Exodus 21
A friend of mine recently asked me, “Why is it that we seem to pick some portions of the law to say that we must obey it, while others we ignore?” That is a very good question. It has an answer that at times is simple and at times is complex. The simple answer is that Christ came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it. The simple answer is that the law came to reveal sin. The complexity of it is that at times different passages seem to be in contradiction of each other. Theologians have tried to explain the answer to my friend’s question for thousands of years. For example, part of today’s passage was used by some Southern pastors prior to the “War of Northern Aggression” as a defense of the institution of slavery. Yet the driving force behind the abolition movement of the north was the pastors who used the Scripture to argue that slavery was an immoral institution. Those two forces added to the heat that produced the Civil War. Did God desire the Civil War? I don’t think so. But His wrath is displayed in the terror it produced.
Part of the problem is that there were different kinds of law. There was ceremonial, moral, and civil law. There is casuistic law (giving case examples) and apodictic (you shall not . . .) law. When the Lord gave the law, He moved in and out of the different kinds of law without telling us, “Okay listen up! Now we are going to talk about ceremonial law,” nor did He say, “Now that we are done with the ceremonial law, let’s talk about civil law.” No, they are somewhat mixed together. In short the ceremonial law spoke of the ministry of Christ. He fulfilled those ceremonial laws in His death burial and resurrection. They are fulfilled in us as we trust and obey His finished work. What about civil law? The civil law was for Israel in the land. It was God’s way of teaching them how His people should live with each other. In a culture of extremism Israel need to learn how to moderate their justice as they developed as a new country. Since we are not the nation of Israel living in the land, we do not always follow the literal law. Rather we look for the principle behind the law and look for proper applications of that principle. What about moral law? It seems to me that moral law is binding for all times and cultures and we should observe that moral law. The difficulty is in determining which kind is each and how to fulfill it.
But where is the glory of God in all of this? His glory is seen in that He patiently stoops down to help us understand the depths of our depravity. In today’s passage we see that He communicates that we each have a responsibility to work. If we do not work or handle our finances properly, it leads to bondage. But bondage is not to be permanent! Even in bondage, He makes provision for our freedom! In this passage we see His protective desire for those who cannot protect themselves (the female servant). In this passage we see His demand that we respect and honor our parents. In this passage we see that justice is to be equal. Retribution is not to be greater than the crime. In this passage we see the demand for personal responsibility. Where is the glory of God in this? He is glorious because He wades into the muck of our sin and helps us sort it out. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 12:1-27
How often do we make decisions or hold attitudes based upon tradition rather than the glory of God? Levirate marriage was an understood practice where the younger brother would marry the oldest brother's widow when she was childless. It was a practice that sought to ensure that the lineage of the firstborn son was sustained. While the practice had fallen into some discredit at the time of Jesus, the Sadducees sought to use it to insult the Pharisees, and to trick Jesus, and to catch Him in an inconsistency in His theology. Using a hypothetical situation of 7 brothers each in turn marrying the childless woman until they all died and no children were ever produced, they thought they had Jesus trapped. Now, the Sadducees didn't believe in the resurrection. They sought to use this whole argument as a means of ridicule of Jesus.
Jesus brought them up short by revealing the true problem rather than following the typical lines of debate that would have been followed between Sadducees and Pharisees. The brunt of His argument was, "You do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God!" The Sadducees had fallen into the trap of trying to explain the Scripture by the culture rather than explaining the culture by the Scripture. The whole underlying basis for Revelation itself is a living relationship between God and man. Jesus quotes Exodus 3:6,15, part of the Pentateuch, the only part of the Bible that the Sadducees considered to be God's word, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
Scripture is a real record of the power of God's working in the past in His relationships with real people. He worked uniquely with each individual. The power of God is such that He is not limited to always doing the same thing in the same way every time. Human culture establishes norms that say this is the way life works. He did it this way with Moses; therefore, He will do it this way with us. God says, "I am infinite, to what will you compare Me?" He operates on the principles of His own character, which is the same yesterday, today and forever, but the individual outworking of those principles is often different for individual people. He only called one man to make an ark. He only called one man to leave his home to a land that He would show him. He led only one man through slavery, prison to the height of power in Egypt. He only spoke to one man through a burning bush. We like to cling to methods because they are safe and familiar. He says, "Cling to Me." And He amazes us with His creativity! He often scares us because He is different in His method every time. But that is what makes Him so glorious. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
March 9, 2010
Exodus 20
Here we are at one of the best known passages of the Bible and the most disobeyed. What does it mean to have no other gods before Him? Many years ago my bride and I stood before a minister of the Gospel and gave vows to each other to love each other uniquely and supremely as husband and wife till death parted us. Suppose I came home and found that she had added other husbands to her list. In this bedroom Jerry resided. In that bedroom Wilbur took up residence. In another bedroom was George. And me? Well, I am rich; I could go find a motel to stay in somewhere. After all she could maybe have a chat with me for about 30-60 minutes once a week—if she felt like not reading a book. I could not accept that. I would divorce her. I want a relationship with her. I don’t want to be held at a distance.
But wait! That analogy is not strong enough. Jerry, Wilbur or George might actually be better for her than me. So for the analogy’s sake, what if she replaced them with rooms filled with the following. In one room she dedicated a large screen TV that continuously played movies featuring me in my best moments (it would be a short movie) in one continuous loop. Suppose she dedicated another room to numerous statues and busts of me in various walks of life revealing my greatness (yuck. . . ). In another room she had all the recordings of my best sermons playing one right after another so that she could never forget what a great orator I am (ha. . .). But even that does not reflect the passage. Suppose, in order to catch my greatness she used animals or planets to reflect what I was like. So in the TV room she had wonderful nature videos playing as a representation of what I was like. In another room she reproduced wonderful sounds of nature to represent who I am. Another room might be filled with the scents of nature to reflect my wonderfulness (I hope she wouldn’t choose a skunk). Other rooms might be filled with animals that remind her of me. Suppose I came home, and she ignored me. She was two busy watching my videos or caressing my statues or enjoying my scents or stroking the animals that remind her of me. In her mind it was enough that I would watch her in these activities. I’d send her to a mental institution. I want a relationship with her. I don’t want to be held at a distance. It would be insulting to me that she would desire those things over me.
But wait! What if she daily went for a walk downtown. What if, she told all the merchants, “My husband wants this merchandise. My husband wants that merchandise. Here is my husband’s credit card. He’ll take care of it all.” What if in every conversation she threw out my name as if it were some common slur. What if her use of my name became associated with emptiness and meaninglessness?, What right would she have to daily drag my name into the ground by making promises that I had no intention of keeping or in frivolous use that degraded me in the community? It would be insulting to me and an indication that she had no intention to live up to the honor of my name.
But wait! What if I had communicated with her that at least once a week that as much as possible, I would like for her to cease her normal activities to spend that day resting and focusing upon me? But instead of spending it with me, she sought other persons to be with or other things to do. After all, it was the only day of the week that she had for herself. What if I told her that that day would be a special sign to all other people that we were husband and wife? Yet she spent that day pursuing other relationships. Well after all, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to me. I mean, she had already spent her week filling her life with things that were less than me. It would be an insult to me that she preferred them over me.
This analogy falls far short for the very reason that I could never be compared to the greatness of the glory of our God. The gap that exists between me and any videos, statues, sound recordings, animals or planets to represent me etc. is much closer than the gap that exists between the glory of God and anything with which we may want to represent Him or replace Him. After all, He is the infinite Creator and everything else is His creation. The right with which I have to request my wife’s affections are far less than the right with which He possesses to command my affections toward Him. After all, He is the infinite Creator and I am His creation. Yet in breaking these first four of the ten commandments, this is how we how we treat God. This is how we view His glory. That is why we must seek to see His glory every day and share it with others. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 11:19-33
I lived briefly in Norman, Oklahoma. My house sat on 8.5 acres. For exercise I used to jog the fence perimeter of my land a couple of times each morning. We had a peach tree right next to the fence. When the peaches became ripe, I would stop on my way by and pick a peach or two to eat for breakfast. I love tree ripened peaches. Those peaches were small and wormy but they had good flavor. Something happened later in the year and the tree withered and died.
Other than the cross, did Jesus ever have any mountains to move? I mean really, He is the Man of Glory. If faith moves mountains, why did He curse the fig tree rather than blessing it so that it would produce fruit? There are some things that Jesus can do but will not do. He could force us to receive Him, but He woos us to Himself. He could force us to love Him, but He chooses to enable us to love. He could force us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, but He chooses to make His Spirit available to us so that we may permit His life flow in us.
When Jesus came to the nation at the Triumphal entry and presented Himself as King, He had the power to make Himself King. But He let the religious leaders reject Him. They should have borne the fruit of joyful reception to their King, but it was not there. If the leaders of His people will not receive Him as King, then how will He set up His Kingdom? If the leaders of His people will not recognize the source of His authority and power, then how can He become king? Now there is a mountain of a conundrum.
The glory of Jesus is that He can move mountains! Sometimes you have to remove a tree in order to get a tree that produces fruit. He cursed the fruitless fig tree and used that as an illustration for the disciples about the value of faith and prayer. But wouldn't it have been better to have blessed it to make it produce fruit rather than curse it and make it wither? Jesus had a mountain to move here. He came as the King of kings, but the leaders of His subjects refused to receive Him. Sometimes you have to remove a tree to get a tree that produces fruit. Sometimes you have to remove some people from a congregation to get a congregation that produces fruit.
The glory of Jesus is that He can move mountains! Sometimes you have to forgive those who stand in the way in order move the mountain. Do you suppose Jesus forgave those leaders for rejecting Him? I know that on the cross He cried out, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." He in turn instructs us to forgive in order that we may experience forgiveness. The implication is that then we will have what we pray for.
Jesus wants to produce fruit in us. What mountains are in the way? Is it unbelief? Is it unforgiveness? What mountains are in your way? Believe and they'll be removed. I miss my peach tree. Maybe I'll plant another this week. A few years from now I should have some fruit. Do you suppose that Jesus misses fruit in us? Do you have anyone you need to forgive? Jesus can empower you to move that mountain. That is part of His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Here we are at one of the best known passages of the Bible and the most disobeyed. What does it mean to have no other gods before Him? Many years ago my bride and I stood before a minister of the Gospel and gave vows to each other to love each other uniquely and supremely as husband and wife till death parted us. Suppose I came home and found that she had added other husbands to her list. In this bedroom Jerry resided. In that bedroom Wilbur took up residence. In another bedroom was George. And me? Well, I am rich; I could go find a motel to stay in somewhere. After all she could maybe have a chat with me for about 30-60 minutes once a week—if she felt like not reading a book. I could not accept that. I would divorce her. I want a relationship with her. I don’t want to be held at a distance.
But wait! That analogy is not strong enough. Jerry, Wilbur or George might actually be better for her than me. So for the analogy’s sake, what if she replaced them with rooms filled with the following. In one room she dedicated a large screen TV that continuously played movies featuring me in my best moments (it would be a short movie) in one continuous loop. Suppose she dedicated another room to numerous statues and busts of me in various walks of life revealing my greatness (yuck. . . ). In another room she had all the recordings of my best sermons playing one right after another so that she could never forget what a great orator I am (ha. . .). But even that does not reflect the passage. Suppose, in order to catch my greatness she used animals or planets to reflect what I was like. So in the TV room she had wonderful nature videos playing as a representation of what I was like. In another room she reproduced wonderful sounds of nature to represent who I am. Another room might be filled with the scents of nature to reflect my wonderfulness (I hope she wouldn’t choose a skunk). Other rooms might be filled with animals that remind her of me. Suppose I came home, and she ignored me. She was two busy watching my videos or caressing my statues or enjoying my scents or stroking the animals that remind her of me. In her mind it was enough that I would watch her in these activities. I’d send her to a mental institution. I want a relationship with her. I don’t want to be held at a distance. It would be insulting to me that she would desire those things over me.
But wait! What if she daily went for a walk downtown. What if, she told all the merchants, “My husband wants this merchandise. My husband wants that merchandise. Here is my husband’s credit card. He’ll take care of it all.” What if in every conversation she threw out my name as if it were some common slur. What if her use of my name became associated with emptiness and meaninglessness?, What right would she have to daily drag my name into the ground by making promises that I had no intention of keeping or in frivolous use that degraded me in the community? It would be insulting to me and an indication that she had no intention to live up to the honor of my name.
But wait! What if I had communicated with her that at least once a week that as much as possible, I would like for her to cease her normal activities to spend that day resting and focusing upon me? But instead of spending it with me, she sought other persons to be with or other things to do. After all, it was the only day of the week that she had for herself. What if I told her that that day would be a special sign to all other people that we were husband and wife? Yet she spent that day pursuing other relationships. Well after all, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to me. I mean, she had already spent her week filling her life with things that were less than me. It would be an insult to me that she preferred them over me.
This analogy falls far short for the very reason that I could never be compared to the greatness of the glory of our God. The gap that exists between me and any videos, statues, sound recordings, animals or planets to represent me etc. is much closer than the gap that exists between the glory of God and anything with which we may want to represent Him or replace Him. After all, He is the infinite Creator and everything else is His creation. The right with which I have to request my wife’s affections are far less than the right with which He possesses to command my affections toward Him. After all, He is the infinite Creator and I am His creation. Yet in breaking these first four of the ten commandments, this is how we how we treat God. This is how we view His glory. That is why we must seek to see His glory every day and share it with others. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 11:19-33
I lived briefly in Norman, Oklahoma. My house sat on 8.5 acres. For exercise I used to jog the fence perimeter of my land a couple of times each morning. We had a peach tree right next to the fence. When the peaches became ripe, I would stop on my way by and pick a peach or two to eat for breakfast. I love tree ripened peaches. Those peaches were small and wormy but they had good flavor. Something happened later in the year and the tree withered and died.
Other than the cross, did Jesus ever have any mountains to move? I mean really, He is the Man of Glory. If faith moves mountains, why did He curse the fig tree rather than blessing it so that it would produce fruit? There are some things that Jesus can do but will not do. He could force us to receive Him, but He woos us to Himself. He could force us to love Him, but He chooses to enable us to love. He could force us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, but He chooses to make His Spirit available to us so that we may permit His life flow in us.
When Jesus came to the nation at the Triumphal entry and presented Himself as King, He had the power to make Himself King. But He let the religious leaders reject Him. They should have borne the fruit of joyful reception to their King, but it was not there. If the leaders of His people will not receive Him as King, then how will He set up His Kingdom? If the leaders of His people will not recognize the source of His authority and power, then how can He become king? Now there is a mountain of a conundrum.
The glory of Jesus is that He can move mountains! Sometimes you have to remove a tree in order to get a tree that produces fruit. He cursed the fruitless fig tree and used that as an illustration for the disciples about the value of faith and prayer. But wouldn't it have been better to have blessed it to make it produce fruit rather than curse it and make it wither? Jesus had a mountain to move here. He came as the King of kings, but the leaders of His subjects refused to receive Him. Sometimes you have to remove a tree to get a tree that produces fruit. Sometimes you have to remove some people from a congregation to get a congregation that produces fruit.
The glory of Jesus is that He can move mountains! Sometimes you have to forgive those who stand in the way in order move the mountain. Do you suppose Jesus forgave those leaders for rejecting Him? I know that on the cross He cried out, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." He in turn instructs us to forgive in order that we may experience forgiveness. The implication is that then we will have what we pray for.
Jesus wants to produce fruit in us. What mountains are in the way? Is it unbelief? Is it unforgiveness? What mountains are in your way? Believe and they'll be removed. I miss my peach tree. Maybe I'll plant another this week. A few years from now I should have some fruit. Do you suppose that Jesus misses fruit in us? Do you have anyone you need to forgive? Jesus can empower you to move that mountain. That is part of His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Monday, March 8, 2010
March 8, 2010
Exodus 19
It was during the beginning of the recession of 1980. I was working the second shift in gray iron machining. The company had already shut down the second shift in die cast. Die cast was right next to gray iron machining, and the lights were all off back there. During lunch break, I decided to go for a walk. As I passed by the vats of molten aluminum, I couldn’t help but to stop and stare into the glowing liquid metal. There was just something awesome about the glowing heat of the molten metal. There was something purifying about it. I am sure the die cast guys, who worked there regularly, didn’t get this sense. The familiarity and having the lights on probably took away the awe. But for me, it was mesmerizing. There is something purifying about fire.
The Lord called Israel to be a Kingdom of Priests, His own special treasure. In order to experience this privilege they needed to be pure. How was this purity to come. It was both their act and God’s act. His act in response their purifying themselves was to reveal Himself in smoke, lightning, quakes and fire. Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. Is that awesome or what?
He still calls us today to be His Kingdom of Priests, His own special treasure. He descends upon us to place His glory in us so that others may see His glory and be drawn to Him. How does He purify us? Consider this, “Our God is a consuming fire.” What is He burning away in us? Now that is how His glory is seen in us. Sometimes it is a painful experience. Sometimes it is an exquisite experience. What a privilege to be in his presence and be purified by Him. Lord, purify me and make me clean. Burn away my desires to hang on to the things of this world. Let me gaze into the glowing, purifying fire of Your presence. Refine me as one of Your priests so that others may be brought to You. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 11:1-18
It was called the Big Dipper. The amusement park was Springlake in Oklahoma City. I had never ridden a roller coaster before. My dad was sitting next to me because I wasn't tall enough to ride by myself. We began the first ascent. There was sound of the "chink, chink, chink" of the chain and safety latches pulling the coaster up the hill. It was amazing as we began the slow ascent to the first hill how quickly everything below became smaller. At the top it looked taller than I had imagined. It was huge! Then all of a sudden we began hurling down the valley. It was the first time ever that I had experienced such strong "G" forces. It was wild! Then we hit bottom and although the acceleration ceased, the speed did not. We were shooting toward the top of the highest hill at neck breaking speed. Plummeting down this hill I again felt the thrill of acceleration. The compression of my body at the depth of the valley was tremendous. The speed was now incredible as we approached the third but shorter hill. Cresting the top of this hill, my little body lost contact with the seat and I literally wondered if I was being ejected from the car. As quickly as I lost contact, I felt a hand on the back of my neck pushing me back down in the seat. It was my dad. He was keeping me where I belonged. The ride continued with more twists and turns highs and lows, but none were as exhilarating as that third hill, where it had not been for my dad, I would have lost my seat.
As Jesus revealed His glory to His disciples there were many highs and lows. Certainly the Mount of Transfiguration was a large hill that gave the disciples much momentum. The miracles He performed were continuous hills, storing up energy within them for one catastrophic descent toward the crucifixion. Jesus' resolute determination to go to Jerusalem where death awaited Him was a fearful valley for the disciples but they had too much kinetic energy stored up in them now. They couldn't, and probably wouldn't if they could, get off of the ride. They arrive at the highest hill of Jesus' ministry. It is His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. As they ascend to Jerusalem from the Kidron Valley the crowds have heard of His arrival. They storm out to meet Him. Here is the Man who makes the lame to walk, the dumb to talk, the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the dead to live again, the demon possessed set free, the multitudes fed, the wind and the sea be still and who speaks with authority that no other man can speak. This can only be the glory of the Messiah. They throng Him with their adoration. They recognize Him as the rightful occupant of the throne of David. Their plea is "Hosanna!" or "Lord, save!" But the ride doesn't stop here. There are some valleys and hills ahead, a big valley in front of them. But the sight from this hill is fantastic. The speed and momentum is unstoppable! But Jesus knows that with this kind of glory, there should be some fruit ready to be picked from the nation. There is none and the descent into the valley begins.
The day is late. He returns to Bethany to for the night. On the way He passes a fruitless fig tree. As a prophetic act toward Jerusalem, He curses the tree. Where does one channel all of the energy of the glory of Jesus into productive works which change the world? It begins in the corporate prayer courts of His people. The next morning He visits the temple. In the court of the Gentiles, a place where all nations should have come to pray, instead of finding a prayer meeting He finds a business, dishonest business at that. He casts out the business men. The plot to destroy Him quickens as the downhill energy is released.
The glory of Jesus in our lives is that which builds up spiritual energy. How does one channel it? It is best channeled in our corporate prayer meetings. As we find the strength of the glory of His presence, His Holy Spirit clothes us with power to take the life giving flow of His water of life into valleys of the thirsty people below. He comes searching for people who long for Him together in prayer and let their find of Him flow out to people below. Instead He finds a people intent on business as usual--if the people below want water they can come to our service and buy it. It takes a resurrection to get us out of the valley of lost inertia.
But I think our Lord specializes in resurrections. So much so that at the next hill we'll need His hand to keep us in our seats. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
It was during the beginning of the recession of 1980. I was working the second shift in gray iron machining. The company had already shut down the second shift in die cast. Die cast was right next to gray iron machining, and the lights were all off back there. During lunch break, I decided to go for a walk. As I passed by the vats of molten aluminum, I couldn’t help but to stop and stare into the glowing liquid metal. There was just something awesome about the glowing heat of the molten metal. There was something purifying about it. I am sure the die cast guys, who worked there regularly, didn’t get this sense. The familiarity and having the lights on probably took away the awe. But for me, it was mesmerizing. There is something purifying about fire.
The Lord called Israel to be a Kingdom of Priests, His own special treasure. In order to experience this privilege they needed to be pure. How was this purity to come. It was both their act and God’s act. His act in response their purifying themselves was to reveal Himself in smoke, lightning, quakes and fire. Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. Is that awesome or what?
He still calls us today to be His Kingdom of Priests, His own special treasure. He descends upon us to place His glory in us so that others may see His glory and be drawn to Him. How does He purify us? Consider this, “Our God is a consuming fire.” What is He burning away in us? Now that is how His glory is seen in us. Sometimes it is a painful experience. Sometimes it is an exquisite experience. What a privilege to be in his presence and be purified by Him. Lord, purify me and make me clean. Burn away my desires to hang on to the things of this world. Let me gaze into the glowing, purifying fire of Your presence. Refine me as one of Your priests so that others may be brought to You. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 11:1-18
It was called the Big Dipper. The amusement park was Springlake in Oklahoma City. I had never ridden a roller coaster before. My dad was sitting next to me because I wasn't tall enough to ride by myself. We began the first ascent. There was sound of the "chink, chink, chink" of the chain and safety latches pulling the coaster up the hill. It was amazing as we began the slow ascent to the first hill how quickly everything below became smaller. At the top it looked taller than I had imagined. It was huge! Then all of a sudden we began hurling down the valley. It was the first time ever that I had experienced such strong "G" forces. It was wild! Then we hit bottom and although the acceleration ceased, the speed did not. We were shooting toward the top of the highest hill at neck breaking speed. Plummeting down this hill I again felt the thrill of acceleration. The compression of my body at the depth of the valley was tremendous. The speed was now incredible as we approached the third but shorter hill. Cresting the top of this hill, my little body lost contact with the seat and I literally wondered if I was being ejected from the car. As quickly as I lost contact, I felt a hand on the back of my neck pushing me back down in the seat. It was my dad. He was keeping me where I belonged. The ride continued with more twists and turns highs and lows, but none were as exhilarating as that third hill, where it had not been for my dad, I would have lost my seat.
As Jesus revealed His glory to His disciples there were many highs and lows. Certainly the Mount of Transfiguration was a large hill that gave the disciples much momentum. The miracles He performed were continuous hills, storing up energy within them for one catastrophic descent toward the crucifixion. Jesus' resolute determination to go to Jerusalem where death awaited Him was a fearful valley for the disciples but they had too much kinetic energy stored up in them now. They couldn't, and probably wouldn't if they could, get off of the ride. They arrive at the highest hill of Jesus' ministry. It is His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. As they ascend to Jerusalem from the Kidron Valley the crowds have heard of His arrival. They storm out to meet Him. Here is the Man who makes the lame to walk, the dumb to talk, the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the dead to live again, the demon possessed set free, the multitudes fed, the wind and the sea be still and who speaks with authority that no other man can speak. This can only be the glory of the Messiah. They throng Him with their adoration. They recognize Him as the rightful occupant of the throne of David. Their plea is "Hosanna!" or "Lord, save!" But the ride doesn't stop here. There are some valleys and hills ahead, a big valley in front of them. But the sight from this hill is fantastic. The speed and momentum is unstoppable! But Jesus knows that with this kind of glory, there should be some fruit ready to be picked from the nation. There is none and the descent into the valley begins.
The day is late. He returns to Bethany to for the night. On the way He passes a fruitless fig tree. As a prophetic act toward Jerusalem, He curses the tree. Where does one channel all of the energy of the glory of Jesus into productive works which change the world? It begins in the corporate prayer courts of His people. The next morning He visits the temple. In the court of the Gentiles, a place where all nations should have come to pray, instead of finding a prayer meeting He finds a business, dishonest business at that. He casts out the business men. The plot to destroy Him quickens as the downhill energy is released.
The glory of Jesus in our lives is that which builds up spiritual energy. How does one channel it? It is best channeled in our corporate prayer meetings. As we find the strength of the glory of His presence, His Holy Spirit clothes us with power to take the life giving flow of His water of life into valleys of the thirsty people below. He comes searching for people who long for Him together in prayer and let their find of Him flow out to people below. Instead He finds a people intent on business as usual--if the people below want water they can come to our service and buy it. It takes a resurrection to get us out of the valley of lost inertia.
But I think our Lord specializes in resurrections. So much so that at the next hill we'll need His hand to keep us in our seats. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Sunday, March 7, 2010
March 7, 2010
Exodus 18
10And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11“Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.”
How was it that the Egyptians had behaved proudly? Sure they were proud in that they thought they could enslave God’s people with impunity, but what was the basis of their pride that they could ever embrace such a thought? Was it not their security that they established for themselves because of the situation in which they found themselves? The consistency with which the Nile River overflowed its banks and brought them agricultural stability caused them to trust in the Nile’s consistency. They eventually assigned a god-like status to the Nile and worshipped that god. With each of the ten plagues we could make the same investigation and conclude that they had come to worship the god of their situation that enabled them to have such a comfortable living. They were proud of their advanced society. Their advancement, in their reasoning, made them worthy of subjugating other human being to accomplish their will.
How did the Lord demonstrate His superiority over all the gods? He judged each and every one of their gods with the plagues. In so doing He caused all Egypt to know and even the surrounding nations to know that He was above them. Does the Lord desire to do the same today to the gods of our culture? If so, how do you think He might do it? How does He want to use me or you? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 10:32-52
I woke up from a dream. It was not a good dream. I was only 5 or 6 years old. Moving from the dream to the conscious state was a process. The plaster of Paris images on the wall were at first monsters, part of my dream. Then, I realized that I was awake, and I was in bed. I looked around and none of my older brothers were there. I could hear the TV down stairs. I was alone. It was dark. I had just awakened from a not-good dream, but to get downstairs meant that I had to walk by two attic doors to the stair case. Attics were always bad places in my dreams. Monsters lurked in there. On the other hand, I didn't think I could lie in my bed and wait for them to come out. Yes, even as an adult, I can really relate to Monsters Inc. I got out of bed, crept by the attic doorways and flew downstairs. I made it to the others and no monster touched me or even showed its face as I made my descent. I was safe at last.
Courage is defined in my dictionary as being fearless or brave. I think that is the wrong definition. I believe courage is taking the right action in spite of the fear that you have of the consequences of the action. Probably the most courageous thing that I could have done was to have laid aside my fears in bed and gone back to sleep. I did the second most courageous thing, I walked past the attic doors to find safety downstairs. The least courageous thing that I could have done would have been to call for my mother to come save me.
Jesus was making the ascent up to Jerusalem (from below sea level in the Jordan valley to the mountains of Jerusalem). Mark records 4 times previous to this that Jesus told the disciples that the elders, chief priests and scribes would make Him suffer and kill Him. Jerusalem is the place where the majority of the elders, chief priest and scribes reside. Notably they were amazed and fearful as they ascended to Jerusalem. Why would Jesus consciously ascend into danger? They still didn't understand the other side of Jesus' glory, the side that chose to die for us that we might live. For the fifth time Mark records Jesus telling them that He is going to His impending death.
How many times has Jesus had to warn me about something? I guess I am just as hard headed as James and John. They were still focused on the 'good side' of Jesus' glory. So they make this outlandish request of Jesus. He doesn't turn them down. He just makes sure they know what they are asking. This story motivated Earl Marlatt in 1926 to pen the words to the hymn Are Ye Able.
“Are ye able,” said the Master, “To be crucified with Me?”
“Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered, “To the death we follow Thee.”
Refrain
Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine. Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love and loyalty.
Are you able to relinquish purple dreams of power and fame, to go down into the Garden, or to die a death of shame?
Refrain
Are ye able, when the anguish racks your mind and heart with pain, to forgive the souls who wrong you, who would make your striving vain?
Refrain
Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes, that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise?
Refrain
Are ye able when the shadows close around you with the sod, to believe that spirit triumphs, to commend your soul to God?
Refrain
Are ye able? Still the Master whispers down eternity, and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee.
Refrain
Jesus made James and John able. James was beheaded for the sake of Jesus. John died an old man in exile for his testimony of the Lord Jesus. They knew both the 'good' side of His glory and the 'bad' side of His glory. Knowing the glory of the Lord, the 'good and bad' sides usually enables me to make courageous choices. Maybe I do not always make the most courageous or even the wisest choices, but at least they are choices that get me past the attic doorways of my life, past the faces of the spiritual monsters who pretend that they have power over me. One day I will slip up the staircase and be safe at last in the glory of my Lord. There I will realize that no monster ever touched me. The faces that I saw were only plaster paris molds of a monster wanna be. The only power they ever had was when I took my eyes off of my glorious Lord. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
10And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11“Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.”
How was it that the Egyptians had behaved proudly? Sure they were proud in that they thought they could enslave God’s people with impunity, but what was the basis of their pride that they could ever embrace such a thought? Was it not their security that they established for themselves because of the situation in which they found themselves? The consistency with which the Nile River overflowed its banks and brought them agricultural stability caused them to trust in the Nile’s consistency. They eventually assigned a god-like status to the Nile and worshipped that god. With each of the ten plagues we could make the same investigation and conclude that they had come to worship the god of their situation that enabled them to have such a comfortable living. They were proud of their advanced society. Their advancement, in their reasoning, made them worthy of subjugating other human being to accomplish their will.
How did the Lord demonstrate His superiority over all the gods? He judged each and every one of their gods with the plagues. In so doing He caused all Egypt to know and even the surrounding nations to know that He was above them. Does the Lord desire to do the same today to the gods of our culture? If so, how do you think He might do it? How does He want to use me or you? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 10:32-52
I woke up from a dream. It was not a good dream. I was only 5 or 6 years old. Moving from the dream to the conscious state was a process. The plaster of Paris images on the wall were at first monsters, part of my dream. Then, I realized that I was awake, and I was in bed. I looked around and none of my older brothers were there. I could hear the TV down stairs. I was alone. It was dark. I had just awakened from a not-good dream, but to get downstairs meant that I had to walk by two attic doors to the stair case. Attics were always bad places in my dreams. Monsters lurked in there. On the other hand, I didn't think I could lie in my bed and wait for them to come out. Yes, even as an adult, I can really relate to Monsters Inc. I got out of bed, crept by the attic doorways and flew downstairs. I made it to the others and no monster touched me or even showed its face as I made my descent. I was safe at last.
Courage is defined in my dictionary as being fearless or brave. I think that is the wrong definition. I believe courage is taking the right action in spite of the fear that you have of the consequences of the action. Probably the most courageous thing that I could have done was to have laid aside my fears in bed and gone back to sleep. I did the second most courageous thing, I walked past the attic doors to find safety downstairs. The least courageous thing that I could have done would have been to call for my mother to come save me.
Jesus was making the ascent up to Jerusalem (from below sea level in the Jordan valley to the mountains of Jerusalem). Mark records 4 times previous to this that Jesus told the disciples that the elders, chief priests and scribes would make Him suffer and kill Him. Jerusalem is the place where the majority of the elders, chief priest and scribes reside. Notably they were amazed and fearful as they ascended to Jerusalem. Why would Jesus consciously ascend into danger? They still didn't understand the other side of Jesus' glory, the side that chose to die for us that we might live. For the fifth time Mark records Jesus telling them that He is going to His impending death.
How many times has Jesus had to warn me about something? I guess I am just as hard headed as James and John. They were still focused on the 'good side' of Jesus' glory. So they make this outlandish request of Jesus. He doesn't turn them down. He just makes sure they know what they are asking. This story motivated Earl Marlatt in 1926 to pen the words to the hymn Are Ye Able.
“Are ye able,” said the Master, “To be crucified with Me?”
“Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered, “To the death we follow Thee.”
Refrain
Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine. Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love and loyalty.
Are you able to relinquish purple dreams of power and fame, to go down into the Garden, or to die a death of shame?
Refrain
Are ye able, when the anguish racks your mind and heart with pain, to forgive the souls who wrong you, who would make your striving vain?
Refrain
Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes, that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise?
Refrain
Are ye able when the shadows close around you with the sod, to believe that spirit triumphs, to commend your soul to God?
Refrain
Are ye able? Still the Master whispers down eternity, and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee.
Refrain
Jesus made James and John able. James was beheaded for the sake of Jesus. John died an old man in exile for his testimony of the Lord Jesus. They knew both the 'good' side of His glory and the 'bad' side of His glory. Knowing the glory of the Lord, the 'good and bad' sides usually enables me to make courageous choices. Maybe I do not always make the most courageous or even the wisest choices, but at least they are choices that get me past the attic doorways of my life, past the faces of the spiritual monsters who pretend that they have power over me. One day I will slip up the staircase and be safe at last in the glory of my Lord. There I will realize that no monster ever touched me. The faces that I saw were only plaster paris molds of a monster wanna be. The only power they ever had was when I took my eyes off of my glorious Lord. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Saturday, March 6, 2010
March 6, 2010
March 6, 2010
Water is such a vital part of our lives. One of the greatest needs of third world countries today is the need for clean drinking water. The children of Israel, 2,000,000 strong, were in a geographical area that receives no more than 6 inches of annual rainfall. Not nearly enough to support that many people. However, any Bedouin shepherd today knows that those six inches of rainfall filter down through the sand to the limestone base and remains there moving laterally till it reaches a point of release in the valleys and canyons in the area. Over the years the limestone leaches in to the water and covers the canyon walls sealing the water in the ground. The Bedouin shepherd can then come along and strike the rock walls in the canyon in a thin spot and break the limestone covering. The result? A spring in the desert.
The miracle in this passage is that when Moses struck the rock, it produced enough water to satisfy 2,000,000 people. That is the glory of our Lord. Spiritually speaking we live in a desert. We are parched and dry. But if we will come to Him, He will make water to come gushing out of the side of the rock to satisfy all of our need. Isn’t He awesome? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 10:1-31
McDonald’s was pretty smart in developing the golden arches sign. In the days that I was a parent of pre-readers, they could see the sign whenever we traveled. I knew exactly what I was going to hear whenever they saw it, “Can we go to McDonald’s?” Usually the answer was, “No.” Often the reason was budget related. They had no concept of what it costs to take the whole family to eat. We could feed the whole family at home for $15.00 a day. McDonald’s cost $25.00-30.00 per meal. But finances to a child have no meaning. All they know is that Mom and Dad can take them to the store and get them what they want. They don’t have to worry about paying the bills. And I don’t expect them to pay the bills. They don’t have the ability.
At times we think we have the ability to obtain eternal life. We don’t. The rich young ruler thought he did. He didn’t. It was impossible. It is impossible for man but possible for God. Children can obtain it because they can trust God to give what they cannot provide for themselves. It is natural because they are always dependent upon their parents. They don’t understand the processes of the transaction, but they do understand their parent. They ask, and he gives. Meditating on His glory isn’t so much coming to understand the process behind which He does things, as it is coming to understand His willingness to work for our good, which ultimately is knowing Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Water is such a vital part of our lives. One of the greatest needs of third world countries today is the need for clean drinking water. The children of Israel, 2,000,000 strong, were in a geographical area that receives no more than 6 inches of annual rainfall. Not nearly enough to support that many people. However, any Bedouin shepherd today knows that those six inches of rainfall filter down through the sand to the limestone base and remains there moving laterally till it reaches a point of release in the valleys and canyons in the area. Over the years the limestone leaches in to the water and covers the canyon walls sealing the water in the ground. The Bedouin shepherd can then come along and strike the rock walls in the canyon in a thin spot and break the limestone covering. The result? A spring in the desert.
The miracle in this passage is that when Moses struck the rock, it produced enough water to satisfy 2,000,000 people. That is the glory of our Lord. Spiritually speaking we live in a desert. We are parched and dry. But if we will come to Him, He will make water to come gushing out of the side of the rock to satisfy all of our need. Isn’t He awesome? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 10:1-31
McDonald’s was pretty smart in developing the golden arches sign. In the days that I was a parent of pre-readers, they could see the sign whenever we traveled. I knew exactly what I was going to hear whenever they saw it, “Can we go to McDonald’s?” Usually the answer was, “No.” Often the reason was budget related. They had no concept of what it costs to take the whole family to eat. We could feed the whole family at home for $15.00 a day. McDonald’s cost $25.00-30.00 per meal. But finances to a child have no meaning. All they know is that Mom and Dad can take them to the store and get them what they want. They don’t have to worry about paying the bills. And I don’t expect them to pay the bills. They don’t have the ability.
At times we think we have the ability to obtain eternal life. We don’t. The rich young ruler thought he did. He didn’t. It was impossible. It is impossible for man but possible for God. Children can obtain it because they can trust God to give what they cannot provide for themselves. It is natural because they are always dependent upon their parents. They don’t understand the processes of the transaction, but they do understand their parent. They ask, and he gives. Meditating on His glory isn’t so much coming to understand the process behind which He does things, as it is coming to understand His willingness to work for our good, which ultimately is knowing Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Friday, March 5, 2010
March 5, 2010
Exodus 16
Woops. I missed my glory blog yesterday. No excuses. I could have risen a couple hours earlier than normal and written it; however, I had to leave early to attend a morning funeral in Mustang. I just didn’t get up early enough. Maybe I felt like I could depend upon the glory that I saw yesterday. Do you ever do that?
One would think that the glory that the Children of Israel saw in their deliverance from Egypt would have lasted a lifetime. Wouldn’t you think after those ten plagues, the pillar of fire and pillar of cloud, the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of the army, that one would be secure in the provision of the Lord? At least, wouldn’t you think that security would last more than thirty days? Well, it didn’t. Was it a problem with the glory? No, it was a problem with the people, short memories. And what was the result? Complaining. If there is one thing I cannot stand it is a complainer. Yet I frequently find myself complaining. Why? Short memory when it comes to the glory of the Lord.
How does the Lord solve this problem? He put the Israelites on a daily diet of glory. What? Does He plan doing some magnificent daily display of who He is? Well, yes and no. Moses tells them, “In the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord; for He hears your complaints against the Lord.” And what was that glory? It was literally their breakfast, lunch and dinner on the ground. All they had to do was go gather it every morning. The Israelites woke up to it and said, “What is it?” It was edible. It was sweet. It was nourishing. It did not last for more than a day, except the Sabbath. It was a daily provision for their need. It was a daily reminder of His glory. It was a daily exercise in gathering the glory of the Lord. Does His glory go bad in a day? No, but because of our bad memories and sinful hearts, we need to be daily reminded of His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 9:30-50
A couple of years ago, I was appalled to learn that the majority of churches in America have very little ministry to children. Everything is aimed at adults. I had a seminary professor who used to say that Christianity is an adult religion. Although, what he meant is that the decision to follow Christ is one in which we need to follow lines of authority that God has designed in the family. A couple decades ago, I was listening to Larry King on the radio one night. He made the statement that children belong to the state, not the parents. A chill went down my spine when I heard that. The implication of where that will lead, if our culture buys into it, is terrifying for the church. This is particularly true as we think of where this whole separation of church and state thing has led us. Jesus clearly has a special place in His heart for children as is demonstrated in this passage.
The disciples were suffering from what I call, ‘Mohammed Ali syndrome,’ they all thought they were the greatest. Jesus took a little child, set him in the midst of them, took him in His arms and said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me. . . “ You see children don’t pay the bills. Children aren’t the ones who get things done in the senate. Children don’t catapult you into the limelight. You want to be great? Serve the least. Children are often considered to be least. Moody once reported from a campaign from which he had just returned. He said, “We have two and half conversions.”
Someone said, “You had two adults and one child saved?”
Moody replied, “No, an adult has already lived half of his life. The children still have their life ahead of them. We had two children and one adult saved.” You want to be great? Serve the ones who cannot advance your name or add to your pocket etc.
Jesus takes it a step farther when the disciples had a problem with someone not in their group. If you offend one of the little ones (children, the least), you run the risk of hell. It is not popular to think of hell. Many people want to reject the idea. A lot of people reject the idea that Jesus would send anyone to hell. Yet three times in this passage Jesus indicates that it will happen. Is that glory? You’d better believe it is. What kind of God would He be if there was no justice? He would be an unjust God. Maybe you don’t agree with His justice, but it is necessary that He be just. Your dislike of His justice does not change it one iota.
His glory is found in that He desires the least to come to Him and He is just. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Woops. I missed my glory blog yesterday. No excuses. I could have risen a couple hours earlier than normal and written it; however, I had to leave early to attend a morning funeral in Mustang. I just didn’t get up early enough. Maybe I felt like I could depend upon the glory that I saw yesterday. Do you ever do that?
One would think that the glory that the Children of Israel saw in their deliverance from Egypt would have lasted a lifetime. Wouldn’t you think after those ten plagues, the pillar of fire and pillar of cloud, the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of the army, that one would be secure in the provision of the Lord? At least, wouldn’t you think that security would last more than thirty days? Well, it didn’t. Was it a problem with the glory? No, it was a problem with the people, short memories. And what was the result? Complaining. If there is one thing I cannot stand it is a complainer. Yet I frequently find myself complaining. Why? Short memory when it comes to the glory of the Lord.
How does the Lord solve this problem? He put the Israelites on a daily diet of glory. What? Does He plan doing some magnificent daily display of who He is? Well, yes and no. Moses tells them, “In the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord; for He hears your complaints against the Lord.” And what was that glory? It was literally their breakfast, lunch and dinner on the ground. All they had to do was go gather it every morning. The Israelites woke up to it and said, “What is it?” It was edible. It was sweet. It was nourishing. It did not last for more than a day, except the Sabbath. It was a daily provision for their need. It was a daily reminder of His glory. It was a daily exercise in gathering the glory of the Lord. Does His glory go bad in a day? No, but because of our bad memories and sinful hearts, we need to be daily reminded of His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 9:30-50
A couple of years ago, I was appalled to learn that the majority of churches in America have very little ministry to children. Everything is aimed at adults. I had a seminary professor who used to say that Christianity is an adult religion. Although, what he meant is that the decision to follow Christ is one in which we need to follow lines of authority that God has designed in the family. A couple decades ago, I was listening to Larry King on the radio one night. He made the statement that children belong to the state, not the parents. A chill went down my spine when I heard that. The implication of where that will lead, if our culture buys into it, is terrifying for the church. This is particularly true as we think of where this whole separation of church and state thing has led us. Jesus clearly has a special place in His heart for children as is demonstrated in this passage.
The disciples were suffering from what I call, ‘Mohammed Ali syndrome,’ they all thought they were the greatest. Jesus took a little child, set him in the midst of them, took him in His arms and said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me. . . “ You see children don’t pay the bills. Children aren’t the ones who get things done in the senate. Children don’t catapult you into the limelight. You want to be great? Serve the least. Children are often considered to be least. Moody once reported from a campaign from which he had just returned. He said, “We have two and half conversions.”
Someone said, “You had two adults and one child saved?”
Moody replied, “No, an adult has already lived half of his life. The children still have their life ahead of them. We had two children and one adult saved.” You want to be great? Serve the ones who cannot advance your name or add to your pocket etc.
Jesus takes it a step farther when the disciples had a problem with someone not in their group. If you offend one of the little ones (children, the least), you run the risk of hell. It is not popular to think of hell. Many people want to reject the idea. A lot of people reject the idea that Jesus would send anyone to hell. Yet three times in this passage Jesus indicates that it will happen. Is that glory? You’d better believe it is. What kind of God would He be if there was no justice? He would be an unjust God. Maybe you don’t agree with His justice, but it is necessary that He be just. Your dislike of His justice does not change it one iota.
His glory is found in that He desires the least to come to Him and He is just. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
March 4, 2010
Mark 9:1-29
What event would be the most exciting thing that you could imagine for you to attend? For a sports enthusiast it might be the World Series, the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup, the World Cup, the U.S. Open or Wimbledon etc. If you were a music enthusiast maybe it would be the New York Opera, the Boston Symphony, a Beetles concert etc. If you are into politics, maybe to sit next to the president during his inauguration would be your desire. If you are into U.S. history, maybe you would like to have been at the deliberations for the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Can you imagine being promised to see the kingdom of God present with power?
It happened to Peter, James and John up on the mount of Transfiguration. They saw it. There was no mistake. But Jesus thought it important to tell them part of the glory of it that they did not see, could not see and would not see for some time yet. But they would also attend that event and see it just as well. It would be just as mind boggling but not exciting. In the midst of this great event, where they saw the Son of Man in His glory, He asked them, “How is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?” You see His crucifixion is part of the glory of the Son of Man, for his crucifixion provides for our attendance at His coronation. The kingdom of God was present with power at His crucifixion and resurrection.
Coming down from the great event, they were met with a power conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. There was a boy possessed by a deaf and dumb spirit from which the disciples could not release the boy. Jesus released him with one command. Why couldn’t they cast it out? This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. I tend to focus on the need for prayer and fasting. But do you get the basis upon which the prayer and fasting is possible? The kingdom of God can come in power!
We may never experience the mount of Transfiguration until the rapture, but we can experience the Presence of the kingdom of God with power! Jesus does show His glory. It is present whenever the power of darkness is defeated. We can be victorious over sin. When we are, it glorifies Jesus, for in one more instance He has defeated the power of darkness. I might not see Him transfigured before me, but I can see Him transformed in me! That’s His glory! And I want to be present for all of that for which I can be present. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
What event would be the most exciting thing that you could imagine for you to attend? For a sports enthusiast it might be the World Series, the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup, the World Cup, the U.S. Open or Wimbledon etc. If you were a music enthusiast maybe it would be the New York Opera, the Boston Symphony, a Beetles concert etc. If you are into politics, maybe to sit next to the president during his inauguration would be your desire. If you are into U.S. history, maybe you would like to have been at the deliberations for the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Can you imagine being promised to see the kingdom of God present with power?
It happened to Peter, James and John up on the mount of Transfiguration. They saw it. There was no mistake. But Jesus thought it important to tell them part of the glory of it that they did not see, could not see and would not see for some time yet. But they would also attend that event and see it just as well. It would be just as mind boggling but not exciting. In the midst of this great event, where they saw the Son of Man in His glory, He asked them, “How is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?” You see His crucifixion is part of the glory of the Son of Man, for his crucifixion provides for our attendance at His coronation. The kingdom of God was present with power at His crucifixion and resurrection.
Coming down from the great event, they were met with a power conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. There was a boy possessed by a deaf and dumb spirit from which the disciples could not release the boy. Jesus released him with one command. Why couldn’t they cast it out? This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. I tend to focus on the need for prayer and fasting. But do you get the basis upon which the prayer and fasting is possible? The kingdom of God can come in power!
We may never experience the mount of Transfiguration until the rapture, but we can experience the Presence of the kingdom of God with power! Jesus does show His glory. It is present whenever the power of darkness is defeated. We can be victorious over sin. When we are, it glorifies Jesus, for in one more instance He has defeated the power of darkness. I might not see Him transfigured before me, but I can see Him transformed in me! That’s His glory! And I want to be present for all of that for which I can be present. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
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