Leviticus 16
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is a great picture of the atonement that Jesus has accomplished upon our behalf! The Passover & feast of unleavened bread are a great picture of the Jesus as the Lamb of God sacrificed and raised on our behalf. The Day of Atonement is a great picture of the Lord Jesus as our High Priest as He takes away our sin. At the beginning of the day the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of a bullock to make atonement for Himself. Then he would go perform the ritual of the two goats. One He would slay and burn one goat representing the penalty of sin being carried out upon the sin of the people. He would enter the Holy of Holies a second time sprinkling the blood of the goat upon the mercy for a covering of sin for the people. He would take a second goat and lay his hands upon it. This represented the transference of the sins of the people to the goat. The goat would then be driven away into the wilderness. This indicated the carrying of the sins far away from the people.
This is what Jesus has done for us. He offered Himself on the cross paying the death penalty for us. He offered His own blood in the heavenly temple to gain mercy for us. Our sins were transferred to Him upon the cross. He died carrying our sins into the grave. He rose again divesting Himself of all our sins. He forever removed them from us by rising from the dead. He did this because He loved the Father and He loved us. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Luke 11:29-54
"God show me a sign!" Have you ever said that? Sometimes I wish God would send me a certified letter about what He wants me to do. Come to think of it, He already has!! It's called the Bible and He sealed the letter in my life with His Holy Spirit. The generation in Jesus' day was seeking a sign. Hmmm, somehow healing the sick, the lame, the blind, the deaf, the mute, the leper, multiplying the loaves and fishes, delivering the demonized and raising the dead was not good enough. Hmmm, some people just are not reasonable. But before He laid into these unreasonable people, Jesus did condescend to give them one bit of information. He would give them one sign and one sign only, the sign of Jonah. What is that? Jonah died in the belly of the great fish and was resurrected in order to go preach repentance to the Ninevites. The Ninevites were the wickedest people on the face of the earth in Jonah's generation. They repented at his preaching.
What is the sign? It is first of all the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the bedrock of the Christian faith. Jesus is not just a good teacher, although, He was that. Jesus is not just a great man with good ideas, although, He was that also. Jesus is not just a man who greatly influenced the history of the whole earth, although, He did that. Jesus is the only man who has been raised from the dead, never to die again! Now that is a sign! If we can know anything about facts at all from history, this we know: Jesus was crucified and within three days his tomb was empty and his disciples 50 days after the resurrection were declaring Him to be risen from the dead and the enemies of Jesus had absolutely no legitimate explanation for the empty tomb. The only reasonable explanation is that He was alive again. If Jesus did not rise physically from the dead, then there is absolutely no validity to the Christian faith.
His resurrection makes repentance possible. Refusal to believe in the resurrection precludes the possibility of repentance. Without belief one remains under the judgment of God. Jesus pronounces woe upon those who do not believe because He knows that they will be judged and will take others with them into that judgment.
Do you want to see the glory of Jesus? Look no further than the resurrection. He took a body that was totally decimated by the ravages of sin and death and raised it to perfection and holiness. The only imperfection in His body would be the scars in His hands, feet and side in order to forever remind us of the awful price that He paid to redeem our lives. His resurrection means that no matter how decimated our life might be by the ravages of sin, He can and will raise us to new life, if we will but repent and believe. What HOPE! What promise! What glory! But woe to those who will not trust! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Monday, April 12, 2010
April 11, 2010
Leviticus 15
Luke 11:1-28
During off-season football in high school, we were put into weight training. In the early years I was quite weak and couldn't lift anything that would impress anyone. But with persistence late in my Junior year and at the beginning of my Senior year, I was capable of benching 240 lbs. Now compared to the average power lifter who competes, that isn't much. However, compared to the person who doesn't compete, its not too shabby. It was certainly far more than I ever thought I would be able to do. I probably couldn't do 130 now. But it took persistence.
Part of the glory of Jesus is that He accomplished mighty feats in His days. That which He accomplished He accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit. With the finger of God, He cast out demons. By the Spirit of God, He entered Satan's house, bound him, took captive a host of captives, and set them free.
Jesus still accomplishes mighty feats through us. He said that greater things than He did, we would do because He was going to the Father. One reason that He was going to the Father was to send the Holy Spirit to live in us. Today's passage is that classic passage of "ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." He precedes it with the man who received help from his neighbor at midnight because he asked persistently. How does He end it? "How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
This same Spirit who resided in Jesus, by Whom He did His works of power, now resides in us. We too with the finger of God can cast out demons. The Kingdom of God has come upon us--now but not yet! That is part of His glory! He has bound the strong man. We may spoil his goods--by the Spirit. But we must ask and at times-with persistence. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Luke 11:1-28
During off-season football in high school, we were put into weight training. In the early years I was quite weak and couldn't lift anything that would impress anyone. But with persistence late in my Junior year and at the beginning of my Senior year, I was capable of benching 240 lbs. Now compared to the average power lifter who competes, that isn't much. However, compared to the person who doesn't compete, its not too shabby. It was certainly far more than I ever thought I would be able to do. I probably couldn't do 130 now. But it took persistence.
Part of the glory of Jesus is that He accomplished mighty feats in His days. That which He accomplished He accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit. With the finger of God, He cast out demons. By the Spirit of God, He entered Satan's house, bound him, took captive a host of captives, and set them free.
Jesus still accomplishes mighty feats through us. He said that greater things than He did, we would do because He was going to the Father. One reason that He was going to the Father was to send the Holy Spirit to live in us. Today's passage is that classic passage of "ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." He precedes it with the man who received help from his neighbor at midnight because he asked persistently. How does He end it? "How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
This same Spirit who resided in Jesus, by Whom He did His works of power, now resides in us. We too with the finger of God can cast out demons. The Kingdom of God has come upon us--now but not yet! That is part of His glory! He has bound the strong man. We may spoil his goods--by the Spirit. But we must ask and at times-with persistence. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
April 10, 2010
Leviticus 14
Luke 10:25-42
I’ve met people who have at one time been great servants of the Lord whose faith somewhere along the line found shipwreck. I’ve heard testimonies before of people who had loved ones murdered. The Lord showed His glory to those people in such a way that they were eventually able to go to the murderer in prison and take the gospel to them. Forgiveness fell like lightning. Now there is glory for you!
It is the glory of God to change us from a people who hated Him and murdered His Son to a people who love Him. It is the glory of God to change us from a people who have enemies to a people who love our enemies. Some how I think that change only comes from dwelling on the glory of God. What would cause a Samaritan, one deeply hated by the Jews to risk his life to save a Jew, one of those who hated him? What would cause him to take from his own income to provide healing for a man whom he had never met. Surely that can only come from spending time thinking upon the greatness of God and out of that mindset grew a compassion for people in need.
On the heels of that story comes the story of Mary & Martha. Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word. This bothered Martha who was busy meeting the needs of the group. It was noble that she was concerned about meeting needs, but there is also a time when we need to sit and gaze upon the glory of Jesus. It is out of that understanding and experiencing His glory that comes the power to truly serve others. That is why it cannot be taken away. Deep inside there is always that shining of the glory of Christ that gives strength to keep on giving. It is His glory that motivates us in the hard times. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Luke 10:25-42
I’ve met people who have at one time been great servants of the Lord whose faith somewhere along the line found shipwreck. I’ve heard testimonies before of people who had loved ones murdered. The Lord showed His glory to those people in such a way that they were eventually able to go to the murderer in prison and take the gospel to them. Forgiveness fell like lightning. Now there is glory for you!
It is the glory of God to change us from a people who hated Him and murdered His Son to a people who love Him. It is the glory of God to change us from a people who have enemies to a people who love our enemies. Some how I think that change only comes from dwelling on the glory of God. What would cause a Samaritan, one deeply hated by the Jews to risk his life to save a Jew, one of those who hated him? What would cause him to take from his own income to provide healing for a man whom he had never met. Surely that can only come from spending time thinking upon the greatness of God and out of that mindset grew a compassion for people in need.
On the heels of that story comes the story of Mary & Martha. Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word. This bothered Martha who was busy meeting the needs of the group. It was noble that she was concerned about meeting needs, but there is also a time when we need to sit and gaze upon the glory of Jesus. It is out of that understanding and experiencing His glory that comes the power to truly serve others. That is why it cannot be taken away. Deep inside there is always that shining of the glory of Christ that gives strength to keep on giving. It is His glory that motivates us in the hard times. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
April 9, 2010
Leviticus 13
Luke 10:1-24
Growing up in Oklahoma, I experienced numerous electrical storms. I’ve lived in Oregon, North Carolina and three months in New Jersey. I’ve never lived anywhere that has such violent displays of electrical power such as in Ok. I love them. There is something about the atmosphere during those storms that is simply exhilarating! One night in the fall of ’94 my family and I sat on our porch in Norman and watched the lightning for almost half-an hour. The sky was constantly filled with streaks and sheets of lightning as it struck and shimmered throughout the whole sky. It was a beautiful display of power, a light show unequaled by any human-produced light show. The glory of Jesus is greater than lightning.
Jesus had chosen the 12 that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to deliver those in bondage, to heal the sick and to preach the presence of the Kingdom of God. Satan had ruled the world since the fall of Adam and Eve. Jesus came to reclaim His kingdom to destroy the works of the Evil One. Each of the 12 had ministered to others so that now they had 70 workers to accomplish another similar mission. (Now that’s multiplication in discipleship! Each of the 12 must have reached 4-5 others!) Jesus sent them out. Their mission was numerically, hugely successful. As they returned, they were overwhelmed with excitement as to what they had seen Jesus do through them. The demons had fled in Jesus’ name.
Jesus remarked on their return, “I saw Satan fall like lightning form heaven. Behold I give you authority. . .“ What an awesome thing that Jesus gives His authority to His servants to uproot the kingdom of darkness with power like that of lightning! It is a beautiful thing to see people set free from the bonds of the enemy of our souls. Jesus gives us the authority to do that! But then He gives a word of warning, “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” I like seeing people set free. It is better than sitting on the porch in the evening and watching a violent electrical storm. It is like seeing lightning fall from heaven destroying the works of the enemy and creating new life in people. What an awesome display of power!
But Jesus’ warning implies that the greatest glory, the greatest power is displayed when we see Him work in our lives when He breaks the penalty and power of sin in our own lives enabling our names to be written in the book of Life in heaven. Thank you Lord for what You have done in me and enrolling me in the membership of the redeemed in heaven. Indeed Your glory is great! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Luke 10:1-24
Growing up in Oklahoma, I experienced numerous electrical storms. I’ve lived in Oregon, North Carolina and three months in New Jersey. I’ve never lived anywhere that has such violent displays of electrical power such as in Ok. I love them. There is something about the atmosphere during those storms that is simply exhilarating! One night in the fall of ’94 my family and I sat on our porch in Norman and watched the lightning for almost half-an hour. The sky was constantly filled with streaks and sheets of lightning as it struck and shimmered throughout the whole sky. It was a beautiful display of power, a light show unequaled by any human-produced light show. The glory of Jesus is greater than lightning.
Jesus had chosen the 12 that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to deliver those in bondage, to heal the sick and to preach the presence of the Kingdom of God. Satan had ruled the world since the fall of Adam and Eve. Jesus came to reclaim His kingdom to destroy the works of the Evil One. Each of the 12 had ministered to others so that now they had 70 workers to accomplish another similar mission. (Now that’s multiplication in discipleship! Each of the 12 must have reached 4-5 others!) Jesus sent them out. Their mission was numerically, hugely successful. As they returned, they were overwhelmed with excitement as to what they had seen Jesus do through them. The demons had fled in Jesus’ name.
Jesus remarked on their return, “I saw Satan fall like lightning form heaven. Behold I give you authority. . .“ What an awesome thing that Jesus gives His authority to His servants to uproot the kingdom of darkness with power like that of lightning! It is a beautiful thing to see people set free from the bonds of the enemy of our souls. Jesus gives us the authority to do that! But then He gives a word of warning, “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” I like seeing people set free. It is better than sitting on the porch in the evening and watching a violent electrical storm. It is like seeing lightning fall from heaven destroying the works of the enemy and creating new life in people. What an awesome display of power!
But Jesus’ warning implies that the greatest glory, the greatest power is displayed when we see Him work in our lives when He breaks the penalty and power of sin in our own lives enabling our names to be written in the book of Life in heaven. Thank you Lord for what You have done in me and enrolling me in the membership of the redeemed in heaven. Indeed Your glory is great! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Thursday, April 8, 2010
April 8, 2010
Leviticus 11,12
My father-in-law was a POW in Stalag 17b during WII. He said of their meals in the camp, “They gave us frozen rutabaga soup with maggots on top, and a little bread. One time they gave us German sausage, but I didn’t eat it because it had human teeth in it. Some guys would catch rats and eat them, but I didn’t.” The last few weeks of his POW experience involved a 281 mile forced march, with very little to eat. The last day as a prisoner they noticed a friendly tank. It dawned upon them that they were liberated. Soon, they were able to eat a nourishing meal.
Why is God concerned about what we eat, whether we touch dead animals, or the flow of blood from our bodies? Wouldn’t the Creator of the universe have more important things to worry about? We learn in the New Testament that the dietary laws have been lifted. If they were so important that the Creator of the Universe included them in the laws that He was giving to His people, then why did He revoke them? Does God really care that much about what we eat? Hmmmm. . . Jesus said that the Father knew the number of hairs on our heads. If He cares enough to know the number of hairs on our heads, then He probably cares about what we eat.
What is there about these dietary restrictions that is significant? Clearly He makes the point that our eating is to reflect His holiness. He wants His people to be different in health as well as in moral purity. It is interesting to note that in some of the areas of the world and different times in history that Jewish people have consistently outlived their Gentile neighbors because they ate a healthier diet. The marked difference at times was so great that it caused problems:
Was God’s concern more than just health? Yes, but it did include health. Was it more than being a separate people? Yes, but it did include being a separate people. Then why did He raise the restrictions? He raised them because there are ways of addressing health issues other than total abstinence of certain foods. He raised them because there are other ways of having His people be different than observing dietary restrictions. The bottom line is this: “45‘For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” We were prisoners of war. He liberated us and adopted us. He no longer wants us to eat like POWs. Or live like POWs. He wants us to be like Him. He wants us to be holy. He wants us to share in His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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[1]McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. Le 11:1
Luke 9:37-62
How much would you pay for. . . When Laura and I first married, we operated our household budget on a cash only basis. There were a lot of things we wanted that we could not get because we didn't have enough money. "Someday, when we have money. . . " became a joke between us. One particularly brutally hot summer, we wanted an air conditioner (our house had no AC). We read in the classifieds that one of the fraternities was having a yard sale. Among the items for sale were all their air-conditioners. We arose bright and early to be among the first at the sale. It wasn't early enough. A man in front of us bought every one of the air conditioners (5-10 of them) for about $25.00 each. He had rental property and wanted them for his rent houses. I offered him $50.00 for just one of them. He refused, rather rudely, I might add. I searched all the stores for new air conditioners. They were all more than we could afford. We eventually found a used one for $100. It wasn't a great deal, but at least we had a little AC. It was all the extra money I had, but it was worth it. The new comfort was well worth the loss of the $100. How much would you pay for a little comfort?
How much would you pay to see the glory of Jesus, to be on a familiar basis with His glory? Is that your final answer? The cost of experiencing His glory will cost you everything. It will cost you your right to comfortable shelter, housing, safety etc. You may not know where you will lay your head at night. Is it worth it? It will cost you your right to have life long relationships with those you love the most. Is it worth it? It will cost you the dreams of all that you could have been, might have been or maybe even are. It may even cost it for your children. Is it worth it?
When I was a freshman in college, I took a fencing class in the spring. The president of the fencing club, an Argentine, came and watched everyone fencing in the class. He singled myself and one other person out and fenced with us briefly. After class he came to me and said, "Come out to the fencing club and in two months I will make you the state champion." Now I don't know if that says a lot about what he saw in my raw ability or whether it said more about the pitiful state of fencing in the state of Oklahoma. But it was quite an offer. I really did think on it for maybe a day. I was already working 20+ hrs. a week, taking a full load of classes, heavily involved in church and Campus Crusade for Christ. To add another activity such as fencing to my schedule would have required lessening my involvement elsewhere, which I was not willing to do. Was it worth not trying out for fencing club? Absolutely! I had experiences with CCC that showed me the glory of Jesus that I would not trade for anything.
What would you give to experience the glory of Jesus? It will cost you everything. Is it worth it? Do I really have to answer that? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
My father-in-law was a POW in Stalag 17b during WII. He said of their meals in the camp, “They gave us frozen rutabaga soup with maggots on top, and a little bread. One time they gave us German sausage, but I didn’t eat it because it had human teeth in it. Some guys would catch rats and eat them, but I didn’t.” The last few weeks of his POW experience involved a 281 mile forced march, with very little to eat. The last day as a prisoner they noticed a friendly tank. It dawned upon them that they were liberated. Soon, they were able to eat a nourishing meal.
Why is God concerned about what we eat, whether we touch dead animals, or the flow of blood from our bodies? Wouldn’t the Creator of the universe have more important things to worry about? We learn in the New Testament that the dietary laws have been lifted. If they were so important that the Creator of the Universe included them in the laws that He was giving to His people, then why did He revoke them? Does God really care that much about what we eat? Hmmmm. . . Jesus said that the Father knew the number of hairs on our heads. If He cares enough to know the number of hairs on our heads, then He probably cares about what we eat.
What is there about these dietary restrictions that is significant? Clearly He makes the point that our eating is to reflect His holiness. He wants His people to be different in health as well as in moral purity. It is interesting to note that in some of the areas of the world and different times in history that Jewish people have consistently outlived their Gentile neighbors because they ate a healthier diet. The marked difference at times was so great that it caused problems:
I quote Dr. Kellogg again. “Even so long ago as the days when the plague was desolating Europe, the Jews so universally escaped infection that, by this their exemption, the popular suspicion was excited into fury, and they were accused of causing the fearful mortality among their gentile neighbors by poisoning the wells and springs.”[1]
Was God’s concern more than just health? Yes, but it did include health. Was it more than being a separate people? Yes, but it did include being a separate people. Then why did He raise the restrictions? He raised them because there are ways of addressing health issues other than total abstinence of certain foods. He raised them because there are other ways of having His people be different than observing dietary restrictions. The bottom line is this: “45‘For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” We were prisoners of war. He liberated us and adopted us. He no longer wants us to eat like POWs. Or live like POWs. He wants us to be like Him. He wants us to be holy. He wants us to share in His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1]McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. Le 11:1
Luke 9:37-62
How much would you pay for. . . When Laura and I first married, we operated our household budget on a cash only basis. There were a lot of things we wanted that we could not get because we didn't have enough money. "Someday, when we have money. . . " became a joke between us. One particularly brutally hot summer, we wanted an air conditioner (our house had no AC). We read in the classifieds that one of the fraternities was having a yard sale. Among the items for sale were all their air-conditioners. We arose bright and early to be among the first at the sale. It wasn't early enough. A man in front of us bought every one of the air conditioners (5-10 of them) for about $25.00 each. He had rental property and wanted them for his rent houses. I offered him $50.00 for just one of them. He refused, rather rudely, I might add. I searched all the stores for new air conditioners. They were all more than we could afford. We eventually found a used one for $100. It wasn't a great deal, but at least we had a little AC. It was all the extra money I had, but it was worth it. The new comfort was well worth the loss of the $100. How much would you pay for a little comfort?
How much would you pay to see the glory of Jesus, to be on a familiar basis with His glory? Is that your final answer? The cost of experiencing His glory will cost you everything. It will cost you your right to comfortable shelter, housing, safety etc. You may not know where you will lay your head at night. Is it worth it? It will cost you your right to have life long relationships with those you love the most. Is it worth it? It will cost you the dreams of all that you could have been, might have been or maybe even are. It may even cost it for your children. Is it worth it?
When I was a freshman in college, I took a fencing class in the spring. The president of the fencing club, an Argentine, came and watched everyone fencing in the class. He singled myself and one other person out and fenced with us briefly. After class he came to me and said, "Come out to the fencing club and in two months I will make you the state champion." Now I don't know if that says a lot about what he saw in my raw ability or whether it said more about the pitiful state of fencing in the state of Oklahoma. But it was quite an offer. I really did think on it for maybe a day. I was already working 20+ hrs. a week, taking a full load of classes, heavily involved in church and Campus Crusade for Christ. To add another activity such as fencing to my schedule would have required lessening my involvement elsewhere, which I was not willing to do. Was it worth not trying out for fencing club? Absolutely! I had experiences with CCC that showed me the glory of Jesus that I would not trade for anything.
What would you give to experience the glory of Jesus? It will cost you everything. Is it worth it? Do I really have to answer that? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
April 7, 2010
Leviticus 10
The lure of the train whistle was just too much for us 2nd & 3rd graders. Four of us partners in crime began to leave school grounds; we all decided that it would be great to head down to the railroad tracks and watch the train go by. The highway overpass over the tracks was only 3 or 4 blocks from the school. We arrived just in time to slide down the embankment to see the train go by. Just as it arrived, we looked up to see our teacher’s car pulling off the highway on to the shoulder above. She was livid. “You boys have disobeyed the rule that you must go straight home from school!” Loading us all up in her car, she took us back to the classroom and began to administer the ‘board of education’. I think she had determined beforehand that she would spank us until we cried. She began with the youngest first. He was wailing before she even picked up the board. He received one swat. She saved me for last. To this day I am not sure why. But I was convinced that this was unjust. I didn’t know anything about going straight home. I was not going to cry! Not a wise decision. The board of education met me 13 times before she gave up. I was still convinced the penalty was unjust.
Kids usually never understand rules that are created for their benefit. When she happened to see us heading toward the railroad tracks instead of home, she probably had many images of news articles about boys who were killed or severely disabled because they were playing on the tracks. The penalty she administered had nothing to do with justice; it had everything to do with discipline to teach us to play safely. To this day she remains my favorite teacher. Why? Because I knew she loved us. As an adult, I see that love even more clearly now. Boy, she was strict, but it was strictness born out of love.
Boy, does God seem strict here. He struck Nadab an Abihu dead for offering ‘profane’ fire. Why is He so upset? Get the context. On the previous day, the glory of God had descended upon the tabernacle creating a wonderful experience for the people of Israel. I am convinced that they wanted to experience it again. What is ‘profane’ fire? God had given a specific recipe for incense for the priests to use only in the daily worship. No other recipe could be used. They used a different recipe for incense. Why? They probably thought that they could spice it up a little. They probably thought they had something to add. They probably had seen and smelled this particular incense used in worship in Egypt, and thought it was great. Essentially by offering profane fire, they were saying that they had something to improve the worship of the Most Holy God.
That is a very dangerous playground. You can go there and not get hurt, but it is unlikely. God’s penalty is a penalty born out of love. We need to learn how treat Him as Holy. It is imperative that we learn to treat Him as holy. But death? Well, He is also the author of life. He is able to resurrect them at any time. He probably will resurrect them. Death has no ultimate victory or sting. We needed to learn the lesson from their death about the priority of treating God as holy. I like J. Vernon McGee’s comments on this:
Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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[1]McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. Le 10:20
Luke 9:18-36
We were quite a distance away, and the deer were standing stone still. From our car they looked like statues. We were on the grounds of Woolaroc Museum, the former estate of Frank Philips, founder of Philips 66. Others insisted that they were statues. I insisted they were alive. "How do you know they are alive?" they asked.
"The deer flick their tails every once in a while," was my reply.
"We are too far away to see its tail flick," they insisted.
"It is flicking its tail. There it just did it again," I said. I really could see it flicking its tail when no one else could see it.
"No, they are just statues. Let's drive on." As we started to drive away, the deer decided it was time to move on and they walked off.
Of course, "I told you so," slipped out of my mouth.
The glory of God is so immense that when we get far enough away to be able to see the whole, we cannot see the detail. In the awesome splendor of the whole, He looks like a statue. In today's passage we get a glimpse at the whole. Peter rightly has seen the revelation from heaven that Jesus is the Christ of God. Jesus immediately begins warning about the crucifixion and our responsibility to join Him on the cross. Then He gives the promise of seeing Him in His glory. Peter, James and John accompany Him to the mountain where He is transfigured before their eyes into the glory that He will have in the kingdom. What an awesome sight that must have been! We all long to see such a sight. Then the voice of the Father boomed out of Heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!"
What we often miss when we view the glory of Jesus is that this is a living breathing process. It is not a statue captured in time at a museum for us to behold. Part of the glory is that we are called to share in His glory. Imagine that! We are called to share in His glory! But it is a living breathing process. As the glory of Jesus is unwrapped, if we look closely at the detail we see the flickering of His suffering as He marched toward the cross. Without a cross there is no glory for us. He had to go to the cross in order to redeem us. It was a living breathing process that was full of fun, enjoyment, pain and suffering but in the end, glory. If we are to share in His glory, then we will take up the same cross. It is a living breathing process that is full of fun, enjoyment, pain and suffering but in the end, glory. The suffering proves that we are alive and not statues on God's lawn. The suffering is a flicking of a tail. Are we willing to lay down our rights for others to follow Him on the cross. That is a hard question. He was willing. He did it for us. It is hard to see from a distance. But He did it. So also, can we. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
The lure of the train whistle was just too much for us 2nd & 3rd graders. Four of us partners in crime began to leave school grounds; we all decided that it would be great to head down to the railroad tracks and watch the train go by. The highway overpass over the tracks was only 3 or 4 blocks from the school. We arrived just in time to slide down the embankment to see the train go by. Just as it arrived, we looked up to see our teacher’s car pulling off the highway on to the shoulder above. She was livid. “You boys have disobeyed the rule that you must go straight home from school!” Loading us all up in her car, she took us back to the classroom and began to administer the ‘board of education’. I think she had determined beforehand that she would spank us until we cried. She began with the youngest first. He was wailing before she even picked up the board. He received one swat. She saved me for last. To this day I am not sure why. But I was convinced that this was unjust. I didn’t know anything about going straight home. I was not going to cry! Not a wise decision. The board of education met me 13 times before she gave up. I was still convinced the penalty was unjust.
Kids usually never understand rules that are created for their benefit. When she happened to see us heading toward the railroad tracks instead of home, she probably had many images of news articles about boys who were killed or severely disabled because they were playing on the tracks. The penalty she administered had nothing to do with justice; it had everything to do with discipline to teach us to play safely. To this day she remains my favorite teacher. Why? Because I knew she loved us. As an adult, I see that love even more clearly now. Boy, she was strict, but it was strictness born out of love.
Boy, does God seem strict here. He struck Nadab an Abihu dead for offering ‘profane’ fire. Why is He so upset? Get the context. On the previous day, the glory of God had descended upon the tabernacle creating a wonderful experience for the people of Israel. I am convinced that they wanted to experience it again. What is ‘profane’ fire? God had given a specific recipe for incense for the priests to use only in the daily worship. No other recipe could be used. They used a different recipe for incense. Why? They probably thought that they could spice it up a little. They probably thought they had something to add. They probably had seen and smelled this particular incense used in worship in Egypt, and thought it was great. Essentially by offering profane fire, they were saying that they had something to improve the worship of the Most Holy God.
That is a very dangerous playground. You can go there and not get hurt, but it is unlikely. God’s penalty is a penalty born out of love. We need to learn how treat Him as Holy. It is imperative that we learn to treat Him as holy. But death? Well, He is also the author of life. He is able to resurrect them at any time. He probably will resurrect them. Death has no ultimate victory or sting. We needed to learn the lesson from their death about the priority of treating God as holy. I like J. Vernon McGee’s comments on this:
If God struck today as He struck Nadab and Abihu, I think half the church members would be dead.The liberals would be struck for denying the deity of Christ and the forgiveness of His sacrifice for us. Many fundamental church members would be struck down like Ananias and Sapphira for their hypocrisy, their lying to the Holy Spirit. God is dealing in mercy today, giving time for repentance and for men to come to the knowledge of the truth. Otherwise many people would be struck dead.
There is a wonderful lesson for you and for me. When we come to God, we must come on His terms. This is not an arrangement which we can make. We are not making the rules. God is the One who saves and He is the One who says how we shall be saved. Jesus Christ says that no man comes to the Father but by Him.
Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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[1]McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. Le 10:20
Luke 9:18-36
We were quite a distance away, and the deer were standing stone still. From our car they looked like statues. We were on the grounds of Woolaroc Museum, the former estate of Frank Philips, founder of Philips 66. Others insisted that they were statues. I insisted they were alive. "How do you know they are alive?" they asked.
"The deer flick their tails every once in a while," was my reply.
"We are too far away to see its tail flick," they insisted.
"It is flicking its tail. There it just did it again," I said. I really could see it flicking its tail when no one else could see it.
"No, they are just statues. Let's drive on." As we started to drive away, the deer decided it was time to move on and they walked off.
Of course, "I told you so," slipped out of my mouth.
The glory of God is so immense that when we get far enough away to be able to see the whole, we cannot see the detail. In the awesome splendor of the whole, He looks like a statue. In today's passage we get a glimpse at the whole. Peter rightly has seen the revelation from heaven that Jesus is the Christ of God. Jesus immediately begins warning about the crucifixion and our responsibility to join Him on the cross. Then He gives the promise of seeing Him in His glory. Peter, James and John accompany Him to the mountain where He is transfigured before their eyes into the glory that He will have in the kingdom. What an awesome sight that must have been! We all long to see such a sight. Then the voice of the Father boomed out of Heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!"
What we often miss when we view the glory of Jesus is that this is a living breathing process. It is not a statue captured in time at a museum for us to behold. Part of the glory is that we are called to share in His glory. Imagine that! We are called to share in His glory! But it is a living breathing process. As the glory of Jesus is unwrapped, if we look closely at the detail we see the flickering of His suffering as He marched toward the cross. Without a cross there is no glory for us. He had to go to the cross in order to redeem us. It was a living breathing process that was full of fun, enjoyment, pain and suffering but in the end, glory. If we are to share in His glory, then we will take up the same cross. It is a living breathing process that is full of fun, enjoyment, pain and suffering but in the end, glory. The suffering proves that we are alive and not statues on God's lawn. The suffering is a flicking of a tail. Are we willing to lay down our rights for others to follow Him on the cross. That is a hard question. He was willing. He did it for us. It is hard to see from a distance. But He did it. So also, can we. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
April 6, 2010
Leviticus 9
The first seven days were for preparing Aaron to serve as High Priest. The eighth day he began to function as the High Priest. Notice the order of the sacrifices which the High Priest presents on behalf of the people. First there was the sin offering, a kid of the goats. We all come to Him as sinners and must have our sin taken care of first. Next was the burnt offering; the grain burned upon the altar. The nourishment for our life is laid down on the altar. He is the bread of life that has come down from heaven. Finally came the peace offering. With His sacrifice we have peace with God. The long war with God is over. Now we can enjoy His glory!
Then Moses and Aaron came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to the people. Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the sacrifice. Then the people shouted and fell on their faces. Lord, let Your glory appear and your fire fall! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Luke 9:1-17
Remember in high school when you were learning the ropes? There was a definite pecking order in the classes, when it came to authority. As a freshman or sophomore, you had not yet attained to the glory of a 'Senior.' Were you ever told things like, "A freshman is so low that . . ." no I won't go there. Oh of course, every sophomore is told that the meaning of sophomore comes from two Greek words, sophia-wisdom and moros-fool. A sophomore is a wise fool. Freshmen and sophomores had absolutely no authority on campus. Of course as a freshman and sophomore I was also painfully smaller than most guys. If I remember right, as a freshman I weighed all of 125 pounds. I eked up to 135 as a sophomore and 145 as a junior. Being small did not help matters of authority any.
Ah but thanks to a weight lifting program to which my body finally began to respond, my senior year I finally, weighed in at 170 pounds with not an ounce of fat. On Friday of homecoming week (Western Week) everybody was supposed to dress western. If you didn't dress western, then you were liable to be thrown in jail during lunch break. Sitting in the hallway studying at lunch time with my moccasins on (It was the only thing western that I owned), a freshman, who was a brother in Christ, walked up to me. He had no western wear on. I said where is your western stuff?
He said, "I don't have any."
"You'd better be careful, you might get thrown in jail." I replied.
"That's why I'm in here. I'm trying to avoid being thrown in jail. Are you going to throw me in?"
I said, "No, I've got other things to do. Why don't you sit down here you'll be safe till I leave." He sat down. I continued studying. Soon a sophomore jock walked up. He was looking for people to throw in jail. He threatened to have me thrown in jail. I told him that I had moccasins on and that satisfied the requirement. Then he saw my friend. He started to grab him to take him to jail. I said, "Leave him alone!"
He replied, "He doesn't have anything western on. I'm taking him to jail."
Standing up off of the floor I said, "You and who else? Leave him alone." He surveyed my size and backed down. The authority of being a senior and having 20-30 pounds of size on him spoke volumes. He left. It felt good for once to be able use authority for good. At least in the eyes of this one freshman, my glory was enhanced.
In revealing His glory, Jesus gave power and authority to his disciples over all demons and to cure diseases. It was for the purpose of glorifying Him. He then sent them through the country to preach and to heal. Upon the heels of sending them out, He performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000. I believe Jesus still wants to reveal His glory in the similar ways. He desires today to glorify Himself by extending His authority to us to preach and to heal and to feed. It’s a trinitarian focus (to borrow a term from Christian Schwarz) for His body.
In preaching He desires us to use His authority to proclaim the Gospel, to do evangelism and discipleship. In preaching the Gospel He desires us to set the captive free with the truth. The demonic must flee when we claim the truth of His authority and yield to Him. His glory is enhanced in the eyes of men when we do that.
In healing there are different kinds and means of healing. There is medical healing, divine healing, emotional healing, spiritual healing. Where ever the church has gone through out the world, it has built hospitals and brought medicine to hurting people. This has brought much glory to Him. But I also believe that we are far too lax at asking Him for divine healing. I think sometimes we miss divine healing simply because we don't ask. That freshman would never have found safety had he not at least said, "Are you going to throw me in?" I believe that God still heals miraculously. He doesn't do it every time we ask or even the majority of times we ask. But He still heals. In all of these kinds of healing we must remember that any healing we see in this age is only temporary. The body is still going to die. The ultimate healing is in the resurrection of the dead at His return. But He occasionally brings a divine healing in order to remind us of where the glory comes from and that the greatest glory is yet to come.
He also wants to heal more than the individual physical body. He also wants to heal social injustice. He wants us to feed the hungry. It brings glory to Him when we stand up for the rights of the oppressed and the poor. It brings healing to a society. He desires that we bring an end to racial prejudice. He desires that we replenish the earth not destroy it. It brings glory to Him when we use wisdom in relating to the environment. He desires to reveal His glory as we take His authority and show concern for our environment. In the midst of our endeavors we must remember that they are temporary. The social healing will be lost. People will return to hating and dominating each other until He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. The earth will continue to decay until He remakes the heavens and the earth. But in the meantime, He wants to glorify Himself through us as we take His authority to bring food to our neighborhoods and the nations.
Jesus is looking for people through whom He can extend His authority so that He can bring glory to Himself. It is to His glory that He lends us His authority to us. Will I take it and glorify Him or will I try to glorify myself or will I just ignore it? How about you? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
The first seven days were for preparing Aaron to serve as High Priest. The eighth day he began to function as the High Priest. Notice the order of the sacrifices which the High Priest presents on behalf of the people. First there was the sin offering, a kid of the goats. We all come to Him as sinners and must have our sin taken care of first. Next was the burnt offering; the grain burned upon the altar. The nourishment for our life is laid down on the altar. He is the bread of life that has come down from heaven. Finally came the peace offering. With His sacrifice we have peace with God. The long war with God is over. Now we can enjoy His glory!
Then Moses and Aaron came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to the people. Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the sacrifice. Then the people shouted and fell on their faces. Lord, let Your glory appear and your fire fall! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Luke 9:1-17
Remember in high school when you were learning the ropes? There was a definite pecking order in the classes, when it came to authority. As a freshman or sophomore, you had not yet attained to the glory of a 'Senior.' Were you ever told things like, "A freshman is so low that . . ." no I won't go there. Oh of course, every sophomore is told that the meaning of sophomore comes from two Greek words, sophia-wisdom and moros-fool. A sophomore is a wise fool. Freshmen and sophomores had absolutely no authority on campus. Of course as a freshman and sophomore I was also painfully smaller than most guys. If I remember right, as a freshman I weighed all of 125 pounds. I eked up to 135 as a sophomore and 145 as a junior. Being small did not help matters of authority any.
Ah but thanks to a weight lifting program to which my body finally began to respond, my senior year I finally, weighed in at 170 pounds with not an ounce of fat. On Friday of homecoming week (Western Week) everybody was supposed to dress western. If you didn't dress western, then you were liable to be thrown in jail during lunch break. Sitting in the hallway studying at lunch time with my moccasins on (It was the only thing western that I owned), a freshman, who was a brother in Christ, walked up to me. He had no western wear on. I said where is your western stuff?
He said, "I don't have any."
"You'd better be careful, you might get thrown in jail." I replied.
"That's why I'm in here. I'm trying to avoid being thrown in jail. Are you going to throw me in?"
I said, "No, I've got other things to do. Why don't you sit down here you'll be safe till I leave." He sat down. I continued studying. Soon a sophomore jock walked up. He was looking for people to throw in jail. He threatened to have me thrown in jail. I told him that I had moccasins on and that satisfied the requirement. Then he saw my friend. He started to grab him to take him to jail. I said, "Leave him alone!"
He replied, "He doesn't have anything western on. I'm taking him to jail."
Standing up off of the floor I said, "You and who else? Leave him alone." He surveyed my size and backed down. The authority of being a senior and having 20-30 pounds of size on him spoke volumes. He left. It felt good for once to be able use authority for good. At least in the eyes of this one freshman, my glory was enhanced.
In revealing His glory, Jesus gave power and authority to his disciples over all demons and to cure diseases. It was for the purpose of glorifying Him. He then sent them through the country to preach and to heal. Upon the heels of sending them out, He performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000. I believe Jesus still wants to reveal His glory in the similar ways. He desires today to glorify Himself by extending His authority to us to preach and to heal and to feed. It’s a trinitarian focus (to borrow a term from Christian Schwarz) for His body.
In preaching He desires us to use His authority to proclaim the Gospel, to do evangelism and discipleship. In preaching the Gospel He desires us to set the captive free with the truth. The demonic must flee when we claim the truth of His authority and yield to Him. His glory is enhanced in the eyes of men when we do that.
In healing there are different kinds and means of healing. There is medical healing, divine healing, emotional healing, spiritual healing. Where ever the church has gone through out the world, it has built hospitals and brought medicine to hurting people. This has brought much glory to Him. But I also believe that we are far too lax at asking Him for divine healing. I think sometimes we miss divine healing simply because we don't ask. That freshman would never have found safety had he not at least said, "Are you going to throw me in?" I believe that God still heals miraculously. He doesn't do it every time we ask or even the majority of times we ask. But He still heals. In all of these kinds of healing we must remember that any healing we see in this age is only temporary. The body is still going to die. The ultimate healing is in the resurrection of the dead at His return. But He occasionally brings a divine healing in order to remind us of where the glory comes from and that the greatest glory is yet to come.
He also wants to heal more than the individual physical body. He also wants to heal social injustice. He wants us to feed the hungry. It brings glory to Him when we stand up for the rights of the oppressed and the poor. It brings healing to a society. He desires that we bring an end to racial prejudice. He desires that we replenish the earth not destroy it. It brings glory to Him when we use wisdom in relating to the environment. He desires to reveal His glory as we take His authority and show concern for our environment. In the midst of our endeavors we must remember that they are temporary. The social healing will be lost. People will return to hating and dominating each other until He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. The earth will continue to decay until He remakes the heavens and the earth. But in the meantime, He wants to glorify Himself through us as we take His authority to bring food to our neighborhoods and the nations.
Jesus is looking for people through whom He can extend His authority so that He can bring glory to Himself. It is to His glory that He lends us His authority to us. Will I take it and glorify Him or will I try to glorify myself or will I just ignore it? How about you? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
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