Joshua 2
“For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, . . . And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” Is it not interesting that when some hear irrefutable evidence concerning the Lord that they believe, but others, when they hear, choose not to believe and fight against Him. Is it not interesting that frequently those who hear and believe are the despised and rejected of society as opposed to the rich and the powerful. Here the woman who believed was a woman who regularly sold her body for the pleasure of men. She chooses to trust in the Lord. The Lord receives her faith. She is listed in the genealogy of Jesus. She is listed in both Hebrews 11 and James 2 as a woman of faith and works. What grace and mercy! And it is available to us all from the God in heaven above and on earth beneath. What about those who do not believe? They become vessels of His wrath. Their end is destruction. In them we see His justice displayed. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 10:1-23
At this point in the book of Acts it has been an undetermined number of years since Jesus ascended and Pentecost came. With over-conservative certainty we can say that by now the church numbers more than 20,000 men, women and children. Certainly that is a healthy number for a city the size of Jerusalem. But the church is mostly Jewish believers in Jesus, including a number of the priests and Levites. When are they going to start making disciples of the nations? They had given their stamp of approval on the Holy Spirit's demonstration upon the half-Jewish Samaritans. But they have not made any concerted effort to reach outside their Jewish culture with the good news of Jesus. Why?
They were still trapped in their turn-of-the-millennium-Jewish world-view. Any consorting with Gentiles would render them unclean. From their world-view, Jesus may be the Messiah, but the Messiah was for the Jews. If the Gentiles want Jesus, they needed to first convert to Judaism. How does the Lord of Glory communicate the need to depart their world-view and begin making disciples of all ethnic groups? He arranges a series of circumstances to coincide with two different visions given to two different men. As we will see tomorrow, He will then confirm the meeting and visions with the outpouring of His Spirit. Without this vision Peter would never have left his world-view, even though he had heard the command of our Lord to make disciples of all ethnic groups. Without Peter going to Cornelius, there would never have been the auditory and visual confirmation that Gentiles could be saved with out first becoming Jews. Without this confirmation Paul's ministry would have been rejected by the church. Our glorious Lord orchestrated all of these events to push and confirm to His church that we are to make disciples of all ethnic groups. His ability to orchestrate the details of our lives in order to accomplish His purposes is amazing! Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
June 29, 2010
Joshua 1
It was 30 hours of traveling including the time spent waiting in airports. I dozed on occasion, but I had no good rest. Additionally, I crossed 13 time zones. I was tired. As tired as I was, I still could not get the proper rest that I needed. My body was out of sync with the new time zone. Even though I needed rest, it took me several days to get it. My body had to adjust to the new rhythm of sleeping. Arriving at a new country required a little bit of courage. It was a bit disconcerting. My luggage did not make it. By the time I had filled out a baggage claim with a clerk who did not speak English and passed through customs, the airport was shutting down. There remained only a handful of airport employees and a few taxi drivers. My ride was not there yet. I had no Mongolian money, and no phone that would work in Mongolia. The lady at the information desk seemed to have limited English and little desire to help me find and use a phone. I needed rest and courage.
You know what? The Lord eventually gave it. This is what the Lord our God gives us: rest and courage. What is it about Him that He would do such a thing? Well, He is a God of great glory. He gives rest and courage, but we must seize it as He gives it. And He does give it! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 9:23-43
Sometimes the glory of Jesus is really hard to believe. It seems impossible to believe that Jesus could change someone who once hated Him supremely into someone who couldn't quit talking about Him. But, that is what happened. It happened instantly. None of the Jerusalem believers, save Barnabas (the son of encouragement) believed. But why not? They had seen people healed, raised from the dead, miraculous deliverances from prison. Indeed a few days hence, Jesus through Peter would heal a lame man in Lydda (about 20miles NW of Jerusalem). Then Peter would go to Joppa (modern day Haifa) and raise a woman from the dead. Why not believe Saul had been converted? To believe would mean they would have to love and trust Saul. Past experience had taught them that this would lead to their imprisonment and perhaps their death, if they were wrong, if Jesus really hadn't changed him. This required them to put their faith on the line. This is a test of faith for the Jerusalem believers that was as strong as Peter's request to walk on water, only Peter requested to walk on water. This test was thrust on the Jerusalem believers by the Lord. True to form, Barnabas, always the son of encouragement, passed the test.
Was it sin for the Jerusalem believers to not trust the glory of the Lord in the conversion of Saul? I really don't know. But this I know, Jesus did not convert Saul in order to add him to the Jerusalem church. He had a big plan for Saul, soon to be Paul. But Saul needed a little down time first, to sort things out. The Jerusalem believers were having a hard time "Going" as Jesus had commanded them to go. (Now that is a consistent problem with the church throughout church history. We enjoy huddling but hate going.) Jesus used the unconverted Saul to force the Jerusalem church to scatter when they had become enamored with their holy huddle. Jesus now had plans for this Jew of Jews to go through the Roman empire to the very heart of Rome preaching the Gospel and establishing churches among the Gentiles. Now that's glory! He takes a man who found all Gentiles to be an unclean thing and changes him to be the foremost missionary among them.
Why doesn't Jesus do that all the time? Certainly, Jesus did not change everybody 2000 years ago, who believed. Obviously He doesn't change everybody today. We still deal with husbands who don't love their wives even though they profess the name of Jesus. We still deal with people who continue to get drunk, even though they profess the name of Jesus. We still deal with people who fornicate even though they profess the name of Jesus. I could go on and on and get really negative here, but you know what I mean. What makes the difference? First it is the exchanged life. We will not lay down our lives for the life of Christ. Second it is a matter of focus. We are focused on our glory rather than the glory of Jesus. Because of that, we won't lay down our life for His. From a human perspective, Saul's hatred for Christians before his conversion was partly because of his passion for the glory of God. Once he saw the glory of Jesus, the exchanged life was a no-brainer. Paul was forever pursuing God's glory. That meant he had to pursue the glory of Christ. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
It was 30 hours of traveling including the time spent waiting in airports. I dozed on occasion, but I had no good rest. Additionally, I crossed 13 time zones. I was tired. As tired as I was, I still could not get the proper rest that I needed. My body was out of sync with the new time zone. Even though I needed rest, it took me several days to get it. My body had to adjust to the new rhythm of sleeping. Arriving at a new country required a little bit of courage. It was a bit disconcerting. My luggage did not make it. By the time I had filled out a baggage claim with a clerk who did not speak English and passed through customs, the airport was shutting down. There remained only a handful of airport employees and a few taxi drivers. My ride was not there yet. I had no Mongolian money, and no phone that would work in Mongolia. The lady at the information desk seemed to have limited English and little desire to help me find and use a phone. I needed rest and courage.
You know what? The Lord eventually gave it. This is what the Lord our God gives us: rest and courage. What is it about Him that He would do such a thing? Well, He is a God of great glory. He gives rest and courage, but we must seize it as He gives it. And He does give it! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 9:23-43
Sometimes the glory of Jesus is really hard to believe. It seems impossible to believe that Jesus could change someone who once hated Him supremely into someone who couldn't quit talking about Him. But, that is what happened. It happened instantly. None of the Jerusalem believers, save Barnabas (the son of encouragement) believed. But why not? They had seen people healed, raised from the dead, miraculous deliverances from prison. Indeed a few days hence, Jesus through Peter would heal a lame man in Lydda (about 20miles NW of Jerusalem). Then Peter would go to Joppa (modern day Haifa) and raise a woman from the dead. Why not believe Saul had been converted? To believe would mean they would have to love and trust Saul. Past experience had taught them that this would lead to their imprisonment and perhaps their death, if they were wrong, if Jesus really hadn't changed him. This required them to put their faith on the line. This is a test of faith for the Jerusalem believers that was as strong as Peter's request to walk on water, only Peter requested to walk on water. This test was thrust on the Jerusalem believers by the Lord. True to form, Barnabas, always the son of encouragement, passed the test.
Was it sin for the Jerusalem believers to not trust the glory of the Lord in the conversion of Saul? I really don't know. But this I know, Jesus did not convert Saul in order to add him to the Jerusalem church. He had a big plan for Saul, soon to be Paul. But Saul needed a little down time first, to sort things out. The Jerusalem believers were having a hard time "Going" as Jesus had commanded them to go. (Now that is a consistent problem with the church throughout church history. We enjoy huddling but hate going.) Jesus used the unconverted Saul to force the Jerusalem church to scatter when they had become enamored with their holy huddle. Jesus now had plans for this Jew of Jews to go through the Roman empire to the very heart of Rome preaching the Gospel and establishing churches among the Gentiles. Now that's glory! He takes a man who found all Gentiles to be an unclean thing and changes him to be the foremost missionary among them.
Why doesn't Jesus do that all the time? Certainly, Jesus did not change everybody 2000 years ago, who believed. Obviously He doesn't change everybody today. We still deal with husbands who don't love their wives even though they profess the name of Jesus. We still deal with people who continue to get drunk, even though they profess the name of Jesus. We still deal with people who fornicate even though they profess the name of Jesus. I could go on and on and get really negative here, but you know what I mean. What makes the difference? First it is the exchanged life. We will not lay down our lives for the life of Christ. Second it is a matter of focus. We are focused on our glory rather than the glory of Jesus. Because of that, we won't lay down our life for His. From a human perspective, Saul's hatred for Christians before his conversion was partly because of his passion for the glory of God. Once he saw the glory of Jesus, the exchanged life was a no-brainer. Paul was forever pursuing God's glory. That meant he had to pursue the glory of Christ. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Sunday, June 27, 2010
June 28, 2010
Deuteronomy 33 &34
For me to live is Christ; to die is gain. I know those are the words of Paul. But here is an illustration of those words. How do we prepare to die? We prepare by living in the presence of the Lord. Moses blesses the tribes of Israel. How could he do otherwise? He had spent the last 40 years living in the presence of the Lord. The character of the Lord was shining through him. Moses proceeds to the top of Mt. Pisgah. There the Lord gives him a virtual tour of the promised land. There Moses dies. There the Lord buried him. He is the only person in the Bible that it says that the Lord buried them. What an intimate picture! Do you suppose the spirit of Moses stood and watched while the Lord buried that old tabernacle? When the Lord was done, did He turn to Moses and say, “Come on, Mo, lets go home?” But Moses already communicated with Him face to face. I think He already was home. Home was wherever the Lord was. It was just that Moses could now see His glory unrestrained. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 9:1-22
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is indeed one of the high spots of the glory of Christ in Scripture. Here is a deceived man, who hated Jesus. He was trying to stop anyone from speaking the glory of Christ. He participated in the murder of Stephen. He had put people in jail for loving Jesus. Now he is on a mission to kidnap and bring to Jerusalem anyone in Damascus who loved Jesus and spoke His glory. Why would Jesus just strike him dead? He, if anyone, deserved it. That would indeed have been glorious! But that isn't the way Jesus prefers to work. His love is irresistible. Saul needed some proof of the glory of Jesus. Jesus condescended to give it to him. Wow! Saul saw some of His glory. It destroyed his physical sight. It destroyed his spiritual life. It destroyed his soulish-self-confidence. Just a moment of the glory of Christ and Saul was instantly and forever changed. He didn't quite understand it mentally but he was forever changed. Jesus took him, renamed him Paul, restored his sight, re-birthed his spirit, and reinitiated his confidence. From that point on Paul could only speak of the glory of Christ. Lord, let me see Your glory! Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today! He uses our speech to draw others to Himself.
--Pastor John
For me to live is Christ; to die is gain. I know those are the words of Paul. But here is an illustration of those words. How do we prepare to die? We prepare by living in the presence of the Lord. Moses blesses the tribes of Israel. How could he do otherwise? He had spent the last 40 years living in the presence of the Lord. The character of the Lord was shining through him. Moses proceeds to the top of Mt. Pisgah. There the Lord gives him a virtual tour of the promised land. There Moses dies. There the Lord buried him. He is the only person in the Bible that it says that the Lord buried them. What an intimate picture! Do you suppose the spirit of Moses stood and watched while the Lord buried that old tabernacle? When the Lord was done, did He turn to Moses and say, “Come on, Mo, lets go home?” But Moses already communicated with Him face to face. I think He already was home. Home was wherever the Lord was. It was just that Moses could now see His glory unrestrained. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 9:1-22
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is indeed one of the high spots of the glory of Christ in Scripture. Here is a deceived man, who hated Jesus. He was trying to stop anyone from speaking the glory of Christ. He participated in the murder of Stephen. He had put people in jail for loving Jesus. Now he is on a mission to kidnap and bring to Jerusalem anyone in Damascus who loved Jesus and spoke His glory. Why would Jesus just strike him dead? He, if anyone, deserved it. That would indeed have been glorious! But that isn't the way Jesus prefers to work. His love is irresistible. Saul needed some proof of the glory of Jesus. Jesus condescended to give it to him. Wow! Saul saw some of His glory. It destroyed his physical sight. It destroyed his spiritual life. It destroyed his soulish-self-confidence. Just a moment of the glory of Christ and Saul was instantly and forever changed. He didn't quite understand it mentally but he was forever changed. Jesus took him, renamed him Paul, restored his sight, re-birthed his spirit, and reinitiated his confidence. From that point on Paul could only speak of the glory of Christ. Lord, let me see Your glory! Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today! He uses our speech to draw others to Himself.
--Pastor John
June 27, 2010
Deuteronomy 32
Herr Wolhert was a great German teacher. I had him for my first semester of College German. The second semester I had Frau Wolhert. It has been 35 years since I took German. You know the old saying, “Use it or lose it.” Well, I have lost most of my German, except for one thing. Herr Wolhert taught us a folk song. To this day I can still sing the song, “Oh wie wohl ist mir am abend, mir am abend. Wenn su rue die glocken leuten, glocken leuten.” I doubt that I spelled it correctly. But I believe I still pronounce it correctly. “Oh how well I am in the evening, in the evening, When I hear the bells ringing, bells ringing.” The song is about getting off work. Even if I don’t get the words exactly right, I still have the melody imbedded in me and I remember the general meaning of the song.
Yesterday we asked, “How do we prepare someone to die?” We prepare them to live. Moses gave them a song about life. Songs are powerful tools. Moses gave us several songs. Miriam sang one in Exodus 15. This song in Deut 32 was specifically to teach the Israelites how to live. Psalm 90 also belongs to Moses. He wrote it at the end of his life. Verse 12 of Psalm 90 says, “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” The song in Deut 32 was given to teach the people how to live. It was given to teach us how to number our days. It was given to us to teach us to not waste our days on things that will not last.
What are the important concepts in this song that will teach us to number our days? First, God is our rock. He alone is the fount of truth and justice. He alone is our safety and refuge. We dare not go to any other for these things. Next we are to know that just as He has set boundaries for the peoples of the earth (v. 8), so He has given us a unique purpose in those boundaries. We need to find the purpose that the Lord has given us to live and learn to soar in that purpose. Next as we live in that purpose, the Lord will bless us. That blessing may be financial; it may be family; it may be spiritual; it may be emotions. We will become “fat” in that blessing. In the midst of that blessing we must always remember that it is the Lord’s blessing, not ours. We hold the blessing with a loose grip, willing to give it away whenever He asks. Otherwise, the blessing will lead us to make it a god. There is no god besides Him (v. 39). He and His glory must always remain preeminent. That is how we learn to evaluate and number our days. As we do that we will live for His glory. The song will be a powerful tool in giving our life meaning in light of His glory. We are prepared to live when we see His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 8:26-40
Do you realize that the glory of Jesus is stamped throughout Scripture? Remember on June 1 as we looked at John 12, John identified the glory of Yahweh as the glory of Christ? Here the Holy Spirit uses Isaiah 53:7,8 to capture the heart of the Ethiopian eunuch. He knew that Someone significant was being spoken of but he just couldn't quite figure out who it was. The eunuch longed to understand of Whom the Scripture spoke. Why? Because the glory of Christ was shining through it. What did Philip speak? "Beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him." As they came to water, the eunuch wanted this glorious Jesus. Apparently, Philip had mentioned baptism or the eunuch understood its significance from some Jewish teaching. But somehow this eunuch wanted the glory of Jesus and he understood it to be related to baptism--buried with Christ in baptism and risen to walk in newness of life. "What prevents me from being baptized?" he said. "You must first trust in Jesus," was Philip's reply. For someone who has seen the glory of Jesus, that's a no-brainer. The eunuch's reply was, "I believe." How about that? A Gentile from Ethiopia recognizes the glory of Jesus in the prophet Isaiah. But the hardened Jewish leaders do not. He wanted this glory to dwell in him. He received it. Whosoever will may come. That is the simple and magnificent glory of our Lord. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today! He uses your speech to draw others to Himself.
--Pastor John
Herr Wolhert was a great German teacher. I had him for my first semester of College German. The second semester I had Frau Wolhert. It has been 35 years since I took German. You know the old saying, “Use it or lose it.” Well, I have lost most of my German, except for one thing. Herr Wolhert taught us a folk song. To this day I can still sing the song, “Oh wie wohl ist mir am abend, mir am abend. Wenn su rue die glocken leuten, glocken leuten.” I doubt that I spelled it correctly. But I believe I still pronounce it correctly. “Oh how well I am in the evening, in the evening, When I hear the bells ringing, bells ringing.” The song is about getting off work. Even if I don’t get the words exactly right, I still have the melody imbedded in me and I remember the general meaning of the song.
Yesterday we asked, “How do we prepare someone to die?” We prepare them to live. Moses gave them a song about life. Songs are powerful tools. Moses gave us several songs. Miriam sang one in Exodus 15. This song in Deut 32 was specifically to teach the Israelites how to live. Psalm 90 also belongs to Moses. He wrote it at the end of his life. Verse 12 of Psalm 90 says, “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” The song in Deut 32 was given to teach the people how to live. It was given to teach us how to number our days. It was given to us to teach us to not waste our days on things that will not last.
What are the important concepts in this song that will teach us to number our days? First, God is our rock. He alone is the fount of truth and justice. He alone is our safety and refuge. We dare not go to any other for these things. Next we are to know that just as He has set boundaries for the peoples of the earth (v. 8), so He has given us a unique purpose in those boundaries. We need to find the purpose that the Lord has given us to live and learn to soar in that purpose. Next as we live in that purpose, the Lord will bless us. That blessing may be financial; it may be family; it may be spiritual; it may be emotions. We will become “fat” in that blessing. In the midst of that blessing we must always remember that it is the Lord’s blessing, not ours. We hold the blessing with a loose grip, willing to give it away whenever He asks. Otherwise, the blessing will lead us to make it a god. There is no god besides Him (v. 39). He and His glory must always remain preeminent. That is how we learn to evaluate and number our days. As we do that we will live for His glory. The song will be a powerful tool in giving our life meaning in light of His glory. We are prepared to live when we see His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 8:26-40
Do you realize that the glory of Jesus is stamped throughout Scripture? Remember on June 1 as we looked at John 12, John identified the glory of Yahweh as the glory of Christ? Here the Holy Spirit uses Isaiah 53:7,8 to capture the heart of the Ethiopian eunuch. He knew that Someone significant was being spoken of but he just couldn't quite figure out who it was. The eunuch longed to understand of Whom the Scripture spoke. Why? Because the glory of Christ was shining through it. What did Philip speak? "Beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him." As they came to water, the eunuch wanted this glorious Jesus. Apparently, Philip had mentioned baptism or the eunuch understood its significance from some Jewish teaching. But somehow this eunuch wanted the glory of Jesus and he understood it to be related to baptism--buried with Christ in baptism and risen to walk in newness of life. "What prevents me from being baptized?" he said. "You must first trust in Jesus," was Philip's reply. For someone who has seen the glory of Jesus, that's a no-brainer. The eunuch's reply was, "I believe." How about that? A Gentile from Ethiopia recognizes the glory of Jesus in the prophet Isaiah. But the hardened Jewish leaders do not. He wanted this glory to dwell in him. He received it. Whosoever will may come. That is the simple and magnificent glory of our Lord. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today! He uses your speech to draw others to Himself.
--Pastor John
June 26, 2010
Deuteronomy 31
My father died in January. My aunt died in February. A couple of mothers of my parishioners have passed recently. A friend and former parishioner died a few weeks ago; I preached her funeral. Yesterday, I received word that one of the women of our church passed away alone in her home while I am here in Mongolia. I have experienced some death since the first of the year. Death is an unwanted intruder for which we must all prepare. But God in His glory always brings honor to His name out of it. The Lord tells Moses to prepare to die. He has seen a whole generation pass away. Only he and Joshua and Caleb are left of those who were over 20 years of age when they left Egypt—not too good of a percentage. About .00015% made it to the edge of the Jordan. That’s a lot of dead people each day. Maybe an average as many as 140 people per day.
How do you prepare the people you are leaving behind for your death? You prepare them to live. Thirty-nine years earlier God gave the Law to Moses. He placed a copy of it in the Ark of the Covenant. Moses wrote another copy, Deuteronomy. The second copy was to be placed beside the Ark. He commanded the Priests that it should be read publically to the entire nation at least once every seven years. I wonder what would happen if we required the whole church to be present for the reading of the entire Word of God at least once every seven years. Then he inaugurated Joshua as the new leader. Then, the glory of the Lord appeared above the door of the tabernacle. How can I prepare the people I am leaving behind for my death? I make sure that the Word of God is incorporated into their lives. I make sure that they understand the proper role of leadership. I give them every opportunity to see the glory of God. Certainly it is God’s prerogative to let His glory appear. However, we have a responsibility to be in the Word, yield to leadership and be looking for His glory. His glory is seen even in death, if we are in the right position to see it. We are prepared to live when we see His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 8:1-25
One would think that a glorious King would protect His servants from the enemy, if He had it within His power to do so. Jesus certainly has it within His power to strike down those that hate and oppose Him and hate and oppose His servants. How can it increase His glory to not strike them down? Remember in Acts 1 we said, "Right now, the glory of Christ is seen by the world only in His people who are filled with His Holy Spirit and are busy witnessing by their words and actions, making disciples, building His church." His plan is to increase His glory through us. He desires that because of the filling of His Holy Spirit that each one of us would display His character in each of us. How can the world see the self-sacrificing love of Christ for an enemy, unless some of us lay down our lives for those who hate us? The only alternative is that people read about it in a book, or be told about it in a sermon, or see it in a movie. But somehow none of those are quite as real as when one of us does it. Not necessarily that we should be seeking to be martyred but rather all of life is laid aside for Jesus so that, if the choice is ever presented between Jesus & life, there is no hesitation because we know the excellence of Jesus over life. In this way the people of the world see the glory of Christ modeled in human flesh. It becomes more convincing. His glory is increased.
Also, our glorious King had commanded the gospel be taken into Samaria. The church, although numbering in the tens of thousands had not gone to Samaria. This persecution scattered the disciples. They probably should have scattered much sooner. Philip the deacon, not the apostle, went to Samaria. The King of Glory empowered him to do mighty deeds there. The enemy was scattered and confounded. The King of Glory was glorified through an ordinary servant of the church. That’s what the King wants. He wants to glorify himself through ordinary people. He wants the world to see what He can do. Not what extraordinary people can do. The apostles came up to view what was going on. Then the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Samaritans just as at Pentecost. This confirmed the second portion of Lord's instruction in Acts 1:8, ". . . You shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. . ."
Does He still want to glorify Himself today? Of course, He does. Why don't we see more of that confounding of the enemy? We don't see more of it probably because I/we don't lay down our lives. We are too busy promoting the self-life instead of the exchanged life. The result is that our lives, marriages, families, churches are all filled with self. God won't glorify that. He has only one solution for the self life--crucify it. He only glorifies His Son. After all He is the only One worth glorifying. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
My father died in January. My aunt died in February. A couple of mothers of my parishioners have passed recently. A friend and former parishioner died a few weeks ago; I preached her funeral. Yesterday, I received word that one of the women of our church passed away alone in her home while I am here in Mongolia. I have experienced some death since the first of the year. Death is an unwanted intruder for which we must all prepare. But God in His glory always brings honor to His name out of it. The Lord tells Moses to prepare to die. He has seen a whole generation pass away. Only he and Joshua and Caleb are left of those who were over 20 years of age when they left Egypt—not too good of a percentage. About .00015% made it to the edge of the Jordan. That’s a lot of dead people each day. Maybe an average as many as 140 people per day.
How do you prepare the people you are leaving behind for your death? You prepare them to live. Thirty-nine years earlier God gave the Law to Moses. He placed a copy of it in the Ark of the Covenant. Moses wrote another copy, Deuteronomy. The second copy was to be placed beside the Ark. He commanded the Priests that it should be read publically to the entire nation at least once every seven years. I wonder what would happen if we required the whole church to be present for the reading of the entire Word of God at least once every seven years. Then he inaugurated Joshua as the new leader. Then, the glory of the Lord appeared above the door of the tabernacle. How can I prepare the people I am leaving behind for my death? I make sure that the Word of God is incorporated into their lives. I make sure that they understand the proper role of leadership. I give them every opportunity to see the glory of God. Certainly it is God’s prerogative to let His glory appear. However, we have a responsibility to be in the Word, yield to leadership and be looking for His glory. His glory is seen even in death, if we are in the right position to see it. We are prepared to live when we see His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 8:1-25
One would think that a glorious King would protect His servants from the enemy, if He had it within His power to do so. Jesus certainly has it within His power to strike down those that hate and oppose Him and hate and oppose His servants. How can it increase His glory to not strike them down? Remember in Acts 1 we said, "Right now, the glory of Christ is seen by the world only in His people who are filled with His Holy Spirit and are busy witnessing by their words and actions, making disciples, building His church." His plan is to increase His glory through us. He desires that because of the filling of His Holy Spirit that each one of us would display His character in each of us. How can the world see the self-sacrificing love of Christ for an enemy, unless some of us lay down our lives for those who hate us? The only alternative is that people read about it in a book, or be told about it in a sermon, or see it in a movie. But somehow none of those are quite as real as when one of us does it. Not necessarily that we should be seeking to be martyred but rather all of life is laid aside for Jesus so that, if the choice is ever presented between Jesus & life, there is no hesitation because we know the excellence of Jesus over life. In this way the people of the world see the glory of Christ modeled in human flesh. It becomes more convincing. His glory is increased.
Also, our glorious King had commanded the gospel be taken into Samaria. The church, although numbering in the tens of thousands had not gone to Samaria. This persecution scattered the disciples. They probably should have scattered much sooner. Philip the deacon, not the apostle, went to Samaria. The King of Glory empowered him to do mighty deeds there. The enemy was scattered and confounded. The King of Glory was glorified through an ordinary servant of the church. That’s what the King wants. He wants to glorify himself through ordinary people. He wants the world to see what He can do. Not what extraordinary people can do. The apostles came up to view what was going on. Then the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Samaritans just as at Pentecost. This confirmed the second portion of Lord's instruction in Acts 1:8, ". . . You shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. . ."
Does He still want to glorify Himself today? Of course, He does. Why don't we see more of that confounding of the enemy? We don't see more of it probably because I/we don't lay down our lives. We are too busy promoting the self-life instead of the exchanged life. The result is that our lives, marriages, families, churches are all filled with self. God won't glorify that. He has only one solution for the self life--crucify it. He only glorifies His Son. After all He is the only One worth glorifying. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Thursday, June 24, 2010
June 25, 2010
Deuteronomy 30
“Chaffin, you are as good of a fielder as anybody on the team, but I swear if I rolled a basketball to you on the ground, you couldn’t hit it.” The words of my 14-and-under baseball coach stung rather smartly in my spirit, particularly as we rode back home after the game. My athletic experiences of organized sports were not too encouraging. Most of my memories are rather negative. I was so bad at basketball that I was the only one who tried out for the team that never even got to suit up for a game. I think my coach rather wished that I had not come out for the team. He ignored me most of the time. Most of my football memories aren’t much better. With the exception of my last game, I was usually yanked from the game with a few unpleasant words spoken. That last game was different. I finally had hit my niche. I started at nose guard and even finished it as well. I finally heard some encouraging words from my coach, “Chaffin, if I knew you could play nose guard like that, you would have been there all season.” It felt good to hear my coach rejoice over me.
I took note of today’s passage that when the nation of Israel sought the Lord with all their heart, He would rejoice over them. Wow, can you imagine, the King of the Universe rejoicing over you? Who cares about a coach of some dumb sport? We have opportunity to have the King of the Universe rejoice over us. It is this passage that Paul quotes in Romans 10:6-8 and then applies it in 10:9,10. You see the true faith in the Lord and confession of that faith results in that obedience which causes the Lord to rejoice over us. Wow! My King, the King of the Universe is rejoicing over me when I exercise faith that results in obedience! You know, that really feels good! I don’t want to be on the bench. I want to suit up and get in the game! It is not too difficult. I simply trust and obey. He provides the fuel for obedience. I only choose. He rejoices over me. It is not difficult because He performs it. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 7:44-60
Stephen makes a clear case that the glory that was revealed in the patriarchs, Moses and the prophets was the glory of Jesus. The fathers of these religious leaders had resisted the glory of God (and thereby the glory of Jesus) just as these religious leaders had resisted the glory of Jesus by crucifying Him. As they sought to kill Stephen for speaking the truth, Stephen saw a greater glory of God, i.e. Jesus standing at His right hand, the place of prominence and power. Normally a monarch remains seated while in court. Jesus stood to receive His faithful servant into His court. What glory! Interesting isn't it that the more we resist the glory of Christ, the less we see of it, and the more we speak the glory of Christ, the more we see of it? That is the way Jesus works. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
“Chaffin, you are as good of a fielder as anybody on the team, but I swear if I rolled a basketball to you on the ground, you couldn’t hit it.” The words of my 14-and-under baseball coach stung rather smartly in my spirit, particularly as we rode back home after the game. My athletic experiences of organized sports were not too encouraging. Most of my memories are rather negative. I was so bad at basketball that I was the only one who tried out for the team that never even got to suit up for a game. I think my coach rather wished that I had not come out for the team. He ignored me most of the time. Most of my football memories aren’t much better. With the exception of my last game, I was usually yanked from the game with a few unpleasant words spoken. That last game was different. I finally had hit my niche. I started at nose guard and even finished it as well. I finally heard some encouraging words from my coach, “Chaffin, if I knew you could play nose guard like that, you would have been there all season.” It felt good to hear my coach rejoice over me.
I took note of today’s passage that when the nation of Israel sought the Lord with all their heart, He would rejoice over them. Wow, can you imagine, the King of the Universe rejoicing over you? Who cares about a coach of some dumb sport? We have opportunity to have the King of the Universe rejoice over us. It is this passage that Paul quotes in Romans 10:6-8 and then applies it in 10:9,10. You see the true faith in the Lord and confession of that faith results in that obedience which causes the Lord to rejoice over us. Wow! My King, the King of the Universe is rejoicing over me when I exercise faith that results in obedience! You know, that really feels good! I don’t want to be on the bench. I want to suit up and get in the game! It is not too difficult. I simply trust and obey. He provides the fuel for obedience. I only choose. He rejoices over me. It is not difficult because He performs it. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 7:44-60
Stephen makes a clear case that the glory that was revealed in the patriarchs, Moses and the prophets was the glory of Jesus. The fathers of these religious leaders had resisted the glory of God (and thereby the glory of Jesus) just as these religious leaders had resisted the glory of Jesus by crucifying Him. As they sought to kill Stephen for speaking the truth, Stephen saw a greater glory of God, i.e. Jesus standing at His right hand, the place of prominence and power. Normally a monarch remains seated while in court. Jesus stood to receive His faithful servant into His court. What glory! Interesting isn't it that the more we resist the glory of Christ, the less we see of it, and the more we speak the glory of Christ, the more we see of it? That is the way Jesus works. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
June 24, 2010
Deuteronomy 29
An acquaintance of mine has published several books on Christian Education. He tells the joke/story that during book signing events he frequently signs his name with the reference Deut. 29:29, which reads, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” One day after a particularly long day, he signed it Deut. 28:28. Later the lady came back and asked why he had signed it that way. He said that he had meant Deut. 29:29. He couldn’t remember what 28:28 said. So, he looked it up. It reads, “The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart.”
Is it not amazing that the God of the Universe would seek to establish us in a covenant with Him? He desires us to be a people just for Himself that He would be a God to us! How awesome is that? He is very jealous of that relationship. I am very jealous of my relationship with my wife. There is only one person to whom I want her to be more attached, that is God. It is right that I should be that way. The God of the Universe is very jealous. There is no person to whom He wants us to be more attached! It is right that He should be that way. After all, He is the God of the Universe. Nevertheless I am overwhelmed that the God of the Universe should desire such a relationship with me.
Everything He designs and permits to come into my life, He does so with the goal of enhancing that relationship with me. I do not fully understand His motivations in everything He designs and permits. They are often times secret. He does not make them known to me, nor is it incumbent upon Him to do so. But He has revealed this—He loves me, and wants my affections set on Him first. That is also true for my children. He has also revealed that He desires that I should obey Him. Anyone who says that they know Him yet has no desire to obey Him should beware. Either they do not know Him, or they are about to receive some pretty severe discipline. Either way, it will not be pleasant. You see He is jealous for His own glory—rightly so. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 7:22-43
Moses understood himself to be some sort of a deliverer. But even having been raised in Pharaoh's court, his delusions of grandeur were too small. He had not yet met the God of glory. He thought that he could deliver his brethren from temporary oppression through murder. It didn't work. Forty years he lived in Pharaoh's court, believing he was somebody. Forty years in the desert he lived as a shepherd, learning he was nobody. But then he heard the voice of the Lord. He saw the Lord of Glory in a burning bush. Later he met the Lord of Glory atop Mt. Sinai. Understanding the glory of the Lord made all the difference in the world. He delivered 2,000,000 from Egypt to Mt. Sinai by just depending upon God to show His glory. He didn't have to commit murder. He left everything in God's hands. He simply spoke the glory of God as it was revealed to him. Moses learned that God takes nobodies who depend only upon His glory and does marvelous things for His own glory. That is the way Jesus works. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
An acquaintance of mine has published several books on Christian Education. He tells the joke/story that during book signing events he frequently signs his name with the reference Deut. 29:29, which reads, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” One day after a particularly long day, he signed it Deut. 28:28. Later the lady came back and asked why he had signed it that way. He said that he had meant Deut. 29:29. He couldn’t remember what 28:28 said. So, he looked it up. It reads, “The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart.”
Is it not amazing that the God of the Universe would seek to establish us in a covenant with Him? He desires us to be a people just for Himself that He would be a God to us! How awesome is that? He is very jealous of that relationship. I am very jealous of my relationship with my wife. There is only one person to whom I want her to be more attached, that is God. It is right that I should be that way. The God of the Universe is very jealous. There is no person to whom He wants us to be more attached! It is right that He should be that way. After all, He is the God of the Universe. Nevertheless I am overwhelmed that the God of the Universe should desire such a relationship with me.
Everything He designs and permits to come into my life, He does so with the goal of enhancing that relationship with me. I do not fully understand His motivations in everything He designs and permits. They are often times secret. He does not make them known to me, nor is it incumbent upon Him to do so. But He has revealed this—He loves me, and wants my affections set on Him first. That is also true for my children. He has also revealed that He desires that I should obey Him. Anyone who says that they know Him yet has no desire to obey Him should beware. Either they do not know Him, or they are about to receive some pretty severe discipline. Either way, it will not be pleasant. You see He is jealous for His own glory—rightly so. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 7:22-43
Moses understood himself to be some sort of a deliverer. But even having been raised in Pharaoh's court, his delusions of grandeur were too small. He had not yet met the God of glory. He thought that he could deliver his brethren from temporary oppression through murder. It didn't work. Forty years he lived in Pharaoh's court, believing he was somebody. Forty years in the desert he lived as a shepherd, learning he was nobody. But then he heard the voice of the Lord. He saw the Lord of Glory in a burning bush. Later he met the Lord of Glory atop Mt. Sinai. Understanding the glory of the Lord made all the difference in the world. He delivered 2,000,000 from Egypt to Mt. Sinai by just depending upon God to show His glory. He didn't have to commit murder. He left everything in God's hands. He simply spoke the glory of God as it was revealed to him. Moses learned that God takes nobodies who depend only upon His glory and does marvelous things for His own glory. That is the way Jesus works. Indeed we serve a glorious king! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
June 23, 2010
Deuteronomy 28
I was born in 1955 shortly after the call to an end of hostilities in Korea. Growing up, I thought of Korea as a small impoverished nation. In the 1970’s I began to learn of a revival that was sweeping Korea. In 1977 a friend of mine visited Seoul in order to be part of EXPLO ’77 organized by Campus Crusade for Christ. Over one million people attended the event. It was believed at the time to be the largest gathering of Christians that the world had ever seen. Today South Korea sends a high percentage of her believers throughout the world. The largest single church in the world is in Seoul. When I think of South Korea, I think of Christians with a zeal for the Lord, a commitment to prayer and a willingness to sacrifice for the Gospel. It is interesting that along with this rise of spirituality in South Korea that there has also come a rise in economic prosperity. I no longer think of South Korea as a small impoverished nation. It is economically affluent, intellectually advanced and a leader in the world. Indeed, today I am teaching at Mongolian International University. MIU is here at the request of the Mongolian government, but it exists because of the help of South Korea-her churches in particular.
We remember from yesterday’s reading that justice that was revealed on Mount Ebal. Flowing down from the justice pronounced on Mount Ebal to the valley before Mt. Gerazim, the Lord instructed an altar to be built. The only remedy for the transgression of justice is death, hence the altar. In today’s passage we read of the blessings that God would pronounce upon the nation if they obeyed. Flowing out of justice through sacrifice, blessing is received in God’s mercy as the result of obedience. Is it not interesting that prosperity of many kinds was promised to Israel after justice was satisfied and obedience was secured? Is it not interesting that the history of the USA follows roughly the same path? Is it not also interesting that as the USA has turned her back upon the Lord, and Christians have spent more of their income and time upon themselves that the USA has begun to decline? Is it not interesting that as South Korea began to turn to the Lord that she also began to increase in other ways? Is it not interesting that China who sought to destroy Christianity in her borders in the 50’s and 60’s found a dramatic increase in the growth of the church. Of her one billion+ population it is estimated that over one hundred million name the name of Christ. Is it not interesting that China in recent years has also begun to prosper. It is her prosperity that has caused her to begin to buy up metals driving up the price of metals worldwide. Is it any coincidence that her rise in prosperity corresponds to a rise in her people turning to Jesus as Lord and Savior? It is the Chinese house church that has committed herself to completing the great commission by taking the Gospel back to Jerusalem along the Silk Road.
It is the principle of Deuteronomy 27 & 28 that the Lord desires to bless His people when his justice is satisfied and obedience procured. But beware; in that blessing we become selfish thinking that we are the source of the blessing and we spend it upon ourselves. The result is that we turn from the Lord to the blessing. When we do that, cursing is just down the road. Yes, He is a God of justice, mercy and grace. We can never leave out just one. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 7:1-21
Stephen begins his defense before the council. As we will see when he finishes the defense, it is really more of an offense. Why? They have missed the glory of God, and Stephen wants to make sure they understand the glory of God in the flow of Biblical history. It was the God of Glory who called Abraham apart and gave him the promise that in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. That seed is Jesus! It was the God of Glory who worked in all the circumstances of Joseph resulting in the salvation of Israel's family and their move to Egypt. Joseph is a type of Jesus! It was the God of Glory who arranged for the daughter of Pharaoh to rescue Moses from the river and allowed Moses to grow up in Pharaoh's court. Moses received much needed training in Pharaoh's court that equipped him to be God's deliverer. Jesus is God's ultimate deliverer. He is our King of Glory! He is the promised seed of Abraham who blesses all ethnic groups. Like Joseph, He is the patient One who endured the humility of becoming human and the agonies of becoming sin on our behalf that He might bear the eternal justice of God and rescue us from the penalty and power of sin. He is a deliverer of the magnitude that Moses could only be a small foreshadowing. This is the glory of our King. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
I was born in 1955 shortly after the call to an end of hostilities in Korea. Growing up, I thought of Korea as a small impoverished nation. In the 1970’s I began to learn of a revival that was sweeping Korea. In 1977 a friend of mine visited Seoul in order to be part of EXPLO ’77 organized by Campus Crusade for Christ. Over one million people attended the event. It was believed at the time to be the largest gathering of Christians that the world had ever seen. Today South Korea sends a high percentage of her believers throughout the world. The largest single church in the world is in Seoul. When I think of South Korea, I think of Christians with a zeal for the Lord, a commitment to prayer and a willingness to sacrifice for the Gospel. It is interesting that along with this rise of spirituality in South Korea that there has also come a rise in economic prosperity. I no longer think of South Korea as a small impoverished nation. It is economically affluent, intellectually advanced and a leader in the world. Indeed, today I am teaching at Mongolian International University. MIU is here at the request of the Mongolian government, but it exists because of the help of South Korea-her churches in particular.
We remember from yesterday’s reading that justice that was revealed on Mount Ebal. Flowing down from the justice pronounced on Mount Ebal to the valley before Mt. Gerazim, the Lord instructed an altar to be built. The only remedy for the transgression of justice is death, hence the altar. In today’s passage we read of the blessings that God would pronounce upon the nation if they obeyed. Flowing out of justice through sacrifice, blessing is received in God’s mercy as the result of obedience. Is it not interesting that prosperity of many kinds was promised to Israel after justice was satisfied and obedience was secured? Is it not interesting that the history of the USA follows roughly the same path? Is it not also interesting that as the USA has turned her back upon the Lord, and Christians have spent more of their income and time upon themselves that the USA has begun to decline? Is it not interesting that as South Korea began to turn to the Lord that she also began to increase in other ways? Is it not interesting that China who sought to destroy Christianity in her borders in the 50’s and 60’s found a dramatic increase in the growth of the church. Of her one billion+ population it is estimated that over one hundred million name the name of Christ. Is it not interesting that China in recent years has also begun to prosper. It is her prosperity that has caused her to begin to buy up metals driving up the price of metals worldwide. Is it any coincidence that her rise in prosperity corresponds to a rise in her people turning to Jesus as Lord and Savior? It is the Chinese house church that has committed herself to completing the great commission by taking the Gospel back to Jerusalem along the Silk Road.
It is the principle of Deuteronomy 27 & 28 that the Lord desires to bless His people when his justice is satisfied and obedience procured. But beware; in that blessing we become selfish thinking that we are the source of the blessing and we spend it upon ourselves. The result is that we turn from the Lord to the blessing. When we do that, cursing is just down the road. Yes, He is a God of justice, mercy and grace. We can never leave out just one. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 7:1-21
Stephen begins his defense before the council. As we will see when he finishes the defense, it is really more of an offense. Why? They have missed the glory of God, and Stephen wants to make sure they understand the glory of God in the flow of Biblical history. It was the God of Glory who called Abraham apart and gave him the promise that in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. That seed is Jesus! It was the God of Glory who worked in all the circumstances of Joseph resulting in the salvation of Israel's family and their move to Egypt. Joseph is a type of Jesus! It was the God of Glory who arranged for the daughter of Pharaoh to rescue Moses from the river and allowed Moses to grow up in Pharaoh's court. Moses received much needed training in Pharaoh's court that equipped him to be God's deliverer. Jesus is God's ultimate deliverer. He is our King of Glory! He is the promised seed of Abraham who blesses all ethnic groups. Like Joseph, He is the patient One who endured the humility of becoming human and the agonies of becoming sin on our behalf that He might bear the eternal justice of God and rescue us from the penalty and power of sin. He is a deliverer of the magnitude that Moses could only be a small foreshadowing. This is the glory of our King. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Monday, June 21, 2010
June 22, 2010
June 22, 2010 Deuteronomy 27
Saturday I had the privilege of going to the Mongolian National Museum. On display there is a huge granite stone many centuries old. It was quarried as a tall rectangle at least 8 feet tall. Engraved on three sides was Mongolian script, and on the back side was Chinese script. I have forgotten now what the text was about. But I am sure that it had something to do with the glory of the country and its laws. In ancient times it was a practice for rulers and conquerors to record their glories on large upright stones for all to read. It was a way in which they could live forever by recording what they accomplished. Other kings, such as Hammurabi, would record the laws of the land. By these stones we know how just the kings were. The Egyptians had engravings for the important things. But for things of slightly less importance they would plaster stones and then paint on them. This was an easier, and hence, somewhat cheaper method.
The Lord instructs the Israelites to build a heap of stones on Mt. Ebal, plaster it, and then write the Law upon it. A few days ago we looked at the justice of God. Here we see on display once again His mighty justice. It was to be recorded for all to read. But wait, is God cheap? Why does he have them plaster the stones and paint upon them. We all know that the best paint jobs left out in the weather never last more than one generation at best. Could it be that God wanted this to be a continual event, so that at least once every generation, the nation would be reminded of His glorious justice? There is a place for meditating upon justice. Without it we do not understand mercy and grace. I want to revel in mercy and grace, but without understanding justice, mercy and grace are meaningless. I am so glad that God is just, aren’t you? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 6
"There arose a complaint." Satan is always trying to destroy the glory of Christ. His best weapon is to use Christians. He tried it in Ananias and Saphira. It backfired on him. Here he is trying the racism angle. In a city made up mainly of Hebrews, the complaint among believers arose. The Gentile widows felt that they were being neglected in the church's care. Real or perceived it was a complaint. If it was real, then the racist fault lay with the Hebrews. If it was perceived, then the fault lay with the Greeks. If it was a mixture of the real and the perceived, then some fault lay on both sides. The unity of the young church is being tested. How will our glorious Lord respond? That the unity of the church had not been tested before this point is a real tribute to the glory of our Lord. Adding up the numbers given in previous chapters, the church has to number more than 10,000 by this point in her life. It is no wonder that the religious leaders were threatened. They were losing control, losing members.
The solution of the twelve, as they reasoned together, was to select seven servants, for the purpose of overseeing the distribution of food to the widows. It is amazing to me that they could ever have grown this large and only just now needing to elect deacons! It is a great testimony to the glory of the Lord. When thousands are yielded to Him, filled with His Spirit, He can move them with very little "official" leaders. The key is that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and were focused on the glory of Christ. What was the criteria for selecting these seven?
1. of good reputation
2. full of the Holy Spirit
3. full of wisdom
What is the Lord of Glory's answer to complaint? Assign the problem to men who have a reputation for being full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. His glory shines through them, as is seen in the stories of 2 of the 7, Stephen and Philip. Apparently the Lord's plan worked. We have no more report of complaint. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Saturday I had the privilege of going to the Mongolian National Museum. On display there is a huge granite stone many centuries old. It was quarried as a tall rectangle at least 8 feet tall. Engraved on three sides was Mongolian script, and on the back side was Chinese script. I have forgotten now what the text was about. But I am sure that it had something to do with the glory of the country and its laws. In ancient times it was a practice for rulers and conquerors to record their glories on large upright stones for all to read. It was a way in which they could live forever by recording what they accomplished. Other kings, such as Hammurabi, would record the laws of the land. By these stones we know how just the kings were. The Egyptians had engravings for the important things. But for things of slightly less importance they would plaster stones and then paint on them. This was an easier, and hence, somewhat cheaper method.
The Lord instructs the Israelites to build a heap of stones on Mt. Ebal, plaster it, and then write the Law upon it. A few days ago we looked at the justice of God. Here we see on display once again His mighty justice. It was to be recorded for all to read. But wait, is God cheap? Why does he have them plaster the stones and paint upon them. We all know that the best paint jobs left out in the weather never last more than one generation at best. Could it be that God wanted this to be a continual event, so that at least once every generation, the nation would be reminded of His glorious justice? There is a place for meditating upon justice. Without it we do not understand mercy and grace. I want to revel in mercy and grace, but without understanding justice, mercy and grace are meaningless. I am so glad that God is just, aren’t you? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 6
"There arose a complaint." Satan is always trying to destroy the glory of Christ. His best weapon is to use Christians. He tried it in Ananias and Saphira. It backfired on him. Here he is trying the racism angle. In a city made up mainly of Hebrews, the complaint among believers arose. The Gentile widows felt that they were being neglected in the church's care. Real or perceived it was a complaint. If it was real, then the racist fault lay with the Hebrews. If it was perceived, then the fault lay with the Greeks. If it was a mixture of the real and the perceived, then some fault lay on both sides. The unity of the young church is being tested. How will our glorious Lord respond? That the unity of the church had not been tested before this point is a real tribute to the glory of our Lord. Adding up the numbers given in previous chapters, the church has to number more than 10,000 by this point in her life. It is no wonder that the religious leaders were threatened. They were losing control, losing members.
The solution of the twelve, as they reasoned together, was to select seven servants, for the purpose of overseeing the distribution of food to the widows. It is amazing to me that they could ever have grown this large and only just now needing to elect deacons! It is a great testimony to the glory of the Lord. When thousands are yielded to Him, filled with His Spirit, He can move them with very little "official" leaders. The key is that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and were focused on the glory of Christ. What was the criteria for selecting these seven?
1. of good reputation
2. full of the Holy Spirit
3. full of wisdom
What is the Lord of Glory's answer to complaint? Assign the problem to men who have a reputation for being full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. His glory shines through them, as is seen in the stories of 2 of the 7, Stephen and Philip. Apparently the Lord's plan worked. We have no more report of complaint. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 21, 2010
June 21, 2010 Deuteronomy 26
I was dying, indeed dead, in my sin. My enemy was dancing in victory over me. I was without hope and lost. But Jesus came. He took my sin upon Himself. He died taking the penalty of my sin. He rose on the third day. He embraced me in His death. He held me in His resurrection. He led me out of Hell with a mighty and outstretched hand. He broke the power of my enemy over me. He gave hope and freedom. I now know where I am and in a real sense where I am going. I have claimed a kingdom that He has won. He has invited me to live here. No, it is not a land upon this earth. It is a spiritual land, a land flowing with milk and honey. There is no lack here. I possess it right now. There are giants in this land. At times I have thought them to be overwhelming. But they are not. I have His victory. My physical wealth is immaterial for I am spiritually rich beyond imagination. If I can share anything of value with you, it is this. I choose to want and desire only His glory. If I can share that with you, I will have given you riches beyond compare. Do I believe this? Do you believe this? That is what this chapter is all about. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 5:17-42
Wow! one miracle after another just keeps happening! The Apostles are arrested. The Lord sends an angel to set them free during the night and tells them to go back to the temple to preach the Word of Christ. And they do it! I don't know about you, but in my flesh, if I had been arrested for the second time, I might question the wisdom of this plan of action, after all, these people had crucified the Lord of Glory. Couldn't there be another town that needs to hear about His glory? But then, when you are consumed with the glory of your Lord who is a glorious King, what a privilege it would be to go back to those who had jailed you and who probably could not figure out how you escaped, to preach the good news of your glorious Lord to them! Gamaliel's advice was well given. He didn't know how the Apostles escaped. He suspected God's hand. The glory was shining so brightly that it almost forced him to see what he did not wish to see. At times, even the glory of God cannot be seen when we do not wish to see it.
The Apostles were beaten for preaching the name of Jesus. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name. Why? It was because they were consumed with the glory of their King! He is a King who keeps sending His messengers to those who hate Him. He continually holds out His arms to receive those who hate Him. And He gives us the privilege to be His arms! Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
I was dying, indeed dead, in my sin. My enemy was dancing in victory over me. I was without hope and lost. But Jesus came. He took my sin upon Himself. He died taking the penalty of my sin. He rose on the third day. He embraced me in His death. He held me in His resurrection. He led me out of Hell with a mighty and outstretched hand. He broke the power of my enemy over me. He gave hope and freedom. I now know where I am and in a real sense where I am going. I have claimed a kingdom that He has won. He has invited me to live here. No, it is not a land upon this earth. It is a spiritual land, a land flowing with milk and honey. There is no lack here. I possess it right now. There are giants in this land. At times I have thought them to be overwhelming. But they are not. I have His victory. My physical wealth is immaterial for I am spiritually rich beyond imagination. If I can share anything of value with you, it is this. I choose to want and desire only His glory. If I can share that with you, I will have given you riches beyond compare. Do I believe this? Do you believe this? That is what this chapter is all about. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 5:17-42
Wow! one miracle after another just keeps happening! The Apostles are arrested. The Lord sends an angel to set them free during the night and tells them to go back to the temple to preach the Word of Christ. And they do it! I don't know about you, but in my flesh, if I had been arrested for the second time, I might question the wisdom of this plan of action, after all, these people had crucified the Lord of Glory. Couldn't there be another town that needs to hear about His glory? But then, when you are consumed with the glory of your Lord who is a glorious King, what a privilege it would be to go back to those who had jailed you and who probably could not figure out how you escaped, to preach the good news of your glorious Lord to them! Gamaliel's advice was well given. He didn't know how the Apostles escaped. He suspected God's hand. The glory was shining so brightly that it almost forced him to see what he did not wish to see. At times, even the glory of God cannot be seen when we do not wish to see it.
The Apostles were beaten for preaching the name of Jesus. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name. Why? It was because they were consumed with the glory of their King! He is a King who keeps sending His messengers to those who hate Him. He continually holds out His arms to receive those who hate Him. And He gives us the privilege to be His arms! Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 20, 2010
June 20, 2010 Deuteronomy 25
It was unfair, unjust. I had just received my first six week report card for the second reporting period of the semester. I had an “F”. I had moved to the school system at the beginning of the second reporting period. I was certain that the 7th grade library science teacher had told me that I was not liable for the first six weeks material. Apparently I heard her wrong. While I had done “A” work for the second reporting period, any seventh grade math student knows that 100% averaged with 0% equals 50%. But it wasn’t fair. How could I be held responsible for class work assigned when I was not enrolled, and what is more; I was certain that she told me I did not have to make up the first six weeks class work. It wasn’t beyond my ability. Most of the work was just busy work. It was the first time that I ever challenged a teacher with such emotion. I am fortunate that I was not sent to the office. My volume level was way too high for the proper manner to address one in authority. Fortunately, for me I brought myself under control before I used the words that had come to mind to describe her to her face. But she had mercy and a little grace. She told me that I could still complete the work, and if I handed it in by Monday, she would not penalize me for being late. I had gone a full six weeks without handing in any of the first six weeks assignments. Nor had she ever given me the handouts that were required in order to finish the assignments. You would think she would have said something before this point. I was unfair, unjust. But she was the one in authority, and I could do nothing about it. I did the work during the weekend, handed it in on Monday, and eventually received an “A” on the semester report. (I had some tough explaining to do to my parents, especially since the teacher was an acquaintance of my mother in the Business and Professional Women’s club.)
There is something in everyone that cries out for justice. Perhaps it is part of what Solomon was talking about when he said that God had set “eternity in their hearts.” That life is not fair is the theme of many works of literature and many movies. One of my favorite movies is Labyrinth. A recurring line of the heroine is, “Its not fair!” In today’s passage we have a number of situations where God is teaching that His people should be just in all their dealings. The court system was provided so that justice would prevail. The ox was not to be muzzled while it ground the grain; the laborer is worthy of his wage. Weights and measurements were to be perfect and just. Even Amalek who unjustly attacked the nation of Israel was to be dealt with severely in justice. Our God is indeed a just God and demands that we live our affairs in a just manner.
But wait; He is also merciful. If divine justice were immediately carried out in each of us, we would all be immediately slain. Look at a couple of items of mercy within this passage that temper the justice of God. When a man is guilty of a crime so that in the execution of justice he is truly worthy of being beaten, he was not to be beaten in such a way that his value as a human is diminished in the eyes of others. (Now there is a difficult balancing act.)
But right in the middle of this talk of justice is instruction that is hard to handle for the western mind. It is the law of levirate marriage. What does this have to do with justice and mercy. This is one of those Scriptural pictures of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. In their culture, the land (and hence, the ability to succeed economically) traveled through the male’s side of the family. If a woman married and had no sons, and her husband died, there would be no heir to the land and there would be no one to care for the woman economically. The unmarried brother, Kinsman Redeemer, needed to marry the dead brother’s wife for the continuance of the family name and for the economic security of the woman. The requirement for the Kinsman Redeemer was to be the closest relative and to have the ability to provide and the desire to provide. Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. Justice demanded that in Adam we all died. As God, He became man. As man, He is our closest relative. As God and man, he had the ability to pay the penalty of our sin for only as a man could He die; only as God could He be pure and able to pay the penalty of our sin. Finally, He had the desire to pay the penalty. What a picture of mercy! His justice demands our death. His mercy pays the penalty Himself. What glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 5:1-16
The glory of Jesus in the Jerusalem church was reaching a crescendo. Satan hates that. He is always looking for a place in the church to destroy the glory of Christ. He found it in Ananias & Sapphira. A&S were not focused on the glory of Christ but on what others thought of them--upon their own glory. They saw the esteem with which others held Joses called Barnabas. They wanted that same esteem from others.
They compulsively hung on to their glory rather than the glory of Christ. Jesus had already made it clear that those who wish to follow Him must give up all--especially their own glory. God will not share His glory with another. When the people of God are consumed with the glory of Christ, then His blessing is upon the church in power. When the people of God are consumed with their own glory, death is down the road.
Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
It was unfair, unjust. I had just received my first six week report card for the second reporting period of the semester. I had an “F”. I had moved to the school system at the beginning of the second reporting period. I was certain that the 7th grade library science teacher had told me that I was not liable for the first six weeks material. Apparently I heard her wrong. While I had done “A” work for the second reporting period, any seventh grade math student knows that 100% averaged with 0% equals 50%. But it wasn’t fair. How could I be held responsible for class work assigned when I was not enrolled, and what is more; I was certain that she told me I did not have to make up the first six weeks class work. It wasn’t beyond my ability. Most of the work was just busy work. It was the first time that I ever challenged a teacher with such emotion. I am fortunate that I was not sent to the office. My volume level was way too high for the proper manner to address one in authority. Fortunately, for me I brought myself under control before I used the words that had come to mind to describe her to her face. But she had mercy and a little grace. She told me that I could still complete the work, and if I handed it in by Monday, she would not penalize me for being late. I had gone a full six weeks without handing in any of the first six weeks assignments. Nor had she ever given me the handouts that were required in order to finish the assignments. You would think she would have said something before this point. I was unfair, unjust. But she was the one in authority, and I could do nothing about it. I did the work during the weekend, handed it in on Monday, and eventually received an “A” on the semester report. (I had some tough explaining to do to my parents, especially since the teacher was an acquaintance of my mother in the Business and Professional Women’s club.)
There is something in everyone that cries out for justice. Perhaps it is part of what Solomon was talking about when he said that God had set “eternity in their hearts.” That life is not fair is the theme of many works of literature and many movies. One of my favorite movies is Labyrinth. A recurring line of the heroine is, “Its not fair!” In today’s passage we have a number of situations where God is teaching that His people should be just in all their dealings. The court system was provided so that justice would prevail. The ox was not to be muzzled while it ground the grain; the laborer is worthy of his wage. Weights and measurements were to be perfect and just. Even Amalek who unjustly attacked the nation of Israel was to be dealt with severely in justice. Our God is indeed a just God and demands that we live our affairs in a just manner.
But wait; He is also merciful. If divine justice were immediately carried out in each of us, we would all be immediately slain. Look at a couple of items of mercy within this passage that temper the justice of God. When a man is guilty of a crime so that in the execution of justice he is truly worthy of being beaten, he was not to be beaten in such a way that his value as a human is diminished in the eyes of others. (Now there is a difficult balancing act.)
But right in the middle of this talk of justice is instruction that is hard to handle for the western mind. It is the law of levirate marriage. What does this have to do with justice and mercy. This is one of those Scriptural pictures of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. In their culture, the land (and hence, the ability to succeed economically) traveled through the male’s side of the family. If a woman married and had no sons, and her husband died, there would be no heir to the land and there would be no one to care for the woman economically. The unmarried brother, Kinsman Redeemer, needed to marry the dead brother’s wife for the continuance of the family name and for the economic security of the woman. The requirement for the Kinsman Redeemer was to be the closest relative and to have the ability to provide and the desire to provide. Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. Justice demanded that in Adam we all died. As God, He became man. As man, He is our closest relative. As God and man, he had the ability to pay the penalty of our sin for only as a man could He die; only as God could He be pure and able to pay the penalty of our sin. Finally, He had the desire to pay the penalty. What a picture of mercy! His justice demands our death. His mercy pays the penalty Himself. What glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 5:1-16
The glory of Jesus in the Jerusalem church was reaching a crescendo. Satan hates that. He is always looking for a place in the church to destroy the glory of Christ. He found it in Ananias & Sapphira. A&S were not focused on the glory of Christ but on what others thought of them--upon their own glory. They saw the esteem with which others held Joses called Barnabas. They wanted that same esteem from others.
They compulsively hung on to their glory rather than the glory of Christ. Jesus had already made it clear that those who wish to follow Him must give up all--especially their own glory. God will not share His glory with another. When the people of God are consumed with the glory of Christ, then His blessing is upon the church in power. When the people of God are consumed with their own glory, death is down the road.
Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 19, 2010
Deuteronomy 24
Our God is a God who is just and yet full of mercy and grace. He wants those attributes to be seen in His people. Those attributes are made manifest in us in our relationships with one another. In the marriage relationship it is made manifest when the marriage vows are honored. Keeping our vows demonstrates that He is just. The most basic vow that most people make is the marriage vow. It should be honored. The KJV Bible Commentary says, :The custom of giving letters of divorce was probably adopted by the Israelites from the Egyptians because they had a practice of writing out contracts in relationship to every area of life “ God’s original desire was for the vow to be kept until the death of one of the partners. However, some people, for whatever reason, never seem to be able to keep their vow. What if the breaking of that vow was so heinous that it made the marriage untenable? Because of our inability to forgive, God, through Moses made provision for divorce. The higher road is forgiveness. But if the partner will not repent, the provision for divorce was available. The divorce provision, however, was not to be used to make promiscuity legitimate through a series of legal maneuvers. God wants his people to live in commitment to their vows.
Today’s passage also demonstrates the mercy and grace of our Lord in the way that we treat each other. At times it is necessary for those who have this worlds goods to lend to those who do not. If it is a loan, those who lend are not to take advantage of the situation by making life worse for those to whom they loan. I should not take anything as surety that the person to whom I am lending could not live without. This is the basis for our bankruptcy laws. The farmer was to leave the gleanings of the crops for the poor to gather for themselves. Food needed to be made available to the poor , if they were willing to work for it. This is grace. The farmer had no obligation to leave the gleanings. But He was to do so in order to demonstrate the mercy and grace of our God. Our God makes commitments to us. He keeps them. Our God extends grace to us. He is under no obligation to do so. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 4:23-37
It is the glory of Jesus, the anointed One, to become flesh, dwell among us, bear our sins in His own body on the tree as a ransom for our sin, to become sin for us, receiving the full wrath of God against sin to die, paying the full penalty due our sin, to rise again accomplishing the defeat of sin and death, acquiring the ability to give us life.
It is even a greater glory Jesus to give not only life to those who call upon His name in faith but to send His Holy Spirit to live in each of them, giving some the power to doe signs and wonders through His name and filling all with His Holy spirit to speak the Word of God with boldness.
It is even greater glory to change those who believe to the point that they gave of their worldly goods and possessions to the point that they appeared that they shared all things in common. Some have said that this is communism. But communism forces the masses to share all things in common, destroying the motivation to excel. I say this is simply people who are so consumed with the glory of Christ that their worldly possessions no longer were something that they compulsively hung on to--just like Jesus leaving the throne of glory. His glory was not the adoration of heaven. It was who He is. The disciple's glory is not their possessions but by whom they are possessed--who Jesus is.
How much does the glory of Christ possess me? The glory of Christ is more than sufficient motivation to excel. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Our God is a God who is just and yet full of mercy and grace. He wants those attributes to be seen in His people. Those attributes are made manifest in us in our relationships with one another. In the marriage relationship it is made manifest when the marriage vows are honored. Keeping our vows demonstrates that He is just. The most basic vow that most people make is the marriage vow. It should be honored. The KJV Bible Commentary says, :The custom of giving letters of divorce was probably adopted by the Israelites from the Egyptians because they had a practice of writing out contracts in relationship to every area of life “ God’s original desire was for the vow to be kept until the death of one of the partners. However, some people, for whatever reason, never seem to be able to keep their vow. What if the breaking of that vow was so heinous that it made the marriage untenable? Because of our inability to forgive, God, through Moses made provision for divorce. The higher road is forgiveness. But if the partner will not repent, the provision for divorce was available. The divorce provision, however, was not to be used to make promiscuity legitimate through a series of legal maneuvers. God wants his people to live in commitment to their vows.
Today’s passage also demonstrates the mercy and grace of our Lord in the way that we treat each other. At times it is necessary for those who have this worlds goods to lend to those who do not. If it is a loan, those who lend are not to take advantage of the situation by making life worse for those to whom they loan. I should not take anything as surety that the person to whom I am lending could not live without. This is the basis for our bankruptcy laws. The farmer was to leave the gleanings of the crops for the poor to gather for themselves. Food needed to be made available to the poor , if they were willing to work for it. This is grace. The farmer had no obligation to leave the gleanings. But He was to do so in order to demonstrate the mercy and grace of our God. Our God makes commitments to us. He keeps them. Our God extends grace to us. He is under no obligation to do so. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 4:23-37
It is the glory of Jesus, the anointed One, to become flesh, dwell among us, bear our sins in His own body on the tree as a ransom for our sin, to become sin for us, receiving the full wrath of God against sin to die, paying the full penalty due our sin, to rise again accomplishing the defeat of sin and death, acquiring the ability to give us life.
It is even a greater glory Jesus to give not only life to those who call upon His name in faith but to send His Holy Spirit to live in each of them, giving some the power to doe signs and wonders through His name and filling all with His Holy spirit to speak the Word of God with boldness.
It is even greater glory to change those who believe to the point that they gave of their worldly goods and possessions to the point that they appeared that they shared all things in common. Some have said that this is communism. But communism forces the masses to share all things in common, destroying the motivation to excel. I say this is simply people who are so consumed with the glory of Christ that their worldly possessions no longer were something that they compulsively hung on to--just like Jesus leaving the throne of glory. His glory was not the adoration of heaven. It was who He is. The disciple's glory is not their possessions but by whom they are possessed--who Jesus is.
How much does the glory of Christ possess me? The glory of Christ is more than sufficient motivation to excel. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 18, 2010
Deuteronomy 23
1He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. I thought that was interesting wording by the King James version. It is interesting because were it not the word of God, it would be considered impolite at best in most Christian circles. Why would the Lord have such stipulations? How does it relate to the glory of God? Basically the verse means that any male who is unable to procreate, cannot be a citizen of Israel. The next verse indicates that any person whose conception was outside of marital commitment could not be a citizen of Israel. (It even uses the “B” word.) Now, both of those stipulations would seem kind of unfair at first glance. I mean, what man in his right mind would choose to have his sexual organs crushed or removed? Given the choice, what person would choose to be born of rape or promiscuous lusters rather than of parents who are deeply committed to each other?
What really is at stake here is God’s original intent for His glory to dwell in mankind. Before He created Adam and Eve, He said, “Let us make man in our image.” After the creation He charged them with, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that movethf upon the earth.” God’s original intent was for the earth to be filled with His glory through the Godly image of His highest creation-man, male and female. Since that image was marred by sin, God is about restoring and reclaiming the image—for His glory. In that restoration and reclaiming, He is creating one nation to reflect His glory. If they could not properly reflect that image in reproducing, then they could not be citizens of that nation.
Hmmm. . . What implication might there be for members of the church today? In the church today, we are supposed to be making disciples of Jesus of all nations. We are supposed to be reproducing. And as we are reproducing, it is supposed to be done in a godly manner. Do not mistake me. I am not now talking about physical procreation; although, that also has clear implications here. As members of His church, are our spiritual stones or privy members cut off? Or if not cut off, are we using them in ways that produce bastards of the faith? His glory is at stake! Have we sought our own glory? Have we resorted to illegitimate means to reproduce the faith? Or are we so in love with Him that He delights in releasing His spiritual seed in us producing legitimate spiritual births. Hmmm. . . weird thoughts and analogies, but I think it should be pondered. After all we indeed serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 4:1-22
Peter was in love with a glorious Lord. Peter was convinced that his Lord was glorious. He knew that the crippled man was made well not because he had great faith but because he had a great Lord. He was consumed with the knowledge that Jesus permitted himself to die at the hands of men in order to save those men who killed Him. There was no questioning the fact that Jesus is the only way that salvation may come to men. Because Peter was so consumed with the glory of his Lord, He was able to be positive and bold even when arrested by those men who had killed His Lord. This same Peter who at one time was ashamed of his Lord, now is consumed by the great glory of his Lord. Why? Because he had been with Jesus. He had spent three years of his life living physically with his Lord. Then Peter denied Him. Jesus loved and restored him. Jesus filled him with His Holy Spirit. Peter was no longer awed by just the awesome power of Jesus, but now, he is also awed by the awesome love of Jesus. He is also filled with the Spirit of Jesus. He can share in the literal power of his Lord. With a Lord like that how can one help but speak of Him to others? When commanded to cease speaking in the name of Jesus, there was no question in Peter's mind. The glory of his Lord consumed him. It did not matter what any human thought of his speech about Jesus. It did not matter what anyone did to him because of his speech about Jesus. How could one help but speak the glory of a Lord like that? Am I consumed with His glory? Are you consumed with His glory? What glory there is in the Name of Jesus! Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
1He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. I thought that was interesting wording by the King James version. It is interesting because were it not the word of God, it would be considered impolite at best in most Christian circles. Why would the Lord have such stipulations? How does it relate to the glory of God? Basically the verse means that any male who is unable to procreate, cannot be a citizen of Israel. The next verse indicates that any person whose conception was outside of marital commitment could not be a citizen of Israel. (It even uses the “B” word.) Now, both of those stipulations would seem kind of unfair at first glance. I mean, what man in his right mind would choose to have his sexual organs crushed or removed? Given the choice, what person would choose to be born of rape or promiscuous lusters rather than of parents who are deeply committed to each other?
What really is at stake here is God’s original intent for His glory to dwell in mankind. Before He created Adam and Eve, He said, “Let us make man in our image.” After the creation He charged them with, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that movethf upon the earth.” God’s original intent was for the earth to be filled with His glory through the Godly image of His highest creation-man, male and female. Since that image was marred by sin, God is about restoring and reclaiming the image—for His glory. In that restoration and reclaiming, He is creating one nation to reflect His glory. If they could not properly reflect that image in reproducing, then they could not be citizens of that nation.
Hmmm. . . What implication might there be for members of the church today? In the church today, we are supposed to be making disciples of Jesus of all nations. We are supposed to be reproducing. And as we are reproducing, it is supposed to be done in a godly manner. Do not mistake me. I am not now talking about physical procreation; although, that also has clear implications here. As members of His church, are our spiritual stones or privy members cut off? Or if not cut off, are we using them in ways that produce bastards of the faith? His glory is at stake! Have we sought our own glory? Have we resorted to illegitimate means to reproduce the faith? Or are we so in love with Him that He delights in releasing His spiritual seed in us producing legitimate spiritual births. Hmmm. . . weird thoughts and analogies, but I think it should be pondered. After all we indeed serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Acts 4:1-22
Peter was in love with a glorious Lord. Peter was convinced that his Lord was glorious. He knew that the crippled man was made well not because he had great faith but because he had a great Lord. He was consumed with the knowledge that Jesus permitted himself to die at the hands of men in order to save those men who killed Him. There was no questioning the fact that Jesus is the only way that salvation may come to men. Because Peter was so consumed with the glory of his Lord, He was able to be positive and bold even when arrested by those men who had killed His Lord. This same Peter who at one time was ashamed of his Lord, now is consumed by the great glory of his Lord. Why? Because he had been with Jesus. He had spent three years of his life living physically with his Lord. Then Peter denied Him. Jesus loved and restored him. Jesus filled him with His Holy Spirit. Peter was no longer awed by just the awesome power of Jesus, but now, he is also awed by the awesome love of Jesus. He is also filled with the Spirit of Jesus. He can share in the literal power of his Lord. With a Lord like that how can one help but speak of Him to others? When commanded to cease speaking in the name of Jesus, there was no question in Peter's mind. The glory of his Lord consumed him. It did not matter what any human thought of his speech about Jesus. It did not matter what anyone did to him because of his speech about Jesus. How could one help but speak the glory of a Lord like that? Am I consumed with His glory? Are you consumed with His glory? What glory there is in the Name of Jesus! Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Jun3 17, 2010
Acts 3
Jesus. The power of His name can heal the lame. Yesterday I was at the body shop with Brice. The owner was standing with crutches next to a wheelchair. "What happened to you?" I asked. He recounted the story of being struck down by some auto-immune syndrome that completely paralyzed him in December. He will eventually regain 90-100% of his previous abilities but it will take a lot of time and therapy. He has lost a lot of muscle tissue and weight due to atrophy--non-use. He recounted how for six weeks he lay in a hospital bed and could only slightly move his head. His fingers began to curl from non-use.
This man at the gate called Beautiful was lame from his mother's womb and daily carried to the gate to beg. Surely, His muscles were severely atrophied. He had never learned to walk. Peter spoke the name of Jesus and the man walked. He who had never walked before not only walked but also leaped! He had the muscle mass, tone and coordination to do this immediately! What glory there is in this healing!
But, was he not there when Jesus passed by so many times before the crucifixion? Yet, Jesus never healed him then. Why did Jesus make him wait so long to be healed? Sometimes Jesus doesn't heal because he plans on glorifying Himself in some other fashion. This case was because He wanted to glorify Himself through His disciples. Think on this. Peter and John were simple fishermen, poor fishermen at that. They had given up their trade to follow Jesus. When asked for a simple alm by a beggar, they didn't have it to give. Yet, they had Jesus. They didn't have medical degrees or drugs or therapies. Yet, they had Jesus. They spoke the Name and the man was instantly healed.
The amazing event triggered a crowd. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, took advantage of the situation and preached a sermon explaining the meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. As we will see tomorrow, Peter and John were arrested for this--but not before 5,000 men repented and believed in Jesus.
For whatever reason, God does not heal as instantaneously as often as He did in those early days of the church. Yet, I have met several people who have been instantly healed. Many of you are experiencing prolonged illnesses. Why? I don't know. But this I do know, He expects us to keep our eyes on His glory, to seek His face with all that we are. In the proper time He will heal us. Focus on His glory!
What glory there is in the Name of Jesus! Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Jesus. The power of His name can heal the lame. Yesterday I was at the body shop with Brice. The owner was standing with crutches next to a wheelchair. "What happened to you?" I asked. He recounted the story of being struck down by some auto-immune syndrome that completely paralyzed him in December. He will eventually regain 90-100% of his previous abilities but it will take a lot of time and therapy. He has lost a lot of muscle tissue and weight due to atrophy--non-use. He recounted how for six weeks he lay in a hospital bed and could only slightly move his head. His fingers began to curl from non-use.
This man at the gate called Beautiful was lame from his mother's womb and daily carried to the gate to beg. Surely, His muscles were severely atrophied. He had never learned to walk. Peter spoke the name of Jesus and the man walked. He who had never walked before not only walked but also leaped! He had the muscle mass, tone and coordination to do this immediately! What glory there is in this healing!
But, was he not there when Jesus passed by so many times before the crucifixion? Yet, Jesus never healed him then. Why did Jesus make him wait so long to be healed? Sometimes Jesus doesn't heal because he plans on glorifying Himself in some other fashion. This case was because He wanted to glorify Himself through His disciples. Think on this. Peter and John were simple fishermen, poor fishermen at that. They had given up their trade to follow Jesus. When asked for a simple alm by a beggar, they didn't have it to give. Yet, they had Jesus. They didn't have medical degrees or drugs or therapies. Yet, they had Jesus. They spoke the Name and the man was instantly healed.
The amazing event triggered a crowd. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, took advantage of the situation and preached a sermon explaining the meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. As we will see tomorrow, Peter and John were arrested for this--but not before 5,000 men repented and believed in Jesus.
For whatever reason, God does not heal as instantaneously as often as He did in those early days of the church. Yet, I have met several people who have been instantly healed. Many of you are experiencing prolonged illnesses. Why? I don't know. But this I do know, He expects us to keep our eyes on His glory, to seek His face with all that we are. In the proper time He will heal us. Focus on His glory!
What glory there is in the Name of Jesus! Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 16, 2010
Acts 2:22-47
Peter had become a changed man. In 50 short days he went from being a confused coward to one who could stand before thousands, who had 50 days earlier murdered the Lord, and tell them, “You have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death.” What made the change? It was the Spirit of God and the knowledge of the glory of Christ. What is that glory that so changes hearts?
The glory of Christ is this: He became a Man and was attested by God by miracles, wonders and signs which God did through Him. According to the purpose and foreknowledge of God, He was crucified and died. He was raised from the grave as was prophesied by David 1000 years before it happened, Psalm 16:8-11. He is exalted to the right hand of God. Being exalted at the right hand of God, He sends His Holy Spirit to live in those who repent and trust in His name. As they are filled with the Holy Spirit, they proclaim the glory of Christ to those around them and exhort those around them to repent and be baptized.
Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Peter had become a changed man. In 50 short days he went from being a confused coward to one who could stand before thousands, who had 50 days earlier murdered the Lord, and tell them, “You have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death.” What made the change? It was the Spirit of God and the knowledge of the glory of Christ. What is that glory that so changes hearts?
The glory of Christ is this: He became a Man and was attested by God by miracles, wonders and signs which God did through Him. According to the purpose and foreknowledge of God, He was crucified and died. He was raised from the grave as was prophesied by David 1000 years before it happened, Psalm 16:8-11. He is exalted to the right hand of God. Being exalted at the right hand of God, He sends His Holy Spirit to live in those who repent and trust in His name. As they are filled with the Holy Spirit, they proclaim the glory of Christ to those around them and exhort those around them to repent and be baptized.
Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 15, 2010
June 15, 2005 Acts 2:1-21
Having established that it is His glory to fill and empower His people with His Holy Spirit, the Lord now does exactly that. This is a first time event. So, the Lord had planned long ago this event. Indeed, the prophet Joel had spoken of it (Joel 2:28-32) more than 850 years before it happened. The Lord brought accompanying signs, a sound from heaven, the appearance of a divided tongue of fire over each one filled, the ability to speak human languages they had never learned. The event caused the people of Jerusalem to question what was going on. Peter pointed right to the word of God (what the prophet Joel had predicted) to explain the event. He was bringing out the fact that this is God's doing. When God does something, it brings glory to Him and those through whom He performs it always point to Him. He wants to fill us with His Spirit, not to glorify the person whom he fills or to glorify the Holy Spirit, but to glorify Himself. He wants to fill you and me to glorify Himself through powerful witness of Himself.
Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Having established that it is His glory to fill and empower His people with His Holy Spirit, the Lord now does exactly that. This is a first time event. So, the Lord had planned long ago this event. Indeed, the prophet Joel had spoken of it (Joel 2:28-32) more than 850 years before it happened. The Lord brought accompanying signs, a sound from heaven, the appearance of a divided tongue of fire over each one filled, the ability to speak human languages they had never learned. The event caused the people of Jerusalem to question what was going on. Peter pointed right to the word of God (what the prophet Joel had predicted) to explain the event. He was bringing out the fact that this is God's doing. When God does something, it brings glory to Him and those through whom He performs it always point to Him. He wants to fill us with His Spirit, not to glorify the person whom he fills or to glorify the Holy Spirit, but to glorify Himself. He wants to fill you and me to glorify Himself through powerful witness of Himself.
Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 14, 2010
Acts 1
Luke says that Jesus appeared to the disciples during the forty days between His suffering/resurrection and His ascension speaking things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The Prophets had envisioned the Kingdom of God as a glorious Kingdom in which the Messiah would reign and Israel would be the head nation of the earth. All nations would come to Jerusalem to worship Yahweh.
Yet the only thing that Luke records of what Jesus said concerning the kingdom of God, is that in not many days they would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then the disciples asked Him if it was at that time that He would restore the Kingdom. His reply was significant but a little cryptic in relationship to the kingdom of God.. He said,
It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
He was then gloriously lifted up into the clouds and some angels appeared to the disciples and told them that Jesus would return in the same manner in which he saw them leave. The glory of Jesus in the time being is that we should be filled or clothed with power from the Holy Spirit. Having been endued with power, we are to make disciples of all nations, building His church until the end comes. Right now, the glory of Christ is seen by the world only in His people who are filled with His Holy Spirit and are busy witnessing by their words and actions, making disciples, building His church.
Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Luke says that Jesus appeared to the disciples during the forty days between His suffering/resurrection and His ascension speaking things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The Prophets had envisioned the Kingdom of God as a glorious Kingdom in which the Messiah would reign and Israel would be the head nation of the earth. All nations would come to Jerusalem to worship Yahweh.
Yet the only thing that Luke records of what Jesus said concerning the kingdom of God, is that in not many days they would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then the disciples asked Him if it was at that time that He would restore the Kingdom. His reply was significant but a little cryptic in relationship to the kingdom of God.. He said,
It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
He was then gloriously lifted up into the clouds and some angels appeared to the disciples and told them that Jesus would return in the same manner in which he saw them leave. The glory of Jesus in the time being is that we should be filled or clothed with power from the Holy Spirit. Having been endued with power, we are to make disciples of all nations, building His church until the end comes. Right now, the glory of Christ is seen by the world only in His people who are filled with His Holy Spirit and are busy witnessing by their words and actions, making disciples, building His church.
Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 13, 2010
John 21
I have been revived.
For the first time in my life I am alive.
Since I looked into Jesus,
I found me a friend
And I'll never go back to that old way of life ever again.
So went the chorus of a song sung at a Dawson McAllister Student Conference back in the late 80's or early 90's. I tried to find the author, but I couldn't locate it on Song Select. So it must not be registered with CCLI. I've always liked the sentiment/declaration of the song. It represents a decision we all need to make. But truthfully, it doesn't happen. Even the best of us sometimes turn back to the old way of life. That certainly was true of Simon Peter, who was thought to be the boldest and most out spoken of the 12 who accompanied Jesus.
Peter had a particularly difficult time understanding the death and resurrection. He denied Jesus three times at the trial. Paul says Jesus appeared first to Peter. Now I assume that means first in time. Although, it could mean first in priority of importance. Anyway, Peter was having difficulty believing the resurrection. He disobeyed the Lord's command about going to Galilee after the crucifixion to meet Jesus there--even though it seems Jesus appeared to Peter before anyone else. The Lord had to appear to the apostles several times before they got up the gumption to leave Jerusalem for Galilee. Finally, it appears that Peter went more out of going back to the old way of living than anything else. He told the others, "I am going fishing." It was his old occupation.
Jesus had told him, "Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men." Peter left everything and followed Jesus. Where did it lead him? It led to a cross and a tomb. Even now, that the tomb was empty, Peter was having a difficult time believing that Jesus wanted him to be a fisher of men. Peter had denied Him. How could Jesus use him to catch men? Perhaps in Peter's mind there was probably no longer a call upon his life. How could Jesus love him after this? The best thing to do was to go back to the old way of life. He went fishing.
We all know the old saying, "You can't go home again." Peter went fishing all night long and caught nothing. This was the design of Jesus to remind Peter of Jesus' call upon his life. Jesus showed up after a fishless night. Suddenly they caught more fish than they could handle. He brought them back to the shore. At breakfast Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me more than these?" He was probably pointing to the fish. At least Peter was honest. He said, "Lord, you know I am your friend." Jesus explored that and for each time that Peter had denied Him, Jesus asked concerning Peter's love and then affirmed His call upon Peter's life.
Peter went away a changed man. And on the day of Pentecost after the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter stood in the midst of the crowd that had asked for Jesus' crucifixion and preached Jesus. That day three thousand souls trusted Jesus. Peter had become a fisher of men. Oh we know from the Apostle Paul that Peter still blew it on one occasion. But Jesus always brings us back. The old way of living can never keep its hold upon us when we have truly met Him. Because of us? No! It is all because of Him. That is part of His glory. He draws us back to Himself. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
I have been revived.
For the first time in my life I am alive.
Since I looked into Jesus,
I found me a friend
And I'll never go back to that old way of life ever again.
So went the chorus of a song sung at a Dawson McAllister Student Conference back in the late 80's or early 90's. I tried to find the author, but I couldn't locate it on Song Select. So it must not be registered with CCLI. I've always liked the sentiment/declaration of the song. It represents a decision we all need to make. But truthfully, it doesn't happen. Even the best of us sometimes turn back to the old way of life. That certainly was true of Simon Peter, who was thought to be the boldest and most out spoken of the 12 who accompanied Jesus.
Peter had a particularly difficult time understanding the death and resurrection. He denied Jesus three times at the trial. Paul says Jesus appeared first to Peter. Now I assume that means first in time. Although, it could mean first in priority of importance. Anyway, Peter was having difficulty believing the resurrection. He disobeyed the Lord's command about going to Galilee after the crucifixion to meet Jesus there--even though it seems Jesus appeared to Peter before anyone else. The Lord had to appear to the apostles several times before they got up the gumption to leave Jerusalem for Galilee. Finally, it appears that Peter went more out of going back to the old way of living than anything else. He told the others, "I am going fishing." It was his old occupation.
Jesus had told him, "Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men." Peter left everything and followed Jesus. Where did it lead him? It led to a cross and a tomb. Even now, that the tomb was empty, Peter was having a difficult time believing that Jesus wanted him to be a fisher of men. Peter had denied Him. How could Jesus use him to catch men? Perhaps in Peter's mind there was probably no longer a call upon his life. How could Jesus love him after this? The best thing to do was to go back to the old way of life. He went fishing.
We all know the old saying, "You can't go home again." Peter went fishing all night long and caught nothing. This was the design of Jesus to remind Peter of Jesus' call upon his life. Jesus showed up after a fishless night. Suddenly they caught more fish than they could handle. He brought them back to the shore. At breakfast Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me more than these?" He was probably pointing to the fish. At least Peter was honest. He said, "Lord, you know I am your friend." Jesus explored that and for each time that Peter had denied Him, Jesus asked concerning Peter's love and then affirmed His call upon Peter's life.
Peter went away a changed man. And on the day of Pentecost after the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter stood in the midst of the crowd that had asked for Jesus' crucifixion and preached Jesus. That day three thousand souls trusted Jesus. Peter had become a fisher of men. Oh we know from the Apostle Paul that Peter still blew it on one occasion. But Jesus always brings us back. The old way of living can never keep its hold upon us when we have truly met Him. Because of us? No! It is all because of Him. That is part of His glory. He draws us back to Himself. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 12, 2010
June 12, 2005 John 20
Peace is an elusive thing. On an international level we have found that to be true. Those of you who know your history remember that World War I was to be the war to end all wars. That was a cruel misconception. It only fueled WWII. Then came Korea, Vietnam and so on and so forth. There are constant conflicts world wide. We are in Iraq because we felt it necessary to protect ourselves from terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. Now, we wonder if we can ever get out again.
Peace on an interpersonal level is also an elusive thing. Divorce is so common now that many don’t even bother to marry. It has become an assumption that “incompatibility” will eventually become a problem. Peace even in the church seems to be a problem. Many denominations are fighting within themselves over issues that ought to be givens. Many churches are fighting within themselves over issues that ought not to be. Churches are increasingly getting rid of their pastors. Many are fighting personally against God and don’t even realize it.
Some years ago I was doing a 40-day fast. On the 26th day I began to experience a panic attack. You know the sensation that you get when some one scares you? That flush that seems to come from the gut and shoots up through your head? Your heart begins to race, and you have an intense desire to run but don’t know where to run to? Well, that was happening to me; only, it wouldn’t stop. I thought I was going nuts. I immediately ceased the fast. But it took me months to get over it. I had a few more attacks in the coming weeks. I only recently have discovered that it wasn’t the fasting alone that caused the problem. I was getting a cold and had taken some pseudoephedrine hydrochloride to help overcome the symptoms—in my weakened fasting state the pseudoephedrine is what triggered the attack. I had no peace or months. Personal is a problem. Sometimes our biggest enemy is ourselves.
When Jesus rose from the dead, to what did He rise? One disciple had betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. When the time of prayer came, the disciples all fell asleep. All of the disciples had run in terror to hide when push came to shove. One disciple publicly denied even knowing Him. The masses had called for His crucifixion. His own Father forsook Him on the cross. Another disciple refused to believe the testimony of others of His resurrection. All of the disciples refused to obey His pre-crucifixion command to go to Galilee to meet Him there. I don’t know about you, but if I were Jesus, I’d be a lot disgruntled. Yet, He was not.
Three times after His resurrection, He communicates peace to His followers. Once He communicated peace to the fearful disciples as they huddled in the upper room, hiding from possible arrest and execution by the religious leaders. Suddenly, He stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Once it had settled in that this was not an apparition but Jesus Himself, He told them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also sent you.” Thomas missed that meeting. Jesus appeared to them again when Thomas was with them and said, “Peace to you!” That is the glory of Jesus! He is always working to bring us to peace with God, peace within our own psyche and peace with each other, even though we do not believe Him.
Are you lacking peace today? The glory of Jesus is that He has worked and is working to bring that peace to you and eventually to the world. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Peace is an elusive thing. On an international level we have found that to be true. Those of you who know your history remember that World War I was to be the war to end all wars. That was a cruel misconception. It only fueled WWII. Then came Korea, Vietnam and so on and so forth. There are constant conflicts world wide. We are in Iraq because we felt it necessary to protect ourselves from terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. Now, we wonder if we can ever get out again.
Peace on an interpersonal level is also an elusive thing. Divorce is so common now that many don’t even bother to marry. It has become an assumption that “incompatibility” will eventually become a problem. Peace even in the church seems to be a problem. Many denominations are fighting within themselves over issues that ought to be givens. Many churches are fighting within themselves over issues that ought not to be. Churches are increasingly getting rid of their pastors. Many are fighting personally against God and don’t even realize it.
Some years ago I was doing a 40-day fast. On the 26th day I began to experience a panic attack. You know the sensation that you get when some one scares you? That flush that seems to come from the gut and shoots up through your head? Your heart begins to race, and you have an intense desire to run but don’t know where to run to? Well, that was happening to me; only, it wouldn’t stop. I thought I was going nuts. I immediately ceased the fast. But it took me months to get over it. I had a few more attacks in the coming weeks. I only recently have discovered that it wasn’t the fasting alone that caused the problem. I was getting a cold and had taken some pseudoephedrine hydrochloride to help overcome the symptoms—in my weakened fasting state the pseudoephedrine is what triggered the attack. I had no peace or months. Personal is a problem. Sometimes our biggest enemy is ourselves.
When Jesus rose from the dead, to what did He rise? One disciple had betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. When the time of prayer came, the disciples all fell asleep. All of the disciples had run in terror to hide when push came to shove. One disciple publicly denied even knowing Him. The masses had called for His crucifixion. His own Father forsook Him on the cross. Another disciple refused to believe the testimony of others of His resurrection. All of the disciples refused to obey His pre-crucifixion command to go to Galilee to meet Him there. I don’t know about you, but if I were Jesus, I’d be a lot disgruntled. Yet, He was not.
Three times after His resurrection, He communicates peace to His followers. Once He communicated peace to the fearful disciples as they huddled in the upper room, hiding from possible arrest and execution by the religious leaders. Suddenly, He stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Once it had settled in that this was not an apparition but Jesus Himself, He told them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also sent you.” Thomas missed that meeting. Jesus appeared to them again when Thomas was with them and said, “Peace to you!” That is the glory of Jesus! He is always working to bring us to peace with God, peace within our own psyche and peace with each other, even though we do not believe Him.
Are you lacking peace today? The glory of Jesus is that He has worked and is working to bring that peace to you and eventually to the world. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Friday, June 11, 2010
June 11, 2010
Deuteronomy 16
The Three major feasts of Israel are reiterated here. The Passover graphically portrays Jesus as our Lamb who takes away our sin. The Feast of weeks eloquently proclaims the coming of the Holy Spirit to enable us to bear fruit. The Feast of Tabernacles looks to the Second Coming of Messiah as King of Kings and Lords when our labor by the sweat of our brow will be ended and the harvest of His Kingdom shall be brought in. His glory exudes in each celebration. When they are all fulfilled, we shall indeed cry out with the 24 elders
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”[1]
Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 19:23-42
John recalls three communications of our Lord from the cross that reveal the glory of our King. In the midst of His tremendous agony, Jesus still was in control and thought outside Himself.
He gave charge for the care of His mother over to John.
He pronounced His thirst in order to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalm 22:15
He knew when He had accomplished and finished the task of paying the penalty for our sin. Only then did He "give up" His spirit. Normally when people die, they have no choice in the separation of their spirit from their body. Giving implies a choice. Even in His death He was in control and He "gave up" the His spirit at the appropriate time. That's amazing!
John observes that the soldiers, coming to break His legs to hasten His death, saw that He was dead. In order to be sure that Jesus was dead, one soldier pierced His side with a spear. John observed a flow of water and blood. Some doctors have suggested that the cause of this flow was a ruptured heart. A sentimental response is that He died of a broken heart, the creation that He loved and the Father that He obeyed killed Him. But John says that this was done to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalm 34:10, Zech. 12:10 & 13:6. Even when nailed to the cross, Jesus controlled His death. Those killing Him, worked His will. Who can control the circumstances of their death? Only those who commit suicide. But even then their death is without purpose. Jesus controlled the circumstances of His own death for the purpose of saving us and fulfilling Scripture in the process. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
The Three major feasts of Israel are reiterated here. The Passover graphically portrays Jesus as our Lamb who takes away our sin. The Feast of weeks eloquently proclaims the coming of the Holy Spirit to enable us to bear fruit. The Feast of Tabernacles looks to the Second Coming of Messiah as King of Kings and Lords when our labor by the sweat of our brow will be ended and the harvest of His Kingdom shall be brought in. His glory exudes in each celebration. When they are all fulfilled, we shall indeed cry out with the 24 elders
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”[1]
Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 19:23-42
John recalls three communications of our Lord from the cross that reveal the glory of our King. In the midst of His tremendous agony, Jesus still was in control and thought outside Himself.
He gave charge for the care of His mother over to John.
He pronounced His thirst in order to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalm 22:15
He knew when He had accomplished and finished the task of paying the penalty for our sin. Only then did He "give up" His spirit. Normally when people die, they have no choice in the separation of their spirit from their body. Giving implies a choice. Even in His death He was in control and He "gave up" the His spirit at the appropriate time. That's amazing!
John observes that the soldiers, coming to break His legs to hasten His death, saw that He was dead. In order to be sure that Jesus was dead, one soldier pierced His side with a spear. John observed a flow of water and blood. Some doctors have suggested that the cause of this flow was a ruptured heart. A sentimental response is that He died of a broken heart, the creation that He loved and the Father that He obeyed killed Him. But John says that this was done to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalm 34:10, Zech. 12:10 & 13:6. Even when nailed to the cross, Jesus controlled His death. Those killing Him, worked His will. Who can control the circumstances of their death? Only those who commit suicide. But even then their death is without purpose. Jesus controlled the circumstances of His own death for the purpose of saving us and fulfilling Scripture in the process. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 11, 2010
Deuteronomy 16
The Three major feasts of Israel are reiterated here. The Passover graphically portrays Jesus as our Lamb who takes away our sin. The Feast of weeks eloquently proclaims the coming of the Holy Spirit to enable us to bear fruit. The Feast of Tabernacles looks to the Second Coming of Messiah as King of Kings and Lords when our labor by the sweat of our brow will be ended and the harvest of His Kingdom shall be brought in. His glory exudes in each celebration. When they are all fulfilled, we shall indeed cry out with the 24 elders
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”[1]
Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 19:23-42
John recalls three communications of our Lord from the cross that reveal the glory of our King. In the midst of His tremendous agony, Jesus still was in control and thought outside Himself.
He gave charge for the care of His mother over to John.
He pronounced His thirst in order to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalm 22:15
He knew when He had accomplished and finished the task of paying the penalty for our sin. Only then did He "give up" His spirit. Normally when people die, they have no choice in the separation of their spirit from their body. Giving implies a choice. Even in His death He was in control and He "gave up" the His spirit at the appropriate time. That's amazing!
John observes that the soldiers, coming to break His legs to hasten His death, saw that He was dead. In order to be sure that Jesus was dead, one soldier pierced His side with a spear. John observed a flow of water and blood. Some doctors have suggested that the cause of this flow was a ruptured heart. A sentimental response is that He died of a broken heart, the creation that He loved and the Father that He obeyed killed Him. But John says that this was done to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalm 34:10, Zech. 12:10 & 13:6. Even when nailed to the cross, Jesus controlled His death. Those killing Him, worked His will. Who can control the circumstances of their death? Only those who commit suicide. But even then their death is without purpose. Jesus controlled the circumstances of His own death for the purpose of saving us and fulfilling Scripture in the process. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
The Three major feasts of Israel are reiterated here. The Passover graphically portrays Jesus as our Lamb who takes away our sin. The Feast of weeks eloquently proclaims the coming of the Holy Spirit to enable us to bear fruit. The Feast of Tabernacles looks to the Second Coming of Messiah as King of Kings and Lords when our labor by the sweat of our brow will be ended and the harvest of His Kingdom shall be brought in. His glory exudes in each celebration. When they are all fulfilled, we shall indeed cry out with the 24 elders
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”[1]
Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 19:23-42
John recalls three communications of our Lord from the cross that reveal the glory of our King. In the midst of His tremendous agony, Jesus still was in control and thought outside Himself.
He gave charge for the care of His mother over to John.
He pronounced His thirst in order to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalm 22:15
He knew when He had accomplished and finished the task of paying the penalty for our sin. Only then did He "give up" His spirit. Normally when people die, they have no choice in the separation of their spirit from their body. Giving implies a choice. Even in His death He was in control and He "gave up" the His spirit at the appropriate time. That's amazing!
John observes that the soldiers, coming to break His legs to hasten His death, saw that He was dead. In order to be sure that Jesus was dead, one soldier pierced His side with a spear. John observed a flow of water and blood. Some doctors have suggested that the cause of this flow was a ruptured heart. A sentimental response is that He died of a broken heart, the creation that He loved and the Father that He obeyed killed Him. But John says that this was done to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalm 34:10, Zech. 12:10 & 13:6. Even when nailed to the cross, Jesus controlled His death. Those killing Him, worked His will. Who can control the circumstances of their death? Only those who commit suicide. But even then their death is without purpose. Jesus controlled the circumstances of His own death for the purpose of saving us and fulfilling Scripture in the process. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Thursday, June 10, 2010
June 10, 2010
Deuteronomy15
I opened up the building yesterday so that those who were setting up for the food distribution for the poor could get ready. The distribution was to start in two hours. There were already 12 people there waiting for the distribution to start. I helped unload the bread truck and then decided that I needed to go home and work on my lesson plans. (I was leaving in six days to teach an English class in Mongolia.) I had more than I could finish. A thought popped into my mind, “Why don’t you stay and talk with these poor people.” An emotion of irritation arose in my mind, besides I had plenty of work to do. I went on home. Today as I read this passage, I wondered, “What was that irritation all about?” Could it be that I am not willing to give of myself to these people? I don’t mind giving my money, but my time is another issue.
Every seven years the people of Israel were to release their creditors. The people of Israel were not to harden their heart toward the poor or close their hand to them. According to the KJV Bible Commentary, the word ‘to release’ means ‘to let lie down,’ or, ‘to let go.’ So we are to give to the poor. Even when we lend, we should not lend except with the intent that we may never see the money again. We let it go. Why would the Lord ask them/us to do that? A key to the answer is found in Jesus’ statement in the Sermon on the Mount, “You shall be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Our debt to God has been released. He wants us to release others because He wants us to be like Himself. Like Indiana Jones’ father told him in the climactic scene of The Last Crusade, He tells us, “Let it go.” There is freedom to be had in letting it go. When we let it go, we vibrantly demonstrate the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ because He let our debt go. Our debt was paid for on the cross. When we trust, the Father lets it go. We are released. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 19:1-22
How can the King who has all authority and all power allow Himself to be beaten? How can the King who has all authority and all power allow Himself to be mocked? How can the King who has all authority and all power allow Himself to be tried? How can a King who has all authority and all power remain silent in His own trial? How can the King who has all authority and all power allow Himself to be crucified? Only the King of truth could do this if He were sacrificing Himself for those whom He loves. Our King of truth willingly sacrificed Himself for us. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
I opened up the building yesterday so that those who were setting up for the food distribution for the poor could get ready. The distribution was to start in two hours. There were already 12 people there waiting for the distribution to start. I helped unload the bread truck and then decided that I needed to go home and work on my lesson plans. (I was leaving in six days to teach an English class in Mongolia.) I had more than I could finish. A thought popped into my mind, “Why don’t you stay and talk with these poor people.” An emotion of irritation arose in my mind, besides I had plenty of work to do. I went on home. Today as I read this passage, I wondered, “What was that irritation all about?” Could it be that I am not willing to give of myself to these people? I don’t mind giving my money, but my time is another issue.
Every seven years the people of Israel were to release their creditors. The people of Israel were not to harden their heart toward the poor or close their hand to them. According to the KJV Bible Commentary, the word ‘to release’ means ‘to let lie down,’ or, ‘to let go.’ So we are to give to the poor. Even when we lend, we should not lend except with the intent that we may never see the money again. We let it go. Why would the Lord ask them/us to do that? A key to the answer is found in Jesus’ statement in the Sermon on the Mount, “You shall be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Our debt to God has been released. He wants us to release others because He wants us to be like Himself. Like Indiana Jones’ father told him in the climactic scene of The Last Crusade, He tells us, “Let it go.” There is freedom to be had in letting it go. When we let it go, we vibrantly demonstrate the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ because He let our debt go. Our debt was paid for on the cross. When we trust, the Father lets it go. We are released. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 19:1-22
How can the King who has all authority and all power allow Himself to be beaten? How can the King who has all authority and all power allow Himself to be mocked? How can the King who has all authority and all power allow Himself to be tried? How can a King who has all authority and all power remain silent in His own trial? How can the King who has all authority and all power allow Himself to be crucified? Only the King of truth could do this if He were sacrificing Himself for those whom He loves. Our King of truth willingly sacrificed Himself for us. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
June 9, 2010
Deuteronomy 13-14
Since the dawn of creation we have battled three foes, Satan, the world, and the flesh. Today, we fight against Satan by submitting to God and resisting Satan. Today we fight against the world by not loving it. Today, we fight against the flesh by killing it, not literally but spiritually and mentally. What do those statements have to do with today’s text? Since, the Fall in the Garden of Eden, the Lord had been seeking to bring about the Godly Seed of the woman who would crush the head of the Serpent. At this point (Dt. 13), He had successfully produced a Nation through whom that Seed would come. To this point, Satan had sought to destroy or corrupt the line of descent through whom the Seed would come. To this point, the world had sought to corrupt the line of descent by enslaving it or enticing it. In order preserve the line of descent of the Godly Seed the Lord commanded the nation to kill anyone in their own midst who sought to entice them after other gods. Not only is this a practical means that the Lord gave them to preserve the line of descent, it is also a picture of how we now battle the flesh, that entity within us that seeks to woo us away from the Lord our God.
Many people look at this text and wonder how it brings glory to the Lord our God. How can this loving God command the destruction of people simply for enticing people to worship other gods? The answer is simple, yet it is multiple. First, the glory of our Lord is so great that it cannot be sullied with anything less. His glory is more important that human life. Why? Because human life is created in His image. When humans desecrate their lives with sin, they are desecrating the image of God. There can only be one treatment of such an infraction against Divine holiness, death. Second, the holiness of God must preserve the holiness of the line of descent through which the Godly Seed would come. What would be the best way to keep out corruption? Kill it! How do doctors treat flesh invaded with MRSA? In badly infected cases, surgery must be performed to remove the part of the infection that is untreatable with drugs. Then the drugs can be effective. So also, in that time people within the line of descent who sought to lead the people of God astray, were executed to preserve the line of descent. Third, now that the Godly Seed has come and offered up Himself as a propitiation for our sin, the killing of those people is a type of how we deal with the member with our self that seeks to lead us after other gods. We kill it. We were buried with Christ in Baptism; we are risen to walk in newness of life. When our flesh rises up against us to lead us after other gods, we reckon ourselves dead to sin, but alive in Christ. In doing so, we walk in freedom from the flesh. What an amazing God we serve. He enables with the possibility of living above sin. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 18:19-40
Kings and rulers have come and gone in this world. A student of world history can only focus on the more well known kings or rulers. Their number is too great to know them all well. Each king has sought to do that which will grant him immortality. The Pharaohs sought it through the building of their pyramids. Others, such as Nebuchadnezzar, sought it through building great cities. Others sought it through world conquest. Others sought it through requiring their subjects to worship them as god. But all have one thing in common. They died, were buried and were never heard of again. People were expendable to them. Wealth was necessary to them. Military conquest was a necessary evil for them. Truth was expendable to them. For earthly kings and rulers, truth is something only to be bent and colored in order to accomplish their designs.
Pilate was a ruler. For him truth was something to be manipulated in order to gain more power. For Pilate truth had no basis in what existed but rather in commonly shared beliefs that could be swayed to accomplish ones own ends. Here the true reality was presented before him, and he would not recognize it. Truth for Pilate was something to be manipulated, not something to be obeyed. Are we not all little rulers, seeking to manipulate truth rather than obey truth?
Jesus is a King. But His kingdom is not of this world. He needs not for His subjects to seek great building programs for His glory. He needs not for His subjects to take kingdoms by sword or gun. He is the King of truth. He is truth. The truth is that He is King of all. He will one day forcefully rule as King of all. But today He bids us recognize the truth and willingly bow our knee before Him. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Since the dawn of creation we have battled three foes, Satan, the world, and the flesh. Today, we fight against Satan by submitting to God and resisting Satan. Today we fight against the world by not loving it. Today, we fight against the flesh by killing it, not literally but spiritually and mentally. What do those statements have to do with today’s text? Since, the Fall in the Garden of Eden, the Lord had been seeking to bring about the Godly Seed of the woman who would crush the head of the Serpent. At this point (Dt. 13), He had successfully produced a Nation through whom that Seed would come. To this point, Satan had sought to destroy or corrupt the line of descent through whom the Seed would come. To this point, the world had sought to corrupt the line of descent by enslaving it or enticing it. In order preserve the line of descent of the Godly Seed the Lord commanded the nation to kill anyone in their own midst who sought to entice them after other gods. Not only is this a practical means that the Lord gave them to preserve the line of descent, it is also a picture of how we now battle the flesh, that entity within us that seeks to woo us away from the Lord our God.
Many people look at this text and wonder how it brings glory to the Lord our God. How can this loving God command the destruction of people simply for enticing people to worship other gods? The answer is simple, yet it is multiple. First, the glory of our Lord is so great that it cannot be sullied with anything less. His glory is more important that human life. Why? Because human life is created in His image. When humans desecrate their lives with sin, they are desecrating the image of God. There can only be one treatment of such an infraction against Divine holiness, death. Second, the holiness of God must preserve the holiness of the line of descent through which the Godly Seed would come. What would be the best way to keep out corruption? Kill it! How do doctors treat flesh invaded with MRSA? In badly infected cases, surgery must be performed to remove the part of the infection that is untreatable with drugs. Then the drugs can be effective. So also, in that time people within the line of descent who sought to lead the people of God astray, were executed to preserve the line of descent. Third, now that the Godly Seed has come and offered up Himself as a propitiation for our sin, the killing of those people is a type of how we deal with the member with our self that seeks to lead us after other gods. We kill it. We were buried with Christ in Baptism; we are risen to walk in newness of life. When our flesh rises up against us to lead us after other gods, we reckon ourselves dead to sin, but alive in Christ. In doing so, we walk in freedom from the flesh. What an amazing God we serve. He enables with the possibility of living above sin. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 18:19-40
Kings and rulers have come and gone in this world. A student of world history can only focus on the more well known kings or rulers. Their number is too great to know them all well. Each king has sought to do that which will grant him immortality. The Pharaohs sought it through the building of their pyramids. Others, such as Nebuchadnezzar, sought it through building great cities. Others sought it through world conquest. Others sought it through requiring their subjects to worship them as god. But all have one thing in common. They died, were buried and were never heard of again. People were expendable to them. Wealth was necessary to them. Military conquest was a necessary evil for them. Truth was expendable to them. For earthly kings and rulers, truth is something only to be bent and colored in order to accomplish their designs.
Pilate was a ruler. For him truth was something to be manipulated in order to gain more power. For Pilate truth had no basis in what existed but rather in commonly shared beliefs that could be swayed to accomplish ones own ends. Here the true reality was presented before him, and he would not recognize it. Truth for Pilate was something to be manipulated, not something to be obeyed. Are we not all little rulers, seeking to manipulate truth rather than obey truth?
Jesus is a King. But His kingdom is not of this world. He needs not for His subjects to seek great building programs for His glory. He needs not for His subjects to take kingdoms by sword or gun. He is the King of truth. He is truth. The truth is that He is King of all. He will one day forcefully rule as King of all. But today He bids us recognize the truth and willingly bow our knee before Him. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 8, 2010
John 18:1-18
John says that Jesus "knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward" What did Jesus know? He knew they had come to arrest Him. He knew the beating He would receive. He knew the agony of the crucifixion. But more than this, He knew that, although He had never committed sin, He Himself would become sin. He knew that as our sin was placed upon His body on the cross that His Father would, in a sense, forsake Him. His Father would punish that sin with death. He would for the first time experience the wrath of His Father. He would offer His own life a sacrifice for the sins of the world. That was an agony far greater than any physical beating or any capital punishment. Knowing this, He went forward. What courage! What knowledge! Indeed our King is a glorious King!
In midst of that turmoil, He controlled His own arrest and the arrest of His servants. When He declared, "I am," His glory for just an instant broke through. The detachment, overwhelmed by His glory, fell back to the ground. It was almost as if He had to coax them off of the ground and say, "Come on, here I am. Come arrest me. You can do it! Don't give up." He instructs them to come arrest Him but to leave His servants alone. Indeed our King is a glorious King!
In the midst of this turmoil Peter doesn't understand and seeks to start an armed resistance. Seeking to decapitate the servant of the High Priest, he misses and merely cuts off the man's ear. Still in control Jesus rebukes Peter. In the midst of this turmoil He simply asks a question, which begins His ascent to trial and the cross, "Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given me?" He was pressing them on to that for which the Father had sent Him. Despising it, still He sought it; still He controlled the actions of those around Him. Indeed our King is a glorious King!
There is no circumstance which He does not know about. There is no happening that He does not control. Indeed there is nothing in which He cannot bring glory to Himself, if we will but trust Him. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
John says that Jesus "knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward" What did Jesus know? He knew they had come to arrest Him. He knew the beating He would receive. He knew the agony of the crucifixion. But more than this, He knew that, although He had never committed sin, He Himself would become sin. He knew that as our sin was placed upon His body on the cross that His Father would, in a sense, forsake Him. His Father would punish that sin with death. He would for the first time experience the wrath of His Father. He would offer His own life a sacrifice for the sins of the world. That was an agony far greater than any physical beating or any capital punishment. Knowing this, He went forward. What courage! What knowledge! Indeed our King is a glorious King!
In midst of that turmoil, He controlled His own arrest and the arrest of His servants. When He declared, "I am," His glory for just an instant broke through. The detachment, overwhelmed by His glory, fell back to the ground. It was almost as if He had to coax them off of the ground and say, "Come on, here I am. Come arrest me. You can do it! Don't give up." He instructs them to come arrest Him but to leave His servants alone. Indeed our King is a glorious King!
In the midst of this turmoil Peter doesn't understand and seeks to start an armed resistance. Seeking to decapitate the servant of the High Priest, he misses and merely cuts off the man's ear. Still in control Jesus rebukes Peter. In the midst of this turmoil He simply asks a question, which begins His ascent to trial and the cross, "Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given me?" He was pressing them on to that for which the Father had sent Him. Despising it, still He sought it; still He controlled the actions of those around Him. Indeed our King is a glorious King!
There is no circumstance which He does not know about. There is no happening that He does not control. Indeed there is nothing in which He cannot bring glory to Himself, if we will but trust Him. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Monday, June 7, 2010
June 7, 2010
Deuteronomy11
When I was eight years old, through hearing the preaching of the Word of God, I realized that I needed to be saved from my sin. It was His glory to demonstrate my need for a Savior. It was His glory that His Spirit convicted me of that need through the preaching of the word. It was to His glory that I believed and received the Savior. In the decades that have followed I have been learning to love Him. I have not completely arrived yet, but I am working on it. In our culture we are quick to say that we love something or someone. But the Lord says here and other places that our love is only as strong as our obedience to His commands. Because He loves me, He chastens me. Sometimes that chastening is designed to force me to see my own heart as to how much I really love Him. To His glory it is designed so that once I see my heart, I will trust Him to change my heart. Through the decades I have learned of His great love. My learning has not come apart from His Word or His Spirit. That is what this chapter is all about. No we no longer need tie literal packages of His word to our forehead. You see we have His written word. But like the Israelites, we need daily to be tied to His word allowing His Spirit to teach us and change us and mold us. When that truly happens, it is to His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 17
This chapter is often spoken of as "Jesus' High Priestly Prayer." He intercedes for His disciples before His travail in the Garden and His arrest. His theme and passion seems to be His glory and His desire to share it with us. I see three things that He asks concerning His glory.
First, in 1-4, 10 He asks to be glorified because He is about to complete the mission for which He came to earth. After dying and rising again on our behalf, to purchase eternal life, the Father is going to give Him all authority in Heaven and Earth. Jesus has the authority to give eternal life to as many as the Father gives Him. His glory is increased as He gives eternal life. He is worthy of the reward for whom He died.
Second, in 5 He asks to regain the glory He had with the Father before the world was. Indeed, before He added the nature of a perfect man to His person, He was in the form of God. As such, He was constantly adored as holy. (See the June 1 meditation). On this earth He was scorned, despised and rejected. But now that He has returned to heaven, He once again is adored by all the creatures in heaven.
Third, in 22,24 He asks for us to share in His glory. Can you imagine that? We can share in His glory, the glory of the King of the Universe, the maker of all things, the one who has all authority. Think about this: if part of His glory is doing what it takes to give us eternal life, if He has left us with the command to make disciples in all nations, then how do you think He wants us to share in His glory?
Our King is worthy of His glory! Let us share in it with Him! Speak His glory to someone today!
When I was eight years old, through hearing the preaching of the Word of God, I realized that I needed to be saved from my sin. It was His glory to demonstrate my need for a Savior. It was His glory that His Spirit convicted me of that need through the preaching of the word. It was to His glory that I believed and received the Savior. In the decades that have followed I have been learning to love Him. I have not completely arrived yet, but I am working on it. In our culture we are quick to say that we love something or someone. But the Lord says here and other places that our love is only as strong as our obedience to His commands. Because He loves me, He chastens me. Sometimes that chastening is designed to force me to see my own heart as to how much I really love Him. To His glory it is designed so that once I see my heart, I will trust Him to change my heart. Through the decades I have learned of His great love. My learning has not come apart from His Word or His Spirit. That is what this chapter is all about. No we no longer need tie literal packages of His word to our forehead. You see we have His written word. But like the Israelites, we need daily to be tied to His word allowing His Spirit to teach us and change us and mold us. When that truly happens, it is to His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
John 17
This chapter is often spoken of as "Jesus' High Priestly Prayer." He intercedes for His disciples before His travail in the Garden and His arrest. His theme and passion seems to be His glory and His desire to share it with us. I see three things that He asks concerning His glory.
First, in 1-4, 10 He asks to be glorified because He is about to complete the mission for which He came to earth. After dying and rising again on our behalf, to purchase eternal life, the Father is going to give Him all authority in Heaven and Earth. Jesus has the authority to give eternal life to as many as the Father gives Him. His glory is increased as He gives eternal life. He is worthy of the reward for whom He died.
Second, in 5 He asks to regain the glory He had with the Father before the world was. Indeed, before He added the nature of a perfect man to His person, He was in the form of God. As such, He was constantly adored as holy. (See the June 1 meditation). On this earth He was scorned, despised and rejected. But now that He has returned to heaven, He once again is adored by all the creatures in heaven.
Third, in 22,24 He asks for us to share in His glory. Can you imagine that? We can share in His glory, the glory of the King of the Universe, the maker of all things, the one who has all authority. Think about this: if part of His glory is doing what it takes to give us eternal life, if He has left us with the command to make disciples in all nations, then how do you think He wants us to share in His glory?
Our King is worthy of His glory! Let us share in it with Him! Speak His glory to someone today!
July 6, 2010
John 16
". . . and when He (the Holy Spirit) has come He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" I remember in high school the editor of the Tulsa World writing an editorial entitled, "Whatever happened to sin?" He was troubled by the growing tendency in America to blame their "mistakes" on someone or something else. Certainly in the intervening years, the tendency has not resolved itself. Our culture has championed relativism. We have rejected the possibility of absolutes. According to our culture, sin and righteousness do not exist.
But if I reject the speed limit sign in a school zone as being true for others and not for me, if I continually drive 65 in that school zone, then I have still broken the law. No matter how much I protest about the relativism of the law, I will eventually be caught by a policeman and ticketed-and rightfully so.
Jesus is the absolute. The worst sin one can commit is to refuse to believe in Him. He is the standard of righteousness. He is the ultimate judge. Our culture would have us reject Him. But no matter how much we protest against Him, He will return, and His righteousness will be enforced. We may enjoy the benefits of His righteousness if we trust in Him and His work (He who knew no sin be came sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.) Or we will experience His justice when He returns to judge the earth. In either case He is glorified. We have a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
". . . and when He (the Holy Spirit) has come He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" I remember in high school the editor of the Tulsa World writing an editorial entitled, "Whatever happened to sin?" He was troubled by the growing tendency in America to blame their "mistakes" on someone or something else. Certainly in the intervening years, the tendency has not resolved itself. Our culture has championed relativism. We have rejected the possibility of absolutes. According to our culture, sin and righteousness do not exist.
But if I reject the speed limit sign in a school zone as being true for others and not for me, if I continually drive 65 in that school zone, then I have still broken the law. No matter how much I protest about the relativism of the law, I will eventually be caught by a policeman and ticketed-and rightfully so.
Jesus is the absolute. The worst sin one can commit is to refuse to believe in Him. He is the standard of righteousness. He is the ultimate judge. Our culture would have us reject Him. But no matter how much we protest against Him, He will return, and His righteousness will be enforced. We may enjoy the benefits of His righteousness if we trust in Him and His work (He who knew no sin be came sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.) Or we will experience His justice when He returns to judge the earth. In either case He is glorified. We have a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
July 5, 2010
John 15
"Apart from Me you can do nothing." The skeptic would scoff at that statement. But think on it just a while. What has man been able to accomplish in his 6,000 years of recorded history? We have the internet and wonders of medical science. We've traveled to the moon. Skyscrapers line the skylines of a multitude of cities. The technologies for our amusements abound. Would you call all of this, nothing?
In response consider this. Man's technologies, in spite of all its good, still display the evil machinations of man's heart. The internet continues to isolate some, as they engage in "vbloging" as a substitute for real relationships. And pornography continues to enslave many. It has been estimated that upwards to 50% of men are addicted to porn on the internet. For all its good, medical science advancements still have not prevented the misuse of medicine for the harm of others as is evidenced in abortion and euthanasia. While the space race produced technology that I love and appreciate, it has also produced technologies that allow us to kill more efficiently. We have the ability and weapons produced to kill the inhabitants of the earth many times over. Even skyscrapers have become a possible tool of mass murder.
In the midst of this evidence Jesus says, "Abide in Me. . . Apart from Me you can do nothing." Yes technology and science have improved, but the human heart and conscience have not. Jesus can take the most evil of hearts, and if he or she will abide in Him, He can replace it with His own character, or as He puts it, fruit. In spite of all our great technologies, still He remains as the only one who can change the heart. Only He can truly replace hate with love, depression with joy, inner turmoil with peace, wishes on demand with patience, curtness with kindness, evil with good, infidelity with faithfulness, roughness with gentleness, unrestrained behavior with self-control.
When He changes people, those are the changes He makes. Now that's glory! He calls us to abide in Him so that He can make those changes and glorify God! Do you want those kind of changes? He wants to glorify Himself in you! What a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
"Apart from Me you can do nothing." The skeptic would scoff at that statement. But think on it just a while. What has man been able to accomplish in his 6,000 years of recorded history? We have the internet and wonders of medical science. We've traveled to the moon. Skyscrapers line the skylines of a multitude of cities. The technologies for our amusements abound. Would you call all of this, nothing?
In response consider this. Man's technologies, in spite of all its good, still display the evil machinations of man's heart. The internet continues to isolate some, as they engage in "vbloging" as a substitute for real relationships. And pornography continues to enslave many. It has been estimated that upwards to 50% of men are addicted to porn on the internet. For all its good, medical science advancements still have not prevented the misuse of medicine for the harm of others as is evidenced in abortion and euthanasia. While the space race produced technology that I love and appreciate, it has also produced technologies that allow us to kill more efficiently. We have the ability and weapons produced to kill the inhabitants of the earth many times over. Even skyscrapers have become a possible tool of mass murder.
In the midst of this evidence Jesus says, "Abide in Me. . . Apart from Me you can do nothing." Yes technology and science have improved, but the human heart and conscience have not. Jesus can take the most evil of hearts, and if he or she will abide in Him, He can replace it with His own character, or as He puts it, fruit. In spite of all our great technologies, still He remains as the only one who can change the heart. Only He can truly replace hate with love, depression with joy, inner turmoil with peace, wishes on demand with patience, curtness with kindness, evil with good, infidelity with faithfulness, roughness with gentleness, unrestrained behavior with self-control.
When He changes people, those are the changes He makes. Now that's glory! He calls us to abide in Him so that He can make those changes and glorify God! Do you want those kind of changes? He wants to glorify Himself in you! What a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 4, 2010
As we continue in our meditations on the glory of Jesus, consider these thoughts from the Gospel of John 14:1-31:
1. He is the way to the Father. When we look at the negative aspects of what is happening in this world, it is easy for many to get lost in the pain and disappointments and fall into Satan’s trap and say that God is no where to be found. The following letters can be read in two ways, depending on the way you break them up: GODISNOWHERE can be read GOD IS NOWHERE or GOD IS NOW HERE. What a difference the placement of a space makes! Jesus is the way to God the Father. Many are trying to find God through many different ways. It can be very complex to consider all the different philosophies and religions that are out there to persuade us. The glory of Jesus makes it very simple. The way to God is simply through Him. It is simply a relationship with Him, a person, a God-man. What a difference the placement of Jesus makes! You can have all the right ingredients for life but without Jesus, God is nowhere, with Jesus God is now here.
2. The Father dwells in Him. How can one Man be so different from all other men. There is indeed a multitude of men who have tried to tell us how to find God, Moses, Zoraster, Gautama Siddhartha, Mohammed etc. The systems they developed continue on without their life. Not so with Jesus, because the Father dwells in Him. If He is dead, there is no way to the Father, God is nowhere. But because He is alive and the Father dwells in Him and He in the Father, for those in a relationship with Christ, God is now here!
3. The Father grants our requests asked in Jesus’ name in order to glorify the Son. The Father’s intense desire is to glorify the Son! As we develop our relationship with Him, His desires become our desires. Those desires become expressed in prayer. The Father quickly answers those desires and requests because it brings great glory to His Son! The important thing is the glory of the Son!
4. The Son comes to us through the Spirit. But how do we develop a relationship with a Man (albeit God) who is not physically present? To His glory, He did not leave us orphaned, alone. He has sent His Spirit to live in those who will receive Him. The glory of Jesus is that we can still have a genuine relationship with Him even though He is not physically present. That relationship is through His Spirit, Who resides in all who receive Him by faith. He couldn’t make it any simpler. Had He remained physically on the earth, I could never know Him because there would be too many pressing for His time. I will never know the president of the United States. He is too busy for someone like me. By nature of who he is, the president must limit his relationships. But I do know the King of the Universe because He has sent His omnipresent Spirit to live in me and I have received Him. What a glorious king!
5. The Son manifests Himself to those who obey Him. His commands are the Father’s. But then if this relationship is spiritual, how can we know it is genuine and not something we have made up? To those who obey Him, He manifests Himself. To manifest something is to make clear or evident; show plainly; reveal; evince; to prove; be evidence of. He provides evidence of His relationship with us as we obey Him. Still unsure about your relationship with Him? Perhaps it is because your faith has not resulted in obedience. The glory of our King is that as we trust Him we have power to obey. As we obey, He shows us more of Himself.
6. The Son obeys the Father. The glory of the Son is that, albeit God, He is man. Everything He did on earth, He did as a man, not as God, in the power of the Holy Spirit. As he obeyed, so to can we, as we depend upon Him.
What a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
1. He is the way to the Father. When we look at the negative aspects of what is happening in this world, it is easy for many to get lost in the pain and disappointments and fall into Satan’s trap and say that God is no where to be found. The following letters can be read in two ways, depending on the way you break them up: GODISNOWHERE can be read GOD IS NOWHERE or GOD IS NOW HERE. What a difference the placement of a space makes! Jesus is the way to God the Father. Many are trying to find God through many different ways. It can be very complex to consider all the different philosophies and religions that are out there to persuade us. The glory of Jesus makes it very simple. The way to God is simply through Him. It is simply a relationship with Him, a person, a God-man. What a difference the placement of Jesus makes! You can have all the right ingredients for life but without Jesus, God is nowhere, with Jesus God is now here.
2. The Father dwells in Him. How can one Man be so different from all other men. There is indeed a multitude of men who have tried to tell us how to find God, Moses, Zoraster, Gautama Siddhartha, Mohammed etc. The systems they developed continue on without their life. Not so with Jesus, because the Father dwells in Him. If He is dead, there is no way to the Father, God is nowhere. But because He is alive and the Father dwells in Him and He in the Father, for those in a relationship with Christ, God is now here!
3. The Father grants our requests asked in Jesus’ name in order to glorify the Son. The Father’s intense desire is to glorify the Son! As we develop our relationship with Him, His desires become our desires. Those desires become expressed in prayer. The Father quickly answers those desires and requests because it brings great glory to His Son! The important thing is the glory of the Son!
4. The Son comes to us through the Spirit. But how do we develop a relationship with a Man (albeit God) who is not physically present? To His glory, He did not leave us orphaned, alone. He has sent His Spirit to live in those who will receive Him. The glory of Jesus is that we can still have a genuine relationship with Him even though He is not physically present. That relationship is through His Spirit, Who resides in all who receive Him by faith. He couldn’t make it any simpler. Had He remained physically on the earth, I could never know Him because there would be too many pressing for His time. I will never know the president of the United States. He is too busy for someone like me. By nature of who he is, the president must limit his relationships. But I do know the King of the Universe because He has sent His omnipresent Spirit to live in me and I have received Him. What a glorious king!
5. The Son manifests Himself to those who obey Him. His commands are the Father’s. But then if this relationship is spiritual, how can we know it is genuine and not something we have made up? To those who obey Him, He manifests Himself. To manifest something is to make clear or evident; show plainly; reveal; evince; to prove; be evidence of. He provides evidence of His relationship with us as we obey Him. Still unsure about your relationship with Him? Perhaps it is because your faith has not resulted in obedience. The glory of our King is that as we trust Him we have power to obey. As we obey, He shows us more of Himself.
6. The Son obeys the Father. The glory of the Son is that, albeit God, He is man. Everything He did on earth, He did as a man, not as God, in the power of the Holy Spirit. As he obeyed, so to can we, as we depend upon Him.
What a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
June 3, 2010
John 13:21-38
Jesus was completely aware of what Judas was about to do. When asked to reveal who was about to betray Him, He used a method that indicates that He was still offering friendship with Judas. He dips the bread and offers it Judas. It was an act that in their culture was a gesture of friendship. Dr. Alfred Edersheim says of this event:
--He looked down into the abyss which was about to open at His Feet. He saw more than even this. He saw Judas about to take the last fatal step, and his soul yearned in pity over him. The very sop, which He would so soon hand to him, although a sign of recognition to John, was a last appeal to all that was human in Judas. . . . Coming after the terrible warning and woe on the Betrayer, it must be regarded as the final warning and also the final attempt at rescue on the part of the Savior.
What a demonstration of love! Having set the example Jesus then gives His now famous new commandment, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." He loves even those who betray Him. He loved Judas so much, and still He permitted Judas to choose hell over heaven.
Following this exchange, He addresses Peter's denial. He warns Peter also. And yet, He also loved Peter deeply. In verses 31&32 Jesus had said,
"Now the Son of man is glorified and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately."
While this refers to what Jesus would accomplish in the totality of His death and resurrection, it also applies to what was happening right then. He was displaying His awesome love for His disciples. Are you aware that He holds the same love for you? What a glorious Lord! The Lord Jesus is indeed glorious. Speak His glory to someone else today!
--Pastor John
Jesus was completely aware of what Judas was about to do. When asked to reveal who was about to betray Him, He used a method that indicates that He was still offering friendship with Judas. He dips the bread and offers it Judas. It was an act that in their culture was a gesture of friendship. Dr. Alfred Edersheim says of this event:
--He looked down into the abyss which was about to open at His Feet. He saw more than even this. He saw Judas about to take the last fatal step, and his soul yearned in pity over him. The very sop, which He would so soon hand to him, although a sign of recognition to John, was a last appeal to all that was human in Judas. . . . Coming after the terrible warning and woe on the Betrayer, it must be regarded as the final warning and also the final attempt at rescue on the part of the Savior.
What a demonstration of love! Having set the example Jesus then gives His now famous new commandment, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." He loves even those who betray Him. He loved Judas so much, and still He permitted Judas to choose hell over heaven.
Following this exchange, He addresses Peter's denial. He warns Peter also. And yet, He also loved Peter deeply. In verses 31&32 Jesus had said,
"Now the Son of man is glorified and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately."
While this refers to what Jesus would accomplish in the totality of His death and resurrection, it also applies to what was happening right then. He was displaying His awesome love for His disciples. Are you aware that He holds the same love for you? What a glorious Lord! The Lord Jesus is indeed glorious. Speak His glory to someone else today!
--Pastor John
June 2, 2010
John 13:1-20
Note in this passage that Jesus knew:
1. that His hour to die had come,
2. that the devil had put it into Judas' heart to betray Him.
3. that the Father had given Him all things
4. that He had come from God
5. that He was going to God
John makes it clear that Jesus loved His own to the very end. The clear implication of John is that Jesus' acts in the next 24 hours are all deliberate acts in the full knowledge of what was about to happen and were motivated by love. I conclude at least three things 1) Jesus knew all the circumstances of the situations into which He entered. 2) Jesus still loved Judas 3) Jesus is secure in who He is and what He possesses.
I see some clear implications for me. He knows all the circumstances of the situations into which I enter. Nothing happens to me of which He does not already have full knowledge. I can do nothing, good or evil, of which He does not already have full knowledge. He loves me still. He is secure in spite of who I am and what I possess. Jesus loves me. This I know. He serves me in spite of who I am and what I have done. He has washed my feet. He calls me to be as He is. He calls me to do as He does. What a glorious Lord! The Lord Jesus is indeed glorious. Speak His glory to someone else today.
--Pastor John
Note in this passage that Jesus knew:
1. that His hour to die had come,
2. that the devil had put it into Judas' heart to betray Him.
3. that the Father had given Him all things
4. that He had come from God
5. that He was going to God
John makes it clear that Jesus loved His own to the very end. The clear implication of John is that Jesus' acts in the next 24 hours are all deliberate acts in the full knowledge of what was about to happen and were motivated by love. I conclude at least three things 1) Jesus knew all the circumstances of the situations into which He entered. 2) Jesus still loved Judas 3) Jesus is secure in who He is and what He possesses.
I see some clear implications for me. He knows all the circumstances of the situations into which I enter. Nothing happens to me of which He does not already have full knowledge. I can do nothing, good or evil, of which He does not already have full knowledge. He loves me still. He is secure in spite of who I am and what I possess. Jesus loves me. This I know. He serves me in spite of who I am and what I have done. He has washed my feet. He calls me to be as He is. He calls me to do as He does. What a glorious Lord! The Lord Jesus is indeed glorious. Speak His glory to someone else today.
--Pastor John
June 1, 2010
John 12:27-50
In John 12 Jesus is speaking to the people and tells them that if He is lifted up (crucified) from the earth He will draw all people to Himself. The people were confused. They had heard that the Messiah would reign forever. They asked how He could say such a thing. His reply was that they would have the Light (Jesus) for just a little while longer and that they should walk in the light lest the darkness over take them. John says they did not believe. Then John says that this was the fulfillment of Is. 53:1 and Is 6:9,10. Then in John 12:41 John says a curious thing: "These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him." John is speaking of Isaiah 6:1-10. When John saw the glory of Yahweh, He was seeing the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Isaiah saw Jesus' glory, he felt as though he was coming apart at the seams. He realized his uncleanness. Seeing the glory of Jesus causes us to see His holiness. Seeing His holiness causes us to see our uncleanness. Seeing our uncleanness causes us to either reject Jesus or receive His cleansing provided by His cross. If we reject Him, the light goes out. We continue walking in darkness completely unaware of our wretched condition. If we receive Him, the light blazes. His blood cleanses us from all sin. The Lord Jesus is indeed glorious. Speak His glory to someone else today.
--Pastor John
In John 12 Jesus is speaking to the people and tells them that if He is lifted up (crucified) from the earth He will draw all people to Himself. The people were confused. They had heard that the Messiah would reign forever. They asked how He could say such a thing. His reply was that they would have the Light (Jesus) for just a little while longer and that they should walk in the light lest the darkness over take them. John says they did not believe. Then John says that this was the fulfillment of Is. 53:1 and Is 6:9,10. Then in John 12:41 John says a curious thing: "These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him." John is speaking of Isaiah 6:1-10. When John saw the glory of Yahweh, He was seeing the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Isaiah saw Jesus' glory, he felt as though he was coming apart at the seams. He realized his uncleanness. Seeing the glory of Jesus causes us to see His holiness. Seeing His holiness causes us to see our uncleanness. Seeing our uncleanness causes us to either reject Jesus or receive His cleansing provided by His cross. If we reject Him, the light goes out. We continue walking in darkness completely unaware of our wretched condition. If we receive Him, the light blazes. His blood cleanses us from all sin. The Lord Jesus is indeed glorious. Speak His glory to someone else today.
--Pastor John
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