September 29, 2010

1 Kings 1

Adonijah’s name means “Yahweh is my Lord.” But was He lord of Adonijah? I doubt it. Adonijah is David’s fourth born. By birth order Chileab, son of Abigail, should have been next in line for king after Amnon. Both Amnon and Absalom were dead receiving death as the reward for their sin. We know nothing of Chileab. It was probably common knowledge that David had promised Bathsheba that Solomon would receive the throne. Apparently, Chileab made no overtures to obtain the throne even though he is the oldest living son. So, Adonijah began to pursue the throne. Apparently, David did not rebuke or correct him. That was an indication either that David approved, or David was temporarily incompetent, or David just did not have the emotional energy to address the issue. So, Adonijah makes his move. His move indicates that he is grasping after that which does not belong to him.
Bathsheba and Nathan intervene. Solomon is anointed king. Now in most cultures of the world, the first thing that the new sovereign would do is eliminate his opposition. Solomon does not. Had Adonijah been successful in becoming king, he certainly would have eliminated Solomon. We see a small glimmer of the glory of the Lord Jesus in Solomon’s act of mercy. We stand before Him guilty of treason. We sought to usurp His throne. He says to us, “I paid the penalty for your treason. You are forgiven. Live and rule with me.” Let us prove ourselves worthy of His mercy for the glory of His grace by extending mercy to others! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Ephesians 2

Jesus is rich in mercy. What are the words to the hymn? "My sin, o the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!" My sin is deep enough if that I alone were the only one for whom He died, then that would be a great mercy indeed! Yet, I am convinced that there will be billions in heaven who will say the same thing. How vast is His mercy!

Part of His mercy and grace is that He made us alive. We were dead in our trespasses and sins. Have you every wondered why God cursed dead things so that they smell really nauseating to us? A few days after hurricane Ophelia I was out in the yard picking up the debris and burning it in my lot next to me. I kept smelling a foul dead odor. Liam finally came across the carcass of a small dead animal. With my shovel I threw it in the burn pile. Within 15 minutes the dead smell was gone. There are few, if any, smells that are more disgusting than a rotting animal. I think God made that dead smell so disgusting to us so that we might understand a little bit about how disgusting we were to Him when we were dead in our trespasses and sins. But for those of us who trust Jesus, He does not throw us in the burn pile. He makes us alive again. He takes the smell away. He make us new--organs, skin, spirit, everything. He makes us alive again with Christ. It would have been so much easier for Him to throw us in the burn pile and start over. Ahhh but He is merciful!

The kindness of God is demonstrated through Jesus. He always deals with His children kindly. Remember it is the kindness of God which leads us to repentance. Sometimes that kindness is severe because our unwillingness to repent is so great. But as His workmanship He works to bring us into peace with Himself--just like disciplining a child. The best discipline has only the motive of desiring the child's best. So is Christ's kindness, work and peace with us. He indeed is the secure rock on which to build our lives. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 28, 2010

Ephesians 1
How do you write a little meditation on the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ on a chapter like this? It is more like a grocery list of many of the many things that are true of His glory. Each item on the list could have a book written on it. Let's look at them now.
He is full of grace toward you and me. Can you express to others how He has shown His grace to you? Speak His glory to others.
He is full of peace toward you and me. Can you express to others how He has shown His peace to you? Speak His glory to others.
He chose you. Can you express to others how He marvelous it is that He has chosen you? Speak His glory to others.
He predestined us to adoption Can you express to others how marvelous it is that He has adopted you? Speak His glory to others.
He has a good pleasure to will ? Speak His glory to others.
Look what we have in Him--redemption, forgiveness of sins, the riches of His grace! Can you express to others what you have in Him? Speak His glory to others
He has a purpose for everything. Can you express to others His purpose for you? Speak His glory to others.
He will eventually bring it all together in Himself. Can you express to others the hope that brings to your heart? Speak His glory to others.
He is worthy of our trust. Can you express to others how you have recently trusted Him? Speak His glory to others.
He has sealed us. We are safe until the day of redemption. Can you express to others the safety you feel because of the sealing of Holy Spirit? Speak His glory to others.
We will be the praise of His glory. Can you express to others the hope it brings to you to know that you are His purchased possession and that He is in the process of changing you so that one day your character and very life will bring Him great glory? Speak His glory to others.
His power raises the dead. Can you express to others how He has raised you from the deadness brought about by your sin and trespasses against His holiness? Speak His glory to others.
He has exceeding great power. Can you express to others the exceeding great power He has to create and hold the universe together and at the very same time, change your life? Speak His glory to others!
He is seated in the Authority of the Godhead. Can you express to others how you are seated in Him and He is in the drivers seat of the Universe? Who needs to be friends with President Bush when you are seated in the lap of the King of the Universe! Speak His glory to others!
Every principality, power, might and dominion, every name that is named in all of eternity is under His authority. Can you express to others a little bit of the vastness of His authority? Speak His glory to others! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John

September 27, 2010

2 Samuel 23

When you come to the end of your life and say your last words, what will you say? What could David have said? He could have boasted of all that he had accomplished. He could have said:

I rose from being a shepherd boy to building one of the greatest countries of the world in my region. I united my people under my leadership. I defeated the Philistines, the Amalakites, the Edomites, the Ammonites and the Syrians. I formed alliances with Egypt, Geshur, Tyre, Sidon and other countries. I ruled from the river of Egypt to Syria. I had many wives, sons and daughters. I built a new capital. I amassed great wealth for my sons to follow me.

But what did David say? He identified himself as one that God had raised up. He shared what God spoke to him about how to rule. He summed up what he had done with God’s instruction with this statement, “Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure.” He looked back over his life, and rather than boast upon his accomplishments, he saw the greatest significance in His life to be the covenant that he God had made with him. His greatest boast was the mercy and grace that the Lord had bestowed upon Him. Is that my greatest boast? Is that your greatest boast? If it is not, then I would say that we truly have not begun to grasp the glory of our Lord.

In contrast to him, were mighty men, men who had done wonderful exploits. One man had killed 800 men in one battle. One had fought so hard and so long in battle that his hand cramped in position in grasping his sword, and he could not let go. One stationed himself in a field of lentils and single handedly fought off an invading Philistine force when everyone else had fled. The list goes on, but what does David boast about? He could have boasted about killing Goliath or any number of other things, but his boast is in God’s mercy and grace. He had seen God’s glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Galatians 6

Galatians is Paul's great letter on the nature of liberty in the Lord Jesus Christ. We saw a few days ago that liberty is the freedom and ability to do what is right apart from coercion and that the law can never bring liberty, only condemnation. Yet here we are told, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Is the glory of Christ that which He brings us into liberty only to enslave us with a new Law? May it never be! What then is the law of Christ which is both law and liberty? Jesus gave one and only one new commandment before His death. It can be found in John 13: 34,35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” And again in John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. The Apostle John reiterates this in 1 John 2:8-11 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. And again in 1 John 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Is Paul contradicting himself? By no means! It is the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ to liberate us in order to enable us to fulfill His law. He has the ability to live His victorious life in us! On the plane of man to man, woman to woman, if we love one another as He has loved us, all of the law is fulfilled. There is no need to coerce one another. We are not condemned by the law because we are already doing it, fulfilling it. Yes, there will be times when the old nature rears its ugly head. Yes, there will always be times when Satan succeeds in breaking that love for one another. Yes, there will be times when the world's way of thinking holds sway over our thinking. But each time when that happens, The Lord's command is brought back to our minds through Paul's reminder. If we have broken the law, then we simply bring our sin back to the Lord and, if necessary, to the one we offended. Forgiveness is full and immediate from the Lord. He will work in us to make us able to love, even the most unlovely. Now that is glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 26, 2010

Galatians 5
When we are in Christ, we have true liberty. That liberty is worked out in our lives by walking in His Spirit. I walked by my potted plant the other day. It had jumped out of its pot. The pot was turned upside down. Potting soil was everywhere. The roots had been damaged, so had some of the limbs and leaves. I picked it up and began the process of putting it all back together and I said, “You silly plant. What happened so that you would jump out of your pot and do all this destruction?’
The plant told me, “Master, I wanted so much to bear fruit and I wasn’t. I needed to get some new soil and to rid myself of the restrictions of the pot. I was hoping that in doing so, I would then be able to bear the fruit I wanted.
“You silly plant,” I said, “I put you in that soil and that pot. I will give you everything you need to produce the fruit you were designed to produce. Stay in the pot and you will eventually produce all that you desire to produce—in the fullness of time.”
Walking in the Spirit is like that. We must focus on the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Doing so, we stay in the soil. We stay in the pot. We eventually produce the fruit we were designed to produce. And it is all to His glory. He made it as simple as abiding in the pot, in Him. Gazing at His glory we are changed into His glory. It is something He does. It brings glory to Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John

September 25, 2010

Galatians 4
Sometimes I wonder if God has a watch. I mean really, He never meets my time schedule. Maybe next Christmas I should send Him a good Rolex. But then, that would only be revealing my own creatureliness. God is never late. He is never early either. He performs his acts in time at the perfect time. He is infinite. His infinitude covers all His attributes. That’s part of the meaning of eternal. Time is His creation. He exists in time and out of time. He does everything perfectly at the proper time. A Rolex is a waste to Him.
So it is—Jesus came at the perfect time, the fullness of time. As a man, Jesus exists in time. As God, Jesus does everything at the proper time. He was born at the proper time. When it had been demonstrated to all creation that man could not even understand what is right, then God sent the Law. When it had been demonstrated to all creation that man could not do what was right even when he was told what was right, then God disciplined the nation to whom He gave the law. When God had prophesied to that Nation about their coming destruction and their redemption through the Messiah He brought them back into the land. When the Mediterranean world had a common language because of Alexander, He brought the Romans. When the Mediterranean had a stable transportation system, brought by the Romans, Jesus was born. It was the perfect time. He became our near kinsman, human yet divine, able to die yet sinless. He bought our redemption with His own blood. He set us free from sin and death. And the world would hear of it.
Unfortunately I am often impatient with His time table. Yet my impatience has no effect on His perfect timing. He times things perfectly to enable me to avail myself of the liberty that He offers. Remembering His glory in relation to time helps me to cope with my own impatience. That is why we must focus on His glory and share it with others. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John

September 24, 2010

2 Samuel 20

Where is the glory? Sometimes God shows us in His word where the sin of man leads. It is downright ugly. This chapter is one of those ugly chapters. But it was for the ugliness of this sin that Jesus suffered and died. If I can think of any glory here, it is that my sin was just as heinous to God as was this chapter. Jesus suffered and died for that sin. The jewel of his death and resurrection shines all the brighter against the backdrop of sin such as this. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Galatians 3

We have seen and will continue to see that the focal point of the glory of Jesus Christ (in relation to human beings) is the cross. That is not to say that there are not other things that we could focus on. It is that the cross looms so large in our sight. And in relation to us it is the cross that enables us to truly experience His other glories. What are some of those other glories?

Because of the cross He supplies the Holy Spirit to live in us. Wow! the infinite Spirit of God lives in us. He speaks to us, comforts us, leads us, empowers us. Jesus is able to send Him to live in us because of the cross. Now that is glorious! The cross and the Holy Spirit alone would be enough but that is not the end. He occasionally works miracles among us. They are miracles of provision, healing, and power. They are all from His hand. Now that is glorious! The cross, the resurrection, the Holy Spirit and miracles would be enough but that is not the end. He provides this all to those who simply and fully trust in Him. He could have required that we reach a certain point of holiness. But He didn't. It is available to all who trust. The cross, the resurrection, the Holy Spirit, miracles and the provision of faith would be enough but that is not the end. He promised this all to Abraham, 2,000 years before He came. Here we are 4,000 years from Abraham and we are receiving the benefits of his promise. Now that is glorious! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 23, 2010

2 Samuel 19

Bickering among themselves, the tribes have difficulty knowing what to do to bring David back as the King. His apparent leadership has been lacking. Those responsible for his most recent victory have been men like Hushai, Zadok, Abiathar, Jonathan, Ahimaaz, Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. David has relied heavily upon them to do their jobs. It has worked. It is time to bring him back.

Are there any parallels to the Second Coming of Jesus? A cursory look at the state of the fulfillment of the Great Commission might reveal an apparent lack of leadership in finishing the job to bring back the King. After all, we have thousands of different organizations each trying to get the job done. Wouldn’t you think the King of Glory could orchestrate a little better organization? It would appear that the spinal chord connecting the head to the limbs has been invaded with some disease. The body is erratic and going in many different directions. Could He not exhibit a little better leadership? Like David, He apparently is heavily relying upon us to get the job done. Why? If we are to be partakers in His glory, then we need to be partakers in His work. His glory is seen best as He works through us. Are we yielding to His leadership to bring back the King? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Galatians 2

Here is one of the unique things about the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. When He comes, He brings true liberty. Do you know where the word religion comes from? It is from the Old French which came from the Latin re + ligare. Re means back or again. Ligare means to bind. The etymology of the words means to bind back or bind again. Originally it meant the expression of faith in conduct and ritual often resulting in a code of ethics. That is the opposite of liberty. While Christianity possesses a code of ethics, it is not a code of ethics. It is relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. As a result of that relationship we find true liberty.

Liberty is the freedom and ability to do what is right apart from coercion. Liberty is not doing what is right because if you don't you will suffer severe consequences. Law is supposed to be here to protect those who have liberty. It condemns those who do not have the ability to do what is right apart form coercion. For those people who do not have the ability to do what is right apart from coercion, the law can never bring liberty, only condemnation.

Apart from Jesus we do not have the ability to obey the law. Therefore the attempt to follow God's law in order to avoid condemnation from God is folly. We don't have the ability to follow it perfectly and we will eventually be condemned by the law--for that is its purpose. Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ do so because they recognize their inability to do God's just demands. But, they see that being in a relationship with Him is that He uses His ability to live His life in us. His ability is available to each of as we unite with Him and are willing to consider ourselves as having died with Him on the cross and also raised with Him in His resurrection. That is the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only does He have the freedom and ability to do what is right all of the time apart from coercion but He also has the ability to live His victorious life in us! We need only to yield to Him moment by moment. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

September 22, 2010

2 Samuel 18

Only those who have lost an adult child could fully appreciate David’s pain. The rest of us probably appreciate the justice that takes place here. But where is the glory? Yes, we want the rebellion put down. Yes, we want Absalom put in his place. But to have him brutally speared to death while hanging by his hair in a tree? Hmmm. . . So how does being speared to death differ from some other type of punishment? Justice is served.

Let’s fast forward 1,000 years. The Son of David, the Son of God is hanging on a tree. He has been condemned in a human court to die. He has been condemned in the Eternal court to die. Why? In the Earthly realm He was condemned because He claimed to be the King, the Son of God. In the Eternal realm He was condemned because He claimed the sin of man. He became sin for us. God was now serving justice upon the sin of man. Death had come to Him who knew no sin. The rebellion of man was being put down. He was brutally speared while hanging on the tree. So how does this spearing differ from other deaths? This death paid for an eternal debt of sin. But the story does not end here. Absalom remains in his grave. Jesus rose again. He conquered sin and death by coming alive again on the third day. Here is the glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Galatians 1

Quite frequently we have a guest at our table. The guest is a neighborhood boy the same age as Liam. Liam often begs to have his friend eat with us. He loves his friend. I guess you could say that the boy enjoys our riches (a meal) at Liam’s expense. Quite frankly we wouldn’t probably invite the boy if it were not for Liam, and the boy probably would not accept an invitation if it were not for Liam. Verses 3-5 are about as succinct a statement concerning the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as one can make. His glory involves incredible grace toward His own children. The little acronym, God's Riches At Christ's Expense, applies very well to describing a part of that glory. In the midst of a world that constantly assaults the value of who we are in our own eyes, in the eyes of others and even in God's own eyes, we can be assured of the riches of God poured out upon us. He has lavished His own love upon us. He has declared us to be His own children. He did this because Jesus gave Himself for our sins.

The glory of Jesus involves an incredible peace that we have with God. Before we found Jesus, there was this underlying current of unrest in our lives. It was the current that God was angry with us, that God was against us. Indeed, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. But Jesus delivered us from this present evil age. We no longer are under the wrath of God, nor is God indifferent to us. We, who are in Christ, have peace with God.

The glory of Jesus involves His obedience. He died for us and delivered us according to the will of our God and Father. That is incredible! There is obedience even within the Godhead. The Son obeys the Father. The Spirit obeys the Son and the Father. He was obeying when He went to the cross. He was obeying when He delivered us out of this present evil age. Our own obedience comes as a result of being united with Him. Once we are united with Him, His obedience is able to flow through us.

It is a dangerous thing when people begin to teach that our obedience leads to our being delivered from this evil age. Why? Because for one thing, it is simply not true. For another thing, it robs Jesus of His glory. Our justification is all about Him. Our sanctification and obedience is all about Him. It is grace. It is His glory. Relax! Enjoy His table! Enjoy His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 17, 2010

2 Samuel 17

Bahurim was not a friendly place for David and his men, but the Lord provided for his men there. At least there was one family that was willing to let Jonathan and Ahimaaz hide in their well. David retreats to Mahanaim. Interesting, it was here that Abner had retreated to anoint Ishbosheth king. The people on the East side of the Jordan saw a need for a strong united monarchy. After all, their land was the frontier. David seems to be in full retreat. However, there are two good things that happen. Hushai is able to refute the advice of Ahithophel buying more time for David to reorganize. And the Lord moves upon the hearts of those of means on the east side of the Jordan to meet David’s and his army’s needs. They are refreshed and restored. Now they are ready to regroup. In such a fashion the Lord has provided for them. Similarly, He meets our needs when we wait upon him. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

2 Corinthians 13

The glory of Christ is seen in the paradox that He could be His most powerful when He was at His weakest point. He was crucified in weakness, but He rose by the power of God. His crucifixion, His weakest point, was the basis of the payment of the penalty of our sin. His resurrection broke the power of sin. We can't really live in Him until we learn that we are weak and need Him. He permits and engineers weaknesses in our lives to cause us to see our need to rely upon Him. When we see our need, then we are able to live with Him so that His power flows toward us. When His power flows toward us, His glory is increased because others see it operating in us. But it begins only when we recognize our weakness. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 20, 2010

2 Samuel 16

Remember the consequences of David’s sin that he had to endure in the temporal world? His infant son, first conceived by Bathsheba died. The sword is devouring his household. First, Amnon raped Tamar. Second, Absalom killed Amnon. Third Absalom is now seeking to kill David. But I think there is another caveat tucked in here that is related to focusing upon our honor above the Lord’s. It is the little village of Bahurim located east of Jerusalem near the mount of Olives on the old road to Jericho. It is here that David extricated his first wife, Michal, from her second husband, Paltiel, in defense of his honor for the way that Saul had defamed him in giving Michal away. This is a village of strong loyalties to the household of Saul. Out comes Shimei of the household of Saul pronouncing curses upon David, saying,

Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!

Is this not true? Did not the Lord Himself say, “You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight?” Had not the Lord Himself pronounced the consequences of David’s murder of Uriah? It is partially true. Notice here how the enemy of our souls will twist the truth of God’s word to drive us into depression. Here Shimei says, “The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned.” The consequences of David’s sin were not for his behavior toward the house of Saul but for His murder of Uriah. The enemy is trying to drive David into despair as though the Lord had no hope for David. Even when we are living out the consequences of past sin, there is always hope. The Lord never forsakes us or leaves us for He can never forsake Himself. It looks grim for David, but there is hope. Sometimes we need to let the past go because we are following a God of hope. That is what I see glorious about our Lord in this passage. He gives us hope. Even in the midst of living out the consequences of our sin, He gives us hope. He remains with us. Even in the dark times, we must cling to Him. David clung to Him with what little emotional strength that he had left at this time. It was during this time that he wrote the third Psalm. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

2 Corinthians 12

We all possess infirmities and weaknesses that we would rather not have. We all go through humbling experiences that we would rather not go through. I don't know about you, but I would rather cover over those things and forget about them. Paul boasts in them. Why? It is in our weaknesses when Jesus shows Himself to be strong. Our first instinct is to ask the Lord to be set free from them. Sometimes the Lord does set us free from them--to the praise of His glory. But sometimes the Lord says to us, as He said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

When we understand that key thought from the Lord and submit ourselves to Him, then we are enabled. His grace floods our lives. The weakness is still difficult. But we gain a new power to rise through the weakness. It becomes apparent to us and those around us that we have a power that does not come from ourselves. We and others can see His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 19, 2010

2 Corinthians 11:16-33
How did Paul keep going? Look at all the opposition! He was called a fool by those to whom He ministered. His labors were constant. His imprisonments were frequent. His physical perils were overwhelming. On top of all of this, He felt the responsibility of all the churches. That is a load! How did he keep going? He knew that He served the God who was blessed forever. What is blessed forever? Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines bless or blessing as:
the act of declaring, or wishing, favor and goodness upon others. The blessing is not only the good effect of words; it also has the power to bring them to pass. In the Bible, important persons blessed those with less power or influence. The patriarchs pronounced benefits upon their children, often near their own deaths (Gen. 49:1–28). Even if spoken by mistake, once a blessing was given it could not be taken back (Gen. 27:33). . . . One can also bless God, showing gratitude to Him (Deut. 8:10) in songs of praise (Ps. 103:1–2). . . . God also blesses people by giving life, riches, fruitfulness, or plenty (Gen. 1:22, 28). His greatest blessing is turning us from evil (Acts 3:25–26) and forgiving our sins (Rom. 4:7–8).

Is God the one being blessed in verse 31? It would appear so. How could this be a motivation to Paul to keep going in all of his difficult situations? He knew that his ability to continue on in difficult situations came directly from the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. As he availed himself of the Lord’s grace, he was blessing God. God is forever being blessed by those who avail themselves of His grace. Even if we do not bless Him, He blesses Himself. But it is our privilege to enter into blessing Him by availing ourselves of His grace in the midst of difficult circumstances. . Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John

September 18, 2010

2 Corinthians 11:1-15
The glory of Jesus is on the one hand very complex, but on the other hand it is very simple. I would expect nothing else. He is, after all, God. God is infinite. The only way an infinite being could be completely understood is to be infinite. We are not infinite. Therefore, we cannot completely understand God. But we can understand a finite part of God, which He chooses to reveal to us. The glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is very simple and pure. God the Son, the infinite being, added finitude to His person by becoming flesh. He did so to be come one of us. He became one of us so that he might die in our place. He died in our place in order to pay the just penalty of our sin and to break the power of our sin. He died in our place so that He might defeat our death by rising again. Having secured the provision of these things, he now offers us life by which we may now enter into a relationship with the Living and Holy God. He does all of this for His own pleasure. It is His pleasure to love. That is why He has done all of this. It is His pleasure to be holy. That is why He has done all of this. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John

September 17, 2010

2 Samuel 13

“When will the hurting stop?” You may recognize the question from the children’s cartoon The Terrible Thunder Lizzards.” We are entering the narrative of David’s life where I feel like asking that question the whole time. But it comes partly from the discipline of the Lord upon David, as we discussed yesterday, and partly from his own passivity. To this point in his life, David, for the most part, has been a paragon of a man who focuses on the glory of the Lord. He has been derailed. He gazed where he should not have and now is caught in the quagmire of its consequences.

Did he not wonder about Amnon’s request? Why did he not discipline his adult son for the rape of his half-sister? Why did he not wonder about Absalom’s request to take Amnon to a party? Why did he not seek to discipline Absalom? Partly it is because of the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah to cover his sin. Partly it is because he probably felt guilty. His passivity was probably because of his guilt. How could he ever look his son’s in the eye and instruct them concerning bridling their lust when he himself did not. How could he ever bring discipline upon Amnon when He himself had not received the punishment the law required? How could he ever rebuke Absalom for the revenge murder of Amnon when he himself had committed murder in order to cover his sin. I think David gave up. He became passive when he should have been active. The result? The sword strikes his household just as the Lord foretold.

Where is the glory in this? Let us fix our eyes upon the glory of the Lord. Yes, we may have blown it in the past resulting in a quagmire of consequences. But let us not increase the quagmire because of our own guilt that produces passivity. We must still forget what lies behind and press on for the upward call of the Lord Jesus. That is what honors Him, and He deserves all honor! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

2 Corinthians 10

The Lord Jesus Christ is mighty. What an understatement! Why, He pulls down strongholds. He casts down arguments. He destroys everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. He punishes disobedience. He sees beyond the outward into the heart. He knows our thoughts. One would almost expect that when we enter into His presence that we would burst with the power of His majesty. And so we might, if those were the only things true of Him. He is also meek and gentle. Meekness is patience and mildness, not having an inclination toward hot headedness. Gentleness is strength under control. He knows our frame. He knows how we are made, for it is He who made us. He knows how to correct our faults. He is able to correct our faults. He can do it gentle. He chooses to do it with our co-operation. Am I willing to listen to Him for my faults and to yield to His gentle power that will tear down the strongholds that exist in my spirit and mind. When I am, He begins to show His mighty gentle power in my life to set me free from that which binds me. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

Septermer 16, 2010

2 Samuel 12

Even though we are forgiven of our sin-that is a judicial declaration in the eternal realm, we still often must endure in the temporal realm the consequences of our sin. David has three very severe consequences that he must endure because of his sin: 1) the sword will never leave his house; 2) His wives will be publicly ravished; 3) the infant produced by his adultery will die. All three of these consequences happened. Why, if he is forgiven, must he endure such consequences? The Lord gives the answer, “However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. . .” To blaspheme is to denigrate the glory of the Lord. That the Lord carries a greater temporal consequence for giving cause to blaspheme his name speaks to how much His glory should be revered. He gives power to satisfy our sexual desire in the way that reflects what He is like. When we don’t avail ourselves of that power, it denigrates the glory of the Lord. It gives His enemies cause to blaspheme His name. We must be careful! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

2 Corinthians 9

The Lord Jesus Christ is God's indescribable gift to us. Every day of the rest of my life I will be meditating on the glory of Jesus Christ. I will never exhaust my thought on Him. Why? Because, He is ultimately indescribable. He can be described, but not fully, not completely. Take for example His grace as He gives to us. He makes His grace abound to us in whatever situation that we find ourselves. His grace always overflows so that we have an abundance of resources to do whatever tasks He calls us to do. He multiplies to us so that even in our poverty we may give. That is why the Macedonians, even though poor, were able to give so much. It was the Lord Jesus giving through them because they had first given themselves to Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 15, 2010

2 Samuel 11

“The thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” If a common person had committed what David had done, they would have been stoned to death. Stoning would have been the penalty for either adultery or murder. When Saul refused to kill Agag and the livestock of the Amalekites, God tore the kingdom away from him and gave it to David. By my standard it would seem that adultery and murder were far worse crimes than what Saul did. But he doesn’t tear the kingdom away from David. Does God have a double standard? As we will see in tomorrow’s reading, David still had consequences to his sins. One thing that I take away from this is that as believers our sins are under the blood of the Lord Jesus. The eternal penalty of eternal death is paid for. However, although the just penalty is paid, there are still consequences to our sin that we can never escape in the temporal world. Saul’s consequence was that the kingdom was torn away from his family line. How do you execute justice upon the one in charge of carrying out justice? Ultimately, the king was in charge of carrying out justice in the country. What would be the consequences of David’s sin? We will find out in the next chapter, but for now, remember that the God of glory does not let sin slip by. Yes, the eternal penalty is paid for and applied to believers. However, the temporal consequences often remain. That is part of His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

2 Corinthians 8

What is it about Jesus that makes people want to give themselves to Him? It is His glory. What is it about His glory? He was infinitely rich, constantly adored in heaven. Yet, for me, for us, He left those riches and became man. He was poor. He was despised. He was rejected. He was crucified for our sin. He became our sin. He died, forsaken by the Father. Yet, He rose again and defeated sin and death and offers to us His riches, if we trust Him. What grace! Such glorious grace compels me to give Him all! When others have need, we give, because of and for His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 14, 2010

2 Samuel 10

“Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” When your back and front is against two armies, I guess you only have two options, 1) trust in the deliverance of the Lord, or 2) be cowardly and look for a different way out. Most people look for a different way out. It takes courage to stand in the face of overwhelming odds and trust solely upon Him. It takes courage to see the glory of the Lord and to trust only in His glory. Most people look at the odds and are cowed by its power. What if what the Lord designs for us is to not be delivered from the odds but be delivered through the odds? You see, many times, the Lord receives greater glory if we walk through the trials. But when we go through them, we get to experience first had the excitement of the revelation of His glory. Is the revelation of His glory worth the trouble. I believe Joab and Abishai would give a resounding, “Yes!” Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

2 Corinthians 7

Paul's confidence in the Corinthians rests in one thing, he has a glorious Lord who is leading them. The Corinthians had blown it in several areas. But the Lord brought them back. Paul trusted them because He trusted his glorious Lord! Man, they were one messed up church. In his first letter Paul records four different factions that were in the church. Many were belittling Paul's authority. They were boasting and fighting. They failed to exercise church discipline in a blatant case of immorality. They were taking each other to civil court to settle their disputes. They were failing to pursue constraint in behavior when it would cause the weak in faith to fall into sin. Wives were rejecting the authority of their husbands. There was drunkenness in the celebration of the Lord's table. The rich were despising the poor. The worship service was filled with disorderliness as a result of a misuse of the gifts. Some were even denying that there would be a resurrection of the dead! Most of us would have walked away from the situation. But Paul was confident in them. Why? Because he knew the glory of his Lord. He knew his Lord would bring the Corinthians back. And indeed, the Lord did bring them back. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 13, 2010

2 Samuel 8-9

David is getting close to reaching the height of his glory in this chapter. But what about the glory of the Lord? In chapter seven we saw the covenant that the Lord made with David. It promised that David would never lack a descendent to inherit his throne. The Jews could trace the lineage of David all the way until the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. After that there is no heir. That is in keeping with God’s covenant with David for the promises to David are fulfilled in Jesus. So David, in the respects of ruling the nations as a king is a type of Christ. When David subdues the nations around him, it is a foreshadowing of the time when Jesus will rule the world when He returns. Jesus will fulfill the promise made to David. He will crush His enemies under His feet. He will rule the nations with a rod of iron. We will then have a perfect human government because Jesus will be that government. So in this chapter we see a prefiguring of the Messiah. Finally one day evildoers will be put down, and righteousness will reign. Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john


2 Corinthians 6

Jesus has made us co-workers with Him! What was His work? It was to do the work of the Father! He ate with the rich, but He had no kitchen of His own. He spoke to multitudes, but they listened only so their bellies could be filled. He called the weary to find rest in Him, but He had no bed or pillow of His own. He came to seek and save what was lost, but the lost called for His crucifixion. He is love, but He was hated. He healed, but He was wounded. He was perfect, but He was called a sinner. Look at what He accomplished! Look at what is cost! We work with Him. That means that we will experience what He experienced and gain what He gained. Therefore, we lay aside everything that will destroy our motivation. We will be Holy! We also are His sons and daughters! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 12, 2010

2 Corinthians 5
What a chapter to meditate upon the glory of Christ! He is the One who will clothe us with immortality (4). He has given His Spirit as a down payment (5). He is the One who will judge us (10). He is the One who loves us unconditionally (14). He is the One who died and rose again for us (14,15). He is the One who made us a new creation (17). He is the One who reconciled us to God (18). He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (21).
All across the world corrupt judges receive bribes from people wanting the judgment to go their way. Why? The judge holds the power to make or break a person's life. We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. He will judge us. His judgment is just. Knowing only our sin, that is a terrifying thought. But our judge is also the one who knew the penalty of our sin and our sin, before we were even born. He loves us in spite of our sin! He died to reconcile us because of our sin. He rose again to deliver us from the power of our sin. He is coming again to deliver us from the presence of sin. This is the One who is judging us! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John

September 11, 2001

2 Corinthians 4
The glory of Jesus shines constantly and overwhelmingly. Two days ago, I was sitting on the deck. The sun was shining. I closed my eyes and turned my face toward the sun to let its heat flood over my skin. Even with my eyes closed, the brilliance and glory of the sun seemed to penetrate right through my eyelids and almost hurt my eyes. I couldn't take if very long. I had to quit. I went inside. The sun shines constantly, whether I am outside or inside, whether cloudy or clear, whether day or night. Positioning myself to see its glory has no effect on its strength or glory, only on my ability to perceive it.
So also, the glory of the Lord Jesus shines constantly; whether, I am positioned to perceive it or not. His glory includes His death, resurrection and ascension. We like to speak of the glory of the ascension and sharing in that. But sharing in His death is not too exciting. We sometimes hide ourselves from the death aspect. Sometimes our flesh, the world or the enemy seeks to hide that aspect of His glory. Unbelievers cannot see it at all because they have chosen to let the god of this age veil their eyes.
Paul was constantly harassed. Look at the words that he uses: pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. But those things could not defeat him. Why? Because the light of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ was shining upon him, as it does upon us. As he looked at the glory of Jesus, he realized that he was sharing in His glory. If we share in His ascension, we must also share in His death. A focus on the glory of Jesus enabled Paul to not lose heart. So it is with us. A focus on the glory of Christ will not allow us to lose heart. But we shall bask in the light of His glory, even in the midst of suffering and death. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John

September 10, 2010

2 Samuel 4,5

It is amazing to me that Rechab and Baanah actually thought that David would reward them for Ishbosheth’s head. But then, think about it. David had assembled with the Philistines before the battle in which Saul met his demise. Perhaps only the Philistines knew that David was sent home because they did not trust him. David did not come to Saul’s rescue. There had been war between the David’s men and Ishbosheth’s men for 7.5 years. There had been no conflict between David and the Philistines during that time. From a human viewpoint, why wouldn’t David desire Ishbosheth’s death. But David was not concerned about the human viewpoint. He still believed in not touching the anointed of the Lord. But their unrighteousness triggered a final act that was needed to reunify the country.

Now that the country was moving toward unification, what could David do that would solidify it? Our country had the same problem as we sought to find a capital to unify the country. In what later became known as the Compromise of 1790, Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson came to an agreement that the federal government would assume war debt carried by the states, on the condition that the new national capital would be located in the Southern United States.[1] Thus the District of Columbia, our nation’s capital, was built. David wisely found a Jebusite border town that had never been conquered, Jerusalem. He conquered it. By royal right of conquest, the city became his. He made it the new capital. It was perfectly situated near the border of Benjamin and Judah giving it a central location.

With the unification of Israel under David at a new capital, the Philistines came to the realization that David was no longer their vassal, but he had become a king with rapidly growing power. They attacked. True to form David asks the Lord for advice on when and how to attack the Philistines. The Lord instructed him. We are in a spiritual battle. The Lord calls us to battle. But we must be dependent upon Him by asking for his battle plan. Most of the plan is given in the Word. But it is His Spirit who takes the word and instructs us in the specific use of it. Let us ask Him for His plan for only then will His glory be predominate. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



2 Corinthians 3

Jesus fulfilled the Law. At the time the Law was delivered, it came through Moses and was written on stone tablets. Moses daily communed with God. After communing with God, he would speak with the people. His face shone brightly from the glory of the Lord. He put a veil on so that they could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. Was it passing away each day, or was it constant every day and the total glory of the law was eventually passing away? What was the purpose of the Law? It was to condemn sin so that we might know that we needed someone to make us righteous. That was a glorious ministry! It was illustrated by the glow on Moses' face.

Jesus' ministry to us is not to use the Law to condemn us, but His ministry is to transform us into men & women who meet all the righteous standards of the Law. As we read His word, part of which is the Law, we listen to His voice. His Spirit writes His life on our hearts not on stone or pieces of paper but upon our hearts. As we listen, we see His glory! As we gaze on His glory we are transformed into his image. His Spirit takes His word, His life and writes it in our heart, speaks it in our heart. We see His glory. We are changed. Am I listening for His Spirit? He speaks to those who listen. His glory shines when we listen. What is He saying? Perhaps it is, "I love you." Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 9, 2010

September 9, 2010 2 Samuel 3

What a mess we make when we turn from seeking to exalt the glory of the Lord to defending our own honor. Abner wanted to turn Ishbosheth over to David because Ishbosheth had insulted him. His motivation was not for national unity. His motivation was to strike a blow against Ishbosheth because his honor had been sullied. David was willing to receive Abner’s subterfuge from Ishbosheth not just for the national unity, but also to clear his honor. He demanded from Ishbosheth his first wife, Ishbosheth’s sister, whom Saul had give in marriage to another man in order to dishonor David. David was clearing his honor. Joab was still carrying a grudge against Abner for killing Asahel. They all had a problem with personal honor.

How could the glory of the Lord have been seen in this situation? As we saw yesterday, if Abner had consulted the Lord first, he could have non-violently handed the kingdom over David. If, if, if. . . The problem was personal honor. The problem was that they were not pursuing to exalt the glory of the Lord. That is when His glory is hidden. O Lord, help me to never seek my honor above Your glory! You must increase and I must decrease! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

2 Corinthians 2

According to brainyquotes.com, Vince Lombardi once said, "Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing!" If we are speaking of the conflict between holiness and unholiness, righteousness and unrighteousness, love and hate, faithfulness and unfaithfulness, then he was right. The tragic thing is that I occasionally am unfaithful, I hate someone or act in an unholy or unrighteous manner. It would appear at those times that I have lost the battle. The Corinthian church had disciplined someone, possibly the man in 1 Cor. 5:1. Paul now urges the church to receive back the disciplined man. The man's open sin would have appeared to be a defeat. But Jesus always gathers His rebellious children back to Himself. Like a triumphant general leading His soldiers in a parade through His city, dragging His captive enemies behind, He ALWAYS leads us in triumph.

Don't get it wrong. We are the triumphant soldiers, even though we may have acted unrighteously. He liberates us. The captive procession is the unrighteous acts and attitudes from which He has liberated us. That's a good fragrance, the fragrance of triumph.

Last night I was reading The Practice of His Presence by Brother Lawrence, when a fragrant perfume wafted by. I don't know where the fragrance came from. But this verse came to mind. Lo and behold, this morning I am reading the verse. He is our victory, and it smells good! Those who don't know Him find it detestable. But we, who have been set free, find it ever fragrant. He is victorious, and that is a fragrant perfume. All our putrid, rotting, awful sin has been or will be removed from us. It has been replaced with the fragrance of His righteousness. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 8, 2010

September 8, 2010 2 Samuel 2

So where is the glory? We start out well. David seeks the Lord to find out where he should settle. As a result David settles in the heart of southern Judah, far from the heart of Benjamin from whence came Saul. The people of Judah come and anoint David king, much to the chagrin of the close followers of Saul and Benjamin. Following the ceremony David is informed of the heroic act of the men of Jabesh Gilead. David wisely sends messengers to Jabesh Gilead to express his pleasure and gratitude in their action. This is more than a genuine thank you. It is also a political move on David’s part to try to bring peace and unity to a hurting nation. Jabesh Gilead as you recall is one of Saul’s ancestral homes. It is also located east of the Jordan River and much further north. Geographically if David could coax them to support him, it would go a long way to unifying the nation under him. Things go south from here, literally and figuratively.

Abner, Saul’s general, responds by taking Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, and anointing him king over Israel. Abner did not consult the Lord; he merely followed human tradition. Abner takes him to Mahanaim to anoint him king. Why Mahanaim? Mahanaim is also east of the Jordan and further south. It was geographically a road block for David to unify or expand the kingdom. Also, Mahanaim was rich in cultural/religious history. Mahanaim was named by Jacob/Israel. It means two armies or two camps. Jacob named it on the night in which he wrestled with God and his name was changed to Israel. It held cultural value to the people of Israel. Without consulting the Lord, Abner’s actions were wise and calculated. It was a brilliant move. But his eyes were on his own glory, not the glory of the Lord.

To this point there is no record of warfare between David’s men and Ishbosheth’s men. Joab ventures with a detachment of his army up to Gibeon. Gibeon is in the heart of Benjamin. What is Joab doing there? The two detachments meet at the pool of Gibeon. The pool of Gibeon is dug through 35 feet of solid rock and is 37 feet in diameter. That would make its circumference 116.24 feet around. The two detachments could easily have stood around its circumference and be separate from each other. Abner suggests a contest between the young men. Joab accepts. What are they thinking? They are focused on their own glory, not the glory of the Lord. As one could predict, it lead to murder and war between Judah and Israel. It lead to the death of Joab’s youngest brother. It lead to a deep grudge on Joab’s part toward Abner. It wasn’t good. That is what happens when we cease seeking the glory of the Lord and seek our own glory. For this reason let us remember: Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

2 Corinthians 1

The glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He is the God of all comfort. How can He comfort us? First, He has experienced an unimaginable physical pain. He suffered (going to and upon the cross) pain of horrendous magnitude. Any physical pain we experience, he has experienced. He is able to comfort us in our physical pain.

Second, He knew financial deprivation. "Foxes have holes . . . but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head." He is able to comfort us in our poverty.

Third, He has suffered unimaginable emotional pain. The only physical father he knew died when He was somewhere between 12 & 30. One of His best friends died while he was away on a ministry trip. He was constantly misunderstood. He was depressed as He considered His coming agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was betrayed by Judas and denied by Peter. He is able to comfort us in our emotional pain.

Fourth, He experienced unimaginable spiritual pain. On the cross He experienced the open wrath of His Father. It was so great that He cried in desperation, “My God, my God why have you forsaken Me?”. He is more than able to comfort us in our spiritual pain. To comfort doesn't mean the pain is suddenly taken away. It means He comes along side to strengthen us giving us ability to endure until the pain is gone.

Some years ago I went through an extreme (for me) emotional upheaval. One of the elders of my church became convinced that I had no leadership skills. He eventually called to the other elders for my resignation, or he would resign. The outcome was he resigned. But it still left me in a tremendous state of emotional & spiritual weariness and sorrow. It also left me as the center of attack of a few others who supported him.

It was impossible to study for my sermon that week. Sunday morning came and as worship began, it was difficult to enter into His gates with joyful singing. I was flooded with emotions of great sorrow and weariness. I resolved to place my attention on Christ and not on my emotions and to sing to Him. As I sang, a new thing happened. He comforted me. As I sang, I felt as though He were speaking to me and saying, "I love you." The sorrow and weariness did not leave. It was still there. But in the midst of it, I experienced His comfort. Tears began to well up. At times I could not physically sing. It was not because of the sorrow and weariness that I felt, but rather because of the comfort I was receiving. He was communicating His love to me. It was overpowering, even while I felt sorrow and weariness.

I really don't know if the sermon was good or bad. But I know it was His comfort that carried me through. If any were comforted from the sermon, it was His doing. For as the suffering of Christ abounds in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 7, 2010

2 Samuel 1

I can understand David’s lament over Jonathan; after all, they were best friends. But he lamented Saul, and took vengeance upon Saul’s supposed executioner. Why? He took vengeance because Saul was “the Lord’s anointed.” The glory of the Lord was important enough to David that he would not even harm “the Lord’s anointed” even if that anointed one deserved to die. But it wasn’t just about right and wrong. David loved Saul because of that anointing. The words expressed in his dirge indicate that he was indeed sorrowful over Saul’s death. David’s focus had to be upon the glory of the Lord. For that reason he mourned. Is my focus upon the glory of the Lord so strong, so clear, that when those who seek to do destroy me meet unfortunate circumstance that I genuinely mourn over their demise? Lord, bring me to the point that Your glory is of utmost importance to me, even greater than my own well being. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

1 Corinthians 16

The Lord Jesus Christ is full of grace. He expresses His grace most often through other brothers and sisters in Christ. The saints in Jerusalem were encountering severe famine. His love in us motivates us to give to those in need. Even this carnal but wealthy church in Corinth was giving to Jerusalem--because of the love of the Lord Jesus. When we give to other’s needs out of the proper motive, we are displaying His glory.

Maranatha-O Lord Come or Our Lord has come-is our hearts cry! We long to see his glory fully manifest! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 6, 2010

1 Sam 31
Where’s the glory? What a sad chapter. The enemies of the Lord are rejoicing. The people of God are in retreat. The king of Israel is dead. The price of disobedience is quite high. It always involves death, sometimes even for God’s people. But when persistent disobedience is displayed, God’s justice is challenged. The Lord will not tolerate persistent disobedience especially in those who tasted of His heavenly gift. So where is the glory? It is seen in the consistency of God’s justice. After decades of persistent disobedience in Saul, God vindicates His justice. Israel’s first king, picked for his masculine appearance, lies dead and disgraced because he would not truly repent. The Lord had warned him many times. But he would not turn. This is our God. He is just. He will not always put up with our foolishness. That is glory to consider.
There is one glimmer of honor in this passage. The men of Jabesh Gilead put their lives on the line to steal the bodies of Saul and his sons. It wasn’t right that the enemies of the Lord should gloat over death and destruction wreaked upon Saul, his family and Israel. It wasn’t right that Saul should have an honorable burial. Jabesh Gilead was one of Saul’s ancestral homes. Jabesh Gilead had typically remained aloof from battles. Saul’s first act as king was to save Jabesh Gilead from a tyrant. They would not forget his intervention to save them. They travelled all night to steal the bodies off of the wall. They cremated the bodies. This is the only record of the people of Israel cremating someone they wished to honor. It is indicative of an emergency. Then they buried the bones in their own city. Why? Mixed reasons. He was their hero. He was their kinsman. He was the Lord’s anointed. Anyone reason was sufficient. I’d like to think it was the last reason. I’d like to think it was because they saw a little of the Glory of God, and for that sole reason they put their lives on the line. Lord, let me see your glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

1 Corinthians 15:29-58
Grasping the glory of Jesus Christ in His victory over death is so key in our experiencing victory in this life. There are different kinds of death. His resurrection is victorious over each. There is physical death, the separation of body and spirit. There is spiritual death, our separation from God. There is eternal death, spiritual death made permanent. But there is a fourth death that Paul mentions here. He says, "I die daily." This is a separation from our human desires in order to attain God's desired righteousness.
Paul was constantly fighting against that which would deter him from attaining God's desire for him--both on a personal level and on a ministry level. He daily was aware that he must separate himself from his earthly desires. In Ephesus he had a 2.5 year successful ministry. He was so successful that the silver smiths were fearful of his continued presence because they were losing money from a drop in idol sales. They forced him out of town. In every town in which he entered, he had similar problems. In between towns he had problems--shipwreck etc. I am sure that he craved a normal life. I suspect that he craved not having to wonder if people were going to pick up stones to kill him. He could have a normal life if he just focused on tent-making, his trade by which he supported himself.
How could he daily overcome those desires to just be normal? He was infected with the glory of Jesus Christ in His resurrection. He knew that every desire that he lay down, that every time he separated himself from that desire, that every time he died, Jesus would one day raise Him up. The glory of the resurrection was more than a neat truth. It was a reality upon which he counted. It was a reality that made hardships palatable because he was trading his desire of comfort for the glory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The glory of the resurrection is not some ethereal thought for people who sequester themselves in a place hidden away from the world. It is the driving force of those who continue on the path of righteousness and ministry because they know that every desire they lay down, every comfort to which they die, every human dream laid aside for Jesus will be raised as something greater, better and victorious. We can count on it because Jesus conquered death! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!--Pastor John

September 5, 2010

1 Corinthians 15:1-28
What's the old saying? There are only 2 things certain in life--death and taxes. Death is a common denominator to us all. It is coming but we don't want to think about it. For most it is a dread champion that we refuse to allow to come to mind. For, if we do, the thoughts and feelings, for those who have no hope, can be overpowering.
The glory of Jesus is that He has defeated death. He just hasn't awarded the final effect of his victory in us yet. History is the struggle of men to achieve immortality by gaining power and using that power to build something that will make them immortal. Their building might be a pyramid, a palace, a garden, a legacy, a lineage, a kingdom, a nation, a family or something that will outlast them. Jesus died so that He could gain a kingdom. It is a kingdom of subjects who also have died, are dying and will die. But He raises them. He raises us and makes us into a kingdom. He shall reign, not to become immortal but because He is immortal. Then He will deliver us to the Father and then destroy death. He is life itself! In His presence death cannot survive! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John

September 4, 2010

1 Corinthians 14:20-40
Part of the glory of Christ is that He chooses to speak to people not only through His revealed Word but also through His body, the church. Why would He do such a thing? Wouldn’t it be much clearer if He sent angels or wrote the message in the stars or just dropped Bibles down from heaven to each language group written in that group’s language? It is such a messy thing, trying to get people with prideful-sin-marred natures to work together on something does not exalt them. I mean, really, give them each a gift that they can use to build toward the common goal? You know that prideful nature is going to cause them to exalt their gift over someone else’s gift. You know they are going to think their way of doing something is the only legitimate way of doing something. You know they are going to exalt the really gifted ones over the ones whose gifts are not so dramatic. You know their pride is going to get in the way.
Perhaps that is part of the Lord’s reasoning. I takes more power to do that which is more difficult. So when the one who is accomplishing that which is more difficult finishes, it brings Him greater glory. That is the glory of our Lord. His glory is not only found in His character, which is matchless, but it is also found in what He does. He performs some of the most impossible tasks. One of those is taking sin riddled people, cleaning their sin, gifting them, empowering them and using them to build His own body, His bride. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today

September 3, 2010

1 Sam 27

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” --Prov. 13:12. Years of being chased by Saul were taking its toll upon David. Twice he had honored the Lord by not killing Saul when he had the opportunity. One would think that maybe Saul would repent and let go of the Kingdom handing it over to David. After all, he would get it eventually. A peaceful solution was desirable. For years David had been sustained emotionally with the hope that one day the Lord would make him king. But it would appear that that day would continually be deferred.

When the heart is sick, the mind does not function properly. So David returns to Gath. Gath is where Goliath was from. It would not be a good choice of refuge for the one who had dispatched their hero. David retreated there once before when Saul first trying to kill him. But that was years ago, and he was alone then. Now David has gained a reputation for being chased by Saul. What is more, David has built an army of 600. They are seasoned soldiers by now. David would make a valuable ally to the king of Gath. Achish welcomed him and gave David and his men the town of Ziklag in which to dwell. David took the age old and dishonorable profession of a gentleman pirate.

Where is the glory of God in David’s occupation as a pirate? How can a man after God’s own heart occupy himself in such an occupation? It just doesn’t make sense. But then how clean are my hands? How clean are your hands? Are we sure that we are 100% honest in our business dealings? It must be that the lord is overlooking the sin of this season. The Lord understands the heart sickness of David. What mercy upon His part! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

Part of the glory of Christ is His infinite holy love for us. Part of His glory is that we are being transformed into His image. Therefore, it brings Him greater glory when we are transformed into people who love like He loves. That is unnatural indeed it is supernatural. Can you imagine what would happen in our churches and fellowships if we loved as is described in chapter 13? It would revolutionize our churches!

In addition to pursuing love Paul tells us to desire spiritual gifts. But wasn’t it the desire of spiritual gifts in chapter 12 that brought so much turmoil in the church in Corinth? Yes it was. There were two fundamental problems in their exercise of their gifts. The first was that is was not motivated by love. The second was that each thought their gift was the best expression of spirituality and truth. Paul is revealing that truth is best revealed when everyone has a healthy respect for each other’s gifts and they exercise them with that in mind and with a motivation of love.

I can be told a lot of negative things about myself if I know the person speaking it loves me and the person has accurately discerned the truth. Love provides an atmosphere for us to receive truth from one another and seeking a balance of gifts helps make sure the truth we share is not one sided. How the glory of Christ would be increased, if we pursued love and desired all the gifts! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 2, 2010

1 Sam 26

From yesterday’s reading it would appear that when David was hiding among the people that it was his practice to use his men to protect his fellow Israelites, subjects of King Saul. Why would he do such a thing? First and foremost he would do that because it was the right thing to do. Second he would do that because he knew that one day he would be their king. There was no need to alienate those whom he would one day rule. What a disappointment it was for him when they told Saul that David was in the area. David even recorded a quiet time when he contemplated the problem. It is found in Psalm 54. But notice that he did tell the Lord about it, and the Lord once again showed David His glory by putting the deep sleep upon Saul’s army. David recognized the hand of the Lord. He did not use it as opportunity to seize the throne. He would wait upon the Lord. He was willing to wait his time. By this time in David’s life, he might have been running from Saul close to ten years. Can you imagine running for your life for ten years, having opportunity to bring that running to an end and not taking matters into your own hands? David certainly had his eyes on a greater glory than the throne of Israel! It was on the King of kings. Only that kind of vision can explain his kind of action. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

1 Corinthians 13

God is love. Jesus is God. This passage describes love. This passage describes Jesus. He suffers long with us. Our sin is great and grievous. He was patient with us, waiting for us to repent. Love does not parade itself is not puffed up. He, the Creator of the Universe, Lord of lords, was born in a manger. That is hardly puffing Himself up. Love does not behave rudely. Jesus is never rude. Yes, He says things that are shocking, but His shocking statements are to reveal the truth not to offend the person to whom He is speaking. Love does not seek its own. He has every right to force us to trust Him. He has the ability to force us to trust Him. But if He forced us to trust Him then He would not be loving us, for He would be seeking His own above our choice. He also sought the Father’s glory above His own. Love does not think evil. Jesus never sits around thinking about what kind of evil might reside in us. He loves us. Love does not rejoice in iniquity. Whenever we sin, Jesus is saddened. Whenever someone commits iniquity against us, Jesus is saddened. Love bears all things. Think of the things that you won’t put up with from other people. Jesus bears with you in those things. Love never fails. Jesus never fails us. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John

September 1, 2010

1 Samuel 25

Do you ever stop to think that sometimes the Lord intervenes for you to keep you from sinning? He actually does something that prevents you from being able carry out a plan for wickedness! I am not sure how often He does that. Certainly, I have committed more wickedness than I want to admit; however, how many times did I have a plan in place, but in His goodness He thwarted my efforts?

After Liam was born, we did not have enough room in our car for our whole family to legally ride in the car. Laura began praying for a van before he was born. Six months after he was born, I was contemplating borrowing money to buy a van so that we could drive from North Carolina to Oklahoma to visit my parents and from North Caroline to Pennsylvania to visit Laura’s parents. Now, you might be wondering, what’s wrong with that? It is the American way! Yeah, but it wasn’t God’s way for me. I had decided more than a decade before that I would never again borrow money to purchase a car because borrowing money for a vehicle had brought me into financial bondage. An elder heard that I was thinking of borrowing money or even renting a van. He told me, “Why don’t you just borrow my van for your trip.” I thought it over for a couple of days and took him up on his offer. After I had waited and borrowed the van, the Lord prompted someone to give me a brand new van. I am still driving it to this day, almost eleven years later. I was saved from covetousness for a van.

Some people in David’s day might have said, “So what if David kills Nabal? He is such a fool; he deserves it. David has been such a benefit to Nabal; David deserved a gift from Nabal. It is only right that David kills him.” But that is not God’s way. The Lord prevented David from doing wrong by prompting Nabal’s wife Abigail to intervene. David was saved from covetousness of someone else’s wealth. It was a need that he and his men had. They deserved a gift. But he needed hold his rights loosely. And the Lord intervened. He does not always intervene. But this time he did. Isn’t He marvelous? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

1 Corinthians 12

Part of the glory of Christ is the glory of His body. On earth we are His body. He has given each of us specific functions in His body. His glory is increased when we function properly in that which He has given us to function. Therefore, functioning well in our giftedness is essential to giving Him the glory He deserves. Have I discovered my giftedness? Am I functioning well in it? Is my giftedness a source of praise to His name or am I using it as a point of pride to exalt myself over others? Have I not found my giftedness, hiding behind a false humility which says I have nothing to contribute? He has given us our gifts so that we may glorify Him. Indeed, if we are able to do anything of eternal value, it is only because of Him. Let us minister in the realm in which He has gifted us to His glory! Let us not shy away from it nor let us exalt ourselves because of it. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John