2 Kings 10
Is it possible to see some of the glory of God and be used as a major instrument in accomplishing His will and yet not have a relationship with Him? The history of the Bible cries out, “Yes!” The obvious ones are men like Pharaoh and Cyrus. But they never made any pretense about being on Yahweh’s side. Then there are men like Jehu. He slaughters the worshippers of Baal as no other man had done, including Elijah. God even commended him for it and promised his descendants to retain the throne to the fourth generation. Yet we find these sentences concerning him:
He did not however, destroy the gold calves at Bethel and Dan, the great sin that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. . . But Jehu did not obey the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.
Is it possible that I could be like Jehu? Could I see glimpses of the glory? Could I be obedient to the Lord in a major work in my culture? Could I be commended even by the Lord for that work? Could I do all these things and still not know Him? If the example of Jehu is the answer, then I think the answer is, “Yes.” How can I prevent being like Jehu? The answer is simple. I simply throw myself on the mercies of God. Everyday I will seek to gaze at His glory and spiritually eat at His table. I will plead with Him, as did Moses, “Lord, show me your glory. . . Do not send me out unless your presence goes with me.” Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
2 Timothy 3
It is the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ that we should experience persecutions similar to His and to come through them triumphantly! His Word is able to make us strong for those situations. His Word is perfect. He was able to work in and through the writers of Scripture so that everything they wrote on the one hand perfectly voiced what Jesus wanted said and yet on the other hand their personalities and human qualities are apparent in their writing. Every single word that they wrote is the perfect word of God, the word of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that Jesus is able to use the Word in us to teach us what is true, to reprove us when we are wrong, to show us how to be right again, to instruct us in the right way to walk in life. The Lord Jesus is able to use His word and His power to equip us for every good work that He desires to do in us. Let persecution come! We have the glory and beauty of our Lord to equip us and empower us! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
October 28, 2010
2 Kings 9
What a gruesome story. What are we to think of a God who condones this? Wait a minute! Is our God supposed to be just? Yes, of course! Is our God supposed to punish evil? Yes, of course! Then this event demonstrates the severity of the Justice of God. Did Jehoram and Jezebaal deserve to die? Absolutely! Jezebaal had murdered many of the prophets of the Lord and had sought to kill Elijah. She was a driving force at introducing and increasing Baal worship in Israel. Her son was walking in the same path. This incident is a great warning to us all that there is a “payday someday.” God will eventually bring about justice to every person. It either comes at the cross of Jesus, or we perish. Can we glory in His justice? Yes. I would rather glory in His mercy, but without His justice, there is no such thing as mercy. Even Jehu, the instrument of justice to Ahab’s house, is the recipient of justice because he oversteps his authority in administrating the Lord’s intent.
Did Hitler deserve to die? Most people would answer, “Yes.” Am I as deserving of death as is Hitler? Some people would answer, “No.” I would answer, “Yes.” Before I met Jesus, God would also have answered, “Yes.” But God carried out the penalty, which justice required, upon Jesus. Because I have received Jesus, the penalty is paid, and I have received mercy. So I will glory in God’s justice. He is just! But I am most thankful that Jesus took the just penalty for me. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
2 Timothy 2
While I was in college, I used to jog 6 miles every morning. The OSU cross-country course is a beautiful 3 mile course with gulleys and ponds. There is just something about watching the sun come up as you jog along the ridge of a gulley in the coolness of the morning. The birds are singing, and the rabbits sit there watching you as if they are wondering why the crazy human is in such a hurry. It was exhilarating.
One day while stretching out before my jog, a local pastor came jogging by on his morning workout. I thought to myself. "I will finish my stretching and catch up with him.” He was an old man (at least 35). “I shouldn't have any problem catching him." When I started, he was about 100 yards ahead of me. I took off on what I thought was a good pace. I wasn't gaining on him. I increased the pace. Finally after about 2.5 miles he was only about 20 yards ahead. I was tired; no, I was dying. But I couldn't let this old man beat me. I kept kicking. Just about the time I caught up with him nearing the end of the course, I got this tremendous snapping pain in the side of my left knee every time that I extended it forward. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the knee with each step. I had caught Him, but I couldn't go any further. Not much glory in this. I quit. He kept on jogging. Another round? I found out later that he used to run track for OSU and regularly ran marathons. The doctor told me that I should stay off my knee for a couple of weeks. I lost the discipline of jogging.
I've since tried to regain the discipline. It is not fun anymore. I weigh 40 pounds more. I am an "old man". I get tired of running very easy.
Sometimes I get tired of ministry. The variety of reasons, which confront me that explain why people don't want to follow Jesus or think they are following Jesus when they really are not, is sometimes overwhelming. I feel a responsibility to combat those reasons and to bring people to the Lordship of Jesus. When I don't see visible success, it is easy to lose motivation. Sometimes I get tired. Its like jogging. I get tired easy. And then every once-in-a-while something happens that is like someone spiritually stabbing you in the knee. I get tired.
What keeps me going? It is the glory of Jesus. His grace is overflowing. His salvation is an eternal weight of glory. He tired on the way to the cross. He had stabbing pain on the cross. He allows me the privilege of dying with Him. He allows me the privilege of enduring pain with Him. He allows me the privilege of living with Him. I never get tired of His glory. If I endure with Him, I will one day reign with Him. WOW! Say that again! If I endure with Him, I will one day reign with the King of Glory!!! But even if I am faithless, He will remain faithful because He cannot deny Himself! I've just gotta get my eyes off of the crud and back onto His glory!
I have named His name. It is not about me. It is about Him. What have I to do with any iniquity? I want to depart from it because my life is not about me! It is about the glory of His name. God forbid that I should shame His name because of my iniquity! I want His beauty to shine through me. I want His name to be spread abroad. He is the glorious King! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
What a gruesome story. What are we to think of a God who condones this? Wait a minute! Is our God supposed to be just? Yes, of course! Is our God supposed to punish evil? Yes, of course! Then this event demonstrates the severity of the Justice of God. Did Jehoram and Jezebaal deserve to die? Absolutely! Jezebaal had murdered many of the prophets of the Lord and had sought to kill Elijah. She was a driving force at introducing and increasing Baal worship in Israel. Her son was walking in the same path. This incident is a great warning to us all that there is a “payday someday.” God will eventually bring about justice to every person. It either comes at the cross of Jesus, or we perish. Can we glory in His justice? Yes. I would rather glory in His mercy, but without His justice, there is no such thing as mercy. Even Jehu, the instrument of justice to Ahab’s house, is the recipient of justice because he oversteps his authority in administrating the Lord’s intent.
Did Hitler deserve to die? Most people would answer, “Yes.” Am I as deserving of death as is Hitler? Some people would answer, “No.” I would answer, “Yes.” Before I met Jesus, God would also have answered, “Yes.” But God carried out the penalty, which justice required, upon Jesus. Because I have received Jesus, the penalty is paid, and I have received mercy. So I will glory in God’s justice. He is just! But I am most thankful that Jesus took the just penalty for me. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
2 Timothy 2
While I was in college, I used to jog 6 miles every morning. The OSU cross-country course is a beautiful 3 mile course with gulleys and ponds. There is just something about watching the sun come up as you jog along the ridge of a gulley in the coolness of the morning. The birds are singing, and the rabbits sit there watching you as if they are wondering why the crazy human is in such a hurry. It was exhilarating.
One day while stretching out before my jog, a local pastor came jogging by on his morning workout. I thought to myself. "I will finish my stretching and catch up with him.” He was an old man (at least 35). “I shouldn't have any problem catching him." When I started, he was about 100 yards ahead of me. I took off on what I thought was a good pace. I wasn't gaining on him. I increased the pace. Finally after about 2.5 miles he was only about 20 yards ahead. I was tired; no, I was dying. But I couldn't let this old man beat me. I kept kicking. Just about the time I caught up with him nearing the end of the course, I got this tremendous snapping pain in the side of my left knee every time that I extended it forward. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the knee with each step. I had caught Him, but I couldn't go any further. Not much glory in this. I quit. He kept on jogging. Another round? I found out later that he used to run track for OSU and regularly ran marathons. The doctor told me that I should stay off my knee for a couple of weeks. I lost the discipline of jogging.
I've since tried to regain the discipline. It is not fun anymore. I weigh 40 pounds more. I am an "old man". I get tired of running very easy.
Sometimes I get tired of ministry. The variety of reasons, which confront me that explain why people don't want to follow Jesus or think they are following Jesus when they really are not, is sometimes overwhelming. I feel a responsibility to combat those reasons and to bring people to the Lordship of Jesus. When I don't see visible success, it is easy to lose motivation. Sometimes I get tired. Its like jogging. I get tired easy. And then every once-in-a-while something happens that is like someone spiritually stabbing you in the knee. I get tired.
What keeps me going? It is the glory of Jesus. His grace is overflowing. His salvation is an eternal weight of glory. He tired on the way to the cross. He had stabbing pain on the cross. He allows me the privilege of dying with Him. He allows me the privilege of enduring pain with Him. He allows me the privilege of living with Him. I never get tired of His glory. If I endure with Him, I will one day reign with Him. WOW! Say that again! If I endure with Him, I will one day reign with the King of Glory!!! But even if I am faithless, He will remain faithful because He cannot deny Himself! I've just gotta get my eyes off of the crud and back onto His glory!
I have named His name. It is not about me. It is about Him. What have I to do with any iniquity? I want to depart from it because my life is not about me! It is about the glory of His name. God forbid that I should shame His name because of my iniquity! I want His beauty to shine through me. I want His name to be spread abroad. He is the glorious King! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
October 27, 2010
2 Kings 8
It is common to us to relegate our Lord to activity in only a certain area. Do we not all segment our lives? Do not many have their “spiritual” area and their “secular” area. We are not unique in this. But today’s reading reveals that this is a dangerous segmentation. The people of Elisha’s day seemed to believe in territorial gods. One god was a god of one area, and another god was a god of another area. They attributed their power in battle to the strength of their god. The Syrian king had seen: 1) his general healed of leprosy by the God of Elisha, 2) his military secrets revealed to Elisha by the God of Elisha, 3) a commandos sent into Israel to arrest Elisha were blinded, captured, fed and released at the command of the God of Elisha, 4) a failed siege of Samaria when the God of Elisha placed false sensations in the senses of the complete army performing the siege, 5) the failure of his own gods to heal him of his disease. Clearly the king of Syria believed in territorial gods but now had come to see that the God of Israel was greater than his gods. So, he sends to inquire of Elisha concerning his health. God reveals that He is sovereign over all nations, not just Israel. He deposes the king of Syria as well as Judah and Israel. It was a dangerous thing for the king of Syria to assume that the God of Elisha was only God of Israel and that his god was stronger. It is a dangerous thing when we segment our Lord to one area of our lives. His glory cannot be hidden in segments. It shines in all segments. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
2 Timothy 1
Why would anyone be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord? When Paul wrote this, he was in jail for the last time. How would you feel if your pastor was frequently in jail for preaching the gospel? Shouldn't this glorious Lord protect His people? Shouldn't His followers be honored rather than jailed? Shouldn't such a glorious Lord not allow His followers to suffer? Not necessarily. Rather, It seems this glorious Lord sometimes chooses to empower his people to suffer through persecution. In the midst of life-even without persecution--we tend to forget the glory of Jesus. When we forget, then we tend to be ashamed. Paul reminds us of some things concerning Christ's glory.
To begin with, Christ saved us. WE honor and glorify heroes. Who is a greater hero than Jesus? Through His sacrifice He saved not just us but also more than a billion people. He has called us in a holy calling a calling which is according to His purpose. He has a purpose for you and me! Can you give purpose to anyone else? No, you cannot, but He does! He gave us grace before time began. Can you do that? He abolished death and brought immortality to light. Can you do that? Do you know anyone who can?
The next time you realize that you are ashamed of the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, why not begin thinking about these things. How could you be ashamed of Him when you realize these things? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
It is common to us to relegate our Lord to activity in only a certain area. Do we not all segment our lives? Do not many have their “spiritual” area and their “secular” area. We are not unique in this. But today’s reading reveals that this is a dangerous segmentation. The people of Elisha’s day seemed to believe in territorial gods. One god was a god of one area, and another god was a god of another area. They attributed their power in battle to the strength of their god. The Syrian king had seen: 1) his general healed of leprosy by the God of Elisha, 2) his military secrets revealed to Elisha by the God of Elisha, 3) a commandos sent into Israel to arrest Elisha were blinded, captured, fed and released at the command of the God of Elisha, 4) a failed siege of Samaria when the God of Elisha placed false sensations in the senses of the complete army performing the siege, 5) the failure of his own gods to heal him of his disease. Clearly the king of Syria believed in territorial gods but now had come to see that the God of Israel was greater than his gods. So, he sends to inquire of Elisha concerning his health. God reveals that He is sovereign over all nations, not just Israel. He deposes the king of Syria as well as Judah and Israel. It was a dangerous thing for the king of Syria to assume that the God of Elisha was only God of Israel and that his god was stronger. It is a dangerous thing when we segment our Lord to one area of our lives. His glory cannot be hidden in segments. It shines in all segments. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
2 Timothy 1
Why would anyone be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord? When Paul wrote this, he was in jail for the last time. How would you feel if your pastor was frequently in jail for preaching the gospel? Shouldn't this glorious Lord protect His people? Shouldn't His followers be honored rather than jailed? Shouldn't such a glorious Lord not allow His followers to suffer? Not necessarily. Rather, It seems this glorious Lord sometimes chooses to empower his people to suffer through persecution. In the midst of life-even without persecution--we tend to forget the glory of Jesus. When we forget, then we tend to be ashamed. Paul reminds us of some things concerning Christ's glory.
To begin with, Christ saved us. WE honor and glorify heroes. Who is a greater hero than Jesus? Through His sacrifice He saved not just us but also more than a billion people. He has called us in a holy calling a calling which is according to His purpose. He has a purpose for you and me! Can you give purpose to anyone else? No, you cannot, but He does! He gave us grace before time began. Can you do that? He abolished death and brought immortality to light. Can you do that? Do you know anyone who can?
The next time you realize that you are ashamed of the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, why not begin thinking about these things. How could you be ashamed of Him when you realize these things? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 26, 2010
2 Kings 7
Why are we so slow to believe the Word of the Lord or to see the glory of the Lord? Elisha was obviously a man who had accomplished many miracles, and the fame of them had spread far and wide. Surely when Elisha spoke, the people would have responded positively. Yet the officer of the king could only respond to Elisha’s prophecy of the coming miracle with, “If the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But is this not just like us? Each new test of faith brings with it our inabilities to believe. That is why it is so vital for us to be fixed upon the glory of the Lord. When fixed upon His glory, we believe. When fixed upon our problem, we are in unbelief.
When the Lord provides the miracle, why do we keep it to ourselves? The lepers got up and went into the Syrian camp to find bread. Finding the camp deserted with all of the Syrian possessions left behind, they had stumbled upon the miracle. They busied themselves collecting wealth. Finally, it dawned upon them, ““We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” The Lord constantly showers His glories of changed lives upon us. We busy ourselves collecting wealth. A multitude of people remain imprisoned behind the gates of the city we left. The gates of Hades cannot prevail against us. If we return to the city, walk through its doors and share with the inhabitants where the glory of the Lord maybe found, some will follow us outside Hades gates and find His awesome glory. But am I too busy collecting wealth for myself. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 6
Our living God is the one who gives life to all things. Jesus is that living God made flesh. He is the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. What is a Potentate? The word is translated sometimes as sovereign. It comes from a group of words whose root word means power or ability. Hence, it is a ruler or a sovereign that has power or ability. A sovereign is the one who can make things work or happen. He is the one who really is in control. Of all the kings, lords, presidents, dictators, premiers, chancellors of the earth, now or past or ever will be, He is the sovereign. He is in control. When we truly yield to Him as our master, no other person or thing can rule us, no unwholesome word, no evil spirit, no pursuit of wealth, no desire to be rich. They cannot rule us because He is the sovereign living God and those things do not give life but He does. Only He provides real life, abundant life, life with meaning, life with purpose. He alone has immortality because He is life.
He dwells in unapproachable light. What does that mean? I am sure that given all the volumes of the world and the ability write wisely and sensibly in them about this subject, I could never exhaust it. His light reveals reality. His light shows me exactly who I am. His light reveals the truth about everyone and everything. If I were to be instantly transported into His light, it would be more than I could bear. Yet He does reveal a little bit of His light to me, just enough to make it bearable, just enough to change me a little bit at a time. He is sovereign. He is revealing His glory in me through His light. If He is your Potentate, He is doing the same thing in you. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Why are we so slow to believe the Word of the Lord or to see the glory of the Lord? Elisha was obviously a man who had accomplished many miracles, and the fame of them had spread far and wide. Surely when Elisha spoke, the people would have responded positively. Yet the officer of the king could only respond to Elisha’s prophecy of the coming miracle with, “If the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But is this not just like us? Each new test of faith brings with it our inabilities to believe. That is why it is so vital for us to be fixed upon the glory of the Lord. When fixed upon His glory, we believe. When fixed upon our problem, we are in unbelief.
When the Lord provides the miracle, why do we keep it to ourselves? The lepers got up and went into the Syrian camp to find bread. Finding the camp deserted with all of the Syrian possessions left behind, they had stumbled upon the miracle. They busied themselves collecting wealth. Finally, it dawned upon them, ““We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.” The Lord constantly showers His glories of changed lives upon us. We busy ourselves collecting wealth. A multitude of people remain imprisoned behind the gates of the city we left. The gates of Hades cannot prevail against us. If we return to the city, walk through its doors and share with the inhabitants where the glory of the Lord maybe found, some will follow us outside Hades gates and find His awesome glory. But am I too busy collecting wealth for myself. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 6
Our living God is the one who gives life to all things. Jesus is that living God made flesh. He is the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. What is a Potentate? The word is translated sometimes as sovereign. It comes from a group of words whose root word means power or ability. Hence, it is a ruler or a sovereign that has power or ability. A sovereign is the one who can make things work or happen. He is the one who really is in control. Of all the kings, lords, presidents, dictators, premiers, chancellors of the earth, now or past or ever will be, He is the sovereign. He is in control. When we truly yield to Him as our master, no other person or thing can rule us, no unwholesome word, no evil spirit, no pursuit of wealth, no desire to be rich. They cannot rule us because He is the sovereign living God and those things do not give life but He does. Only He provides real life, abundant life, life with meaning, life with purpose. He alone has immortality because He is life.
He dwells in unapproachable light. What does that mean? I am sure that given all the volumes of the world and the ability write wisely and sensibly in them about this subject, I could never exhaust it. His light reveals reality. His light shows me exactly who I am. His light reveals the truth about everyone and everything. If I were to be instantly transported into His light, it would be more than I could bear. Yet He does reveal a little bit of His light to me, just enough to make it bearable, just enough to change me a little bit at a time. He is sovereign. He is revealing His glory in me through His light. If He is your Potentate, He is doing the same thing in you. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Monday, October 25, 2010
October 25, 2010
2 Kings 25
We had just moved to Oregon. We were only one month into our stay there, and our money had already run dry. Deposits and rents took much more from the coffers than I had expected. I was jobless. I had come in what I thought was obedience to the will of the Lord. Little did I know but it would 4 months before I would gain a steady job. The Lord had given us His promise that through Him we would do valiantly. However, it did not feel very valiant at the time. Honestly, a couple of times I felt as if home were closer, I would have quit and gone there. But home wasn’t close, and to wait upon the Lord was easier than returning. “This calamity is from the Lord. Why should I wait upon the Lord any longer?’ Ever been there? I have felt that way before.
The king of Israel was certain that the famine, which Samaria was experiencing because of the Syrian siege, was Elisha’s fault. After all at one point the King had captured a large number of Syrian soldiers, but Elisha would not permit their execution. Rather, he commanded that they be fed and sent home. Perhaps if had killed those soldiers then, the odds would have been more in his favor now and the siege might never have happened. In the king’s mind this is all Yahweh’s fault and Elisha was His representative. It was his fault.
Well, it sort of was. Indeed the king could have executed all the soldiers and he might have a better advantage after that. But he was looking at what could have been and not what was. The Lord had provided several miracles to lead to that point. He had surrounded Elisha’s camp with angels preventing his capture. He had opened the eyes of the servant enabling him to see reality. He blinded the eyes of the soldiers forcing their submission. He could do something just as miraculous now if only the king would wait upon the Lord. Instead of looking at the glory, the king looked at the problem. We need to look at the glory. I have never missed a meal because I lacked something that I needed. Sometimes I have chosen not to eat because I was tired of what was provided. But I have always had what was needed. He does that. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!--Pastor john
1 Timothy 5
What a mess people are! The glory of Christ is seen in what He does in people in churches. In order to justify their lack of involvement in church, some people use the excuse that the churches are full of hypocrites anyway. So what did you expect? What really amazes me is not that there are hypocrites in the church but that occasionally you come across a church that seems to be functioning properly! I mean think about it! I've been around long enough to know that people just don't get along. People in general are just too diverse and selfish. Sooner or later there are going to be problems and everyone takes sides. How do you handle those problems to keep unity? If I could package that and give a guarantee of success, I could become a millionaire.
But you know what? Jesus is able to do that. He gives us directions to follow. Some of those are seen here. Were told how to exhort an older man, how to handle widows (perhaps the Federal Government could learn from this), how to treat elders of a church and even how to use wisdom in health issues. Our problems in the church stem more from our unwillingness to seek the Lord and follow His commands than from any lack of ability or direction from Him. But when I think about the waywardness of the heart of man, I realize that anytime I see people moving in unity toward the Lord Jesus Christ, that is an awesome miracle! What glory there is in that!
You know there is great glory to Jesus when He miraculously heals someone. Did you realize there is also glory to Him when you choose to follow good health practices in order to prevent disease? You know there is great glory to Jesus when a widow's need is miraculously met (see Elijah and Elisha). Did you realize there is also glory to Him when we follow His directions as to how believing families are to help one another? The glory of Christ is seen in a greater way when imperfect people yield to their perfect Lord, when they see that they have transgressed against His instructions and they work together to follow His instruction to restore one another. I am amazed at what He can do to bring people together. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
We had just moved to Oregon. We were only one month into our stay there, and our money had already run dry. Deposits and rents took much more from the coffers than I had expected. I was jobless. I had come in what I thought was obedience to the will of the Lord. Little did I know but it would 4 months before I would gain a steady job. The Lord had given us His promise that through Him we would do valiantly. However, it did not feel very valiant at the time. Honestly, a couple of times I felt as if home were closer, I would have quit and gone there. But home wasn’t close, and to wait upon the Lord was easier than returning. “This calamity is from the Lord. Why should I wait upon the Lord any longer?’ Ever been there? I have felt that way before.
The king of Israel was certain that the famine, which Samaria was experiencing because of the Syrian siege, was Elisha’s fault. After all at one point the King had captured a large number of Syrian soldiers, but Elisha would not permit their execution. Rather, he commanded that they be fed and sent home. Perhaps if had killed those soldiers then, the odds would have been more in his favor now and the siege might never have happened. In the king’s mind this is all Yahweh’s fault and Elisha was His representative. It was his fault.
Well, it sort of was. Indeed the king could have executed all the soldiers and he might have a better advantage after that. But he was looking at what could have been and not what was. The Lord had provided several miracles to lead to that point. He had surrounded Elisha’s camp with angels preventing his capture. He had opened the eyes of the servant enabling him to see reality. He blinded the eyes of the soldiers forcing their submission. He could do something just as miraculous now if only the king would wait upon the Lord. Instead of looking at the glory, the king looked at the problem. We need to look at the glory. I have never missed a meal because I lacked something that I needed. Sometimes I have chosen not to eat because I was tired of what was provided. But I have always had what was needed. He does that. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!--Pastor john
1 Timothy 5
What a mess people are! The glory of Christ is seen in what He does in people in churches. In order to justify their lack of involvement in church, some people use the excuse that the churches are full of hypocrites anyway. So what did you expect? What really amazes me is not that there are hypocrites in the church but that occasionally you come across a church that seems to be functioning properly! I mean think about it! I've been around long enough to know that people just don't get along. People in general are just too diverse and selfish. Sooner or later there are going to be problems and everyone takes sides. How do you handle those problems to keep unity? If I could package that and give a guarantee of success, I could become a millionaire.
But you know what? Jesus is able to do that. He gives us directions to follow. Some of those are seen here. Were told how to exhort an older man, how to handle widows (perhaps the Federal Government could learn from this), how to treat elders of a church and even how to use wisdom in health issues. Our problems in the church stem more from our unwillingness to seek the Lord and follow His commands than from any lack of ability or direction from Him. But when I think about the waywardness of the heart of man, I realize that anytime I see people moving in unity toward the Lord Jesus Christ, that is an awesome miracle! What glory there is in that!
You know there is great glory to Jesus when He miraculously heals someone. Did you realize there is also glory to Him when you choose to follow good health practices in order to prevent disease? You know there is great glory to Jesus when a widow's need is miraculously met (see Elijah and Elisha). Did you realize there is also glory to Him when we follow His directions as to how believing families are to help one another? The glory of Christ is seen in a greater way when imperfect people yield to their perfect Lord, when they see that they have transgressed against His instructions and they work together to follow His instruction to restore one another. I am amazed at what He can do to bring people together. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 24, 2010
2 Kings 5
Leprosy is a nasty disease, which up until the last decade or two, there was no cure. Naaman became an object of horror to everyone when he contracted the disease. An enemy of Israel, the Lord healed Naaman. What was his testimony? “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.” The Lord wants His glory to be spread to every ethnic group on earth in just this way. However, Naaman thought that only in the geographic land of Israel could the Lord be found. In this he was wrong. How could we rephrase this to avoid this error? “Indeed, Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in those who trust solely in Jesus.” Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 4
We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially to those who believe. The work of Jesus at Calvary, the resurrection and the ascension is potentially available to all men, not just the elect. It is applied only to those who believe. His work is available to Saddam Heusein. It was available to Adolf Hitler until the day he died. You may think of whomever you think is the worst person on the face of this earth. The Savior is available to them until the day they die. Is that not amazing? That is why Ashley Smith could speak the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ to her murderous captor. She could offer him hope in a hopeless situation. Why? Because she had learned the hard way that there was only one source of Hope. That source was the Lord Jesus Christ. She had found the water of life offered by Him.
Strange thing that water, it seems to expand when we consume it. Anyway, it expanded in Ashley. It expanded and bubbled up in her until she shared it with the Atlanta Courthouse killer who had captured her. The killer drank. When the killer drank, he saw the glory. The glory of the Lord is irresistible. The killer surrendered to the law because he had already surrendered to the One who fulfills the law, the Lord Jesus. Wow! Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Leprosy is a nasty disease, which up until the last decade or two, there was no cure. Naaman became an object of horror to everyone when he contracted the disease. An enemy of Israel, the Lord healed Naaman. What was his testimony? “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.” The Lord wants His glory to be spread to every ethnic group on earth in just this way. However, Naaman thought that only in the geographic land of Israel could the Lord be found. In this he was wrong. How could we rephrase this to avoid this error? “Indeed, Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in those who trust solely in Jesus.” Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 4
We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially to those who believe. The work of Jesus at Calvary, the resurrection and the ascension is potentially available to all men, not just the elect. It is applied only to those who believe. His work is available to Saddam Heusein. It was available to Adolf Hitler until the day he died. You may think of whomever you think is the worst person on the face of this earth. The Savior is available to them until the day they die. Is that not amazing? That is why Ashley Smith could speak the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ to her murderous captor. She could offer him hope in a hopeless situation. Why? Because she had learned the hard way that there was only one source of Hope. That source was the Lord Jesus Christ. She had found the water of life offered by Him.
Strange thing that water, it seems to expand when we consume it. Anyway, it expanded in Ashley. It expanded and bubbled up in her until she shared it with the Atlanta Courthouse killer who had captured her. The killer drank. When the killer drank, he saw the glory. The glory of the Lord is irresistible. The killer surrendered to the law because he had already surrendered to the One who fulfills the law, the Lord Jesus. Wow! Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Saturday, October 23, 2010
October 23, 2010
2 Kings 4
Many who are familiar with the Hymn, It is Well also know the story behind its writing. The following three paragraphs can be read at Suite101: History of It is Well with My Soul: Horatio Spafford's Praise Worship Music Immensely Inspires http://www.suite101.com/content/hymn-it-is-well-with-my-soul-a32616#ixzz13CqlHG1u
Sometime in 1871, a fire in Chicago heavily devastated the city, and months before that , Spafford had invested hugely in real estate by the shore of Lake Michigan. The disaster greatly wiped out his holdings. Before the fire, Spafford also experienced the loss of his son.
Two years after the fire, Horatio Spafford planned a trip to Europe for him and his family. He wanted a rest for his wife and four daughters, and also to assist Moody and Sankey in one of their evangelistic campaigns in Great Britain. He was not meant to travel with his family. The day in November they were due to depart, Spafford had a last minute business transaction and had to stay behind in Chicago. Nevertheless, he still sent his wife and four daughters to travel as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre, expecting to follow in a few days. On November 22, the ship laden with his wife and daughters was struck by the Lockhearn, an English vessel, and sank in few minutes.
After the survivors were finally landed somewhere at Cardiff, Wales, Spafford's wife cabled her husband with two simple words, "Saved alone." Shortly after, Spafford left by ship on his way where his beloved four daughters had drowned, and pen at hand, wrote this most poignant text so significantly descriptive of his own personal grief – "When sorrows like sea billows roll..." The hymn "It is Well with My Soul" was born.
What many do not realize is that Spafford’s refrain comes from 2 Kings 4. What an outlook this Shunemite woman possessed. Her miraculously-conceived-only son died. Asked by her husband as to the child’s condition she said, “It is well.” Asked by Gehazi of her condition, she replied, “It is well.” But Elisha saw beyond her response. He saw the dark anguish of her soul. He offered solutions to her, but she would not be satisfied with them. She would settle for nothing less than the one who had direct access to the Lord. Perhaps it was well with her soul for one reason, “She had direct access to the Lord through Elisha.” She had already learned of the glory of the Lord through her miraculous conception and through her time of hosting Elisha.
Am I so settled on the glory of the Lord that I can rest in the midst of dark anguish that I can say, “It is well?” The Shunamite woman could. Horatio Spafford could. We can too. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 3
God is hard to understand. And why shouldn't He be? After all He is infinite. To completely understand infinity, wouldn't one have to be infinite? Can a finite being completely understand an infinite being? It is a logical impossibility. But there is another extreme that one can take--that is to say that the finite being cannot understand any of the infinite being. The finite being can understand as much of the infinite that the infinite chooses to allow the finite to see. So, what has our Infinite God chosen to reveal of Himself? It is what the Apostle Paul calls the "mystery of godliness". God was made known in the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what the Apostle John referred to as
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. . . For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. . . No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.[1]
We can understand a little of what God is like when we look at Jesus, because He is God in the flesh. In the flesh Jesus was justified in the Spirit. What does that mean? Here is this God-man. He came to live the life that Adam failed to live and then having lived that life, He came to give His life a ransom for many. As a man, He was completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit to live as God wanted Him to live. Beginning from His baptism, where the Spirit descended upon Him as a dove, He began to do works of power in the Spirit. These works were accomplished through the Holy Spirit. These works culminated in His resurrection and ascension. They were all accomplished through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was giving demonstration of the Lord's Deity through the works He performed.
During His time on earth, Jesus was closely watched by the angels. It was a spiritual drama unfolding before their very eyes. What the angels had been wondering about what God was doing in mankind ever since the fall of Adam, God was accomplish before their eyes. And finally, they understood the beauty of His Son and His plan.
Oh but the glory of the Son doesn't stop there. He has chosen to use men to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to all the peoples of the earth. That is amazing! He could have used angels. He could have permanently written it in the stars so that we could look up into the sky and read the good news. But His plan was to use the preaching of men. Some might complain that it hasn't been very effective. However, I would respond by saying, "The gospel is spreading like wildfire across the world today. It is estimated that 100,000,000 people in China are born again. I did not get any of those zeroes wrong. There are more believers in China than the United States. In the mid 1950's Chairman Mao announced that they had closed the chapter on the church in China. You cannot close the glory of the Lord Jesus. It is impossible. His glory is infinite. The finite cannot stop the infinite. Today Mao is dead and the glory of Jesus is spreading across China and back toward Jerusalem with great power! Mighty works of proclamation of our infinite Lord are taking place constantly. He is being believed on in the world, even in Muslim countries where the gospel has been rejected for centuries.
Our Lord was received up into heaven in glory. He is being preached throughout the world in glory and He will one day return in glory, when His purpose of preaching to the nations is accomplished. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] John 1:1,14,17,18
Many who are familiar with the Hymn, It is Well also know the story behind its writing. The following three paragraphs can be read at Suite101: History of It is Well with My Soul: Horatio Spafford's Praise Worship Music Immensely Inspires http://www.suite101.com/content/hymn-it-is-well-with-my-soul-a32616#ixzz13CqlHG1u
Sometime in 1871, a fire in Chicago heavily devastated the city, and months before that , Spafford had invested hugely in real estate by the shore of Lake Michigan. The disaster greatly wiped out his holdings. Before the fire, Spafford also experienced the loss of his son.
Two years after the fire, Horatio Spafford planned a trip to Europe for him and his family. He wanted a rest for his wife and four daughters, and also to assist Moody and Sankey in one of their evangelistic campaigns in Great Britain. He was not meant to travel with his family. The day in November they were due to depart, Spafford had a last minute business transaction and had to stay behind in Chicago. Nevertheless, he still sent his wife and four daughters to travel as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre, expecting to follow in a few days. On November 22, the ship laden with his wife and daughters was struck by the Lockhearn, an English vessel, and sank in few minutes.
After the survivors were finally landed somewhere at Cardiff, Wales, Spafford's wife cabled her husband with two simple words, "Saved alone." Shortly after, Spafford left by ship on his way where his beloved four daughters had drowned, and pen at hand, wrote this most poignant text so significantly descriptive of his own personal grief – "When sorrows like sea billows roll..." The hymn "It is Well with My Soul" was born.
What many do not realize is that Spafford’s refrain comes from 2 Kings 4. What an outlook this Shunemite woman possessed. Her miraculously-conceived-only son died. Asked by her husband as to the child’s condition she said, “It is well.” Asked by Gehazi of her condition, she replied, “It is well.” But Elisha saw beyond her response. He saw the dark anguish of her soul. He offered solutions to her, but she would not be satisfied with them. She would settle for nothing less than the one who had direct access to the Lord. Perhaps it was well with her soul for one reason, “She had direct access to the Lord through Elisha.” She had already learned of the glory of the Lord through her miraculous conception and through her time of hosting Elisha.
Am I so settled on the glory of the Lord that I can rest in the midst of dark anguish that I can say, “It is well?” The Shunamite woman could. Horatio Spafford could. We can too. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 3
God is hard to understand. And why shouldn't He be? After all He is infinite. To completely understand infinity, wouldn't one have to be infinite? Can a finite being completely understand an infinite being? It is a logical impossibility. But there is another extreme that one can take--that is to say that the finite being cannot understand any of the infinite being. The finite being can understand as much of the infinite that the infinite chooses to allow the finite to see. So, what has our Infinite God chosen to reveal of Himself? It is what the Apostle Paul calls the "mystery of godliness". God was made known in the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what the Apostle John referred to as
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. . . For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. . . No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.[1]
We can understand a little of what God is like when we look at Jesus, because He is God in the flesh. In the flesh Jesus was justified in the Spirit. What does that mean? Here is this God-man. He came to live the life that Adam failed to live and then having lived that life, He came to give His life a ransom for many. As a man, He was completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit to live as God wanted Him to live. Beginning from His baptism, where the Spirit descended upon Him as a dove, He began to do works of power in the Spirit. These works were accomplished through the Holy Spirit. These works culminated in His resurrection and ascension. They were all accomplished through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was giving demonstration of the Lord's Deity through the works He performed.
During His time on earth, Jesus was closely watched by the angels. It was a spiritual drama unfolding before their very eyes. What the angels had been wondering about what God was doing in mankind ever since the fall of Adam, God was accomplish before their eyes. And finally, they understood the beauty of His Son and His plan.
Oh but the glory of the Son doesn't stop there. He has chosen to use men to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to all the peoples of the earth. That is amazing! He could have used angels. He could have permanently written it in the stars so that we could look up into the sky and read the good news. But His plan was to use the preaching of men. Some might complain that it hasn't been very effective. However, I would respond by saying, "The gospel is spreading like wildfire across the world today. It is estimated that 100,000,000 people in China are born again. I did not get any of those zeroes wrong. There are more believers in China than the United States. In the mid 1950's Chairman Mao announced that they had closed the chapter on the church in China. You cannot close the glory of the Lord Jesus. It is impossible. His glory is infinite. The finite cannot stop the infinite. Today Mao is dead and the glory of Jesus is spreading across China and back toward Jerusalem with great power! Mighty works of proclamation of our infinite Lord are taking place constantly. He is being believed on in the world, even in Muslim countries where the gospel has been rejected for centuries.
Our Lord was received up into heaven in glory. He is being preached throughout the world in glory and He will one day return in glory, when His purpose of preaching to the nations is accomplished. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] John 1:1,14,17,18
October 22, 2010
2 Kings 3
What does God require of you? Jehoram put away the Baals of his fathers, yet he was still termed as evil. He worshipped the idols of Jeroboam. Why was that so evil? After all Jeroboam still worshipped the Lord. It was just that he used the golden calves as a representation of the Lord. At least he wasn’t sacrificing children to idols as did the Moabites. Well, first of all, the making of images in order to worship the Lord is forbidden in the second commandment. Second of all, the use of the images was for the express purpose of manipulating the people politically. Religion and politics do indeed make strange bedfellows. Jehoram was intent only upon one thing, remaining the top dog of Israel. He would do so by the use of any available tool, including the Lord.
Having committed himself to subduing the rebellious Moabites, he finds himself stranded with his armies and no water to give them to drink. Jehoram is quick to blame the Lord. Jehoshaphat calls for a prophet of the Lord. Elisha prophesies that the Lord will provide water. It happens. The three armies proceed to attack Moab. Moab is doing their best to resist Israel, Judah and Edom, but they are fiercely outnumbered. In one desperate attempt to avoid destruction, the king of Moab sacrifices his own son upon the wall to his god, Chemosh. Shouldn’t that be motivation to the Israelites to destroy such wickedness? No, indeed, it had the opposite effect. The Israelite, who didn’t really know their god, succumbed to their superstitious ways. They were afraid of what Chemosh might do. They knew not the glory of their Lord. Why? They did not know what the Lord required of them. 120 years later Micah would answer the question, “To do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God!” Did they walk humbly with their God? Absolutely not! The Lord was someone to be manipulated. Since they could not manipulate Him, they turned to other gods, which could be manipulated and used to manipulate others. They forgot the glory of our Lord. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 2
There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. It is the glory of Christ that He is the only Mediator between God and men. Why is that? It is pretty exclusive. Many theological voices are in our world today that proclaim that Jesus is just one among many. “Sure,” they would say, “He is a mediator. But there are many mediators.” Yet this verse is very clear. There is one God and one Mediator between God and men. No one else can bring them together. Only He can do that. Why? Only Jesus has both the eternal nature of God and the perfect nature of a real human being. Only such a Being could pay the eternal price of death for sin and over come it. Only He is qualified to come between God and men—He is perfect God and perfect Man.
When I focus on that glory, what should it produce? It should drive us to intercessions, prayers and supplications and giving of thanks for all men, for leaders and for those in authority. Why? Because our Mediator has chosen to respond to our prayers. He has chosen to cause people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth, when we pray. He delights to include us into His glory. The first step to our being included (after meditation on His glory) is prayer. Our mediator has somewhat limited Himself to our prayers. He does this so that we can be part of His glory. In due time, He gives open doors, power and ability to powerfully testify of His glory. He does this, so that, others might be saved. Oh let us press on to know Him and share in His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
What does God require of you? Jehoram put away the Baals of his fathers, yet he was still termed as evil. He worshipped the idols of Jeroboam. Why was that so evil? After all Jeroboam still worshipped the Lord. It was just that he used the golden calves as a representation of the Lord. At least he wasn’t sacrificing children to idols as did the Moabites. Well, first of all, the making of images in order to worship the Lord is forbidden in the second commandment. Second of all, the use of the images was for the express purpose of manipulating the people politically. Religion and politics do indeed make strange bedfellows. Jehoram was intent only upon one thing, remaining the top dog of Israel. He would do so by the use of any available tool, including the Lord.
Having committed himself to subduing the rebellious Moabites, he finds himself stranded with his armies and no water to give them to drink. Jehoram is quick to blame the Lord. Jehoshaphat calls for a prophet of the Lord. Elisha prophesies that the Lord will provide water. It happens. The three armies proceed to attack Moab. Moab is doing their best to resist Israel, Judah and Edom, but they are fiercely outnumbered. In one desperate attempt to avoid destruction, the king of Moab sacrifices his own son upon the wall to his god, Chemosh. Shouldn’t that be motivation to the Israelites to destroy such wickedness? No, indeed, it had the opposite effect. The Israelite, who didn’t really know their god, succumbed to their superstitious ways. They were afraid of what Chemosh might do. They knew not the glory of their Lord. Why? They did not know what the Lord required of them. 120 years later Micah would answer the question, “To do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God!” Did they walk humbly with their God? Absolutely not! The Lord was someone to be manipulated. Since they could not manipulate Him, they turned to other gods, which could be manipulated and used to manipulate others. They forgot the glory of our Lord. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 2
There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. It is the glory of Christ that He is the only Mediator between God and men. Why is that? It is pretty exclusive. Many theological voices are in our world today that proclaim that Jesus is just one among many. “Sure,” they would say, “He is a mediator. But there are many mediators.” Yet this verse is very clear. There is one God and one Mediator between God and men. No one else can bring them together. Only He can do that. Why? Only Jesus has both the eternal nature of God and the perfect nature of a real human being. Only such a Being could pay the eternal price of death for sin and over come it. Only He is qualified to come between God and men—He is perfect God and perfect Man.
When I focus on that glory, what should it produce? It should drive us to intercessions, prayers and supplications and giving of thanks for all men, for leaders and for those in authority. Why? Because our Mediator has chosen to respond to our prayers. He has chosen to cause people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth, when we pray. He delights to include us into His glory. The first step to our being included (after meditation on His glory) is prayer. Our mediator has somewhat limited Himself to our prayers. He does this so that we can be part of His glory. In due time, He gives open doors, power and ability to powerfully testify of His glory. He does this, so that, others might be saved. Oh let us press on to know Him and share in His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 21, 2010
2 Kings 2
“Where is the God of Elijah?” Elijah had performed many miracles. He stopped the rain. He made the widow woman’s flour and oil replenish itself. He called fire down from heaven at the contest with the priests of Baal. He raised the widow’s son from the dead. He started the rain again 3 years later. He prophesied destruction upon Ahab and Jezebel. He knew the unfaithfulness of Ahaziah. He parted the water of the Jordan. In short no less than seven miracles are recorded for him. Elisha desired a double portion of that spirit. Was it the Spirit of God that He desired?
He received the mantle of his master. Now was the time to test whether he had that Spirit or not. He voiced his thought, “Where is the God of Elijah?” Striking the water with the mantle with which Elisha had stricken the water, it parted. The sons of the prophets had all watched the amazing events. Yes, the Spirit of the Lord was now resting upon Elisha.
But what happened to Elijah? Surely they must go look for him. What does that say about what they thought about God? Here these sons of the prophets (prophets in training) believed that God is capricious enough that He would toss away his servant like a used rag doll. What kind of glory is that? But they pressed the issue because they believed it to be true. Elisha was beginning to feel embarrassed by their insistence. Did he not care about his master? Under pressure he sent them. He was beginning to look bad. He knew they would not find him. He knew exactly where Elijah was. He knew the glory of his God.
Sometimes I want to scream, “Where is the God of Elijah? Why aren’t you doing miracles here?” Maybe it is because I am more intent on my own glory rather than His glory. Maybe it is because I am wanting to draw attention to myself rather than to Him. After all, it is he who came in the spirit of Elijah that said, “He must increase, but I must decrease!” Maybe if I completely embraced that attitude, then I would see the miracles of the Living God. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 1
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." When we look at the glory of our Lord we each would join the apostle Paul in saying that very thing. At our first look at His glory we usually see the brilliance of His holiness. In the light of His holiness our sin becomes apparent. We begin to realize that we are lawless and insubordinate, ungodly and sinners, unholy and profane, murderers and manslayers, fornicators and sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, blasphemers, persecutors and insolent. We see His holy hatred of sin. Some reject that and run from Him, hiding their sin. But those who take a second look see something else. They see mercy and grace flowing from Him and His cross and resurrection that carries away and cleanses the sin, which we would seek to hide. The need to hide dissipates as we gaze upon Him, for we no longer see Him as the angry God. We see Him as the blessed God. He is happy. He is full of joy. Did you catch that? He is full of joy. His joy is because our sin is gone and replaced with the very righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. When you think of God or Jesus, do you think of Him with a smile on His face? If we have received His mercy and grace, we should, because that is exactly what is there. He is after all, the blessed God. He is pleased with Himself and what He is doing in us. It pleases Him to give us abundant grace. The next time some one asks you, "How are you doing?" Why not answer with, "How could I be doing any better than knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ is smiling upon me right now?" He is the blessed God. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
“Where is the God of Elijah?” Elijah had performed many miracles. He stopped the rain. He made the widow woman’s flour and oil replenish itself. He called fire down from heaven at the contest with the priests of Baal. He raised the widow’s son from the dead. He started the rain again 3 years later. He prophesied destruction upon Ahab and Jezebel. He knew the unfaithfulness of Ahaziah. He parted the water of the Jordan. In short no less than seven miracles are recorded for him. Elisha desired a double portion of that spirit. Was it the Spirit of God that He desired?
He received the mantle of his master. Now was the time to test whether he had that Spirit or not. He voiced his thought, “Where is the God of Elijah?” Striking the water with the mantle with which Elisha had stricken the water, it parted. The sons of the prophets had all watched the amazing events. Yes, the Spirit of the Lord was now resting upon Elisha.
But what happened to Elijah? Surely they must go look for him. What does that say about what they thought about God? Here these sons of the prophets (prophets in training) believed that God is capricious enough that He would toss away his servant like a used rag doll. What kind of glory is that? But they pressed the issue because they believed it to be true. Elisha was beginning to feel embarrassed by their insistence. Did he not care about his master? Under pressure he sent them. He was beginning to look bad. He knew they would not find him. He knew exactly where Elijah was. He knew the glory of his God.
Sometimes I want to scream, “Where is the God of Elijah? Why aren’t you doing miracles here?” Maybe it is because I am more intent on my own glory rather than His glory. Maybe it is because I am wanting to draw attention to myself rather than to Him. After all, it is he who came in the spirit of Elijah that said, “He must increase, but I must decrease!” Maybe if I completely embraced that attitude, then I would see the miracles of the Living God. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 Timothy 1
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." When we look at the glory of our Lord we each would join the apostle Paul in saying that very thing. At our first look at His glory we usually see the brilliance of His holiness. In the light of His holiness our sin becomes apparent. We begin to realize that we are lawless and insubordinate, ungodly and sinners, unholy and profane, murderers and manslayers, fornicators and sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, blasphemers, persecutors and insolent. We see His holy hatred of sin. Some reject that and run from Him, hiding their sin. But those who take a second look see something else. They see mercy and grace flowing from Him and His cross and resurrection that carries away and cleanses the sin, which we would seek to hide. The need to hide dissipates as we gaze upon Him, for we no longer see Him as the angry God. We see Him as the blessed God. He is happy. He is full of joy. Did you catch that? He is full of joy. His joy is because our sin is gone and replaced with the very righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. When you think of God or Jesus, do you think of Him with a smile on His face? If we have received His mercy and grace, we should, because that is exactly what is there. He is after all, the blessed God. He is pleased with Himself and what He is doing in us. It pleases Him to give us abundant grace. The next time some one asks you, "How are you doing?" Why not answer with, "How could I be doing any better than knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ is smiling upon me right now?" He is the blessed God. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 20
2 Thessalonians 3
The Lord is faithful. Yes, you've heard it a million times before. The Lord is faithful. But, what does that mean? Do you ever feel like your life lacks a sure foundation? Indeed if your foundation is not Jesus, then you do lack a sure foundation. But I am assuming that those who read this do have Jesus as your foundation. What does it mean that He is faithful? For one thing, it means that He will establish you in Himself. He will plant you such that the evil one cannot wipe you away. 2005 had been a year for hurricanes. We saw via TV & internet the devastation that strong hurricanes bring. They literally wipe houses and buildings off of their foundations. The evil one seeks to wipe us off of our foundations. But the Lord is faithful. Sometimes he stops the evil one's advance, while He makes us stronger. Other times He allows the evil one to advance to demonstrate to all how strong He is in us. But when all is said and done, we remain standing. Why? Because we remain faithful? No, it is because He is faithful. In the midst of the enemy's onslaught, He is the God of peace and He calms us in and through the onslaught. When we look to Him, His inner peace is always available in turmoil. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
The Lord is faithful. Yes, you've heard it a million times before. The Lord is faithful. But, what does that mean? Do you ever feel like your life lacks a sure foundation? Indeed if your foundation is not Jesus, then you do lack a sure foundation. But I am assuming that those who read this do have Jesus as your foundation. What does it mean that He is faithful? For one thing, it means that He will establish you in Himself. He will plant you such that the evil one cannot wipe you away. 2005 had been a year for hurricanes. We saw via TV & internet the devastation that strong hurricanes bring. They literally wipe houses and buildings off of their foundations. The evil one seeks to wipe us off of our foundations. But the Lord is faithful. Sometimes he stops the evil one's advance, while He makes us stronger. Other times He allows the evil one to advance to demonstrate to all how strong He is in us. But when all is said and done, we remain standing. Why? Because we remain faithful? No, it is because He is faithful. In the midst of the enemy's onslaught, He is the God of peace and He calms us in and through the onslaught. When we look to Him, His inner peace is always available in turmoil. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
October 19, 2010
1 Kings 22
A few weeks ago there was a guest speaker at OSU. I assume that he was brought here by the gay lesbian community. One of his statements, according to the O’Colly was, “Hate the sin but love the sinner just won’t fly.” Other articles have appeared recently in the O’Colly and News Press implying that the high suicide rate among gays and lesbians can be partially attributed to those who contend that the practice of homosexual acts is sin. The implication is that we are condemning those who act in such ways. Since they cannot live with that condemnation, they commit suicide. The implication is that we hate those who practice such acts if we should ever suggest that such acts are sinful acts.
Jehoshaphat went up to visit Ahab. Ahab talked him into going to war with him. But Jehoshaphat wanted to consult the Lord before he went to battle. Ahab was against it because he thought that the prophet of the Lord hated him. What was Jehoshaphat’s response? “Let not the king say such things!” The Lord indeed hated the things that Ahab did. But He had previously shown mercy upon Ahab. He hated the things that Ahab did; does that necessarily mean that He hated Ahab? The truth must be spoken. Ahab heard the truth. Had he taken the advice of the prophet of the Lord, Ahab would not have died in that battle.
Why do we proclaim that the practice of homosexual acts is sin? The true motive ought to be because of love. If we love someone, we don’t want them to be destroyed by their sin. Ahab heard the truth. He had opportunity to repent and escape the end that he received. To hate him would have been to remain silent. Decades ago, my uncle divorced my aunt. I went privately and as gently as I knew how, I rebuked him. He could have said, “You hate me because you rebuke me.” He did not. He was gracious to me. I once had a friend who was hooked on alcohol. The Lord laid on my heart to tell him that if he did not repent, he would be burned. He did not repent. A month later he died. I rebuked him because he was headed toward destruction. Would it have been love to remain silent? No, love always speaks the truth. But rest assured it will be spoken it in a manner that also communicates love. They go together. Our God is a God of both love and righteousness. That is what makes Him so glorious. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!--Pastor john
2 Thessalonians 2
Who is the one who restrains? Many interpreters believe that the One who restrains is the Holy Spirit. He is Christ's, as such, He is the glory of Christ. The glory of Christ restrains the lawless one. As humans, we are depraved--we are as bad off as we can be. However, we are not as bad as we can be. The glory of Christ restrains the human race from being as bad as we can be. One day the One who restrains will be removed from the earth. On that day, the lawless one will be revealed. He will do his work upon the earth for a little while. During that time, we will see how wicked man can be. But then, Jesus will return. When He returns, He will consume the lawless one with the breath of His mouth. Now that is some powerful breath! Do you get the picture? Is it literally that Jesus has toxic breath or is it an image designed to get us to see how powerful He is. If He desires, even just His breath will consume the most powerful man to ever live on earth! He will destroy with the brightness of His coming. Jesus is so holy and beautiful that His very presence consumes and destroys evil. Oh that His presence might find its fullness in me, consuming all my sin and evil! One day it will be. In that day, I will obtain His glory. Wow! I will obtain His glory! Let's go out and embrace Him! Lord Jesus show me Your glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
A few weeks ago there was a guest speaker at OSU. I assume that he was brought here by the gay lesbian community. One of his statements, according to the O’Colly was, “Hate the sin but love the sinner just won’t fly.” Other articles have appeared recently in the O’Colly and News Press implying that the high suicide rate among gays and lesbians can be partially attributed to those who contend that the practice of homosexual acts is sin. The implication is that we are condemning those who act in such ways. Since they cannot live with that condemnation, they commit suicide. The implication is that we hate those who practice such acts if we should ever suggest that such acts are sinful acts.
Jehoshaphat went up to visit Ahab. Ahab talked him into going to war with him. But Jehoshaphat wanted to consult the Lord before he went to battle. Ahab was against it because he thought that the prophet of the Lord hated him. What was Jehoshaphat’s response? “Let not the king say such things!” The Lord indeed hated the things that Ahab did. But He had previously shown mercy upon Ahab. He hated the things that Ahab did; does that necessarily mean that He hated Ahab? The truth must be spoken. Ahab heard the truth. Had he taken the advice of the prophet of the Lord, Ahab would not have died in that battle.
Why do we proclaim that the practice of homosexual acts is sin? The true motive ought to be because of love. If we love someone, we don’t want them to be destroyed by their sin. Ahab heard the truth. He had opportunity to repent and escape the end that he received. To hate him would have been to remain silent. Decades ago, my uncle divorced my aunt. I went privately and as gently as I knew how, I rebuked him. He could have said, “You hate me because you rebuke me.” He did not. He was gracious to me. I once had a friend who was hooked on alcohol. The Lord laid on my heart to tell him that if he did not repent, he would be burned. He did not repent. A month later he died. I rebuked him because he was headed toward destruction. Would it have been love to remain silent? No, love always speaks the truth. But rest assured it will be spoken it in a manner that also communicates love. They go together. Our God is a God of both love and righteousness. That is what makes Him so glorious. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!--Pastor john
2 Thessalonians 2
Who is the one who restrains? Many interpreters believe that the One who restrains is the Holy Spirit. He is Christ's, as such, He is the glory of Christ. The glory of Christ restrains the lawless one. As humans, we are depraved--we are as bad off as we can be. However, we are not as bad as we can be. The glory of Christ restrains the human race from being as bad as we can be. One day the One who restrains will be removed from the earth. On that day, the lawless one will be revealed. He will do his work upon the earth for a little while. During that time, we will see how wicked man can be. But then, Jesus will return. When He returns, He will consume the lawless one with the breath of His mouth. Now that is some powerful breath! Do you get the picture? Is it literally that Jesus has toxic breath or is it an image designed to get us to see how powerful He is. If He desires, even just His breath will consume the most powerful man to ever live on earth! He will destroy with the brightness of His coming. Jesus is so holy and beautiful that His very presence consumes and destroys evil. Oh that His presence might find its fullness in me, consuming all my sin and evil! One day it will be. In that day, I will obtain His glory. Wow! I will obtain His glory! Let's go out and embrace Him! Lord Jesus show me Your glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 18
2 Thessalonians 1
Where can I see the glory of Christ? I can see it in the people whom He changes! Did you know that there is greater persecution in the world today against Christians than there has ever been in church history? We are to a degree safe here in the USA. But world wide there are places where our brothers and sisters are enduring great atrocities because they love Jesus. Jesus places it in their hearts to love their enemies and to walk worthy of the kingdom in spite of the atrocities performed against them. Now that is glory! It is one thing to stand yourself against those who hate you. However, it is a totally different thing to be able to give others the ability to love their enemies. Yet Jesus does this on a daily basis in our world today! He did it in the Thessalonians and He does it today.
There is another aspect of His glory. He will one day return and bring an overwhelming end to those who hate him and persecute those who love Him. When He does, He will punish them with everlasting destruction from His presence and from the glory of His power. In that day we will give Him great glory. I cannot even imagine the horror of being eternally shut off from His presence or from the glory of His power. Yet He will be just in doing just that. They will deserve all that comes upon them.
Where can I see the glory of Christ? I can see it in the people whom He changes! I will see it in the people whom He judges! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Where can I see the glory of Christ? I can see it in the people whom He changes! Did you know that there is greater persecution in the world today against Christians than there has ever been in church history? We are to a degree safe here in the USA. But world wide there are places where our brothers and sisters are enduring great atrocities because they love Jesus. Jesus places it in their hearts to love their enemies and to walk worthy of the kingdom in spite of the atrocities performed against them. Now that is glory! It is one thing to stand yourself against those who hate you. However, it is a totally different thing to be able to give others the ability to love their enemies. Yet Jesus does this on a daily basis in our world today! He did it in the Thessalonians and He does it today.
There is another aspect of His glory. He will one day return and bring an overwhelming end to those who hate him and persecute those who love Him. When He does, He will punish them with everlasting destruction from His presence and from the glory of His power. In that day we will give Him great glory. I cannot even imagine the horror of being eternally shut off from His presence or from the glory of His power. Yet He will be just in doing just that. They will deserve all that comes upon them.
Where can I see the glory of Christ? I can see it in the people whom He changes! I will see it in the people whom He judges! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 17
1 Thessalonians 5
The doctrine of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ has at least one major purpose. It is to give us comfort in the midst of darkness. He is our Prince of peace and King of kings. We live in a world that keeps giving us promises of peace. The politics of the world gives us a never ending parade of people who promise that, if we follow them, they will lead us into peace and prosperity. Yet Scripture is clear; there is only One who gives lasting peace, only One who gives eternal prosperity. And the Scripture is clear that, as we progress toward His coming, we will progress into ever greater darkness and trouble in the world. But when He appears, there will be such contrast! Jewelers usually display their diamonds on a background of black. The contrast does much to show off the beauty of the diamond. So also, the beauty of our Lord Jesus will be so amazing in contrast as our husband comes in His glory for His bride. We want to be prepared for the wedding ceremony; that is what sanctification is all about. He calls us to cooperate with Him in being adorned for Him. Yet even as we cooperate, it is He that sanctifies us completely. He will preserve us blameless at His coming! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
The doctrine of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ has at least one major purpose. It is to give us comfort in the midst of darkness. He is our Prince of peace and King of kings. We live in a world that keeps giving us promises of peace. The politics of the world gives us a never ending parade of people who promise that, if we follow them, they will lead us into peace and prosperity. Yet Scripture is clear; there is only One who gives lasting peace, only One who gives eternal prosperity. And the Scripture is clear that, as we progress toward His coming, we will progress into ever greater darkness and trouble in the world. But when He appears, there will be such contrast! Jewelers usually display their diamonds on a background of black. The contrast does much to show off the beauty of the diamond. So also, the beauty of our Lord Jesus will be so amazing in contrast as our husband comes in His glory for His bride. We want to be prepared for the wedding ceremony; that is what sanctification is all about. He calls us to cooperate with Him in being adorned for Him. Yet even as we cooperate, it is He that sanctifies us completely. He will preserve us blameless at His coming! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 16
1 Thessalonians 4
The Lord is the avenger of all who have been defrauded or taken advantage of, especially in the church. How does this increase His glory? He doesn't just remove our sins from us, declaring us justified. He also desires to change us so that we no longer sin. I was talking with a friend yesterday concerning disciplining children. He told me how he told his children, "Some one has to play the bad guy, and that is me." Why do we as parents sometimes have to play the bad guy and discipline our children? Because if we don't discipline them, our children's nature is such that they will never learn proper behavior. The Lord works with us in a similar way. He disciplines us so that we might change in behavior to reflect what He has judicially declared to be true of us. In short, He calls us to holiness. He disciplines us so that we will trust Him to make us holy in our experience. He calls us to love. He disciplines us so that we will trust Him to make us loving in our experience. His glory is on the line in our experience. That's why He is an avenger. It is to make our lives reflect His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
The Lord is the avenger of all who have been defrauded or taken advantage of, especially in the church. How does this increase His glory? He doesn't just remove our sins from us, declaring us justified. He also desires to change us so that we no longer sin. I was talking with a friend yesterday concerning disciplining children. He told me how he told his children, "Some one has to play the bad guy, and that is me." Why do we as parents sometimes have to play the bad guy and discipline our children? Because if we don't discipline them, our children's nature is such that they will never learn proper behavior. The Lord works with us in a similar way. He disciplines us so that we might change in behavior to reflect what He has judicially declared to be true of us. In short, He calls us to holiness. He disciplines us so that we will trust Him to make us holy in our experience. He calls us to love. He disciplines us so that we will trust Him to make us loving in our experience. His glory is on the line in our experience. That's why He is an avenger. It is to make our lives reflect His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 15
1 Thessalonians 3
This is the glory of Christ that we are not shaken when we or our loved ones are afflicted. It brings great honor to Him that we remain steadfast in the midst of affliction. It demonstrates His great power in all things and situations. He is able to make it well with our souls. In the midst of affliction He is able to pour out abundantly upon us His love, because He is abundant love. That love is able to flow fully, if we allow it, even to those who afflict us. His power is able to establish our hearts. His love and power are a bedrock upon which we can build our lives. When we let Him establish our foundation in His bedrock, no flood of affliction is able to undermine our lives. The result is a holy conduct in our lives in the midst of adversity that honors Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
This is the glory of Christ that we are not shaken when we or our loved ones are afflicted. It brings great honor to Him that we remain steadfast in the midst of affliction. It demonstrates His great power in all things and situations. He is able to make it well with our souls. In the midst of affliction He is able to pour out abundantly upon us His love, because He is abundant love. That love is able to flow fully, if we allow it, even to those who afflict us. His power is able to establish our hearts. His love and power are a bedrock upon which we can build our lives. When we let Him establish our foundation in His bedrock, no flood of affliction is able to undermine our lives. The result is a holy conduct in our lives in the midst of adversity that honors Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 14
1 Thessalonians 2
I am reminded again from this passage that part of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He calls us into His own kingdom and glory (v.12) and that, when He returns, part of His glory will be the change that He has produced in us. We are His glory, as our lives are changed by Him (v.19,20). We are called to walk worthy of Him (v. 12). If we are truly justified, the change has already been declared in the heavenly realms. We are called to work out visibly on earth what is true in the heavenlies. That is why focusing on His glory is so important. How can we walk worthy of such glory if we forget what it is? My Jesus not only performed works of power, He always presented attitudes that were beautiful and pleasing to God the Father. He demands holiness, yet extends mercy. He seeks purity, yet pours out grace. He is strong in every situation, yet condescends to me in my weakness. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
I am reminded again from this passage that part of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He calls us into His own kingdom and glory (v.12) and that, when He returns, part of His glory will be the change that He has produced in us. We are His glory, as our lives are changed by Him (v.19,20). We are called to walk worthy of Him (v. 12). If we are truly justified, the change has already been declared in the heavenly realms. We are called to work out visibly on earth what is true in the heavenlies. That is why focusing on His glory is so important. How can we walk worthy of such glory if we forget what it is? My Jesus not only performed works of power, He always presented attitudes that were beautiful and pleasing to God the Father. He demands holiness, yet extends mercy. He seeks purity, yet pours out grace. He is strong in every situation, yet condescends to me in my weakness. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 13
1 Thessalonians 1
We love the Lord Jesus because He is the living and true God and because He raised us from the dead and because He delivers us from the wrath to come. He is living. He is the source of life. He is life. We make idols when ever we seek to gain fullness of life from anything other than Jesus. Seeking fullness of life elsewhere is like having a pure fountain of 100% water available and yet choosing to drink from the septic tank. What a gross illustration! But we have all done that with life. Jesus is also true. Those things which beckon to us and call us to drink of them to find life might taste sweet at first. But, if we are seeking our fullness in them, the after taste is always foul and bitter. Their promises are false. It is not so with Jesus. He is always delectable and He always keeps His promises! He is true. He raised us from the dead. Drinking from the septic tank of sin brought death to our souls and spirits and will eventually bring death to our bodies. Drinking from Him brought us life! He raised us from the dead with Him when He rose again from the dead! Without Jesus the wrath of God would be dwelling upon us. With Him, God's wrath is removed. One day that wrath will be carried out upon all who have refused to trust Him. Ah! But He has delivered us from the wrath to come. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
We love the Lord Jesus because He is the living and true God and because He raised us from the dead and because He delivers us from the wrath to come. He is living. He is the source of life. He is life. We make idols when ever we seek to gain fullness of life from anything other than Jesus. Seeking fullness of life elsewhere is like having a pure fountain of 100% water available and yet choosing to drink from the septic tank. What a gross illustration! But we have all done that with life. Jesus is also true. Those things which beckon to us and call us to drink of them to find life might taste sweet at first. But, if we are seeking our fullness in them, the after taste is always foul and bitter. Their promises are false. It is not so with Jesus. He is always delectable and He always keeps His promises! He is true. He raised us from the dead. Drinking from the septic tank of sin brought death to our souls and spirits and will eventually bring death to our bodies. Drinking from Him brought us life! He raised us from the dead with Him when He rose again from the dead! Without Jesus the wrath of God would be dwelling upon us. With Him, God's wrath is removed. One day that wrath will be carried out upon all who have refused to trust Him. Ah! But He has delivered us from the wrath to come. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 12
Colossians 4
We have a master in heaven. In American culture, to be a slave or sometimes even be a master, is often shrouded in negative concepts. At the mention of slavery, our minds are flooded with images of cruelty and barbarism. Additionally, we talk so much of freedom that even the slightest controls on speech, sends shivers to the core of our cultural mindset. To be a master evokes images of a maniacal masochist who delights in bringing his slaves to the lowest possible point. To be a slave evokes images of being brutally treated, given only subsistence living, never given a chance to think or decide for oneself.
We dare not think of the Lord Jesus in those terms. It is not true and demeans His glory. Yes, He is master in the following senses: He has absolute authority over every detail of our lives. He has the right to tell us what brand of toothpaste to use. He even has the right to deprive us of toothpaste. He has the right to provide filet mignon or just rice for our meal. He even has the right to withhold our meal. He has the right to give us the Biltmore Estate to live in or a shack made of sticks and mud. He even has the right to completely take away our shelter. He has the right to clothe me in a Brooks Brother's suit or clothes obtained from a church clothes closet. He even has the right to send me away naked. I could mention someone in Scripture who fulfills each of the above. Most specifically, the Lord Jesus has been in each situation.
He is a master who desires the absolute best for His subjects. Sometimes it is in the best interest of a servant to learn obedience to his master. Jesus learned obedience to His Father, even to the point of death on a cross. But that obedience was for a greater good and a greater joy. It was for the joy set before Him that Jesus endured the cross, even though He despised the shame. Our master desires nothing but the absolute best for us. Sometimes the best means seasons of pain. But He is not a maniacal masochist. He has been there before you. He knows the pain. He hurts with us. But He knows the good it produces.
Lord Jesus, once again I lift myself up to you. I relinquish everything that I view as my "rights" to You. I trust You. Master, because I believe You desire only the best for me, even in times of pain I say to You, "Lord, not my will but Your will be done." Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
We have a master in heaven. In American culture, to be a slave or sometimes even be a master, is often shrouded in negative concepts. At the mention of slavery, our minds are flooded with images of cruelty and barbarism. Additionally, we talk so much of freedom that even the slightest controls on speech, sends shivers to the core of our cultural mindset. To be a master evokes images of a maniacal masochist who delights in bringing his slaves to the lowest possible point. To be a slave evokes images of being brutally treated, given only subsistence living, never given a chance to think or decide for oneself.
We dare not think of the Lord Jesus in those terms. It is not true and demeans His glory. Yes, He is master in the following senses: He has absolute authority over every detail of our lives. He has the right to tell us what brand of toothpaste to use. He even has the right to deprive us of toothpaste. He has the right to provide filet mignon or just rice for our meal. He even has the right to withhold our meal. He has the right to give us the Biltmore Estate to live in or a shack made of sticks and mud. He even has the right to completely take away our shelter. He has the right to clothe me in a Brooks Brother's suit or clothes obtained from a church clothes closet. He even has the right to send me away naked. I could mention someone in Scripture who fulfills each of the above. Most specifically, the Lord Jesus has been in each situation.
He is a master who desires the absolute best for His subjects. Sometimes it is in the best interest of a servant to learn obedience to his master. Jesus learned obedience to His Father, even to the point of death on a cross. But that obedience was for a greater good and a greater joy. It was for the joy set before Him that Jesus endured the cross, even though He despised the shame. Our master desires nothing but the absolute best for us. Sometimes the best means seasons of pain. But He is not a maniacal masochist. He has been there before you. He knows the pain. He hurts with us. But He knows the good it produces.
Lord Jesus, once again I lift myself up to you. I relinquish everything that I view as my "rights" to You. I trust You. Master, because I believe You desire only the best for me, even in times of pain I say to You, "Lord, not my will but Your will be done." Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 11
Colossians 3
We tend to be very exclusive. We often get our identity from being exclusive. Take for example the phrase "I'm proud to be an American," or the phrase, "American by birth, Southern by the grace of God." Young people looking for an identity often attach themselves to certain sub-cultures. They might be Goths or Hip-Hop. When I was young, there were the "greasers" or "soc's". Woe to the one who was a "geek." Yet with the advent of the Napoleon movie, "Geeks" became cool. By narrowing or excluding others, we can better define our own identity.
However, with Christ, identity is not measured by whom or what we exclude; although, the unrighteous is excluded. Rather, identity is gained by our association with Christ. Christ receives us if we will come. What is unholy He excludes. But our identity is found in Him. He is all. He also abides in all who come to Him. It is not an identity found in exclusion but in inclusion, inclusion in Christ.
That goes against the natural grain. We get our identity by exclusion because it means that in some respect our measure of exclusion makes us better than those we exclude. So, we feel better about ourselves. But it is not so with Christ and our identity. So, if we include all others, how do we recognize who we are?
The magnificence and infinitude of Christ is such that the identity of each one of His billions of children can be unique yet come from Him. He indeed is all. The more I understand His infinitude, the more I can grasp my identity from being united with Him rather than from excluding others. I am who I am because He is who He is. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
We tend to be very exclusive. We often get our identity from being exclusive. Take for example the phrase "I'm proud to be an American," or the phrase, "American by birth, Southern by the grace of God." Young people looking for an identity often attach themselves to certain sub-cultures. They might be Goths or Hip-Hop. When I was young, there were the "greasers" or "soc's". Woe to the one who was a "geek." Yet with the advent of the Napoleon movie, "Geeks" became cool. By narrowing or excluding others, we can better define our own identity.
However, with Christ, identity is not measured by whom or what we exclude; although, the unrighteous is excluded. Rather, identity is gained by our association with Christ. Christ receives us if we will come. What is unholy He excludes. But our identity is found in Him. He is all. He also abides in all who come to Him. It is not an identity found in exclusion but in inclusion, inclusion in Christ.
That goes against the natural grain. We get our identity by exclusion because it means that in some respect our measure of exclusion makes us better than those we exclude. So, we feel better about ourselves. But it is not so with Christ and our identity. So, if we include all others, how do we recognize who we are?
The magnificence and infinitude of Christ is such that the identity of each one of His billions of children can be unique yet come from Him. He indeed is all. The more I understand His infinitude, the more I can grasp my identity from being united with Him rather than from excluding others. I am who I am because He is who He is. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 10
Colossians 2
I love a good mystery. It's fun to try to figure it out. What is the mystery of Christ? Throughout the Old Testament the holiness, righteousness and justice of God is revealed. The sin of man is laid bare in comparison to God's perfect justice. Over and over it is revealed. The overriding question is, "How is God going to deal justly with man without completely destroying Him?" Next to the justice of God, man's sin cries out for the justice to be executed by the death of all sinners, i.e. all men. The mystery of the O.T. is, "How can God be just and not destroy man?" The O.T. constantly hints and prophesies about Jesus but does not come right out in a western fashion and speak exactly what God would do.
The answer is simple but inexhaustible in its wisdom. God the Son would add the nature of a perfect man to His person. All the fullness of the Godhead would dwell in Him bodily. As perfect God and perfect man, He could be a perfect substitute. As an eternal being, He could bear in a point in time all the sins of all people and be punished with the eternal punishment due their sin. As a man He could die. He could pay the penalty due us.
Now that our penalty has been carried out in Him, we can be nourished and built up and brought back into a relationship with Holy God through Him. All of God's justice is met in Him. All of our needs are met in Him! Mystery solved! The philosophies and wisdoms of the world can't touch this! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
I love a good mystery. It's fun to try to figure it out. What is the mystery of Christ? Throughout the Old Testament the holiness, righteousness and justice of God is revealed. The sin of man is laid bare in comparison to God's perfect justice. Over and over it is revealed. The overriding question is, "How is God going to deal justly with man without completely destroying Him?" Next to the justice of God, man's sin cries out for the justice to be executed by the death of all sinners, i.e. all men. The mystery of the O.T. is, "How can God be just and not destroy man?" The O.T. constantly hints and prophesies about Jesus but does not come right out in a western fashion and speak exactly what God would do.
The answer is simple but inexhaustible in its wisdom. God the Son would add the nature of a perfect man to His person. All the fullness of the Godhead would dwell in Him bodily. As perfect God and perfect man, He could be a perfect substitute. As an eternal being, He could bear in a point in time all the sins of all people and be punished with the eternal punishment due their sin. As a man He could die. He could pay the penalty due us.
Now that our penalty has been carried out in Him, we can be nourished and built up and brought back into a relationship with Holy God through Him. All of God's justice is met in Him. All of our needs are met in Him! Mystery solved! The philosophies and wisdoms of the world can't touch this! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
October 9,
Colossians 1
This chapter reads like an unbelievable resume. Jesus is the King of a kingdom. He is deeply loved by the Father. Jesus is the first born of creation, meaning that he is pre-eminent over all of it. He created everything. He is head of the church. All the fullness of God of God dwells in Him. He reconciled His enemies to Himself. More than anything else, because He is in me, I have the hope of glory. The greatest glory of the universe lives in me. There is hope. It doesn't matter what anyone else says. I've been accused of having no leadership skills, of being demon possessed, etc. What does that matter? Not one whit. Jesus lives in me! I will share in His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
This chapter reads like an unbelievable resume. Jesus is the King of a kingdom. He is deeply loved by the Father. Jesus is the first born of creation, meaning that he is pre-eminent over all of it. He created everything. He is head of the church. All the fullness of God of God dwells in Him. He reconciled His enemies to Himself. More than anything else, because He is in me, I have the hope of glory. The greatest glory of the universe lives in me. There is hope. It doesn't matter what anyone else says. I've been accused of having no leadership skills, of being demon possessed, etc. What does that matter? Not one whit. Jesus lives in me! I will share in His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Friday, October 8, 2010
October 8, 2010
1 Kings 11
Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to the daughter of Pharaoh of Egypt. Why? Could he not learn from his father’s sins? Why did he marry the daughter of Pharaoh? Later in the chapter we read of an enemy that God raised up from Edom. When David was still alive, this Edomite had fled to Egypt to escape Joab. The Edomite received the sister-in-law of Pharaoh as a wife. That is a powerful alliance. Could it be that Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter as a counter alliance? Is that why she seems to have received better treatment as Solomon built a palace just for her? Hmmm…. It seemed to work so well, perhaps he added marriage alliances to Sidon, Amon and Moab as further precautionary alliances to keep from having to go to war. It would seem that most of his marriages were political alliances to secure his kingdom without going to war. Interesting tradeoff.
Yet what happened was exactly what the Lord said would happen. His wives turned his heart away from the Lord. People in lust (I won’t say love) never recognize that. Here the wisest man to have ever lived succumbs to one of the oldest temptations. So, what were these gods like? Here is a short list:
Ashtoreth—Sidonian goddess of fertility, consort of Baal, worshipped with immoral rites and sometimes temple prostitution.
Milcom—Amonite god who demanded the best of his worshippers. Hence child sacrifice was often practiced. The image of Milcom (Molech) was a large metal man with the head of a bull. It was hollow beneath and below where a fire could be placed. His arms were outstretched to receive the sacrifice. The arms were tilted up so that the sacrifice would roll down the arms into a hole in the body where the sacrifice would fall into the fiery pit below. Flutes were played to drown out the screams of the sacrifice.
Chemosh—Moabite god who was very similar to Milcom. With the finding of the Moabite stone we read descriptions of Chemosh that are very similar to the Scripture’s description of Yahweh. There was one exception. Chemosh often demanded the sacrifice of children. Yahweh forbids the sacrifice of Children—Leviticus 18:21 & Deuteronomy 18:10.
How could the world’s wisest man fall for this? Sin is rarely a problem with the intellect. It is usually a problem with the will and emotions. I just don’t want to obey. And so Solomon thinks with his loins rather than with his logic. He now has his own private brothel with religious institutions to sanctify it, and he has secure borders because of his marriage alliances. But at what cost? It cost him the glory of God. Where is the glory? It is obscure; isn’t it? But it is there. Yahweh tears the kingdom away, but he leaves one tribe, Judah, for the sake of His promise to David. There is the glory. When we are unfaithful like Solomon, He remains faithful. Why? Because He never is unfaithful to Himself. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Philippians 4
How can one be content in all things? I mean really, suppose your two best friends in the church are having a strong disagreement. It is tearing you up to see them fight. The Lord says to rejoice in Him always. The Lord says to let your gentleness be known to all men. Or suppose you were one of the refugees from hurricane Rita in New Orleans. You’ve lost everything, home, job. Who knows how you will access your bank account. The Lord says to be anxious for nothing. How can one be content in all things?
It seems to me the answer is clear in verses 8&9. Whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, or praise worthy, we are to think about them. I have some friends who named their sons Justice and Noble. I suppose they are always thinking on what is noble and just. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist a bad pun.) But there is one Son who is all of the things mentioned above. The Lord Jesus Christ is all of the things mentioned above. When we focus on His glory, we are focusing on His truth, His nobility, His justice, His purity, His loveliness, His virtue, His Praise. When we focus on those things, we come to realize that our sovereign King will bring to right what we think is wrong. He will deliver us through the situations. And in the end, His glory will be increased. We begin to have problems with attitudes when we focus on the temporal. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to the daughter of Pharaoh of Egypt. Why? Could he not learn from his father’s sins? Why did he marry the daughter of Pharaoh? Later in the chapter we read of an enemy that God raised up from Edom. When David was still alive, this Edomite had fled to Egypt to escape Joab. The Edomite received the sister-in-law of Pharaoh as a wife. That is a powerful alliance. Could it be that Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter as a counter alliance? Is that why she seems to have received better treatment as Solomon built a palace just for her? Hmmm…. It seemed to work so well, perhaps he added marriage alliances to Sidon, Amon and Moab as further precautionary alliances to keep from having to go to war. It would seem that most of his marriages were political alliances to secure his kingdom without going to war. Interesting tradeoff.
Yet what happened was exactly what the Lord said would happen. His wives turned his heart away from the Lord. People in lust (I won’t say love) never recognize that. Here the wisest man to have ever lived succumbs to one of the oldest temptations. So, what were these gods like? Here is a short list:
Ashtoreth—Sidonian goddess of fertility, consort of Baal, worshipped with immoral rites and sometimes temple prostitution.
Milcom—Amonite god who demanded the best of his worshippers. Hence child sacrifice was often practiced. The image of Milcom (Molech) was a large metal man with the head of a bull. It was hollow beneath and below where a fire could be placed. His arms were outstretched to receive the sacrifice. The arms were tilted up so that the sacrifice would roll down the arms into a hole in the body where the sacrifice would fall into the fiery pit below. Flutes were played to drown out the screams of the sacrifice.
Chemosh—Moabite god who was very similar to Milcom. With the finding of the Moabite stone we read descriptions of Chemosh that are very similar to the Scripture’s description of Yahweh. There was one exception. Chemosh often demanded the sacrifice of children. Yahweh forbids the sacrifice of Children—Leviticus 18:21 & Deuteronomy 18:10.
How could the world’s wisest man fall for this? Sin is rarely a problem with the intellect. It is usually a problem with the will and emotions. I just don’t want to obey. And so Solomon thinks with his loins rather than with his logic. He now has his own private brothel with religious institutions to sanctify it, and he has secure borders because of his marriage alliances. But at what cost? It cost him the glory of God. Where is the glory? It is obscure; isn’t it? But it is there. Yahweh tears the kingdom away, but he leaves one tribe, Judah, for the sake of His promise to David. There is the glory. When we are unfaithful like Solomon, He remains faithful. Why? Because He never is unfaithful to Himself. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Philippians 4
How can one be content in all things? I mean really, suppose your two best friends in the church are having a strong disagreement. It is tearing you up to see them fight. The Lord says to rejoice in Him always. The Lord says to let your gentleness be known to all men. Or suppose you were one of the refugees from hurricane Rita in New Orleans. You’ve lost everything, home, job. Who knows how you will access your bank account. The Lord says to be anxious for nothing. How can one be content in all things?
It seems to me the answer is clear in verses 8&9. Whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, or praise worthy, we are to think about them. I have some friends who named their sons Justice and Noble. I suppose they are always thinking on what is noble and just. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist a bad pun.) But there is one Son who is all of the things mentioned above. The Lord Jesus Christ is all of the things mentioned above. When we focus on His glory, we are focusing on His truth, His nobility, His justice, His purity, His loveliness, His virtue, His Praise. When we focus on those things, we come to realize that our sovereign King will bring to right what we think is wrong. He will deliver us through the situations. And in the end, His glory will be increased. We begin to have problems with attitudes when we focus on the temporal. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Thursday, October 7, 2010
October 7, 2010
1 Kings 10
The wealth of Solomon is indeed amazing. But even more amazing is that little statement tucked in at the beginning, “The queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord.” Solomon is famous for his wisdom and his wealth, but Sheba is most impressed concerning the name. The name is the expression of who God is. He is Who He is. Why was she so Impressed with the Name? It was through the name that Solomon acquired wisdom. It is his wisdom which she came to test. And when she tested it, she said, “Indeed, even the half was not told me.” Solomon at this point was a living testimony of the wisdom of God. He exalted the name of the Lord. May His name be exalted in my life for He is worthy of all glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Philippians 3
Knowing Christ is worth more than any thing that we can achieve or obtain upon this earth. Why? Because he is the Lord of heaven and earth. He holds life in His hands. He is life. Anything and everything of eternal value finds its source in Him. The source of life is more valuable than the things of life. We can always lose the things of life if we have the source of life. The source will always replenish what we lose. But if we lose the source of life, then the only way to keep the things of life is to compulsively hang on to them. If I have the source, then I can enjoy the things that flow out of the source, but I can also let them go for I know that there will always be things flowing out of the source.
Many western movies have been made about range wars over water rights. When one owns the source of water, they usually are not worried about containing it. But if there is no water source on the property, then often that property owner is consumed with either finding a water source or hoarding all the water he can obtain. Or he begins fighting others to get water.
Our lives are the same. There are many things around us. Some are good. Some are bad. We often attach the value of our lives to the things around us. But there is only one source of real life. That source is Jesus. When we pursue and find Jesus, we find life. We sometimes have to let go of the things around us to pursue Him. But each time that He reveals a little of Himself, we come to the realization that it was more than worth it all. Everything else is rubbish compared to knowing Him. That word rubbish is a polite word in our English translations. The word is actually dung, manure. There is a less polite word commonly used today, but I won't use it. Suffice it to say that nothing compares to knowing Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
The wealth of Solomon is indeed amazing. But even more amazing is that little statement tucked in at the beginning, “The queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord.” Solomon is famous for his wisdom and his wealth, but Sheba is most impressed concerning the name. The name is the expression of who God is. He is Who He is. Why was she so Impressed with the Name? It was through the name that Solomon acquired wisdom. It is his wisdom which she came to test. And when she tested it, she said, “Indeed, even the half was not told me.” Solomon at this point was a living testimony of the wisdom of God. He exalted the name of the Lord. May His name be exalted in my life for He is worthy of all glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Philippians 3
Knowing Christ is worth more than any thing that we can achieve or obtain upon this earth. Why? Because he is the Lord of heaven and earth. He holds life in His hands. He is life. Anything and everything of eternal value finds its source in Him. The source of life is more valuable than the things of life. We can always lose the things of life if we have the source of life. The source will always replenish what we lose. But if we lose the source of life, then the only way to keep the things of life is to compulsively hang on to them. If I have the source, then I can enjoy the things that flow out of the source, but I can also let them go for I know that there will always be things flowing out of the source.
Many western movies have been made about range wars over water rights. When one owns the source of water, they usually are not worried about containing it. But if there is no water source on the property, then often that property owner is consumed with either finding a water source or hoarding all the water he can obtain. Or he begins fighting others to get water.
Our lives are the same. There are many things around us. Some are good. Some are bad. We often attach the value of our lives to the things around us. But there is only one source of real life. That source is Jesus. When we pursue and find Jesus, we find life. We sometimes have to let go of the things around us to pursue Him. But each time that He reveals a little of Himself, we come to the realization that it was more than worth it all. Everything else is rubbish compared to knowing Him. That word rubbish is a polite word in our English translations. The word is actually dung, manure. There is a less polite word commonly used today, but I won't use it. Suffice it to say that nothing compares to knowing Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
October 6, 2010
Kings 9
It is said that when Chinggis Khan died, he was given a private funeral. He was buried, and then 800 horsemen rode back and forth all day long over a large area where he was buried. Then the horsemen were killed so that none of them could tell where the Khan was buried. Chinggis had not built any great buildings, but he did build bridges. Why? He knew that in order to hold together the great empire which he had conquered, there had to be good free trade, economic development. That free trade required good roads and transportation. That was part of his genius.
When the King of Glory invaded our hearts, He did not require great buildings such as Solomon built. However, He did place His name upon the temple which Solomon built on the condition of obedience. He also promised that protracted disobedience would bring the destruction of the temple where He had placed His name. The Glory of the Kingdom of God is not found in the building of buildings. It is found in changed lives. Peter says that we are living stones being built together into a temple of God. It is here that He desires to place the glory of His name. O sure, there is practical value in buildings. But His glory is not found there, and He will destroy them if we are disobedient. No, His glory is found in our changed lives. He will have nothing less. Changed lives are the roads and bridges through which His conquering kingdom is ever expanding. It is not in programs or buildings, ministries or places. It is obedience as a result of a changed life. When we gaze upon His glory, it changes us and builds bridges to others increasing the trade of His glory. Others see His glory and exchange their poverty for His riches. His kingdom advances. What a way to conquer! Not with a sword or a building construction, but by building people. His name is placed upon us not on the condition of obedience, but His glory demands our obedience. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Philippians 2
Most every one has read or seen some version of Charles Dickens's The Prince and the Pauper. In it a prince and a pauper who look like identical twins happen to meet each other in an unguarded moment. They exchange places and learn what it is like to be the other person. That is a little bit of a picture of the glory of Jesus. Before the Son of God added the nature of a human to His person, He existed in the very form of God. The Apostle John reveals to us in John 12:41 that it was the glory of Jesus that Isaiah saw in Isaiah 6. The glory that Jesus had before His birth was equal with that of the Father, of Yahweh. Yet Jesus did not feel that that glory was something that He had to hang on to in order to remain equal with God. So, He voluntarily took the form of a bond servant, a pauper. When He was born, it was not a castle but a stable. He was not recognized by the ruling elite but by shepherds. He was not raised in a wealthy home but that of a carpenter. Yet He was God in flesh. He was the King of kings. Yet like the prince in Dickens's story, no one recognized Him for who He was.
He could have demanded that all flesh bow down and worship Him. Yet, He was obedient to His father. He traveled, for the most part, incognito until about 30 years of age. He who should have been worshipped went un-worshipped. Even as others began to recognize who He was and sought to make Him king, He withdrew. Why? If a righteous king is to have a righteous kingdom, it is not enough for just the king to be righteous. His subjects must also be righteous; otherwise, they will corrupt His kingdom. He became flesh so that He might make His subjects righteous. As a man, He was obedient to the Father to the point of death. The death was a specific one on the cross. It was a payment for the penalty of our sins so that He could offer to us His righteousness. Every person who will bow their knee to Him and confess that He is Lord may receive His free gift of righteousness because of His obedience to go to the cross. Jesus could do this because He knew who He was. True humility is knowing who you are and acting in obedience to the Father. Obedience for Jesus meant the cross. Obedience for us means that we join Him there. But Sunday's a comin when the real glory shines! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
It is said that when Chinggis Khan died, he was given a private funeral. He was buried, and then 800 horsemen rode back and forth all day long over a large area where he was buried. Then the horsemen were killed so that none of them could tell where the Khan was buried. Chinggis had not built any great buildings, but he did build bridges. Why? He knew that in order to hold together the great empire which he had conquered, there had to be good free trade, economic development. That free trade required good roads and transportation. That was part of his genius.
When the King of Glory invaded our hearts, He did not require great buildings such as Solomon built. However, He did place His name upon the temple which Solomon built on the condition of obedience. He also promised that protracted disobedience would bring the destruction of the temple where He had placed His name. The Glory of the Kingdom of God is not found in the building of buildings. It is found in changed lives. Peter says that we are living stones being built together into a temple of God. It is here that He desires to place the glory of His name. O sure, there is practical value in buildings. But His glory is not found there, and He will destroy them if we are disobedient. No, His glory is found in our changed lives. He will have nothing less. Changed lives are the roads and bridges through which His conquering kingdom is ever expanding. It is not in programs or buildings, ministries or places. It is obedience as a result of a changed life. When we gaze upon His glory, it changes us and builds bridges to others increasing the trade of His glory. Others see His glory and exchange their poverty for His riches. His kingdom advances. What a way to conquer! Not with a sword or a building construction, but by building people. His name is placed upon us not on the condition of obedience, but His glory demands our obedience. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Philippians 2
Most every one has read or seen some version of Charles Dickens's The Prince and the Pauper. In it a prince and a pauper who look like identical twins happen to meet each other in an unguarded moment. They exchange places and learn what it is like to be the other person. That is a little bit of a picture of the glory of Jesus. Before the Son of God added the nature of a human to His person, He existed in the very form of God. The Apostle John reveals to us in John 12:41 that it was the glory of Jesus that Isaiah saw in Isaiah 6. The glory that Jesus had before His birth was equal with that of the Father, of Yahweh. Yet Jesus did not feel that that glory was something that He had to hang on to in order to remain equal with God. So, He voluntarily took the form of a bond servant, a pauper. When He was born, it was not a castle but a stable. He was not recognized by the ruling elite but by shepherds. He was not raised in a wealthy home but that of a carpenter. Yet He was God in flesh. He was the King of kings. Yet like the prince in Dickens's story, no one recognized Him for who He was.
He could have demanded that all flesh bow down and worship Him. Yet, He was obedient to His father. He traveled, for the most part, incognito until about 30 years of age. He who should have been worshipped went un-worshipped. Even as others began to recognize who He was and sought to make Him king, He withdrew. Why? If a righteous king is to have a righteous kingdom, it is not enough for just the king to be righteous. His subjects must also be righteous; otherwise, they will corrupt His kingdom. He became flesh so that He might make His subjects righteous. As a man, He was obedient to the Father to the point of death. The death was a specific one on the cross. It was a payment for the penalty of our sins so that He could offer to us His righteousness. Every person who will bow their knee to Him and confess that He is Lord may receive His free gift of righteousness because of His obedience to go to the cross. Jesus could do this because He knew who He was. True humility is knowing who you are and acting in obedience to the Father. Obedience for Jesus meant the cross. Obedience for us means that we join Him there. But Sunday's a comin when the real glory shines! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
October 5, 2010
1 Kings 8
You’ve seen the posters and bumper stickers, “In God we trust. All others pay cash,” or “In God we trust; everyone else keep your hand where we can see therm.” If you were to stand before the nation and proclaim the glory of the Lord, what would you say? Solomon at the high point of his life and the life of Israel says this, “There is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.” One of the great things about the glory of our Lord is that he keeps His covenant. He keeps His promises. If He promised it, I can depend upon it. I can bank on it, as we used to say. Well what has he promised?
As many as receive Him to them He gives the right to become the children of God.
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Ask according to His will and He will do it.
What is His will? Our sanctification, That we should become like Him. He is faithful to bring it about. Will He do it? Of course He will. He desires that we keep our focus upon Him and claim His unfailing promise. When was the last time I claimed His promise for the sake of His glory? When the priests came out of the sanctuary the cloud of glory of the Lord filled the temple so that the priests could not enter it. Most of His promises relate to Him changing our lives so that we reflect His glory. We are His sanctuary. He receives the greatest glory when we claim His promises to change us into the image of His glory. Someday we will be able to stand before all creation and say, “Look at the glory of the Lord! Look at how he has changed our lives. Look at how we are spotless and without blemish because of what He has done!” What a day that will be. His cloud of glory will settle upon us. Oh that it would happen now. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Philippians 1
I occasionally make things out of wood (book shelves, chest of drawers etc.). I enjoy the challenge of designing and figuring out how to make the pieces so that they fit together in one strong beautiful unit. However, once I reach that point in my mind where I know that most of the hurdles have been cleared, I start to loose interest. The mundane finishing parts don't excite me too much. I currently (2005) have a project that I have been doing for Beth that is unfinished. It is in the state where she can use it and is using it. But the trim work that I planned around the top is not finished. It's been that way for probably 8 or nine months now. I just can't get motivated to finish the work.
Do you ever feel like God has quit working on you? He hasn't! He completes His work! Unlike the glory of John Chaffin, who often leaves a trail of unfinished projects in his wake, the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is such that He always finishes His work. He has begun a good work in every person who has trusted Him as their Lord and Savior. Granted it is a work that is a lifetime in progress. But, He will complete His work. That work is to mold us into His own image.
How does He work on us in this life? He works on us through our relationship with Him. The more open we are to Him in our personal relationship, the more He accomplishes in changing us. That is why Paul said, "To live is Christ." His whole life revolved around the Lord Jesus Christ. That is a large part of why God used him so mightily. Paul also realized that because his life was Christ to die would be gain because then he would just have more of Christ! It is the glory of Christ to change us. It is the glory of Christ that our lives should revolve around Him! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
You’ve seen the posters and bumper stickers, “In God we trust. All others pay cash,” or “In God we trust; everyone else keep your hand where we can see therm.” If you were to stand before the nation and proclaim the glory of the Lord, what would you say? Solomon at the high point of his life and the life of Israel says this, “There is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.” One of the great things about the glory of our Lord is that he keeps His covenant. He keeps His promises. If He promised it, I can depend upon it. I can bank on it, as we used to say. Well what has he promised?
As many as receive Him to them He gives the right to become the children of God.
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Ask according to His will and He will do it.
What is His will? Our sanctification, That we should become like Him. He is faithful to bring it about. Will He do it? Of course He will. He desires that we keep our focus upon Him and claim His unfailing promise. When was the last time I claimed His promise for the sake of His glory? When the priests came out of the sanctuary the cloud of glory of the Lord filled the temple so that the priests could not enter it. Most of His promises relate to Him changing our lives so that we reflect His glory. We are His sanctuary. He receives the greatest glory when we claim His promises to change us into the image of His glory. Someday we will be able to stand before all creation and say, “Look at the glory of the Lord! Look at how he has changed our lives. Look at how we are spotless and without blemish because of what He has done!” What a day that will be. His cloud of glory will settle upon us. Oh that it would happen now. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Philippians 1
I occasionally make things out of wood (book shelves, chest of drawers etc.). I enjoy the challenge of designing and figuring out how to make the pieces so that they fit together in one strong beautiful unit. However, once I reach that point in my mind where I know that most of the hurdles have been cleared, I start to loose interest. The mundane finishing parts don't excite me too much. I currently (2005) have a project that I have been doing for Beth that is unfinished. It is in the state where she can use it and is using it. But the trim work that I planned around the top is not finished. It's been that way for probably 8 or nine months now. I just can't get motivated to finish the work.
Do you ever feel like God has quit working on you? He hasn't! He completes His work! Unlike the glory of John Chaffin, who often leaves a trail of unfinished projects in his wake, the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is such that He always finishes His work. He has begun a good work in every person who has trusted Him as their Lord and Savior. Granted it is a work that is a lifetime in progress. But, He will complete His work. That work is to mold us into His own image.
How does He work on us in this life? He works on us through our relationship with Him. The more open we are to Him in our personal relationship, the more He accomplishes in changing us. That is why Paul said, "To live is Christ." His whole life revolved around the Lord Jesus Christ. That is a large part of why God used him so mightily. Paul also realized that because his life was Christ to die would be gain because then he would just have more of Christ! It is the glory of Christ to change us. It is the glory of Christ that our lives should revolve around Him! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Monday, October 4, 2010
October 4, 2010
1 Kings 6-7
If you were to build a house to honor the Lord, how would you build it to reflect his glory? You would want the best wouldn’t you? Solomon obtained the best. The sanctuary was lined with carved cedar on the walls. The floor was covered with cypress. The Most Holy Place was lined with gold. Windows were placed in the top of the house facing the east. Can you imagine how the room glistened with the morning sun as the rays reflected off of the gold lined interior? Surly it was dazzling indeed. Perhaps it was a forerunner to the transfiguration of Jesus when his appearance dazzled the disciples. Solomon seems to have spared no expense in building the temple and it accoutrements. It was seven years in the building. Why? It needed to reflect the glory of God. Is the intent of all that I do to reflect the glory of God?
Solomon also built an impressive house for himself. It was bigger than the temple. But then, the Temple’s dimensions mirrored the tabernacle’s dimensions. Solomon seems to have limited himself to the tabernacle’s dimensions for the temple, but for his own house he had no limitations. He built it to 225,000 cubic feet, 39% the amount of cubic feet of the Marland Mansion. His own house took 13 years to complete. Hmm. . . I wonder about whose glory he was most concerned. Is the thrust of my life about my own glory or God’s. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Ephesians 6
The glory of the Lord Jesus Christ extends to the very core relationships of our lives. Our relationship is not something that we address only on Sundays. It is an every day in every way relationship. His glory affects our relationship with our parents changing those who walk with Him so that they honor their parents. His glory changes our relationship with our children, changing those who walk with Him so that bringing up children is neither harsh nor lacking discipline but focused on the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His glory affects our relationship with our employers changing those who walk with Him so that the job we have is not just a job but rather it is God's ordained means of our bringing glory to Him. We work not for a boss but for the Lord. His glory affects our relationship with our employees changing those who walk with Him so that their concern for their employees is not just what that employee can do to advance the business. Rather, the concern extends for the general welfare of the employee. As much as possible, the employer desires to advance the welfare of the employee (keeping in mind a godly balance). These things are something that only the Lord Jesus Christ can bring about in people so that they volunteer to do it. Yet, He does it regularly, as people focus on His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
If you were to build a house to honor the Lord, how would you build it to reflect his glory? You would want the best wouldn’t you? Solomon obtained the best. The sanctuary was lined with carved cedar on the walls. The floor was covered with cypress. The Most Holy Place was lined with gold. Windows were placed in the top of the house facing the east. Can you imagine how the room glistened with the morning sun as the rays reflected off of the gold lined interior? Surly it was dazzling indeed. Perhaps it was a forerunner to the transfiguration of Jesus when his appearance dazzled the disciples. Solomon seems to have spared no expense in building the temple and it accoutrements. It was seven years in the building. Why? It needed to reflect the glory of God. Is the intent of all that I do to reflect the glory of God?
Solomon also built an impressive house for himself. It was bigger than the temple. But then, the Temple’s dimensions mirrored the tabernacle’s dimensions. Solomon seems to have limited himself to the tabernacle’s dimensions for the temple, but for his own house he had no limitations. He built it to 225,000 cubic feet, 39% the amount of cubic feet of the Marland Mansion. His own house took 13 years to complete. Hmm. . . I wonder about whose glory he was most concerned. Is the thrust of my life about my own glory or God’s. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Ephesians 6
The glory of the Lord Jesus Christ extends to the very core relationships of our lives. Our relationship is not something that we address only on Sundays. It is an every day in every way relationship. His glory affects our relationship with our parents changing those who walk with Him so that they honor their parents. His glory changes our relationship with our children, changing those who walk with Him so that bringing up children is neither harsh nor lacking discipline but focused on the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His glory affects our relationship with our employers changing those who walk with Him so that the job we have is not just a job but rather it is God's ordained means of our bringing glory to Him. We work not for a boss but for the Lord. His glory affects our relationship with our employees changing those who walk with Him so that their concern for their employees is not just what that employee can do to advance the business. Rather, the concern extends for the general welfare of the employee. As much as possible, the employer desires to advance the welfare of the employee (keeping in mind a godly balance). These things are something that only the Lord Jesus Christ can bring about in people so that they volunteer to do it. Yet, He does it regularly, as people focus on His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Sunday, October 3, 2010
October 3, 2010
1 Kings 5
Do you suppose that Hiram was a believer? He willingly was an ally of David. Do you suppose his friendship was just shrewd politics? Or do you suppose that he saw the work of the Lord in David? When Solomon informed Hiram of the decision to build a temple for the Lord, was his joy because of the spiritual decision Solomon had made, or was it because of the business deal was to his advantage? Hiram indeed rejoiced and blessed the name of the Lord indicating that he knew the covenant name of the Lord. Or was Hiram’s blessing of Solomon simply shrewd business dealings? I tend to think that Hiram saw the glory of the Lord in David and in Solomon. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Ephesians 5:15-33
The glory of any groom is seen in his bride. The glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is seen in His bride, the Church. I am somewhat a student of church history. When think of the first two statements of this paragraph, at first I shudder. But then I remember the parable of the tares that our Lord told. I remember that when the bride is presented to Christ it will not be the church that we see in history. It will be the church of true believers of history who have had their dross and impurities removed. Is there anything in church history that might give us a partial glimpse of the glory of Christ’s bride? Oh yes, It was the true church that brought an end to slavery in Rome—without a war. It was the true church that reduced the pagan idolatry of Rome without resorting to law. It is the true church through out the ages that brought hospitals and schools to needy areas without government funds. It is the true church through out the ages that has raised the level of women from chattel to companion. It is Christ through the church that has turned the waste of alcoholic bottles of alcoholics into milk for their children. That change is produced when the church presents the true gospel of Jesus Christ to those in bondage of alcohol and drugs and they believe and are set free. I could go on and on about the good that the church has done. Is it the church? It is Christ through the church! When the church does anything worthy of glory, it is because of Christ!
Let me give one more example. In January of 1956 five missionaries were speared to death by the Auca Indians in the jungle of Ecuador, while they were in the process of sharing the love of Christ to them. A widow and sister of the two of the murdered missionaries returned to the same people to keep sharing the love of Christ with them. Because of that act of love and forgiveness, a majority of the tribe came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. An anthropologist went in and interviewed the tribal members. As a result of his survey, he found that 60% of all adult deaths before the missionaries came were the result of homicide. After many in the tribe trusted Christ, homicide in the tribe almost disappeared. Many of those men who had speared the missionaries to death, baptized the children of the missionaries they had murdered—at the request of the children! That is the work of Christ! Only he can bring love and forgiveness like that. But it is glory that is seen in the church! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Do you suppose that Hiram was a believer? He willingly was an ally of David. Do you suppose his friendship was just shrewd politics? Or do you suppose that he saw the work of the Lord in David? When Solomon informed Hiram of the decision to build a temple for the Lord, was his joy because of the spiritual decision Solomon had made, or was it because of the business deal was to his advantage? Hiram indeed rejoiced and blessed the name of the Lord indicating that he knew the covenant name of the Lord. Or was Hiram’s blessing of Solomon simply shrewd business dealings? I tend to think that Hiram saw the glory of the Lord in David and in Solomon. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Ephesians 5:15-33
The glory of any groom is seen in his bride. The glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is seen in His bride, the Church. I am somewhat a student of church history. When think of the first two statements of this paragraph, at first I shudder. But then I remember the parable of the tares that our Lord told. I remember that when the bride is presented to Christ it will not be the church that we see in history. It will be the church of true believers of history who have had their dross and impurities removed. Is there anything in church history that might give us a partial glimpse of the glory of Christ’s bride? Oh yes, It was the true church that brought an end to slavery in Rome—without a war. It was the true church that reduced the pagan idolatry of Rome without resorting to law. It is the true church through out the ages that brought hospitals and schools to needy areas without government funds. It is the true church through out the ages that has raised the level of women from chattel to companion. It is Christ through the church that has turned the waste of alcoholic bottles of alcoholics into milk for their children. That change is produced when the church presents the true gospel of Jesus Christ to those in bondage of alcohol and drugs and they believe and are set free. I could go on and on about the good that the church has done. Is it the church? It is Christ through the church! When the church does anything worthy of glory, it is because of Christ!
Let me give one more example. In January of 1956 five missionaries were speared to death by the Auca Indians in the jungle of Ecuador, while they were in the process of sharing the love of Christ to them. A widow and sister of the two of the murdered missionaries returned to the same people to keep sharing the love of Christ with them. Because of that act of love and forgiveness, a majority of the tribe came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. An anthropologist went in and interviewed the tribal members. As a result of his survey, he found that 60% of all adult deaths before the missionaries came were the result of homicide. After many in the tribe trusted Christ, homicide in the tribe almost disappeared. Many of those men who had speared the missionaries to death, baptized the children of the missionaries they had murdered—at the request of the children! That is the work of Christ! Only he can bring love and forgiveness like that. But it is glory that is seen in the church! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Saturday, October 2, 2010
October 2, 2010
1 Kings 4
“And God gave.” What a simple sentence it is, and yet it states so much about His glory. One who gives does so usually for two reasons. They have ability to give, and they desire to give. Both of those are true of our Lord. He Himself is wisdom and possesses all wisdom. It is an attribute which theologians call omnisapience. Of God’s omnisapience Tozer says:
Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to guess or conjecture. Wisdom sees everything in focus, each in proper relation to all, and is thus able to work toward predestined goals with flawless precision.[1]
God possesses all wisdom, so He is able to give wisdom. Not only does God possess all wisdom, but He desires to give wisdom. He gave it liberally to Solomon, not that Solomon always availed himself of it. If God gave it to Solomon, do you suppose He would give it to us? I think so. It is the promise of James 1:5-8. It is God’s glory to give us wisdom, if we will seek it in faith. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] A.W. Tozer. The Knowledge of the Holy. SanFrancisco: Harper Collins, 1992. p. 93
Ephesians 5:1-14
We are exhorted here to walk in love as Christ loved us. The natural question is how did Christ love us? He gave Himself for us. His death was acceptable to God. It bought us out of sin. If it bought us out of sin, then surely God does not desire for us to remain in sin. His love includes holiness. Pure love desires holiness in its object. We are the object of Jesus’ love. He desires holiness in us. That is the reason He died for us. Some people seem to think that because He died for us and because He loves us that from the time we receive Him, we no longer need to worry about holiness. Well, yes and no. True His death covers the depth of our sin, past present and future. But His love will not allow us to continue to walk in sin. He will do whatever it takes to remove sin from His children because no sinner has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. His love will do what it takes to remove unholiness. If we willingly persist in walking in sin, then the divine remedy may be very uncomfortable for us.
His love includes light. Light is that which enables us to see reality. Our lives are full of secret attitudes and thoughts that are sinful. Because His love seeks to remove our sin from us, His light reveals, a little bit at a time, the sinful attitudes and thoughts that can lie hidden in the darkness. His love calls us to walk with Him in the light to reveal the true thoughts and intentions of our hearts. When we bring them to the light, then He removes them. He does not condemn us. The sin was already condemned upon the cross. He removes them, because He loves us. Love always seeks the best for its object. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
“And God gave.” What a simple sentence it is, and yet it states so much about His glory. One who gives does so usually for two reasons. They have ability to give, and they desire to give. Both of those are true of our Lord. He Himself is wisdom and possesses all wisdom. It is an attribute which theologians call omnisapience. Of God’s omnisapience Tozer says:
Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to guess or conjecture. Wisdom sees everything in focus, each in proper relation to all, and is thus able to work toward predestined goals with flawless precision.[1]
God possesses all wisdom, so He is able to give wisdom. Not only does God possess all wisdom, but He desires to give wisdom. He gave it liberally to Solomon, not that Solomon always availed himself of it. If God gave it to Solomon, do you suppose He would give it to us? I think so. It is the promise of James 1:5-8. It is God’s glory to give us wisdom, if we will seek it in faith. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] A.W. Tozer. The Knowledge of the Holy. SanFrancisco: Harper Collins, 1992. p. 93
Ephesians 5:1-14
We are exhorted here to walk in love as Christ loved us. The natural question is how did Christ love us? He gave Himself for us. His death was acceptable to God. It bought us out of sin. If it bought us out of sin, then surely God does not desire for us to remain in sin. His love includes holiness. Pure love desires holiness in its object. We are the object of Jesus’ love. He desires holiness in us. That is the reason He died for us. Some people seem to think that because He died for us and because He loves us that from the time we receive Him, we no longer need to worry about holiness. Well, yes and no. True His death covers the depth of our sin, past present and future. But His love will not allow us to continue to walk in sin. He will do whatever it takes to remove sin from His children because no sinner has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. His love will do what it takes to remove unholiness. If we willingly persist in walking in sin, then the divine remedy may be very uncomfortable for us.
His love includes light. Light is that which enables us to see reality. Our lives are full of secret attitudes and thoughts that are sinful. Because His love seeks to remove our sin from us, His light reveals, a little bit at a time, the sinful attitudes and thoughts that can lie hidden in the darkness. His love calls us to walk with Him in the light to reveal the true thoughts and intentions of our hearts. When we bring them to the light, then He removes them. He does not condemn us. The sin was already condemned upon the cross. He removes them, because He loves us. Love always seeks the best for its object. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Friday, October 1, 2010
October 1, 2010
October 1, 2010 1 Kings 3
Sometimes I am really caught by surprise by the mercy of God. Solomon is one example. He makes a treaty with Pharoah and marries his daughter to seal it. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary states, “At Sinai Israel was forbidden to make alliances with the Canaanites (Ex. 23:32). This was to keep Israel’s loyalties from being divided between God and pagan powers.”[1] Now I realize that Egypt is not Canaan. However, I would have thought that the principle would have remained the same. After all, Solomon’s love affair with his pagan wives eventually turned his heart from the Lord (1Kings 11:4ff). He began sacrificing to their gods on the south west slopes of the Mount of Olives. To this day the Jews despise that area.
Solomon heads to the high place at Gibeon. Why Gibeon? The ark of the Lord was not there; it was in Jerusalem. David had moved it to Jerusalem. The Israelites had been instructed in the law to bring their sacrifices only to the priests at the tabernacle. Yet Solomon takes a 5 mile hike to Gibeon instead of the one mile hike to Mount Moriah, and sacrifices a thousand offerings there. And yet, God appears to him in a dream. Solomon does not have it right, yet God appears to him. Maybe that is why some of my liberal acquaintances seem to have the blessing of God upon them, even when they don’t have it “right.” Maybe that is why I sometimes have the blessing of God upon me, even when I don’t have it ”right.” Keep in mind, the Lord eventually is displeased with Solomon (11:4ff) because his wives turned his heart away from the Lord.
Hmmmm. . . so should I presume upon the great mercy of the Lord? Absolutely not! I should remember that eventually God will reign me in, if I don’t. I hope I move beyond my presumptuous heart. In the meantime, I will rejoice in the great mercy of our Lord. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1]Youngblood, Ronald F.: Bruce, F.F. (Hrsg.): Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary : An Authoritative One-Volume Reference Work on the Bible With Full Color Illustrations. electronic edition of the revised edition of Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995
Ephesians 4
When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, part of the job of the Holy Spirit is to make us one, to bring unity. The Holy Spirit does that immediately upon our conversion. We are part of one body, headed by one Lord. Our job is to preserve what He has already created. It is His glory to give us gifts as to how we fit into His body. Understanding our giftedness in the body and using it peacefully to build His body brings him glory.
Picture this: a general fights a nasty battle with an unusually cruel foe, which irrationally hates him. At great cost to himself he defeats the enemy and captures some of them. But rather than sending them to Guantanamo Bay for interrogation, he dresses their wounds, feeds them the finest food, clothes them and gives them each specific gifts to organize themselves into a fantastic army. These captives he gifts! But these captives are captivated by their captor. They have lost their desire to fight him and desire to follow him. How does their former commander handle having his former soldiers fighting against him? His only chance of survival is to get them to fight one another. Get them to be jealous of each others gifts. Get the infantry to demand that the artillery fight only with rifles. Get the air force to insist that all of the infantry fly. And the story goes on.
How does the general prevent the enemies scheme? He insists that his soldiers speak the truth to one another in love. They must understand that their giftedness is for a specific purpose and not everyone else operates as they do. They speak truth with a motivation of wanting the best for their fellow soldiers not wanting their fellow soldiers to become like them. As they do this they are able to understand one another and remain where they belong in their unit. As a result, the general is glorified because his army becomes more effective at capturing more of the enemy and enlisting them in the general’s army.
So it is with Jesus. We are captivated by His love. He has gifted us. We must speak the truth in love. We must preserve the bond of unity that is already there in peace. As we do, He is glorified. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Sometimes I am really caught by surprise by the mercy of God. Solomon is one example. He makes a treaty with Pharoah and marries his daughter to seal it. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary states, “At Sinai Israel was forbidden to make alliances with the Canaanites (Ex. 23:32). This was to keep Israel’s loyalties from being divided between God and pagan powers.”[1] Now I realize that Egypt is not Canaan. However, I would have thought that the principle would have remained the same. After all, Solomon’s love affair with his pagan wives eventually turned his heart from the Lord (1Kings 11:4ff). He began sacrificing to their gods on the south west slopes of the Mount of Olives. To this day the Jews despise that area.
Solomon heads to the high place at Gibeon. Why Gibeon? The ark of the Lord was not there; it was in Jerusalem. David had moved it to Jerusalem. The Israelites had been instructed in the law to bring their sacrifices only to the priests at the tabernacle. Yet Solomon takes a 5 mile hike to Gibeon instead of the one mile hike to Mount Moriah, and sacrifices a thousand offerings there. And yet, God appears to him in a dream. Solomon does not have it right, yet God appears to him. Maybe that is why some of my liberal acquaintances seem to have the blessing of God upon them, even when they don’t have it “right.” Maybe that is why I sometimes have the blessing of God upon me, even when I don’t have it ”right.” Keep in mind, the Lord eventually is displeased with Solomon (11:4ff) because his wives turned his heart away from the Lord.
Hmmmm. . . so should I presume upon the great mercy of the Lord? Absolutely not! I should remember that eventually God will reign me in, if I don’t. I hope I move beyond my presumptuous heart. In the meantime, I will rejoice in the great mercy of our Lord. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1]Youngblood, Ronald F.: Bruce, F.F. (Hrsg.): Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary : An Authoritative One-Volume Reference Work on the Bible With Full Color Illustrations. electronic edition of the revised edition of Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995
Ephesians 4
When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, part of the job of the Holy Spirit is to make us one, to bring unity. The Holy Spirit does that immediately upon our conversion. We are part of one body, headed by one Lord. Our job is to preserve what He has already created. It is His glory to give us gifts as to how we fit into His body. Understanding our giftedness in the body and using it peacefully to build His body brings him glory.
Picture this: a general fights a nasty battle with an unusually cruel foe, which irrationally hates him. At great cost to himself he defeats the enemy and captures some of them. But rather than sending them to Guantanamo Bay for interrogation, he dresses their wounds, feeds them the finest food, clothes them and gives them each specific gifts to organize themselves into a fantastic army. These captives he gifts! But these captives are captivated by their captor. They have lost their desire to fight him and desire to follow him. How does their former commander handle having his former soldiers fighting against him? His only chance of survival is to get them to fight one another. Get them to be jealous of each others gifts. Get the infantry to demand that the artillery fight only with rifles. Get the air force to insist that all of the infantry fly. And the story goes on.
How does the general prevent the enemies scheme? He insists that his soldiers speak the truth to one another in love. They must understand that their giftedness is for a specific purpose and not everyone else operates as they do. They speak truth with a motivation of wanting the best for their fellow soldiers not wanting their fellow soldiers to become like them. As they do this they are able to understand one another and remain where they belong in their unit. As a result, the general is glorified because his army becomes more effective at capturing more of the enemy and enlisting them in the general’s army.
So it is with Jesus. We are captivated by His love. He has gifted us. We must speak the truth in love. We must preserve the bond of unity that is already there in peace. As we do, He is glorified. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
September 30, 2010
Ephesians 3
Its another one of those chapters that is just overflowing with the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first thing I see to which Paul refers is the unsearchable riches of Christ. Would you like to have the riches of Bill Gates? To be honest, I never have pondered it too much. My quick response would be, "Oh, of course!" Yet, I submit to you that Bill Gates is a pauper, yes even a worm, compared to Jesus. It's not even as close as comparing Fort Knox to my son's piggy bank.
My grandfather bought a 60 acre farm when he retired. Then he leased some of the land that was adjacent to his 60 acres in order to increase his herd. I have many fond memories searching all over those lands exploring God's creation as a child. A decade ago I returned to show my children my playgrounds when visiting Grandma and Grandpa. It took all day to search those grounds and we still did not see all that was to be searched.
Jesus' glory is like that. Only you would have to add all the lands of the earth. Then you would have to explore everything under the water. Then you would have to explore the interior of the earth. But still you would only have barely begun. Once you thoroughly searched the earth, then you could begin with the moon, then the planets, then asteroids and comets. When our solar system was finished, you would have just finished one of billions of solar systems in our galaxy. When you finished our galaxy, you could begin one of the other billions of galaxies which each contain billions of stars. Oh did we include black holes--whatever they are--or the giant gas clouds of the galaxy.
Jesus created all things. Nothing exists that He did not create. Surely the glory of the creator is greater than the created thing. He accomplished God's eternal purpose for the creation. He accomplished it in us. He names the whole earth. To name something implies your authority over that thing. This same Christ desires to dwell in us through His Holy Spirit by faith. Forget Bill Gates' riches! He is a pauper! I want the Lord Jesus Christ! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Its another one of those chapters that is just overflowing with the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first thing I see to which Paul refers is the unsearchable riches of Christ. Would you like to have the riches of Bill Gates? To be honest, I never have pondered it too much. My quick response would be, "Oh, of course!" Yet, I submit to you that Bill Gates is a pauper, yes even a worm, compared to Jesus. It's not even as close as comparing Fort Knox to my son's piggy bank.
My grandfather bought a 60 acre farm when he retired. Then he leased some of the land that was adjacent to his 60 acres in order to increase his herd. I have many fond memories searching all over those lands exploring God's creation as a child. A decade ago I returned to show my children my playgrounds when visiting Grandma and Grandpa. It took all day to search those grounds and we still did not see all that was to be searched.
Jesus' glory is like that. Only you would have to add all the lands of the earth. Then you would have to explore everything under the water. Then you would have to explore the interior of the earth. But still you would only have barely begun. Once you thoroughly searched the earth, then you could begin with the moon, then the planets, then asteroids and comets. When our solar system was finished, you would have just finished one of billions of solar systems in our galaxy. When you finished our galaxy, you could begin one of the other billions of galaxies which each contain billions of stars. Oh did we include black holes--whatever they are--or the giant gas clouds of the galaxy.
Jesus created all things. Nothing exists that He did not create. Surely the glory of the creator is greater than the created thing. He accomplished God's eternal purpose for the creation. He accomplished it in us. He names the whole earth. To name something implies your authority over that thing. This same Christ desires to dwell in us through His Holy Spirit by faith. Forget Bill Gates' riches! He is a pauper! I want the Lord Jesus Christ! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
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