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