception.  When we “feel” like we are in good standing with the Lord, it should move us to join in the same mission as Jesus.  Remember that Luke also told us that the “Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost.”  (Luke 19:10). So Jesus left the perfect surroundings of heaven in order to wade into the muck and mire of lost humanity in order to seek out people and redeem them.  True compassion does not just feel sorry for people because of their messes.  It moves among them in order to lead them out of their circumstance and into a solid relationship with Jesus.  If we simply feel good about ourselves and sorry for them without seeking to help them, we are in essence no different than the Pharisee standing in the Temple.

Subtle deception derailed Adam and Eve (and all of us through them) from the perfect relationship they were experiencing with God.  And subtle deception can derail us today from the perfect work God created for us to do in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 2:8-10).

So let’s show true compassion today. Have that cup of coffee with someone who you know who is asking questions about faith in the midst of their addiction or broken marriage or rebellion.  Meet with that new believer who does not have a clue how to make hard choices to honor Jesus.  Patiently coach someone who struggles to develop simple spiritual disciplines.  Let’s give of ourselves to them the way Christ gave of Himself to us.