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
Saturday, March 6, 2010
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
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
March 3, 2010
Exodus 14
Which is the greater miracle: to put a pillar of fire between the Egyptians and Israelites and blow a wind strong enough to part the sea all night long drying it up so that they could walk through it, or to change the heart of the Pharaoh and his servants so that they would pursue the Israelites even after ten horrific plagues and a pillar of darkness that separated them. For our God neither is harder. God did both. What are the implications for His glory? This is what the word says:
18“Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. . . . 31Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.
The Lord does amazing things to force us to recognize His glory. We ought to see His glory just from looking at the creation. But since we do not, He hardens the hearts of those who have already hardened their hearts, and the hearts of his people he softens by doing mighty works of conquest. All for the glory of His name. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 8:21-38
Frequently in school I would have teachers who would teach by asking questions. This was particularly true in Seminary. They seemed to sense that if they spoon fed you information, you would not remember it. If they asked you a question and you had to find the answer, then put it into words, then it would stick with you longer. One systematic theology professor never gave a written exam. They were always oral exams. He scheduled us in groups of 3 or 4 for about an hour and a half with him. One had to state your answer and defend it. Those were the exams that really made me nervous and the ones for which I was most prepared. Oh, and then there was my ordination exam. Three hours in front of a board of six men. They each took turns in asking me questions and forcing me to defend my answers from Scripture.
Jesus commonly used the question method with people and particularly with His disciples. This question that He asks Peter is the crux of all history, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter never showed any more brilliance than at this point. "You are the Christ," was his reply. All kinds of glory are packed up in that little word, "Christ." The anointed One through out the Old Testament is cryptically described. He is from eternity. He is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time foreword, even forever. When Peter said, "You are the Christ," you can bet that he had these things in mind. Peter passed this oral exam with flying colors!
Based upon this correct answer Jesus begins to earnestly instruct Peter and the disciples about the prophecies of the Messiah that He must be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and after three days rise again. Isaiah 53 is part of it. Peter missed this part and began to rebuke the Lord, privately. Jesus rebuked Peter publicly. Then He called the people to Himself and the disciples and began to call them to the cross with Him.
The glory of Jesus is indeed great. He calls us to share it with Him. There is one catch. If we want to share in His glory, we have to die with Him. Dying to self is not pleasant but it is required. But look what comes as a result! We share in the glory of Jesus! What a deal! Jim Elliot was right when he said, "He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose!" We give this life, which we are going to lose anyway, to gain His life which we will never lose. I want that! "Goodbye, John! Hello, Jesus!" Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Which is the greater miracle: to put a pillar of fire between the Egyptians and Israelites and blow a wind strong enough to part the sea all night long drying it up so that they could walk through it, or to change the heart of the Pharaoh and his servants so that they would pursue the Israelites even after ten horrific plagues and a pillar of darkness that separated them. For our God neither is harder. God did both. What are the implications for His glory? This is what the word says:
18“Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. . . . 31Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.
The Lord does amazing things to force us to recognize His glory. We ought to see His glory just from looking at the creation. But since we do not, He hardens the hearts of those who have already hardened their hearts, and the hearts of his people he softens by doing mighty works of conquest. All for the glory of His name. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 8:21-38
Frequently in school I would have teachers who would teach by asking questions. This was particularly true in Seminary. They seemed to sense that if they spoon fed you information, you would not remember it. If they asked you a question and you had to find the answer, then put it into words, then it would stick with you longer. One systematic theology professor never gave a written exam. They were always oral exams. He scheduled us in groups of 3 or 4 for about an hour and a half with him. One had to state your answer and defend it. Those were the exams that really made me nervous and the ones for which I was most prepared. Oh, and then there was my ordination exam. Three hours in front of a board of six men. They each took turns in asking me questions and forcing me to defend my answers from Scripture.
Jesus commonly used the question method with people and particularly with His disciples. This question that He asks Peter is the crux of all history, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter never showed any more brilliance than at this point. "You are the Christ," was his reply. All kinds of glory are packed up in that little word, "Christ." The anointed One through out the Old Testament is cryptically described. He is from eternity. He is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time foreword, even forever. When Peter said, "You are the Christ," you can bet that he had these things in mind. Peter passed this oral exam with flying colors!
Based upon this correct answer Jesus begins to earnestly instruct Peter and the disciples about the prophecies of the Messiah that He must be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and after three days rise again. Isaiah 53 is part of it. Peter missed this part and began to rebuke the Lord, privately. Jesus rebuked Peter publicly. Then He called the people to Himself and the disciples and began to call them to the cross with Him.
The glory of Jesus is indeed great. He calls us to share it with Him. There is one catch. If we want to share in His glory, we have to die with Him. Dying to self is not pleasant but it is required. But look what comes as a result! We share in the glory of Jesus! What a deal! Jim Elliot was right when he said, "He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose!" We give this life, which we are going to lose anyway, to gain His life which we will never lose. I want that! "Goodbye, John! Hello, Jesus!" Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
March 2, 2010
Exodus13
I was eight and one half years old. Obviously, no eight-year-old is a hardened criminal. But I had sinned. Even at eight, I had not made a physical idol, but there were other things that were more important to me than worshipping the Almighty Creator. I had taken the Lord’s name, that name which is more precious than any other, in vain. I had heard others at school do it, and I thought it was cool. Resting in the Lord was a foreign concept to me. There had been times when I had disobeyed and therefore dishonored my parents. Physical murder I had not committed, but there were people that I had hated. Adultery, at eight I was not interested in that yet. Stealing? Well, I had stolen a nickel from off of my dad’s chest of drawers once. There are probably other things that I stole that I don't remember now. Bearing false witness? On many occasions I had misrepresented the truth (lied). Coveting? There were many things that were not mine that I often desired to have. Even at eight sin had a hold on me. I was in bondage to sin. But with a strong hand the Lord delivered me out of bondage. Every time I celebrate communion (which is a form of the Passover meal) I am reminded of how He delivered me. Even at eight I was a slave to sin. He redeemed me, set me free. How did he do it? He did it with His broken body and His shed blood. That is the glory of my Lord. He would take His own demise and apply it in my place. His demise was mine. My demise became His. His resurrection from the dead is mine right now in a spiritual sense. One day it will be mine in a physical sense. Communion (Passover) reminds me of that.
Since then He has led me through life. I am now 54 and soon to be 55. In the good times He has been like a pillar of cloud on the horizon leading me on in the direction that I should go. In the bad times He has been like a pillar of fire next to me giving me warmth and protection from the predators who seek my demise. I need nothing or no one else. He is all sufficient for me. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 8:1-21
I still remember my first experience at mass feeding of people. It was Explo '72 in Market Hall in Dallas, TX. There were 5,000 of us high school students there, and they had 1 hour to serve and feed us all. It was amazing. They had several lines going by a lot of tables. We held our plates out and almost literally ran by servers as they almost threw the food on our plates. The amount of planning and organization that must have gone into planning each meal must have been incredible. Of course as high school students we grumbled and complained about the amount of time we had to wait and the quality of food we received. But having experienced other mass feedings since then, I am now impressed with what they pulled off. But this pales in comparison to what Jesus did with the 4,000 in this passage. After all, the servers at market hall were doing this for a living. They had had weeks to plan and a large staff to carry it off. Not to mention, they had purchased the required food stuffs before hand.
Jesus was different. He manufactured the food from 7 loaves and a few fish. He directed the organization so that some gave to some who in turn gave to some so that it was exponentially distributed. (Indeed it is a lesson to be learned about the distribution of the Gospel.) Why did He do this? He did it because He had compassion upon the multitudes. Now that is glory! Remember this is a Gentile multitude. Usually we look at this miracle and say, "Wow! He can multiply loaves and fish to feed 4,000! That is glory!" But I submit to you that the glory is not the multiplication. The glory is the compassion!
Mark says He left immediately across the Sea of Galilee to Dalmanutha or Magdala on the western shore, Jewish territory. I am sure word of His experiences preceded Him as He traveled. Mark used a very important little word, 'then.' Then the Pharisees came. . .disputing and seeking a sign. EXCUSE me! A sign? What more can you ask? The sick are healed! The dead have been raised! The demon possessed are set free! The hungry are fed! What was it you wanted? Why couldn't they believe? He had compassion on sinners! It did not fit their paradigm of the Messiah. The Messiah was supposed to rule the Gentiles with a rod of iron, not have compassion on these, these, these sinners! He was serving sinners not ruling over saints! The sign they wanted would never be given. And Jesus has a word of warning for His disciples, "Beware the leaven of the Pharisees!"
The problem with the disciples is that they were only a little bit quicker mentally than I am. They didn't get it. Alright! Whose turn was it to buy the bread? Someone dropped the ball again! Judas, get out of the boat and go buy some bread. When Jesus is really saying, "Guys, don't you get it? It is not a matter of bread. I can provide anything you need. It is a matter of compassion for sinners. The leaven of the Pharisees took that away from them." I am constantly falling into the trap of thinking my acceptance before the Holy God is dependant upon my obedience or someone else's acceptance is dependant upon their obedience. The reality is He is compassionate toward us, if we will come to Him. Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
I was eight and one half years old. Obviously, no eight-year-old is a hardened criminal. But I had sinned. Even at eight, I had not made a physical idol, but there were other things that were more important to me than worshipping the Almighty Creator. I had taken the Lord’s name, that name which is more precious than any other, in vain. I had heard others at school do it, and I thought it was cool. Resting in the Lord was a foreign concept to me. There had been times when I had disobeyed and therefore dishonored my parents. Physical murder I had not committed, but there were people that I had hated. Adultery, at eight I was not interested in that yet. Stealing? Well, I had stolen a nickel from off of my dad’s chest of drawers once. There are probably other things that I stole that I don't remember now. Bearing false witness? On many occasions I had misrepresented the truth (lied). Coveting? There were many things that were not mine that I often desired to have. Even at eight sin had a hold on me. I was in bondage to sin. But with a strong hand the Lord delivered me out of bondage. Every time I celebrate communion (which is a form of the Passover meal) I am reminded of how He delivered me. Even at eight I was a slave to sin. He redeemed me, set me free. How did he do it? He did it with His broken body and His shed blood. That is the glory of my Lord. He would take His own demise and apply it in my place. His demise was mine. My demise became His. His resurrection from the dead is mine right now in a spiritual sense. One day it will be mine in a physical sense. Communion (Passover) reminds me of that.
Since then He has led me through life. I am now 54 and soon to be 55. In the good times He has been like a pillar of cloud on the horizon leading me on in the direction that I should go. In the bad times He has been like a pillar of fire next to me giving me warmth and protection from the predators who seek my demise. I need nothing or no one else. He is all sufficient for me. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 8:1-21
I still remember my first experience at mass feeding of people. It was Explo '72 in Market Hall in Dallas, TX. There were 5,000 of us high school students there, and they had 1 hour to serve and feed us all. It was amazing. They had several lines going by a lot of tables. We held our plates out and almost literally ran by servers as they almost threw the food on our plates. The amount of planning and organization that must have gone into planning each meal must have been incredible. Of course as high school students we grumbled and complained about the amount of time we had to wait and the quality of food we received. But having experienced other mass feedings since then, I am now impressed with what they pulled off. But this pales in comparison to what Jesus did with the 4,000 in this passage. After all, the servers at market hall were doing this for a living. They had had weeks to plan and a large staff to carry it off. Not to mention, they had purchased the required food stuffs before hand.
Jesus was different. He manufactured the food from 7 loaves and a few fish. He directed the organization so that some gave to some who in turn gave to some so that it was exponentially distributed. (Indeed it is a lesson to be learned about the distribution of the Gospel.) Why did He do this? He did it because He had compassion upon the multitudes. Now that is glory! Remember this is a Gentile multitude. Usually we look at this miracle and say, "Wow! He can multiply loaves and fish to feed 4,000! That is glory!" But I submit to you that the glory is not the multiplication. The glory is the compassion!
Mark says He left immediately across the Sea of Galilee to Dalmanutha or Magdala on the western shore, Jewish territory. I am sure word of His experiences preceded Him as He traveled. Mark used a very important little word, 'then.' Then the Pharisees came. . .disputing and seeking a sign. EXCUSE me! A sign? What more can you ask? The sick are healed! The dead have been raised! The demon possessed are set free! The hungry are fed! What was it you wanted? Why couldn't they believe? He had compassion on sinners! It did not fit their paradigm of the Messiah. The Messiah was supposed to rule the Gentiles with a rod of iron, not have compassion on these, these, these sinners! He was serving sinners not ruling over saints! The sign they wanted would never be given. And Jesus has a word of warning for His disciples, "Beware the leaven of the Pharisees!"
The problem with the disciples is that they were only a little bit quicker mentally than I am. They didn't get it. Alright! Whose turn was it to buy the bread? Someone dropped the ball again! Judas, get out of the boat and go buy some bread. When Jesus is really saying, "Guys, don't you get it? It is not a matter of bread. I can provide anything you need. It is a matter of compassion for sinners. The leaven of the Pharisees took that away from them." I am constantly falling into the trap of thinking my acceptance before the Holy God is dependant upon my obedience or someone else's acceptance is dependant upon their obedience. The reality is He is compassionate toward us, if we will come to Him. Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Monday, March 1, 2010
March 1, 2010
Exodus 11-12
There was one last god to slay. It was the god of self-worship. The firstborn male of every household would die. There was only one remedy. Only if a perfect and innocent lamb was slain, and his blood applied to the door of the house, only then would the firstborn be saved. When the blood was applied, the death angel would see it and pass over the household. The Lord had more than this one incident in mind. He was broadcasting for every generation for the next 1,450 years what He was planning to do for the human race. He would supply the Lamb whose death would be accepted for all who would come “under” the blood of the Lamb. We, who had made our own lives gods instead of submitting to the true God, would have opportunity to receive pardon and life! What a picture! What grace! What Glory!
For 3,450 years Jewish people have celebrated Passover. I know of no other ritual that has endured for so long. Why has it endured? It has endured because it speaks of the glory of God in how He has and He will deliver His people from their sin. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 7:24-37
Something in me likes tunnels. On the way through the Smokies on I-40, there are a couple of tunnels. It is amazing to me to think, "Wow, I am inside a mountain. Somebody dug all this rock out so that people like me could drive through the inside of this mountain." Why I like it, I don't know. I mean, there is nothing to see in a tunnel, just walls and lights. There is just something cool about driving through the inside of a mountain or driving under the bay on I-95 in Baltimore. There is just something cool about driving in a tunnel knowing that you are far underneath the ground and that this is the closest way to get from one point to another. But there is nothing to see in the tunnel, just car lanes, round walls and lights. It is where we get the term tunnel vision.
The people around Jesus suffered from tunnel vision. Their tunnel vision caused them to exclude the Gentiles. Jesus designed an excursion to show them their tunnel vision. He purposefully entered the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile region. He was approached by a Gentile woman who pleaded with Him to deliver her daughter. He almost seemed cruel toward her. He ignored her at first and then, when she persisted, He implied that her daughter was a little dog. What kind of glory is that? It is not glory when you have tunnel vision. But our Lord does not have tunnel vision! He sees the big picture. However, His first coming had specific objectives in mind that He saw and His disciples did not. With those objectives fulfilled, He could redeem mankind. Oh the disciples thought they saw them, but they did not. This action was for His disciples. He sought to break them out of their tunnel vision. Matthew's version tells us that the disciples were annoyed by her. But Jesus wasn't annoyed.
After delivering this woman's daughter, He left the region. It is again reminiscent of the Gadarean demoniac. He traveled all this way in order to reach just one person, a non-Jew at that. Jesus had told her (as recorded in Matthew), "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." That was one of the objectives of the first coming. But the disciples were tunnel visioned. They only saw the people of Israel. Even after the resurrection, it took a persecution to drive them out of the country. And then it took the dramatic vision of Peter and the conversion of Paul to reach out of the Jewish communities outside of the country. His apparent rudeness was for dramatic effect--upon the disciples. It was to break the curved walls and lanes of their tunnel vision.
The woman persisted. She even permitted herself to be compared to a little dog under the family table to receive crumbs that accidentally fall off of the table. You see healing is for the family of God. The disciples tunnel vision was that only the descendants of Abraham could be part of the family. Yes Jesus was sent to the lost house of Israel. But ultimately the big picture was for people of all ethnic groups to eventually sit at the table of the Family of God. He gave her the children's bread. He healed her daughter. She became part of the family. Jesus was breaking the disciple's tunnel vision.
He left the northwest in the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon and went back south east to the Gentile region of the Decapolis. Do you remember the Gadarean demoniac? This is the region. Jesus had left the former demoniac behind to tell what great things the Lord had done for him. The former demoniac did his job. The multitudes came. Jesus is ministering to Gentiles!!! The tunnel is collapsing. Thank God, for I am a Gentile by physical birth but grafted into the family of God spiritually! When we finally gather around the throne of Glory, there will be people from every tribe and tongue and nation there worshipping Him, the King of glory. The variety of people found in that multitude will be rich indeed. We won't be limited to our little way of doing things. His glory will be enriched by the variety of ethnic groups present at the throne. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
There was one last god to slay. It was the god of self-worship. The firstborn male of every household would die. There was only one remedy. Only if a perfect and innocent lamb was slain, and his blood applied to the door of the house, only then would the firstborn be saved. When the blood was applied, the death angel would see it and pass over the household. The Lord had more than this one incident in mind. He was broadcasting for every generation for the next 1,450 years what He was planning to do for the human race. He would supply the Lamb whose death would be accepted for all who would come “under” the blood of the Lamb. We, who had made our own lives gods instead of submitting to the true God, would have opportunity to receive pardon and life! What a picture! What grace! What Glory!
For 3,450 years Jewish people have celebrated Passover. I know of no other ritual that has endured for so long. Why has it endured? It has endured because it speaks of the glory of God in how He has and He will deliver His people from their sin. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Mark 7:24-37
Something in me likes tunnels. On the way through the Smokies on I-40, there are a couple of tunnels. It is amazing to me to think, "Wow, I am inside a mountain. Somebody dug all this rock out so that people like me could drive through the inside of this mountain." Why I like it, I don't know. I mean, there is nothing to see in a tunnel, just walls and lights. There is just something cool about driving through the inside of a mountain or driving under the bay on I-95 in Baltimore. There is just something cool about driving in a tunnel knowing that you are far underneath the ground and that this is the closest way to get from one point to another. But there is nothing to see in the tunnel, just car lanes, round walls and lights. It is where we get the term tunnel vision.
The people around Jesus suffered from tunnel vision. Their tunnel vision caused them to exclude the Gentiles. Jesus designed an excursion to show them their tunnel vision. He purposefully entered the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile region. He was approached by a Gentile woman who pleaded with Him to deliver her daughter. He almost seemed cruel toward her. He ignored her at first and then, when she persisted, He implied that her daughter was a little dog. What kind of glory is that? It is not glory when you have tunnel vision. But our Lord does not have tunnel vision! He sees the big picture. However, His first coming had specific objectives in mind that He saw and His disciples did not. With those objectives fulfilled, He could redeem mankind. Oh the disciples thought they saw them, but they did not. This action was for His disciples. He sought to break them out of their tunnel vision. Matthew's version tells us that the disciples were annoyed by her. But Jesus wasn't annoyed.
After delivering this woman's daughter, He left the region. It is again reminiscent of the Gadarean demoniac. He traveled all this way in order to reach just one person, a non-Jew at that. Jesus had told her (as recorded in Matthew), "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." That was one of the objectives of the first coming. But the disciples were tunnel visioned. They only saw the people of Israel. Even after the resurrection, it took a persecution to drive them out of the country. And then it took the dramatic vision of Peter and the conversion of Paul to reach out of the Jewish communities outside of the country. His apparent rudeness was for dramatic effect--upon the disciples. It was to break the curved walls and lanes of their tunnel vision.
The woman persisted. She even permitted herself to be compared to a little dog under the family table to receive crumbs that accidentally fall off of the table. You see healing is for the family of God. The disciples tunnel vision was that only the descendants of Abraham could be part of the family. Yes Jesus was sent to the lost house of Israel. But ultimately the big picture was for people of all ethnic groups to eventually sit at the table of the Family of God. He gave her the children's bread. He healed her daughter. She became part of the family. Jesus was breaking the disciple's tunnel vision.
He left the northwest in the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon and went back south east to the Gentile region of the Decapolis. Do you remember the Gadarean demoniac? This is the region. Jesus had left the former demoniac behind to tell what great things the Lord had done for him. The former demoniac did his job. The multitudes came. Jesus is ministering to Gentiles!!! The tunnel is collapsing. Thank God, for I am a Gentile by physical birth but grafted into the family of God spiritually! When we finally gather around the throne of Glory, there will be people from every tribe and tongue and nation there worshipping Him, the King of glory. The variety of people found in that multitude will be rich indeed. We won't be limited to our little way of doing things. His glory will be enriched by the variety of ethnic groups present at the throne. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
February 28, 2010
Mark 6:30-56
In the summer of '75 I was in Mombassa on a project with Campus Crusade for Christ Int. Our hotel was on the beach about 18 K and a ferry ride from the city. We went in to the city on a Saturday for some sight seeing and street witnessing. We met a group of guys waiting for a bus to take them to a soccer game. They were a semi-pro team. We shared the gospel with them. The keeper prayed to receive Christ with us. Two staff members and I decided to go watch him play his game. We told the other people to tell the driver of our ride to pick us up at the soccer stadium. We watched the first half of the game and then went out to wait for our ride home. It never showed up.
When the game finished it was getting late, we thought we had better find a phone and find out what happened. We walked to a bar and used the pay phone to call the hotel. We found out that the driver had no clue where the soccer stadium was, so he went back to the motel to await a call from us. We were then told that we had to find our own way to the ferry where we would get our ride. We walked to the bus stop and caught the next bus to downtown Mombassa. There we ran into another problem. We had no clue as to which bus to take to the ferry. As we were standing there discussing our problem, a man standing next to us was eavesdropping on our conversation, as he wanted a chance to practice his English. This was good in as much as the only language we spoke was English, and we did not know how to ask anyone else for directions. The man said, "No problem! I am going to the ferry. You just follow me."
On the bus one of the CCC staff members shared the gospel with him and he prayed to receive Christ! What a privilege! We had seen another person receive Christ as a result of our need! We had also seen Jesus provide for us as a result of our need! He showed us His glory by showing us He could communicate for us even when we did not know the language. At the place of our need He showed us His glory!
Jesus has some unusual ways to show His glory to us. He seems to delight in putting us in situations where we are forced to see our need, our lack. The disciples had enjoyed a great time of ministry. They were surely exhausted. They had received word that John the Baptist had been beheaded. Now was a good time for a retreat. A little R&R would do them all good. They jumped in a boat and thought about heading for a deserted place. Ah but the multitudes wanted more! They all jumped in boats too. Jesus had compassion upon them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. They got out, and Jesus taught them
I think I can hear the disciple's thoughts, "But I thought it was R&R time. Weren't we going camping? Oh no, here He goes again." Then when the day was about done, He turns to them and says, "You give them something to eat." Now checking their wallets, they know they don't have enough money and nobody takes American Express here. "Jesus, we're tired, and we are broke, and all that we can come up with is 5 loaves and two fish." Jesus has them all sit down, and He uses the 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed them all. When they were broke, He showed them His glory.
Okay, we can send them home now. Let's go camping! Jesus tells them to go on ahead to the other side of the Sea while He sends the multitude away. No sooner than when they were just on the edge of the horizon, a storm came up. They could make no headway against the wind. They had been ministering long and hard and now had no strength to fight the storm. In the midst of prayer, Jesus sees them from the mountain where He was praying. He goes to them, walking on the water. He came to the boat, and the wind ceased. "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." (It is interesting that Mark wrote under Peter's tutelage, and Mark does not include Peter's walking on the water here.) When the King of glory is with you, and your focus is upon Him, there is no need to be afraid. Often times He is about to break loose and show you His glory!
Are you afraid? Then one of two things is happening: either the Lord of glory is not with you or your focus is in the wrong place. As we make disciples, He promised to be with us always. We either are not making disciples, or our focus is wrong. He uses our need to show us His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Mark 7:1-23
We'd just had a great rainstorm and the water was running down the street in front of our house. It was just too tempting not to play in. Yes, I gave in to the temptation. Soon the run off was gone. I needed more water. Well, Hey! We had a garden hose. I was experimenting in making mighty dams to create lakes to build great hydro-electric power plants. It was great fun. Well it just so happened that when I was done that I wasn't what you might call, clean. I was literally covered from head to foot with mud. I honestly considered washing my clothes myself before she found out, but I wasn't sure of how to operate the washing machine. So I washed myself off with the garden hose, then went inside and took a bath and then presented my clothes to the dirty clothes pile.
My poor Mom! I was kind of expecting to be lectured. But I don't remember receiving one. Being the last of 5 children, 4 boys, maybe she had given up on keeping us clean from ourselves. Or maybe I was hopeless. Or maybe, she knew the nature of a boy and chose in this case to forgive me. If I were to ask her now, she probably wouldn't remember this particular incident, because the incidents were probably too numerous for just one to stand out.
What about our Lord? Our filthiness is beyond description before a holy God. Yes, He lets us know about our sin. But when there is recognition before Him that we are in a sinful state, He cleanses us. What causes the Lord the most pain is when we have the audacity to think that we can clean ourselves. Then the stench is just too great.
We tend to think that by doing certain things that the Lord will love us more, that we will be cleaner. I wonder, if I was able to do what it takes to make Cape Fear Alliance Church a church of a thousand people, would He love me any more than He does right now? I wonder, if I did what it takes to make Cape Fear Alliance Church a church of a thousand people and told other pastors, "If you do what I did, your church will grow too," would God love me more than He does now?
The glory of Christ is not that we clean up our act. The glory of Christ is that He cleans us from the inside out. The result is that acts seen on the outside spring up from His work on the inside. Our tendency is that we perform the acts outwardly in order to deceive people and ourselves. The truth is only He can clean the inside. Only He knows how to operate the spiritual washing machine for our hearts. Even more He loves to do it, if we will come to Him with heart in hand extended before Him saying, "Purify my heart." Oh Lord, do it again. I love You. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
In the summer of '75 I was in Mombassa on a project with Campus Crusade for Christ Int. Our hotel was on the beach about 18 K and a ferry ride from the city. We went in to the city on a Saturday for some sight seeing and street witnessing. We met a group of guys waiting for a bus to take them to a soccer game. They were a semi-pro team. We shared the gospel with them. The keeper prayed to receive Christ with us. Two staff members and I decided to go watch him play his game. We told the other people to tell the driver of our ride to pick us up at the soccer stadium. We watched the first half of the game and then went out to wait for our ride home. It never showed up.
When the game finished it was getting late, we thought we had better find a phone and find out what happened. We walked to a bar and used the pay phone to call the hotel. We found out that the driver had no clue where the soccer stadium was, so he went back to the motel to await a call from us. We were then told that we had to find our own way to the ferry where we would get our ride. We walked to the bus stop and caught the next bus to downtown Mombassa. There we ran into another problem. We had no clue as to which bus to take to the ferry. As we were standing there discussing our problem, a man standing next to us was eavesdropping on our conversation, as he wanted a chance to practice his English. This was good in as much as the only language we spoke was English, and we did not know how to ask anyone else for directions. The man said, "No problem! I am going to the ferry. You just follow me."
On the bus one of the CCC staff members shared the gospel with him and he prayed to receive Christ! What a privilege! We had seen another person receive Christ as a result of our need! We had also seen Jesus provide for us as a result of our need! He showed us His glory by showing us He could communicate for us even when we did not know the language. At the place of our need He showed us His glory!
Jesus has some unusual ways to show His glory to us. He seems to delight in putting us in situations where we are forced to see our need, our lack. The disciples had enjoyed a great time of ministry. They were surely exhausted. They had received word that John the Baptist had been beheaded. Now was a good time for a retreat. A little R&R would do them all good. They jumped in a boat and thought about heading for a deserted place. Ah but the multitudes wanted more! They all jumped in boats too. Jesus had compassion upon them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. They got out, and Jesus taught them
I think I can hear the disciple's thoughts, "But I thought it was R&R time. Weren't we going camping? Oh no, here He goes again." Then when the day was about done, He turns to them and says, "You give them something to eat." Now checking their wallets, they know they don't have enough money and nobody takes American Express here. "Jesus, we're tired, and we are broke, and all that we can come up with is 5 loaves and two fish." Jesus has them all sit down, and He uses the 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed them all. When they were broke, He showed them His glory.
Okay, we can send them home now. Let's go camping! Jesus tells them to go on ahead to the other side of the Sea while He sends the multitude away. No sooner than when they were just on the edge of the horizon, a storm came up. They could make no headway against the wind. They had been ministering long and hard and now had no strength to fight the storm. In the midst of prayer, Jesus sees them from the mountain where He was praying. He goes to them, walking on the water. He came to the boat, and the wind ceased. "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." (It is interesting that Mark wrote under Peter's tutelage, and Mark does not include Peter's walking on the water here.) When the King of glory is with you, and your focus is upon Him, there is no need to be afraid. Often times He is about to break loose and show you His glory!
Are you afraid? Then one of two things is happening: either the Lord of glory is not with you or your focus is in the wrong place. As we make disciples, He promised to be with us always. We either are not making disciples, or our focus is wrong. He uses our need to show us His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Mark 7:1-23
We'd just had a great rainstorm and the water was running down the street in front of our house. It was just too tempting not to play in. Yes, I gave in to the temptation. Soon the run off was gone. I needed more water. Well, Hey! We had a garden hose. I was experimenting in making mighty dams to create lakes to build great hydro-electric power plants. It was great fun. Well it just so happened that when I was done that I wasn't what you might call, clean. I was literally covered from head to foot with mud. I honestly considered washing my clothes myself before she found out, but I wasn't sure of how to operate the washing machine. So I washed myself off with the garden hose, then went inside and took a bath and then presented my clothes to the dirty clothes pile.
My poor Mom! I was kind of expecting to be lectured. But I don't remember receiving one. Being the last of 5 children, 4 boys, maybe she had given up on keeping us clean from ourselves. Or maybe I was hopeless. Or maybe, she knew the nature of a boy and chose in this case to forgive me. If I were to ask her now, she probably wouldn't remember this particular incident, because the incidents were probably too numerous for just one to stand out.
What about our Lord? Our filthiness is beyond description before a holy God. Yes, He lets us know about our sin. But when there is recognition before Him that we are in a sinful state, He cleanses us. What causes the Lord the most pain is when we have the audacity to think that we can clean ourselves. Then the stench is just too great.
We tend to think that by doing certain things that the Lord will love us more, that we will be cleaner. I wonder, if I was able to do what it takes to make Cape Fear Alliance Church a church of a thousand people, would He love me any more than He does right now? I wonder, if I did what it takes to make Cape Fear Alliance Church a church of a thousand people and told other pastors, "If you do what I did, your church will grow too," would God love me more than He does now?
The glory of Christ is not that we clean up our act. The glory of Christ is that He cleans us from the inside out. The result is that acts seen on the outside spring up from His work on the inside. Our tendency is that we perform the acts outwardly in order to deceive people and ourselves. The truth is only He can clean the inside. Only He knows how to operate the spiritual washing machine for our hearts. Even more He loves to do it, if we will come to Him with heart in hand extended before Him saying, "Purify my heart." Oh Lord, do it again. I love You. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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